Time for the Big Reveal of What I've Been Up To!

So.....I've been teasing you long enough.  You see there has been a reason why I haven't been around much, why I haven't left many comments with my dear bloggy friends, why I've hardly posted much....

And it's time to tell you why!

Well, first off, for those of you who don't know this....I am a HUGE ham! 

 Give me a microphone (or honestly, I probably don't even need a microphone - I have one of those voices that just carries) and I am in hog heaven!  Now in person, I'm a bit on the shy side (unless you've known me a long time) but I love to play a character.

So, our small town just built a state of the art theater and the entire Sweet Bee Cottage family (yes, all 3 of us) are all appearing in the Raisin Cane Players production of

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

Are you familiar with the story?  If not, I highly recommend reading the book 

by Barbara Robinson or seeing a production of the play in your area.  

It has the sweetest Christmas message all wrapped up in a hilarious package.  

Well I am playing Mrs. McCarthy who is one of the church ladies.  If you've seen a production, she's the one who yells "Fire!" which leads to all kind of havoc during the dress rehearsal of the Christmas pageant.  I probably have the biggest small part.

Spent today painting the church set.  Love that mauve floor - looks very 80s/90s!

My dear Worker Bee is playing Bob Bradley, the father of the narrator and the husband of Grace who is the mom who now has to run the pageant since Mrs. Armstrong who normally runs EVERYTHING is laid up with a broken leg.  He is absolutely hilarious in the part!  I have other members of the crew and cast telling me how perfect he is as that character.  He says he's basically playing himself - supportive, but slightly exasperated with his wife who takes on too much.  And as he says, he has the smallest big part in the play.

It's a huge set - it spans the whole width of the stage, but we need that because there are at least 18 kids in the cast.  

And Baby Bee is also a singer in the angel choir.  The little choir sounds wonderful!  She does have one line, "I have to go to the bathroom," which she is not that enthusiastic about giving since she is a 12 year old and 12 year olds don't publicly admit that they have to go to the bathroom.  

In small town community theater everybody does a little of everything....this is our lead (Grace Bradley) touching up the stage floor. 

So the entire Sweet Bee Cottage family has been busy going to rehearsals, learning lines, thinking about costumes, and still trying to keep up with all the normal things such as homework, housework, and yard work so I haven't had much time for hanging out in blog land.

Opening night is Thursday and we run for two weekends!  

Can't wait to tell you more about it!

Buzzingly,

Have You Heard About These?

I'm afraid I have a new obsession.  Just a week or so ago our local Big City newspaper ran a feature on these and the seeds of the obsession were sown. 

Then, there was an article in Parade magazine this weekend and that just enough to make the obsession bloom.

(And no, for those of you who still get a daily newspaper and read Parade magazine, my obsession is not Pioneer Woman, although I do like her a lot.)

I began to stalk them. 

And pin them.

And try to figure out how to convince my brother to build one for me.

Or try to figure out why I marred a guy who doesn't really know how to build things.

Or even learn how to build one myself.  After all, I am woman....here me build.

Okay,  I digress....as usual.

I want one of these................

Right in my front yard.

And I even have a good excuse to build it since one of my picket fence posts rotted out and needs to be replaced.  

Wouldn't one of these be just the spiffiest fence post cap? 

I know you're with me people.

So.....now I must plot and plod along. And dream. And start a book collection to put in this when I get it.

Do you think I'm crazy to even consider this?  

After all, we live right across the street from an elementary school.  What better group to serve could we have?

Or do you wish your neighbor would build one too?  

And think of the conversations you might strike up with your neighbors about books.

Or do YOU want to build one for yourself?

This last one is my personal favorite...

there's just something about a stone wall that grabs my heart!

And as for that big announcement?  

Well, it's still coming.....but I think I will wait until things are "set" up a bit more.  

And it is the biggest reason I haven't been able to write the best post ever in long time.

I am SUCH a tease!

P.S. Do you want to find out more about the Little Free Library movement?  Why you can go here and find out tons of information, get plans, or even buy pre made book houses.  

My Favorite Idea from the Bridal Shower

This is it.  My last post on the bridal shower.  Really.  

(Uh oh - did you see my crossed fingers? I might be done with the shower, but I've still got to tell you about the wedding!)

So one of my favorite things we did at the shower was to come up with date ideas for K and B.  

I started off by writing instructions (it's that teacher in me - so hard to let go of that) and putting them in a white frame.  (I always have plenty of white frames because I borrow them from my gallery wall in the hallway - I don't think I've ever shown you that - I will have to do that someday)

 Baby Bee and her buddy used a punch to make all the tags out of wood printed scrapbook paper.

 Everything was set up on a sofa table I have stored in the garage and it gave the guests something to do when they first arrived.  

 I had been trying to come up with a way to string them together and on my way out the door on Friday before the party I remember my teaching buddy had a plethora of binder rings so I got a couple from her and painted them the same navy blue I painted so many things for this shower.

 I knew some people might not be able to come up with an idea right away so I printed off a bunch of ideas I found on the internet.  (Plus I figured it wouldn't hurt if it gave them a date night idea too!)

 Here is some of what they came up with.....

Don't let Hallmark see that one!

One of the reasons I really like this adaptation of this idea is that it doesn't take up a lot of room and my friend, K, can just toss it in her purse for instant inspiration.

Okay.....I haven't had too many guesses as to what my big news is....so I'm just going to tell you....on a different post! (Can you hear my evil laugh? Bah ha ha ha ha!)

Now....my question for you is....

what would you do on a date night???

Buzzingly,

P.S.  I forgot to show the original inspiration.....