Art and mud in the desert

John and I had a “meaningful conversation” recently about making sure we spend quality time together on the weekends. Following that conversation, we had good intentions to do some fun things this weekend. For example, there’s a new art gallery at “Homesteads Village” which is a small set of retail buildings where our road meets the highway. It consists of a corner store, two cafés and a hair salon. And an art gallery that changes hands and reopens every year or two.

John and I have purchased art from local artists before, so we are on the VIP list and were invited to a private opening reception. We went last night but only stayed a few minutes. It’s a tiny gallery and it was crowded. There’s one artist in particular that I would like to buy a piece of her work. I’ve seen her work before, but never more than a few pieces in one place. And the gallery also only had a couple of things by her. I’m sorry I missed the studio tour last month. I don’t think I was feeling well. In hindsight, I should have gone at least just to her studio, even though I didn’t feel like touring around. I think the studio tour is only once a year. I’ll have to put it on my list for next year.

We also hope to go to the arts and crafts fair in Albuquerque this weekend. We’ve gone several times in the past and always enjoy it. John saw in the local news that this year is the last year it will be held. Apparently it’s always been subsidized and the budget was cut. So I hope we manage to go. It’s the last one!

Here’s the snag. We’ve got a big water leak at the Placitas house. Luckily the leak is outside, not in the house. But John is going on another business trip this week, and he understandably wants to get it fixed before he leaves. So that’s what we’re doing today instead of the arts and crafts fair.

It all started when he heard the well pump running in the middle of the night on Thursday night. The pump should only turn on when water is running. At first he figured he had an evaporative cooler leak. Then he saw dampness along the bottom of the fence.

The meter box was full of water. Here he is, with a little electric pump, pumping it out. Kira thinks he’s in a good position to play fetch. Uh – maybe not.

Here’s all the water he pumped out of the meter box.

Here’s the box, all pumped out. (Wrong place to put your ball, Kira.)

He had a plumber out yesterday and they replaced the inner ball valve, but that didn’t fix the problem. The pump ran all last night and the meter box filled back up with water again. So this morning he started digging, looking for the leak.

It’s somewhere here.

He says he’s digging me that swimming pool I’ve always wanted. It’s hot today too. Good day to be hanging out by the pool.

Instead of hiring the new handyman (whom we haven’t actually used yet, so we don’t know if he’s any good), John hired a reputable plumbing company. (After doing all the digging himself, in the heat.)

Here’s what the plumbing company just installed. Can you see that little tiny, tiny black 90 degree elbow? The entire water supply to the house is supposed to go through there. I’m not a plumber, but common sense is telling me that is not big enough.

It’s not looking like we’re going to make it to the Albuquerque arts and crafts fair today, but look at John’s muddy shirt – there’s my artwork for today!

A masterpiece. The simple yet rich colors, the subtly, the tension between the blurred dust and the crisp outlines of the still-intact splatters, brings life and vitality to the overall arc of the story, insuring enduring impact long after the viewer has headed back indoors with a sigh.