Rose just before her performance.
Rose played for her first piano contest and survived it well. She played Dance by Bela Bartok, a very pretty piece. We won't get the judge's results for a few days, but again we're just so proud she participated. Don't tell her we told you, but George did hear her practicing her speech for the first prize in the dining room yesterday afternoon. But on that we'll see. At least we know she felt good about her performance and maintains that Rose-confidance for which we love her so much. 
Rose's post-contest smile and twinkling eyes.
The pressure was off and she was happy to have mom and dad and a bagel at the coffee shop all to herself.
Playing chess with Dad at the Local Blend coffee shop in St. Joseph.
And here's me making Moroccan Chickpea Stew yesterday morning:
This was for my W.E.T. (Women's Enrichment Time--a name we just made up.) group potluck yesterday afternoon/evening. Eight of us moms and the current two nursing babies spent, oh, eight and a half hours at Nikki's house yesterday. We did have some chocolate and wine (luckily I brought a package of Dove dark chocolates--I was the only one!) to start off the afternoon. We talked and exchanged some books. I brought home Women Who Run with the Wolves; Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain; The Body Language of Illness and Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism for some interesting reading.
Then we talked some more (actually, the talking never stops). Topics are generally around spirituality, husbands, kids, school and homeschool, husbands, spirituality, money, starting a holistic retreat center, spirituality, God/Goddess, husbands, buying land and building that retreat center, kids, etc.
Then we cooked while we talked. My rice turned out crunchy because I wasn't able to find Nikki's measuring cup and she was busy nursing baby Lily so I had to "guesstimate" on the water to rice ratio, but the stew did turn out okay. Angela also brought a Moroccan Stew, though hers had yams and curry. They were both good. We also ate maple-glazed parsnips, balsamic-glazed beets (yummy on both counts), various breads both homemade and bakery-bought, veggie pizza, and an apple dessert whipped up by our resident chef, Elizabeth, while nursing baby Sara. Did I tell you my friends are fabulous cooks as well as being amazing moms? They're worth having around!
After a long meal of eating and talking, at about 9 p.m. we got to showing off all the clothes we'd culled from our closets so that others could take what they wanted. I came home with an orange t-shirt and an orange button-down shirt and a red cardigan. My colors. I came home without a too-long black dress, a sweater that makes me sweat, and a couple of scarves. The rest goes to GoodWill.
At 10:15 I finally made it out the door for the 45-minute drive home. On the way home, I saw the second shooting star I've seen in my life. Right over Cold Spring, it fell from the sky into the Sauk River. Amazing! And so close! The only other time I've seen a falling star? It was just last summer, also on the way home from a W.E.T. gathering and also at about 11 p.m. I guess I should be happy these things run so late!
There is nothing like a day with my friends to boost my spirits. We had a fabulous time, as always. Thanks, girls! Next month is my turn to plan the get-together. What'll it be? Another potluck at my house? An class on intuition again? Astrology readings? A night at Clare's Well, the retreat center run by those wonderful nuns in Annandale? We'll see...
It was a full and fulfilling weekend. I'm very blessed. Lisa
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