If you saw this black head coming over the plant, you might be worried…
Make you shiver??
This is a Great Black Wasp
They are “diggers”
These large wasps are diggers, meaning they dig tunnels where the females feed their young. These are good as a single female can sting and kill up to 16 grasshoppers each day. That is a great help keeping the population of the grasshoppers down. The good news is they only sting people if they are provoked.
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis is a wonderful venue that not only provides top notch live musicals but also a delightful buffet dinner to start your evening’s entertainment. Doors open at 5:30 and the buffet is available soon after you are seated.
Four lines, hardly any waiting at the buffet!
As part of the available libations from B&B’s full bar are themed cocktails fitting of the production on stage. Custom designed for each show, we always order one to start our evening at the theater.
Appropriate for this show!
“Foot Loose” had both alcoholic and non-alcoholic designer drinks!
For “An American in Paris” we both enjoyed drinks with a Parisian flair
An evening at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is a marvelous way to spend an evening of good food, drink, and professional theater. Check the B&B website for details.
Are you ready Indianapolis? The first musical of Indy’s beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 50th Anniversary season is the dynamic, dramatic and explosive Footloose, now on stage. This show is a marvelous musical entertainment treat.
Ren and his friends dance in the opening number of Footloose
The production opens with a vibrant dance number that sets the stage for premium quality choreography and music throughout. A Beef and Boards press release provides a snapshot of the storyline: “The 1984 movie danced its way into the hearts of millions, and was nominated for two Oscars, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for its powerhouse hits including “Footloose,” “Almost Paradise,” and “Let’s Hear It for The Boy.” The stage musical combines the bestselling score with dynamic new songs in a celebration of the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness.”
Ethel McCormack, Ren’s mother, played by B&B veteran Sarah Hund
Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Eddie Curry, B&B long time actor and director
Rusty (Shelbi Berry Kamohara) sings “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”
Ren, a rebellious teenager from Chicago, who, with his mother, moved from the Windy City to Bomont, a super conservative small rural town. He is shocked when he learns that dancing is illegal, among other culture shocks. The plot follows the drama as he comes to grips as best as he can with his developing feelings for Ariel, the minister’s daughter. Oh yes, the minister, Rev. Shaw Moore, is responsible for maintaining the ban on dancing, founded by a tragic accident that took the lives of four teens, including the minister’s son.
Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), top, sings “I Need A Hero” with her friends (from left) Urleen (Logan Hill), Rusty (Shelby Berry Kamohara), and Wendy Jo (Maya Mays)
As he tries to take her order, Ariel (Sharaé Moultrie), right, tells Ren (Daniel Dipinto) that what she wants isn’t on the menu.
If you like song and dance, Footloose is for you. There are over a dozen songs performed across the two Acts of this stage play. Not only will you enjoy the songs, but you’ll also be amazed at the high stepping and energetic choreography of the dances. Over the course of the scenes the story of Ren and his quest to fit in are dotted with happiness and sadness. But the overall show is both uplifting and inspiring. Yes it has a happy ending.
At the Dance
Willard leaps at the dance
Ren leaps for joy at the dance
Normally dense fog shows up in the morning. This afternoon the local National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory starting at 3:00 PM, not the normal time of day for fog appearing.
Creepy winding foggy road
Darkness has fallen, fog thickens
The fog got thicker and denser as the evening went on. Glad we were not out on the road tonight!
Sometimes you don’t want a large supper, often it depends on what you had for lunch that day. This evening was one of those times…
Turkey, ham and provolone cheese
Wonderful veggie sandwich
We decided that a couple of deli type sandwiches would make for a tasty light meal. Jimmy Johns makes theirs good and fresh, and it was not very far away for a quick in store pick up. And we had a night off from cooking.
Recently we added lots of exciting new items to our online Etsy store.
Maj’s hand made leather medicine bags come in several different sizes and styles. Currently there are about a dozen bags listed on our store, and they all have free shipping.
This bag is 3 3/4 inches deep by 2 1/2 inches wide. Hanging from the bottom of the bag is a nice 3 inch wide section of 4 inch long hand cut fringe. Across the bottom of the bag is a line of amethyst chip beads and 4 round green turquoise beads. $30
This bag is 3 1/2 inches deep by 2 1/4 inches wide. There is plenty of room for your special gem stones, crystals or other personal items. The “drawstring” design allows for a tight closure or wide mouth opening depending on the totems you are carrying. $28
We also have lots of other fine vintage pieces listed for sale.
Hazel Atlas Colonial block clear glass two handled sugar bowl is a nice vintage piece that can fill out a set or stand alone. The Hazel Atlas logo is clearly seen on the bottom of the sugar bowl. $10
We invite you to check out our Etsy store online. Click here for the direct link to Roadtirement Vintage.
A little while back we shared a visit to Arnies Edmonds that we had over a year ago and we stated we were planning a return trip . That trip happened on Sunday with our Seattle family before we went to see The Nutcracker ballet in Seattle.
The restaurant building
Lovely views of Puget Sound
Delicious chilled fresh fruit with creamy yogurt for dipping
We got to Arnies at 10:00 AM to allow us a leisurely brunch before the matinee at the ballet. As usual, our service was wonderful and most attentive. Within a short time of seating our fruit plates were delivered to our table. The yogurt dip in the cup is such a wonderful added touch to the fresh fruit.
Sparkling mimosa
Decadent cinnamon roll
Next comes your choice of OJ or mimosa, included in the brunch meal. Our grandson of course liked his OJ that came in a differentiating champagne glass. Following on the heels of the drinks everyone is served a warm “fresh out of the oven” cinnamon roll. Can you say delicious?
Sher’s Belgian waffle
Maj’s scramble, including potatoes and Sher’s bacon!
The menu for the Sunday Brunch is remarkably varied. There are three kinds of waffles, many different omelets, salmon dishes, and of course Eggs Benedict. The chefs will prepare them to order, and will even without hesitation change or add ingredients of your choice.
Glad to be back at Arnies
The service at Arnies Edmonds is wonderful. The menu has something for anyone. The chef made a special order brunch plate for our 8 year old grandson and a special order scramble for our daughter as well. Arnies Edmonds Sunday brunch remains one of our favorite dining experiences of all of our travels. We were delighted to have yet another wonderful brunch featuring “Pacific Northwest Favorites”.
Today Sher an I went with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson to see his final soccer game of the season at the YMCA. Done at 1:30PM, we were all ready for lunch, so off to the Everett, Washington Olive Garden we went.
Our favorite wine here, the Confetti Pink Moscato Rosé Wine
It had been several months since we had dined at an Olive Garden and our Seattle family also was looking forward to the cuisine. We were seated immediately and our server was at our table taking drink orders as soon as we were seated.
Zuppa Toscana, a spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes in a creamy broth
Classic and tasty minestrone
The soups are all you can eat. Maj had two servings of the potato and sausage soup.
Maj had his favorite: spaghetti, meatballs and meat sauce
Sher ordered cheese ravioli with marinara sauce
The Cheese ravioli and Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo are both oven baked and come right from the oven on very hot plates. You are warned to be careful.
Daughter’s choice: Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo
And of course there is the never empty basket of warm bread sticks
We all enjoyed our meals. The Olive Garden doesn’t please everyone, but we have never been disappointed at any one of these restaurants regardless of where in the country we have stopped. Consistency is something that makes dining choices a lot easier when you know what to expect.
Bellevue, Washington is east of Seattle across Lake Washington. Every year for the past 18 downtown Bellevue has put on a wonderful Christmas parade. The town has earned the title of being The Most Festive Town in America by the Huffington Post.
Crowd waiting an hour before the start
Everybody loves Frosty the Snowman!
Sher and I went to this parade back in 2014 during another fun visit with our Seattle family. So we were really looking forward to enjoying the parade again. As nearly 10,000 people a night show up to witness the parade, we had to get there early, grab some coffee and stake our claim on good spots that would give an unobstructed view of the parade route.
Cute penguin
Beautiful Snow Princess
Rudolph’s nose did light up!
The parade starts right at 7 when the spot lights turn on and the snow machines start the evening’s snowfall! In addition, spot lights of snow flakes move around on the street surface and the building fronts. The video gives a feel for the excitement of the parade, a look at the snowfall, and an appearance by Santa in person.
There’s that penguin again
We had a great time
It is, in our opinion, just awesome that Bellevue puts on this parade every night for 30 days. The number of participants, the costumes, and of course the lights and snow effects are marvelous. It is easy to see why 10,000 show up each night.
Roadtirement 