THE FOOD ARTISTS

Instead of ducks, the younger group worked on turkeys.
Glory with her creation.

Kayla gives her turkey some details

Nathanael holding his mouth just right.

Many thanks to Alana Brown and Colleen Ymker for the most exciting part of art class.

THE FINISHED TURKEY FRUIT ART . . .

DON'T BOTHER LOOKING IN WYOMING . . .

We found Bigfoot right in the middle of our living room.

Oh, that's just Adam, trying out his Ghillie suit, a sort of wearable duck blind he will use for nature photography.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN THIS WEEK . . .

. . . At the theatre, painting set . . .

. . . Hanging lights . . .

. . . sewing costumes . . .

. . . and playing dress up . . .

It's been wonderful having Amy home for a few weeks.
She is costuming Ozark Actor's Theatre holiday show, "Scrooge". We've all followed her up to the theatre and four of us are even on stage.
The show is opening tomorrow, and will run this weekend and the next.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to OAT's website:
www.ozarkactorstheatre.org

We will post more pictures soon.

I LOVE BEING ORGANIZED

I am going this morning to pick up a library card catalog similar to the ones shown, although not as tall.
Pictures of the actual one can be seen by clicking here.
It will be kept in the entry hall and have everything from flashlights, batteries, and screwdrivers to sunscreen, fingernail clippers, and band-aids carefully cataloged and alphabetized (maybe).
I'm exceedingly thrilled.
I was the top bidder and they have eleven available.
If you would like me to pick one up for you, call my cell at 573-261-0244.

SEEN TODAY ON A "HORSE FOR SALE" AD

. . . .very sweet, comes to the gate by just whistling email or call for faster response . . .

IF YOU LOVE IRVING BERLIN, YOU'LL REALLY LOVE THIS SHOW

Amy saw this production in Pennsylvania last year and thought it was great. It is showing tonight at Castleman Hall. I know this is really late notice, but forgot we were going until today. Information about the show is below.

Travel on a musical journey spanning seven decades of American history as seen through the eyes of composer Irving Berlin in I Love a Piano. The revue will be presented as part of Missouri S&T's 2009-10 Campus Performing Arts Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall.
Tickets are available online at leachtheatre.mst.edu/cpas/index.html, or from the Leach Theatre Box Office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 341-4219 for more information.

I Love a Piano is a fresh interpretation of more than 60 of Berlin's songs. The tunes span from the Ragtime rhythms of the early 20th century, through World War I and the swinging sophistication of the 1920s and '30s, to World War II and the innocent optimism of the 1950s. Some of these favorites include White Christmas, God Bless America, Puttin' on the Ritz, and There's No Business Like Show Business.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for students. Leach Theatre is offering a $5 per ticket discount for groups of 10 or more. The first 75 tickets for S&T students are free.
Leach Theatre will offer discounted tickets through its "Back Row Club" one hour prior to the event, should tickets remain for the show. The seats in the last row of the theater will be sold for $10 each prior to the performance.

For more information about the Missouri S&T Campus Performing Arts Series, call the Leach Theatre Box Office at 341-4219 or go online to leachtheatre.mst.edu.

WOW ! ! !

We have been having auditions for Fine Linen's spring production of Pride and Prejudice. Thus far we have auditioned over 80 people, and we're still not done.
I really appreciate Jane Austen, and am discovering that I am part of a very large and devoted group.

Performances will be the end of March.
Stay tuned for more details.

THE IMPACT OF JUST ONE PERSON

"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.

If you can find but one person
who deals honestly
and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city."

Jeremiah 5:1

May we each live our lives so as to be that one person.

THE BECKER REPORT

The Becker Report is one of our children's favorite blogs. Postings from a fellow homeschool graduate include the interesting, the bizarre, and the randomly humorous such as the above.

2009 FEDERAL DUCK STAMP CONTEST

Adam, John, and I traveled to Baltimore, Maryland last weekend for the Federal Duck Stamp Contest.
Shown above is the winning entry, a widgeon painted by Maryland artist Robert Bealle. I was inspired by Mr. Bealle's perserverance. He won second place in the 1983 Duck Stamp contest, and has pursued his goal of winning first ever since. He was in the audience and it was a very moving event to have him win.

This absolutely breathtaking painting of Wood Ducks won second place. It is by Scot Storm, who won first place in the Federal in 2004 when Adam won the Junior. Scot is a fantastic artist and a very kind and gracious person.

This Gadwell entry by Jeffrey Moberly of Oklahoma won third. As usual, we had a fantastic time, and enjoyed so much seeing the beautiful artwork as well as meeting the artists, stamp collectors, conservationists, and Fish and Wildlife Service staff that make this contest so important. To date, sales of Duck Stamps (which serve as hunting permits and entrance to National Wildlife Refuges) have generated funds to purchase and maintain 5.3 million acres of wetlands. As we have seen from Katrina and other major flooding along the Mississippi, etc. the lack of wetlands not only adversely effects ducks and wildlife, but very much hurts people as well.

ADAM'S ENTRY

This is Adam's entry. It did well, being voted through the first round 4 votes to 1, and placing about 28th overall, out of 225 excellent entries. It is always interesting to note the judges differences from year to year. All of the top three this year are similar monochromatic, analogous color schemes. Adam's obviously didn't fit in that catagory.

Last year's winner was this wonderful, colorful Long-Tailed Duck by Joshua Spies, another wonderful artist and person.

THANK YOU AMY ! ! !

One particularly trying day last week Amy called and casually asked how I was. I answered honestly. She was very encouraging and I hung up feeling much better. First thing the next morning these beautiful flowers arrived. My spirits were lifted! An encouraging word, a thoughtful friend, and flowers --- a terrific combination. This mother was very blessed by her daughter.

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW WEBSITE!

Check out our new website for Fine Linen Drama:
www.finelinendrama.com
for information about past, present and future activities.

Many thanks to our Graphic and Media specialist, Amy Hobbs for making this long held dream a reality.

ANNA AND RENOIR

The kids have been painting lately, and Anna brought me this little picture today that she had painted.
It looked strangely familiar. The name Renoir immediately came to mind . . . .

. . . and this is why.
"Boating on the Seine", by August Renoir.
Anna is in good company.

TWELVE ANGRY MEN REVIEW

Local theatre critic, Lois Ann Marler, attended Tuesdays dress rehearsal and posted a review on her website at:
http://www.loisannmarler.com/angrymen.html
This will also appear in the Kaleidoscope magazine.
The following pictures taken by Debbie Hickle are from that rehearsal.