Just when you think you have seen everything

With almost 60 years of life experiences and all the things you can see on the internet and on TV and in movies  it is hard to think there is any performance that is new.   I saw one yesterday.

It was at Bob Jones University and it was called the Living Gallery.

What is Living Gallery?

In the Living Gallery, the imagined becomes real. Have you ever viewed a work of art that looked so real that the depicted characters seemed to almost move and breathe? Such imaginations come true as you experience works of art re-created life-sized on stage.

The program consists of original drama and special choral and orchestral arrangements tying together a breathtaking live portrayal of great works of art. The entire program centers around the life of Christ and specifically Pontius Pilot and Joseph of Araiamethea which all by itself was very interesting.

If your bible history is a little rusty here is more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_of_Arimathea

Although the drama and music play an important part in the celebration, the paintings take center stage in telling the story of Christ through this unique medium.

The characters you see portrayed in the paintings are live actors. A special set, costumes, makeup, and lighting expand the painting to more than three times its original size.

Imagine seeing the Last Supper painting 30 feet by 40 feet with these performers standing so still and posed.  Imagine seeing this famous statue looking exactly like this but it is really two people.

I brought binoculars and even with those I could not tell the real people from the painted people.  They have been doing this for 12 years.  It is impossible to describe this.  Bob didn’t want to go but now he  can’t wait to go next year.

The lighting, music, costumes and performers were fantastic.  As a side note, I was surprised how many of the bible quotes I knew.

Presentation of the living gallery
http://www.bjumg.org/living_gallery/presentation-medium.php

BBQ Sauce

BBQ sauce is a highly opinionated subject in NC and SC and they have very different styles from each other.   SC BBQ sauce is also very different from MN BBQ sauce.   It is yellow with a lot of mustard.  So far I have tried it a few times but while good I wasn’t won over.   That changed last night.   I bought Cattlemens Sweet and Tangy Gold BBQ sauce and we loved it.   Had it on chicken last night and on pork chops tonight.   If you can find it give it a try.  A really wonderful variation of BBQ and just in time for summer grilling season.

Happy Easter, happy spring

I couln’t resist this Easter Bunny!   Fay, Bob and Tanya are thinking of you at Easter.   It definitely is spring here.   By Easter Sunday all the trees should have started to show leaves.   Azaleas and dogwoods are blooming.   I saw wisteria for the first time yesterday.  Really pretty flowers on a very agressive vine.  Probably don’t want it very close to your house. Lawn should be green by Sunday.  I am waiting for the crepe myrtle trees to bloom.   They kind of look like lilacs but no fragrance.  I am told lilacs are hard but not impossible to have here so I am going to give it a try.  I should have all my pots planted by Sunday.  It might freeze tonight but then gets warm.

Meeting people

Last week was a busy week for meeting people.   On Friday I went with 5 other people to a  small town called Landrum.  It was a beautiful 40 minute drive out in the country.  Town has several large antique stores.  About 5 miles away there is another town with a 40,000 sq. ft. antique mall.   I want to see that sometime.  This was a Life Long Learning Event.

On Friday night Bob and I went to Cocktails R Us, a Greenville Newcomers event.  We had a great time.   Probably about 70 people there.

On Saturday my new neighbor Vickie asked me to go shopping.  I found some great furniture and garden places that I don’t think I would have found on my own.   We were gone for 6 hours!

Yesterday I had coffee with another neighbor and will be going with her on Friday when she delivers Meals on Wheels and on Saturday will go to her monthly neighborhood coffee party.

I scheduled myself and sometimes Bob for several tours in April and May.

Everyone is so nice.

Fay is on the board of Newcomers of Greenville

I attended my first Newcomers spring social yesterday afternoon.  There were about 40 people there.  We all introduced ourselves and as soon as I said what I did the president said “we need to talk”.   A few minutes later we talked and they need someone on the board as the computer person (manage the membership database, maintain web calendar and website, print newsletter labels) so after talking to the person who is currently doing this it  sounded like not to much work.  I am looking forward to getting to know the board members better and I sure learn even more about my new home.

Most of you know that while I am social I am not much of a joiner in clubs or organization.   I have my  reasons for not belonging to anything.  This feels different and I am ready to make the commitment.  I am really excited about this opportunity to help out and meet people.  It feels like a very good fit.

The group has 400 members and all volunteer. They think they are probably the second largest group like this in the country.  Texas has a larger group.  I was really impressed with their calendar of events and the nice people I met.  At the social there were a couple women that moved here from MN.   Most newcomers seem to come from the midwest and north east coast.   Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Conn., Rhode Island, New York etc.   Most were age 40-60 but a few women with smaller children.  Friday night Bob and I are going to Cocktails R Us gathering.   Yes, that is what the group is called.  There are two “coffee parties” each month, board meeting each month and lots of tours to area activities (tour of bascilica, antiquing, etc.),  gourmet food group, craft group, hiking group, garden group as well as many card/game groups and golf so lots to choose from.   Most of the activities are more women oriented but there should be a few things for Bob to go to.

Good thing I don’t work full time any more.  How would I fit work into my calendar?  These activities plus those in the Furman Life Long Learning program and all the Greenville activities should keep Bob and I from getting bored!

What a difference a year makes

It’s hard to believe that a year ago this week we were looking for lots  and made the decision to build a house in Travelers Rest SC.  As we drove back to MN we talked about all we needed to do and it was overwhelming.   We could only think about whatever the decisions were that we  had to make and do next few things that were on our list.   This is what we had to ponder.

• getting a bridge loan in case our house didn’t sell
• stage the house
• sell all kinds of stuff
• find a realtor
• sell the house
• pack
• find a moving company
• make a trip back to SC to check on the building process
• make all kinds of decisions about the new house
• get a mortgage when they were hard to get
• move 1100 miles
• get unpacked
• find our way around our hew state

But we did it and love it here.  It was all worth it and we wish we could have done it sooner.

Craig is great – Bob’s lifesaver

We have had Craig working for us a couple days now and he is great. In his 19 years he has learned many valuable skills. He did a fantastic job painting the room downstairs, knows how to use tools, has done landscaping, friendly personable young man very willing to do whatever he has to for some money for his family.

Bob has gone from “we don’t need to hire anyone, I can do it myself” to thinking of things to keep him busy.  It feels good to get help for us and  be able to give some money to someone like him.