Welcome to the Elizabethan Theatre

Well, it's been a busy summer doing our "volunteer" thing !! We work the information table every Saturday night for the Green Show......some evenings we're either ushering for the Shakespeare productions in the Elizabethan or doing set-up and take-down for performers at the Green Show. We've enjoyed being involved and have met some very interesting people from many different places.....especially California.

This is the concession area of the Elizabethan. We've been fortunate to acquire free tickets this season and have seen Henry the IV, Hamlet, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Merchant of Venice, and this Sunday we're seeing 12th Night.

This is the inside of our open air Shakespeare Theatre, first one built in the United States. Designed after the Globe Theatre in London, which was built in 1599, where Shakespeare plays were originally performed. Preparing scenery for "Twelfth Night".

It's an awesome theatre with a capacity of 1400.....and most of the performances are sold out all summer. In addition there are two other indoor theatres that have afternoon and evening performances of Shakespeare and other contemporary plays as well. Needless to say Ashland is a very busy place in the summer.

Per taking a break one evening after setting up the stage for "Folklorico" a dance group from Mexico.

A Little Trivia for You !!!!

One of the catagories at "Trivia" is "What Is It"........so play along.... can you guess what this is?? Give up yet? Well, it's a flowering artichoke and isn't it beautiful. Before they flower you can eat them, and we did, delicious and about 6-8 inches in diameter. I certainly have never seen an artichoke that big, nor the vibrant colored flower it creates. This beautiful artichoke plant is in our backyard and has 8 large purple blossoms on it.

Next one...."What Is It".......no guesses?.......c'mon........this sweet, gentle man whittles and sells magic sticks in Lithia Park. That's his cart filled to the brim with magic wands and spiritual sticks.....just in case you have a need for one.

Just another day in Ashland !!

We were just enjoying a cup of coffee at a coffeehouse in Ashland........and these two golden statues come strolling in.....go figure....didn't know statues liked coffee !!!

Another Green Show........a group of young people from San Antonio, Texas playing and singing some wonderful Mariachi music.

4th of July Parade in Ashland

4th of July is a huge event here. These are some highlights from the parade which lasted 2 hours down mainstreet Ashland. We volunteered to help set up the crafters booths in the park at 5:30 am. And then stayed to enjoy a full day of music and entertainment in the outdoor bandshell. There were all kinds of hand-crafted stuff for sale as well as just about any kind of food you could possibly want.

Luckily, we had front row seats and this is a view of the crowds lining the street. We couldn't believe that the city actually allowed people to reserve their space, with duck tape, on the sidewalks, along the parade route, the day before the parade......

This is the "Eco-Cab", available for a fee to anywhere in Ashland.

A parade would not be complete without bag pipers.....they were quite good too.

This is the best we could do..........just a little too close, eh....Perry's arm isn't quite long enough.

Here's my NBC Green Show interview !!!

Just a minor correction to Jacqueline's comments.................it's actually our 75th annual
"Green Show" at the Shakespeare Festival not 57th !!!!

http://localnewscomesfirst.com/index.php?option=com_seyret&task=videodirectlink&Itemid=431&id=5110

Area Entertainment

We have been quite fortunate to meet some very nice and generous people here. The Shakespeare season started this month, so when we went to say "hi" to a woman we volunteered for last fall, she gave us 4 complimentary tickets for Hamlet. It was good and strange.......all at the same time. Shakespeare language in a modern setting......with even a little "rap" to liven things up......certainly not the boring Hamlet we were all forced to read in high school.

Still looking for employment, Per and I went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting to network and won 4 tickets to this performance at our own little playhouse right here in Talent. It is amazing the quality and quantity of talent in the Ashland/Talent valley of only about 30,000 people.

Ashland's History

It's a little difficult to see in this picture, but this Alder tree was going to be cut down due to disease and instead it was saved and now stands a memorial to the first settlers of the valley.

It is quite unique !!

The crowds are gathering for the "Lighting of Ashland"

I think all the people in the valley show up for this event........a small parade........people and children all bundled up in cold air.......hot cocoa.......smell of pine trees.......live music.....and of course Santa !!!

Again..........how we continue to enjoy the unique people we meet here. This woman and her Newfy, pulling a decorated cart, got all dressed up special tonight to see Santa and the town lighting.

Santa's countdown............................ 10-9-8.....3-2-1 .....WOW !

It was absolutely beautiful. This is the first time in our life that we have lived in a small town and experienced the "Lighting of Christmas". It was a magical evening.

It's a photoshoot for our "30th"......How awesome is that !!!!!

Yes, that's right.......we made it 30 years !! Couldn't think of any other place I'd rather be but here in Oregon with the love of my life. Got all dressed up and went to "Macaroni's" in downtown Ashland for the best Italian meal ever. This was the restaurant where we ate the very first time we visited Ashland about 8 years ago (it's the vortex). The owner treated us to a drinks and dessert "on the house". What a treat. Definately a five star experience.

For those of you who were there.......the beautiful pearls around my neck are also 30 years old......a wedding gift from my sweetie.

Anyone for a hike ???

Yesterday was the perfect day for a hike...so we did......sunny, mid 30's and soooo peaceful.
"In pure silence each breath brings strength. The mind calms and a smile spreads bringing a wave of peace to each and every cell." Andrew Rouse

Baylee loves to hike too !! We only did about 4-5 miles today. The climb was about 1200' to 2500' in elevation.

There's already some snow in the higher elevations. Baylee stopped for a snack of snow !!

We really like this trail, it's well groomed and perfect for Per's first hike since his broken leg. The trailhead is in Ashland and this trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail which runs from Canada through California.

Deer in Lithia Park

There are deer everywhere here......and they're not afraid of people. This family of deer were nibbling in Lithia Park as I drove by yesterday, completely undisturbed. I understand, from locals, that they can be quite a nuisance, eating gardens and crops. Some homes have tall fences around their gardens.

Soooo cute!!!

Hazy day view from a road above the valley

Hiking above Ashland........perfect day

View into the Ashland Valley