christmas knits

This Christmas was so blessed by family, gifts and food that it may have been -- as our little cousin Ingrid said -- my favorite Christmas ever! Ing has only had 5 Christmases so it may literally be true in her case, but I find as the years pass it gets harder to get into the spirit. We didn't decorate, we worried about money and skipped church. But Christmas morning, after watching the Concordia Choir Christmas Concert on TV and reading the gospels, Sweet P climbed back into bed and read me John 1:14, NRSV:

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

I know that faith is a process, but I often feel behind the class. Although, as Sweet P weeped while he read me those words I was overcome with thankfulness and awe -- maybe those are the touchstones of my faith journey.

Maybe.

I only knit for my mom and dad this year. Much easier than for the whole growing family and I was pleased with the results.

 Socks for dad.

Neck wrap for mom.

apple butter

During the 5th biggest winter storm in the Twin Cities Metro area -- 17 inches collapsed the Metrodome -- a friend and I decided the best thing to do was hunker down and make apple butter.

Apple butter requires 3-4 hours of "constant stirring". We laughed in the face of "constant stirring", but as the apple butter started to congeal at the bottom of the pan, threatening to burn, "constant stirring" won out. 3-4 hours.

The apple butter turned out a little thin -- see afore mentioned 3-4 hours of "constant stirring"-- but very tasty and beautifully jarred. I'll meet "constant stirring" again one day and we'll see who wins a rematch.

super-powered revenge christmas #1

JOKING ENVELOPE  presents BILL CORBETT’S
“SUPER-POWERED REVENGE CHRISTMAS #1”

Joseph Scrimshaw's production company, Joking Envelope, presents Bill Corbett’s new holiday show, “Super-Powered Revenge Christmas #1”.  In a dive bar on Christmas Eve, a disgruntled comic book writer fights with his collaborator (and ex-girlfriend) about his grand vision: a giant comic book reboot of Christmas. Thrill to tales of a brooding Santa! Shudder at the untold might of George Bailey! Question the relevance of Frostina the Snow-woman! Playwright and comedian, Bill Corbett (of Rifftrax and Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame) tackles the age old question that plagues both comic books and the holidays: "Does this all make sense?  I mean, really?" This December, it's on like ret-con.

Written and directed by Bill Corbett
Starring Emily Gunyou Halaas*, Mo Perry, Joseph Scrimshaw, Matt Erkel and John Middleton
(*member of Actors’ Equity Association)

The Minneapolis Theater Garage
711 W Franklin Ave in South Minneapolis

Three weekends only!
Thurs, Dec 2 @ 7:30 PM (preview); Fri, Dec 3 @ 7:30 PM (preview)
Sat, Dec 4 @ 7:30  PM (opening w/ free reception)
Mon, Dec 6 @ 7:30 PM (Pay-What-You-Can Night)
Thurs, Dec 9 @ 7:30  PM ; Fri, Dec 10 @ 7:30 PM; Sat, Dec 11 @ 7:30 PM
Thurs, Dec 16 @ 7:30 PM; Fri, Dec 17 @ 7:30 PM; Sat, Dec 18 @ 7:30 PM (Closing)

HOW MUCH:
$20 regular admission
$2 off for Fringe Button holders/students/seniors
$5 off if you bring a 2010 CONvergence badge or any CONvergence merchandise
$15 tix for previews on Dec 2 and Dec 3.
For more and info and reservations call 612-280-9210
Or buy tickets online at http://jokingenvelope.com/live

Super-Powered Revenge Christmas #1 will be Joking Envelope's prime time event at the Theatre Garage in December, but they will also be hosting other shows and events including an opening night party, the popular musical group The Dregs, a Rockstar Storytellers show and Green T Productions’ Pinocchio-Chan. Super Powered Revenge Christmas #1 is sponsored by Convergence Events, Inc. For more information on the organization visit http://www.convergenceevents.org

PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR JOKING ENVELOPE:
“The Cirque Du Soleil of local comedy” --The Onion
“Rife with sidesplitting moments…complexly written characters…Joking
Envelope is off to an exceptional start” –The Examiner

my first thanksgiving hosting for my family

 15 pound herb butter stuffed beauty.

 The tables -- places for 14.

 The organized buffet -- pre-food.

The plentiful buffet. 

 Per reading President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation and praying -- to appeal to both the faithful and political natures of our merry band.

 The feast.

 The resting period -- kitties don't need resting periods, they just like to take advantage of them.

The pies.

mbsc quilt

"She stood rooted, tears filling her own eyes, for it was Eva who stared back at her with an expression of extraordinary sympathy and calm."

 "Only it didn't feel like that from inside the earth... They were in the hull of a boat of silence, and blackness, and they were rocking to the end of the world."

 Tante off to Deutchland.

Medicine wheel.

new obsession

my kind of treat, originally uploaded by mrsmcporkchop.

I like quilting. I really, really, really like it. Of course I haven't explored actual quilting with blocks and patterns and precise cutting. I still think I'll like it when I do. So far I am working on a story block for our Master Butchers Singing Club quilt. We're all working on different story blocks with our disparate points of view and sewing experience. They will all come together in a wall hanging representing our beautiful show.

I like it. I really, really, really like it.

kare about the arts

the master butchers singing club

MASTER BUTCHERS SINGING CLUB

by Marsha Norman
based upon the novel by Louise Erdrich

developed and directed by Francesca Zambello

Guthrie Theater

September 11 - November 6, 2010

Bookended by the two World Wars,The Master Butchers Singing Club, a moving story of tradition, family, love and loss, follows the life of Fidelis Waldvogel and his family, as well as Delphine Watzka and her partner Cyprian, as they adjust in their separate lives in the small town of Argus, North Dakota. As Fidelis and Delphine’s lives intertwine, the play chronicles ordinary small-town citizens as they encounter the extraordinary events — both in their insular world and in the larger world — that come to define their lives.

sheldon and the real animals

To wade my way through rehearsals (and because a friend commissioned him) I have just completed another Sheldon. The commissioner is knitting the blankey that accompanies Sheldon so she ordered all of the necessary yarn from Knit Picks and had it delivered to my house. I'd never gotten yarn in the mail before and when it arrived, though I only got to keep 2 skeins of it, I felt like I'd won the lottery! One of these days I'll actually manage to win a Knitty Giveaway and I'll get another package of joy in the mail.

At any rate, here he is on the rehearsal butcher block for The Master Butchers Singing Club. He received encouragement from the whole team so I thought this photo the most apporpriate for his portfolio representation.

The show is hard. I think that's all I want to say about that right now.

In other news, Mom, Sweet P and I went to the Como Park Zoo to see the baby giraffe. I'm not entirely sure what is up with my affinity for the prehistoric, black tongued beauties, but I squealed like a little girl when we rounded the corner and caught sight of them. 

We also cooed over the big sleepy cats (who look not unlike my little sleepy cats), breathed in the plant life and marveled at the bonsai. 

only not just now. now i need to rest my weary head

I don't want to talk about:

the burst blood vessel in my thumb

the infected spider bite on my boob

or the 1% that cost MAK and JG the primary.

I do want to talk about:

the new baby giraffe at the Como Park Zoo

the thrilling project that is exhausting me daily

and my brand new married sister and brother-in-law.

i am exceedingly proud today

fringey goodness

My proposed schedule between rehearsals and campaigning for the primary:

Sunday, August 8th

10p See You Next Tuesday @ Mixed Blood Theatre

Monday, August 9th

7p #Ringtone @ Fallout Arts Initiative

10p ROBO-homa! @ Rarig Procenium

Tuesday, August 10th

7p Theory of Mind @ Theater Garage 

8:30p The Princeton Seventh @ Rarig Thrust

Wednesday, August 11th

10p The Damn Audition @ Rarig Thrust

Thursday, August 12th

8:30p Wisdom: Part I @ Rarig Thrust

Friday, August 13th

7p Ballad of the Pale Fisherman @ Mixed Blood 

10p Yvette @ Theatre in the Round

Saturday, August 14th

7p The Anton Kissbougel Technique @ Balance Fitness Studio

8:30p A Standing Long Jump @ Theater in the Round

10p Amaretti Angels @ Rarig Thrust

might have to cut my hair for the show

My hair is down to the middle of my back now. But I wouldn't have to worry about a wig and all it's problems. And I could put my hands in my hair. Could I pull this off?

monday makes me merry

1. Last Monday I went to a beautiful summer potluck yard party at one of my favorite houses, to celebrate one of my favorite families. They have an incredible garden full of not only gorgeous flowers, but bountiful harvestable vegetables. They also have 2 hens that provide them eggs on a daily basis. While we were there one of them laid an egg. The friend brought it over to show and I held the freshest egg I've ever held. It was warm. Chicken warmed.

2. Yoga continues to be a source of soulful release and challenge. This week I'm adoring the standing balance poses. So joyful.

3. Riding my bike at night is so blissful I feel like I could loop the city.

4. As mentioned previously, Louise Erdrich is changing my life one amazing story at a time.

5. Hot Tamales are gluten-free.

6. There was a surprise wedding in our lives. More on that later.

7. Silas would not be put down for his nap so we slept together in the rocking chair for 45 minutes. All this babysitting is good practice for the real thing. Exhausting, rewarding, frustrating, loving... and I get to go home after 4 hours.

8. Minneapolis is so beautiful in the summer.

9. Sweet P has been out of town so I've had a little reminder of the solo life. It's only partially merry.

10. After yoga I took myself to BLB for dinner and wine and book reading and ran into friends on their way to a show. Andrew Dinwiddie performed his show Get Mad at Sin! A Message to the Young People of Today by Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart as Preached at the First Assembly of God in Van Buren, Arkansas. Andrew memorized Swaggart's sermons (including cadence) and performs them with no wink to the audience. It's quite arresting. 

Get Mad at Sin ! (excerpt) from philifor on Vimeo.

the last report on the miracles at little no horse

Horse eye, originally uploaded by doug88888.

I've been reading all of Louise Erdrich's books in preparation for The Master Butchers Singing Club. I didn't really start in time -- coming up fast -- so I had to amend my reading list. Someone told me that I had to read The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, that I would know why.

And I know. Oh, wow, do I know.

Go buy a copy.

roll on by

Roll On By, originally uploaded by BlurDotBlog.

I think my upstairs neighbors are rollerblading around their apartment. It's 10:30p, folks, I can't hear House reruns. Time to step out of the '90s and go to bed.

nothing grows in our garden

Under Milk Wood, Nothing grows in our garden, only babies and washing, originally uploaded by jolie-coeur.

Had another pregnant dream last night.

I went into labor and had strong, painful, crampy contractions every few minutes. I knew it would take a long time for the baby to come. My mom was with me, walking me around a big public house. I could feel the baby turning and she noticed we could see the baby through my skin; curling, hands clasped in a prayer position, soft eyelashes closed in peace.

the other people who live in our house

mother & child long, originally uploaded by eag.

I should be cleaning and organizing in preparation for the return of our roomie, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated. I love organizing, I love when things are clean... why is the starting so hard?

monday makes me merry

In an effort to keep peeking around the corner to the bright side, I will now initiate a regular column on my blog: Monday Makes Me Merry -- 10 things that made me merry since last Monday, besides Monday being my day off.

1. Silas. He is my babysitting charge and holy cats is one cutie patootie! Observe:

2. Understudy Rehearsal. Last Tuesday was our official understudy rehearsal. We got to wear costume shoes and run through the show on the set. What with using all the props it felt like playing pretend in someone else's house! As always with a run, I knew more than I thought, got thrown by all the new information and forgot things I thought I knew, got out of control, delved deeper into moments and learned many lessons. God willing I won't ever have to do it again, but it was lovely to walk around in Stella's shoes (and Eunice's and the Nurses's shoes) for an afternoon.

3. Knitting Baby Booties.

4. Brass Messengers at Bastille Day Block Party. Oh, and burlesque dancers getting nekid in the middle of Irving Ave. Yow!

5. Waking Up Surrounded By Sweet Fat Kitties. Specifically the ones who live in my house and sleep snuggled up to me after Sweet P leaves for work. As soon as I open my eyes they gather around and rub their soft faces against my cheeks.

6. Biking. It gets easier and more pleasurable everyday. 

7. Open Windows. The weather has decided to cool itself off enough that we can turn off the ac and let in the sweet summer air. I love to hear the tinkling voices of playing kids and gentle whisper of the rustling trees. 

8. Sore Muscles. Means I'm working hard on falling back into my body.

9. Afternoon Naps.

10. Finishing Shadow Tag. I am falling more deeply in love with Louise all the time, but I'm glad to put the indulgently miserable characters behind me. What an exhausting a beautiful book.