Walking across the prairie plains with mule Polly, I never imagined the Bestiaryist (aka Julia Carpenter over at consideranimals.com) would paint my trusty voyaging companion. That’s the beautiful thing of long trips. How they take on a life of their own years after you thought they were done. And then I saw it on. An amazing, colorful painting of Polly the day I sold the food from her mouth.
Early in my Lost Sea Expedition voyage, up in Canada, I was given a bag of oats by a farmer. He joked and told me I should take it down to the grain elevator. You know, to sell…
Well, that’s exactly what I did. While I was waiting in line behind the other grain haulers, Polly turned her head. The classic mixed emotion. “Howdy!” and “Hey, Damnit! Your selling my grain!” That’s when I snapped the photo.
Now, all these years later, this painting comes around. I love it.
I got about 5 dollars for the bag of oats. Maybe the Bestyiarist will sell me the painting. I could hang it in the barn Polly occasionally visits. You know, next to the grain bin….
You can read more about why Polly’s picture was painted at over here at Monday’s Beast. Or check out how Polly and her cave-man looking ex-owner did at Benson Mule Days.
