The Longest Day

June 21, 2011 by Sheila 1 Comment

Today I plan to dress in yellow, carry freshly baked corn muffins from door to door, and oblige everyone in my family to step outside and leap over a big fat candle in lieu of a giant bonfire (which would be frowned upon by the city government) to bring us luck in the coming year. Yes! today is the solstice, and, in the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. Make the most of your long lovely light evening, because starting tomorrow, the days will begin to grow shorter again. Happy Summer!

Parish Picnic

June 12, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

Every year in early June our church holds Sunday service outdoors, with plenty of singing and clapping, followed by face-painting, balloon sculptures, moon-bounce, and frisbee, accompanied by a vast spread of grilled hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon, and brownies. That’s my kind of Sunday worship. During the homily, as I sketched the father and daughter in front of us, the priest spoke about father/daughter relationships (next week being Fathers Day), and the pair exchanged an affectionate nudge.

Mitch

June

June 1, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

It is the month of June,

The month of leaves and roses,

When pleasant sights salute the eyes,

And pleasant scents the noses.

—Nathaniel Parker Willis

Jan

Scapino at Sidwell

May 22, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

From time to time we attend a play at my son’s old high school. Productions range from crowd-pleasing classics like Damn Yankees and Fiddler on the Roof to more recent and edgy works by the likes of Tom Stoppard and David Ives. All are beautifully produced and well-acted, and recognizing students in the cast makes it even more fun. This month they put up Scapino, adapted from Molière’s Les Fourberies de Scapin, a zany romp inspired by commedia dell’arte, featuring star-crossed lovers, humorous mix-ups, and the classic scheming yet lovable servant who brings everything to a satisfying happy ending. The gymnastics and athletic physical humor required for the roles made it an appropriate vehicle for energetic teens. Oof.

Matthew

Magic Puzzle Boxes

May 18, 2011 by Sheila 1 Comment

I dislike shopping, unless it is for, say, dinner party ingredients, or perhaps used books at the library’s twice-yearly sale. Generally I try to purchase everything possible online. However, this is tough with shoes, so I agreed to take my daughter into a Sears store to acquire for her a pair of coveted Converse sneakers.

I remember when this meant sitting down in a chair, being fitted by a chatty salesman, and having boxes fetched from a secret room. What a surprise! no chairs, no salesman, no secret room. (This is probably the result of so many folks shopping online. Uh-oh.) Instead, we had a lengthy and baffling search through fifty boxes in order to find two matching shoes in the correct size. Like a treasure hunt. Or a bizarre dream sequence. We were eventually successful.

Father Madden

Concerts by Candlelight Part 2

May 17, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

Please click on the image to read about the lineup of upcoming concerts. Then see May 16th’s post for more information.

(This brochure is one of my recent springtime projects.)

Connie

Concerts by Candlelight Part 1

May 16, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

If you have never attended any of the concerts by candlelight held in Georgetown’s beautiful old Dumbarton Church (remodeled in 1897!), then you are missing a lovely treat. Now in its 34th year, the concert series runs the gamut from classical to modern, both instrumental and vocal, each season thoughtfully designed to give us a variety of music, beloved favorites and fresh, engaging new performers. Check out the website for more information.

Tomorrow I will post the description of the new season’s concerts.

Anne

Mothers Day

May 8, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

Ahhh…the lilting voices of her children thumb-wrestling in the garden of Firehook bring a tear to a mother’s eye. Happy Mothers Day.

Flow’ry May

May 4, 2011 by Sheila Leave a comment

Clematis, pansies, primroses, lily-of-the-valley: our tiny city garden is bursting into bloom.

For today, a sketch and a poem.

Now the bright morning star, day’s harbinger,

Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her

The flow’ry May, who from her green lap throws

The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.

Hail, bounteous May, thou dost inspire

Mirth and youth and warm desire!

Woods and groves are of thy dressing,

Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.

Thus we salute thee with our early song,

And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

—John Milton (1608-1674)

Jacqui

Aunt Francie

On Deadline

May 2, 2011 by Sheila 1 Comment

This has been an unusually busy and stressful spring, and my poor blog has languished unattended. So many May birthdays, too! But I plan to go back and post retroactively some of the celebrations of this month (and perhaps a sampling of the things I’ve been working on). Happy Belated Birthday, you May babies. Your cakes are in the oven.

Mary