Jun 30, 2016

Summer... Lots of Activities

NATURE
One of the birds built a nest on the backside of the birdfeeder I have hanging near the window of my four-season room.  I've been documenting the babies over the past week.

June 20th
June 24th
June 27th
This week both of them flew the coop.

THEATRE
I've recently attended two plays at local community theatres. Both were a bit controversial, but the actors/actresses did a great job.


“Over the Tavern” is a comedy set in Buffalo, NY during the Eisenhower years of the 1950’s and introduces the audience to the Pazinskis: Mom, Dad and their four children (Eddie, Annie, Georgie, and the hero of the play, 12-year old Rudy).  Rudy is a precocious kid who starts to question his family values and the Roman Catholic Church.  He believes God put us on Earth to “have fun” and tries to figure out why his family isn’t having any.  There is a lot of interaction with Mother Superior at school and dealings with living over a tavern owned by Dad and Grandfather. 

Some people left at intermission due to the Catholic portrayals.

“I Never Sang For My Father” is a drama that probes the epitome of a dysfunctional family… disquieting alienation that can exist between a father and son, a separation that time and old age can sometimes only deepen, despite the best intentions of both.  Gene, a college professor, has tried all of his life to find love and acceptance from his father, a successful, highly respected man, who is sometimes callous, unloving and selfish. Upon the untimely death of his mother, Gene is forced to help his father through his dark days. His sister urges Gene to break the ties for good, or else he’ll wind up as bitter and cold as their father.

The play hit some areas close to home for me that I actually cried.

 
CARS AND BALLOONS
The weather was sunny and hot, but I still ventured out to enjoy the activities offered in my area.  Two car shows and a hot air balloon festival with blues music.

Car Show sponsored by local classic car club
 
Car Show at Blues & Balloon Festival
 

STITCHY STUFF
Part 7 of the Words 2016 SAL seemed to go much faster than the previous two sections despite having to frog part of it. Who sent out the frogs?


I've finished the final section - Part 8 and am working on finishing up the border.  The frogs came to visit twice!

FREEBIES
Combine a dream and flowers, what do you get? A pretty freebie offered by DMC.



Click HERE to download the PDF.



Until next time....

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it fun watching the baby birds? It just amazes me how fast they mature and take off into life. I love going to plays put on by small theater groups. I always believe controversy is good - it gets your mind to thinking and looking at the "other side". Glad you are having weather good enough to be outdoors. It's been over 110 here almost the entire month of June -- some days were 118. Thank heaven for a swimming pool! Have a great summer. Judi in Phoenix

Denise SA said...

Some lovely stitching as usual

htimcj said...

Those birds are so cute! It looks like you are having a fabulous summer!

Robin in Virginia said...

What a variety of adventures you have been having, Meari! Those hot air balloons looks fascinating. Good for you on making progress on your cross stitch project. Sorry to hear the frogs came to visit; hope they are gone now!

Desiree Ehleiter said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures of the birds! How wonderful to be able to watch them grow. The hot air balloon festival looks like it was a lot of fun. I think they have one around here each summer. Maybe its time to get ourselves to one. Sorry the frog has been visiting, but your stitching is lovely, and the project beautiful.

Deb said...

Wow, those birds grew fast!
Love the cars. And the balloons are magnificent!
Beautiful stitching!

Unknown said...

How neat you were able to watch the baby birds as they grew! Quite an experience!
Love your stitchy updates. Especially your SAL work.
Your area seems to have a lot of opportunities to go out and explore, with or without the heat.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you've been having fun! The hot air balloons are beautiful.

Karin in CA

Unknown said...

How lovely to be able to watch the birds so close. Looks like you have been having a great time out and about.
Your stitching is fab.

Anonymous said...

I love your photos of the birds as I am wright this I am watching the birds at our feeders. As soon as I go out in the morning and put the seed out it looks like a whole buss load of them arrive and within 3 hours it is all gone. They are fun to watch!

Karen V
Fitchburg MA
USA

Katie said...

Oh the baby birds are too cute. Love your car and balloon pics. Looks like fun. Beautiful stitching. Keep it up.

Carol said...

I'm so glad your baby birds survived to fly away on their own, Meari... So many of our baby birds get eaten by raccoons or cats and never have that chance.

Really love the balloon photos--that must have been a fun day. Love the red one with the giant white flowers especially...

Lovely stitching and thank you for the link for dream--what a pretty chart!

Hope you enjoy your long holiday weekend :)

gominam said...

Love seeing all the grand cars and balloons, and of course your beautiful stitching, thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Good job on the Words SAL, Meari. I really do love the colors you are using. Looks like the car shows and hot air balloon festival were fun. They used to have a big balloon festival in Boise every summer. I think they still do, but it seems a lot smaller than in the past. A few years ago we had birds build a couple of nests in an old gas grill we weren't using. Scared the s**t out of me when they flew out at me when I wasn't expecting it. Needless to say - after summer was over, we threw the grill in the trash. It was pretty gross inside! LOL

Dorrie

Brigitte said...

So sweet to see the baby birds grow in your pictures. Birds always build a nest under our roof on a beam but it's too high to see anything. We just just hear the nestlings cry for food.
Nice stitching on Palko's Words SAL. And thanks for showing the wonderful Dream freebie.

Anonymous said...

Meari

I love your finish - it is very pretty!

I am glad that you enjoyed the 2 plays. They sound very interesting.

We have had to put our cultural enjoyments on the back burner for now. First I was recovering from my surgery and now I am back at work with an extra shift. My mommy is now recovering from her 3rd surgery and i have to help out with some extra chores.

Tara Kimberley Torme