Sunday, April 17, 2011

EB and friends

Grandma Barbara's annual Easter Egg Hunt was held yesterday.  A bit smaller this year but still fun to watch.
Here are a few shots, all hastily and candidly taken.  You know everybody here, so no need to identify.
Just be glad I didn't post all 48.

                               Grandma Barb shows Calvin what to expect next year                                                                                                  
                          "Humph...who needs to hunt eggs; they'll bring 'em to me, you just wait."
                                                "You want a picture? How about this?"
                                             "Kate" ready to get out there and find those eggs!
                                                           "On your marks, get set.....":
                                                          "Hey, look what I found!"
                                                  "Anybody seen any eggs around here?"
                                                                "This one is purple..."
                                                    "I think I see one right down there."
                                                       "Look what I found, Mom"
                                                   Enjoying the fruits of her labors.
                                              Lauren found the last egg....with a little help.
                                                                   Comparing their loot
                                                                    Guest of Honor
                                                  "How do you like my big blue eyes?"
                                                                    After the hunt
                                                      "I don't see any eggs up here."
                               This shot is for all the egg hunters in Minnesota, North Carolina and Colorado
                                                                      -30-

Thursday, April 7, 2011

A Star is Born

Lauren's sixth grade class presented Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" for two performances today.  We caught the afternoon one. (Thanks, Barb, for taking us.)  The show was sold out, with a gymn floor full of grade school kids and two rows of seats set up for moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and even great-grandparents.  Lauren played the lead, Katherine, the shrew, and she did a good job, as did everyone else in the large cast.  Lots of "Huzzah"s at the curtain calls.

All the key scenes between Katherine and Petruchio were presented, with narrators filling in the gaps in the plot.  I'm sure Shakespeare would be more popular if all of his shows were presented in thirty minutes.  We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at the theatre.

Following are a few shots  of some of Lauren's scenes.  I apologize for the off-focus ones.  I have a fairly decent camera, but the lense isn't fast enough to overcome my shaky hands. Sorry about that.

And yes, the leading lady got flowers from her dad and her great-grandfather got her autograph.  Now that's star power!
"I swear I'll cuff you if you strike again..."












An unwilling bride 














Petruchio comes to the wedding wearing "a new hat and an old jerkin; a pair of old breeches thrice turn'd..."











 "I am ashamed that women are so simple.."
The cast poses for their avid fans, all of whom came equipped with digital cameras.
The star with her proud grandmother Barb.
(Her other grandmother was there, too ..equally proud.




PS: Check out the DVD of the Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton production. It is excellent.  Or, if you prefer less Shakespeare and lots of music check out the DVD of "Kiss Me Kate" and appreciate how cleverly Cole Porter took Shakespeare's lines and set them to music.

PPS:  I did "Shrew" in 1967 and "Kate" in 1969.