Today I had a doctor’s appointment at lunch. After the appointment I got in my car and said, “Ok, where should we go today?” and Snowbird said, “The art store! I still don’t have my sketchbook!”
And so I drove to the art store, a local haunt of mine where everyone knows my name. To be fair, I used to work there. Usually I visit when I have a project that requires new supplies, and I rush in and out without looking around at all the other goodies. Today my friend Keith the Painter came up to me and said, “So, you got a new project going on? Whatcha working on?” and I smiled and said, “Oh, nothing really, just wanted to find something fun.” Keith said, “Oh that’s great! Just messing around, huh?” He seemed to understand completely and left me to wander around at my leisure. I picked up a few things, put them back, picked up another, put it back, and finally decided upon a box of Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Artist Crayons.
“Neocolor II crayons are softer than colored pencils, denser than children’s wax crayons, and extremely responsive to a wet brush. Wet and dry techniques can be combined in the same drawing. Because of their strong pigmentation, light colors cover dark colors and vice-versa.”
Well doesn’t that sound like fun? Snowbird thinks so. I also bought an Arches “travel” sketchbook. It was the best I could find in the store. They are really lacking in the really-nice-handbound-softcover-natural-paper sketchbook area. I’m not gonna skimp out for Snowbird, she’s endured way more than her share of skimping in the past.
Speaking of Snowbird, you know, if you are ever in doubt that you’ve got an inner child in there, just wait until your birthday. You know that feeling you get when you wake up, like, “Wow, I wonder what wonderful, magical things will happen to me today!?” and everywhere you go you are secretly hoping and waiting for birthday cakes and candles, waiters singing happy birthday, flowers delivered to your door and a mailbox stuffed with cards? As we get older and less magic follows us around we try to convince ourselves that these things are “just for kids.” You hold in that disappointment as best you can when your expectations don’t come to life. There’s your inner child, feeling a bit like everyone forgot her birthday. That’s when you need to step in and make your own magic.
Happy birthday to Merry, who did receive some divine magic worth celebrating.
Happy birthday to Valeria, who is going to serve a divine homemade authentic Italian feast on Saturday. I’m bringing the ingredients for Chocolate Martinis. Yummy! Actually our girl Kirsten’s recipe is better than the one on this site (which I just discovered and is very cute) or even Godiva’s site. I’ll share it when I have the measurements.
