Road to Rakkasah - Finale

It has been two weeks since we performed at Rakkasah. The first year I attended all three days and the first year I purchased nothing (does the program count?).

Rosanna, Kaeshi Chai, Unknown, Halima, Jim Boz, Tanya Tanya

Me - sans lipstick - just before I left for Rising Stars Rakkasah performance on Sunday .

Our sister troupe, Ala Nar, was outstanding. I had the incorrect setting on the camera for Saturday night; therefore, I only have a couple of photos that came out.

Stitches West

On the road to Santa Clara to Stitches West.


Santa Clara Convention Center.

Not as true as I'd hoped this year.

Goodies-unfortunately the raven laser cut sock blockers are barely visable.

Road to Rakkasah Day Four

Bellydance Superstars

This past Sunday Bellydance Superstars performed. It was the fourth tour of Bellydance Superstars I have seen. This time I was front row center. I mean FRONT! ROW! CENTER! Maybe a wee bit close so much so that I was able to see makeup and hair details (which I am heavily borrowing from). It was all worth it to study Rachel Brice THAT close (as well as Mardi Love, Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle and Elizabeth Strong). Seen Rachel Brice many times before. She was the first belly dance performer I followed went I first became interested in belly dance. I keep drifting towards tribal but the caberet dancing was better than ever. New show, new choreographers and it made a difference. Nothing against Jillena but after five years everyone needs a change.

Some views from today's coffee run:

Road to Rakkasah Day Three

Only one short month to Rakkasah West.

Another preview of our costumes:

Orchids

Here is the courtyard at my mom's complex today:

Inside this hodgepodge of landscaping I found this:

So much for orchids being difficult to raise-this has not been water regularly (drought), it has been below freezing and in the middle of randomly dumped plants.

Last summer in the same courtyard I found this:

I had never seen a white bird of paradise before. I thought it was a fake someone wired in to the branches. Love to see it blossom again.

Yet More Fetchings and a Trip to Sonoma

I gave two of the "Fetching" gloves away last night at rehearsal. Receipants are alway surprised that you knit things yourself. I really should make a pair for myself since I gave away all three pairs.

Since I hadn't knitting up a pair of socks in two weeks, I took these on. It is On Your Toes yarn. A bit splitty, but the colorway is interesting. I have another skein of this in Black Brown combination.

Mom and I went to Sonoma last week. Drove by the HGTV Dream Home but couldn't see much as there was a tour group all over the yard and pouch. Very nice home from the outside.

We visit Sonoma frequently - I love the historical aspect of the town and it is a pleasant short drive.

Adobe Structure that was once a hotel:


Mission San Francisco Solano (Sonoma) and the evil prickly pear cactus:

Statue representing the Bear Flag Republic:

Base of the same statue: