Fezzik Friday - 28 Weeks...

Greetings and Glad Tidings on this Christmas Eve Friday. I thought it only appropriate that I should dress up for the occasion. I'm more than a little excited to be celebrating my very first Christmas.

Mom and Dad are celebrating the birth of Jesus this weekend, and I know it's going to include people visiting, lots of good food...and presents! I'm not sure what presents are yet, but Kes has been telling me that I'm going to like them.
Kes wanted to say "Merry Christmas", too, this week. She was happy to pose with an arrangement that Mom's friend, Ellen, gave her. She has always liked this time of year, but loves it in Florida. Her ol' bones don't have to trudge through the snow when it's time to go out. She tells me that when she lived in Wisconsin, "Dashing Through The Snow" had a whole different meaning.

There are no Grinches at our house, but this will really make you smile. We'd like to leave you today, with a musical presentation of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch".

This was performed last Sunday afternoon by the North Port Orchestra, featuring a young man who plays in the violin section. His name is Sullivan Hendrickson-Boyd and he is a 15 year old high school student at North Port High School. (Mom and Dad have his mom's permission to share this with you.)

We all think that Sullivan has a brilliant singing career in his future. He is a natural bass, including his speaking voice, and this rendition of "Mr. Grinch" will positively stun you. So, please sit back, turn up your sound and enjoy Sullivan's singing with the Orchestra (our Handsome Dad is on the drums).


Merry Christmas from your
four-legged friends at Brynwood Needleworks,

Fezzik Inconceivable (and Kes, too!)

Capturing Talent...

I was tasked with taking the official North Port Orchestra photo this year. It's a job I was happy to do. Capturing talent for posterity. I arrived at the end of yesterday's dress rehearsal and took the picture before the concert. They'll be using this photo for print media, as well as their website image. I know everyone looks tiny, but it can't be avoided if everyone is going to fit in the image. Perhaps another time I'll take photos of each section. I just might have to propose that!

At the end of the concert, I was asked to present the flower bouquets to our soloists. Yup, me onstage. With an armful of gorgeous, fragrant flowers. I'll be back onstage for the Chorale concert on Thursday evening! We'll be performing with the North Port Concert Band (Handsome on percussion), and I'm really looking forward to it!

Today, I'll be in the studio again. The queen size quilt is more intricate (read, taking longer) than I expected. I'll update you with my progress on Tuesday. Hope you have a fun and creative day where you live!

I Got A Little Side Tracked...

I took this photo of Kes (apre' swim) last fall. She sure loves her toys.

So, I only finished my sweater parts late last night. Kes was under the weather overnight on Friday - to the extent that I had to take her to the pet Emergency Room at 2:30 Saturday morning. After poking, prodding and a radiogram, it was determined that she has a rather large tumor that is pushing her intestines off to one side. No wonder she was pacing.

She's sleeping, comfortably, next to me as I write this post to you. We have an appointment with our own vet on Tuesday morning, and I'll know more after we go. Until then, I'll make sure Kes is comfortable and pain-free. (Thank Heaven for modern canine meds.)

I'm going to assemble my sweater today so that I can wear it to Handsome's orchestra concert this afternoon. I'm especially looking forward to the Spring-themed classical music to carry me away for a couple of hours. I promise to share photographs of the finished piece tomorrow.

If you think of it, I'd sure appreciate a healing prayer or positive thought for my little Labrador. Thanks.

A Little Holiday Fun...

Today, I'm sharing a little of Handsome's talent with you. (He's sitting at the drum kit in back on the right-hand side of the orchestra.) I hope this brings a smile to your face and a smidge of Holiday Spirit to your day. The piece (performed by the North Port Orchestra on Sunday afternoon) is called Tintinabulations. You'll hear familiar classical music with a Christmas twist. Turn up your sound and prepare to be tickled. I'll look forward to adding a little more music in the coming days.


If you missed my post for yesterday, you may want to check it out. No hints...

Making Beautiful Music...

Sunday afternoon was like a fairytale romance. Every time I hear Handsome playing with the local orchestra or concert band, I fall in love with him all over again. Sunday, I was completely head over heels.
You see, today was a little special. He and the orchestra's string bass player, Jerome Butler, accompanied a gifted and talented pianist by the name of Mike Markaverich to form an incredible trio performing out in front of the orchestra.
With the orchestra, they performed Love Walked In, The Man I Love and Love Is Sweeping The Country in one set. Then they performed Hooray For Hollywood, Singin' In The Rain, Over The Rainbow, As Time Goes By and A Day In The Life Of A Fool in a medley of cinema favorites.
After intermission, the trio performed alone onstage. They played much-loved jazz standards, Beautiful Love, When I Fall In Love and Doxie. Call me biased, but they were really good. They were a trio for this performance only - and only had time for a few rehearsals together prior to the performance - but they were really in sync.

Oh, yes...Mike is an incredible pianist and completely blind. God has given him music in all forms. He has perfect pitch and his range and repertoire seem endless. He and Handsome really connected. Three talented musicians came together for this ensemble performance, and they got a standing ovation. I guess it wasn't just me!
The orchestra also played American Symphony by M. Kamen. You do remember, Mr. Holland's Opus, right? That's this. Handsome was back on the kit behind the other musicians for this number.
Their final piece Sunday afternoon was Stars and Stripes Forever. Mike came back onstage for this number. The program was so perfect, and the music "filled me up". I recorded the whole concert on my new Canon Vixia HG21 Digital Camcorder, and just as soon as I can figure out how to download the performances to my laptop, I'll be sharing some of this beautiful music with you.
Until then, please enjoy these images, and imagine all of these talented musicians performing for you on a sunny, November, Florida afternoon, making beautiful music together.

If you're interested in listening to and/or purchasing some of Mike's cds, here's a link where you can preview his music. Really, it's a great listen!

Sunday morning, I created the Scissors Bunny I & II tutorials for you. This second pattern will give you the option of making a bunny with a front pocket, instead of little bunny feet. If you have trouble downloading the pdf of either of the pattern sheets, just send me an email through my blog link, and I'll be sure to email a pattern sheet back to you. Thanks for your patience.