Dress Rehearsal

You can’t make this stuff up, Folks! Last night we performed the cantata at Prairie View Apartments as our dress rehearsal. It didn’t go off flawlessly to say the least.

1. There is a big sign on top of the piano that says not to move it – a BIG sign! The choir director was so far away from me I could hardly see to follow her. And after the first song she stopped and asked me to open the piano because she couldn’t hear me well. I always play too loud so I was trying to keep it a little quieter.

2. About halfway through I turned two pages instead of one and then struggled to catch up with the choir – thank goodness they kept singing! I copy repeated parts of the songs and tape them to the book so I don’t have to flip back and forth – it has always worked – until last night.

3. And to top it all off – I heard someone’s phone ring in their pocket! Not once but twice!! Yikes!

Ah, the job of choir accompanist!

A few more finishes – not all Dirty Dozen finishes but new projects also.

On a recent trip to the barn I took these pictures.

Rick feeding the goats.

Daddio who lives with the goats.

Mama of the “tribe”.

The “Tribe”.

One of my favorite hens.

An old extension ladder makes a great roost.

Colton lives in the barn 90% of the time.

Hazel looking for a mouse.

Millie asleep on my lap. Sooooo photogenic!

I’m working on my improv quilts which were #7. They will be done soon!

Also working on #12 – here it is in progress.

And that’s all for today – I’m going to pack the van for our trip to the Quilters Window in New Hampton, IA later today. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!

20 thoughts on “Dress Rehearsal

  1. Ellie

    Great finishes on Dirty Dozens! Such lovely work!
    What fun to see the pictures from the barn. I can almost feel how cozy it is.
    Have a lovely time at the quilt store.

  2. Ellie

    Great finishes on Dirty Dozens! Such lovely work!
    What fun to see the pictures from the barn. I can almost feel how cozy it is.
    Have a lovely time at the quilt store.

  3. Connie R.

    I love all the pictures from the barn. You have a talent for making everyday things look special with your photography skills. It shows that Blessings are all around us. Thanks for passing them along.

    Have a good time at the quilt shop and let us know what you found.

  4. Patti in W Barnstable

    Hi Mary, Thanks for a post filled with smiles! The D.D. pictures were inspiring. Good work , ladies. I love the barn life pictures, but oh boy, is Millie gorgeous! Cold 28 degrees here this morning. We only got small amount of show. Please give Hazel and Telly a hug for me.

  5. Amy M

    Wow so much to see : ) And someone has another little runner done. This will sound crazy and almost sacrilegious but I’ve been trying to think of something to put on my new single car garage walls to keep from dinging the paint on the car doors and keep the garage walls from getting dinged up (they are painted). I was thinking of stapling some baby quilts like you used to staple on the ceiling in the quilt shop. But now I think a couple of these runners would be about the perfect size. Hmm may be my post holiday project. Can’t wait to hear how your book singing goes today!

  6. Jo in Wyoming

    I did laugh when I saw that little white butt. That girl is so cute.
    Love, love, love the chicken pictures and all the other pictures too.
    Have fun on your outing.

  7. Vicki in Seattle

    Mary, what a great post! I love all the animal photos and finished projects. Thank you for sharing your night at Dress Rehearsal! I’ m sure all the residents enjoyed the music and appreciated all your efforts as
    Accompanist! I remember when you were making all the pincushions and selling them for your Grand Piano Fund! You are a gift to many! Enjoy the book signing tonight!🎄🎁 🌲

  8. Pat Smith

    I loved hearing about the dress rehearsal. There are a lot of snafus that can take place in a situation like that. I used to accompany our 4th grade daughter’s school chorus. It was frequently a hoot of unexpected events. Luckily the parents were there to see their child sing and not to hear my piano playing. I have a collection of chickens a roosters hat sit across the top of my cupboard, but none as pretty as your favorite hen. We are riding through SC on the way to Vermont for Christmas. It’s getting colder!

  9. Kathy in western NY

    Well by the time you read this comment, I am hoping you are home in your chair resting from a full day. It’s hard to unwind when you have had a fun outing and think about as you settle in. It will be nice hearing all about it.
    The cantata dress rehearsal story is funny but I am sure no one thinks anyone skipped a beat on any of it. Barn pictures remind me of the phrase “ not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”. So calm seeing all the animals in a safe warm environment. I liked everyone’s pictures of their projects and need to work harder on my UFO’s but I sure don’t sew as fast as I use to.

  10. Nikki M in Tx

    Ah if old saying that bad dress rehearsal good opening night is true your concert will be great!
    Love the DD’s..afraid I am falling behind.
    I am afraid that I had to find Bella a new home, but she isn’t very far, (little over 75 miles) and I am sure much happier as is with a herd. She kept jumping the fence & all for the best. Breaks my heart as I had gotten very attached to her. Don’t name them Mom keeps echoing in my head!

  11. Kathy Hanson

    I am sure there are lots of glitches when you accompany the choir – always interesting! love seeing the farm animals, the hens are fun to see and, of course, Hazel looking for a mouse. I am sure that the mice have figured out that with Hazel and the cats, they don’t have a chance in your barn!! lol
    I have always loved having a kitty sleeping on my lap, I’m sure you love it too! So looking forward to hearing about Quilter’s Window. I wish I could have come there tonight – it just wasn’t in the cards!

  12. Sunflower from Michigan

    What a lovely post today. I loved all the finished projects, nice work everyone! Your #12 is coming along great. I think the picture of one of your favorite chickens is a gorgeous photo! I laughed at your rehearsal story. I remember at my daughters last piano recital when she was a high school senior, she performed a piece with her teacher. She was so nervous she would mess up and the teacher told her not to worry at all and under no circumstances should she stop playing if she did mess up, just keep right on playing as most people would never even notice. That is really true! I sure miss her playing in the house this time of year especially. Have a great weekend.

  13. Kathy Schwartz in SW MN

    Very nice post today; great pictures of everything. Loved your piano playing issues. Things like that happen all the time. I was playing for a wedding (Lord’s Prayer) and I turned two pages instead of one page. Thank heaven the gal singing kept on singing! She was only in 8th grade! She is now a music teacher in a high school. I was teaching 4th grade at the time, and it was the superintendent’s son getting married!! Oh my!!

  14. Diane in WI

    Great projects and wonderful animal pictures. The goats and the chickens look very content in the barn. Millie has beautiful eyes; I love the color of them. I have Christmas sewing to get done. Not much time left. I made one of the Flying Geese runners in shades of blue. It’s a good pattern because it can be made any length. I am hoping to make Temecula Quilts Tiny Tree. Hope you enjoy your trip Quilter’s Window.

  15. Diane and Squeak in Central Ohio

    Your story of the dress rehearsal is probably one many accompanists have told over the years. The final performance will be wonderful! I love seeing all of the animals all warm and cozy in the barn. Little Hazel is a hoot chasing the mice. Of course, our favorite is Millie on your lap. The Dirty Dozens are looking good. I need to work on soooo many projects; thanks again for starting us on the DD’s. Cold here this AM, but better in the PM.

  16. Felicia Hamlin

    Hi, Mary, you are blessed with so many skills. I would love to play the piano, bought one so one of our boys could learn, but after a few years he gave it up. I have tried and it doesn’t seem to stick. I love seeing the pictures of the animals. The tribe’s momma is very good looking and Daddio is handsome. I am going to try a atable runner. Hope you found lots of stuff at the quilt shop.

  17. Sue Davis

    Oh Mary, that’s the boy I love, Colton! So happy he is well and loved.
    Ever since we gave our lambs back to their original owners I have missed something hanging in the back yard.
    Well here’s the update on my small farm: we adopted (two years ago) two kittens. I was worried about my poodles, well they have been an angels and they protect and love them. So we have been loving two amazing cats, William and Ruby. No worries there as we thought. This past spring my neighbor allowed her hen to sit on eggs. Low and behold ten chicks! As they grew momma hen brought them to my front yard. As time pasted babies weren’t listening to momma hen very well. So my husband and I decided to adopt them. Buying a hen house ($1,000) and food, we were the proud owners of 10 hens. WRONG! We hit the jack pot! They grew up into eight roosters! It has taken me a long time to find good homes for 7. I have kept one rooster (Doug) and the two only hens (Mary and Tilley). Now we are hoping to grow some some new hens this spring. Well that’s the argyle, Texas update, and we all wish y’all a healthy and loving new year.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Sue Davis – thank you, Sue! I was going to email you and ask about your dogs since I was pretty sure you were missing your darling sheep and now I learn you have cats and chickens! Congratulations and you actually found homes for your roosters? I wish I could find some rooster homes and not just for butchering!
      Yes, Colton is my good boy in the barn – he’s always welcome in the house and comes in occasionally but he prefers the barn, I guess.

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