auditions, arts and eats

LIGHTS, CAMERA.......ACTION

We're in Santa Fe auditioning for a feature film which is set to film here in New Mexico.

Acting is something very few people know we enjoy doing.

 So before the lights, camera, actions begins we have to....

check-in and confirm our appointment with this guy....

Read, react, recite and memorize the sides....

Cookie fine-tunes Bam's hair for his audition

Then just before we're go in.... we grab the resume and head shots....

It's all in a day in the life of an actor......

Okay..... not really...... it's all done for FUN, for the experience and for expanding our artistic knowledge.

One can only learn to appreciate the arts, theatre and film when one knows all aspects of the line....

from pre-production...to acting....to crewing...to production....to presentation

After the audition we took a much needed break by taking in Santa Fe.......the arts, walking the plaza, artist row....and ending our day with dinner at our most favorite Santa Fe eatery---the Zia diner---they always treat us well......... ALWAYS!!

lava-ly dinosaurs....

SPRING BREAK THURSDAY

Take a walk with us today through the Triassic period, the Jurassic period, then onto the Cretaceous period.
Perfect day to examine and study the dinosaur bones, atmospheric exhibits, fossils, and minerals.
You guessed right, if you think we're at the museum.
(a.k.a: the dinosaur museum)

Don't worry Stan won't attack you............ he's got no guts! hahahaha......

This is Stan the T-rex at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science as he greets us upon entering. 

"I think I need longer arms...."

Cookie stretches her arms out as she measures the length of this dinosaur.

--Meow--

 "What if saber toothed tigers came in a mini version that I could hold in my hand."

Volcano, lava and steam.......…Oh my!!

Cookie and Sweetheart being careful to NOT step on the lava in the volcano exhibit.
Since they were little tiny tikes they used to be afraid of walking in the lava room.

And now....
 Will they're not frightened anymore.
Let's just say they still refuse to step on the replica lava floor......
Silly girls! So funny....…
GREAT DAY!!

future debaters

The invitational Speech and Debate award ceremony is getting underway.

All the teams that participated did very well.

(I overheard a few....)

I feel like a proud mama to all those young teens who participated.

There is a lot of courage in the preparation that went into each round.

I'm speechless.......

"staying alive, staying alive"

The American Heart Association recommends jump or skip rope for heart health.

This is a nice illustrated chart to basic jump rope styles.

After you master a jump rope skill consider volunteering or donating to the American Heart Association.

Bam and I are certified in CPR and basic first aid through the American Heart Association.

This life saving skill doesn't take very long to learn and can save a LIFE.

A+ looks like this.......

Take a look at New Mexico history, culture and food at Fifi's school.

In the commons they're having the New Mexico culture exhibit today.

Fifi made this design on a paper plate

Informational and display boards made by students of the New Mexico history class filled the exhibit hall.

Fifi crafted these super cute baby moccasins

Singers, dancers, storytellers and drummers performed traditional New Mexican talent for the students, staff and parents.

Princess Fifi did her info board about Native American Food. 

All display boards had to feature historical and geographical information in combination with the featured topic. Fifi included a map, pueblo style home, pottery design, moccasins, rug sample, and FOOD.

Fifi brought in samples of tortillas, fry bread and posolé to share with those interested in sampling a portion.

She did a phenomenal job on her New Mexico info board celebrating Native New Mexican foods and history.

This is for Grandpa-Great.........

Earlier this month Sweetheart's class has been building ofrendas for their Day of the Dead project.

This project has been finished and was on display at the Hispanic Cultural Center for public art viewing.

Sweetheart made one of the alters on display, commemorating her Great Grandfather, Richard Persinger.

--Click here for a quick reference to my previous blog about the Dia de los Muertos tradition--

She made a traditional Mexican (alter) ofrenda in memory of her Grandpa-Great. 

On Dia de los Muertos it is believed that spirits are welcomed back into the realm of the living world for one night a year to enjoy memories, food and fun.

The ofrendas was filled with all of the items she believed her Grandpa-Great would have like when he visits.

--Fine Red Wine (actually sparkling grape juice)--

-- New York style Pizza--

 (He once told Sweetheart that it was years since he had pizza and he'd love a slice)

--Real chocolate pudding with a side of whole milk--

--Fingertip glass--

--Wall Street Journal--

--Wagon--

--Pictures of family and friends--

-- A string of clear non blinking Christmas lights--

And many origami cranes and marigolds for delight

She misses her Grandpa-Great very much. 

She says she can imagine sitting and listening to all his great stories and adventures he had in his lifetime.

This was a nice opportunity for reflection for all my children and I.

Read more and see more about our Grandpa-Great 

Here

"We miss you and we LOVE you Grandpa-Great"

♥♥♥♥♥

Dia de Los......fun

Today we attended the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Hispanic community center in the south valley. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrating and honoring friends and family members that have died.  This holiday is also known as Day of the Dead.

It is celebrated the day after Halloween, on November 1, in connection with the Catholic All Saints Day. 

Although we are not Mexican, it is a New Mexican tradition. 

We've come to celebrate, live, experience and learn another culture.

2011 Dia de los Muertos 

Upon entering we were greeted with traditional Mexican folk music.

Beautiful, talented, professional dancers swept the reception floor.

Mmmm......

We were offered an assortment of horchata and aqua frescas. 

The reception refreshment table carried a wide variety of Mexican hor d'oeuvres like empanadas, biscochitos, tortillas, conchas, sopaipilla, posole and other items. 

Warm dessert cup of fruits, nuts and cinnamon

Toasty and super spicy finger sandwich 

The Dia de los Muertos art gallery was filled with colorful imaginative images of skulls, skeletons and calaveras.

2011 Dia de los Muertos celebration

During the day of the dead, alters are built in honor of the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, along with photos and memorabilia. Also favorite foods and beverages of the departed are also included in the display.
The legend is that people die three deaths.
The first death is when our bodies cease to function; when our hearts no longer beat of their own accord, when our gaze no longer has depth or weight, when the space we occupy slowly loses its meaning.

The second death comes when the body is lowered into the ground, returned to Mother Earth and out of sight.

The third death, the most definitive death, is when there is no one left alive to remember us.

Therefore Day of the dead is celebrated to keep the memory of your loved one alive.

The act of preparing an altar is done for honor and respect for those that have passed. The alter provides a special time to remember, and to transform grief into acceptance. The living invite the spirits of the family to return home for a few hours of laughter, tears and memories.

Elaborately festive alter

Alters for loved pets are included too

We ended our day with a festive mariachi performance in the auditorium.
As we exited the children were all given Mexican candy to take home to enjoy.
! Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

BEMP along the Rio Grande

Cookie's class had a field trip visit to Bosque School today.

A school representative toured and hiked them through the Bosque along the Rio Grande River.

The Bosque school has a fun and informative guide (white shirt to right)

The Bosque school is a private school that integrates science, stewardship and the environment.

Beautiful day for a hike.........

The school works closely with Sandia National environmental scientist and the University of New Mexico collecting data along the Bosque for the BEMP database.

BEMP (Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program)

Cookie is measuring and documenting the water table levels

The Bosque school has been mentoring Cookie's science class on the importance of the environment, the local watershed, ecology and biodiversity of the desert and woodlands in the Bosque along the Rio Grande River.  

Can you find Cookie??

Way atop the cottonwood tree we spotted a porcupine......

Ewww...... a large spider

Aacck SNAKE!!! Oh whew......... it just a stick

Porcupine quill

Cookie's thinking how SHE can help the environment....

pleasant, peaceful trails along the Pecos

Bam went camping this weekend.
He had a great time at Villanueva State Park along the Pecos River.

This foot bridge took the boys across the pecos and gradually up the canyon wall.

Bam was so excited to tell us about all the fun he had at this riverside state park.
From the sandstone canyon walls, the great hiking trails, the native trees and tall Cottonwoods to the ruins of the Spanish colonial.
Bam told us it was an amazing time of year to be there.

www.nmparks.com

Bam had an awesome time camping this weekend.
He recommends that our family go up there some time.
Another great camping memory........

living a story book adventure

Today Sweetheart and I attended the class field trip to El Rancho de Las Golondrinas near Santa Fe.
What a beautiful day to be out in the warm sun under the big New Mexico blue and turquoise skies.

The El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is a historic living history museum located on 250 acres in a rural farming valley south of Santa Fe.
The museum is dedicated to the history, heritage and culture of 18th and 19th century New Mexico.
While hiking throughout the trails we stopped by many living exhibits who told us the history and life of living on the rancho.

Burros were used mostly for transporting heavy items.

These women were carding, spinning and dying wool

Las Golondrinas is rich in language, culture, art, traditions and history of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and Territorial New Mexico.

Historical hill top chapel with campo santo on site

Utility wagon parking lot..........

Historical water mill / grain mill in action

Beautiful traditional adobe oratorio

Sweetheart and I hiked all about Los Golondrinas with the class. We visited the placita house, blacksmith shop, candle maker, riverside laundry, wheelwright shop, winery, vineyard, morada, descansos, oratorio. and to the hill top chapel with campo santo.

Stunning NM beauty

Amazing Autumnal view

Various films were shot here at Los Golondrinas including:
Tiger Eyes (2010) featuring Willa Holland, Tatanka Means, Based on the book by Judy Blume.
MacGruber (2009) featuring Will Forte, Powers Boothe, Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Based on a Saturday Night Live skit.
Doc West (2009) featuring Paul Sorvino, Terence Hill. Premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
Kites (2009) featuring Hrithrik Roshan, Barbara Mori. Asian and South American cinema
Shoot First and Pray You Live (2008) featuring Jo Blackstone, Erik Bockemeier
Comanche Moon (2009) featuring Val Kilmer, West Studi, Rachel Griffiths
Kit Carson (2008) featuring Michael Murphy. documentary, The American Experience
Seraphim Falls (2006) featuring Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Angie Harmon, Anjelica Huston.
Into the West (2005) featuring Gary Busey, Judge Reinhold, Tom Berenger, Rachael Leigh Cook, Keith Carradine. Produced by Stephen Speilberg.
The Conquest of America (2004) Documentary narrated by Bill Curtis.
The Missing (2003) featuring Cate Blanchette, Tommy Lee Jones. Directed by Ron Howard
All the Pretty Horses (2000) featuring Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, Henry Thomas, Sam Shepard, Bruce Dern.
Vampires (1998) featuring James Wood, Daniel Baldwin, Maximilian Schell, Sheryl Lee.
The Staircase (1998) featuring Barbara Hershey, William Peterson, Diane Ladd
Gunfighters of the West (1998) Documentary narrated by Brian Dennehy
Fools Rush In (1997) featuring Salma Haayek, Matthew Perrry.
Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West (1995) featuring Cloris Leachman, Ester Rolle.
Wyatt Earp (1994) featuring Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Dennis Quaid, Mare Willingham
The Legend of O.B. Taggart (1994) featuring Ned Beatty, Earnest Borgnine, Larry Gatlin, Mickey Rooney, Ben Johnson, Randy Travis.
Young Guns (1988) featuring Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, Brian Keith.
Wild Times (1980) featuring Sam Elliott, Harry Carey Jr. Bruce Boxleitner, Dennis Hopper.
Butch and the Sundance: The Early Days (1979) featuring Tom Berenger, William Katt, Jill Eikenberry, Brian Dennehy, Christopher Lloyd.

Familiar??

A quick game of lunch time tag.........

Good bye Los Golondrinas........

We had a great time!!

 Sweetheart and I had a memorable day at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas.
Sweetheart said it was like experiencing the life of Josefina Montoya from American Girl.
(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/thumbnail/id/238/uid/35)
I agree that we did have a great storybook to life adventure today..............