On Monday I had an adventure at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA that I would like to share. A long time friend of mine Denise and I planned to meet at the museum for lunch and to take in the holiday atmosphere being offered at the museum.
I arrived at the museum earlier than Denise so I decided to use the time to take a video of the Brandywine River from the path just up from the water's edge. Camera in hand I stepped off the trail a few feet to get a better view of the river and as I was adjusting my camera, I started to slide...I was in mud that was frozen on top.... my movements, to control the sliding, just made me slide more into the thick mud... I had to stop myself from going head first in the cold water by falling backwards on my butt. I was stuck in mud/muck that would not let me go and would not let me walk without sliding into the water. I managed to stand up and stood there with mud on my hands and camera, in bitterly cold weather waiting for Denise to arrive. 
There was no one in the parking lot. I was shaken and I kept thinking, gosh do other bloggers have experiences like this for a photo op? Luckily she arrived in a short period of time (which felt like hours) and helped me out of the mud by holding onto a branch of a tree just off the trail.
We cleaned up as I calmed down and we decided I was presentable enough to go into the museum.
We found out there was a special tour in an hour's time so we had lunch and sat at a table over looking the Brandywine River: one of my favorite spots to eat lunch in this area.
After lunch we headed up to the gallery that housed Andrew Wyeth's work to partake in a tour given by his granddaughter Victoria Browning Wyeth. What a treat! Andrew Wyeth's relative! I am a longtime fan of this museum and the work of The Wyeths': from N.C. to Andrew to Jamie... and now a living relative was in front of me talking about how her grandfather painted and what he was like as a person and stories behind some of the paintings.
The tour ended and Denise and I enjoyed the Christmas train exhibit and ended up in the gallery where Jamie Wyeth's work was hanging. Then, Victoria returned again for more sharing about her Uncle Jamie! 
Victoria is doing these tours to dispel some of the myths' surrounding her relatives and wanted the public to know them in a way books have not captured. She shared many interesting stories.
Victoria was very gracious to let me take a photo of her if I would stand next to her.
To me, that day at the Brandywine River Museum was just a wonderful adventure all around, because I was fortunate to have a good friend help me out of a real jam and I got a glimpse into the world of a family of artists I have admired for many years!
(Written by Gloria)
Comments(13)