1. I mastered the web design program, Dreamweaver; hence the new look of LaurieNienhaus.com. This effort required an extraordinary amount of cursing. I feared I was becoming a sailor.
2. Tea-A-Ria was at last put to bed after ten sold out performances. My eyebrows have at last lost the 40's look I had plucked them to.
There are some in SW Florida who wish this farce to be brought back. That's not likely to happen despite the fact cast members continue falling into character when chancing upon one another...
LEONIE
This is a tearoom! There's no cappuccino. No vino! It's tea and a scone.
TOMASSO
...Guys like me, we don’t drink tea. And what’s a scone-ee?
...Guys like me, we don’t drink tea. And what’s a scone-ee?
2. A first foot surgery went a muck, necessitating a second. The magical thinking I'm known for in certain circles allowed me to believe I'd be returning home immediately post surgery after the second. Upon learning this was not to be as they wheeled me into the operating room, I blossomed into full blown hysteria - never pretty, btw.
The last thing I remember was a man's voice, presumably the anesthesiologist's, saying, "Maybe it's time to put her under."
All is well now and my China Moon Festival went off without a hitch, but thanks only to friends offering more help than they should ever be asked to offer!
3. I've directed two more shows, for which I wrote some of the scripts - It's a Beachy Christmas and It's a Beachy Love. There may be one more Beachy thing in me as it still tweaks me not to work in odd numbers. You can read excerpts of all these plays at: LaurieNienhaus.com/plays.html. If you follow me on Facebook, there's also an album of Tea-A-Ria images.
4. I'm at the tail end of a massive garden project requiring the relocation of well over 100 wheel barrows of sand and gravel. All moved by yours truly.
I've moved the huge rocks serving to outline my winding bed so many times that it's a point of discussion among my neighbors. Apparently some think I find it therapeutic to occasionally re-arrange large rocks as one would furniture. There may be some truth to that.
I've moved the huge rocks serving to outline my winding bed so many times that it's a point of discussion among my neighbors. Apparently some think I find it therapeutic to occasionally re-arrange large rocks as one would furniture. There may be some truth to that.
5. I began running tea and history programs at our premier historic home here in Lee County, the Burroughs' Home. This required I create programing at a somewhat break-neck pace. Some I've incorporated into my larger speaking repertoire but others I'm not sure what to do with now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you'd like to see this home - which is indeed haunted - visit BurroughsHome.com.
6. My third book, Steeped: The Wanderings and Delights of a Tea Adventurer, is closer than ever to completion. I swear.
Those are the highlights folks. I've found it to be true...time is indeed a dress maker specializing in alterations (Faith Baldwin).
The woman you see above is my friend, Carrie Hill. She told one of the most famous of Moon Festival legends - the story of Chang O.
The woman you see above is my friend, Carrie Hill. She told one of the most famous of Moon Festival legends - the story of Chang O.
