Linen dress

     I love our MCC thrift shop!  Every week a certain color tag is on sale. Stuff is half-price and clothes are 50 cents. No kidding!

 I'm always scouting out the sale-colored tags.

Love the linen, love the price, it's my size, take it home. 

(Always ignore the dryclean only and don't bother to try it on.)

Here I am talking to myself, which I
am apt to do--and all the more since Blaze is gone--
" Very unflattering, obviously already been shrunk."
(It's an odd length, neither short nor long--only my legs didn't get in the picture.) Trust me, I won't wear it!

No problem.
I love a new project.

The linen was fine and slid around alot so my cutting
was all wacky but after it makes it's debut
it will get plenty of love to even out the imperfections, I'm sure.

Much better on my vintage couch

 then my vintage bod!

Come on over, I'll take you shopping at 

my favorite Thrift!

Zinnia Girl!

Oh the drama!

This is a little outdated, but let me tell you about the highlight of our winter!  



ACTT--Artistic Community Teen Theater-- or so we called ourselves--had it's last two-act play directed by Zinnia Girl! 
The name of the play was "Earnestly Earnestine" by Craig Sadaro.
It tells the tale of a wealthy business man who learns that his niece,
(whom he thought had died, along with her parents) is alive!
She is his only living relative and he is anxious to find her. It soon 
becomes clear that there are far too many girls who lay claim to the
right to become his heir...

the one and  the only         Earnestine! 
"I mean, the million
bucks! A girls got to
look out for herself!"
Devious schemes, 
fast action, colorful
characters--and some outright screaming--the perfect teen production.
And they really owned it this year!
 (Especially after I  got permission to drop the kissing!)
Many times they came up with solutions and ideas themselves. That was so satisfying to me; some of these kids have been in my dramas for 4 years now and it was fun to see them flourishing on stage where once they trembled.  It was also very helpful since, truth be told, many times I had the distinct impression that I had no idea what I was doing! Like how to make my own peace loving daughter punch someone cold. All kids were on stage many times trying to figure this dilemma out, until one perfectly timed day, a home school mom (who actually took a Drama class in college--eek!) came to the rescue with excellent advice for a convincing punch. 




It's fun to reminisce with these pictures thanks to Viva La Vida Productions! (used with permission)

--

Look at these kids! I love 'em. Totally the best year ever!

And the play was so entertaining! We got such delightful feedback from the audience; they loved it and laughed uproariously and clapped enthusiastically.  I know I laughed many times during practices. Yea, it was good. It's a happy note to end on.

As much as I've enjoyed the last four years, this is the end of the adventure. I always get overwhelmed and I usually get sick. 
I started this all for Blaze, so she would have an opportunity to act and I had a contract with my husband to quit when she graduated. 
Besides, I could never do it without her organizational skills, mom-reminders, tech savvy, and  group text communications! Literally my co-director!

     Go find yourself some teens and you'll have drama--
          put on a play and it'll be the very best kind.

  Bravo!  Zinnia Girl  (with Curtain Manager)

She's Off!

Mr. Tucker was so proud to be invited upstairs
but his tail stopped wagging the minute he entered
her room--Blaze was packing.



She wished she could take him along. Mr. Tucker the Camp Dog.
But the idea of stowing away didn't last long.

It seems unreal--you people with toddlers and tweens, listen up--
how can she be leaving already?

All those times I wished for a little piece of quiet
to have all for myself, to follow my own dreams...
and now the house is so, so empty and there's  
plenty of time and far too much quiet.
In a flood of emotions that seem to 
flash in my soul every childhood recollection,
both sweet days and hard,
I want to take back all those wishes.



Don't get me wrong--
we are so proud of her,
excited for her,
we want her to fly--
to soar!
But when that little red car with the light on top
disappeared over the hill
we sat on the porch and cried.
Who knew it would be so hard?



Mr. Tucker had to be persuaded to come out of the rain.
No, Blaze isn't coming home 
and there is no use waiting in the alley.

Letting Go,
     Zinnia Girl!

graduation party

Last Sunday I sat down at the piano
and played "Pomp and Circumstance"
but only once since
big fat tears sprang to my eyes.

We held a graduation party
in our home

for Blaze.

Even the rain couldn't spoil the special hours!
Thanks to our home meteorologist (that would be Hero),
we had plenty of time to move our dream plans
from the garden to the house.

Photo collage represents every year of her life!

We hosted a drop in and people came

at a perfectly steady pace;

laughing and talking

filled the rooms;

radiating joy.

We felt so loved 

by the many that made the effort

to join the celebration
and hung around to be enjoyed!

My bro and crew

Both sides of the family,
Cousins that drove nine hours to stay 30,
Great Aunts from Lancaster,
Grammy and Poppy with extra chairs
huge bouquet of peonies and M&Ms,




neighbors,
friends from different parts of our life--
discovering connections.

'Wish you could have been here

and if you were

I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

We couldn't settle down 

to go to bed that night,

just lingering in that happy state.

It was a lot of work getting ready---
the house had it's best spring cleaning in years--
We washed windows,
painted the fence,
Hero even shampooed the carpet!

Niece's artwork and busy sis!

Then came the decorating,
with balloons,
chalkboard signs,
blue jars and buttons, 
wooden boxes and
battery operated candles
(a firefighter lives here, remember)....

I hated to clean it all up.

MCC Home School Graduates!

She's been framed!

The color of the day!

Grandpa reacts to face-timing his grandaughter while on her way to Greece!

Some very fine people fill our couch!
(my mom and dad to the right with my dad's sis, Aunt G and Uncle G)

Her first gem!

There are still bouquets and gifts
and memories scattered 
throughout the house.

Feeling incredibly blessed 
with family and friends
and our very own graduate,
                                    Zinnia Girl!