adventures in aerial artistry

Red Buds or Red Blossoms, April 15, 2015

These pretty blossoms pepper the landscape in southern Illinois and Missouri . We crossed the Mississippi River the other day , This is always a momentus occasion to me .

We have done 137 shows already ,we have visited and set up in 49 towns, we have been out for 69 days . We have done 4 open air shows and 1 building in addition to the normal 44 set ups .

I finally wrangled a ticket for Marshall to visit !!

Waiting April 9, 2015

This is most of us, we are parked on the shiny, brown, slippery road . We are waiting for someone to find us an alternate lot . I guess we can thank the rain, the baseball size hail for our thrice weekly delay. Mud didn't use to be such a deal . We used a couple of elephants . We don't do that elephant pulling stuff anymore . It wouldn't help anyway because many of the grounds are so bogged we would sink to infinity and beyond.

Time to blog

Walked to town the other day, we were hunting eyelashes and wigs. I spied this pretty rubble, I love good rubble and Marshall collects bricks . I am also sporting my "stay strong hair hang girls" shirt. Proceeds go to the families. Someplace in Arkansas, March 2015, photo credit Bethanie

Miami Love

Fresia and I had a road trip, for old times sake . I love driving around with that child and having adventures . She helped me do all the hard stuff, I think she had fun and made some cool new friends . I had fun ! thank you

January is magical

I love all the sweet activities in January .
Elaine, my mommy, comes to visit .

The Ring of Fame in St Armand's Circle is splendid , perfect and dreamlike .
Just imagine a group of people enjoying perfect live music played by talented musicians (Marshall included) and conducted by Chuck S, in a circular park on green grass surrounded by trees in the sun watching 5 people get honored by the Ring Of Fame and having historic plaques placed around the circle .I love this day . It is on a Sunday and follows the 3 show Saturday at the Gibsonton Showmen's Circus . Marshall also played in Showmen's band with Chuck S .The trumpet section had 4 pieces . I did trapeze and felt fat and injured . It was the worst experience I have had . I guess it was the 3rd show that did me in . On that note of self pity I have seen Doctor Joe and gotten my bones aligned . Practicing ,working out and doing hot yoga with a vengeance and because of that nasty slap in the face of reality I have cut down on my ice cream, brie, and wine consumption . After this show we had the best time in the bar cutting up jackpots with friends from near and far. Another day I love. Marshall put a cold bottle of beer on his chops to reduce the swelling . We performed in the mighty Walker tent , a tent I love .

Fresia started high school in public school ! Every day is prom day!

Gibtown snaps
Marshall's nephew John John, all grown up !

Mike and Miles Ashton practicing for their final Risley performance

one word LEGENDARY

sand angels

Winter in Sarasota is action packed . Winter in Sarasota is joyful and sad . Honoring those we have lost in the circus and Sarasota community . Visiting with friends from near and far .

Yoga on the beach ; the best beach in the world , fire pit , cooking with friends , practicing with friends , playing house and generally being thankful for all the good and sucking it up for the not so good .

in the wings

Sarasota , Florida is a great town . My husband's eloquent father in law Johnny Herriott once said
70 % of all circus people in the USA lived in a 75 mile radius of the Sarasota area .
Well actually he is not my husband's father in law because my husband is married to a different person ( ME ) but in the circus everyone is related in a blood , or married or ex married or living with someone or part of a troupe or dilllusionally related .
Maybe demographics have changed . I am talking traditional circus . I am talking about the REAL circus . The circus that has lions , tigers , bears , elephants , horses . The circus that is worth fighting for .

I am really trying to write about one of the many civic/circus events that happens in Sarasota and that is the " Show Folks Circus " . This is a show that raises money for the " Show Folks Club " .

It is a very fun show to perform in because you have the most intense audience . I love going to the show as an audience member because you get to catch up with everyone !

This year I performed my trapeze act . WOW !! What fun ..I made new friends and did one of my favorite things , trapeze and teeth spinning and ta da ing etc etc .

The other most favorite thing after the big show is going to the " Show Folks Club " and playing with friends , catching up with friends and finding out who did what and when and with who .

There is something about being backstage and in the wings . I don't know if it the smells of rosin , dust , curtains , sweat , animals or what but it is something so comforting . I guess that is why in the old vaudeville days old performers worked the back door curtains . You just like those showbiz smells .

In the wings