Sarah, Plain and Tall

The High School play was a couple of weekends ago. Madison played Rose Nordstrom. She did an awesome job and had so much fun, even though the practices were grueling, especially the week of the play. Here she is in her five costume changes:

Dalton - 6th Grade Picture

High School Play

The High School play this year is Sarah, Plain and Tall.

“Set in the early 1900s, this play brings to life the charming, heartwarming story of a Kansas farmer, Jacob Witting, a widower with two children, Anna and Caleb, who places an ad in the newspapers seeking a wife. He receives a letter from a Sarah Wheaton of Maine who says she will visit the family for a month to see how things work out: "I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall." Narrated by Anna reminiscing on the eve of her wedding, the story unfolds in a fascinating flashback on that often exciting, sometimes tumultuous month when Sarah and the Wittings came to know one another and learned a few things about themselves as well. The joys and challenges of everyday life are richly depicted in this classic which the New York Times called "an exquisite, sometimes painfully touching tale."

There are four children in the play, the two mentioned above and then two neighbor girls. The High School sought out Junior High School students to audition for the children’s roles. Madison went to the auditions. She was very excited because she was one of the ones they kept calling back up to the stage, or having them stay on the stage for more readings. Then the teachers were scrutinizing how well the children looked and acted with each other. This was on a Friday, and the teachers said they would post the cast list on the High School door on Monday morning. Yes, it was a very stressful weekend. She thought about how well she did, how not so well she did, and everything in between. Come Monday morning, the JHS made an announcement that three people from the JHS made the HS play, and Madison was one of them. She plays Rose, one of the neighbor’s daughters. The part is one of the seven main characters. Yay! – She is ecstatic and so are we.

For the past couple weeks and up to the date of the play, she practices every day after school M-F from 2:30-5:30 and will have to put in a couple of all days Saturdays prior to the show. The play will be presented three different days, November 13, 14 & 15. She has been in school plays before but never more than one performance, so she is thrilled about that.

Way to go, Madison!

Colt - 14 weeks

First Day of School

Wow! Summer's over and school has begun. I still can't believe it. I really didn't want Summer to end so soon...we had such a good one this year. Everyone was healthy and just enjoying each other, the great weather and going fun places.

But back to the subject.

Here are the kids traditional first day pictures. Madison is starting 8th grade and her last year at the Junior High School. Dalton is in 6th grade and his last year at the Middle School.

Meet Colt!

The newest addition to our family, our seven week old Golden Retriever, named Colt. Cute as a bug and oh so much fun so far. We just got him today so ask us in a week or so how we are really doing!!

Fort Walton Beach

Sugar white sand beaches, emerald green water and amazing sunsets. We had a wonderful time at Florida's Emerald Coast.

Boating

Fourth of July we took the Sea Ray out for the very first time. Some things are worth the wait, even when the weather wasn't cooperating as well as we would have liked.

The following week the weather was much better and the kids got to tube. Buck Creek was a little bit cold for mom and dad!


I'll try to get closer shots next time!

Savannah - Day Seven

Fort Pulaski National Monument

On April 11, 1862, defense strategy changed worldwide when Union rifled cannon first overcame a masonry fortification after only 30 hours of bombardment. Named for Revolutionary War hero, Count Casimir Pulaski, Fort Pulaski took some 18 years to build and was the first military assignment for a young second lieutenant fresh from West Point - Robert E. Lee. It is estimated to have been built with 25 million bricks and has 7 1/2 foot thick walls.


We toured the Fort:





We saw a cannon and musket firing demonstration.



After visiting Fort Pulaski we went to Tybee beach one last time.

I did forget to mention that Miley Cyrus was filming her newest movie on Tybee Island the week we were there. One day earlier in the week a bunch of adults and kids went to walk on the beach in the evening, and walked toward the set. They did get to get a glimpse of Miley as she got out of her car and walked toward the movie production area. A highlight for some...

Well, that was our trip. An enjoyable trip, but very exhausting. I can't quite call it a vacation, since I think of vacations as more relaxing. The next day (Sunday), our car left at 5:53am while the rest left around 10:00am. We wanted to get home at a decent time. We pulled in the driveway at 5:30pm...record time!!

Savannah - Day Six

Our first stop on Friday was to the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, a historic rice plantation along the Altamaha River. We walked beneath live oak trees to the home furnished with fine antiques. We could gaze from the porch past magnolias and camellias to the marsh where rice once flourished.





Around 1807, William Brailsford of Charleston began carving a rice plantation from the virgin cypress swamps along the Altamaha River. His son-in-law, James M. Troup, acquired additional land along the river. By the time Troup passed away, he owned 7,300 acres of land, 357 slaves, and several homes.

Until the outbreak of the Civil War, the plantation produced rice steadily. War, hurricanes, and lack of abundant labor led to the fall of the rice empire in 1915. Brailsford's descendants converted the plantation into a dairy that distributed high-quality milk in Glynn County. Due to a combination of reasons, the dairy closed in 1942.

The house remains as Ophelia Troup Dent's granddaughter (also named Ophelia) left it when she died in 1973, willing the property to the state. Antiques collected over five generations of Brailsford's descendants remain in the house.






We then had a picnic lunch on the plantation grounds and then headed to Jekyll Island, Georgia's smallest barrier island, to swim.



The men and boys did not go to the plantation and Jekyll Island. However, they did rent bicycles back on Tybee Island. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of that as the men just didn't take pictures. Dalton did love riding on the beach!