Garnet Ewe aka BalletMommy

Yesterday I signed up for an on-line watercolor pencil class with Cathy Johnson (weird, huh?).  Her work is marvelous and her books have been used as examples and inspiration in the last watercolor classes I took through CR (College of the Redwoods).  I’m very excited about this.  I’m forcing myself to get my little space set up so that I can have my alone time and do the things that renew me…my knitting, reading, and art.  The class starts Feb. 5th.  Wish me well….

Kiddlebiddle got a new bike for Christmas.  Actually, she got two!  One at her dad’s and one here.  We got her a great mountain bike so she can ride some of the trails around the area (with us, of course).  But yesterday was the first time she was able to get out and about on it.  (We had to get her a helmet!)  She loves it and though mommy is a bit apprehensive about letting her grow up and be independant, I did let her ride around a few blocks.

WOW!  While I was typing this, Tim came in and told me there was snow mixed in with the rain!  We live on the northern California coast and while we can generally drive to the snow within 20-30 minutes, it rarely snows here on coast (we can see the bay from here).  Big soft flakes are mixed in with the rain.  Not sticking though…

 Lastly, holiday knitting.  I did go on a “warm up the family” bender and knit hats, scarves, etc.  Here’s KB with the Koolhaas hat from Interweave Knit’s Holiday issue.  It’s a gorgeous hat (knit in Cascade 220) even though I had to rip it out three times before I got the repeat correct.  I need to make me one too — as soon as I finish my fingerless mitts I’m working on….

Every morning I get up, get coffee, feed the cats, and have a few quiet moments before I get Kiddlebiddle up for school.  This is what I saw about a week ago:

OK…so it’s not a world tour.  But it’s the farthest the group has gone on a gig!  And it’s a real honor to be invited!  Ukesperience has been invited to play at the “Great Waikoloa Ukelele Festival” on the Big Island this March!  They’ve actually got two performances scheduled and think they’ll also be playing at other places around the island, including the Hard Rock Cafe!  Undoubtedly, I’ll have more information for you in the future, but in the meantime, you can check out the basics at: http://www.gohawaii.com/event?id=9788

We’re very excited about this, even though Kiddlebiddle and I won’t be going with them this time!  It’s quite likely they’ll head that way again as their music is a bit “different” than what you usually associate with ukuleles and the big names in that field are quite impressed with them! 

Be sure to check out the band: http://www.ukesperience.com  Here are a couple of photos I took at one of their gigs this fall: 

This was our first year sans Nutcracker!  But Kiddlebiddle got to do even more in, what we think was, a better show.  Her dance instructor conceived, wrote, and choreographed a wonderful new holiday ballet to showcase absolutely all of her wonderful students.  KB danced as a Christmas tree light (with her Latin Dance class), a Peppermint (with her Ballet 4 class), and in a solo as Iciquelle, one of the ornaments that came to life.

 It was a charming show called “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and told the story beyond what you usually hear.  Did you know that elves, pirates, and a musicbox doll are part of the story??? They are now!  I’m posting a couple of videos taken at her most recent performances.  The first is KB as Iciquelle.  The little snowflakes that are dancing with her are the students from the class she student teaches.  Aren’t they darling??

I’m also posting a video of KB at thespring concert where she danced as “A Young Dancer of 14 Years,” Degas’ famous ballet dancer statue.  The premise in this ballet was that the artwork comes to life as the visitors leave the museum.

Whew!  Bad blogger!  I have this “thing” about getting stuff done (I don’t).  And I didn’t want to post until I got the photos from our trip to Canada (back in August!!!!) up and available.  I did it today.  They’re over the on the Flickr site but here’s a taste.

 So much has happened since I last blogged.  Kiddlebiddle did have another recital and I promise I’ll get what photos I have of that up within the week.  I only took a few shots during the dress rehearsal so they’re not the best but I have put the videos up on YouTube. 

 Knitting…been busy with knitting but, as usual, for everyone else.  I knit the cutest hat for Kiddlebiddle, a scarf with Noro Kuryeon that I ended up giving to hubby (though I like it…he’s out in the cold more than I) and a hat with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that I enjoyed knitting but I’m not as crazy about how it fits me so…hubby gets that too.  I really wanted to knit myself some more fingerless mitts but haven’t started them yet.  The weather’s been cold enough that I’ve really wanted all these things which is sort of unusual for me.  I do think I’ll start the mitts or another pair of socks tonight though.  I’ve got all sorts of lovely yarns from Yarn Pirate (so much so that I didn’t “join” the sock club this last go-around!) plus some lovely Dream in Color Smooshy that I just got from the lovely Sheri at The Loopy Ewe.  Can’t wait to start with it!

 So, now that I’m back, I’ll try to blog more often and let ya know what we’re up to!