I haven't posted pictures of our puppies in a while, so here are some cute shots I captured last week! They are getting SO BIG! Daisy is over 60 lbs now, and Buttercup is over 40 lbs. Somehow, they still manage to fit into the doghouse together when it's nap time...
This weekend was beyond amazing! My friend Daniel Cross drove two hours to our house yesterday (Friday) morning, and that evening we drove another two hours with my brother Daniel (yeah, it was fun having two Daniels around!) to attend a concert given by one of my favorite Celtic groups - The High Kings. But first, we stopped at the dollar theater to see Tangled in 3D, then we grabbed dinner at the mall and the two boys went to an audition for a short film (which I had auditioned for on Tuesday evening).
The concert was absolutely incredible! It was just the four Irishmen with their beautiful voices and their instruments (they play at least 12 instruments between them!). They sang all of my favorite songs from their first CD, as well as a wonderful collection of songs from their new CD which has just been released in the USA. It was really sad how small the audience was (only 7 or 8 rows filled), but what we lacked in size we made up for in enthusiasm! And it was great to be sitting so close to the stage (in row 6)! We made so much noise that you wouldn't know the room wasn't half full. They kept thanking us for being such a great audience, and they were very personable and it was easy to see they were having fun. We spent half the night clapping our hands and stamping our feet, and the rest of the time we sat pensively listening to gorgeous Irish ballads.
After the concert, the High Kings came out to meet and greet their fans! They autographed my new CD and let us take a picture with them! I was ecstatic! I could not believe that I got to shake their hands and get a picture with them! I don't think I was any less excited than the time I got to get Josh Groban's autograph after a concert. (Just for the record, I'm not one of those girls who goes crazy over performers and turns into an obsessed fan...and this is only the second or third concert I've ever attended in my life...but I appreciate talented musicians, and I'm always shy about meeting famous people so it's a big deal for me when I do.)
We got back home at about 12:30 in the morning. Today, we had a great time fellowshipping, cooking, laughing, singing, talking about stories we're writing, looking at pictures, and generally having a great time. :-) I am so thankful for good friends and fun memories! But enough of my ramblings. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy...
Before the concert (with the camera on top of my car!)
Finbarr Clancy
Martin Furey
Brian Dunphy
Darren Holden
Here is a taste of what we were treated to last night (except they played their own instruments) - "The Irish Rover":
"The Rocky Road to Dublin":
And here is a lovely ballad called "Red is the Rose":
Lastly, here is a beautiful ballad I couldn't resist posting, featuring the incredible vocals of Darren Holden - "The Town I Loved So Well":
Today, I tackled another sewing job. A lady from church brought me a tablecloth and asked me to make removable pillow covers out of it. I found a great pattern on this website. It took me about an hour to find the pattern and make two trial pillow cases out of muslin, and then about two hours to make the four you see below. I was quite happy with how well the pattern turned out and I'm glad to have this job done! Soon, I need to get started on those easter bunny costumes I've been asked to make. :-)
Well, being part Irish myself, I couldn't let Saint Patrick's Day pass by without a commemorative post! I don't have time for much, but I'll share some wonderful Irish tunes with you that I have really enjoyed. First, some recordings from Judy Garland, Deanna Durbin, Nelson Eddy, Dennis Morgan, and Bing Crosby. Then, some modern recordings from Celtic Thunder and The High Kings. Enjoy!
Judy Garland - "It's a Great Day for the Irish" (from "Little Nelly Kelly")
Deanna Durbin - "Danny Boy" (from "Because of Him")
Nelson Eddy - "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" (from "Let Freedom Ring")
Dennis Morgan - "A Little Bit of Heaven" (from "My Wild Irish Rose")
Dennis Morgan - "Dear Old Donegal" (from "My Wild Irish Rose")
Bing Crosby - "Top O' the Mornin'"
Bing Crosby - "MacNamara's Band"
Bing Crosby - "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs.'s Murphy's Chowder?"
Howdy there, partner! Saddle up your cayuse and ride a ways down the trail with me while I undertake to tell you about my adventures at the Williamsburg Film Festival last Friday! There was a passel of rootin' tootin' shootin' cowboys and cowgirls there, and me and my sidekick Stephen had quite a time! I was Annie Oakley and he was The Rifleman. If you haven't seen either of those old TV shows, you're really missin' out on somethin' special. Anyhow, we hit the trail on Friday morning, and arrived at the hotel where they were holdin' the shindig at about 11:15. I called up my pal, Daniel Cross, who's a native of those parts, and he headed on over to join in the festivities.
Below you can see many of my compadres. My brother is the good-lookin' fella in front holdin' the rifle.
Stephen and I with our tall amigo, Daniel.
An old friend of ours, Ronnie Aycoth (Wild Bill Elliott when in costume).
Another dear friend, Franklin Pierce (aka Frank Slade...aka Pete).
I was mighty grateful to share this fun experience with my brother.
And yes, I made my costume. Several years ago, in fact. Here's the original model that mine is based on (with a few slight alterations):
And for Stephen (actually, for Daniel a few years ago), I modified a corduroy shirt to resemble what Chuck Connors wears as The Rifleman (for a better frontal view, see other pictures above):
Yes sir, we had a mighty fine time! I sure hope the good Lord works it out for us to go back again next year.
Yesterday marked the halfway point. Seven days ago, our two female puppies were spayed. Five days from now, we can put them in their great big pen outside and allow them to run and jump and fight with each other to their heart's content. For now, however, they must stay inside all the time except when they're on a leash, and we must try to keep them calm and quiet.
Have you ever tried keeping two high-energy, 40 and 60 lb. lab puppies calm and quiet? It is virtually impossible. Needless to say, we're having quite a time of it. It doesn't help that they've decided to start waking up at preposterous hours, like 5:30 am, and of course they don't want to go back to sleep. So either we get up with them, or they bark non-stop until we do. Yep, it's been quite a challenge.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is a trial, a test of character, and a great opportunity for character growth. Not to mention that it's practice for motherhood (sleep deprivation, constant care and supervision of someone who's dependent on you, trying to multi-task and get chores down while caring and supervising, etc.). :-)
There have definitely been many moments when I was sure I wouldn't survive the next few hours...much less the whole 12 days...but God's grace is sufficient and He gives me the strength I need to get through each day. One thing for sure...I will have a new appreciation for the freedom we have when we can put them back out in the pen. Right now, productivity is limited to a few hours a day while they're sleeping (and by then, I'm so exhausted it's hard to be terribly productive).
Tonight, the puppies had an encounter with our cat, Bonnie, in the bathroom. We usually try to sneak Bonnie in the house, then down into the basement or into Mom's room, just to keep some peace in the house. The puppies get so excited when they see her! Daisy is more aggressive, but my Buttercup is willing to just sit and stare at the cat forever. She's rather fascinated by this fluffy, furry creature. Bonnie doesn't seem to fear them a bit (after all, she's the queen of the roost, right?). She doesn't like it when they start barking or get in her face too much, though.
Here's a picture and a very short video clip of their interaction in the bathroom tonight. Daisy is the one barking (that's what she does best!).
Well, it's 9:30 and I'm off to bed. I guarantee we'll be waking up at 5:30 again tomorrow... :-)
