It's A Wonderful Life...Indeed

  The holidays always come with great anticipation, especially for my kids!  I have to admit, at almost 42, I still get excited about Christmas.  I love to be surprised and love to see the look on my kids' faces when the big day finally comes. They screech and squeal in utter delight when they find what all that brightly colored paper has been hiding.  

  This December the girls and I made a special trip to the sunshine state. (My first vacation since I was 14...yikes!) Not only did we spend every kids' favorite day of year with my family in Gibsonton, but we also had the pleasure of visiting the nation's oldest city, and my old stomping grounds, St. Augustine.  On December 21st my oldest niece Simone married her long-time boyfriend in the court yard of the historical Lightner Museum in downtown St. Augustine.  During the holidays the entire downtown area is covered in the most beautiful lights I've ever seen.  Every tree, shrub, yards of fences and dozens of light poles twinkle from dusk to dawn magnifying the beauty of St. Augustine one hundred fold. It's breathtaking.  The dazzling Christmas lights and perfect weather helped create a fairytale-like feel for Simone & Trey's wedding.  Every detail of the ceremony was well thought out: the acoustic guitar and violin music was soft, emotional and very fitting to the entire atmosphere.  Birds of paradise were among the floral arrangements and the original wedding vows were recited upon a small bridge over trickling waters home to coy fish. The landscaping was lush, fragrant and more than added to the paradise feel.  The reception was held inside the museum and again every detail was carefully planned.  The kids were happily occupied at their table with their individual goodie boxes filled with crayons, puzzles, crazy eights cards and mini versions of classic plastic toys. All of the name cards were carefully tucked on top of mini Adirondack chairs holding custom and yummy smelling citrus lip balms with the event printed on the label.  The caterers outdid themselves with their wide variety of entrees, sides, and appetizers.  The wedding was fairytale perfection and was more than a pleasure to attend.  This event was also an occasion to visit with old friends and family members we don't often get to see.  And as I've said before, catching up in person is always more fun than "virtual catching up."  

  During our visit to St. Augustine I was able to meet  with dear friends from high school.  1988 seems like only a few years ago and I certainly don't feel much different than I did at 18.  I met  my super former classmates at a tiny off the beaten path eatery that had some of the best soup and homemade bread ever.  We caught up, compared notes on old times, husbands, kids, jobs, etc.  Our visit was all too short but very cherished.  Since we plan to make annual trips to Florida, I have high hopes of visiting Melissa, Nico, Gretchen and Siobhan next winter! :)         

  I took the time to show my kids around much of St. Augustine.  I took the girls past our old house in the Shores housing development.  The house has been well-kept.  It seemed smaller than I remembered.  We also enjoyed the famous pristine beaches.  Lauren and I piled her boys, my girls, our niece Lana and our nephew Noah and my dog Sui in our cars and headed out on one of many of the sunny afternoons to 10th Street.  We watched the kids wade waist deep in water too chilly for me past my ankles.  I collected shells with the kids.  We recalled being kids on one of our many family vacations and the games we played on the beach and in the water. We both agreed that it was awesome to watch our kids play the way we did and to see the beauty of the beach through their eyes.  We also agreed that it just couldn't have been more than 30  years since that was us in waist deep water. 

  We did our fair share of touring through the narrow and sometimes cobble stone down town streets.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a few shops still flourishing from the 1980's.  But, most shops & cafes I remember  have changed ownership and some shops are completely gone.  The St. George Pharmacy is now the Bunnery.   It offers home cooked breakfasts & lunches and excellent coffee drinks.  The mini mall next door has two huge front store display windows.  On the right used to be a frilly dress shop called Trinkets & Things.  On the left was Merlin's Magic Den.  My dad enjoyed creating his magic shop's window displays.  I remember him carefully fanning out Svengali decks, displaying magician's silks, magic wands, large magic props and close up magic coins.  His window designs were always sharp, splashy and very eye-catching.  Merlin's Magic Den is now a souvenir shop of sorts.  Trinket's & Things is now a t-shirt shop called Natalie's.  What are the odds?! :)

  Time didn't allow us to enjoy all of the old city sites.  So next year the girls and I plan on trips to the old fort, the Fountain of Youth, Ripley's  Museum and I promised a trip or two on the horse-drawn carriages.  But, tops on the adventure list for our 2012 winter St. Augustine vacation is surfing lessons!! 

  I haven't been home since 2006.  Christmas was always big.  A live tree is kind of a tradition and this year's was live and very plump!  Presents overflowing from underneath promised the kids (and the kids at heart) a memorable Christmas morning!  But the most memorable thing was the fact the we were all together for the first time in a very long and we all shared in our new nephew Christopher's very first Christmas!  In fact, this visit was my first time seeing him!  (This happy little guy slept right through the gift opening!)  The house full gives way to organized chaos.  So, some adults doled out the over-stuffed stockings and gifts to the rightful recipients and others helped the kids unwrap, open boxes and make sure little parts & pieces to games & toys weren't accidently discarded with the wrapping paper.  With years of experience we manage Christmas mornings with efficiency and lots-o-fun!

  Robin & Ron bought a place just up the street about a year ago.  Being on the road makes it a little difficult to furnish a house in only a few months.  It can take a few winters to make your house your home.  Robin got very lucky at the fancy second hand shop in Brandon as she found some beautiful furnishings, dinnerware and accessories.  I had real fun giving her some design ideas on a couple of unfinished walls and rooms.  She left two walls bare on purpose waiting for my arrival to give her ideas on what to do with them!  To me, a bare wall is like an artist's blank canvas!  I love me some interior design!! :)

  One of the perks of our Florida vacation was catching up with Facebook friends Jack Ryan, Ken Young and Karen & Billy Glenn.  Jack and Ken have both pleasantly surprised me with additions to my fridge magnet collections.  Their hospitality on our trip through the panhandle highly impressed Georgia and so did the send off with sweets and homemade spicy chex-mix!!  As we checked into the hotel they recommended Georgia remarked that our visit was awesome!  I emphatically agreed!!   During our stay at home we caught up with Karen and Billy.  We met at a Starbucks which I joke is one of my "home away from homes."  Karen & Billy had never been to one.  I think they may be converts  We visited over coffee drinks and cake pops and the time went by way too fast!  We were lavished with goodies & gifts and a huge teddy bear the girls now sleep with every night.  Thank you to all of my Facebook friends and we hope to see you next year!

  Saying good bye to my family is never easy.  Even though I'll see most of my folks in a couple of months when we start on Culpepper, I also can't help but think about the next time I'll see Lauren, Hashi, Tristan and Christopher.  I hope long before Christmas vacation 2012.

  Happy New Year everyone!! 

Vacation pictures forthcoming.

 

Projects, Classes and Trips, Oh My...

  We have been home for a little over a month and I have to say, I haven't slowed down much since the season ended.  That is, indeed a good thing!  The errands and cold wet weather have prevented me from practicing the dogs as much as I'd like but I have to say that each practice session has been very fruitful.  To my pleasant surprise the puppies improve greatly with each practice. And if Radar has time to build two extra seats as he mentioned, I'll have room for the two best puppies next year in the show.  

  A while back I'd loaned a friend my favorite dog training book and completely forgotten I'd done so.  I recently got it back and found a plethora of information that has shed lots of light on puppy training techniques.  It's one of those books you can open just about anywhere and get a lot of out it without feeling like you had to read it from the very beginning. 

  In addition to practicing I have taken on the task of redecorating the play room.  We have an extra room that served as kind of an office for many years. It also just accumulated stuff. Last winter I cleared it out, cleaned it out and painted it.  Georgia picked the prettiest color of teal for the walls.  I found the ultimate wooden kids' table & chair set at the junkie store on our corner.  I moved it along with bins, shelves, drawers with art supplies, "stuffies," and walking talking dolls into the newly reassigned room.  The collection of fairy wings became fluttery wall decorations along with colorful hanging toy nets we over-stuffed with "stuffies" and my favorite artwork of the girls'.  I thought it turned out quite nice & cozy!  The girls did too, for about a week.  Then they just decided to take the toys they wanted to play with out and play with them in the living room.  I encouraged them to play in the play room but it seemed they wanted to play in the busy hub-bub of the living area.  So, the play room is being reassigned again, this time to Georgia's bedroom.  We found just the right furniture from Wal-Mart.com (which has everything in the universe); a loft bed with a matching desk/hutch/chair set that was not only on sale but fits nicely under the bed.  Thankfully, my friend Sara Greene helped me put the bed together.  And by "helped" I mean she did most of the work.  Sara is an aerialist but her heart is in setting up tents.  She has every kind of rope, sling, tool, length of becket, size of pulley block, ratchet, etc any rigger/aerialist/tent person could possibly think of having. All of it is stored in the back of her super cool van that I have tried to talk her into selling to me for three years.  A project like putting together a loft bed that has 9,000 pieces is not only a "fun" thing for her to embark upon, but is a quick project as well. Very quick.  Before I could get my shoes off and my sleeves rolled up, she had every slat, board and piece of hardware organized and laid out perfectly to prepare for "set-up."  In about an hour and 15 minutes the bed was put together and even though I tried to help I probably really just got in the way.  We had a good time girl-talking while we, or rather she put the bed together. The white wood looks nice against the freshly repainted pale pink walls.  The desk and it's accessories are still in the boxes and I have a little more painting to finish up.  I think I'll be able to handle the desk assembly myself.  But if it gets to be too much, I will just wait till Sara gets back from Christmas break and Georgia will have to continue to do her homework on my desk. Pictures of the completed project are to come.

  Anyone who knows me knows that interior design is one of my most favorite things in the entire galaxy!!  I'm what my sisters might call a "Pottery Barn queen" and proudly so!  I've decorated Georgia's original bedroom which is slowly becoming Tootie's bedroom, in the cutest PB Kids motif I could find; dandelions & bumble bees.  It took me several winters to finish the room, and that along with my newly redecorated dining room are my crowning design glories!!!  (Is that a real phrase??)  The cheery yellow and white dining room was always on the verge of being what I wanted it to be, but wasn't quite there. This winter, I discovered my old living room curtains in the garage were perfect for windows. A second hand shelf unit now serves as a buffet. With an over sized clock, a simple wall shelf, the perfect desk from WM.com and lovely Hobby Lobby (I want to move there) flowers and it's finally become what I call my Pottery Barn dining room!!  The color, function and decor finally makes this a room I want to spend a lot of time in! :)

  One of these days I'll get my bedroom & bathroom finished up. But probably not this winter.  The girls and I have an upcoming trip to Florida to plan.  In addition to that we have an appointment to check out our new and much-needed toy hauler near Dallas. (I'm selling my fifth wheel Hitch Hiker; if anyone's interested in details contact me right away.)  Between errands, trips, projects and school, we have added karate classes and contortion lessons to Georgia's schedule.  With her genuine love for both classes I don't think these activities will prove to be a short-lived phase.  

  Over the years I have had many people tell me my life story would make a great book. So, me being the kind of person that likes to stay busy finally took those comments to heart.  Last week I started the rough rough rough draft of Raising Cainan. (Many thanks to my friend Danny Carey for the best title ever!)  I imagine it'll be a couple of years till it's completed, but so far, so fun!  I've also had the pleasure of attending a few get-togethers with circus friends, church friends and my dear neighbors who are much like my girls' grandparents.  The Hugo circus club's Christmas party is this Saturday and my church's Christmas party is the following day.  The week after that we really have to get serious about our Florida trip.  It's coming up quick!  Before I know it, it'll be time to leave for C&M again!  That's ok, because with all the lessons this winter, one valuable lesson I've finally learned, is to really soak up and enjoy everyday and the busy moments that make them up. 

  Happy winter everybody!

My dear friend and Bible class teacher, Carol has given us the pleasure of enjoying her homemade instant cappuccino as an early Christmas treat.  Georgia and I LOVE this!  Here's the recipe:

  2/3 Cups instant coffee 

  8 oz. powdered creamer (any flavor)

  1 1/3 Cups powdered chocolate drink mix

  1/2 Cup sugar

  1-2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (optional)

  Put the instant coffee into a gallon zip-lock bag; squeeze the air from the bag as you close it securely. Crush with a rolling pin until the coffee is a fine powder.

  To the coffee in the zip bag, add the remaining ingredients.  Close the bag securely, leaving air in it, and toss the ingredients until mixed thoroughly.  Store in a tightly-closed container (quart jar, etc).

  Measure 3 tablespoons of the mix into a mug and add 6 to 8 ounces hot water.  Adjust to taste, cool with a little milk if desired.  

  

The New Ones...

/

Part Rott/Heeler, my Sui dog has no place else to chillax except for in close proximity to practice. Where sometimes ground score treats can be found. That's Otto on his seat.

Pete II

  Practicing with new dogs can lead to some pleasant surprises.  This was the case when I worked with Pete II and Benji yesterday.  These guys are about 8 months old now and their personalities couldn't be more different. Their mother Charlotte is a natural-born performer.  She's a mini Spitz with the typical athletic shape and sweet spirit Spitz are known for.  She's got a quiet strength and is a little on the stubborn side.  But these qualities all work for her and her job in the show and her ranking the doggie hierarchy.  

  Pete II is the largest of Charlotte's offspring.  He's also the most like his mama.  It took him a few minutes to figure out how to get on his seat and he was so excited to get his jackpot treat he slid off his seat a few times.  After a few minutes he figured out if he remained calm and stayed on his seat his treats would go from jackpot to mega-jackpot!  He is a natural at sitting up.  I was amazed to see him sit up so easily and steadily on his seat!  His paws perfectly positioned and perfectly even. 

  Next I worked with the smallest of the three boys, Benji.  He's got a very sweet expression and is very shy.  It took a while for him to warm up to me and only recently has he let me pick him up and spend time with him without his brothers and Charlotte.  He's still a little timid when I retrieve him from the pen. But once I pick him up he stays in my arms and as I speak to him in a calm tone and massage under his neck.  I showed Benji how to get on his seat and he instantly hopped up like he'd done it a hundred times.  What an awesome surprise!  I tested his ability to sit up and he was as natural a Pete II.  I appears that I have the making of two circus stars on my hands!  

  I also took some time to hone some behaviors with Dixie II and Otto during practice.  These two have worked out so well on the road and all the dogs really love the attention they get from the audience, especially Otto the ham.  I look forward to seeing how the new boys will react when they finally do appear in the act.  It's one of those things that you just can't predict.  There's really no telling exactly how a new dog will work out until it's showtime.  You can practice all day long in a variety of locations and environments, but it is the show that tells the proverbial tale.

  Tomorrow I will work with Freddie.  He's the loudest and most friendly and playful of the boys.  Since all of these guys are also natural born high jumpers there are hoops and hurdles in their future.  But the time for seeing where all of their talents lie is a "ways off."  I'm anxious to keep working with the boys and watch them progress and as I put it, learn how to use their brains.  

  Dogs have been domesticated for a lot of years and have worked along side man. Like us, they need a purpose, a job, boundaries & rules, and they need to know their place in the world.       

More Random Photos (later in the season) 2011

My nephew Christopher Dubsky, born 10/17/11

C&M Halloween party 10/21 Noel, Scott Moss, Lana, Mo, Paulina

C&M costume party  despicable them...Noah, Lana & Ron

Carvings...Paulina, Lana, Toot, Noah, Georgia, Noel

At Mo's...Lana, Paulina, me & Mo (this picture would NOT edit)

Guess who!

Last day on C&M 2011

Me, DJ Weiss, Simone

C&M costume party  me, Toot & Simone

Paulina's birthday   Lana, Simone, Paulina, Ron, Robin & Noah

C&M costume party Karina & Angel Perez with winning pumpkins

Lunch at Subway (where's Dar??!)

New Dogs, New Tricks

Beau (front), Delta (left), Charlotte, (right), Dixie II (facing rear, Otto hidden on other side)

Benji, Pete II, Freddy

  Another day started around 6:30am or so.  I could definitely feel the extra hour of sleep and it was very welcomed.  The girls remained sound asleep as I started my morning routine of coffee, tending to the dogs, coffee and coffee.  I was waiting on a call from my KM friend Valerie to see when she would be available to visit today.  She and her family were headed to south Florida for the winter sometime very soon.  As I got myself and the kids ready for Sunday school Valerie called and we made tentative arrangements to meet in town later this afternoon.  

  The first Sunday of every month my church has a fellowship luncheon after services.  There's always tons of good food and good company.  Georgia loves the luncheons because it gives her a chance to play with some of her buddies outside of school.   When we got home I checked on the dogs and realized that tomorrow would mark the first day of my scheduled practices.

  I plan to have two practice sessions a day.  I'll be teaching new tricks to new dogs & seasoned dogs as well.  I'm anxious to get started and see which dog will be proficient at which behavior.  Charlotte and Dixie II did very well their first year on the road.  Dixie II was always ready to perform and often made the audience and other performers laugh with her bouncy eagerness when she rolled the barrel.  Charlotte played the role of dedicated mommy to Otto as she pushed the baby buggy in which he rode.  Very fitting for a mommy of three lively puppies.  These girls will learn more behaviors this winter along with Otto who I plan to play the role of super dog next season.  Beau will travel along with us and may be a seat warmer from time to time but his actual performing days ended yesterday at the circus festival performances.  There are three male puppies remaining from Charlotte's litter.  I named one Pete II (after my original who passed away from pemphigus earlier this year),  Georgia named the smallest one Benji and my niece Lana called one Freddy, after a character in one of her favorite shows, I Carly.  These guys are all very sweet, friendly and are getting to the right age to where I can do a little something with them.  Pete II has the quietest and sweetest disposition and is a little shy like his mom.  All of these guys have easy-to-maintain coats, also like their mom.  This is a huge bonus for me and cuts way down on grooming time.  (I groom them all twice a day before each show.)  Since each dog has a different texture to their fur, some take much longer to groom than others.  I've never raised puppies before and this year has been a real experience for me in that regard.  It will be interesting and fun to see how each one progresses in their behaviors.  I'll of course continue to post details on the training sessions and how they come along.

  Valerie couldn't make it to Paris this afternoon so she asked if there was any way I could come up to Hugo.  When I got to KM winter quarters I not only had the pleasure of catching up with Valerie (we realized we hadn't seen each other in over a year) but I got to visit with Sara Greene too.  We all sat outside in front of Sara's trailer chatting away about just about everything that came to mind.  Reyna came by to drop off some things she'd borrowed from Valerie. She joined us in conversation for a bit before she headed out for an errand.  We sat munching away on pistachios chattering & laughing for a couple hours.  The time went by way too fast and before I knew it I was on my back to Paris. 

Otto, Dixie II, Beau, Delta and Charlotte (facing rear)

  Kids in bed, caught up on Facebook & blog and research on animal behaviors.  Tomorrow, dog training.  

Working in the Winter

Toot's clown face, complements of Reyna Moss. (Reyna is due with her first girl in early Dec ! )

  Today was the 3rd annual Circus City Museum & Park festival.  It featured traditional midway circus attractions, concessions, face painting and three 20 minute circus performances.  The souvenir table had all kinds of CCM merchandise including t-shirts and a cookbook with recipes from circus folks and circus cookhouses.  (I contributed a recipe along with my sister Robin who shared several personal and cookhouse dishes.)

  Last Sunday my KMC friends John and Reyna Moss, along with their boys Johnny & Nathan and Reyna's aunt Maria accepted my invitation to church services here in Paris.  Afterwards, we had a great time at lunch catching up on the last 8 months.  During our visit John made mention of the upcoming festival and asked if I'd like to co-host the 3 shows with him.  I happily accepted his invitation and also agreed to perform the dog act.

  I got up early this morning and prepared to be gone for most of the day.  Since I made a list of what I thought I'd need today, I was sure to take everything from juice boxes & diapers to raw hides & leashes.  With Radar's help we were packed, fed and headed to Hugo by 10:15am.  That gave plenty of time to set up, consult John about the rundown and change for the show.  As John pointed out, ringmasters rarely get to work together, but today I had the pleasure of working alongside John and Brad Lee from Carson & Barnes.  The performances featured aerial, animals, acrobats and my buddies Steve & Ryan.  It was a lot of fun watching Steve's schlemiel to R. Combs' schlemazle as they attempted to "paint" the outside of the museum.  Their slap-stick has been honed to perfection so all the knocking around, eye poking and 108-ing are virtually painless for these dudes.  We had many conversations on KM about comedy, comedians and what's timeless and what's not.  And as my dad used to say, violence is funny.  "Why do you think the Stooges are still popular after all these years?" I remember him saying.  He was right.  It's always funny when someone (else) runs into a pole, falls down or gets hit on the head with an Acme anvil.  Of course it's all in good circus clown fun!

 There was some time between shows for the kids to enjoy the midway and for the performers to visit.  John and Jim Royal were discussing  Hoxie Bros. as John was recently perusing a copy of Mud Show.  Jim jokingly asked me if I happen to know any ringmasters from the old HBC days.  John asked what seasons Dad spent on the show and though I couldn't remember exactly how long he was there I did remember 1974 was one of the years.  I went on to explain that I vividly remember imitating Dad's opening, "Welcome to the 1974 edition of the Hoxie Bros. Circus!" in my sister's and my imaginary backyard circus complete with imaginary microphone.

  Today was a little bittersweet for me in the sense that it would mark Beauregard's last performance.  Since his vision is getting progressively worse he won't be able to see at all by next season. (Beau has progressive retinal atrophy.)  I've been asked if I'd keep him after he's no longer working.  I consider my dogs working partners, pets and friends...of course I'll keep big Beau!  His lack of vision hasn't changed his personality one bit.  He's still the alpha male and keeps the three male pups (now 8 months old) in line.  He may be getting old & going blind, but Beau's still the master of his domain and reminds the other dogs on a daily basis.

Simone visited the festival!  Georgia in face paint, me, Dar & Arwen (who helped me in the dog act).

  A couple hours after the festivities the Circus City Showman's Club met at the local VFW.  Plans were made for other upcoming activities & get-togethers which Radar filled me in on later.  My kids and I were pretty beat at the end of the day so we headed for a quick bite to eat and then home. Toot made it 1 mile south of Hugo before she fell sound asleep.  Once home, I unloaded the kids, the dogs and the props and then settled in on the sofa with sleeping Toot still in he clown face paint.  Georgia & I had a good time laughing for an hour at America's Funniest Home Videos.

  It wasn't just another busy off-season day, it was a busy, fun and pretty special.  Now, time for bed.

The End & The Beginning, In That Order

  Well, the season came to an end on Culpepper & Merriweather almost two weeks ago.  Since the girls and I have been home we've been on-the-go almost everyday. Between moving back into the house, school, errands, catching up with my KM friends, sending off my CM friends & family and miscellaneous repairs and projects the last...however many days we've been home, have gone by like a shot. Soon though, we'll be nice and settled.

  Needless to say, the girls and I are glad to be home and will get readjusted to town life soon.  I've always felt we have the best of both worlds. The circus gives us a chance to see the country, visit historical places, enjoy a variety of beautiful scenery, climates and meet people from many walks of life.  The off-time allows opportunities to rest up, practice, revamp or make new wardrobe and just enjoy staying in one place for a while.  Since Georgia is home schooled on the road and attends public school in the winter, I think she gets the best of both school worlds. 

  I have some projects planned for the winter break, including turning the play room into Georgia's bedroom, mending wardrobe and of course practicing a new routine for next year.  I'll need a couple of new dog seats as I plan to add at least one new dog and replace one old dog seat. The props will also be redecorated.  

  What we are really looking forward to is our upcoming trip to Florida in December!  We will head to St. Augustine in mid-December and stay for about 5 days or so. I'm excited to attend my niece's wedding and also to show Georgia around my old stomping grounds.  I lived in the nation's oldest city from 1980 to 1991.  It's a beautiful city that boasts a slew of historical sites. The beauty of its beaches and the downtown scenery at night is hard to beat. After we leave St. Augustine we'll drive south to visit my family in Gib-town over Christmas.  I haven't been home since 2008.  I'm anxious to be with my family over the holidays and can't wait to see my new nephew, Christopher! 

  Radar arrived today and the girls and I were glad to welcome him back!  It didn't take Toot long to warm back up to Dar and Georgia is super happy to hang with her "big bro" for a while.  We missed our KM buddies Steve and Ryan & Tatiana this season.  We got a kick out of watching Tootie and baby Combs play together. At one point Toot tried her hand at feeding Nico his bottle!  Last week we made plans to have them all down for steaks tonight.  I had no idea it'd work out great to coincide with Dar's return!  We had lots of laughs and lots of fun catching up on the last 8 months.  I only wish my Culpepper buddy DJ Weiss had been here to join in on the jokes, banters, quips and general "smarty pantsedness!"

  Work, fun and rest is on the rundown for this winter break.