Tommy Tune & Ann Reinking

I found this fabulous piece of choreography on Youtube, and wanted to share it with you. I just love the style. It's so Broadway. The music and showmanship is absolutely wonderful. I wish I knew who did the choreography. It looks like Alan Johnson's work to me, but I'm not sure.

Tommy Tune hired me for the National Touring Company of My One and Only when I was a young dancer. I think I was twenty one. This led to a long and fulfilling working relationship with him. I got to do a couple of tours and the Broadway Workshop of Easter Parade with him. I also wrote a cover story on him for the magazine Dancer. He is a fantastic director and performer. It was one of the happiest times of my life. Tommy always hires excellent talent, I am still in touch with many of the dancers, singers, and actors that I met while working in his shows. They all have huge hearts.

Tommy is currently on tour with Chita Rivera in a show called Chita and Tune, Just In Time. I have my tickets, and can't wait to go see them. A friend and I plan to see it together. We are so excited! I really miss these types of shows. The music was inspiring and memorable. You left the theater singing, dancing, and feeling happy. You can't put a price on making the audience feel this way.

I hope you enjoy this clip. Let me know what you think. I just love Ann's Fosse style, and joy of movement. She is impeccably trained. She started out as a ballet dancer, and it really shows...

For some reason, the clip vanished after editing the post, so I will post it again, separately. 

Picking the First Strawberry

This morning, as I was watering my new plants, I noticed the first red strawberry peeking out at me. I caught my breath. This is the first time I have had success with strawberries. I think the last time I planted them, it was too hot. I remember putting them into two hanging baskets, and they  fried to a crisp within a few days. It was a sad and expensive purchase and experiment. These I planted in heavy compost and mulch. They look very happy and healthy. The leaves are a beautiful shade of green. The winter garden is off to a promising start!

  The heirloom lettuce plants are doing well. It's a bit hot here to be growing salad greens, but fortunately, they haven't bolted. They seem to enjoy the cool nights. The geraniums are blooming beautifully, as are the begonias. The amaranth is still reaching upward, so tall and colorful, and the artichoke plants seem happy in their new sunny spots. I am hoping that they will explode with growth in the next few months. I love fresh, home grown artichokes. Their taste is divine.

I refilled the hummingbird feeder yesterday. This little juvenile has been visiting regularly, and drinking the nectar. He is so sweet. This is my view of him from my desk, where I blog. The ant guard is working well. It's fun to see the hummers perch on the feeder and enjoy a drink. It makes me feel in tune with nature. They pollinate many of the flowers that I grow, too. There are still some four o'clocks in bloom, which they frequent. I also saw a lovely monarch butterfly perched on a sunflower. It was so peaceful to watch it slowly drinking the nectar. I gazed at him for a while, and time seemed to stand still. It's amazing how much our gardening attracts the bees, butterflies, and songbirds. It's a rewarding feeling to provide food, water, and protective cover for them.

I spent several hours knitting the purple socks over the weekend. They are growing nicely. I will finish them in my knitting groups. I plan to do some work on the shawl today. I am itching to make more socks. I balled up another skein of the Viking of Norway Nordlys sock yarn. It has some natural earth tones. It feels so good to be knitting up the yarn that has been sitting patiently in my stash. I am also eager to start using some of the lovely baby yarn that I have waiting in my closet. So much knitting to do, but I've also got to stay on top of the other chores, as well. I got the baking and laundry finished over the weekend. Today I will mop the floors and total up my receipts. What are you up to today?      

A Dancer's Dancer

I hope you enjoy this photograph and video as much as I did. She is a jewel.

Insightful speech by Ann Reinking

Purple Socks Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the Purple Socks Giveaway. The winner is Nil@ Little House By the Lake. Congratulations Nil! I am making the socks in a size 6 to fit your foot.  Please send me a comment with your  address. I won't publish it, but then I can mail these to you. I will have then finished in a week.

I have more sock yarn in my stash, and am planning more give aways of hand knit socks in the future. I really appreciate all of your interest. I wish I could have given a pair to each person who entered. I had been racking my brain,  trying to think of who to give those socks to, and this solution felt ideal.

The Lost In Time Shawl is coming along nicely. I will crochet a couple more rows on it today. Yesterday I fixed the error; now both sides match.  I think I will skip the final border, and end with the scalloped edging. I love that look. Happy Friday!

Hand Knit Socks Giveaway

I have really been enjoying knitting socks again. I had forgotten how addictive socks are! It's hard to put them down; I want to continue. Thank you for your comments yesterday. If you leave a comment today, you will automatically be entered in the drawing. Please let me know your shoe size. I will adjust the number of rows in the socks to fit your foot. If you know your American shoe size, that makes it even easier. If not, I will convert the measurement.

I got up at 4:15 a.m. this morning, made a small pot of espresso coffee, and enjoyed a cafe au lait as I knit in the dark. I was eager to get going on the heel of the first purple sock. I felt a little rusty, and had to stop a couple of times, to fix my errors. Turning a heel takes a lot of concentration. I found my mind was wandering. This yarn is very pretty. It's got soft, muted stripes in different hues of purple. It feels so good to knit up another ball of yarn from my stash. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to make something in a new, vibrant color.


I organized my yarn last week, and most of what I have now is sock yarn and baby yarn. I received a gift card to Amazon from my brother and sister in law last Christmas, and I bought several balls of sock yarn with it. I plan to start knitting them regularly again. They are so much fun. It's nice to do something that is comfortable and familiar. I've made this pattern for several friends and family members, and everyone has been happy with the fit. It's by my knitting teacher, Yuko Frederick, and is available on Ravelry. It's her basic sock pattern.

Now it's time to rip out the last row of my shawl. I have 54 double crochets on one side, and 55 on the other. That will keep me busy. I found where the problem is. So much of knitting and crocheting is being able to read your work, and to spot the errors. The dark grey yarn that I'm using  is a challenge for me. It's harder to see, especially at my age. I'll work on it in the daylight, which will help. How are things with you?
   

Appreciating The Little Things

Recently I have been making an effort to appreciate the small details that make each day enjoyable. I planted these little begonias  in a window box for color and pleasure. I love the shade of pink that they are, and the feeling they give me when I'm sitting in my living room. Instead of buying fresh flowers, I pull up my balloon curtains, and enjoy gazing at these petite fairy flowers each day. Here in California, they usually stay in bloom all year.

I bought  a new hummingbird feeder over the weekend. I wasn't sure how long it would take the hummers to find it. This morning I saw the first one come to visit it and drink the nectar. They are such special little birds. I love the distinctive sound that their wings make, and how dainty they are. I will keep this feeder full of fresh sugar water for them. They really appreciate it, and many of them visit several times a day.

My knitting and crocheting is coming along well. I've started working through my worsted weight stash yarn to finish the Lost In Time shawl. I love how the Noro Silk Garden yarn worked out with the colors. It feels so good to use up the leftover small balls of quality yarn. Most are remnants of sweaters that I have knit.  Right now I'm using some grey tweed Cascade Rustic yarn that I bought at Creative Ewe several years ago. It's blending in nicely with the earth tones. People really love these colors, and I wouldn't have thought to put them together myself.  Thank you Mr. Noro. What an artist he is!

Yesterday morning I cast on a new pair of socks. I don't normally work on more than two projects at a time, but I needed something repetitive to do at my knitting groups. The other two items require a lot of counting and concentration.  I finished the cuff today. and will do the heel tomorrow. I plan to use these for a blog giveaway. I will take the names of people leaving comments, and pick one as the recipient. You can let me know your size, and I will make them to fit your foot. I will post anywhere. I hope you like purple!     

Lemon Jello Cake Recipe

This is a favorite family recipe that my mom used to make for us on our birthdays. The photo above was taken on my seventh birthday, with my two younger brothers. I remember asking the one on the left, "Do you want to help me blow out the candles?" I love their expressions.

Lemon Jello Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup cold water
1 small package of lemon jello
3 eggs
1 tsp. lemon extract

Combine jello and cold water. Add to cake mix: oil, eggs, and extract. Beat according to directions on package. Bake at 350 degrees in angel food pan for 55 minutes. Take from oven and pierce with fork. Top with homemade lemon glaze.

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar and the juice and grated rind of one lemon.

As we got older, my mom started buying cakes at the bakery, and ordering us ice cream cakes at 31 Flavors. I still love her Lemon Jello Cake the best. It's a vintage recipe, so the sizes of the cake mixes and jello may have changed.    

Growing Fruits and Vegetables in the Winter

When I first bought my cottage, I planted zucchini, pumpkins, and tomatoes during the warm season.  I haven't done that in several years. I think I stopped around the time  my hips  had deteriorated. Now that they have been replaced, and the muscles are strong and healthy, I am ready  to get back in the game. I love growing the cold weather veggies, because they take less water and care. We have such hot weather in June, July, and August, that I just don't enjoy working outside. It takes hours to  feed, water, and care for a vegetable garden. I have good intentions when I start, but once the dog days of summer arrive, I find that I lose my enthusiasm.

Yesterday I planted artichokes, heirloom lettuces, spinach, and strawberries. I was pleased to see that my soil is still looking healthy and vibrant. I added a lot of homemade compost to each planting hole, and filled the cavities with water. I mulched the entire garden with fresh straw. It really works its magic over time. I lifted  the blanket of mulch from an area along the side garden, and the soil underneath it was black and rich. The homemade compost that I use was filled with tiny red wiggler worms. They arrived on their own; I didn't have to buy them. I think they were attracted to the horse manure that I had collected and deposited in the pile after one of my hikes. There is no trace of it remaining in the mountain of yard and produce trimmings anymore, it has transformed into rich, black, alive, organic matter.

Last night I made a salad with the tender greens from the heirloom lettuces that I had just transplanted. It was simple and delicious. I had forgotten how much better salads taste with the young, fresh, homegrown baby greens. The ones that I buy at the store are larger, and more mature. They have a completely different flavor than these delicate leaves. It will be nice to make fresh garden salads for the next several months.

I plan to make a bucket full of compost tea today, and let it sit in the sunshine. It makes such a wonderful plant food. I fed it to my pink geraniums, and they are blooming nicely.  They are so hardy and dependable.

 

Location

As I get older, I think about where I live now, and envision where I want to be in five, ten, or twenty years.  My current home has a very convenient location. I can walk to the bus stop in five minutes, and be in town in another five minutes. There are several grocery stores, pharmacies, a library, post office, and bike paths within a few miles of my home. It's nice not to have to drive a long distance to run errands or to meet with friends. There are also parks, restaurants, and cafes nearby. I can attend two or three knitting groups a week, all within eleven miles of my home.

I don't go to the theater often, but if I want to see a Broadway show or concert performance, I am just thirty miles from The Pantages Theater, The Ahmanson, and The Hollywood Bowl. I am also located a few miles from the train station, which is very convenient. I love to travel by Amtrak. I can take the local Metro train to Union Station. From there, you can travel to all sorts of places.

When I bought my little house in 1998, I felt like I was moving out into the country. At that time, this area was considered to be on the outskirts of town. In the last twenty years, there has been a lot of development, and there are new homes that have been built above the main highway.  There is also a a new college just a few blocks from here.

My cottage is situated on a third acre lot, which gives me plenty of space to garden. I planted fruit trees in the backyard, and a potager garden in the front. The small garden in front of my house and along the driveway is where I keep the flowers, a few citrus trees, and  hanging baskets of pink geraniums.

One thing that I really like about my living space is that is has a large, vintage style  kitchen. There is plenty of space for me to cook, bake, and to make soap. I have a smaller than average refrigerator, the studio size from Big Chill. It works for me, since I don't have a family to feed.

I also adore having an old fashioned porch. I spend a lot of time outside on mine, reading, knitting crocheting, and writing. I love being surrounded by the greenery, listening to the birds and chickens, and watching the world go by...how about you? Do you like your location?

Maintaining Your Home and Car

This morning I took the car to the carwash and had it thoroughly cleaned. I do this the first week of every month, and use a coupon. They have an early bird special that is $9.99. I always give them a $3.00 tip. The car feels brand new after they've finished with it. I love it. My mom would be pleased. This used to be her VW Beetle, and she took impeccable care of it, and everything else that she owned.

On the way home, I stopped at the mechanic to see why my rear tail light wasn't working. My neighbor had pointed it out to me last week, after he drove home behind me. I left the car there, and took the bus back to the house. The owner of the auto shop quoted me $20.00, unless there was something else wrong. I went to pick it up a few hours later, and that's all that was needed.  I'm so fortunate to live just a block from the bus stop. I ran into one of my neighbors while I was there, and had a nice chat with him. I had just seen his mom on the  bus I had taken earlier. We've all known each other for years, and are very friendly. I used to see them every day, when I went "car free" for a year. I paid the mechanic cash, and then zipped back to my cottage in the car. It feels so good to have it clean and in good repair. The tires are new, it has a full tank of gas, and the oil was recently changed. It's seventeen years old, but it only has 41,000 miles on it. I just love that car.

I did some home repairs this week, too. I bought a couple of magnets at the hardware store and replaced the ones in my mailbosx and on my kitchen cupboards. The mailbox door had been falling open, and it was really irritating me. It's amazing how our energy increases when we fix those niggling repairs that need doing. All it took was a few minutes, a small amount of cash, and a screwdriver. I put a new set of  magnets on the kitchen cupboard door, too. The old ones were twenty years old. I guess they stop working after a while. Now the door stays shut. It's the little things in life.  
     

Tuna and Noodles Recipe

As a child, this was one of my favorite dinners. My mom always cooked a lot of casseroles. In those days, she made the recipe with cream of mushroom soup. Many of the recipes back then had cream of mushroom soup as a main ingredient. I have adapted it since that time, but you could prepare it either way.

In the original version, the white sauce had three tablespoons of butter, three tablespoons, of flour, and two cups of milk. You added a can of cream of mushroom soup, and a can of tuna. Here is my updated version.

4 Tablespoons of butter
4 Tablespoons of flour
2 1/4 cups of milk
1 can of tuna
1/2 a package of egg noodles

Cook your noodles until they are al dente in salted water. Drain them in a colander. Melt the butter and flour in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until bubbly. Add salt to taste, if desired. Pour in the milk and stir constantly, until smooth. (It will be a thin white sauce.) Add the can of tuna and some white pepper for flavor. Stir together and remove from heat.

Combine the sauce and the noodles. I use whatever pasta I have on hand. Place in a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for about twenty minutes. 

I really enjoy this recipe because it is quick and delicious. I often make it and reheat the leftovers for dinner during the week. I buy the tuna on sale at CVS for .68 a can. It's very economical. The tins of tuna that they sell now are smaller than the ones  we had when I was a child. It still makes a tasty casserole, though. Children usually love this recipe.

Reducing Your Responsibilities

As I get older, I find that it helps me to lessen my commitments, and to reduce my responsibilities. I allow myself a little more down time, and don't rush around like I used to do. This morning I watered the garden, worked on my shawl,  and did the weekly grocery shopping. As usual, I bought what was on sale. I got a couple of beautiful cantaloupes for $3.00,  another bag of plums to stew for only .69 a pound, a 10 pound bag of potatoes for $1.99, and a week's worth of pork for $4.99. Cauliflower was only .59 a pound, so I bought two of those, as well. I still have enough carrots, cabbage, and onions to last another week. I picked up bananas and Granny Smith apples on sale at Food For Less on the weekend. It really makes a difference in the grocery bill to buy what is on special. It also keeps me eating what's in season.

This afternoon I gave Lula a run, and my neighbor told me that the buyers pulled out of purchasing her house. She was concerned that I'd be upset about not getting to adopt Lula,  but I told her not to worry. Last week, after looking in the man's eyes, I had a feeling that they were going to change their mind. He didn't seem pleased about the deal. I listened to my intuition, and didn't get too attached to the idea of having Lula. Anything can happen. I really enjoy running her on my bike each day, and taking her on hikes with Lana. She's a cheerful and appreciative houseguest, too. She loves to come over and drink lots of water, hang out with us in the living room, and relax. She's such a sweet dog.

I've got pork chops and potatoes cooked for dinner. I will whip the potatoes with  milk, butter, salt and white pepper. I boiled them with a quartered onion.  That's how my mom made mashed potatoes. They are delicious that way. I'll eat up the leftover coleslaw that I made last night with a fresh vinaigrette. I don't care for mayonnaise, so I fix it this way.

Lana has been doing amazingly well. Her sores are healing. It seems that eating cottage cheese and rice really agrees with her. She also is off of the antibiotic that was costing me $300.00 a month. That's a huge relief! The other day she insisted on going hiking with Lula and I, and she was strong and capable for four miles. I'm so pleased. She's made a remarkable comeback. Her frisbee skills are improving, too. She is so in syn with me when I throw it. She really loves to use her talents. Ever since she was a puppy, she was always was a natural when playing frisbee. I think animals and people are much happier when they are using their inborn skills and creativity. (whether we are paid for it or not.)  What do you think?  

A Fun Weekend and Some Good News

I hope you enjoyed your weekend. I sure did. On Saturday morning,  I met with a childhood  friend and her mom for breakfast. We trained together at her family's dance studio from age nine to eighteen. Her mom was our ballet and jazz teacher. Her grandfather was our tap teacher! We both ended up dancing and singing professionally in Broadway shows. She was the dance captain on Broadway in CATS, and I toured Europe and the USA with many of the tap musicals.

It was a quick and easy drive down to Burbank, and there wasn't any traffic at that time. Normally there are masses of cars on the Los Angeles freeways. I made the trip in thirty minutes, and found a parking spot right out in front, which was very lucky.  We went to a beautiful restaurant and had a really nice meal and conversation. The ambiance out on the patio was lovely. It's always such a treat to catch up with old friends and teachers, especially dance teachers.  

When we returned  home to Julietta's apartment, I gave each of them a bar of my homemade soap. I had also brought a bag of hand knit items, and had them pick out what they liked. Julietta chose a hand knit cotton dishcloth, and Dee selected these vintage style  slippers. They fit her perfectly. She told me that she has some alpaca yarn at home that she is going to give me. (I am always so fortunate when it comes to receiving free yarn!)

I've made a lot of progress on the Lost In Time shawl. I'm up to the repeats now, which is the home stretch.  It's gotten much easier. I brought it with me to a small knitting group at the library yesterday, and I was able to work on it while having a conversation. A week ago I needed total silence to do this pattern.  I completed a couple of long rows with no problems. I feel like crocheting this shawl has really helped me with my skills. I've learned some new stitches, and  am able to differentiate and count them quickly now.

I ran my neighbor's dog this morning, and she gave me the news that soon they will be moving into a new rental house. The one down the street, where they have been living, has sold. She told me that I am first on the list to take her Labradoodle, since the new owner doesn't allow pets. I absolutely love this dog, so I am thrilled. Lana and she get on very well, and Lana acts like a puppy after she's around her. Lula is very well trained and has an excellent temperament. She's highly intelligent and sensitive. Labradoodles are used as guide dogs in Australia. Such good fortune. How was your weekend?