Cross-Stitch, Chickens, Carrots and Ballet

Colonial Cottage, Wellington

 My latest cross-stitch project is of one of my favorite places to visit.  The Colonial Cottage in Nairn St in Wellington City. We go there even when the house itself is not open for tours as we just like to spend time sitting in the garden, chatting to the three chickens and Salem loves climbing the big old tree out the back.  It's just like stepping back in time.

My cross stitch version of  Colonial Cottage so far

Tree climbing at the Colonial Cottage

Saying hello to the Chickens

All three chickens came to see us

The latest offering from our garden is this unusal shaped carrot, it looks like some sort of creature as it has two 'eyes'.  Our garden isn't very productive at the moment but we are still getting the occassional strawberry and there are plenty of mandarins, apples, lemons and rhubarb.
Winter is just about here and it is really getting cold and we had frosts two days in a row this week.  Our whole property was white.

Our weird and wonderful carrot

We have had some wonderful news this week..... I applied for a scholarship for Salem for his dancing in March and received a letter on Wednesday saying that Salem has been awarded a Gold Heart Scholarship from Variety - The Children's Charity.  We were over the moon with this news.  The lovely people at Variety will be helping with Salem's dancing expenses.  Thank you Variety and a big thank you to everyone who wrote lovely letters of support for our scholarship application.

Ballet practice

Tutus on Tour 2011

Verdi Variations

Pinocchio

After a very long day in Wellington on Saturday, we went to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet's production of Tutus on Tour which included "Verdi Variations" - classical ballet with tutus, tiaras and wonderful dancing.  And a lovely version of "Pinnochio" which was just magical. 

The magnificiant whale

Salem's favourite dancer and friend, Jacob Chown had a leading role which Salem really enjoyed watching.
Wish we could go and see it again but we will save our pennies for the next Royal New Zealand Ballet's production.

Photos are from the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Ballet time again!!!!

Russian Winter - Kapiti Competitions



In the boy's dressing room.




Outside the St James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand.



Scene from the RNZBallet's "The Nutcracker" Nov 2010

It's about that time of year again, the summer holidays are nearly over, I've had to re-enrol Salem in all his ballet, jazz, contempory and stretch/strength dance classes and get all his dance gear ready making sure they still fit him.
He loves his ballet and is making it his career.  Last year he had a part in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's "The Nutcracker" and had an absolute ball. That was over a month of rehersals and performances.  He was very pleased with himself as he was part of the A cast.  He will be auditioning for a part in Sleeping Beauty near the end of this year.
So it's another year of classes, rehersals, shows, exams and making costumes.
During his classes I get alot of craft work done, last year it was knitting, crocheting and tatting, this year I am wanting to do some filet crochet, I have a lot of vintage patterns from the 1890's to the 1950's.  Good stuff.
Oh yeah, in the top photo, I made Salem's costume that he is wearing.