easter thoughts

We know the Christian traditions often sprang from pagan  ceremonies in an effort to convert new folks to the Church as well as to aid the Church in being accepted by others.

Early Pagan traditions for Spring Equinox.

Easter eggs

Easter Bunny

 Just some fun reading for the holiday.

BIg Love = over

   I was recently quite wrapped up in the final faculty show for the college.  Big Love has nothing to do with the television series. It is a play by Charles Mee and revolves around three of fifty (yes, 50) sisters who are trying to avoid marrying their cousins. After a good deal of protestation, mayhem ensues and the show ends.  My husband directed the show and I designed and built the costumes.
    Here are a few shot from the show.

Did I mention that the grooms drop in from a helicopter?

Giuliano was the most lovable character in the entire play

Tomatoes represent good sons and bad...

pre-wedding pep talk

I was drowning in white satin

I love the look of fear on his face and distain/disgust on hers.

Catching up and finding time

   The past two and a half weeks were completely devoted to the construction of the costumes for Big Love.  We opened the play on Tuesday, so now, after catching up on laundry and vacuuming and such, I have time to start, well, everything else.
  This weekend is going to be devoted to nothing and everything.  I have sap to boil into syrup, but nary a whole day to do it.  So , Saturday I will get the outdoor fire started early - 7 a.m. or so, and get some of it boiled down, before heading out to a dinner engagement with my husband.  My youngest is sick at home today, or I would have started it today.  I may cheat a little and start some of it on the stove - this can be tricky, because the sap requires so much evaporation, you can literally steam the wall paper off the walls if you boil it all inside. Hmm... maybe I should set  it up in the dining room and get rid of the nasty "old lady" floral wall paper in the process!
    I have to get the process of packing going for my daughter.  Her class is heading to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park for Spring Break - well that is if the government is still open then - if it is not, I guess they will be sitting around in hotel rooms in Utah and Arizona. She needs lots of things she has outgrown since last year, like a swim suit, water shoes and the like.
    I am behind schedule, but some of the "start indoors" seeds are finally getting planted today.  Spring is definitely on the way as the snow is gone except in the lingering plowed piles in certain parking lots, and the daffodils have buds ready to burst.
    Hoping all of you are well and enjoying the warmth that is slowly creeping into our weather.

Hopeful...

I take hope in nature. Spring is coming!

Saw this and thought I'd share

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/splash

Last year, 250,000 people in America went barefoot for one entire day to raise awareness for the millions of children around the world who have no choice but to walk without shoes. This year, will you join them?


The idea is to raise awareness.  Also Tom's will donate shoes to needy children for every pair purchased. Sounds worth doing, no?
   It is cold here in NY in April, but I will try. 

Catch Up - Autistic License, Big Love, and Family

   What a crazy month March is turning into!!   Last night we did a staged reading of Autistic License by Stacey Dinner-Levin. It went really well and we had a really good talk-back session afterwards.  Thanks to Chloe Jean for making it work.  I played the role of "Mom" and it was - well, not fun - but a great experience.

   Sunday my eldest turned 15 years old! Egads!  When did that happen???

   Friday, Mom came up to see the kids and see the reading.  It is the first time she has been here for more than a quick turn in a long while.

   Still collecting sap.  I hope to do the boil on Sunday - I have plenty of sap - not so sure if there is enough wood for the fire.

   Working on the costumes design for Big Love by Charles Mee which we open in about two weeks.  I am up to my elbows in white sating and taffeta.  And tuxedos.  And dinner jackets...

   Doing the props and costume design for a performance art piece with Eric Gansworth. That goes up the end of April, so we are in production on that already.

   I know Easter is in here somewhere, and Spring break, when my daughter is heading on a class trip to the Grand Canyon and other points West.  When May rolls around, I plan to collapse for a day, maybe two.

Experiments in Photography

  Give a five year old  a camera and see what you get.  The perspective is so different from an adults - both mentally and physically.  Here are some examples from my son.

a Christmas tree

The fish tank and the tail of Great White, our algae eater, who is easily spooked and too quick to photograph

The neighbor's house as seen in a car reflection

the racers

leaves are very important to him

the underside of the neighbor's porch

the essentials of summer, a water glass, bare toes and a sword