Events

OK so it isn't even 'week two' and already I have something to say? Well yes. We seem to have managed to create a busy weekend. It is amazing what happens when the dust eventually settles a bit. First of we managed to find a production of Gilbert and Sullivan (silly Victorian songs and dressing up), at Longwood Gardens. I thought that this would be fun...........OK here is the deal with any Gilbert and Sullivan they ALWAYS have one catchy tune, you get a long winded love situation that resolves and everyone goes home happy. The villain is ALWAYS the best person in it.

 

So with all that in mind and feeling that after last week we needed some jollying along, I booked the tickets. Well outdoor performances have their down side........they are outside. Luckily it didn't rain although there was a 30% chance it might and I had checked and it looked threatening. But the seats were good as people were saving themselves for the Saturday night performance, of perfect weather. So off we go and found seats, moved people out of said seats and pointed out where theirs were, had nice chats with the ancients about us (always the same crowd, ancients and Fozards!)

 

It started about 8.30pm had a 20minute intermission and went on and on and on and we got home at 11.00pm. It felt like a marathon and something that we had survived rather than been taken out of ourselves. When I found my self mid way through, looking at starts and enjoying that more than what was on the stage, I knew that maybe sitting in the back garden might have been a better option.

 

But here is the thing. The leading lady had the most amazing voice. These performers are doing this in their spare time, they continue a long tradition and OK the lighting was delayed and poor, as was the sound picking up the chorus. But truly the main gang were outstanding and we have a new Gilbert under our belt so to speak and it was a shared event, that we will fondly look back on...........at least we weren't bitten to death!

 That would be Isaac's Gilbert and Sullivan face that he is pulling or his alter ego, Colonel Ringlet (as we like to call him!) So this is us at Longwood waiting for the beginning.

See, quite good seats! That central area is the stage, normally a water fountain display..........that we could have stayed for afterwards once the show was over...........er no thanks! But would have been funny if they had started the fountain show early!

 



As to the other events, we had the most fantastic night with Moore/Rogers et al. They came for an impromptu end of year celebration/bbq and we had such fun. We literally laughed our cares away..........now that is priceless and a complete treasure! Thank you Moore/Rogers for the that one.

 Louie and Paddy doing interesting things with duck tape!

 Isaac and I pretending we are in a photo booth!

 Think I come out of it better!

 Finished articles of said duck tape items

 So everyone can see the two tone natural hair that I have! It really is that colour and no I do not dye it like this.

The Boys!

 



The weekend was sandwiched with..............the tree house. Some background, last year we had a tree fall down in a storm, along side the pool. This tree was quite large and costly to remove. The cutting of the stump and grinding also costly, so we skipped that bit. All of a sudden we had a tree house site! Louie started on this one as they were taking away the fallen tree.

 

After much deliberation, the tree house started to take on a life of it's own. We thought that Brian would help and in deed he did, the master worker outer, came up with an ingenious plan of not building on top of the stump but incorporating it  into the house, like a table thus lowering the height of the whole structure. (Our tree house in the IOM was a tad too high!!!!, so learnt that lesson well) So this weekend after some conversation from Louie and maybe that 'build your tree house' book I bought some weeks ago, might have had something to do with this..........wood was bought and construction began.

 

All boys joined in and I was supervisor and consultant. They did the most magnificent job and this is the best tree house ever. I love it and am so proud of all three of them! So pleased that they did this and it was a real effort by all three.

 

We have many names for this structure, like 'temporary wooden structure' to those in officialdom. Maybe 'Stump House' (thanks to Dianne for that), The Pavilion (that's Damian's name) or his other one 'lighting bolt tree house'. Or the guy in the lane who complimented Damian on his Fort, 'nice Fort Dude', but surely the best is Louie's .....The Tree House...............sometimes things are just as they seem. Isaac doesn't have a name for it................

 The frame

 Actually measuring and taking his time. All those who knew the previous incarnation of this person know this is a new trait!

 Setting the roof up.......they worked faster than I was prepared for.!

 All the players

 Isaac alone on stump drilling.............yeah wee bit dangerous but what's a bit of danger to this crowd!!!

 Wow that looks like a drop cloth or a sheet........that's the

 ROOF

 Finishing touches

The very proud builders!!!! Well Done guys you have done a brilliant job and let the wars begin for territorial rights!

Week One

This is week one of the holidays for us. OK I am a bit previous because technically it is the eve of the first week. Maybe that indicates what a challenge this has been. It is always the same. Day one you think horray, then something happens and you think huh? then Day two and it's a complete disaster and you think, is it me? and then Day three you realize that, no it isn't you and freedom is over as you know it for the next 3 months and two that the kids need to acclimate to the new regime, in this case, Mum!

 

Now don't get me wrong, I love my children very much and they are wonderful but changing gear is hard for all concerned. I think we are through the initial teething and onto, 'yes I know you are bored but...........'. Actually Isaac has a stack of books to read and Louie has almost finished his summer reading already!

 

It is funny though to have this complete change if gear but I think it is safe to say that all of us need some occupation! (as I type this Louie is using his rail ticket punch repeatedly, which is a surprisingly annoying activity as the punch could do with some wd40! and now he is onto tap dancing and now onto singing..........ah he has stopped and now is reading....he is actually waiting for me to read to him, currently we are onto Bill Bryson although Lou does laugh hysterically when this is read to him, it might not calm this giddy kipper down! for sleep..........)

 

Talking of occupation, I have started on the project promised to boys, the Dr Who scarves. This is for Christmas presents but as it is a number of years since I have been knitting, this could take a while, for me to do two of them, so I decided that I would begin this in the summer holidays. What I have learned from this project so far, is that I need glasses! Not too dire, just a small prescription but enough that I notice I need them and they are on their way as we speak. Need to see! But here is scarf number one, so far

.

Isaac is very excited about the scarf knitting and just grins like a maniac every time he sees me knitting! I suppose this isn't bad progress for two days of knitting...........

 

Now onto a more random subject. As I was winding down for the summer I happened to be strolling in the garden and looking at the Beech Tree. I noticed with some alarm that it is oozing.........agh not more tree problems!!!!!!!. It really doesn't look nice at all, so I decided that I would email dear George.

 

Dear George is George Hudler from Cornell University who studied Beech Trees for 10 years with the advent of sudden die back appearing in them and effectively killing so many of them. His study has been so helpful and has  actually found ways to halt the disease and save many, many trees. (Amazing what the net can give you!) So when I first noticed that our lovely Beech planted 1876, looked like it had sudden die back, I contacted George and he gave me invaluable information on what to do, mostly he was a voice of reason and calm and practical advice (that for the record, seems to be working).

 

When I saw the oozing, I again contacted him and he told me that this was quite normal for this time of year, sap is at it's highest flow and that the tree probably sustained cracks from Hurricane Sandy. These cracks are very small and the flow will slow and maybe even stop altogether, as we go into a hotter drier season. So phewee for the Beech and we just continue to watch her. Dear George we do love you!!!! What I love about this is that he has taken the time to explain it to me every stage, that I come across and is never too busy to respond and he often does it straight away. Really nice I'd say! I am certainly learning about trees, completely fascinating!!

 

On an even more random note, there really isn't anything as queer as folk. (This is a UK saying and not about sexual orientation but about how strange people are!). So the other week I dyed my hair and you saw some of the results and heard the stories. Well the upshot is that it lasted all of a week and 5 days! It was meant to last longer. Obviously I have Teflon hair and coloring it, isn't for me or rather it! So now I am back to how I was, just rakishly short hair and groovy minus any color around the sides and mixture of grey/white/dark on top. Since the dying incident, I have been complimented on my hair and how I have managed to dye it grey/white and sort of darkish! (too dumb founded to respond to that one) Wow is my reply this is just natural, to the commenters surprise and amazement. Then I am treated to a long explanation of how they would never let the dye out of their hair, well not at least until they are 70! But it's fine on me as it is SO white not a yucky grey........herm I think that is a compliment. Then there are those that didn't comment on the blue hair but now that it is not blue any more, they are disappointed that I have stopped coloring it, as they liked it better! See what I mean about folk? What's that my dad says "you can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people, all of the time........................" It is astounding that hair can be such a talking point!

 

I wonder what fantastic delights week two has in stall for me! I'm sure you can't wait to hear about it all.........I might even leave the children in a daring manner and let their Dad find entertainment for them. Oh the joys of summer, how can we stand it.!



Friday!

Well it has been a crazy week. I definitely needed today to unwind. (That being Sunday) Friday the scene was ramped up again by Isaac's school presentation. We had cunningly fooled him into thinking that we wouldn't be there. So he got up Friday morning unsuspecting at 6.05am as normal. I gave him his traditional birthday cake...see photo and wished him a most happy 'last of school day'. It was raining heavily as Hurricane Andrea was moving up the coast and we just got the rain.............but it was pouring as he slopped off down the street...that did cause me pause, then we hurriedly got ready and with two cars (as we were going to be transporting his school friends back here after school in a sort of birthday celebration kind of thing.) So there we were sat in the hall for the assembly and he did look a bit stunned. He does that look so well. But it was a good thing we went and saw him get his certificate, that he gave to me today (Sunday) in a crumpled heap from the bottom of the school bag! Ah lovely!

 

Thursday and Friday nights had been dress rehearsal for Louie, also in the pouring rain...luckily costumes survived and we made it on time. Then on Saturday we had to be at the School where the recital was later that day. We had to be there at 11.30am for final run through and we were there until 6.00pm. Shows at 1 and 4. It was wonderful and although they haven't had as much practice time as normal, they pulled together the most wonderful show and Louie was such a professional. He had 5 numbers for each show! His biggest achievement (according to him!).....zombie makeup. He didn't get in the line in time for the first show.......but made it for the last. PHEWEE. They joined the finale of Thriller and Louie was an audience dancer and managed to scare some unsuspecting girls  ..........lots of giggling and fun by all!

 This is Friday morning and birthday cake for Isaac. A tradition that we started when on hols in France during TT week and it also always being his birthday when we were away, we never managed to find a cake in France but found lots of croissants! His favorite!

 Dress Rehearsal and Ho down Alan Copeland Rodeo. This was a ballet dance that he did with his group.

 Remember this is practice and he is just making sure he doesn't drop her.!

 He loved rehearsal as he could do the sound with Miss Heather and what a blast he had! He didn't want to go home and it was 8.00pm !

 Another round of practice this time to Saturday Night Fever. A tap dance and for this the girls carry him of .....very cool

 Just practicing the foot work

 Isaac at School Friday morning and trying not to look at us! He is at the front of the hall receiving his certificate.

 This is back stage first show, a complete no no to take photos back stage but couldn't resist  the group hug before they went on and did 'Some Nights' (a lyrical/modern dance that they performed at the University in February), they opened the show with this number and as always it was awesome!

 Zombie!

 Happy Zombie after show with a compass in a box from Julie

 And a wonderful snail from Isaac

Now we can sit back and relax! Bring on summer!!!!! Not sure what blogging will look like for the next month or so..........I intend to be quite boring and have no plans to do anything. Although again tonight was reminded about that promise ...DR WHO scarf. The things we say. So now in the heat of summer I will be knitting. Suppose it will keep me out of trouble!

Big Day

For those of you who didn't know, today Isaac turned 15 and Louie Graduated from his small school in the Borough of West Chester, and now will be heading to the same school as Isaac in September. It was a massive day, for all concerned and both boys have been anxious about today. Isaac has been busy with the end of year exams and was quite disappointed that today of all days he had to share his birthday with a social studies exam! He was lucky and finished by 10.30am and was doubly lucky in that I arranged for a dear friend to pick him up from school!

 

Graduating for Louie has been quite hard. The West Chester Friends school has been wonderful for Louie, close to home wonderful Quaker education and faculty that love him and he loves too. But he is ready to move on and happy about joining Isaac and he will I am sure flourish like him too. But not before they do Graduation.!!!!!!!!!!! Tissues at the ready.

 

We all know it will be tough. I went last year and was quite taken aback how affecting it was, they get quite emotional these affairs and having a child in the process is really quite a thing! Louie was on the facing bench in the Meeting House and I had told him that I had put tissues in his sporran. He was completely in my line of sight and the emotions played across his face. So everytime he went for a tissue to dab some tears away, that set me off! I did cry silently.! Although I realise I hold my breathe in those situations and there was some gasps from me..........hope they don't come out on the dvd of it!  Especially when they read out some of his essay on moving from another country and how it made him feel....'missing the elements of the place and all those left behind.'........yes that did for me.

 

But we are so proud of him and yesterday he did his solo tap dance in the end of year play and yes I am sorry to say STOLE THE SHOW! It was wonderful. Talk about end on a high.

Isaac has also made us so very proud and on Friday we will go to his school, Delaware Valley Friends School and see him presented with an award for being such a good host to visiting students. That really is wonderful, he loves his school and has done so well this year, it is so good, just to sit back for a little moment and enjoy his success and see that he can communicate his enthusiasm to other prospect students and be able to be welcoming and inclusive is a testament to him growing as an individual, that he should be very very proud of!

OK enough of that! here are the photos and comments.

 This is the last day of school for Louie

 As he is performing in the play, he decided he would wear his 'Gene Kelly' hat to school! He danced his version of singing in the rain...the play was on American Greats............of course Gene Kelly is one and as luck would have it, a boy just so happened to have the very dance for the show, to give that special Gene magic, or should say Louie magic!

 Singing Happy Birthday to the Principle at the ceremony where they received alumni pins....lots of singing at this school!

 Graduation Day!

 I can't believe we look this bad, but as it is about Louie just focus on him!

 Julie has come to soak up all the fun of this week.

 Quick they're getting away!

 OK maybe not, quick line up before the meeting house cry-a-thon...I mean Graduation ceremony

 Wow you are so smart!

 Another class shot

 "please mum you are tiring me out!"

 The long walk

 All of a sudden it is serious.

 Mean while back at the ranch

 This was the change of gear and onto the birthday Boy!

 parcels from home are always fun!

 Lots of fun from this parcel

 puzzle box from Julie

 Grad congrats for Louie

 engrossed boys

 Look closely, there is lipstick on his cheek, that receiving line after the graduation was serious! We went down the line congratualting them and wishing them well. It was hard to not be moved by that! What a day of highs.

 Loving Sherlock

 Revenge !!!!!Damian wouldn't move out of shot

 Hugs

 afternoon tea

 Cakes!!!!!

 Promise this is not contrived they really are quite sweet, I had to get a snap so we can remember this one!

 ah!

 

Alright I will do my solo dance for you...........and he did and it was wonderful even though it was the size of a stamp that he danced in, for Marge and Meghan, Lucy and Doris and all the Fozards there. Well done boys for a really special day to remember.





 

Just so you know this was really just a day.........now for Saturday we gear up for Louie's recital. Fingers crossed for the two dress rehersals tomorrow and friday!