Pioneers & Barber of

Pioneer Themed Week

As pianist I was invited to the Primary Pioneer theme party. “Dress like pioneers” they said. Yea, I had an excuse to wear my skirt and bonnet without having to push a handcart. ( I know I still need a good blouse, but the DI shirt will have to do. Again I was reminded how cool a long skirt is compared to levis or pants. Sloppy Jo's and chips were the main menu and I slopped those Jo's right on my pioneer skirt. Stories, songs and games. I love to sing the pioneer songs and hear new stories.

Making a wooden thingy and playing with it.

The primary workers

The next night the RS had a pioneer theme activity with dutch oven potatoes, salad and roll. “Bring something from you grandmother or gg to display and tell about. I couldn’t really think of a physical item and realized most of what I have is written histories. I love to read about my pioneer ancestors and appreciated these two activities which directed my thoughts to ancestors. I took the LHH biography.

RS Pioneer display

My next door neighbor talks about a family photo

Barber Goes to Barber of Seville

One of my summer goals was to attend an opera. Nanette recommended the Barber of Seville since it was comedy.

Cheri, my boss has volunteered her mother since

last winter to accompany me to performances.

“ She likes to go places. You can have a date

with my mother.” I took her up on the offer and

called her mother, Janis Andrus in Richmond.

I bought the cheap seats, knowing my knees would be in my face. We just kept climbing until we found the seats two rows from the back wall. I brought my hunting or sport binoculars, (yah like I go hunting.) Lets say the size of the binoculars so were large they couldn’t fit in my purse. I like to see the aging make up lines and costumes & sets close-up and viewed them sporadically. Sometimes I missed the English captions by using the binocs.

Nanette didn’t warn me the first act of the opera went 1 ½ hours. Costumes, makeup, scenery and singing were all fantastic. BUT… It went on and on and I got sleepy. The opera started at 1:00 moseyed on through my nap time. After the noon rush at the barber shop, Cheri and I take our naps at 2:15. Thank goodness for the 20 minutes intermission; lets see if my legs can still move. Red faced and blurry eyed we walked to the rest room and got a drink. The second half whipped by, a half an hour, there was more action and plot was resolved and boom it was done. The barber of Seville actually lathered a face the second act. Someone should tell composers not to cram so much in the first act.

As the orchestra played the overture I recognized it from high school band recording. Beethoven’s Egmont Something’s wrong here; this is a Rossini opera. At home I checked the label on the old 45 band record from out concert. Sure enough we played Beethoven’s Egmont and Rossini’s Overture at the same concert. All these years when I’ve heard Rossini I thought it was Beethoven. See, going to opera is so educational.

I’ve had enough opera to last me for two years until I can save enough money for the golden, hundred dollar seats. Thank you Janice for a fun day.