Timmsy Tee and I did a little shopping today. In the paper a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the Waste Commission of Scott County, in conjunction with the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency, was hosting a Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale today. Tim and I have long flirted with the idea of getting a compost bin, but they are wicked expensive (usually at least $100). The Waste Commission was selling the compost bins for $40, so we headed down to the sale this morning. It was a beautiful, sunny, warm, breezy day, and the line reflected the pretty day and all the pseudo-hippies’ desire for a good deal. We waited in line for 30 – 45 minutes, listening to the incessant chatter of the day-care mom next to us, and the occasional wise words from the straw-hatted back-yard prairie planter in line in front of her. It was an interesting 45 minutes. It was actually really encouraging to see so many people who were willing to wait in line for an environmental tool.
The bin barely fit in our car, but we were able to squeeze it in. We have all the pieces put together, but we haven’t screwed it into the ground yet. I’m looking forward to no longer feeling guilty whilst throwing away coffee grounds, tea bags, and vegetable peels. Hopefully within several months, we’ll have some nice, healthy compost to mix in with our clay yard.
After getting the bin situated, Tim went to the gym, and I went for a jog – the first jog in at least 2 weeks. I ran a mile without stopping, and then walked about a mile, just enjoying the sound of the creek and the locusts and the wind in the late summer, crispy leaves.
For lunch, we headed out to Bent River. We spent an hour or so lounging in the back patio, eating 99 cent tacos, fries with jalapeno ketchup, and drinking the Bent River Pale Ale – delicious.
Inspired by the free spirit pervading Bent River, at our next stop, Evergreen Art Works, I bought a few things I’ve been wanting for watercolor painting – a paint mixing tray, note cards made of 140 lb watercolor paper, and a 24″ x 32″ “Incredible Art Board.” The teacher at the last Figge class had one of these boards. You can stretch and staple watercolor paper to it, and it won’t bend or warp. She had also taped wax paper to one side of the board, so she could mix her paint right next to her painting. You can also flip over the board, and use the other side (of course, before flipping it, you’ll want to make sure your paint won’t run). It was kind of pricey (around $33), but I think I’ll really like it. No matter what kind of tape I use, I cannot get my paper to lie flat after I wet it. The paint settles in the valleys and frustrates me.
I’m really looking forward to working with the watercolor cards too. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I hate and am no good at painting backgrounds. The smaller the piece of paper, the less background! I’m getting several pictures printed at Walgreens, so that I have a variety of subjects to choose from – everything from flowers (might as well give it another shot) to bridges (architectural, straight lines are much more predictable than petals). Here are a few samples of what I’m planning on trying next:
So, with all this consuming we’ve been doing today, we better start producing – producing compost and artwork. Good thing tomorrow is Sunday.