My mother needed a "Boots Boost." She'd lost her Kitty (18-year-old deaf cat), and she was feeling kinda sad. So, I told her to be ready by 1:30. I'd pick her up, and we'd go see Boots. My mother just loves Boots, who claims she's one of his wives. Well, Boots does that with a lot of women, but I'm not telling my mother. Boots is pretty darned loyal to his one and only, Becky, who's appearing in this picture in his art studio near Trestle Creek.
A "Boots Boost" for Mother means getting together with our funny friend, getting a hug or two and doing a lot of laughing. We achieved that goal yesterday afternoon while visiting Boots and Becky Reynolds who were hosting anyone who'd come through the door as part of the 2007 Artists' Studio Tour. There's a lot more to the Reynolds' household than the last time we visited: the completed studio, and upstairs bedroom with Boots' boots around the bed, which has a bedspread adorned with cartoons scrawled by many of Boots' fellow and lady cowboy cartoonists. There's a new patio and a conference room, but the cockatiel still rules the roost as it did before the addition.
We knew we'd arrived at Bootsville when two shiny gold pigs serving as gateways greeted us at the driveway on the side of a mountain. Plus, downtown Bootsville with its quaint Western motif was having a rather quiet Sunday except for the occasional tourists like us. As we pulled into the main drag, Tess and Foxie, the Reynolds' canines, issued the proper greeting. Soon, Becky came out and offered us some iced tea. We sat with her on the patio until the visitors prior to our arrival toured the studio.
For those who don't know, Boots Reynolds is a famous cowboy cartoonist. His humor appears in monthly one-page segments in the Western Horseman magazine. In addition, you can find it in just about anywhere Leanin' Tree Cards has one of their stands. And, that's a lot of places. There's always a good story in each piece of Boots' art. And, there's a hanging boob or two. You might see a skinny dog or horse, and you may recognize some of the caricatures if you know anyone who hangs around with Boots.
I'm still waiting to see something of Boots' art featuring that self-proclaimed Ugly Waitress at Katy Jacks in Trout Creek, Mont., whose shirt buttons are so tight over his big belly that they're likely to pop out in your huckleberry ala mode. Boots and I share a common appreciation for that guy, and just talking about him this morning makes me want to get in the car and head over there to see if he's still charming the customers with his cowboy stories and his unique service.
Boots' studio is one of 18 featured on this year's Artist Studio Tour around greater Sandpoint area. And, the best part is there's one more weekend for folks to go see sculptors, jewelers, potters, glass artists and painters at work in their studio. Come to think of it, I didn't see Boots pick up a paint brush while we were there, but he sure did a lot to lift my mother's spirits---and that was A-okay.
I appreciate my friends Boots and Becky because along with the talent comes a guaranteed good time and a lot of jibing. We give each other heck a lot of time, but I believe there's a mutual appreciation for that need to create, whether it's with words or paint. Because of my great fondness for Boots and Becky, I'm happily encouraging any local readers to go pay them a visit during next week's tour: Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29. They're No. 13 on the tour list (www.ArtTourDrive.org), and you just have to drive to the Trestle Creek Road, turn left, go a mile, and you'll see the No. 13 sign on Trestle Creek Lane. Plan to drive up a steep hill, but when you get to the top and see those gold pigs, you'll know you're in the the mountainside Shrangri-la where Boots creates so many wonderful laughs for folks across the country.
That setting certainly made my mother's day yesterday. So, thanks, Boots and Becky.
Note: Just letting folks know I'll be at Hastings in Coeur d'Alene this Saturday, July 28 at 2 p.m. for a signing and possible reading. Would love to see you there. More pictures from Bootsville below.
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