Even the announcement, when it came in the mail this week, made me smile. The Columbia Heritage Museum’s annual fundraising auction, “6×6 by the Sea,” is scheduled for Saturday, November 17th, and we’ve been looking forward to it ever since the last one.
But… wait! That’s the date of the first “Shoalwater Shenanigans” presentation at the Oysterville Church. Once again, two great things happening on the same date here at the beach. This time it’s more complicated than just a matter of choice. We are actually performing in “Shenanigans” and, short of death, we will be on stage – which is a peculiar thing to say since it’s a play about dead people.
“Shenanigans” begins at 2:00; the “6×6 Auction by the Sea” begins a 5:00. Assuming our performance is over in a timely manner – say 4:15 – we should be able to nip across the street to the house, scrub off our make-up, change into street clothes, and be in Ilwaco for most of the action. Gordon Schoewe and Peggy Christensen have already agreed to share a table with us, so maybe they’ll save our seats.
Last year we sat with them and thoroughly enjoyed clapping and cheering as they bid on a number of items and actually won the paintings they were serious about. Too, both of them had paintings in the exhibit and it was fun to watch the ‘bidding wars’ over them. Even Nyel raised his number card to bid on ‘Cousin’ Virginia Jones’ rooster painting. He won the bid and we are fast to point out that “Chanticleer” is the only rooster that is welcome (and has a place of honor) on our premises.
Besides the fun of the auction, itself, I am always in awe and amazement at the creativity of the folks who submit their entries. Even within the limits of the six-inch-square canvas, the variety of media and subject matter (all of which must be beach-related) is astounding. There have even been some three-dimensional entries.
All-in-all, November 17th should be quite a day here at the beach. I’m looking forward to it! Well… most of it.
I checked out some of the artwork available for the auction on the web site. Wonderful stuff! Sorry I’ll miss it.