Other Hobbies

Before Pappy took over as my principal hobby, I used to do a bit of painting. Picture painting that is. It was nothing that would lead me to quit my day job (despite the encouragement of acquaintances who seem persuaded that people line up outside the doors of artists' studios to throw wads of cash at them), but it gave me some sense of accomplishment at the end of the weekend.

But when we got Pappy, he was instantly afraid of going down the stairs to the basement where I keep my easel. When I am down there he just stares forlornly from the top of the steps, and I was afraid of what he would get into if he ever stopped being afraid. So, after nearly a year's retirement from painting, yesterday I brought him down while I did a little scribbling. I set up a bed with a blanket, carried him down the steps, and set to work. He spent most of his time trying to figure out what was going on by standing under the easel where all the paint drips. Potentially messy, but promising.