This was my fourth year participating in the annual Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, MS. It is a glorious day full of beautiful people, wonderful music, amazing food & of course mind bending art:) This year was different and special because I had to drive 1200 miles to get there...and I miss my friends...
Allen packed our large SUV full of new paintings fresh from my basement studio in Erie Colorado (our new home) and 2 out of our 4 children, 2 Harry Potter CD's ("Half Blood Prince" & "Deathly Hallows") - i highly recommend them for looooong road trips they are quite entertaining -and both are 20+ hours each... (allen had to stay in CO to work and promised to keep our 2 youngest boys alive and happy)
I will say that when you separate your children (for a brief spell) they are different -like perfect! They were kind to one another, sometimes offering to help get snacks out or helping with luggage at the hotel, they were considerate (it was probably b/c they didn't have to shout to be heard or wait 10+ minutes to share a story b/c we have alot of people in our family sharing information constantly). The drive was quite pleasant and we shared inside jokes and only fought occasionally when my 12 year olds' playlist annoyed me... I tried to introduce him to Pearl Jam and Bush but he wasn't impressed- he will learn...
We arrived in Oxford, MS after 17 hours in the car and it was as lush and humid as ever. I will say we were only gone 5 months but new condos had gone up on Jackson and the antique mall where I sold my art for a few years had a new makeover - things change and grow when you aren't looking- it is a charming little/big town and I am blessed to have lived there for 9 years.
I dropped Stephen off at his friends house where he informed me that he would see me in 4 days (he had amazing friends he had known for years who were attached to great families, and 6th grade in Erie has been really hard on our boy) i told him it was supposed to suck b/c its middle school and i don't know anyone who had a great experience at that awkward age-
Then i went on to my besties house and had pizza and white claw (think lecroix with alcohol) and we talked and caught up and our girls played till way too late -
Sat morning comes and we wake up at 5am -its my 2 best friends, my sweet molly who served YL with us for years and Will -my brother in Jesus who also served with us in YL. We arrive at the Square and set up my new "Mercedes Benz of art tents" and set up my paintings- My team is doing all of the work and I get to schmooze the locals who always come early and see new faces and old and it pretty much went just like that all day long- it was so fun!
During the day I don't eat- I tried to drink an $8 cup of unsweet tea and water, i don't sit down and don't stop smiling- I think this is how Jesus felt when all the crowds followed him all around all the time... I really had that thought during the day. It is the best day- and I get all kinds of kind comments from people shopping and looking at art -it really helps carry me when I am down in my studio for months at a time working alone on paintings and new ideas and techniques...
So I sold more than last year whoo hoo!! This is always nice to bring home some $$ for our family- and it also helps me buy supplies and continue exploring and pushing and painting my little heart out!
thank you oxford and thank you to all who invested in me!
to be continued...