Recital Season Has Come...and Long Gone

I intended to write this post in May, after both Annalee and Zelda completed their piano and dance recitals, respectively. But, my intentions didn't get me very far.

Since we had a lazy summer day at home and I've had time to be on the computer, I'm finally able to share these video clips and photos.
First up is Annalee's piano recital. The recital was held in April at a nearby Steinway store. The theme for this recital was Disney movies (and the songs from them). Annalee played 'Be Our Guest' from Beauty and the Beast.

We were so proud of how well she played. It made all the whining and crying during practices so worth it!

Then in May, the recital for Zelda's hip hop class was held. She was overjoyed with her costume, the make-up and being on stage. This truly is something she was born to do. And, I don't mean that because she's some child dance prodigy. I just mean it plays to the showboat girl in her who loves to dance around and wants to be the center of attention.

This second video of Zelda was from my cell phone, so the quality is not so great. But, you get the general idea of how she loves to dance - and do the moves even before they're supposed to be done!

Ribbons Flowing at the County Fair

I first entered some jam and photos at the county fair three years ago. I got the idea after reading a canning book of blue-ribbon recipes. It got me interested, so I did some research and figured out what kind of exhibits our county fair accepted. In the past two years, I won a few ribbons, enough to make it fun and keep me doing it each year.

This year, Annalee joined in since she met the age requirement for the junior competition.

Our friend John went to the fair on the day it opened and sent me some texts with photos of some of our entries. I could see some really cool looking ribbons, but I had no idea what they were.

When the girls and I finally attended the fair on the third day, we headed straight to the Home Economics building to see just what we had won. Here's where I'm going to brag about Annalee and me. So, if you don't like that, just stop reading now. But, I have just been so excited by our winnings, that I have to share!

This picture was entered in the 'reflections' class. It earned first place and a special award from the director. Truthfully, it was a total fluke that I found this picture in our digital files and thought to put it in this category. I was actually looking in the file from Zelda's recital to see about any pictures of her for the 'portrait' class. When I saw this one, I knew it had potential.

When I took this picture at the county fair, I knew I wanted to enter it in the 'best picture taken at the county fair' class. The lighting was just so perfect. This also earned first place and a special award from the director. Zelda was excited!

She also was excited to see the picture of herself sleeping with a flashlight tagged with a second place ribbon. This was in the 'humorous' class.

My sunset picture from our vacation in Michigan earned a fourth place ribbon in none other than the 'sunset' class, of course.

For the first time this year, I entered two baked goods - in the layer cake and dietary dessert classes. I baked my nearly famous chocolate layer cake; it's both gluten- and dairy-free. In the layer cake class, it earned a second place ribbon. But, better than than, it earned the People's Choice ribbon. That's voted on by volunteers and others working in the Home Ec building once the official judging is completed. A note on the back of the tag said it was 'great! wouldn't know it was gluten-free.' I entered a slice from the same cake in the gluten-free dietary dessert class. It earned a second place ribbon as well.

Here's what all the awards look like:

Then, we checked on Annalee's entries. She earned blue, red and white ribbons. I think I was more excited for her than she was for herself!

Her heart-shaped candy pops earned first place.

A weaving she created in school earned her second place.

And, decorated cupcakes earned her third place.

My guess is that she was disappointed that none of her three pictures received a ribbon. But, we have about 11 months to work on her photography skills before entries are due for next year.

After all that, I was geared up for the Ghiradelli Best Chocolate Dessert Competition, a free contest that was held on Sunday, the last day of the fair. I actually baked my s'mores cookie bar recipe twice, trying to get it just right. I made it gluten-free; I couldn't make it dairy-free since Ghiradelli chocolate has milk in it - yes, even the dark chocolate. So, I didn't really get to enjoy it, but that's ok. We waited and waited while the judges tasted each of the entries. When they got to my bars, I could lip read enough to know they were surprised that it was gluten-free and one said she never would have known that. In the end, three other desserts won the great cash prizes and gift baskets. It was a fun and educational experience. And, even though I don't eat Ghiradelli, I'm already considering what recipe to work on for next year's competition. The cash prize is calling my name!



When all was said and done, it cost us $51 for all our entries; then, we received checks totalling $60. So, you could say we are money ahead. But, the entry fees are just the cost of entering the competition, not the cost of creating our entries themselves. When you figure in the cost of baking and canning ingredients, photo paper, mounting materials, etc., it cost us money. But, hey, that's not what this is about. For us, this was about doing things we love, sharing them with others who have an appreciation for these things and then being recognized for those efforts. Actually, then, I guess we came out ahead.

Next year, I'm aiming higher. I would like to win the most points for entries in a single division to earn a champion rosette...

Photo Project 2012 - Days 140 to 152

Day 140

Zelda's hip-hop dance recital will get more blog time (along with Annalee's piano recital) than this little picture. But, I just had to include this in the Photo Project.


Day 141
 

On May 20, Annalee and I 'did' the 1-mile race in the Darien Dash. Annalee found some friends and posted a 12:35 mile. I was pretty proud of my own 15:16-minute mile, considering I hadn't been in training for this walk/run. Afterward, we went to Lemont Street Cafe, where Annalee ate a burger as big as her head.


 Day 142
 

I just thought Annalee looked so pretty with her hair half-up that I took this picture with my phone.

Day 143
 

An end-of-the-day picture of Zelda's recital bouquet.

Day 144
 

On Wednesday, Zelda and I were out in the yard planting some containers. As I walked back to the patio from the shed, I was wowed by this cascading rose bush under my bedroom window. In nearly 14 years of living here, I've never done a thing to this plant. And, I was greatly rewarded this year!

Day 145
 

Annalee's birthday request this year was to plant a garden. We started out planning a 4x8. When that looked too small, we pushed out to an 8x8. Included are collards, cabbage, buttercrunch lettuce, tomatillos, black cherry tomatoes, early girl and sweet 100 tomatoes, green beans, red peppers and jalapenos. And, don't forget the many flowers all along the edges. We definitely overplanted it, so when push comes to shove the flowers may have to go...

Day 146

I think...I forgot!

Day 147
 

My dad and step mom, Pat, came over to celebrate Pat's birthday with us. It seems like it had been a long time since I'd taken a picture of the girls with any of their grandparents. This was a nice one!

Day 148
 

A true reader in the making...Zelda laid out on the couch, covered by a cushion, to 'read' a book while the rest of us finished getting ready for church.

Day 149

I cheated a little for this picture. I actually took it on Sunday, May 27, which was day 148. But, I took it knowing it would be great for Memorial Day. For the project's sake, I did take a picture on this day - a picture of my Aunt Pat with her birthday cake - but it's on Ron's phone and it would be near impossible for me to get him to download his pics.

Day 150

Another end-of-the-day photo - Ron's computer screen. It has a picture I took of the girls in August 2010 underneath one of the lions outside the Art Institute.

Day 151
 

Annalee is dressed for Hawaiian day on one of the few remaining days of third grade.

Day 152
 

OK. I was really slipping this week...another last-minute photo...Ron in the office - in his jacket. Oh, wait, that's his shirt.

Photo Project 2012 - Days 126 to 139

Day 126

Our sole poppy bloomed on May 5. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ron killed off the many others I planted last year when he was hitting the back beds with weed killer.

Day 127
 

  

On May 6, we celebrated - officially - Annalee's 9th birthday with family and friends that are our family. When all the party festivities were done, it was time for dress up!

 Day 128
 

After all the birthday festivities from the previous few days, it was time for Zelda and I to relax and play with Play Doh for a while.

Day 129
 

Zelda prepares to leave for preschool - where they were having crazy hair day!

Day 130

Watching Chopped on the Food Network has given us all new ways to enjoy our meals together. I've branched out in my cooking. And, Ron and the girls (especially the girls) have taken it upon themselves to critique my dishes. On May 8, I plated the top dish, which I thought would look much better than it did. Then, Annalee took a stab at it (bottom), running out to grab parsley from the garden even. I think hers looks much better. Despite my failing in the presentation, the taste was wonderful and fulfilling. The girls gave me a 10!

Day 131
 

After 2-1/2 years since our last trip to China, I finally broke out these Chinese headpieces for the girls to play with. Zelda needed a crazy 'hat' to wear at a park district event.

Day 132
 

Annalee has been working hard to master making a fried egg, not too runny and definitely not too cooked. This day, she excelled.

Day 133

  
Zelda and I hung out at Lowe's while Annalee attended a Harry Potter Festival. I loved the look of these flowers, whose name totally escapes me now.


Day 134 - Mother's Day

  
We celebrated Mother's Day at a local pizza place that had a special buffet. Here's my mom and dad Bob. Mom's wearing the special corsage I bought her. We're trying to bring back the old tradition.


Day 135 

 

This is the corsage my mom gave me for Mother's Day.

I thought I had my picture of the day when I took the corsage, but then Annalee brought me this little bunch of flowers that she wrapped tightly with a leaf. They were too picturesque not to include. I love the water droplets on the petals.

Day 136
 

We were getting ready to go to sleep when Ron told me that Cindy, my sister-in-law, told him over the weekend that she's been enjoying my photo-a-day-project on the blog. With that, I remembered that I hadn't taken a picture this day. So, I hopped out of bed and ran to the kitchen. I have always loved the way our kitchen glows from the nite light on the microwave. Thanks Cindy!

Day 137
 

I love our chalkboard wall in the kitchen. It is such an integral part of our daily lives.

Day 138
 

I was only going to post  Annalee's pictures from her third grade music show, but I couldn't pass up Zelda's twirl picture as we were getting ready to leave for her dance recital pictures.

Annalee is in the third row from the top, second in from the right, between the huge afro and the baseball cap.

Here are the girls with friends Alaina and Madison after the show. Annalee was going for the hippie look of the 70s since the music show was celebrating the decades - as the school has been doing for the past couple of months while honoring its 50th anniversary.


Day 139

My family has a new addiction - rock climbing! We recently rejoined the local YMCA. We're trying to make use of their many programs and facilities. Friday night is open climb night. So, up they went....over and over and over and over again. It made for a great night of sleep for everyone!


Follow-up: I have been reminded that the pretty flower from day 133 was foxglove. Thank you, again, Cindy!

Following in Grandma's Footsteps

I think I would have made my grandma LaSota proud this week. I feel like she's been here in the kitchen and around the house with me, checking on all the things I've been doing....such as canning a 1/2 bushel of beets with Gretchen (along with Jane who cooked them all for us!); canning 12 pints of sweet garlic dill slices; and making chicken broth from a chicken carcass. Next up is the actual chicken soup. And, later, when the girls go to sleep, I'm going to start on some knitting projects for Christmas.

Yep, I definitely took after my grandma LaSota. May she rest in peace.

I'm Roaring Again

I had another 'I am woman, hear me roar' moment today. Ron and I are in charge of the community well on our block. Earlier this summer, he showed me how to reset the pump when it goes out and stops providing water to our houses.

So, earlier today my neighbor called me on my cell just after I had dropped off Zelda for preschool.  My neighbor asked if I had water because they weren't getting any at her house. Since I wasn't home, I couldn't tell if my water was working, but, typically, if one house doesn't have water than neither do the other seven.  I told her I'd check the pump.

I zipped over to our street and parked near the pump, which is at the opposite end of the road from our house. I walked over to it and saw that the meter wasn't turning. So, I hoisted up the big, honkin' box that covers the actual pump unit. I pressed the two buttons to reset the pump and heard that lovely clicking sound that indicated it reset itself.

Lo and behold, the meter started running again, too. 
I rocked that problem today!

Red Beauties

We planted strawberry plants late in the season last year. They gave us nothing for all the loving care we provided.

But, this year, we were treated to a small but oh-so-tasty bowl of berries. We were amazed at how sweet they were. And, the skin was so tender and easy to bite into.


We can only hope that the remaining flowers will produce some more berries for us before they shut down for the season.

Blowin' Snow

'I am woman, hear me roar,' went through my mind today as I pushed our 4.5 horse power Toro 2000 snow blower down the driveway to make my first line for clearing.

The thought may seem overkill to some, but for me, I was rockin'. This was my VERY FIRST time using a snowblower. And, I did it all by myself. Just me, the snow blower and the snow. I cranked out cleaning our three-car-wide driveway and part of our dead-end road in less than 30 minutes!

In fact, I was so excited by my accomplishment, I marched back outside when I was finished and took this picture:


And, now, I think I'll collapse on the couch for the remainder of Zelda's nap time. I'm pooped!