This is Coriander, and she thinks life is about giving.
Not just flowers, (that too) but time, and love, and joy, and self.

(but she isn't very patient with her seamstress, who embroidered
very clumsy flowers on the front of her dress.)

love,

Cait

Arch-Enemies of TypePad

Some days living in the UAE really feels no different from living in the west. In essence, it isn't - it's completely modern in technology and architecture, high class ex-pats...but the modern philosophy is missing, which gets confusing in communication with third-world service.
(But what am I saying? I'm not in favor of the philosophy of progress or modernism. Maybe this is a contradiction! I digress.)

But. One of the things that bugs me most is when TypePad is blocked. Yes, sometimes the internet provider decides that my favorite blogs aren't appropriate in content (since of course they're picking on me, not the whole of TypePad) and TypePad disappears for a month. If you're lucky. You can get sneaky with reading them, but commenting is out of the question unless you have a really clandestine system, which I'm not into.

So, once again, I'm left without A Fanciful Twist, Dani, The Black Apple, Girl Talk. Sigh...at least there are a myriad of other favourites to visit!
This is why I'm glad the magnificent Kara hasn't made the switch yet. What you may read today you may not read tomorrow. At least in the UAE.

love, Cait
p.s. But we do have red plumerias.

The Hour of Smiles - 8th-18th April -

The empty Madinat Jumeirah First Group theatre, taken by stage manager Nicola. Many hours were spent sitting in the theatre seating and watching rehearsals or having notes before performances.

Maids galore! Warbucks' household staff.
The below wasn't taken by me, as we were not allowed to photograph the set and show. However, it's of our NBC radio scene, with Bert Healey and the Boylan sisters =)

One of my latest paintings is in honor of Amanda Minihan, amazing actress who came from London to play Miss Hannigan. She played it so naturally, and is an actress through and through - I've never seen someone use a look or one word so completely in character. In real life she's the opposite of Miss Hannigan though! She loved the girls playing the orphans, and they adored her. She was friendly and encouraging and talked to me and the other cast members. Amanda is just lovely all around, so I had this idea awhile back but didn't remember until after the show on Friday night, so I did it that night and gave it to her the next day at the last performance (note - it doesn't look like Amanda, just the character! She's pretty as well as awesome).

with love,
Cait

Boylan No More

I have so much to share and process from Annie. To begin with though, it was amazing, and it's depressing to miss everyone and know I'm not performing every night this week! But with 15 shows wonderfully completed, I know this was a marvelous (though at times difficult and emotional) experience, but not what my life is about or will be spent on. However, I'd do it again for sure ;) Their next two musicals I'm skipping out on (HSM2 and Fame), but will help at the auditions.
When the last curtain went down it was hard to keep tears back and many didn't! The good byes with my Boylan sisters and the leads who flew in from the West End were the saddest!

I have an Annie-related project to share soon, and photos, but the above is just a thing I made to fill a frame I wanted to replace. Any fans of frame walls?


much love,
Cait

Mis-matched Country

These are from Country Living, Country Home, and Laurence Pasquier.
I love the bright colours and mixed up chairs!

What made you happiest this week?

love, Cait

9 Down, 6 to Go!

Melanie, Jessica, and Rosie in the crowded dressing room

The run is going well, selling well, and getting better. It's fun to develop and play with the characters and get to know the cast better (though it has it's disadvantages too - it's not always easy to love people). Our maids costumes are cute, but we're sick of changing in and out of them! Little lacy caps have been added to the look.
I have had no time to do anything crafty, except make thank you cards for the directors and do some art journaling. My painted marionette is progressing however! She'll be quite a gaudy little miss when she's done.

I must be off. Sleep and school are demanding!

love,
Cait

We are all about politically incorrect

- And I probably use the word too much.

[photo - 'favourite things' - not mine]

But it's definitely true. A few examples, mostly historical because we're like that...


The Enlightenment period = the endarkenment.
And the 'Dark Ages' were actually pretty productive.


A piece of paper called the Constitution of the United States. I actually think it's a pretty good idea to follow it.


The 'Civil War.' Since when is North good and South bad? My favourite subject!


I think FDR was a not-so-nice president, and America was unneeded in World War II.


And lastly, my Easter is not about chocolate and a giant rabbit.

John 11:24-26

Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Luke 24:46-47
"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

He is risen!!

Sea Foam Green

I love the colours in these.
I still like bright colours (or smatterings of it) but these are so pretty and calming.

opening night tomorrow!!
Love,
Cait

[photography not mine]

There is no Time!

Hello darlings!

The week has and is going by so quickly. Keeping up with school will be hard this week, amidst rehearsals and opening night.
I always think of the Andrews Sisters when we do the Boylan girls scene, even though they were a couple decades later.
No photos yet! I need to get on that at tonight's run. How are all of you? I have little to write as nothing is happening for me except Annie and school...all of which takes a lot of time!

Here's a peek of something I'm working on though:

love, Cait

Apples and Cotlets

Interiors again! Here are some boldly bright colours.

This lovely style is from Emily of The Black Apple's home. I love the calm colours and fun, beautiful vintage. Not to mention all the birds!

love, Cait
[photos not by me]