Beauty and the Beast

Pardon me while I brag a little. Last night was the first of three performances of this famous Disney musical by our high school drama and ensemble students.

Sets, costumes, lighting, singing, dancing, and acting were all superb...especially since this is the first year we have had a drama department. And, we have a state-of-the-art brand spanking new Fine Arts Center!

Am I excited about this? You bet. This special senior is in the play, and did a fab job playing a villager and a napkin! Not that I am a bit prejudiced...



Ansley had so much fun performing, and gets to do it all over again tonight and tomorrow afternoon. She really has talent!

I'd like a cup or two of that energy, please.

This senior year is gonna fly by, baby girl. Enjoy it all! We love ya to the moon and back.

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9/11 Memorial

Despite the long overnight bus ride, the three tour buses arrived at the 9/11 Memorial pretty much on time for our ticketed entry.  We only had a few minutes to view the outside fountains and plaques before we entered the museum:

This is the view on the Right of two rescued beams:

The students were very respectful while touring through all the exhibits.  Since some of them are 9th graders, they were babies when this tragic event occurred back in 2001:

These are the very stairs used, or attempted to use, by so many in trying to escape the carnage:

Segment of radio and television antennae, North Tower:

Memorable symbol of the brave firefighters who died trying to save those trapped in the carnage:

View of our group gathering near the Survivors Tree on the grounds outside after touring the Museum:

This museum is a must see if you are ever in New York.  We must never forget this attack that killed almost 3,000 people, and severely affected too many families...and touched the hearts of people around the world.

God Bless America!

NYC and back!

Oh man, what a trip this was!

We left Mayberry on time Wednesday at 5, drove to our dinner destination in Asheville, and then the NOT fun began.  Bus #3 had a problem, so we sat until a replacement could be brought up from Atlanta, to be re-loaded with kids/bags, and off we go at 3a!  Of course this through off the whole Thursday schedule...but we adjusted.

Most of my photos are still in the camera, but here is one with my family all gussied up to go see Wicked...which was wicked good:

And another of us on the Hudson River boat tour, wearing our Forced Family Fun tee shirts:

We had two teens, mentioning NO names, who refused to (briefly) don the shirt for one stinking photo, till the baby mama said that if baby girl refused, she would have to wear the shirt ALL.DAY.LONG.  They know who doles out the dollars when they wanna buy something!  Ha.

There were no breakdowns heading south, but it was still a loooong trip.  Sleeping sitting up is practically impossible for me, but worth the inconvenience to share this wonderful experience with my gals.  I was in bed at 7:30, which is totally foreign to this body, but very welcome last night.

I will post more photos later.  Laundry comes first.  Bugger.

NY was great, but there's no place like HOME!

New York state of mind!

Internet Image

This is one of the most recognized images in the world, and one I will be seeing...soon!

This afternoon, three tour buses will depart Mayberry carrying the high school band and chorus for three fun-filled days in the Big Apple.  I am one of the 42 chaperones onboard.  Call me crazy, but I'm going!  All.Night.Long.  On a bus...with lots of teenagers.

Also going are Haley, Amy, and Faith, along with Ansley, Macey and lil Haley.  How could I let these gals go without me?!  No way.

The kids won't be performing anywhere while we are there, unlike the last band bus trip that MM and I took when Haley was in high school.  They will, instead, be participating in some workshops to sharpen their various skills.  Chaperones will be on their own in Times Square during the workshops...yay to that!

While in the "city that never sleeps," we will visit the 9/11 Memorial, enjoy a Radio City Music Stage Door Tour, visit Lincoln Center, China Town/Little Italy, take a boat tour, take a driving tour, AND see a Broadway play!  And walk our toes off!

I am hoping my BlogPress app will work (I deleted it/re-loaded/tested it last night and it worked); otherwise, I will only be posting via FB until we return home (tired) on Sunday.

All prayers for safe travel, sanity, and sore feet will be greatly appreciated!  And I also ask that all students behave, and not sneak out of the hotel, and get into trouble.  Amen.  TYVM.

Later, y'all!

Lavender Tea party

Marcie, Joy, Cathy, and me at the Lavender Tea party Saturday.

Testing the blogger phone app. Again.


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Prom and party

Haley invited me to go over to the resort for prom photos after I had attended an afternoon tea, so I jumped at the chance to see Ansley and some of her friends all gussied up.  Here is the prom beauty in her gorgeous gown, with lucky Grammie!  Sniff, sniff...this is her final HS prom.  I don't know how this child got so OLD!

She isn't old, but Cathy and I gave Joy a surprise birthday party recently to mark a milestone in her life...

She was a tad surprised when little Miss Eva walked into my house, singing that famous birthday song!  We got her good!!!  Sorry about that open mouth shot, Joy.  Stuff happens.

May all our surprises be this much fun...complete with good BBQ and cake.  Yeah baby!

So today is wash day; tomorrow is pack day...for me.  Only.  MM isn't going.  He will be left at home alone...with two kitties.

I don't think there will be any parties going on while I'm away, unless MM throws a little catnip around..

Ha.

Check back tomorrow for details.

Life is good, y'all!

BEEware of dandelions!

Image credit:  free Internet stock

I just learned today that dandelions provide early food for bees.  I never even thought about bees when I pulled two from near my front door the other day.  I am sooo sorry, guys.  I won’t destroy any more.  Spread that wonderful pollen, and create your delicious honey that we love.


So now we have been home (yay!) for just over a week, and had a few visiting family members here and a couple of birthday parties to celebrate.  More on those later.

Lynne, moi, Macey, Haley, Ansley, and Beth had a great time touring beautiful Gibbs Gardens last Tuesday.  This place is definitely on the list for a return visit.

Company is now gone, MM is back to fixing equipment of all sorts, and clearing a field for some friends.  And I now need to get back to my Moho emptying and cleaning duties.  Blah…that’s no fun, but its gotta get done, and I’m the woman for the job.  Clearing fields…men’s work.  Check.

Have yourselves a dandy day, and do your part to take care of our honey bee population!

Almost home!

Machines, as with the body, are only as strong as its weakest link. A mere fuse literally stopped us last night, fortunately as we were exiting the interstate.

Long story short, MM was able to diagnose and fix the problem, although it was a bugger to find.

By then it was very late, so since it was not a busy ramp and we were well out of the way of anyone, we crawled in bed and slept.

We are now going through Atlanta, and seeing some crazy driving! Home soon.

I'm grateful that MM is an excellent driver, but I'm still gonna be spotting for him!

Have yourselves a ginger peachy day. Ours will be sweet in about two hours!


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Friday stuff

Imagine Missy's exposed tummy, while reclining in my chair...

BlogPress fails to post one measly photo AGAIN! Urrrggghhh

Photo deleted. Second try:

Ha...y'all can see how much help Missy is being today. "Leave a message" seems to be her attitude, as usual.

My guy got all the patio painting done yesterday. Yaaaay! We are cleaning, washing, and stowing today, and plan to depart N in the morning. Hip, hip hooray to that!

My weather app shows me snow is expected in Mayberry Thursday. It won't last, if it happens at all. Oh well...

OK, break is over. Laundry is calling me. Back to the fun.

Happy Friday, y'all!

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