Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Great Southern Tradition
So, if you've checked out This Little Light of Mine, then you know that Sheep's singing "debut" took place at church, not in my kitchen - although many a performance has! It's true. What you see here is a mere rendition, a re-creation, a reproduction of what took place that Sunday. But it's still worth watching! And so, with purple shirt and denim shorts donned, just exactly what she wore BTW, my darling daughter (or should I say darlin'?) joins the ranks of a long line of proud southerners - the reenactors!
Surely you've seen, or at least heard of them! Reese Witherspoon dedicated a significant portion of her movie Sweet Home Alabama to them! And more than one high school in Texas has been known to reenact the battle for Texas' Independence! Now I'm sure there must be reenactors in other places as well - but if you google the word reenactor, the first entry to pop up is The Civil War Reenactors Home Page - and I'll bet you anything that the majority of their groups are located in the South. There's just too many people who still think that if we could just do it over one more time, the outcome might be different. Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting something to change? In other places they call that crazy - but down here, we call it tradition. And I'm a Aggie, so I know a little something about tradition!
On their home page, there's a section that asks, "So you want to become a reenactor?" and here's what it has to say:
Sounds like we didn't do too badly! We aced the clothing and equipment - and we didn't have to spend a thing! I didn't even need to drag out the infernal video camera. This time I just turned on my my little point and click camera and switched it to the video option - cool. And like the other great southerners that have gone before me, I'm proud of the side she's chosen to fight for and the unit she's joined . . . so listen up, ya hear?!
Surely you've seen, or at least heard of them! Reese Witherspoon dedicated a significant portion of her movie Sweet Home Alabama to them! And more than one high school in Texas has been known to reenact the battle for Texas' Independence! Now I'm sure there must be reenactors in other places as well - but if you google the word reenactor, the first entry to pop up is The Civil War Reenactors Home Page - and I'll bet you anything that the majority of their groups are located in the South. There's just too many people who still think that if we could just do it over one more time, the outcome might be different. Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting something to change? In other places they call that crazy - but down here, we call it tradition. And I'm a Aggie, so I know a little something about tradition!
On their home page, there's a section that asks, "So you want to become a reenactor?" and here's what it has to say:
The first thing you will need to do is choose the side you will fight for . . .
I would highly recommend actually finding the unit you wish to join before
buying anything! Most units will have a person in charge, or at least a list, to
instruct new recruits on what to purchase and where to purchase it . . .
Hopefully, you will want to be as authentic as possible and wearing a uniform or
carrying equipment that is incorrect will ruin your impression.
Sounds like we didn't do too badly! We aced the clothing and equipment - and we didn't have to spend a thing! I didn't even need to drag out the infernal video camera. This time I just turned on my my little point and click camera and switched it to the video option - cool. And like the other great southerners that have gone before me, I'm proud of the side she's chosen to fight for and the unit she's joined . . . so listen up, ya hear?!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
This Little Light of Mine
This was Sheep's first year to attend Vacation Bible School - and she had a great time learning more about God and Jesus! She "wasn't old enough" for VBS at our home church (silly, if you ask me) so she happily went to my MIL's church instead. In addition to cooking, crafts and water fun, each day they worked on some songs to sing at church the following Sunday. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us that until late in the week, so we were a tad bit unprepared for her first performance EVER. Never the less, I did manage to herd my DH and my two DSS (darling step sons, who don't normally go to church with us BTW) into the car and down the street to Friendswood Friends Church. We even got her to her classroom on time - whew!! VBS shirt - check! DH - check! Three kiddos present and accounted for - check! MIL - check! Seats up front - check!
I've never been to a Friends Church before, so with a few minutes to spare, I started to look around. Ack! In every row there are smiling mothers and preoccupied fathers, all preparing to record this momentous event on camera, video and the like. Today of all days! Well of course I immediately think some ungodly thoughts and then chastise myself for them - grrrr! What good is the video camera we bought 3 years ago, for occasions such as this, sitting in my armoire at home?! I don't know that we've even used it since her 3rd birthday! Today of all days, I didn't even leave the house with my phone!
Too bad . . . . because it was a GREAT performance! Sheep was spectacular, if I do say so myself! She wasn't the loudest, but she got all the words right and remembered all the gestures - the whole thing was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes! And as I sat watching, I couldn't help but cast a longing look toward those parents with cameras . . . . and what to my wandering eyes did appear? My two DSS with the biggest smiles and proudest looks watching their little sister sing in church! Now if any of you have, have been around, or have ever been a 15 or 17 year old boy, you know that smiles, in church (!), aren't something you see every day - much less a downright, honest-to-goodness display of emotion, affection, all of the above! Talk about bringing tears to your eyes! My little Sheep adores her big brothers and that day I got a glimpse of just how much they adore her too.
Think of what I would have missed if I'd been tucked behind my camera only filming her. Thank goodness God sees the bigger picture, even when we don't.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
What's in a Name?
Well, here it is! My first ever blog . . . and boy has it been difficult figuring out all the names required to publish my musings about the ins and outs of this crazy, busy life of mine!
It all started so simply. My youngest daughter, referred to here as Sheep, wanted to be a lady bug last year for Halloween. Now one of the things I committed to doing when she arrived o
n this Earth (or maybe I should be committed for) was making all of her Halloween costumes myself. I've been sewing since I was about 8 or 9 years old, so this should have been easy. To make good on my promise to myself, because I'm not sure she remembered it frankly, I bought a simple pattern that had several different costume ideas, most of which consisted of a simple bubble, but had a couple of doosies thrown in there too, relatively speaking anyway. I was planning on her being a bee. She took one look at that pattern and said she wanted to be the sheep. Fitting because Sheep really was her nickname already, but frustrating because I was only planning on sewing a bubble. I just knew the sheep material would be too hot for Halloween along the Gulf Coast and I seriously doubted she would wear the hat! But, she was persistent. So, a sheep she was - and a cute sheep too I might add. She even wore the hat!
Anyway, thought I would show her the pattern again last year, since it hadn't been used for the various bug ensembles yet, and heaven knows there will be plenty of princess costu
mes ahead for this little one, so I am trying to delay that for as long as possible. Well, she said lady bug - yippee! She agreed to the bubble! But as luck would have it, we were over a friend's house that night who happened to have a pair of felt ladybug wings already made and the very next day we came across a ladybug tutu in a store . . . and well, like mother like daughter, I thought, "I could just make that!" So simple! So fun! She looked great!! Maybe I could make these for others! And just like that, my latest business venture was born! (She says she wants to be a lamp this year, so I may never get make that bubble costume.)
I say latest, because over the years I've had many business ventures and even more business ideas! In the early days, these were mostly concocted with my brother, who also has an entrepreneurial spirit (either that or he was bored like I was in the summer)! Anyway, we tried lemonade and other drink stands. We ran a tattoo parlor out of our garage using markers on paper. I drew designs and colored them (I did custom designs too) and he was responsible for drumming up business, taking the money and licking the arms and hands I "tattooed" them on before we wised up and used water instead! We had a short run tie-dying shirts (I think most of those ended up as seat covers in his first clunker car . . . ) and my childhood BFF and I ran a small science lab out of her shed that we charged admission for too. But, I digress . . . .
Every business has to have a name and even Shakespeare seemed to know something about names and marketing, so what would my tutu business be called? Tutu Cute was my first thought but apparently it was for others as well, because you see that name and phrase all over the place when you start looking. Since Sheep was the inspiration for this adventure to begin with, I thought it was only fitting to somehow reference her in the name, and she can be a real sassy pants! Fortunately, she frequently wears other pants as well - smarty pants, cutie pants, you get the idea.
With the name of my studio decided, I thought I was done. Turns out more names were needed, like for my blog! I didn't want my blog to simply be another form of advertisement for my online business; I wanted to chronicle my other adventures as well. I wanted to name it something else . . . but I still wanted to reference my business. I went back to my list of suggestions from friends and family from the first time around . . . and "Don't Mess With My Tutus!" was launched! It was my brother's suggestion, but somehow that feels right, like we're still in it together in some small way. Thanks bro'!
It all started so simply. My youngest daughter, referred to here as Sheep, wanted to be a lady bug last year for Halloween. Now one of the things I committed to doing when she arrived o
n this Earth (or maybe I should be committed for) was making all of her Halloween costumes myself. I've been sewing since I was about 8 or 9 years old, so this should have been easy. To make good on my promise to myself, because I'm not sure she remembered it frankly, I bought a simple pattern that had several different costume ideas, most of which consisted of a simple bubble, but had a couple of doosies thrown in there too, relatively speaking anyway. I was planning on her being a bee. She took one look at that pattern and said she wanted to be the sheep. Fitting because Sheep really was her nickname already, but frustrating because I was only planning on sewing a bubble. I just knew the sheep material would be too hot for Halloween along the Gulf Coast and I seriously doubted she would wear the hat! But, she was persistent. So, a sheep she was - and a cute sheep too I might add. She even wore the hat!Anyway, thought I would show her the pattern again last year, since it hadn't been used for the various bug ensembles yet, and heaven knows there will be plenty of princess costu
mes ahead for this little one, so I am trying to delay that for as long as possible. Well, she said lady bug - yippee! She agreed to the bubble! But as luck would have it, we were over a friend's house that night who happened to have a pair of felt ladybug wings already made and the very next day we came across a ladybug tutu in a store . . . and well, like mother like daughter, I thought, "I could just make that!" So simple! So fun! She looked great!! Maybe I could make these for others! And just like that, my latest business venture was born! (She says she wants to be a lamp this year, so I may never get make that bubble costume.)I say latest, because over the years I've had many business ventures and even more business ideas! In the early days, these were mostly concocted with my brother, who also has an entrepreneurial spirit (either that or he was bored like I was in the summer)! Anyway, we tried lemonade and other drink stands. We ran a tattoo parlor out of our garage using markers on paper. I drew designs and colored them (I did custom designs too) and he was responsible for drumming up business, taking the money and licking the arms and hands I "tattooed" them on before we wised up and used water instead! We had a short run tie-dying shirts (I think most of those ended up as seat covers in his first clunker car . . . ) and my childhood BFF and I ran a small science lab out of her shed that we charged admission for too. But, I digress . . . .
Every business has to have a name and even Shakespeare seemed to know something about names and marketing, so what would my tutu business be called? Tutu Cute was my first thought but apparently it was for others as well, because you see that name and phrase all over the place when you start looking. Since Sheep was the inspiration for this adventure to begin with, I thought it was only fitting to somehow reference her in the name, and she can be a real sassy pants! Fortunately, she frequently wears other pants as well - smarty pants, cutie pants, you get the idea.
With the name of my studio decided, I thought I was done. Turns out more names were needed, like for my blog! I didn't want my blog to simply be another form of advertisement for my online business; I wanted to chronicle my other adventures as well. I wanted to name it something else . . . but I still wanted to reference my business. I went back to my list of suggestions from friends and family from the first time around . . . and "Don't Mess With My Tutus!" was launched! It was my brother's suggestion, but somehow that feels right, like we're still in it together in some small way. Thanks bro'!
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