Imagine our surprise when we looked out and saw this opossum strolling around the back of our yard.

These critters are normally nocturnal but can sometimes be seen in daylight hours.
Imagine our surprise when we looked out and saw this opossum strolling around the back of our yard.

These critters are normally nocturnal but can sometimes be seen in daylight hours.
You probably know a lady who is a Church Basement Lady. You know, one of those unselfish women who give their time to help prepare meals and other chores for a variety of occasions at their church. Indy’s Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre has brought back the iconic musical comedy to share the exploits of four ladies and their Lutheran Pastor back in 1964.

The Church Basement Ladies sing that they’ve got their aprons on, they’re ready to go.
Back from the original production at Beef & Boards are Licia Watson as the matriarch Vivian Snustad, and Karen Pappas as the unforgettable Mavis Gilmerson. Joining them in the church basement kitchen are Carrie Neal as Karin Engelson, and Anya Burke as Karin’s daughter, Signe. John Vessels joins these ladies in the role of Pastor E.L. Gunderson.

The Church Basement Ladies and Pastor Gunderson are ready to hop of to the Hawaiian Easter Holiday Furnace Fundraiser
The cast is small but the story is filled with the hilarious discussions and antics of these ladies and their pastor. Church humor, references to church events (weddings, funerals, fundraising etc) and wonderful songs fill the stage. This comedy will have you rolling in the aisles. I have never laughed so hard.

“Who made that?” Vivian Snustad (Licia Watson) asks in disgust about the vegetarian lasagna brought for a funeral at the church
We’ll be back to Whidbey Island again in May to visit family. Looking forward to seeing Deception Pass as well.
Now on stage at Indy’s beloved Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is the Tony Award winning story of the music and successes of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Those of us who experienced youth in the 1960’s will be treated to a bit of time travel. You will find yourself once again immersed in the tune and lyrics of “Sherry”, “Walk Like a Man” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, among many other hits.

The highly energized and very talented cast will keep your attention glued to the stage. Not only are the song offerings superbly performed, but the behind the scenes storylines explain in detail the ins and outs of the history of the group. The good times and the dark times are artfully presented. This story also details the fascinating secret of the group’s maintained 40 years of friendship.

Jersey Boys is rated PG-13 and is on stage through April 13. The performance we attended was a sell out, and tickets are selling quite quickly. Please see the complete performance schedule as additional showings are likely to be added. To buy tickets online, visit beefandboards.com. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664.
We enjoyed a fun concert at Nashville, Indiana’s Brown County Music Center. Home Free Made us all smile, clap and sometimes sing along!
Fantastic show was onstage in Nashville, Indiana at the Brown County Music Center.

Home Free is a country acappella group of five vocalists.
We were lucky being able to get tickets and see them live. The show was great. They are a fun, entertaining group with great songs and lots of talent.

Home Free is one of our favorite and we listen to them as we’re driving.


We couldn’t visit Seattle without going to our favorite haunted saloon in downtown Snohomish.
The haunted doll is still sitting high on a shelf.








Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre brings “blonde” to the stage this summer with Legally Blonde The Musical. Based on the hit MGM movie, Legally Blonde was nominated for seven Tony Awards and 10 Drama Desk awards, and gives fans all the fun from the film in this energetic musical.

Elle Woods (Olivia Broadwater), left, is not prepared to answer the question from Professor Callahan (Jeff Stockberger), far right, in his class at Harvard Law
Sorority president Elle Woods is shocked when instead of proposing, her boyfriend dumps her and states he is off the Harvard Law School. Elle won’t give up, and she soon finds herself enrolled in Harvard Law as well. Then the fun begins.

Emmett Forrest (Jacob Butler), right, encourages Elle Woods (Olivia Broadwater), left, to really work toward a law career instead of chasing her ex-boyfriend
This dynamic and vibrant production is filled with exciting characters. Local talent Olivia Broadwater, a graduate of Ball State University and Zionsville Community High School, makes her Beef & Boards debut as Elle Woods, who snaps stereotypes as she sets out to prove herself to the world. Griffin Cole also makes his Beef & Boards debut as Warner Huntington III, who she follows to Harvard after being dumped by him.

Hair stylist Paulette Bonafonte (Meagan Lewis-Michelson), left, sings about her love for “Ireland” to Elle Woods (Olivia Broadwater)
Starring as the friends she meets along the way are Jacob Butler as Emmett Forrest, Logan Moore as Kyle the UPS guy, Jaddy Ciucci as Enid Hoopes, Logan Hill as Serena, Maya Mays as Margo, and Holly Wilder as Kate.

Paulette Bonafonte (Meagan Lewis-Michelson), center, is stunned by UPS delivery man Kyle (Logan Moore), right, as Elle Woods (Olivia Broadwater), left, watches
B&B favorites Deb Wims plays Fitness Queen Brook Wyndham, and Jeff Stockberger stars as the successful, but pompus and manipulative, Professor Callahan. And also featured are two wonderful canines, Daisy the toy poodle and Pugsley, a 10 year old English bulldog.

Fitness queen Brooke Wyndham (Deb Wims), top center, leads a workout at the Boston Women’s Correctional Facility
The action of music, song and dance is nearly non stop during both Act I and Act II. The story line of the girl who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School develops both in plot and character development. The choreography is exciting and very well executed.

Elle’s sorority sisters appear as a Greek Chorus after a “tragedy” befalls her at Harvard
The production we attended was a complete sell out. A staff member told us that tickets are selling fast for all shows. Avoid disappointment, don’t wait to order your tickets. Legally Blonde The Musical is on stage through Aug. 25. The complete performance schedule is on Beef & Boards Website. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664.
Today we (Maj and our son) took Sher out for a Mother’s Day luncheon. We had finished up a couple of quick shopping stops and Sher told me she wanted to go to the Willard for our celebratory meal.

Street view, note patio seating on left

Wonderful original curved stairway

Antique marble and cast iron fireplace
The Willard is an historic building in Franklin, Indiana. The original brick house was built in 1860. Over the years different owners built more around the house, turning it into a hotel. Now it is a very popular local restaurant “where friends meet”.

Sher’s veggie pizza

That’s a basket of fries

There is a bun hiding under that

Thick delicious tenderloin!
The Willard has a surprisingly complete menu for what used to be a pizza restaurant. The nice thing about the fare is that it offers favorites that we all enjoy. Sher ordered one of her favorite things: vegetarian topping pizza. Our son likes fries, so here came his basket of fries. I thoroughly enjoyed the breaded tenderloin. This culinary delight was twice as thick as most typical breaded tenderloins.

Yes, there is a full service bar…
Today the Willard was pretty busy when we arrived at 11:30. The place was packed by 12:15. Lots of folks were celebrating Mother’s Day same as we were. This historic establishment is worth a visit when you are in Franklin, Indiana. Check the website here.

The chives have bloomed!

Thought the peony was gone, but no!

Hummingbird silhouette looks on

Another rose on the way

Rose has an unknown loiterer, it seems