Summer’s bounty begins

I walked up to the farmer’s market this morning without expecting to find much– I’d gone to the market on Wednesday and there were few vendors and none had much. Quite a few vendors were there this morning and I got all kinds of stuff– some absolutely gorgeous beets, new potatoes, leeks, kale, lettuce, two kinds of cheese and some lovely shell peas.  Few vendors have shell peas and those who do pick them too late, so they are starchy and bitter.  Blech.  But these were young and tender and sweet.  When I got home Madeline and I sat on the porch and ate them all.

When I was growing up my dad always had a very large garden every summer– it helped to feed our family of six.  I loved peas, even then, and have wonderful memories of taking a basket, walking down to the garden, and happily picking a basketful.  I would then sit on our screened porch and eat the whole basket, generally without any help from anyone.  I’m sure I was willing to share, and I know I did share sometimes.  I was often home alone– I am much more of a home-body than the rest of my family– so I guess I just got first crack at them. I ate most of the ones this morning, and apologized for being a pig.  My daughter said it was fine, since I love peas so much.  I said she loved them too, but she said she just likes them, but I love them.  So maybe the rest of my family didn’t quite have the passion for them that I do.

We had our first performance of Cinderella last night and it went very well– the house was sold out, or close to sold out.  Some of the cast members are young adults that I first met 8 years ago on the first show I ever worked on, and it is wonderful to see them grown up, still performing.  I’ve said it will be my last show for a while, and it has been such a good one to be my last.

The only thing I don’t like about the show is the music.  Because of our small venue, we couldn’t have an orchestra, but the directors did not want just a pianist– they wanted the orchestral sound.  So we bought the rights to a full computerized orchestration.  In many ways it’s fantastic– the music is very well performed, and the program has a lot of flexibility, it’s actually quite amazing.  But it lacks something– it’s almost too perfect.  It’s much like the difference between studio performances vs. live performance.  Of course, sometimes a live pit orchestra can have its difficulties– I’ve been involved in shows where the pit overpowers the singing, or in ones where they seem to be fighting each other every step of the way.  So we don’t have any of that.  But vamping is a big part of a musical, due to timing, and when the recorded orchestration vamps, it sounds just like a record skipping– it’s the same thing over and over, with no human vagaries or imperfections.  It’s actually sort of horrible, and even somewhat stressful during scene changes– I find myself rushing to make it stop!

Well, we tried it, and it has good points and bad, like anything else.  And as the technical director said, this production is teaching us a lot, including that the venue is not the best one for large, lavish musicals.

August

Where did July go?  It’s been hot and humid for a few weeks now, and it’s getting old. We’ve had a lot more rain than we usually do this time of year, which means the weeds are flourishing and the lawn needs mowing frequently.  The dehumidifier in the basement runs incessantly.  We broke down and turned on the air conditioner during a  brutal few days.  I’m tempted to do so again– the nights have been sultry and it’s hard to sleep.

More rain also means the mosquitoes are flourishing, which is miserable.  They make it hard to enjoy the porch in the evenings.

Last week I finally had a chance to do something fun with friends– between my own crazy schedule and my friends’ equally crazy ones it has been impossible to get together.  But on Friday I went with my friends Denise and Wendy to see Of Mice and Men at American Players Theatre in Spring Green.  It was a lovely, clear summer evening, the mosquitoes were not bad, and we got there early enough to enjoy a very leisurely picnic and some conversation.  The show was wonderful, as it always is at APT.  I’d never read Of Mice and Men nor had I seen it performed before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, serious though it is.  Some of my friends and acquaintances have been reluctant to see it because they want something lighter, and I can see their point, but I’m very glad I saw it and would willingly go again.  There is humor in it, the kind of humor we encounter in our daily lives, even when times are hard.  Of course, there was also so much that was sad and tragic.  But life is like that sometimes, the funny mixed with the misery, and there was such truth and such beauty, the characters were so incredibly human in their actions and choices, I was deeply moved by it.

It was the second show I’d seen there this summer, daughter Madeline and I went to Blithe Spirit a few weeks ago and enjoyed that– a rather silly show but the dialogue was wonderful– Noel Coward.  I have tickets to 3 more shows, two with Madeline and one with Wendy, and I may squeeze in another.

We leave for our now-traditional week in Grand Marais, MI this weekend, and I am so ready for vacation.  I know my kids are, too.  Jacob has been working full-time plus this summer, and Madeline has been very busy too.  We are all looking forward to relaxing and reconnecting by beautiful Lake Superior.

Time runs along

I realized yesterday that June is half gone!  What a depressing thought.  I feel like I’m spinning my wheels lately.  I feel like I never get done the things I want to.

The first two days of this week were hellish.  Things have been busy at the cafe where I work, and I’m working a much longer day than usual, often 7 hours or more.  This is fine, it’s good to be busy and with tips, the money is good.  I also am working at our little theatre group, doing some of the office work.  Lately I haven’t been able to get there during the day, which usually isn’t a problem, but this week we started selling tickets for our upcoming show.  Long story short:  Monday and Tuesday, I left the house a little after 8 in the morning, put in a full day at the cafe, then headed over to the theatre and put in several hours there.  By Tuesday night I was close to tears. I realized a few things at that point.

One is, that I am only one person and I can only do so much.  The timing of things this week did not work out well, but I did the best I could.

Another is that it can’t all depend on me and doesn’t all depend on me.  If I need help I must ask, and if I don’t get the help I need that is not my problem.  The fact that everyone leaves it to me does not obligate me to do it.

Most important, I realize that I have too many things right now that take me away from my family.  I need to reassess things and make my family a priority again.

So I am taking control of my life as best I can for the next few weeks, and after that I will think long and hard about the theatre job. It may be time to let that go.

On a more pleasant note, yesterday and today I am finishing up the last two courses in basic theology offered by the Diocese.  I’ve enjoyed them and it’s been a nice refresher for my faith.  It also has me seriously considering teaching faith formation again in the fall.

Also– strawberry season is here!

Aaahh!

It’s April 10th!  The day I’ve been waiting for.

Madeline was confirmed last night.  It was a lovely service in a pretty church (St. Mary’s in Platteville).  She looked lovely.  I was so proud of her for going through with this and for taking it seriously– my daughter has a heart for God and I am often humbled by her.  Her brother came from Dubuque for the service, which pleased her immensely– he was a little late, so she didn’t see him when she walked in, but after she went up for the sacrament she saw him and was so thrilled.  Her dad was there also, somewhat reluctantly, and often checked the time and occasionally texted the wife.  I realize he no longer believes in the faith that he once shared with us, but he could at least be courteous.  Anyway, at least he came.

My play is done, and I was very ready to be done with it.  It went well and was a good thing for our Guild, but not real fun.

I have faith formation tonight, and then I am done with that.  I will not do it again next year.  It takes a lot of time, and travel, and I don’t enjoy it at all.  If I were at all good at it I would be willing to persevere, but I am not good at it, not effective, so I think it is time to step down.  It is making me crabby and there is no point to it.

I have a physics test tomorrow.  I was working on my homework problems and had trouble with one– even with the answer in the back of the book, I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong.  The teacher will go over the problems before the test, but it makes me very nervous.  For some reason this latest chapter has not clicked well for me.

I had given up sweets for Lent and was doing pretty well, but between my birthday and doing a show I’ve really lapsed.  I will try again, though, and hope to finish the last two weeks of lent strong– with God’s grace.

Just a few more weeks

That is what I have been telling myself.

Just a few more weeks, and spring will really be here.  We had some warm weather a week ago, and now we are back to cold weather, but spring will come, it always does.  The tulips and daffodils are already starting to come up, and it gives me a sense of hope and joy to see them.

Just a few more weeks, and the play I am working on will be done.  You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown has taken more of my time than I thought (though by now I should now better) but has not been as fun an experience as I hoped.  The musical director has been very difficult, and the artistic director has had a hard time dealing with her.  I’d volunteered to be stage manager but also ended up as producer.  I don’t usually mind that, it usually just means dealing with all the not-fun parts of doing a show (publicity, ticket sales, programs) but due to director-issues I’ve had to do a lot more.  I won’t say I’ve done them well, but no one has walked (yet) and the show should be a good one.  Community theatre can be a source of such fun and creativity and growth and joy, but it can also be a pit of egotism and narcissism and vicious back-stabbing.

Just a few more weeks, and I will be done teaching Faith Formation.  It has not gone well.  I really did try harder this semester, but just couldn’t seem to overcome the many problems– a less-than-ideal classroom space, a very difficult and uninterested class, and a schedule that alternated between Sundays and Wednesdays.  We had some special things planned and most of the kids did not show up for them.  I have 2 more classroom classes and one more special event– I already told my co-teacher that we have to get a firm idea of who will be going to the special event.  I do not want to drive an hour away for something the kids won’t even show up for.  Anyway– I do not know if I will continue teaching.  I’m clearly not very good at it.

So– a few tough, extremely busy weeks to get through.  On April 9th, the play is over, daughter will be confirmed so her RE classes will be over, and I’ll have one last class to teach on the 10th and that will be over.  By then spring may really be here.

August

Summer is waning fast.  Where does the time go?  It has been a very busy summer, yet I don’t feel I’ve accomplished much.  Probably because I haven’t accomplished much.  No, that isn’t true, but I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to.  That’s not true either.  I didn’t accomplish the things I felt  I was supposed to.  I didn’t paint my room or tuck-point brick or re-do the bathrooms.

But I went to Vermont to see my niece graduate, and in addition to seeing my sister and one of my brothers I saw two good friends I hadn’t seen in years.  I also got to see the state I was born and raised in for the first time in almost 6 years.  (The last time I was in Vermont was right after I had separated from my then-husband for the second and last time.  The kids and I drove to Vermont to my parents and stayed there for 2 weeks while I licked my wounds.)

I helped out on a play our local theatre guild did, in a very small way, which was all I felt up to. I’ve been ultra-involved for the last 4 years and needed a break!

I’ve gone to American Players Theatre in Spring Green 4 times already (As You Like It twice, Another Part of the Forest once, Major Barbara once) and will go at least 2 more times.  I first went to APT three years ago and couldn’t believe I hadn’t gone before.  It’s absolutely fantastic and it is a little more than an hour from home– though it would be well worth a longer drive.

I haven’t had enough time with my kids, but in a week we go up north to Grand Marais, MI for the 3rd year in a row.  It is our special vacation time and we are looking forward to it.  Jacob leaves for college right after we get back and we’ll be right back into the busy time again, but I’m looking forward to a time of peace and togetherness.

Spring Again, Pandora, Milestones

It’s spring again! My violets are blooming, I love them.  I had really chopped back my bleeding hearts last year but they are going gangbusters again.  The lilacs are beginning to bloom.  Unfortunately, my allergies are acting up, but it’s worth it.

Last weekend I finished helping with a play for our local theatre guild and am so glad to be done– it was a good play, great cast, well done and well received, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on it.  But since I first became involved with the theatre guild (back in 2004) I’ve worked on 12 plays, and I’m ready for a break.

Now I’ll have time to do the many, many things I’ve been putting off forever, like tuck-pointing brick, re-gluing the kitchen counter back splash, painting some rooms, etc.

I’ve been listening to music on Pandora and it’s been an interesting experience.  I like to click on the option that tells me why they’ve selected a certain song.  I’ve discovered that I like major key tonality, complex lyrics, and subtle vocal harmonies, among other things.  It’s fascinating when a song has most or all of the features I seem to prefer in a song and yet, I don’t care for it.

April was a month of milestones for us– On April 21, my daughter got her driver’s license and my son got his private pilot license!  And this past week I got a letter telling me that the Diocese had approved the annulment for my marriage.  One more step to go through for that, approval from the Arch-Diocese, and that will be done.

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…

It’s hard to believe it’s already mid-July.  June was a busy month but went by so fast.   I was busy with work and helping with a play for our local theatre guild,  my son was busy working at a strawberry farm,  and my daughter was busy holding down the fort at home.

We made the most of strawberry season, which lasted 3 weeks.  We froze over three gallons, made 5 batches of jam ( 2 freezer & 3 cooked), countless pies and shortcake, ate them fresh.

Black raspberry season is just about over, I managed to pick enough to make 2 batches of jam.  Blueberries are in and are wonderful, though I’ve not found a place nearby to pick so I’ve just bought.   The stores are full of fresh fruit:  peaches, nectarines, cherries, melons.  The farmer’s market is full– peas, lettuce, new potatoes, beets, green and yellow beans, cabbages and broccoli.  I just love this time of year.  Pretty soon the corn and tomatoes will be here…

Tomorrow the kids and I are going over to American Players Theatre in Spring Green to see Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors.  Two years ago we went for the first time to see Merchant of Venice (though my son had actually been there to see Comedy of Errors in 1st grade!)  We had such a  good time we vowed to see a show every year.  Last year we went to A Midsummer Night’s Dream which was sublime.  We’re going to pack a nice picnic meal– fruit, cheese, home-made bread- and eat there before the show.  It’s an incomparable experience to see a show at APT.  I’ve always been sorry it took me so long to catch on to what a treasure it is, and really not that far, less than 1-1/2 hour drive from here.  It would be well worth even a longer drive.