Sunday night we took off for upstate New York to visit my husband’s family. His brother’s family was visiting from Hong Kong this week. Later this summer we’ll go up again when his sister’s family comes in from the West Coast. When family travels to the East Coast, we go. Period.

It rained the whole time we were there. I didn’t notice I was missing the sun (we were too busy talking, eating, and visiting the Corning Museum of Glass), but Tuesday evening when the sun finally made an appearance, I had to get out in it.

I threw on my sneakers, and some of the kids and I struck out through the field behind Grandpa and Grandma’s house. The kids climbed all over a tractor that was parked in the field, and then they set about picking wild flowers.

Half the sky was dark with clouds, and the other half was bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

The sunlight was beautiful.

The kids meandered from clump to clump, and I took pictures till my vision blurred.

This morning I was awakened by the sun beaming in through the window. I took another walk (this time, a long one, all by myself this time) before breakfast—strong coffee, fried ham, and a delicious baked French toast with maple syrup. It seemed a shame to spend this gloriously sunny day stuck in a car, but oh well. We’re home now.

This same time, years previous: small pasta with spinach and bacon, three reds fruit crumble, sour cream ice cream, radishes for breakfast, hypothesizing (my theories on learning to read), the best chocolate ice cream ever, strawberry daiquiri base 

It’s May 31. Tomorrow night, June 1, the play opens.

What a whirlwind month it’s been!

I have learned so incredibly much that I still have trouble finding the words to describe it all. One thing I do know: the green room (ours, at least) is actually green. I was clearly not paying attention when I told you it wasn’t green.

Tonight is an “invited dress.” (Ooo, look at me do the theater lingo!) This means that the show’s sponsors get bunches of tickets to hand out to their friends and family and then they all get together in one of the studio rooms for a private reception before watching the show. The director said it could be a full house. I’m ready to start performing for someone other than the directors, managers, and crew.  (Is it bad luck to admit that I think we’re ready? I hope I didn’t just jinx the play.)

Last night we added make-up to our get-ready routine. (We had already added hair—which keeps getting tweaked—and clothing.) I get to have eyebrows! (I’m much less excited about flaunting my super-high forehead to the masses.)

I tried to sleep in this morning (my parents have the younger two children, which has been A Saving Grace, so it was actually feasible), but the neighbor decided to bang in some fence posts at 7:15. I don’t think he was aware that he was pounding them straight through my head.

After lunch, I tried again to get some sleep. I had just drifted off when the neighbor decided a few more fence posts were in order, youhavegottobekiddingme. I abandoned the sleep idea and turned to chocolate, caffeine, and Ibuprofen, instead.

Though it just occurred to me, I’m in bed for much of the second act. Maybe I’ll doze off between nightmares. (Yeah, right.)

PS. Blood and burn pix coming soon!

PPS. For showtimes and ticket information, click the picture on the sidebar.

This same time, years previous: down to the river to chill, barbecued pork ribs, fresh strawberry cream pie

This same time, years previous: making art, Aunt Valerie’s blueberry bars, asparagus, goat cheese, and lemon pasta, questions and carrots, chicken butchering, a cake for Wayne, one dead mouse, strawberry ideas, the ways we play