I did, not one but, TWO fun things this week! August already better than July.

I was going to say “but let’s start at the beginning of the week,” but in looking back at my photos (which is how I track what I did and when) it looks like I didn’t do anything til Thursday! Nothing stands out. Katie left crackadawn Monday morning. I don’t think I even tried heading to the little beach cuz the annoying beach gnats were back last time I went.

So, yeah, life started Thursday night when I went to the art event in Brooklyn…which you already saw on Friday’s blog, so wow. Yeah.

I’m pretty sure I had these blocks when I was a kid.

A Lamb’s Work is Never Done

Still thinking fondly of truffled fries with garlic cilantro aioli.

Saturday. I’d been gifted admission for two to a museum out east that I’ve always wanted to go to.

It was really nice. The building was wonderful, the art was interesting, the air conditioning was top-notch, and we got there when it first opened so we had it almost to ourselves the whole time.

There’s something we say a lot when we look at certain kinds of art, and I bet it’s something a lot of people say. “I could have done that.”

The thing is, you didn’t. Art might LOOK easy. And people might wonder, “why aren’t *I* a famous artist? I can paint blobs as well as that guy.” But that guy DID IT. He got the paint and the canvas and did the work. And then he did it again and again. And then he hustled to get his art into shows and galleries and he marketed it to get buyers and blah blah. He did it and you (I) didn’t. And maybe you could be a famous artist. But will you try??

After the museum, we went to the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack.

A conservancy is a group/organization/person dedicated to saving and sharing spaces/nature, specific species, or natural resources and often allowing them to be used for the education and inspiration of the public. Like The Nature Conservancy or The Garden Conservancy. A lot of the gardens I go to at private homes are part of The Garden Conservancy Open Days program. You pay a small fee to visit private gardens you would normally never be able to see and that money goes towards conserving other, larger gardens that would otherwise just go to ruin. The Open Days program is all over the United States, check your state out if this interests you.

Madoo is the home of artist Robert Dash. He bought two acres of wild farmland on Long Island in 1967 and proceded to build structures and define different areas – shade, sun, places for sitting, places for walking, places for contemplating. He/it is known for his use of color. There are wonderfully painted pieces – gates, arbors, doors, etc., throughout the space.

We had a nice lunch in town.

Stopped at a farm stand on the way home.

Cutest lil eggplants.

And then home.

This week I read:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Ehh. A little silly. But readable and it went fast, if you want something for a long beach day or weekend. I’ll give it a 3.25/5. I’m not really sure how it was a New York Times Best Seller. It was an interesting premise, but…the story was a little far-fetched for me. But then I am a non-believer, so…your mileage may vary. I see there are several sequels. I’ll probably end up reading them, too.

One Day in December by Josie Silver. I wish I hadn’t read all the hype about it beforehand because I had super high expectations…and high expectations usually lead to disappointment (oh, THERE’S the Bettye we know). Trying to put aside  HOW GREAT I thought it was going to be, I’ll give it a 3.5/5. Now that I’ve rated it lower maybe you can read it and be pleasantly surprised!

And this week is a wrap! Three weeks til vacation!!!

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