A Little Culture...

We've had a funny week at the theater this week. I almost feel like a jinx. When we went to see the city production, which was amazing by the way, of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat-- the fire alam went off during the Grand Finale and we had to evacuate the building. We waited about 15 minutes in the intensely uncomfortable sound and then had to leave. I was sorry to hear that just a few minutes later the Fire Dept. was there and had everything corrected very quickly. People were able to re-take their seats and to see the Grand Finale in full. I wish that I had been one of those people because I really think that any town in Utah can stage a production full of talent, but I was very proud of my own little town because the show was just unbelievable from the sets to the costumes... but the talent was truly amazing.

This experience prepared me for the PMT production of Les Miserables. During the Lovely Ladies number, the electricity went out for over 40 min. A few people left, but most by far did not. The cast was at the end of contract and the show was sold out until then, so if we did not stay, we would miss it. And, it was not to be missed.

Here are some intersting facts about the show from an article that appeared in the Deseret Morning News on April 22, "First of all, this is not a touring production. PTC is the first regional company in the United States to be officially licensed by London-based producer Cameron Mackintosh to stage its own production... This all-new local production has been setting records for the Salt Lake City-based company. Even before this week's opening night, the production was already extended by six additional weeks. "It's not as if we're just extending on hope," said Morey. "We don't extend the show until the previous week is 90 percent sold out." I think people everywhere love this particular show, people in Utah certainly do.

Anyway, it was great, really great! Eponine was my favorite voice, but they were all amazing.

It has been so delightful to introduce little c to the theater this summer. She is loving it!

To love another person is to see the face of God.

Les Miserables.

Little House Box...

Maybe you don't know that when a love box arrives in your mail box, it comes all wrapped up pretty like this... perfect to give...
This large size house box, which I have not done before, will be available in

THe Love Boxes ETsy Shop

July 5th..

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful 4th with family and friends...

I'm off to celebrate...

God Bless America... From Sea to Shining SEA!!!

Little Baby Gift...

I finally made the trek down to IKEA with my mom yesterday. I had to see it atleast once. It was a bit overwhelming, but pretty fun. I liked these little tike dishes quite a bit. Each rainbow set of cups, plates or bowls cost $1.50 each and the little stuffie lion was .50. Tied up together I thought they made a cute baby gift for some new mothers in my neighborhood. (The dishes are microwave and dishwasher safe.)

Sparkling Stars...

There will be a few more Star Boxes available in the Etsy Shop today..

I made a medium size one as well that says, "God Bless America!"

LOve Boxes Etsy Shop

The Newsletter...

Alexandra's Newsletter has posted.

A House Divided...

Since I have been reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Team of Rivals, I wanted to watch this again so that I could see the sights that are mentioned in the book. I think this is an amazing program and so relevant to so much that is happening in our country now.. see it if you haven't had a chance. (available through netflix)

Liberty Forever...

These little star boxes are available in

The LOve Boxes Etsy Shop

today....

Please read every bit of the post below to find out about giveaways in July...

*** these sold out very quickly... next year I'll make more :) Thanks everyone!

All Wrapped Up...

Dearest Friend...

I promised that I would recommend a few of my favorite books appropriate to the season. This book was given to me for my birthday one year and was a favorite gift. I just love it. Women are left out of history because they were not allowed to be the major players. Abigail Adams was one of the first women to look after the rights of the "ladies" and she had the brains to do it.

Thanks to her prolific letter writing, we have some insight into the thoughts of a great patriot as she wrote to her, "Dearest Friend" and many others as well.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is where she says this, "I begin to think that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Every object is most beautiful in motion, a ship under sail, trees gently agitated with the wind, and a fine woman dancing... man was made for action." It's a good thing that she felt that way because she was a woman who was forced to work very hard in her life. She accomplished greatness.

I am so appreciative to Ms. Withey for her efforts in writing this book. I am very touched by the integrity that she has as an author. I felt that she did not try to put words or thoughts into Abigail's head, but allowed Abigail's own words and the words of the other founders speak for themselves. This is the hard work of the dedicated historian and I felt that Ms. Withey took the road less traveled and it did indeed make all the difference. Reading this book was an experience that I am very grateful to have had.

North & South...

This film has nothing to do with the Civil War, but is definitely in the spirit of period costume dramas that I adore. And, again, the BBC just does a brilliant job here. This film is based on Elizabeth Gaskell's 19th century novel of the same name; she also wrote Wives and Daughters which has a BBC production of its own.

I was especially impressed by the depth of this story which includes themes that are very relevant today. Elizabeth Gaskell was not one of the Romantic writers but has a style very similar to Charles Dickens who was born just two years after Gaskell in 1812. They were both reformers who wrote very sympathetically of those in desperate conditions.

The script in this production is tight as a drum and the acting is spot on. Don't miss this one. (available through Netflix)

The "G" is for Guts...

I am amazed at the kinds of jobs given to very young people in war. This book is about the WW2 Glider Pilots whose job it was to fly large gliders loaded with fuel, troops, ammunition, food and supplies and crash land those gliders behind enemy lines and then fight their way out only to do the whole thing again.
This book shows the resolute courage of some of those pilots who remember still, the terrible cost of liberty.

Put this book on your July reading list.

Weekend in Midway...

We had a wonderful weekend spending some time around the campfire with lots of our good friends, C and little c had a dip in the pool while I finished up a great book, and we topped the weekend off by having a beautiful luch at our favorite Park City Restaurant... Terigos. The weekend just flew by.

Pretty Pink Petunia...

Petunias are amazing these days. The no longer need "dead-heading" (which does not mean that they have to be restricted from following a certain band), they spread all over with a little Mircacle Grow and they pile up in a petunia pouf by the middle of July. I love some of the trailing varieties which people are using for window boxes and hanging baskets... I used to hate the poor common petunia, but now it's a favorite as it really works for the Granny Chic garden I'm going for. It's just a lot of color for your money.

More Lilies...

Luau...

Help! I am hosting a Luau for sixty people. After spending $20 on these leis, I have eighty dollars left in my budget. I already have plates, napkins etc... I just don't know what to make that is delish, cheap and really easy.

Dear Frankie...

It takes me until about 2 years after a film has gone to DVD for me to see it these days. I finally saw this film last night and I'm so glad that I actually watched it because I've been short on time and I almost just sent it back unseen.

It is a very well written, well acted film about a mother who leaves a brutal marriage to protect her son. She is unable to tell him the truth about his father and so she pretends that the boys' father is in the navy and she writes the boy letters that come from his father's travels all over the world.

This is such a sweet film. I really enjoyed it and I don't want to give away any more so you'll just have to see it.

Keepers...

Some books are borrowers and some are keepers. By that I mean, some books are meant to be checked out at the library and returned and some books are meant to be purchased for your home library, kept and treasured. This is a treasured book. Beautifully written, and very straightforward, Benson Bobrick allows the Founding Parents to speak in their own words instead of making thoughts and assumptions for them as is so popular with many historians. When you finish this book, you will know the founders better, you will understand their values and you will see the seeds of a new kind of thought begin to take root and grow into the concept of self-government.

Over the next few weeks, I plan to share just a few of my favorite American histories with you. I believe that we ought to know the history of our country and even (this is where I'm pathetic) the history of our world. We can't possibly know enough about our past. I think that more than any other learning, learning about our past as a nation and as a human race, can help us avoid terrible mistakes in the future. I love this quote by Edward Gibbon, an Englishman and historian who wrote one of the world's very important books, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past."

Target...

Someone at Target likes the 4th of July. I love it myself and thought I might check and see what red, white and blue they might have. I did a "July" search and found 123 products. They've got red rubies and flag plates, you can buy a costume and dress up as Ben Franklin, they actually have all your colonial needs and if you get really in the spirit of things... you can dress your kid up as Uncle Sam.... (no I'm not kidding) and you can get all of this stuff with out even leaving your chair. Amazing... If little c ever wants to be in the parade, I know where I'm looking first.

Red, White & Blue...

If there is anything better than candy, it has to be holiday candy. Tootsie has taken quite the long time to jump on the holiday candy band wagon, but when they did... just look! Aren't these just sooooo fun!

Lily of the Valley...

I finished painting this box yesterday. It only needed that last coat of varnish but it was difficult to work that in when with swimming lessons and two ballet rehearsals. Little c and her cousin J make such beautiful little Autumn Leaves. The recital is based on the 4 seasons... it's been so fun.