Pumpkin Time!

Oh, my boys could hardly wait to carve their "prize" pumpkin; the biggest one that we grew in our garden this year.  I was surprised how many big seeds were inside!  The boys didn't like the slime, but they loved the little sculpting saws and took turns cutting.  I liked hearing the familiar hollow scrape scrape of the metal spoon on the inside edges; making everything light golden and clean.  The boys helped separate the seeds from the slime and we toasted them with garlic salt.  Then we cut Donovan's design into the side.  It's on our front porch now with a candle in it, 'cause there's no use waiting for Halloween.  The sky outside started to match our glowing jack-o-lantern by giving us an orange glow on the incoming clouds, lying low with the warm Chinook we experienced today.  What a fun parallel.  God likes orange.  It started out all peachy and swoopy, like Northern lights Dave said, and he was right.  But by the time Donovan hit the bath the sky was on fire.

I look at Weston sometimes and I realize he's become his own person with his own thoughts and ideas.  I'm so proud of him.  He keeps asking how many days until Christmas.

Donovan is still twitchy when I we ask him to help, but I hope he will find realms of freedom within his responsibilities.  It must be a lot to be away from home for 8 1/2 hours a day.  Humm....  I'll look forward to my last few Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights with him this week.  Coming soon I will be doing shows during those times. 

It was a fine day in rehearsal, a bit short.  My voice wasn't delivering the way I'd love, but I didn't complain.  I'm pretty sure it's my lack of sleep and new antibiotics to blame, they make my mouth dry as cotton, even after three glasses of water!

Tomorrow we're in the theatre for the first time and we have press shots.  Here's hoping Kendra and I can get my hair done right, and in good time.  I'll wear my vibrant green costume, which'll be interesting because I've never seen it. -- I've only tried on a mock muslin one three times before they cut the expensive silk.

That's all for now.  Like the candle in the pumpkin and the intense color in the sky, moments of brilliance are fleeting.  And so will be my night and next day.

Simple Signs of Presence

OK, so I am tired and working very hard these days in rehearsal.  Well, rehearsal isn't always hard work; scary sometimes.  But it is time away from home and blogging usually means staying up too late and lacking sleep.  So, in an effort to be short, I will share a few pics from yesterday's sunrise.  I love how the telephone pole makes a cross.  Pretty soon I won't be up in time to see the dawn with the time change, so this is a rare privilege.  This morning I went for a brisk walk and it was utterly freezing.  My thighs, ears, and fingers were so cold, even through protective layers!!

This other picture of Weston cracks me up!  Bill Daugherty brought by this furry bunny costume and tactile lover Weston couldn't keep his hands off it!  But what strikes me most in this picture is how Weston just stares at the camera.  He has this uncanny ability to look right into the lens and be himself without any effort.  I marvel at this.  It challenges me as an actor because it reminds me to stay rooted in who I am and trust what I'm experiencing in the moment to be the most transparent and effective storytelling on stage.  Thanks West.  And thanks God for the painted dawn.  Sleep time.