SOA Project Completed

OK---I did a 2-in-1 project:

1. Explore your hometown and uncover something new (from Carlin). 2. Take a kitschy road trip (from Maria). Sarah and Stacy joined me for breakfast, then a trip to thrift stores and Stromberg Statuary.

Eight years ago when we were moving here, Adam and I drove our vehicles filled with our pets and everything we owned past this gigantic seahorse. We were pulling trailers behind our trucks and, even though we own cell phones, communicating by walkie talkie. (Don't ask.....Adam's idea.) He was driving in front, and when he wanted to say hello, he'd stick his arm out the window and wave at me. We'd chatter on that staticky walkie talkie, and notice things as we made the pilgrimage to our new home and new life. Like, "Oh, wow! Did you see that gigantic sea horse?" And Adam would say, "No. Where?" Like you could miss that thing. He didn't notice it for years. I know because I'd occasionally ask him if he's seen the gigantic seahorse or swordfish yet. Good grief---they're kind of hard to miss.

Anyhoo---every time I tried to visit the statue place, it was locked. We finally found it open on our mini-road trip/town tour. This little guy squirts water out his trunk.

giant acorns

Laura, Elvis, & Sarah

Stacy, Elvis, Laura---get a load of that 'faux forest' wallpaper.

That's a lot of deer, and that's no bull! Ha ha! I make joke.

I think it would be fun to fill your yard with a whole set of 'reindeer' around Christmas.

horses in fountain

squirrels and mushroom birdbath

See the wasp nest in the hippo's maw? He squirts water, too.

This head is much taller than me. I think it would be funny to have this poking up out of a swimming pool at the deep end---sort of a benevolent sea monster.

This was my favorite sculpture. Isn't this a beautiful mermaid? The details are very realistic. There are little shells and crabs running around the base. I'd like to plunk it here in our swamp.

Maybe something more mid-swim, though.

(image from Dreamstime.com)

This would be neat, just breaking the surface. Not very appropriate in our swamp, though. Maybe she could be pulled along by a team of beavers. With water moccasins in her hair. Or chasing her. That would be realistic.

Wouldn't a cluster of these dryads in bronze be nice hovering on the edge of the swamp? We really do have those water lilies, so they could be surrounded by them. I'd like one or two nymphs with just their eyes out of the water, with their hair spread out all around them.

These are such intricate scales. The patina is lovely with the pattern, too.

This was a really fun morning. Thanks for sharing the day with me, Stacy and Sarah. I've been so lonely at times since moving here. I'm so glad I met both of you. It can be really hard to find people you 'click' with.

I think it's harder in some ways to make friends after you have children. Your 'original friends' may not have children. Try as you may to spend time with them, let's be honest---it's not very fun to go out to lunch with a crying baby or a super active toddler. In fact, it's just not possible some times. You may have to leave to breastfeed. Or, you often spend the majority of your friend time making sure your child is behaving in a public place. It's not good or bad, it's just part of being a parent. And, just because a person has kids that play with your kids, it doesn't necessarily mean you have much of anything else in common.

Not all of us have nannies. And, even if I could afford one, I wouldn't have one. I want to be home with Violet right now. I'm glad I have that choice. However, it can make you feel pretty isolated to stay home all day with small children. (Especially living in the boonies.) I desperately need 'grown up' time now more than ever. It really makes me appreciate this time with friends who like me just because I'm me, not out of convenience or similar play-date aged children.

Comments

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That mermaid is beautiful, I agree! I also really love the acorns, for some reason. Those remind me of some sculptures near here, similar in detail to the mermaid and also great. They are outside too, and one of them is of a man carrying a stack of books, which are flapping everywhere as he is walking against the wind. So fun to see things like that. Definitely looks like a fun time!

Posted by: Marty | August 09, 2011 at 01:35 AM

Braaaaavoooooooooooooooooo!!!!

I want the mermaid :)

I think in my past life, I was some cheesy guidoliscious man, who put giant sculptures in the middle of his living room, squirting water. And all manner of other cheesy things, because, why else would I have the deires to do the things I do? Just call me Don Carlo or something ;)

You all three are adorable!
xoxxx

Posted by: a fanciful twist | August 09, 2011 at 04:50 PM