When I was a little girl I attended a rural school that did not have an art teacher. Occasionally a little bus would arrive at the school and I could get on that bus and make things. The bus was outfitted with tables and art supplies. I made paper mache and did paper marbling and I was very happy on the little bus.

As a matter of fact, I enjoyed all of the arts. I wanted to dance and sing and be in musicals and plays. I played the flute and took piano lessons for a time. I toyed with the idea of becoming a writer and I loved sinking my teeth into long essay questions and creative writing assignments at school.

But it was in making things that I really found my creative home. I made things out of toilet paper rolls and tissue boxes. I drew in my bulletin during church services. I colored in coloring books at the kitchen table. And when Valentine’s Dy rolled around I made elaborate valentine mailboxes to take to school. One year I made an actual mailbox covered with tin foil with a heart flag that really went up and down.

Today I make paintings in my backyard studio surrounded by trees and hydrangeas. A chubby groundhog has taken up residence under my studio and we try to live in harmony together. Probably since we are equally terrified of one another- it works out! And when Valentine’s Day rolls around I help my daughters make elaborate valentine mailboxes. If they will let me. :)