Insights from The Magic Tutu

Closing the evening with Andre Rieu

After a perfect Thanksgiving Day it is now evening and what a finale' ... we have the handsome Andre Rieu playing with his glorious orchestra in Vienna (it's on PBS).  The outdoor set, costumes, lighting and pretty dancing couples dressed exquisitely are a feast for my eyes.  I was a good girl today.  I finished the day off with a crisp Washington apple -- after the Pumpkin Pie & Cool Whip!  Hope your day was wonderful.

Being Thankful

My girlfriend, Sally, made this munchkin doll a few years ago and every Thanksgiving she sits on my kitchen windowsill.  I made the "Be Thankful" sign and stenciled leaves onto my window.  Sally also made all the pumpkins that sit beside the munchkin doll.  We don't really have a dramatic Fall here in Southern Nevada because it's desert.   So this time of year we're all thankful the dreadful summer heat is gone. 

Haley has a beautiful new kitten that she rescued.  It was living in a closet (yes, a closet) in an apartment in Las Vegas.  Kitten is the luckiest kitten ever.  Now she frolics in the yard, climbs trees and has made friends with all the feral cats we feed.  Here she is rolling on top of the wall above the bird feeder!  She plays outside all day.  Haley brings her in at night because of the coyotes.

Marta Darby came to visit us last Saturday and watched part of our Nutcracker rehearsal.  From reading her blog, I knew she was full of energy.  I was right!  It was a fun, fun visit.  She and Desi clicked like two peas in a pod.

Here's wishing everyone a wonderful & yummy Thanksgiving.  I have always been proud to live in America and am forever grateful for the abundance of our American life.  I'm sure you are too!  Can't wait to dig into the pumpkin pie....

Grand Pas de Deux

Haley and Justin worked so hard this weekend on the Grand Pas de Deux and on Clara's Dance in the dream sequence for our upcoming Nutcracker Ballet.  This will be the third time Justin has performed in our Nutcracker performances.  He's been "The" Nutcracker and has danced the Grand Pas de Deux with Haley. If you've never seen The Nutcracker, make plans to  see it this Christmas.  It is one of the most beloved ballets of all time and is performed all over America (and the world!) by hundreds of small ballet companies just like ours.  The music (Tchiakovsky) is etheric and moving.  Last year we added a new piece of choreography to the ballet.  It is a beautiful dance between the Nutcracker Prince and Clara.  It takes place after Little Clara falls asleep and her dream begins.  She dreams her Nutcracker comes to life and becomes a handsome Prince.  At that moment Justin twirls the Little Clara off-stage and immediately twirls on with Big Clara (Haley) in his arms.  The switcheroo works because both  Clara's wear the same dress.  It's a very pretty pas de deux and my point is, we also rehearsed that dance this weekend.  I snapped all 3 photos at rehearsal Saturday.  The photos rate serious, semi-serious, funny!   Our ticket sales are going well even tho the economy is a different economy than this time last year.  So thank you to all who choose to support the arts.  Grants are vanishing so all ballet companies are even more grateful to you, our supporters, for buying tickets and bringing your families to The Nutcracker.  Big Hug and Grand Curtsy. xoxo Amy

Yes....it is delicious!

Jeanine's cranberry bread was everything I knew it would be.  It's a treasure and we're savoring it.  She sent two loaves so I put one of them in the freezer.  I wonder if I should share it with my brother, Tom?  No.  I'm not going to share.  I'm keeping both loaves for my household.  Tom will never know.  Well, maybe I should share.  Afterall, next year I'm going to have to "share" my income with people who don't want to work.  I guess I should start with the baby step of "spreading the cranberry bread" in  preparation for "spreading my income".  Actually, I honestly don't really mind sharing my cranberry bread with Tom.  I like to share what I have with who I want to share it with.  I'm put off that I'm going to have to "share" (HA!) according to someone else's decisions.  Ugh.  I took the photo after the first slice.  Yum...

Sliced Oranges

Our Nutcracker Ballet is in 3 weeks.  We're rehearsing all day and into the night to make this our best Nutcracker ever.  But all I can think about tonight is the UPS delivery that will be at my door tomorrow with a package from my cousin, Jeanine, in Wisconsin.  She's sending me a freshly baked loaf of her super yummy Cranberry Bread.  Jeanine once had a bakery here in Boulder City called Sweet Treats.  It was a gourmet bakery with freshly baked muffins, pies, cakes, cookies and freshly ground coffee.  People in town are still going thru withdrawals trying to face life without starting their day with something from Sweet Treats.  When  Jeanine moved to Wisconsin we all hoped she'd write a cookbook for us so we could attempt to make her treats at home.  Our attempts would never come close to the real thing -- and we all knew that -- but just to have those recipes in print seemed comforting to us.  She hasn't written the cookbook yet, but there's a hint she will.  In the meantime, thank goodness Jeanine is my cousin and sends treats my way.  So tomorrow I'll pour a cup of coffee, slice open the Cranberry loaf, sink into my comfy couch and INDULGE.  Yum. Yum.

Jeanine sent these photos that she took during her baking process.  She uses the freshest ingredients and is one of those people who can bake and eat these treats and never gain an ounce!  Unlike the rest of us who have to workout every single day to keep the pounds off.  I'm not worried.  I have a date at 7am with Gilad!  Haley will join me for the workout.  We'll stretch, lift weights, aerobicize, work our abs, and then slice into Jeanine's Cranberry Bread.  Can't wait... 

Thank you Veterans xoxo

We have a large community of Veterans in our little town.  We have a Veteran's Home and a Veteran's cemetery too.  When I meet any of our Veterans I thank them for their service...for protecting our rights....and protecting this country.  Our Veterans served and died to protect our freedom of speech.  So I'm always flabbergasted when a moronic hater spews venom towards our military.  Our military is protecting that hater's "right" to spew venom.  What a contradiction.  My dad was an Air Force veteran and I think I got my Patriotic Spirit from him.  So thank you dad and thank you Veterans.  I love America and am sending a beautiful curtsy to all of our Veterans today.  I love this photo Andy Cattoir took of one of my beautiful students as she danced in a medley of Sousa's Patriotic Marches.

A yummy Cuban cookbook

I accidentally found Marta Darby's funny & family oriented blog called My Big Fat Cuban Family.  She was kind enough to send Desi a copy of her amazing Cuban cookbook.  Yum, yum.  Even if you're not Cuban (I'm Polish & Czech!) you'll love her recipes and love of life.  The Cuban food is wonderful.  Full of garlic and oranges and luscious flavor.  I snapped this photo of Desi yesterday with Marta's cookbook. Cute photo!  I have become very good at making the basic Cuban dishes -- black beans, piccadillo & fried pork chunks.  There are so many more wonderful dishes.  I especially love the mojito dipping sauce. It's garlic, onion, lime, vinegar & OJ all whirled together in a little chopper.  Yum.