Whew, My Feet Are Burning!!!

Focusing 

This past winter while south, clogging beckoned me to give it a try. For a few years now, at least 5 or 6, (before going south in the winter) I'd see clogging advertised in the community events calendar and wonder, hummm, what is clogging??  My visions were definitely wrong! Then other things would get in the way, then it would be too late to register for the beginner lessons.  Always an excuse.

The second year we were down south just before returning in the spring, I saw, not to mention heard music, as well as rhythmic tapping noises in unison emanating from the resort's ballroom. Sounded great.  It was a group of gals dancing (men do this too, but it seems to be a favorite among women).  I watched them for the longest time with great interest and desire to give it a try, but what was it???  Could this be clogging, wasn't entirely sure, for I'd never seen it done. Kind of reminded me of river dancing, an Irish jig and lord knows what else. Finally asked a person what were the ladies doing in the ballroom.  Well that was that!!! I made a mental note to self that it would be my year to start.  It so reminded me of years gone by, and my tap dancing days, I think everyone took tap in those days.  Oh my, where is that strength and fleetness of foot that I had been blessed with as a youth.  Needless to say it is pretty much gone now...sigh. Could we say - what happened is a 100 years.  OK, 100 years is a bit of a stretch!!   The bottom line is - it is one of the best exercise for mind, body maybe even soul, and its all fun!

The pace is picking up.

On October 14/15, there was a clogging workshop (Clog-toberfest, 2011), the guest instructor was Janice Jestin. I'm sure this lady was born clogging, she makes it look so easy.  The workshops are lots of fun and there will always be a dance or two maybe even three if you are lucky that you can dance to like a pro, maybe not quite a pro; then there will be dances that will be more complicated, faster requiring more knowledge as to how the steps are done which is only gained by time and experience.  The workshop instructors are very good about a preliminary "step-through", unfortunately if most of the steps are new, your knowledge base is limited - it does get difficult to remember the sequence with so many new steps.  In this case, you just go for it and do the best you can, for each time you do these steps that caused you so much grief initially, just gets simpler and simpler then one day it happens - you are actually doing the steps WOOHOO!!

Here is a group shot of the ladies with the workshop instructor, Janice, the third lady in from the right side of the back row.  Everybody who purchased a workshop tee, got their picture taken.  I think they look pretty good. (another note to self, if you want to be in the pic, buy the t-shirt.)


So now, my goal is to be able to do the dance that Janice is doing in this video clip, which is illustrating buck and flat footing steps. Well, it may not be exactly this dance. Could take a few years, hey I'm retired now, isn't that what retirement is all about!!

Until next time....

Happy Thanksgiving Wishes to Everyone

Already it is Thanksgiving in Canada.  Not too sure why it is a month earlier than than our neighbours to the south, where I grew up.  I do remember when I was very young, when we had Thanksgiving, it would be a very big event, or at least in my mind it was.  There were always  Aunts, Uncles and cousins around.  Sometimes it was spent with my mother's side of the family and then other times it was spent with father's side of the family.  Which ever side it was spent with - it was a big day with lots of yummy stuff to eat!!!  Trust me when I say, I ate a lot!!  The other most exciting thought at the time, I knew Christmas was only a month away.  That was "big" in my world at that time.

 I do sincerely wish that everyone was able to spend time with their families and friends over this Thanksgiving Long Weekend.  Too seldom in today's busy times,  do we get the opportunity to share a meal, conversation or just enjoy the company of those who mean so much to us.  My daughter, granddaughter and grandson were able to join Paul and myself.  Unfortunately, my son couldn't get away from long enough from up north to make it down.  Needless-to-say we gorged ourselves with ham, scalloped potatoes and pumpkin pie.  My plan was to take a picture and then I totally forgot, don't ask me how I could forget - but I did!!!  Guess my mind was on too many other things.

My grandson gave me an awsome 101 on torrent files, pacs, seeders, leachers, peers etc.  It has finally sunk in today, initially it was "what"!!!!  Anyway I asked and I received!!  A wise person would leave that stuff alone.

intrigued with the abstract

felt this was rather chic

Swarvorski Crystals

Stripes

 Lately, shoulder-bags have been consuming some of my free time along with trying to make flowers or something to embellish the bags, it takes me as long to make the flowers as it does the bag.  Over the years, for the most part, I left this kind of crafty stuff up to others who are creative, but there was an overwhelming urge pushing me to give it a "go"! I think these bag are so cool, the possibilites are infinite, limited only by one's imagination, which at times can be very lacking.  The bags have two front pockets; one zipper back pocket and an inside pocket. The biggest challenge was finding fabric that would be suitable, and had some pizazz, trendy upbeat look you know what I mean.  Ikea was a good place to start. Mostly because that is where the person who made the pattern suggested!!  See I told you!!!

The first bag was was a struggle; wondering what to do, how to make it looking interesting - not junky or most importantly, not a mistake!!! Then it was attaching the flowers.  Still working on that aspect, think it's under control now. This should be a great winter "project" while we are south.

That pretty much sums up the excitement around here this past couple of weeks.