finally

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beneath crippling fear

a constant drone of reason

for once ~  i listened

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polar weaponry

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a voracious bite

with invisible tendrils

each stinger packs heat

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from mid 50’s drab to ‘minus cold’ winter wonderland

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old roads

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walking down old roads

miles and miles of memories

pieces left behind

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The Nutcracker Act II – The Finale

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The Finale

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soaring crescendos

all the dancers on the stage

Clara bids farewell

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me – Act I – center stage – before the tree starts to grow

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The photo above was taken from a special souvenir photo book which was created for the 1981 Nutcracker Season.  After spending my Sunday afternoon digging through boxes, I found this gem amongst many, many other treasures.  This photo was taken in 1979.

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I hope you have enjoyed my series of pieces inspired by The Nutcracker Ballet.  As a child, the holidays were The Nutcracker. As an adult, they are very special memories – ones which I will never, ever forget.  Just ask my boys….they hear the same stories year after year, after year, after year…..and it looks like y’all will be suffering the same fate!

The Nutcracker Act II – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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celesta keys strike

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dainty pink pointes enamor

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a charming classic

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The celesta, an instrument invented in 1886, gets its name for its “celestial,” tinkling sound.  It provides the distinctive music that accompanies the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard.  Tchaikovsky is considered to be the first major composer to utilize the celesta in a musical composition – his Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is the most well-known. (For the music buffs in the audience, Tchaikovsky first used the instrument in a symphonic poem – The Voyevoda in 1891 – The Nutcracker was written in 1892.)

night number five

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made by tiny hands

special treasures from their youth

no candles required

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Jordan’s mat and menorah

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Jordan’s menorah made in 1998 of wood, nuts, glue and paint

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Peyton’s drip mat and menorah

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Peyton’s menorah made in 1999 of pasta, paint and glue. One lasagna noodle and ten rigatoni pieces  (tidbit of advice – try to use the pasta with the least amount of bend 🙂

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our corps de menorahs

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The Nutcracker Act II – Arabian Dance

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The Arabian Dance

‘Coffee’

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quietly subdued

an exotic seduction

she moves like fluid

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where some of my nuts reside….

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I decided to cut and paste this variation – the original lacked a photo, which was due to my lack of poor planning.  Last year when I started this project it was supposed to be one post, then it became an entire series.

The photo above is in response to a question asked – where do I keep all of my Nutcrackers?  What you see is a shelf, in a hutch, located in my living room.  I have lots of Nutcracker items – lots – and these are my most valuable.  The one in the very center, on the top shelf – is priceless.  In due time, you will discover why…

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the second night of lights

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standing tall and proud

each flame reaches to the sky

solace holds my hand

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the drip mats were made by the boys in preschool. Jordan’s was made in 1997 – less than two months after Peyton was born.

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the overture

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his score calls my name

i am summoned to the stage

home – where i belong

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photo taken for The Cincinnati Enquirer in December 1998 – studio rehearsal for The Nutcracker – the battle scene

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the first night of lights

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colorful candles

hearing her voice once again

a comforting glow

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my mother’s favorite holiday

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