Families...

I've had a very interesting holiday time this year. I have a ton to share, but it won't happen in order. My FIL has spent most of the last week in the hospital, but returned home today. At 85, dehydration can really mess up a body! Above is a photo from this afternoon. I am with my nephew who started my nickname, Hootie, when he first was learning how to talk. Time flies - he is 14 now and I am wearing heals! He and his dad flew back home tonight. They didn't expect to hang out in the hospital this week, but I guess most people don't really ever plan on that. My nephew did get to do a little hiking, rock-wall climbing, roller skating, movie watching, wii playing, eating out, etc with his cousins. I know this seems strange to say, but everything seemed low key this visit. I am thankful for even the little bit of time I had with my nephew these past few days.

Insomniacs...

It appears that I am not the only creature stirring in the early hours around my house! Tripod was out snacking while I was making my "to do" list and finishing up addressing my Christmas cards. Too much to do and not enough hours in the day right now.

Thank goodness...the coffee maker just started brewing my morning java!

t.t.f.n.

X-rated Woods! a.k.a. The Kinsey Trail

Gall Wasps: 70% of the known species live on various types of Oak Trees, per Wikipedia under Gall Wasp. There are a lot of Oak Trees in the woods here.

Alfred Kinsey, first studied gall wasps but in 1947, was the founder of The Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, again per Wikipedia...but I think this is fairly common knowledge.

I am regularly reminded that the hiking trails that Winston and I walk daily are used for research purposes. Recently, while hiking a trail near the area where Kinsey may have done some of his research, I spotted a few trees that reminded me of this most famous researcher.

I now call the trail that these trees are on, The Kinsey Trail.

How to get into the Christmas Spirit...

...watch The Nutcracker Ballet! Details to watch it on-line, for free, below.

Several years ago my daughter created this picture for an art class project. Every fall the elementary school Art teacher, at our school, organizes all the students to participate in a fund raiser. The original artwork gets sent away and transformed into garden flags, note cards, magnets, pillow cases...etc. My daughter's artwork is a scene from the Nutcracker. We are looking at Clara's pointe shoes and the back ground features all the roles that the pre-college ballerina's, here at IU, perform.

*****

When my daughter was in second grade we took her to watch The Nutcracker. She was mesmerized and said, "I want to do THAT!" So we found out what she'd need to do to 'do that' and her ballet lessons began. The following October she had her first audition for her dream and has been dancing in IU's production of The Nutcracker ever since. We figured out this is her seventh year to dance on stage in December. She has danced as a Mother Ginger child, Clara's friend/party child, a solider, an officer, a Trepak and this year she adds a role traditionally performed by the college freshman...an adult mouse! For several years now she has danced in two roles at each of the four performances.

The lessons learned from this discipline are numerous: team work, time management, how important sleep and good eating really are, following directions, counting on others (like your mom to help in a pinch), and what it takes to achieve a dream just to name a few.

This past Monday through Thursday has been tech week. Each day my ballerina has been living at school for 6 1/2 hours, at the Musical Art Center for 7 1/2 hours and then at home for the remaining 10 hours.

It's show time tonight! My holiday treat to my readers is to share the web address for Indiana University's Jacob School of Music live streaming of The Nutcracker. Times for the production are tonight and tomorrow night at 8 pm EST, and tomorrow and Sunday at 2 pm EST. Here's the link: Watch IU's 52nd Annual Production of The Nutcracker; click here. This link becomes active just minutes before the curtain goes up! I will be watching on-line tonight and then attending both of the 2 pm performances...lucky me! I can't wait!

Enjoy friends and Happy Holidays! :)