squee!

S

 Birthday stuff is happening already!  Tiggywinkle sent me a card.  Janette in Oz sent me yarn and soap and patterns and lotions and atone bags from the Loopy Ewe, and a whole box of Australian Afternoon Tea!

And from Tennesee, from theAppalachian Arts and Craft Center and the dear folks of Loomy Tunes, a box full of surprise!  My little wandering ram, Bucky, has been visiting with them this past year.  They sent a big blanket to use in the piece-a-palooza, and hand-woven mug-rugs, and pamphlets and pins, a patch from the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, and a magnificent book titled, "Bucky's Big Excellent Adventure."

The first thing Bucky did when he got out of the box was to give old Fly cat a hug.

Then he went to a concert with LG and me.  Bill Crane is a local musician, a gifted keyboard player, and a jolly good fellow.  To celebrate his 60th birthday, he gave a series of free concerts in a variety of venues.  LG and I went to one at the Body Vox dance studio, and Bucky came along.  It was very interesting.  The first piece was by John Cage, played on a piano that had been altered by having rubber stoppers and various weights put on the strings. He was accompanied by three young men playing drums and wood blocks.

The we got a lovely piece played on a spinet, follow by a piece played on a toy piano.  The finale was a piece for the left hand only, played on a normal piano.  While Mr. Crane played this piece with his left hand, he got a tattoo on his right arm.

MEANWHILE, a perfectly delicious young man wearing leather chaps and a tiny black thong poured whipping cream into a black Kitchen Aid mixer and whipped it good.  As he was doing this, a young woman in a black bra and mini-skirt came in, sat down, and began folding programs.  She was followed by a skinny young fellow in green boxers and a tan bow tie, who hula hooped for the rest of the performance.  Finally, a buff dude in a wrestler's suit came in and danced with a large hand truck.  The cream had been whipped by this time.  The lad in the chaps put the mixer away, brought forth a chocolate cake, and began frosting it with whipped cream.   He danced with the wrestler.  They shared cake. It was beautiful.  Then, they shared cake with the audience.  (It was yummy! )  The music, the paper folding, the hula hooping, the tattoo and the cake all came to an end simultaneously.

I've been to dadaesque performances like this when the intent was to confuse and offend the audience.  This clearly was not the intent here.  It was daffy and crazy and happy and so playful.  It was a marvelous evening.  Bucky and I enjoyed it vastly!

Here is my traveling ram showing off the lovely yarn Janette selected for me, and the pretty mug rugs from Tennessee.  I am so spoiled already that I need a box of baking soda to keep the smell down.  And the big party happens tomorrow.  Squeee!

Saturday, it's Piece-a-palooza time!  I loaded my car with party things and sewing machine and cookies and fudge and most of my fabric stash. I may have to carry the cake on my lap when I drive over there.   Gonna sew a mess a quilts! MUST TAKE PICTURES!!!