I Pledge Allegiance...

Our Family Dinner topic for tonight was two USA flags. One was the Trumbull Flag which Papa flew today, and the other was the Fort McHenry Flag, the "spangled" flag that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the words of our national anthem. The $2 bill that each kid gets at Family Dinners happens to have a John Trumbull painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on its reverse. And for the teaching moment of the dinner, Papa simply played Mike Rowe's video interview of a ranger at Fort McHenry: Bringing the Anthem to Life. At the end, Papa made a big deal out of learning the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. When Jonny decided to give the Pledge a try, he got himself up and stood facing the flag with his hand over his heart. So proud. And he came very close to a perfect recitation.

The Trumbull Flag. (The 15-star
Fort McHenry Flag was on the other side.)

Wicked!

These two got to see Wicked tonight up in Denver. Can you tell they had a great time, meeting some of the actors and everything! Tracy got off to a rough start as the van did not fit in any easy parking buildings (good to remember...).

Fina's Sign "Business"

Looks like others have found another business for Fina to start - Sign Making! The first works are going to be for a production of Newsies...

Theater Room Posters Updated

It's been a while since we've hung new show posters in the Theater Room. They manage to collect in drawers until a big push to get the most recent x-years worth put up. Today was that push. Actually, this doesn't really cover it all. For the complete picture, see the Theatrics page.

A New Baby Quilt

Lexi and Nana made this quilt for Lexi's Take Flight teacher who just got her first grandbaby!

New Starts

School starts. She's in 4th grade! And Matteo got his driver's license! Look out, World, here they come.

Nana and Papa go to Golden, CO

Their planned trip to California got nixed at the last minute (covid, of all things!), so they made up for it a little bit with a quick jaunt to Golden, CO. The main attraction was attending a show at Miner's Alley Performing Arts Center in Golden. We saw School of Rock. Bravo! Very impressed with the caliber of the facility, the staging, the actors, the music, the whole shebang. Most impressive where the youth actors in the class/band who actually played the instruments themselves. They really were a rock band! The trip also included a run up to Lookout Mountain which is just west of Golden/Denver along I-70 as you climb up into the Rockies. There they visited the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Boettcher Mansion, and the Mother Cabrini Shrine (for more about her and the movie, go to Jamie's TorahTalks.info). All the trip's photos are here.

Miner's Alley Performing Arts Center

Clear Creek activity.

In the History Museum along the Creek.

We took the tour over 40 years ago.
Had to stop in and say Hi!

The Chapel at the Cabrini Shrine

Meditation Walk at the Cabrini Shrine

Front room of the Boettcher Mansion

At the Buffalo Bill Museum

Golden, CO from Lookout Mountain