Beta as far as the eyes can see

It's time to catch up. I've been away at Beta Convention. My last one, so it was a little bittersweet. I celebrated my 20th year on Friday morning at the sponsors' meeting. 

Maybe it was bittersweet, but there was definitely lots of frosting! Bunkie High (my old school) brought home all sorts of honors. Since I didn't get to Pin It Weekly, I thought I'd pull some BHS photos from Facebook (there are lots!) and show you how awesome this group is. There are, I believe, around 70 students from tenth through twelfth grades. 

They competed in academic, artistic, STEM, and just-for-fun competitions. These are the winners. All of them can now go on to Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas, in June to complete with students from other states. 

Grace won La. State Secretary

Mia placed third in
Special Talent for her song.

Isabelle placed
fifth in Jewelry Design

The school received an award for increasing membership by 10% or better. And finally, they placed first in Group Talent with their modern adaptation of 
The Wizard of Oz / The Wiz.
(This link will take you to the video on Facebook.) 

That, my friends, is pretty awesome! Imagine the preparation it takes to build backdrops (yes, plural), props, record lines and music, and costumes. (Remember the monkey costumes?) Add about 70 teenagers to the mix, teach them your vision of the adaptation, teach them to dance--together and in sync--with the mix recording that, yes! they put together. 

I'm proud of Bunkie High, not because I played my part (however small) but because it will always be in my heart. I have strong ties to BHS and will always love the school, the people, the students and wish them well.

Back to Beta and a fabric sale

Convention theme: Beta on My Mind

I'm pretty far behind blogging about the things I've been up to. For example, I haven't reported back on my trip to Beta Convention. I really had a great time catching up with old friends, getting some "away" time, and helping others. 

Visiting state and national officers lined up for an intro

 My job at convention is to manage backstage: call groups to the back, line people up so they are ready when it's time to go on, and get people out of the way (back to their seats) when they're done.

Just a few thousand teenagers

and they love to support their clubs, even
if it means sitting on the floor

 I'm sorry that the pictures are so bad, but it's actually a good thing. These days we post all the pictures that we want, but I still hold by the adage that children don't have the mental capacity to decide for themselves what is safe. 

BHS students who were in the club I sponsored before retiring

Parents are quick to complain and sue if they think their child has been exploited. Of course, that's a parent's job, so I agree. But because there are always those who take things too far, I don't post clear pictures or names of students under the age of 18. Now that I'm retired, I don't have to be concerned so much but old habits tend to hang-on to a person.

When I returned home from convention, I got busy cleaning the studio again. I'm going through some of the fabric that I know I'll never put in a quilt and am trying to sell it online. I've joined several FB groups, some of which allow people to post ads. To find my ad, just click on this link.

Hopefully I'll sell some of this rather than give it away. I can't toss it, that's for certain. I struggle to toss out even the stuff that I know is not good because of stains, fading, damage, etc. I suppose it's time to say I might be a fabric collector!  :)

Giving Thanks in Mourning

Will and his grandbaby Milly

Like everyone else, I think about all the blessings in my life--my husband, children and grandies. Appreciating them today is different, however. Although I thought it impossible, I love them more and I appreciate their coming today so we can all be together. And with good reason. This Thanksgiving is different. Very different. Even with all this love, today was also difficult and sad. 

A small family in our close community lost their only son. A 20-year-old who just moved out of his parents' home. Who was planning to propose to his girlfriend. Who was on the brink of beginning his adult life. 

Stacey

Two young men spent a day playing: riding their ATVs, practicing with their bows and arrows, tinkering with their noisy trucks, just having fun and laughing and making wonderful memories.


 In a moment those memories became a nightmare. The friend, not knowing that assault rifles stand ready to discharge a bullet even when the clip is out, bumped the trigger. In a instant Jake was dead, his friend in police custody, and the world was turned upside down. 

Lane and Dusti

So tonight I'm thinking of the parents who just yesterday made funeral arrangements for their son, called family and friends with such horrific news, and decided where to bury him.

Rory and Meggan

My own boys were and still are beautiful children, but they were also boys. They did those boy things that are silly and goofy and (sometimes) stupid. They had all the dangerous things that outdoorsy boys have: ATVs, guns, campouts, parties. I wonder how close we came to being the parents to face the worst of circumstances. I realize, too, that despite all we did to teach and guide them, it's impossible to know which end of the gun any child is on when things go awry. 

Jenny and Adam

I am thankful for so many other graces that we rarely think about until it comes home to us in the worst of ways. Those things came to mind as I sat with a mother who checked off the things her son will never do: celebrate his 21st birthday, marry and start a family, buy a home, find a better job, make big life decisions, build a future. When she asked why, why my baby boy, I asked the same question. 

Jolie

I knew Jake. I watched him grow up. Our families shared holiday meals together. He called my children's grandparents Ma-ma and Pa-pa, even though they aren't. We are friends who choose to be family. He could not have had better parents, more love, a better support system. 

Alayna and Jenny

Jake sat in my classroom and struggled with writing and came to my house for tutoring. I taught his friends, whose silly jokes were sometimes at my expense. Today I hugged them like a mother and learned more than I ever taught them as a teacher. 

Caki, Marley, and Sophie

I thank God for my children and their families today. At the same time I am heartbroken. For a beautiful young life with a good heart and a kindness for everyone he met. For parents who can never be the same. For a friend who made the worst mistake of his entire life. For several young men who will carry a casket for the first time. For a fiancee who will never hear him say the words, "Will you marry me?" For a community that is reeling and doesn't know how or why and never will.

But I am also thankful that I was blessed to have known Jake, his friends and his family. Perhaps I am most thankful that I believe with all of my heart that today Jake is flashing that bright, silly smile in a place we call Heaven.

Jake Thomas Ducote

what would happen if...

I ask myself that question maybe too often--it sometimes gets me in trouble. My husband, who always seems to have answers, wonders how at 57 my curiosity and mouth get me into problems I often cannot fix. I have an easy answer: if is a small question. 

Who knows where it will lead? I guess that's where the real problem lies. He seems to know where questions will lead. I have to find out for myself. 

I start with such a small question and ask it again. And then again. Before I know what has transpired, I've questioned myself into a corner. And just as quickly I can't get out.  

Part of the reason that I can answer questions is that I keep asking. I like to know "Why?" "What if..." "How?" 

And the questions don't quit coming. No matter how much trouble they get me into. No matter the answers. Even when the answers are not what I want or hope or dream. 

If there's one thing that I hope I instilled in my students, it is that they ask questions, push themselves to know more, inquire about everything in their lives.


What do you hope the children of today learn on their way to adulthood?

Retired! the gifts (pt 2)

My family gave me such thoughtful retirement gifts that I thought I'd share them with you. The little Scentsy pot above came from Rory and Meggan. I wish this funky design came in fabric. :)

This pretty fabric is from one of my cousins. She and her mom are both quilters, and Shelly was on a shop hop of sorts. Her vacation took her from Texas to Arkansas to Louisiana. She probably visited every quilt shop along the way and picked these up especially for my retirement. 

This old dictionary (1939 copyright) is from the sisters. Sid picked it up on a recent antiquing haunt. She loves antique shopping, even when there is nothing on her shopping list, so when she ran across this Twenthieth Century Dictionary, she immediately thought of my retirement. Are you ready for the best part?

It's unabridged! Huge! Mammoth! Even bigger than I've seen in some libraries. It must be one for large public libraries or perhaps a college campus. I can't imagine that smaller libraries could have afforded this. (I know all about those budgets.) I should weigh it. Measure it. Count the words.

A typical page--look at the tiny size of the font! Never mind on the counting words. 

Added to the dictionary is this beautiful little painting. The moment I opened the package I asked if it's to remember how much I loved my students. The smile on Sid's face said it all. Angie kept giving Sid credit but they were in this together. Sid texted pictures of her great "finds" to Angie for approval. They could not have chosen better. 

 I wish everyone had sisters who were as loving as these two. 

Prom 2017 ~~ a BHS finish

Yes, it's that time, again. It also happens to be my last prom as a teacher as I plan to retire at the end of this school year. Actually, I bowed out gracefully for the most part. Some of the younger teachers agreed to help my co-cordinator but we couldn't afford to have that many teachers out of the classroom. 

That meant someone had to stay at school and help hold down the fort. I like the fort and decided to hold it down. Besides, prom is a big, really big job. My co-cordinator and friend really did not want to give it up. She's an art teacher who once asked me to consider opening a wedding consulting business together. Thankfully, we came to our senses right after the next prom. :) 

However, bowing out gracefully (or not) doesn't completely eliminate the chores. We needed ten 24" square table linens to add a bit of color on top of the gold table cloths.  

I love the look of the blue as part of the centerpieces, especially with the chairs accessories of black covers and gold bows. The tables are very elegant, which flows beautifully with the rest of the decorations.

Here are a few photos of the rest of the venue all dressed up and ready for the tuxedos, fancy dresses, and high heels. And let's not forget the nails, hair, facials, makeup and, in some cases, massages. Yes, you read it correctly. Not only do they throw after-parties, hire limos, cook breakfasts, they also get massages to relax before the big shindig! 

main backdrop for professional photographs

closeup of backdrop

above the dance floor

entry way

another area

props table

fun decorations in foyer

photo booth to take your own pics

take pictures while waiting in line

close up of table centerpieces

The teachers and students who worked to plan, clean, decorate, and clean some more are people with stamina and determination. It take a full week of building, painting, glittering, shopping and what-not. Then there are the kids. They have to be taught what to do and watched carefully so supplies are not wasted by accident. Once fabric or gossamer is cut the wrong length, well, you know how that goes. 

For the most part, however, they did a fabulous job and the entire Haas Auditorium is decorated and ready for beautiful girls on the arms of handsome young men. Plus, they learned about working toward a common goal with peers, following directions, and sticking with a project even when you're exhausted and want to give up. Some pretty good lessons for a bunch of 16-17 year olds, don't you agree?

Linking up with

Crazy Mom Quilts 

My Quilt Infatuation

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Busy Hands Quilts

After reading some of the comments, I decided to add the following to help everyone understand the enormity of the job. 

Putting on a prom here is like decorating for a wedding. Except it has to be done on half (a fourth?) of the budget! We live in a poor rural area, so kids can't afford to pay $250-300 for a ticket like they do in more affluent areas. We build decorations out of cardboard, foam board, gossamer, paint glitter and who knows what. That car in the foyer...started out as a piece of pink foam board for housing insulation. 

We also save everything and share/borrow decorations from other schools. One year we bought all of the decorations left from a wedding for a very low price (and helped to clean after the wedding). Another year a sister school gave us "the dancing couples"--we've call the three props that for several years now. Some of the white gossamer in these pictures was left over from last year.

It's amazing what can be done (and amassed) for a few thousand dollars when you're resourceful. But it takes lots of work and many workers: teachers to oversee and help students build props, students (who learn many skills that they are completly unaware of), adult chaperones during the dance, and teachers who are willing to take in displaced students because their regular teacher is decorating "at prom." It's a huge event because decorating takes so many hours, after-school for several days and during school for two. 

I chose to baby-sit during school so some of the younger teachers could work at the Haas. "Baby-sitting" as many as 40 kids for a couple of hours is work, but it doesn't require crawling on the floor or climbing ladders--that's a young teacher's job. Never the less, I still showed up for the after-school hours! And offered my sewing services. And was all in the business of brainstorming ideas. (See, you never really bow out completely.)