Rejuvenated

I have been rejuvenated.

Thanks to the generosity of my sister, I just spent a week all expenses paid at a bookbinding class at the Volcano Art Studio in Volcano, California. http://www.volcanoarts.biz/

I flew into Sacramento last Sunday. Note to self - don’t fly in bad wind storms - makes for a very bumpy, nauseous ride! After being picked up by my sister, we went had a quick lunch at Rubio’s then a great shopping trip to Trader Joe’s. Oh how I've missed Trader Joe’s. I think it is my mecca! I could have spent the rest of the day there - but my sister, not so much! She likes Trader Joe’s - but not quite the same spiritual experience for her!!

It was about a 2 hour drive through lots of green farmland and pastures - so beautiful after the brown I left behind in Utah. Volcano is a charming teeny tiny town. No grocery stores, no gas stations. We stayed in the cottages at the St. George Hotel - which was a throwback in time. http://www.stgeorgehotel.com/

The class is held at an art studio in the home of Christine Cox. It was amazing - I would love to have such an amazing array of supplies at my finger tips. It was a small class, just my sister, my self and 4 other ladies - who turned out to be nothing like we thought. We’d breakfast together at the hotel every morning - then we’d spend from 9 to 5 in class together every day, then we’d dine together every night. I expected to have a good time, and to learn a lot, but I never expected to form relationships with the other people in the class. We had so much fun.

One of the ladies is an attorney. She was very quiet and reserved. By the third night we found out at her previous law firm she had represented porn stars and she had some hilarious stories to share. Most of them had wild stories to share. I mostly listened, as I have no sordid past!! Good for a life choice, bad for story telling!

The class was great. Christine was great and so much fun. I made some very cool books and most importantly I got my artistic mojo back. By the end of the week I was actually being creative. It felt so good. Like I’d rediscovered a part of me that had been in hibernation since we moved. Now, I just have to find a way to keep it!

My kids did great. I guess if you give them enough sugar and caffeine and enough entertainment they will survive - that is my husbands philosophy - but whatever works!

The best part - not cooking for a whole week. All my meals made for me and served to me and paid for by someone else. A girl could get used to that kind of life!! (and it went a long way in eliminating mom guilt!)

And flying first class - highly recommend it!

It was a great week. I love being a mom and a wife - but for a week, I got to be a sister, a friend, a student, an artist, but most importantly I got to be me.

Maybe now I won’t mind Utah quite so much!

Bring on the spring - I’m ready!