Every year for about the last five years, I have gone to the same studio in Creston (where I buy my pottery collection) and I have admired the pumpkin painting titled "Thinking of Pies". The first year, it was priced at $895.00. For the next four years, I longingly admired it - but it was $600.00. Every time, I sighed wistfully and put it back on the display, dreaming of how beautiful it would look in my dining room, but knowing that I shouldn't be spending that kind of money on yet another addition to my fall decor (which now overflows a HUGE AREA of my basement.
Last year, on our fall trip to Creston, the owners of the pottery studio told us that they were putting the business and house up for sale and leaving Creston, to become full time residents of Mexico. I thought that might be the last time that I ever saw my pumpkin print, but I still put it back on the rack and walked away (which is a huge feat, if you know anything about me). Last weekend, I was surprised to see that the studio was still open, although the "For Sale" sign from the realtor impressed on my mind that this might really be the last time that we got to visit with the owners and buy the last installment on my pottery collection.
Sure enough, David told us that they had been successful in selling the business, the house was the last thing to go, and by October 1st, they were on their way to Mexico, not to be artists anymore, at least not for a living. I could not find the pottery pieces that I had wanted to purchase to complete my set, but David offered to custom make them for me and leave them behind, I could pick them up at Thanksgiving, when we come to take photos of all of the fall displays in the fruit stands.
I didn't even want to let my self look in the direction of the pumpkin painting. I was sure that it was gone. But it wasn't!!! Not only was it sitting in its place, when I turned it over to look at the price (one more time) it had been marked down for a quick sale to $150.00. I just about fainted!!! It wasn't getting out of my hands this time!! Mike came over, glanced at the price, smiled at me and took it away from my hot little hands, and added it to my pile - without a word!! He knew!!! He didn't even have to say a word. Not only that, when we got home, he arranged with his sister-in-law to do the framing for me. I had to take a photo of the painting, sitting on my veranda, because I was soooo excited!!!! "Thinking of Pies" is finally mine!
