Girls' Night Out

We did it!
The 'debut' performance of Girls' Night Out was on Sat in Salem at the Square Dance Center. Since it was a holiday weekend, we expected maybe 2 or 3 squares - no . . . . more than 70 folks, enough for 6 squares throughout the dance!! Yikes! (we heard that quite a few folks decided to come just to hear us!) Since it was a 'callers & cuers co-op' dance, like a jam session, folks signed in at the door, & went on stage in that order. The host for the evening decided to put us up just before the break - so not 'till after 9, & the dance began at 7:30. So lots of time to dance, & try to forget being nervous!

Our outfits were so cute, they HAD to like us, don't you think? We actually did well, & received lots of nice comments! & we got to hear a lot of those at the break (it was a 50s/60s & 70s dance, so root beer floats were the special treat!)

We sang & called our 'theme song' - 'Girls' Night Out' & 'Dizzy' (I'm so dizzy, my head is spinning, like a whirlpool it never ends; cause it's YOU, you're making me spin, you're making me DIZZY!' (complete with 'dizzy' choreography)
The only 'glitch' was that the sound system, though set up for 4 cords & mics, didn't work quite right, so Jackie & I (in the middle) were hard to hear. Sandy & Char (the ends) have had lots of experience, project well, & their mics worked fine . . . so some trouble shooting in order before we perform again.

It was really fun. I have made several drapes for my music stand, white for weddings,a brocade plaid for other events, now one in blue denim for GNO. We rehearsed again tonight, & began working on a few new songs. Sandy is listing us in a SQ D magazine, so we have to learn enough music for a dance! It's fun to do some of the slower, sweeter songs - 'Any Dream Will Do' & 'Rainbow Rider' are two current favorites. We tried 'Devil Went Down to Georgia' which is fun, too!
Sandy & Char can 'carry' doing several individual 'tips' (set of two dances) & Sandy & Jackie 'cue' (choreograph the round dance) & Char's done some of that - dances alternate between two 'called' dances & two that are 'cued' We're doing 2-step in this photo - Char with her husband Bill, me with Sandy's Al.
We'll be calling a tip at the end of June, during one of Sandy's dances (the caller has the prerogative of inviting a guest caller to do a 'tip.'

We have several advantages - being unique - there are several guys' groups, but no other girls' groups; we have good timing; & those cute outfits . . . . .

Getting Closer

Next weekend Girls' Night Out will make it's debut, at the caller's & Cuer's co-op dance in Salem! Yikes!! The other three gals sang a few weeks ago at another Salem dance - I wasn't there, & one of our friends said 'it wasn't really GNO without you!' Aww . . .
Am I nervous? YES!

So we've been rehearsing weekly, & selected the two songs for our 'tip' (plus a couple more, if they ask us back up) & making our outfits! Jackie found some cute pink fabric with little girls kicking up their heels - & we each picked up a denim shirt (thrift store-ing!), & are putting on yolks & lace. Jackie finished hers & working on Sandy's this weekend - mine is also in process.

I took it along to work on this afternoon at the ballet studio (yes, that's an intriguing contrast!) during rehearsal for the spring Dance Concert. Several girls asked me if it was for one of the pieces - & everyone thought it was cute. I was in 2 pieces - a Tai Chi number, & playing the harp for an improv piece followed by 'reverance' - the curtsies! So sweet!
I went across the street for Mexican dinner, as the studio provided sandwiches (not GF :)

Friday I went to Washington with my son & his family to attend my cousin Lori's memorial service. It was a LOVELY service - & 6 of the 8 first cousins that are left were able to attend. My son Josh is good friends with Lori's daughters, so we went over to the family gathering after the service.

Here I am with my cousin Louann - Lori was her older sister. Family resemblance is strong, isn't it? As an only child, the family dance is something I am a bit in awe of. I don't spend a lot of time with these cousins, but love them dearly! Lori & Letha (my Aunt) had early August birthdays, & began having 'family reunion' BD parties in the 70s.

Our Uncle Ray was the last of the 5 Aunts & Uncles to pass - at 92!


I had fun asking cousins if they'd square danced! I knew Lori's folks Letha & Lonny did, & my Aunt Irel & her husband Ed; but which of my cousins??
I was intrigued to see how many said 'oh, yes - ... & I did!' Cousin Leonard (in the middle here, between Doris & me) & his wife danced till she broke her leg while she was pregnant, & spent the pregnancy in a cast!

His sister Arlene & her husband Bob began after retirement, when folks from their church 'persisted' - Bob's new wife (not a dancer!) asked "do gals still wear those (silly) full skirts?"

OH, YES WE DO :)

Other cousins 'grew up' dancing with their folks - or remembered spending the evenings out in the car, while mom & dad were in dancing! (those were the days!) Since my mom was on crutches, my folks didn't dance (I think my dad was glad of the 'excuse') but enjoyed the music.

There were some sweet photos that included my mom in her 20s, with the young cousins (she didn't marry& have a 'chick of her own' till her late 30s!) She taught several of them to swim in the pond at the farm, & loved spending time with them. Lori was 14 when I was born, & her daughters are ~ 10 years older than my kids.

One more week . . . . .

Littlest Purple People Eater

This weekend, our Square Dance club has a float in the anual 'Alien Days Parade,' an Oregon clasic (& the second largest UFO fest in the country! "The festival began as a way to honor the famous 1950 Trent sighting in which two local citizens witnessed and photographed a UFO, said to be some of the most credible images of UFOs to date. Read a detailed history of the Trent sightings." A friend of my 94 year old mother-in law also saw the UFO/ strange object in the sky that day in 1950, & a sis-in law later lived on the Trent farm for awhile.

My daughter & I usually attend the parade with the girls, & have talked about how fun it would be to dress up & participate - this year I will! Here's my 5 year old granddaughter 'posing' (is that how aliens stand?) in my 'one eyed, one horne (flying) Purple People Eater' hood, & freshly 'sparkled (glitter infused puff paint) purple T-shirt.

Our caller has been working on the calls for THE song, & has a cordless mike; we'll be dancing on the float! Judging is at 11 AM, with the parade at 1 - & prospects are that the warm, sunny weather is here for several days - always appreciated for a parade.

My gal friends & I meet weekly, to practice our singing calls. They actually did a couple at a dance last weekend - I hadn't gone, but the other three were all there. My challenge is singing in a lower register, as it's easier for the guys to understand the calls if they're not too high pitched!
I've been a soprano all my life - now to CONSISTENTLY sing alto - yikes! But it's happening. & I can get through a whole call, singing all the moves! (which has also been work!) I've borrowed a mike, & practice with that at home & our rehersals.

My daughter is getting closer to moving across town! This AM I finally got to see inside the house, as the family was having an Estate Sale, & the kids wanted some of the furniture. I found a couple of stainless steel pans,

Had to take a break to clip some GRASS in my back yard!! My daughter says I should get rid of all the grass, & turn it into a BIG garden!! Nice idea - working on it! & delighted to see my Spitzenberg apple branch (on a 3 way tree) is FULL of thumb sized apples!! 'Rumourred to be' Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple, it 'doesn't bear heavily' - but it is absolutely delicious!

What are you up to this fine weekend?

Tra La, tis May

Had a lovely day - playing Rowan (my biggest harp) at a wedding - in a BARN!!

We've been in lots of settings - this was a first! We were in the loft, blessed with a solid floor (a piece of plywood across the beams) & lots of skylights. & tho it was windy & rainy, the sun came out after the wedding, & a dear friend attended, so I stayed for the reception.

This morning I'll help at Playschool, which is always fun. Hard to believe that it's the last month, & next year that littlest granddaughter will be in Kindergarden! I mentioned that I'd miss going to school with her, & maybe I could come visit her classroom? She readily agreed that was a good idea! She will probably tell me partway there that we 'should have' driven (it's about 4 blocks!) esp if it's raining! I remind her I only drive if I have a massage to give afterwards!
She loves to sit in the 'trunk' (very back) of the station wagon - which is also the harp's favorite riding place.

What are you up to this fine Wednesday??

Gluten Free Scones for Beltane

I'd usually make oat cakes for Beltane, but GF oats are now ~ $4- a # - yikes!! So for our dance tonight, I decided on scones.

I found the inspration for these on-line last summer, when my Red Hat group was going out for tea, & the hostess said she could do every course except 'you'll have to forgo the scones!'
Loving scones, I decided to do a bit of sluthing, & found this recipe. It quickly became a favorite - scones are one of those 'quick & easy' breads that are perfect for GF baking.

Gluten Free Scones
1 C favorite GF flour mix (I use a basic 'brown rice'potato starch/tapioca flour mix)
3/4 C sorghum flour
1/4 C coconut flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder (aluminum free)
1/4 tsp baking soda
~ 3 Tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
(1/2 tsp garam masala spice mix, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, & ~ 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger - optional)
1/4 tsp xanthan gum (not absoulutely necessary in 'quick bread' recipes)
3 Tbsp cold butter, sliced fine, & 3 Tbsp coconut oil

cut the oil/butter into the sifted/stirred flour mix
add 1/2 C nuts &/or 1/2 C dried raisins or other dried fruit (chopped)

mix together:
3/4 C coconut milk or C milk kefir
1 egg (we just use the whites, as my daughter's sensitive)

Add wet to dry ingredients, & gently knead, then roll & cut into 8 wedges, or pat into wedges or rounds (I pat into ~ 10 - 12 wedges) I bake on a clay baking sheet, so put them on the cold sheet, & heat the oven as they're cooking.

400* for 12 - 20 minutes - I stick them with a toothpick @ 12 min, & ~ every 5 min till it comes out clean.

Enjoy!! & happy Beltane!

Full Moon in Scorpio

Lovely full moon time again - with Mercury a wee bit retrograde, across the sky in Taurus.

This afternoon, the sun 'in the sky' will be trine my natal sun - about which, my favorite astrology site says: "you experience a time of balance and equilibrium in your life, when you can be yourself with the fewest obstacles from people or circumstances. Various affairs in your life will hum along very nicely now, and you may be tempted to think that they will always go this well. But in fact this is the time to firm up your affairs and make sure that they are strong enough to withstand troubles that may come later on."

The sun will be in my 8th house for several weeks: "You will have a strong desire to experience life on a feeling level, and this is just what you need. One very real possibility at this time is that an encounter with someone will produce the need for very searching psychological self-inquiry or will force very powerful changes in your life. This person may challenge your value structure, or there may be a powerful intermeshing of your personalities."

Years ago, one of my friends showed me the back of her chart, where another astrologer had marked these sun transits, when the sun 'in the sky' would enter each of the 12 houses of the natal chart (marked from the time of day you were born) & the emphasis of that month! I recall being intrigued at the time, & observing times this monthly overlay was particularly 'acurate.'

If you do know the time & place you were born, Astro is a fun site to peruse. You can calculate charts simply by entering the data (if you sign up, you can 'store' unlimited data at no charge; anyone can do a few charts) here's an overview of what they offer. Even without any knowledge of Astrology, you can use the 'astro click portrait' feature to click on lines & symbols of your (or someone else's) chart, & get a basic overview.

Of course it's more fun to have an actual reading with a real person!! But this is a good way to familiarize yourself with the lingo, & some of the basic information.

Things to look for: what elements are your planets in?? Esp Sun, Moon, & the Ascendent (horizon line - the left side) Where are Mercury (how you think/process info) Venus (female energy, often how the world 'sees' a woman, what kind of woman a man is attracted to) & Mars (male/active energy - how a man is viewed, & in a woman's chart - the kind of man she's attracted to). While I'm a Virgo, my Venus is in Leo, a more vibrant & 'center stage' energy. Folks are often surprised to find that I'm a Virg0, 'you're not like the other Virgos I know!'
Venus & Mercury travel close to the sun, so will be in the same sign, one ahead or one behind the sun - so this is actually a fairly common placement.
'High' manifestation of Leo energy (my Venus) is both the ability to be 'center stage' oneself, AND to encourage others to be comfortable in the limelight. (low side is to want to be there all the time oneself - combine that with being an only child; make sure you NOTICE me!! - esp when I was a kid! Now I more easily manifest 'high Leo' energy.
Each planet & sign has these 'high/low' offerings, the trick is to learn how to use the energy well.

The site has several tutorials, so you can learn a lot just poking around :)

Ooo, look to the right; I just added the current planet positions on the Vale's sidebar!! > > >

Enjoy the moon, your day, & tra la, tis almost MAY!!

Sacred Geometry

Several years ago, before moving into my current home, I had a phone consultation with a psychic. Her suggestions included 'anchoring' my home space by placing a small crystal (individual or small cluster) at each corner of the house, & I did that (clear quartz & amethyst).

I've used various clearing techniques for my home & land since the late 80s, & this felt harmonious. I enjoy doing little things like this that feel 'happy.'
In the mid 90s, I studied Lightwork with Amorah Quan Yin, & played my harp to help set the 'Dolphin Star Temple' energy daily during the month long workshop. Amorah comments: "There are numerous mystery school systems on Earth now & (have been) in the past. I just happen to be a dreamer/channel/anchor for one of these. Each system has equal beauty."

Dim memories of living & swimming in warm water oceans & an affinity for 'the blue place' attracted me to Amorah's teachings, & the term 'star temple' has its own sweet resonance. Toward the end of one particularly intense session (the 25+ students worked in small groups & we were clearing 'contracts' on the etheric level) I'd begun playing my harp. A friend told me that the music had really anchored the Star Temple 'as soon as you began playing.' (I also send Reiki with my music.)

Recently I've thought about that anchoring, both for a personal space/home, & for places folks gather intentionally (& it feels appopriate) - placing the corner - stones & others at the midpoints of each wall - but out 3 or 4' (or at the lot line).

My daughter & her family will soon move across town, & we talked about each of the 4 family members choosing an 'outer' stone (by their Astrological element - N by Earth (Taurus), E by Air (Aquarius), S by the youngest (also an Earth sign - S is fire, summer, play) & W by Water (Scorpio).

A newly opened center in downtown Mac has a sweet selection of ~ 1/2 " stones that range from 2/ $1 to $1.50, these are the ones I picked up Saturday. I plan to take the girls in to choose stones for their new home! I thought the 'dalmation jasper' would be nice on the front corners of the house, the pink agate for the back corners (these were each 2/$1 :)

Apache Tears: good luck, tapping 'what is
Blue Lace Agate - communitly, clarity, loyalty, trust
Botswana Pink Agate: stabilize, strengthen
Chiastolite (cross stone) creative, practical, solve problems, Insight, Soul Purpose
Dalmation Jasper (2: for the front entrance - either side) protect, nurture, absorb, cleanse
Lepitolite: Rebirth, lighten heart, elevate moods
Nephrite Jade: steady, good luck
Sodalite: heal emotions, relax, de-stress
Unakite: dissolve past blocks, move into present

I also intend to place 'outer stones' at my house - loved the times I lived in a yurt (round) & later in an octagon - fun to think outside the box.

Off to work!! Had a LOVELY quick 'recharge' trip to the beach Sunday with my daughter & her girls - 66* & sunny - with no wind!