We are a little late in posting, but here's a very elegantly dressed Janine at the piano recital two weeks ago. She played Music Box Dancer, albeit at a slower rate than the recording.

Nonetheless she practiced hard and did well. There's the real point of it all.

High Steppin'

The dance gala for Sarah's musical theatre school was this past Sunday afternoon. The little auditorium was filled with proud families watching their children perform.

Here's Sarah in the turquoise top dancing up a storm in the ensemble number. Most of the performances were contemporary dance or tap, but the ensemble pieces were pure Broadway. We all had a great time.

Mr. Beveridge's Maggot

That is the odd name of the music you hear on both of these videos. Apparently it is an old English word for a fancy or whimsical idea. Mr. Beveridge was a dance master of the early 19th century during the English Regency period. Here's Janine and John dancing to it. (Please pardon the dark video.)

Now you may ask why would a group of 21st century homeschoolers put on an English Country dance set in the Regency? Jane Austen of course. As her novels are filmed and refilmed, one production has stayed on top, the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. You may just recognize the actor playing Mr. Darcy. (He doesn't stammer this time around.)

Netherfield Ball 1

Last night was the fourth annual Netherfield Ball. It's an
English Country Dance the homeschooling moms put on each spring. Bobbie is on the planning team.

This year was the first for Janine who looks smashing in her period costume at left. If it looks familiar, Sarah wore it in the past. (Sarah had another commitment and was not able to attend.) She was very self-sufficient doing her own hair and make-up...and she had a wonderful time. She told Bobbie that she made four new friends and enjoyed all of the dancing.

This is a two night event: a practice on Friday and the full costume dance on Saturday. In the past both nights were held in the Fellowship Hall at our church, but this year the Saturday event was at a very nice golf club.

As an aspiring sound tech, John was also very pleased with the sound quality at the practice dance Friday night. You see last summer John and I were part of a team that installed acoustic panels on the ceiling of the Fellowship Hall. The callers, who usually labor in fire halls and church basements, gave the sound quality rave reviews.

John also has a great time. He could tell which dances were new and which from the past we did not dance. He is very good about asking ladies to dance. and did not sit out a single one. He also did a pretty good job as you will see in the next post.

John's Confirmation

Today John was confirmed at the 10 AM service at our church. Here he as his sponsor introduces him

While grace through faith is free, John worked hard at his confirmation lessons. He wrote a concise but complete statement of faith that really impressed me. Clearly he has learned the precepts of the Christian faith and can apply them. I am so proud and happy.

Fiber Arts Show

Last Friday night we went to the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Shadyside for a fiber arts gallery opening. It was a juried exhibition with over 80 entries but only 29 on exhibit. Our friend Susan created the hand-dyed, individually stitched piece seen her with John and Janine. (We took this photo while no one was looking because while not prohibited, photos were frowned upon.)

It was an interesting show and very crowded. While most of the fiber arts pieces were abstract like this one, a few depicted actual scenes. One of my favorites was the interpretation of Gramps on Vacation. This piece was inspired by a photo of a man in his early '60 standing next to a 1963 Ford Galaxie on the edge of Monument Valley. I liked it because it reminded me of vacationing with my family in Colorado and Wyoming in the 1960s. So much for my artistic taste. After 30 minutes or more, we finally found Susan and showed our support. She was a good teacher about the tools and techniques required to make such pieces.

New American Girl

Here's Janine earlier this week opening her new American Girl doll, Elizabeth. Janine worked hard for this moment. She earned the doll by performing odd jobs around the house.

Young Lizzie is Felicity's friend in Colonial Williamsburg. While Felicity's family are Patriots, Elizabeth's are Loyalists. I am not exactly sure how the story ends, but Janine and her friend Abagail have great fun playing with these dolls.

The American Girl series has been changing lately however. The company's view of history is now foreshortened as Felicity of Colonial Williamsburg are replaced by dolls like Moonbeam of Marin County in the 1960s.

The company was acquired by Mattel recently, who has every right to do what they see as best. However these decisions seem to be eroding the long-term educational value of the brand. There also seems to be some political correctness creeping in as well.

Contrary to some thinking, history did not begin when we Baby Boomers were born. (Pardon my crankiness.)

Nana's Birthday

Last Friday was Nana's birthday, so we went over to celebrate with her and her friends.

It's funny how people treat you so nicely when you arrive with a sheet cake. Someone held the door. Everyone got out of the way. I am lucky no one followed me from the bakery.

It was a grand celebration. We sang Happy Birthday, and everyone had a piece of cake for dessert after lunch. Then, one by one they all went back to their rooms for a nap.

Now, while Nana does not hold the current record for the facility, we know she is close. What record you say? Let's just say the magic number is 96. (and still looking good!)

We few...we happy few...

...we band of brothers."

We had so many things going on in February, we have yet to post about the Shakespeare Competition at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Yes, here's John as Good King Hal reciting the St. Crispin's Day speech. Eat your heart out Kenneth Brannagh! John did a good job. We could hear him in the back and he was appropriately animated using the bench to address his men at one point. Although I am not sure if King Hal wore Chuck Taylors.

Either way it was great to see and hear John giving the mother of all pep talks. So here's King Harry and friends just about to slaughter the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Something about horses, heavy armor, mud and longbowmen on a hill.

Alice in Wonderland - 2

Did I say that Sarah played the Red Queen? Here she is with AJ as the king about to start the croquet match with Alice and the White Rabbit. The poor flamingos were the mallets.

Her performance was almost frightening, but thankfully Alice did not loose her head in the end.

Alice in Wonderland - 1

Here's Janine and John from last night's performance of Alice in Wonderland. Janine played the duck and John the Gryphon. Sarah was the Red Queen.

This was one Saltworks production that happened quickly. Rehearsals started in late January, performances this past weekend. Like last year's The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, the performance was in the undercroft of Church of the Ascension. The creative geniuses at Saltworks transform a plain fellowship hall into a true performance space with a stage, lighting and sound.

Today is the day after so everyone is suffering from post production let down. As Janine said, "what will we do now for three days a week?" Well I can think of many things, thank you very much!

12th Night - Malvolio

Sarah had a great time playing Malvolio in her friend Mathilda's production of 12th Night as a school project. Like most of Shakespeare's plays it featured cross-dressing, mistaken identity, and saucy humor. Who needs a car chase when you can laugh while an arrogant charter gets cut down to size.

The cast and crew included many Saltworks friends and regulars. Rehearsals started in the fall and the production fell in-between the Kennedy Center ballet performance, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre's Shakespeare Competition, and Saltworks' Alice in Wonderland. But these kids pulled it off with aplomb.

That's a ukulele?

JS Bach on Guitar and Ukulele by Daniel Estrem

Listen to at least the first track to the melody played on the ukulele. It's where Bach meets Elvis and Blue Hawaii!

This is one of my favorite music download sites. It's called Magnatune. I like it because one can get higher quality music files. On most conventional MP3s much of the richness of the performance has been squeezed out of the digital file.

Les Sylphides

Here's the cast of our performance last week at the Kennedy Center. We weren't allowed to take photos, but one of the girls took this with her mobile phone. Shhhh!

Everyone Loves Elise!

Here's Sarah and Janine with Elise after last Sunday's performance at the Kennedy Center. Elise is my cousin Laura's youngest daughter. We had dinner together the night before. Elise was shy at first, but after a few minutes she was everyone's best friend.