Day 91: Sold Out!

Our final show was a sell out!  The kids performed magnificently!  It was such a joy to be part of their lives for the past three months and to help them create an unforgettable theater experience.

The stage crew, comprised of lighting, set finishing, props, costumes and sound, worked so hard.  The show wouldn't have been nearly as good without their contributions.

The ladies of the Black Apron Brigade solved problems, fixed things, dried tears and sewed every night and Saturday for months.  I love the camaraderie, creativity and friendships.

Day 90: Performance #3

Nearly the entire day was given to the musical with the third performance tonight and the adult after party at our house.  It was another outstanding performance with many moving moments.  Everyone is exhausted and many kids are sick or getting sick.  Saturday will be an emotion filled day, particularly for the parents of seniors.

Day 89: Hooray Justin!

Today Justin accepted a new job with a firm called Draft and we are all thrilled!  Finally he has a position that will provide security, health insurance, vacation time and challenging work.  After many years of contract work, this permanent position provides a future.

The final rehearsal for Fiddler was held tonight.  Only two more performances.  The kids are tired, anxious and ready to move on to other things.  Foreign travel, Quest, exams, prom and graduation!

Day 88: Calm before the frost

The magnolias were destroyed by Monday night's freeze, but more cold nights are on the way that threaten the fruit trees and grapes.  The impact of a freeze could be devastating on our area.

Today was gorgeous and we walked ninety minutes.  We are waiting for news from Justin who finally has TWO job offers!  Strange that they had to come on the same day.  Now he must decide which is best for his future.

Tomorrow is the final dress rehearsal of the year that kicks off the closing weekend of the show.  The town is buzzing with excitement and we have heard that many people are coming back for a second time. Fiddler is certainly one of the best shows Fredonia has ever produced.  It's only possible because of the  remarkable community effort.

We topped off the evening by meeting Amy for ice cream and Pigpen dropped in to join us too.  The next week will be intense with the shows and then break down, so it was great to spend a day relaxing.

Day 87: Bird watching

This morning I pulled back my office curtains to survey the yard as I always do.  The squirrels were hanging on the bird feeders, juncos and bluejays flitted about, and the cardinals lit on a slender oak branch.  Suddenly, the male cardinal started to fly into the window again.  His feet hit, but I yelled and he flew off.

A few minutes later I turned back to the scene and there were five turkeys pecking seeds in the dirt.  In past years, a dozen or so would raid the bird feeders but we haven't seen them all winter.

Stopping on Risley St. bridge on our morning walk, we spied a pair of mallards swimming down the creek.  The male rode the first set of rapids, but the female flew over them.  He kept looking back and quacking as she walked through the shallows.   She waddled into a deeper channel and paddled on leisurely to catch up with him.

Day 86: Catt's magnolia

The temperature dropped forty degrees and freeze warnings have been issued for every night this week.  So many fruit trees are in danger of being destroyed.   Our friend Catt has a gorgeous magnolia tree. Already petals are falling, so I have to capture the beauty while it lasts.

Day 85: Tin Man Hill

For many of the years when Steve was coaching cross country, the team met for summer practices on Tin Man Hill.  The unique sculptures can be seen gleaming in the distance.  When we walked through campus today, they were alone, no clusters of teens doing strides and figure 8s.

We have a pair of courting cardinals hovering around our Japanese willow.  Five times today the male crashed into the office window, even though I closed the curtains.  He must see a rival in his reflection.

We were so very proud of our students and staff last night.  Under Ben's leadership, we feel confident that the musical has a secure place in Fredonia's future.  Not only did the students perform beautifully, the young adults have managed all the challenges of this huge production very effectively.

Day 84: Tired, but happy

Too tired to write tonight.  The show was spectacular again, a cold spring rain has replaced the 80 degree sunny days and all the flowering trees along Main St. are blooming at once.

Day 83: Opening night!

What a spectacular show!  The cast, crew and pit performed beautifully tonight before a lively and responsive audience.  Although there were a few new glitches that had never happened in rehearsal, each person did their job and adapted when necessary.

It was thrilling to see Ben in his tux lead both veterans and rookies through the traditions of Fredonia musicals.

Day 82: Final dress rehearsal

I shot about a thousand pictures of the show tonight and will probably delete most of them.  We are exhausted and ready for this event to be over.

Jackie came in to school to do the nature study class for backpacking today.  She brought fossils, pussy willows, tulip tree branches and samples of garlic mustard which is one of the most invasive plant species in the region.

Day 81: Dress rehearsal

Another day in the 80s!  College students were sunning and playing frisbee on campus and all over town. Azaleas, primroses, magnolias and tulips are blooming in March!

Dress rehearsal was rough.  It was so hot and some of the stage crew were fooling around.  The time for rehearsals is over and now they need the pressure and attention of a full audience.

Day 80: Princess Kate

Our friends adopted a rescued greyhound that they named Princess Kate. We ran into one of their boys walking her today.  She was so excited to meet Steve that she jumped up on him.  As soon as he stroked her head, she calmed down and posed regally for photographs.

Six days in a row temperature records have fallen.  For the first day of spring, we had 83 degrees.  I happily worked in my gardens, raking leaves and hauling out the debris.  The backyard is still a quagmire so I got to use my cute new farm boots.

At the three assemblies this morning, the elementary students were especially responsive, but all the audiences were respectful and enthusiastic.

Day 79: All at once

Very suddenly there is a color explosion all around us.  Maples are budding red, willows have turned lime  green, forsythia and violets are bursting brilliantly.

The assemblies are tomorrow and we are ready!  The kids need laughter and applause from an enthusiastic audience.  They have worked so very hard and that's the final ingredient.

Day 78: Spring flowers

After hosting Penelope, we painted the stage floor and then were released to enjoy this incredibly gorgeous day.  So many spring flowers are blooming; forsythia, magnolia, daffodils.

Day 77: St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day: brilliant sunshine, an excruciating nine hour technical rehearsal, memorial service for a beloved former colleague, 85 degrees, sunset at Point Gratiot, and mint chip ice cream at the Big Dipper.

Day 76: Sculptures

We had a lovely day off from musical and backpacking, except that I delivered the order for 88 purple Quest T-shirts!

I am drawn to the fluid sculptures of man and nature scattered throughout the village.  Intense colors catch my eye; a cluster of daisies, swollen hyacinth blossoms, steel beams being lifted by a crane, a stump speckled with bore holes.  On the way to South Dayton for dinner with friends at the Mustard Seed, thick fog rolled through the valley on this unseasonably warm evening.

Day 75: Peepers

I can hear the peepers and feel the spring air.  It is against my nature to be inside on a day like this, but we had to be for backpacking class and then a very long work party and rehearsal.  The passage was open to the courtyard and the cast and crew were able to enjoy being outside during the long evening.  Along the hallway, beautiful student artwork was on display.

Day 74: Ready to pop

Maples budding, birds nesting, bulbs blooming, worms crawling, iris leafing!  A glorious day!