Upside Down Glasses

For some odd reason the thought of upside down glasses has stuck with me over the past few years. I don't even remember how the conversation started, but it was Christmas Eve. My cousin stated that people either kept their drinking glasses upside down or right side up in the cupboard, depending on where they lived....years ago that is. So, this is how it goes...if you lived in the city - glasses are right side up. If you lived in the country...glasses are upside down. Why? Simple..if you lived in the country you would not want your glasses full of bugs and eeek...mice. So, upside-down they go. I think every time I grab a glass or cup out of the cupboard I am now reminded of those who came before me. Those women who's lives were difficult but persevered, mice and all. I hear stories of my great-grandmother who lived in a newspaper tent with dirt floors until they were able to afford to build a house. And I wonder, no..I know she must have thought about the future generations of her family. Because we do that now...we sometimes think of those that will be here when we are not. So, she must have thought of us, of the women and little girls that would follow her and how her actions would change their lives. Did she know that through all of her sacrifice and struggle we would still carry part of her with us. Each one of us...for there are quite a few of us "girls"....carry with us a part of her spirit. I try to remind myself of it occasionally. I do not want to forget that she thought of us, perhaps when she swept that dirt floor and lay down at night under the immense blackness of a country sky and dreamt about what we would become. Could she dream, did she dream that we would be..mothers, businesswomen, teachers, community leaders, and more, that her great-great-granddaughter would dance across a stage with bright lights above and loving smiles below...that all of this has come to be because of her. That we will continue to grow and learn, change and become all that is meant to be. Each generation becomes stronger...more removed from newspaper tents...yet our glasses are still upside down.

Daisy's Garden..still growing!

Here is what is happening today...Saturday, June 6th

Daisy's Garden..Begins to Grow

Kenna and I were off one warm spring morning to select plants and seeds for the new garden. We decided on corn, squash, cucumbers(two varieties), strawberries, tomato's(four varieties), green beans, carrots, basil(two), cilantro, lemon balm, rosemary, parsley, peppermint, chocolate mint, and watermelon.

Here is our newly planted garden, April 25, 2009.

Daisy's Garden

Daisy is Kenna's very sweet calico kitty. She is loving, cute and a bit of a pest...She cries and won't stop if her food bowl gets low...absolutely hates the rain and acts like she is going to melt if she gets a drop on her head. She loves to watch Kenna take a bath?! I know...she doesn't like the rain, yet will stand with her front paws on the side of the tub and play in the water. Like most of our pet's she has a few quirks. Daisy was Kenna's first pet...picked up for free in the dusty backyard of family who was giving her away. She was little, cute, very dirty and full of fleas! We have now had her for almost 6 years...she is still dirty, but no fleas. She loves to take what we call, "dirt baths". She rolls around in the dirt until she is completely dusty. Needless to say she spends most of her time outside...except of course when it rains.

So, Daisy's life was going along quite peacefully...until one hot August day when Biscuit came to live with us! Biscuit, is Kenna's much loved, sweet, wild, quirky, naughty, and sometimes a bit smelly puppy. Daisy was not happy. Her backyard oasis ceased to exist. It now belong to a brown puppy who was determined to destroy every bit of it...and she almost did. (but that is another story). When we decided to plant a new garden this spring, we used our side(gated) yard. Once all the weeds and junk were cleared away and the new plants in the ground, Daisy decided this was her new haven. That is how our little patch became "Daisy's Garden". Oh, and I guess I forgot to mention....Biscuit is now allowed in. It is a Biscuit Free Zone

I Am A Tigger...You're An Eeyore

Did you know that every basic personality type can be represented in a Winnie the Pooh Character? This was the discussion at our 100 Acre Wood last weekend! And I have to say...the Eeyore in our house, did not want to be an Eeyore. I won't use any names in this blog..to protect the innocent. Or, at least to protect the Eeyore. Now, some of you may not be very familiar with these characters, but they are all very charming in their own ways. One little person that lives in our 100 Acre Wood is definitely a Tigger. This person was not so sure she was a Tigger, but was genetly assured...she was! There is a song that goes something like this..."Everybody loves Tigger, because Tiggers are wonderful friends, they're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, etc..." Now, that should have erased all doubt about who is a Tigger.
Back to Eeyore. Everyone loves Eeyore, but Eeyore thinks that the world is crashing in around him and he is helpless to change it. Let's just say, Eeyore's veiw of the world is not always so cheery. And that my friends...is exactly why Eeyore needs to live with Tigger!
Now you might be saying "Wait a minute..isn't there someone else in the 100 Acre Wood, who you have forgotteen?" Well, the results are not conclusive, but there is a fairly strong possibility that the other one is a Rabbit. Rabbit is, well the buffer between Eeyore and Tigger. And..as the author of this blog...I can't give you anymore then that. I must protect Rabbit's reputation.

Nutcracker 2008 #1

Arabian Attendant

Make Up Time




Well, we have successfully survived another year of Nutcracker auditions, and 4 months of rehearsals! Kenna is moving up in the world, although still considered "a little kid" she has extended her stage time exponentially this year! She is an attendant to the "Arabian" dancers, which means she scurries about bringing various items onto the stage and sits quietly while they dance. She loves this role! Of course, because she is on the stage much longer...a remarkable 3 minutes and 52 seconds! (She will tell you exactly if you ask.) But, also because as she sits for most of her 3 minutes and gets to see the audience!! No more scurrying around as a Mouse or behind a background screen as a Cherub!


I am always impressed by how kind and helpful the adult professionals are to the kids. The children are often in their way as they shuffle about back stage. But, they are always treated with kindness even when they are standing too close to the "wings" and about take out the Sugar Plum fairy as she exits! In fact I think a couple of them have gotten knocked over on their mouse tails. Even though, they have been picked up their backsides dusted off and an "I'm sorry, are you okay?" is always extended. They truly make this a wonderful experience for all the children.


I am not sure how much longer Kenna will want to participate in this performance, but I know we will miss it a bit when she decides she is done. It has become a sort of marker of the passing of time. It seems it was just June and she was auditioning again. I watch her stand in line with a big number stuck to her back, as she shuffles off with the others to a room with a closed door and no way to know what is going on. I believe I have more butterflies then she does. Children are brought out one group at a time as roles are given out.


And..so here we are again and today is the first day of a weekend of performances. I helped with dress rehearsal and will be back on chaperon duty tonight. Didn't I just do this? Although this year, Kenna has been moved to the room with the "big girls" and stares wide eyed as the "big girls" dress and prepare. Once again Kenna is very excited and I have added a few pictures of last night's dress rehearsal. Today is long day, beginning with a 11:30 a.m. theatre call and not ending until around 9:30 tonight! I will have one tired Arabian Attendant!!

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul."

Martha Graham 1834

Election Day!

Kenna on Election Day with her "A Vote Today Rocks Tomorrow" Shirt.

Kenna has been quite interested in the whole election process this year. As time went by and we received more and more info in the mail and on the news she listened and read everything quite intently. She asked thought provoking questions such as..."What is a proposition?" She also asked what Proposition 8 was all about. So, knowing there was no way around it I tried the best I could to explain it to her. She then replied, "If it is a "no" will I have to marry a girl?" She often watched the news at night and would ask questions about our presidential candidates. It became quite common for us to have conversations on the way to school about why we vote and what it means. The privileges we have in this country and others who are not as blessed to have a voice. We talked about how although "our guy" may win or not win, it was the ability to choose that was important. I found that through her questions and comments that I grew even more appreciative of the freedom that we have. Kenna began to understand what it means to be "free" and what that costs those who protect our freedom. She listened and she cared. I've been taking her with me to vote for the last 4 or 5 years. I believe it is important for her to see and to understand the gift of choice. So, of course she went with me this year, the first year that she understood what was happening. I let her stand in front of me as I marked the ballot. With hushed tones I explained what she was seeing. She watched with quiet concentration as black bubbles began to cover the ballot. I hope it is something she remembers someday. She is young, but I am always amazed at her sensitivity and deep understanding of the world around her. She has begun to experience situations that are not always easy and I cannot always rescue her from. I pray that she grows strong because of her experiences and I try to guide her carefully through them. Tuesday, November 4th was an important day for many reasons. For me though, it was the day that I saw my own freedom, and hopes through the eyes of my child.

"The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)