March 28th, 2021

Written several Days ago...
​Days 553 - 558

A little boy almost rode his scooter into our deck. He was looking down and just scooting along when I called out and said "hey buddy, please don't ride right next to our trailer." I think it startled him that we were there.

Besides that (and one other child) we've had a better experience with people in our space while here at our current Georgia location.

We had a whole different kind of experience though. Our first tornado warning. We knew this storm front was coming but, there was nowhere we could take our home, the storm was stretching from the north to south causing all sorts of destruction along the way. We had to stay put.

All we could do is trust that all would be OK. We still prepared for evacuation (the camp host went around telling everyone that if we heard sirens we needed to get into the bathrooms). We put our coat and shoes near the door, clothes on all night.

That was the worst part, that it was rolling through at night. And boy oh boy was it a dark night.

The air was perfectly still. Only the thunder rolling (some of the longest thunder claps I have ever heard) and occasional songs from the frogs. I figured the frogs would hide if a tornado was coming so I listened for them all night. Eventually, I fell asleep while listening and watching for lightning or movement in the trees.

I asked for protection for our property and all the campers around us. Imagining a bubble of light surrounding the property. It was interesting to see the storm break on the radar as it appeared to hit the bubble.

Jordan was awake all night, finally coming to bed as the sun began to rise. At one point, as the tornado watch turned into a tornado warning, he even put on his shoes so he'd be ready to go. We had the cat carriers ready and blocked off their upper hidey hole (the bunk in the back that's always raised up but lowered enough for them to jump in). They behaved normal (as normal as our cats can be) throughout the night so between them and the frogs, and my faith, I knew all would be OK.

We've enjoyed the quiet of this area. We went on a couple of nature trails but have yet to see more than a few frogs. Unless you count the creepy skeletal figure in a swing and the headstones scattered about... we think we found the remains of someone's haunted Halloween trail. It was very creepy to walk up on, that's for sure!

We came to this area to see Providence Canyon State Park. A red rock canyon, unique for Georgia, created because of poor farming practices. They call it the little Grand Canyon. It truly was a spectacle to see! You hike down into the canyon (we started at the visitor's center) and find the creek and directional signs at the bottom. The water flows constantly so you're encouraged to wear waterproof shoes. We both felt the desire to walk barefoot in it. It was lovely!

The sand is soft and the rocks in the water are actually spongy. Completely broken down by the constant flow. Hiking into the canyons as far as we could go - we were in awe of the beauty. It truly was worth the visit.

Another cool thing in this area is the Omaha Brewing Company. The owner was leaving after we had arrived. She came back inside because of my website on my truck. She was amazed by my talent and invited me to participate in their vendor fair (every second Saturday of the month). Well, I'll be in Idaho for a retreat during the April one, then off to North Carolina in May and who knows where in June - definitely further north than here. Definitely something to keep in mind though.

She let me leave business cards on the table. I'm sure they'll be snatched up soon (people love putting them on their fridge as little artworks).

The drinks and the people at Omaha Brewing Company are wonderful.

Today we're going to head to the Richland Rum Distillery after I get a little work done. Plus, we need to find the nearest UPS store to ship a couple of the Words Matter portraits home. I'd prefer their originals be with their family, just in case something does happen to our home/art studio on wheels. I'd hate to have to redraw any of the memorial portraits. But really, it's time for these two to go home (I wanted to hand deliver them but, we won't be in the Pacific Northwest anytime soon). Then I will only have a few memorial portraits left to deliver. I'll have to get prints made of a couple, so when I deliver them, I can keep their image and story a part of the exhibit. Gleefully my print shop back in Boise has survived the pandemic. Guess it's time to check in.

I wish I could find some events to show the Words Matter portraits at. Some day. For now, they're packed away in back and viewed online. I have had several people find the exhibit online and then reach out to me.

The website on my truck was a good plan.

If you don't share your gifts, you never know who you could've helped.