As part of my celebration of having survived another week, I have decided that I’ll spend my next several Saturdays actually eating at a local eatery: The B.T.C. Grocery, which is actually more than a grocery. It is a quaint little place to eat, shop, and just get out of the house.

I have only lived in this little community for about a year, and during that time, I have become a B.T.C. regular. In fact, I have a little print of the above card hanging in my kitchen:

Jacki Kellum Kitchen

I go to the B.T.C. Grocery at least twice a week, and because it is only open 4 days a week, that is  commendable.  You might wonder how this regular activity in my life could be interpreted as an Artist’s Date–per Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. The Artist-Date shift in my new routine will be that instead of simply darting in, grabbing some things to go, and streaking back out, I have committed myself to sitting down and eating in the restaurant each Saturday morning. That is when they serve the special B.T;C. omelet. The Ballad of the BTC Omelet:

Lawd Yes!!! This is a treat fit for a special Artist Date.

By the way, although my new little town only has about 2,000 citizens, its BTC Grocery is famous. The Southern Living Magazine featured it a few weeks ago:

“The B. T. C. is one of the Friendliest Places in the South.”

{And Yes, it Is Friendly! I go there regularly for my BTC Hug–with an Omelet on the side.

https://www.southernliving.com/friendliest-places-in-the-south-8647551

 

What Is An Artist Date?

“An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. …You may not take anyone on this artic date but you and your inner artist, a. k. a. your creative child.” Cameron, pg. 18.

“Your artist needs to be taken out, pampered, and listened to.” Cameron, pg. 19.

“Your artist is a child. Time ,,, matters more than monies spent. A visit to a great junk store, a solo trip to the beach, an old movie seen alone together, a visit to an aquarium or an art gallery—these cost time, not money. Remember, it is the time commitment that is sacred.” Cameron, pg. 19.

“Spending time in solitude with your artist child is essential to selfnurturing. A long country walk, a solitary expedition to the beach for a sunriseor sunset, a sortie out to a strange church to hear gospel music, to an ethnic neighborhood to taste foreign sights and sounds—your artist might enjoy any of these. Or your artist might like bowling. Commit yourself to a weekly artist’s date…..”Cameron, pg. 19.

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
C. G. JUNG