Going to the beach....hopefully

I am looking at planning a trip to the beach this fall.  Just a few days, mind you.  And by myself.  I have been looking at places to stay and trying to find something that is economical.  It's out there, I just have not found it yet. I have not been to the beach in about 4 years.  Going to the beach was such a part of my life when I was young.  Even though I do not swim, I do enjoy being near the water.  There is something so relaxing about hearing the waves crash on the shore.  I just love it.

When I was young, like pre-kindergarten, we would spend a week each summer at Kure Beach.  Someone from Monroe had a house there that we rented.  It was a great old house.  And it was old.  I remember that there were no closets, but each room had a wardrobe in it.  There weren't light fixtures but a bulb hanging from the ceiling.  Front and back screened in porches with swings.  I spent a lot of time on those swings.  There were two bedrooms downstairs and several bedrooms and the living areas upstairs.  I caught my first fish at Kure beach.  Mom and Dad loved to surf fish.  I actually caught two flounders at once with my plastic fishing pole made for kids.  That was pretty awesome.

That house eventually got sold and we tried other beaches.  Topsail, Ocean Isle, Holden Beach, the Outer Banks.  Each summer we would go.  I remember Mom planning meals weeks before and doing lots of grocery shopping for the trip.  We might have gone out one night for dinner, but Mom and Grandmother did most of the cooking.  That was also, especially in our younger days, one of the few times Bill and I got to have sodas daily.  They were the old Check Sodas that Mom would buy at Food Lion. But we went every year for so many years.  

I've been a few times as an adult and it has been fun.  I made several trips with Michael's family and made trips with friends.  It's just a place that I love to go to.  So, I hope to make it this year, even if it is by myself.  We shall see!

Playing cards

 Playing card games was a huge part of my upbringing.  Solitaire, hearts, spades, gin, war.  There were card games going on almost weekly in our home. For years, my parents belonged to a couples' bridge club and Mom belonged to a women's bridge club.  Grandmother belonged to one as well.  I never learned to play bridge but it's on my radar! Still, there were always card games going on it seems.

And because of that, we had many decks of cards.  I used to love to just look at them and the fun designs on the backs of the cards. I was always very careful in selecting which deck I was going to play with.  And then there were the decks that were worn and soft in the middle of the cards.  Still playable though. The sets were often in pairs, always complementary of each other. 

And I loved the vintage packaging they came in.  Some were in the faux velvet boxes where the drawer pulled out to reveal dual decks of cards.  Some had the plastic containers with the clear tops so that you could see the card designs.  They were fun and colorful! 

Somehow, I don't have too many of the old sets of cards we used.  I do have some but not many.  I guess I did not think about it at the time when households were broken up that these cards would be of sentimental value to me.  But I cherish the ones that I do have.  And if I see some fun cards out while shopping, I'm always tempted.  I haven't bought any but I'm always tempted LOL

Do you have any old decks of cards?  And if so, do you use them?  Or are you up for a game of gin?  Let me know!

10 Things to do in the Greensboro area

 Now that I am trying to get myself out of the house more, I am always looking for things to do in Greensboro that I haven't tried yet.  For this list, I tried to stick to things actually in Greensboro but did put a few things on the list that are not in town but close by.  I also had no intention of putting a restaurant on here but one popped up into my Facebook feed that I had never heard of and I have to try it.  Anyone want to go with me?  Just let me know!

1. Green Hill Cemetery

Before there were parks in our country, there were cemeteries and people often spent leisurely afternoons strolling through them.  I just think it would be interesting to look at the history that is there.

2. Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market

Located in Colfax, NC, I hate to admit that I have never been here before.  And it's a good way to support the local economy.

3. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Another historical site that would make for an interesting afternoon

4. Blandwood Museum

A historic mansion right downtown.  I have catered at this mansion years ago but have never been there as a tourist.  It's about time.

5. International Civil Rights Center & Museum

An important chapter in Greensboro history that I need to learn more about and this is the perfect place to do that.

6. Weatherspoon Art Museum

I've walked by this museum way too many times over the past 30 years to not finally get in there and take advantage of it!

7. Carolina Field of Honor

A beautiful section of Triad Park located just outside of Greensboro. 

8. Jazz at the O'Henry Hotel

Every Thursday night they have jazz at the O'Henry Hotel.  I love jazz and need to get out and support local artists. 

9. Church Street Cafe

I had never even heard of this burger joint until yesterday.  And it's been around for years.  Must try this!

10. North Carolina Pottery Center

Seagrove is known for its pottery and I think this would be a fun place to go and see the kinds of amazing works that the potters do.

Again, if you see anything that interests you, let me know.  I'd love to have someone to share these experiences with!

More Christmas Decorations

 I know that I have way too many Christmas decorations.  But you know?  They make me incredibly happy, so I am perfectly fine with that. And I am always on the lookout for something new.  Chances are new means new to me.  I love vintage decorations just like everything else in my life haha! I am now at the age where the contemporary decorations I grew up with are considered vintage.  I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that but it is what it is. 

I recently, like two days ago, bought some new to me Christmas decorations.  Let me start by saying that I collect pigs (among so many other things). I have always loved pigs.  I believe it goes back to having Charlotte's Web read to me in my first-grade class.  Thanks, Mrs. Gay! That was the teacher's assistant's name not a dig on myself haha.  Anyway, one Christmas probably in the early 90s, Mom bought me a Christmas pig for my birthday. I absolutely loved him and still have him and put him out every season. He is made by Tom Rubel.  There was an entire series of Christmas animals that he did.  I know that Mom got him at The Candlewick in the mall because that's where we first saw them. 

My Tom Rubel Christmas pig

I'd forgotten about the series of animals he created until two years ago.  One of my bosses at work loves giraffes like I love pigs.  When I was looking for a Christmas present for her, I found Tom Rubel's Christmas giraffe online and snatched it up.  After that, his pieces began to work their way into my eBay feed, and I started to take notice.  The next one I purchased for myself was one of his bears.  A cute bear with a wreath around his neck.  So anytime I see a good deal on one, I bid on it. Until this week, my bids had been unsuccessful.  

I found a set of them.  A partial set, anyway.  I figured if I got these it would be a good foundation to getting the entire set.  I bid and won.  I will get them this week and I am so excited.  Now, I need to start thinking about where to display them during the upcoming holiday season.  It's the little things like this that make my life joyful.

Ok, so now I'll have two pigs and two bears.  I'm fine with that haha!

Hiding in Thee

 A beautiful hymn that I often forget about.  

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Be curious!  Open your mind to the new and the unknown in all walks of life. 

10 original Broadway musical casts I wish I'd seen

 As a lover of musical theatre, I sometimes wish that I could time travel back to the golden days of Broadway.  Days when there were great shows.  Even the not-so-great shows were great, comparatively.  And you didn't have to take out a loan to get tickets.  As much as I have loved going to NYC in the past and seeing shows, I do not foresee that happening any time soon with prices the way they are.  Still, there are some shows that I would love to go back in time and see.  Sometimes it's because the show is amazing itself.  Sometimes it's because the cast is phenomenal even when the show isn't. Sometimes it's a star turn that made history.  If you could go back in time and see some original casts of musicals, what would they be? Here are my top 10 choices:

1. Mame

The 1966 musical adaptation of Patrick Dennis's Auntie Mame by Jerry Herman.  To see this with Angela Lansbury in the role that catapulted her to Broadway stardom.  And, of course, Bea Arthur as Vera Charles, her best friend.  Nothing would be better than to see them live on stage together! And that wonderful Herman score!

2. A Chorus Line

Michael Bennett's 1976 Pulitzer Prize winning musical about the lives and struggles of Broadway gypsies.  I have been obsessed with this musical for years.  And knowing the history behind its creation, seeing the original cast would be a dream come true.

3. Dreamgirls

Incredible staging by Michael Bennett.  A fun score and an outstanding ensemble cast.  A star making turn by Jennifer Holliday and an act 1 finale that went down as Broadway legend.

4. Gypsy

Gypsy brought a roaring end to the 1959 Broadway theatre season, missing out on Tony contention by a few days. It was nominated for the 59-60 season but lost out all awards.  Ethel Merman at the pinnacle of her career, creating the role to end all roles.

5. My Fair Lady

This classic 1956 musical made a Broadway sensation out of Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison earned a Tony Award (and later an Oscar) for his performance as Henry Higgins.  A delightful score full of wonderful songs.  I wouldn't have minded seeing Sally Ann Howes, Julie's replacement, either!

6. South Pacific

The 1949 Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein.  While not my favorite score of theirs, as a package deal this show is the one to beat.  Its themes are timeless, its score is beautiful, funny and poignant. It swept the acting categories at the Tony Awards that year. Something no other musical has achieved.

7. Camelot

Despite the many book flaws of the show, the score is wonderfully entertaining.  And the chance to see Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Robert Goulet...Wow!

8. Follies

The original production of Follies is legendary.  Everything came together in this concept musical that still divides the theatre going public.  It's one of my favorite scores of Sondheim's and the shear magnificence of the production design alone would be worth the trip back in time.

9. Sweet Charity

Gwen Verdon played so many fantastic roles on Broadway but if I had to choose one to see, it would be her portraying Charity Hope Valentine.  Verdon's appeal and Fosse's choreography are an explosive combination that I would love to have seen.

10. Funny Girl

Barbra Streisand already had buzz surrounding her name when she exploded on stage as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. The score was fitted for her amazing vocals and it shows.  What an evening this would have been!

Thinking about this makes me want to get out and see more theatre.  Who knows what new show may blow my mind!