When Ashley Williams isn’t filming her latest Hallmark project, she’s likely spending time with her husband, film producer Neal Dodson, and their two sons, Gus and Odie. In fact, the star recently shared a look at the family enjoying a trip to Niagara Falls. Now, the actress has revealed that her seemingly fun-loving spouse arranged another getaway that was a total surprise and ended up being adorably magical.
Ashley’s Trip Involved the Good Kind of Trolls
Ashley hopped onto Instagram on Thursday, May 28, to share a post that included a video of her family’s trip. In the caption, Ashley wrote, “My husband came running into the bedroom Monday morning and said ‘I have a surprise! Get dressed!’ And then he looked at me and so seriously said: ‘THIS is why you married me.’ 😆”
She then offered a little context, writing, “We’ve had a coffee table book of @thomasdambo trolls for a few years— the boys are obsessed. This weekend an arsonist destroyed one of the trolls in Austin which broke our hearts, but upon reading further my husband realized a bunch of dambo trolls are so close to our house. We had to see them.”
And that’s exactly what they did. In the video, you can see various trolls — one collecting rocks, another sleeping and even one doing a handstand, which Ashley attempts to imitate. That’s not to forget about the troll that’s drawing a picture, another that’s set a trap and a cheeky one that’s showing off its backside, among plenty of others.
“True magic is still happening, despite the horrors and darkness in the world,” Ashley added in her caption. “Arsonists can’t destroy our creativity, our flair for adventure, or the glint in the eye of a dad who gets an idea for a family adventure on a holiday weekend. Follow the sparkle.”
Ashley’s fans adored her post, with one person leaving a comment, saying, “There is [a Dambo troll] at a park just a few blocks from my house and I walk there all the time. They’re incredible!”
“That hubs is a keeper,” another person wrote.
A third follower added, “I love this, your playfulness and sense of wonder. I want to see this!!!”
Even Ashley’s sister and fellow Hallmark star Kimberly Williams-Paisley popped in a comment, writing, “[S]o fun!!! Also I love Neal for this!😍😍”
What Are Thomas Dambo’s Trolls and Where Can You Find Them?
While Ashley’s post is certainly adorable, the same can be said for the creatures that are featured in her post. So what exactly are they? Well, they’re the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
“Since 2014, Thomas has become internationally known for his monumental wooden trolls — sculptures made entirely from recycled wood, often hidden in forests or public spaces, and accompanied by narratives that blend folklore, environmentalism, and community participation,” according to the artist’s website.
The website also notes that Dambo’s “works span multiple continents, with solo exhibitions and public commissions across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.”
If you want to check out the trolls in person, then you can find out where they are with the help of the handy-dandy Trollmap.
You can also see more trolls online right here:
