August 29, Columbia.
We're having the summer we never had with the circus.
An uber-summer, all heat and haze and splashes.
The kids' school had a pool party tonight at one of those facilities with slides and sprays, this is our summer, the first week of school, it felt so good after a day in the non-air-conditioned car covering town promoting my business, after days of this, it felt so good, new friends there, carefree sunset in a cacophony of kids, rainbow kids, our school, up with a great party (and free pizza.)
Upper nineties and rising all week, reaching into the hundreds with the humidity over the week end, possible, but still no AC, it feels good to drink in the summer, barefoot on the wood floors, the smells and sounds as the evening freshness descends, memories of childhood summers in the South of France, pine trees and cricket songs and long yearning nights, long gone.
A late summer, vivid memories, the joy of my children making them.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
What I miss (Looking back series.)
August 26, Columbia (Lucky Eddie and Miss Vickie, October 18, 2008, Smithville, Missouri.)
I miss my friends.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Summers.
We went to the beach today, right in the middle of Columbia, the lake at Stephens Park, there was a spray park too, and it all made me feel we were in the middle of the summer all over again, the summer we hardly had, what wit the cool weather and endless rain.
This picture was taken in Rhode Island, when we used to play there, staying a record of five days and having so much fun in the lake with the kids.
Glory!
Back in the spring I threw a bunch of seeds in the ground at the foot of the porch, wildflowers and morning glory, wild dreams of prairie exuberance in mind. When we left in late May there was miserly leaves showing, promising nothing.
The morning glory is now greeting me every day, inching its way up the wind chime.
This just makes me happy.
New beginnings.
August 20, Columbia, Missouri (719 miles.)
We've arrived in Columbia. Fridman came with us and is leaving today. The trip turned out to be a great time together, I drove all the way so Fridman could get a vacation, no problems on the road, we stopped to grab lunch with our friends in Jacksonville on the way through Illinois, driving the circus route two months early, through Louisiana, Missouri, and on down to Columbia on Sunday afternoon, and we have to thank Tavana and Danny for suggesting we leave a day early because we would have hit morning rush hour traffic in the Chicago area on Monday morning and it would have been awful.
Fridman was there walking the kids to begin their new school year, to begin their first school year, and Nicolas has Ms. Rice, Dylan's first grade teacher, and Dylan has Ms. Ajans, whom I had met in the spring and really liked, so we're off to a good start.
It's warm and humid and the plants have grown into a jungle in some places, so I am happy.
And exhausted.
And fairly anxious, but that's to be expected.
We've arrived in Columbia. Fridman came with us and is leaving today. The trip turned out to be a great time together, I drove all the way so Fridman could get a vacation, no problems on the road, we stopped to grab lunch with our friends in Jacksonville on the way through Illinois, driving the circus route two months early, through Louisiana, Missouri, and on down to Columbia on Sunday afternoon, and we have to thank Tavana and Danny for suggesting we leave a day early because we would have hit morning rush hour traffic in the Chicago area on Monday morning and it would have been awful.
Fridman was there walking the kids to begin their new school year, to begin their first school year, and Nicolas has Ms. Rice, Dylan's first grade teacher, and Dylan has Ms. Ajans, whom I had met in the spring and really liked, so we're off to a good start.
It's warm and humid and the plants have grown into a jungle in some places, so I am happy.
And exhausted.
And fairly anxious, but that's to be expected.
All the circus pictures you've always wanted to get!
August 17, Skidway Lake.
Atttention all circus fans and all Mudshow Diaries fans!
Photo fans of all ages!
All the pictures you have enjoyed on The Mudshow Diaries blog over the years are now available for sale!
Prints will be made through the professional lab I use for my business:
5x7 prints are $15
8x10 prints are $20
11x14 prints are $30.
Gift cards, museum quality gallery wraps, customized prints and cards and other specialized photo products are also available. I ship worldwide, 24/7.
Just message me here or send me an email at valerieberta@vivelaviephotography.com.
Thanks!
Atttention all circus fans and all Mudshow Diaries fans!
Photo fans of all ages!
All the pictures you have enjoyed on The Mudshow Diaries blog over the years are now available for sale!
Prints will be made through the professional lab I use for my business:
5x7 prints are $15
8x10 prints are $20
11x14 prints are $30.
Gift cards, museum quality gallery wraps, customized prints and cards and other specialized photo products are also available. I ship worldwide, 24/7.
Just message me here or send me an email at valerieberta@vivelaviephotography.com.
Thanks!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Time to go.
August 17, Skidway Lake.
We're leaving tonight.
Everything is moved and stored. Castro checked and tuned the motor home.
Town life, here we come again.
We're leaving tonight.
Everything is moved and stored. Castro checked and tuned the motor home.
Town life, here we come again.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Laughs.
Elisa always stops to play with Dylan and Nicolas when they are backstage and she is waiting for the cats to come out.
I'll miss her.
And the rest.
Getting ready.
August 16, Au Gres.
Next to last day with the circus, we started sorting things out, Fridman's stuff back into his living quarters in the prop truck, empty the car (it stays here,) but we'll do the brunt of it tomorrow before the shows. We'll leave after the second show's finale and head toward Chicago first, hopefully spending the night in some Walmart parking lot off of I-55.
I bought the kids school supplies yesterday at Meijer's, their first real school year ahead and a real school supply list. And apparently it is the exact same list in Michigan than in Missouri, for the store had the same rundown of things that I had prominently displayed.
Dylan was excited when he found out this morning; I hope they make school friends, finally, this year.
Next to last day with the circus, we started sorting things out, Fridman's stuff back into his living quarters in the prop truck, empty the car (it stays here,) but we'll do the brunt of it tomorrow before the shows. We'll leave after the second show's finale and head toward Chicago first, hopefully spending the night in some Walmart parking lot off of I-55.
I bought the kids school supplies yesterday at Meijer's, their first real school year ahead and a real school supply list. And apparently it is the exact same list in Michigan than in Missouri, for the store had the same rundown of things that I had prominently displayed.
Dylan was excited when he found out this morning; I hope they make school friends, finally, this year.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Jump, chills and freckles.
August 15, Birch Run.
The Fuscos had trailer troubles five miles out of yesterday's lot so I drove alone this morning, and stopped to refuel on the way.
Another chilly start, and beautiful day ahead.
I took some pictures of Nicolas Combs Fusco, a project languishing since last December. He's changed of course, but he's still one of the loveliest, most irresistible kids I've ever seen. He could be in the movies: a perfect combination of mischievous look, curly red hair, dark eyes and freckles.
The Fuscos had trailer troubles five miles out of yesterday's lot so I drove alone this morning, and stopped to refuel on the way.
Another chilly start, and beautiful day ahead.
I took some pictures of Nicolas Combs Fusco, a project languishing since last December. He's changed of course, but he's still one of the loveliest, most irresistible kids I've ever seen. He could be in the movies: a perfect combination of mischievous look, curly red hair, dark eyes and freckles.
A trailer with a view.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Sunset.
We are leaving on Sunday to go back to Columbia, for the kids to start the school year.
The days go past us fast, it's turned cold, I feel anxious.
Trying to savor the time left.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
A sense of wonder.
August 11, New Hudson.
It is maybe the sound of her voice. Or in today's case her guest's voice. Or the way she has with questioning people. Or simply the people she chooses to interview.
Whatever it is, I cannot have enough of Krista Tippets' On Being radio program. There was another wondrous show this morning, another show you don't want to end, another show that fires the imagination and the guts, another golden nugget of knowledge added my life.
To my sons' life too, I plan to download the podcast and have Dylan the explorer listen to it, and recognize himself:
"That's the joy of being a scientist and an explorer. You do what little children do: You ask questions like who, what, why, when, where, how? And you never stop and you never cease being surprised. You just never stop that sense of wonder."
Everything is there.
It is maybe the sound of her voice. Or in today's case her guest's voice. Or the way she has with questioning people. Or simply the people she chooses to interview.
Whatever it is, I cannot have enough of Krista Tippets' On Being radio program. There was another wondrous show this morning, another show you don't want to end, another show that fires the imagination and the guts, another golden nugget of knowledge added my life.
To my sons' life too, I plan to download the podcast and have Dylan the explorer listen to it, and recognize himself:
"That's the joy of being a scientist and an explorer. You do what little children do: You ask questions like who, what, why, when, where, how? And you never stop and you never cease being surprised. You just never stop that sense of wonder."
Everything is there.
Shooting star (Patrick Berta, 1963-1993.)
August 11, New Hudson.
My brother Patrick died on the wings of a shooting star twenty years ago today.
He was twenty-nine years young, and loved.
Twenty years have passed.
It was yesterday.
Shooting stars still pierce my heart.
My brother Patrick died on the wings of a shooting star twenty years ago today.
He was twenty-nine years young, and loved.
Twenty years have passed.
It was yesterday.
Shooting stars still pierce my heart.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
As years pass.
Today was the baptism of Antone Valentino Rosales, in the big top.
I like that five years ago I took pictures of Natalia's baby shower when she was pregnant with Argio, that I shot Argio's baptism two years ago and that now I got to be present for Antone's baptism. Years pass, families grow, rituals are repeated, we travel the circus road together, I like the continuity of it, the sense of belonging, of time lived and witnessed.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Back to routine, and the rain.
August 7, Oregon.
Night jump out of Kelleys Island, as always, and I waited on the mainland for Fridman, who was on the last ferry, crossing late for the circus at one in the morning, so we could travel together.
We arrived at three, got lost and drove almost all the way to Toledo, parked ourselves on the dark lot, got up late.
No school but practice again, back to routine.
It is raining.
Night jump out of Kelleys Island, as always, and I waited on the mainland for Fridman, who was on the last ferry, crossing late for the circus at one in the morning, so we could travel together.
We arrived at three, got lost and drove almost all the way to Toledo, parked ourselves on the dark lot, got up late.
No school but practice again, back to routine.
It is raining.
Rituals.
Dylan has been talking about Kelleys Island for days now, and the miniature golf course, his favorite summer memory.
We are finally here, all the dispersed circus families reunited for the highlight of the Kelly Miller season, Kelleys Island, the golf carts and the beach and the bar where everybody goes for pizza and drinks after crossing over on the ferry the first night, rituals. We went too, even though we were bone tired, because it is so much fun, the circus ritual gathering, and it can't be missed.
We were lucky last night, they parked both our trailer and Fridman's truck on the same ferry and so we crossed together as a family.
It was lovely.
Kelleys Island crowds.
Packed tent on Kelleys Island for the first show. It is always like this, as if it was some sort of an island status thing to be there for the first show every year.
The better for us.
Laundry.
August 4, Monroeville.
Laundry day and a yard sale in Norwalk, five miles away, beautiful grand old houses and a great downtown.
Laundry day and a yard sale in Norwalk, five miles away, beautiful grand old houses and a great downtown.
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Show pictures (Fresia Eckelman.)
Fresia stepped in to work the web and Rebecca did a silk act today as Patsy and Girard are away.
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