At the Outing

For our 20th wedding anniversary we wanted to do something special.
We originally thought Ran had to travel to Boston for work around
this time and that maybe we would try to play off that and go to
New York. When her work plans changed we started to consider going
to San Francisco, where we met 22 years ago.  We also considered
Las Vegas, where we had renewed our vows at an Elvis chapel, on our 
10 anniversary. After thinking of all the details and time needed
to do any of these trips, we both realized that we'd rather not 
fly anywhere but instead try to find a bed & breakfast where we
could spend a weekend.

We ended up deciding to go to Stillwater, where we haven't been for
years. We found a B&B that offered a painting class as part of the
package there. That was the clincher for us really. The place is 
called The Outing. It is a really interesting old farm house built
in 1858. It's on a 300 acre public park land (Pine Point Park) with
a lot of trail, including the Gateway State Trail. 

Our room, the Eva Peron room, was very unique and spacious, with a
very cold 3 season porch and extra bedroom. There were pictures 
around the room of Eva and a couple typewriters as well. 
Revolutionary Argentinian typewriters? I thought of Dad right away.

Immediately upon check-in we had to report to the basement for our
painting lesson from the owner, Carlota.  She is from 'Don't Cry
For Me' Argentina. She was very nice and must have immediately saw
promise in me as an artist because she spent a lot more time helping
me than her other 3 students at the time! :)  Neither Randi or I 
have any adult experience painting. 

Randi immediately decided to try
her hand at a classic still
fruit, watercolor painting, of
two apples. I, on the other hand,
had a plan! I wanted to go way
over my head and try to do an
acrylic painting of a street
scene in Rome, using a picture
I had taken there and brought
with for the occasion.

The raw talent can't be denied!

That Friday night Randi and I went to dinner at the Domicin 
Wine Bar, in Stillwater, across the street from the historic 
Lowell Inn. I thought the duck there was very good and Randi
had the special dish, which was white fish that was incredible.

From there were went to Pub 112 and had fun. They had a band
that covered the Beatles and a lot of 70s music we knew.

Saturday we had a nice late morning.  I surprised Ran with a
Louis Vitton handbag (don't EVER reduce it to being just purse!).
She never expected me to ever spend the money on that.  We had 
looked at them in Paris, a few years ago, at the mega-Vuitton store on Champs 
Elysees, where I laughed at their prices.  She deserves anything she wants, for how hard she works and for what she means to me and our family.   It was great
to see her excitement over it.  While she got ready for our day, I was able to 
spend a little time in their library, reviewing their attempt at having all the


essential knowledge for one's collection.  It was impressive to me. They even had my family's set of Colliers Encyclopedia, that I referenced thousands of times as a boy and were in my room for years. These were not at all the pride of their 
collection but they spoke directly to me, as volumes of memories.

From there I went back downstairs, into the art studio, where I could feel Van Gogh gripping my hand and forcing my brush to apply unusually heavy amounts of acrylics into my canvas!  

It was really quiet and relaxing down there. 

I really enjoyed painting and wouldn't mind having the supplies and time to do more of it someday.

That afternoon we went into town to the Isaac Staples Sawmill 
antiques.  It wasn't really what we were hoping for.  They barely
had any furniture.  We were expecting that and some maybe older
things.  I bought a really cool Hercules Magnet for $5.  I think
it might be worth $6 already! 

Really interesting owners who are around our age. Carlotta is from
'Don't Cry For Me' Argentina. And Lee, who collects old Mercedes 
pre-1920 race cars...what! and travels to Europe/Germany a lot.
Seems like they have money and are dumping huge amounts into this.
Crazy how much shuff they have. If there was anything we'd change
there, it might be some of the clutter in the house.  She thinks
I have talent with the brush   We are having a great time. Wanna
come back in a different season someday.