Garden of Thought

Also I haz student

2017-10-11T16:54:53Z

I am leveling up, I think. I now have my very own private dance student who comes to my place once a week, and I just got an invite from a pro dancer to meet at her place a few times so she can help teach me choreography tips and how to better use the stage space.
0.0 She says she wants me to dance at their holiday show.

I am simultaneously pleased and terrified.

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Roses for the start of Summer

2017-06-11T22:36:22Z

We had our last graduation event for my youngest's school chums, the ones who were Freshmen when she was a Senior so we worked with them in drama, etc. and got to know them. End of an era with her school in a way as most of the amazing older teachers she had that were so influential are all retiring as well now. Good people, the kind that pour their lives into those kids and it really shows, the kind the kids still talk about when they are old themselves.

The roses are all so tall and abundant this year! My yard is going crazy with blooming things so I cut back two big bouquets of miniature roses to give away to people at church this morning. Now I've dragged out my dehydrator and loaded it up with rose petals for a friend who adds them to her homemade soaps, the house smells heavenly with drying roses.

Hoping all is well for everyone as we all wade into another summer together.

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Learning stick

2017-03-18T19:00:28Z

Eldest only drives an automatic and while she was visiting she brought up how she'd like to learn a manual transmission, but her grandparents were busy and her dad wasn't available. "All that leaves is you," she noted. We looked at one another. I'm not a good driving instructor.
"I don't know if I'd be much help, but I can get in and hang on while you lurch around," I said.
"Exactly. Which is why I guess I'll wait."
She then related her memories of the last time I tried to teach her stick, when she was in high school. It was along the lines of:
Her: "WHAT AM I DOING? help help I'm going to HIT SOMETHING, help help HOW DO I SHIFT!"
Me: (maniacal stress cackling) "WE'RE GOING TO DIE!"

So. Back to automatic she goes....

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Old garments cast aside

2016-09-26T17:10:56Z

Back in the 50s my church apparently went through a legalistic phase, the 'no smoking, no dancing, no makeup' kind of thing and of all of that only a lingering whiff of 'no dancing' was left by the time we came around to it. For the past 20 years every time dancing came around (even the chicken dance at a party) there were always a few older people who had that 'I feel like I should feel guilty for dancing, but I don't, but what if there's an even OLDER person here who still thinks it is wrong?' reaction.

Well, we have officially jumped the shark on that topic now - with the approval of my teaching bellydance to the ladies this coming January. Talk about casting aside the old garment with flair! Haha! It's on a freewill donation basis to fund-raise for building updates, I'm quite curious to see how many actually sign up. :-D I'm actually quite astonished that they let it go through.

Hm - while watering plants outside this morning something stung my foot and now my little toe looks like a sausage... little toes are strange enough as it is, hopefully won't last long.

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Watercolor cards

2016-09-09T00:21:17Z

Managed to make myself sit down and work on watercolor for a bit, and while I was there I remembered I hadn't prepared any kind of "welcome back" treat for the preschool teachers this year so I made them some quick mini-pictures. They're not super duper and some came out better than others but I was kind of pleased that I Did The Thing instead of just buying a pack of cards at the shop. If I can get the ball rolling, maybe I can save a little money on greeting cards at the very least.

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Fasting time

2014-02-01T04:02:03Z

This probably sounds crazy to people who aren't Christians, but my church has been teaching about prayer and with it fasting and the different kinds there are, so now we get to practice - we're all fasting together for the next three weeks with three times available for corporate prayer each day as well and I'm so happy!

I love it when we all get to do things together and I love prayer, so this is wonderful to me. It's going to be a challenge (I've never done one for three weeks running before), but that's the idea, to stretch us a little. It's all voluntary, with only guidelines suggested, some are just giving up one meal a day, others are just cutting out meat, etc. for a time, a small number of more experienced folks are going to try just liquids for at least part of it. We all get to encourage one another and discuss how it's going a couple times a week too.

Starts tonight! Yay!

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