Today we have a little bit of a beach playground for our prompt today. This is our last full day in California before returning home, so we’re planning to spend the remaining time close to the beach. I never actually went to the beach as a kid, so a sandbox on the playground was the only opportunity to play in the sand. A tiny little box, usually, and no sound of the roaring ocean in the distance, just the chirp of birds. It was still a blast, though, to take little buckets and make mountains or castle walls. My sculptures were nothing amazing to look at, but in my head they were grand and incredible. I would invent elaborate stories in my head while creating things in the sand. That part was perhaps the most fun of all. The castle was often in danger of some sort of attack and only I could save the princess, or much more often, unicorn that was trapped inside. These are the daydreams that, with enough imagination, are the most amazing because they actually feel like they’ve already come true.
Philippe and I have been having a blast, enjoying moments that feel just simple, childlike and fun. This morning, however, we had a little mishap when while backing out of the driveway of our rented apartment, Philippe turned a bit too early. The driveway was sloped with a drop-off on one side and the front wheel dropped off, stranding the car like a seal on a rock. There was no way to roll forward or roll back so we had to call AAA and get some help. The first tow truck arrived and starting to place bits of wood under the tire, but had to go from house to house to find more. Soon, they called for backup and a second tow truck arrived, along with more curious neighbors until it resembled a crime scene. This all happened in the span of less than an hour, but seemed much longer. Thankfully, they managed to build a bridge under the orphaned tire and the car was freed from its prison unharmed. It was all so comical and incredible that it was hard to feel any stress at all.
Even though we weren’t stressed, Philippe suggested I drive to brunch, and we figured it was enough of an adventure to warrant mimosas. We weren’t even made too late to get a little table outside, so everything worked out perfectly. Since we’re not the type to purchase souvenirs on trips, we ended with the best kind of all. A story to talk about later, or in this case, more likely, many years to come. I really love trips like this one. The kind that weren’t planned very far in advance and came with no expectations at all. To me, that’s the best kind of trip because it completely removes the possibility of disappoint. No sight we will wish later we’d managed to view or restaurant we’ll regret not having the opportunity to dine in. There’s nothing that we’ll miss out on, because we’re just taking each moment as it comes. Life can still be a wonderful and amazing adventure, even when you’re just playing in the sand.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Terra Cotta, Quinacridone Red, Benzimida Orange, Cobalt Turquoise, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Recommended4 recommendationsPublished in By Charlie
Another wonderful Doodlewash adventure!
hehe! yes!! Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕
Great story about the car! Sounds like you are relaxing and having a good time.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yes, it was quite a crazy day, but we’re having a blast!
So glad no one was hurt, even the car. Memories are the best especially with a little doodlewash to make it even more memorable. The litle sand buckets and sand fork are so cute. I received my trios today…such lovely colors. The charts are amazing…all three of them. Not to mention the artists who are all amazing too. ‘ALL OF YOU DID SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON THIS PROJECT WITH DaVinci.
Aww thanks so much! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you received your trios! That’s awesome! It was such a fun project and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the charts as well. Can’t wait to see what you’ll make with them!
Hi Charlie. This is June. Somehow I could not get on word press with my email I use so I had to set up this one. I seem to work better with watercolors than computers. Lol. Have a safe trip home
Hey June! I thought that was you! hehe… watercolors are WAY easier to deal with than computers! (and that’s saying a lot because watercolors can be difficult! hehe) 😃💕
I did that once with our car,,my husband was not humored,,,😬 he was able to free it and then he drove..lol anyway,your mini vacation sounds filled with memories that will last always,much longer than a souvenir you might have purchased…safe trip home.oops forgot to mention,,, love the watercolor doodle..
Thanks so much, Pamela! 😃💕Haha! Glad to know we’re not alone there. Yeah… it was definitely not the way we intended to begin the day!
Oh what fun the bucket and spade were – and I daresay still would be! I never had a sandpit, but remember getting into trouble at nursery because I had poured water into theirs, hoping to create a beach. It didn’t quite turn out that way.
Very funny about the ‘crime scene’ – the neighbours won’t forget you in a hurry! 😛
Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 Yeah, we definitely left an impression with the neighbors. And sorry your beach didn’t turn out as expected… sounds like a blast to try though! hehe
I’m glad your mishap was more of the adventure kind and not of the dangerous kind! Love your beach bucket, and I hope you enjoy your last day at the beach. May you come home with sand in your shoes!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, it was just a bit of comic relief in the end, thankfully as all is fine. We head back today!
Car issues like that can be so stressful, that’s nice that you guys didn’t let it ruin your day. A mimosa sounded like a perfect solution to get back on track.
Yes! 😃💕 The mimosa was definitely a great way to balance everything out. But all was fine and now we can laugh about it! hehe
Time away is wonderful! Wonderful Doodlewash and story.
It is indeed! Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕
Now that’s a great vacation story! Like when you go on a backpack trip and it rains EVERY SINGLE DAY! See, I’m still talking about it.😁 And being in a warm place with beaches when the Midwest is cold and dreary, priceless!
Thanks, Lisa! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, there always seems to be something memorable in a vacation that’s never quite the thing you’d expect. But that’s what makes them so fun!
” There’s nothing that we’ll miss out on, because we’re just taking each moment as it comes.” Now you’ve defined wisdom!
The beach painting goes on my list of favorites. You have captured the mood so beautifully that I can feel the kiss of sun and smell the salt air. This painting enters my space with sound and motion, and triggers that touch all the senses. I love the ‘castle’,
so basic that it awakens the architect (or the sand sculptor) in all of us.
Aww thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 I’m so happy you enjoyed this painting. What a fabulous description of it… this was a quick one, but you’ve made me love and appreciate it more than I did!
Beautiful buket nice to hear the sound of car problems but u are enjoying your holiday.as da Vinci project work.
Create good story . love it
Thanks.
Thanks so much, Snehlata! 😃💕 Yes, it’s been quite an adventure here, but lots of fun. Thrilled still to be heading back home today.
I’m glad all ended well!
Thanks! 😃💕 hehe… yes, all ended perfectly, but wow it was quite a little adventure! lol
Welcome back to California (although I’m in Northern California). What’s a good trip without humorous adventures? It’s always best to make light of them. I went to England last summer, and blew-out two tires, had to swap the car once, and drove the wrong way down a major street (I’m normally a good driver!). Thanks for the story.
Thanks so much, Ann! 😃💕 It’s lovely here in California. Always fun to visit! And hehe… that’s an awesome car story! hehe I have to admit I do prefer trips where I don’t have to drive a car at all! Too many things to go wrong! lol
So wonderful! True life stories are great. Glad no one was irritated. Things alwaus workout anyway😊 live how simple and colorful your painting is .
Thanks so much, Nancy! 😃💕Things always DO work out! So happy you enjoyed this!
Sounds like your dangling car mishap was more funny in retrospect than at the moment. I’m glad you’re both safe. Yep, this is what the beach looked like when I was a kid, sometimes in Atlantic City, sometimes in Honolulu, sometimes in Newport Beach. Years later it looked the same but with our kids’ pails and shovels, and now they belong to the grands. Isn’t it something that decades upon decades of kids’ sand toys have changed very little and the joy of playing at the beach remains the same as well.
Actually, it was funny in the moment as well… I don’t really experience stress like I probably should. Everything in life is just a little comedy. But so true! After all these years, there’s still no better way to play in the sand! 😃💕