Things are certainly beginning to look a lot more like spring, especially today with all this nice sunshine and temperatures in the high 50's.  Thanks to Evelyn Richer for the following message she sent to me yesterday: 

We saw a surprise last night!!  9 brand new baby ducklings (mallards) in
our pond... barely bigger than the egg!!  So cute, so early, floating
ping pong balls!!  IT'S SPRING!!!

I mentioned last night that Fred and I went to our granddaughter's dance recital yesterday afternoon.  We had to park near the Fenton Chester Arena, across the road from the auditorium at Lyndon Institute, where the recital took place.  If you click on "dance recital" above, I've made a slide show for you.  The little ones in the show are great fun to watch - nobody really gets it right all the time, but they are so cute, and it has to be great training for them.  We are impressed at how the intermediate class has improved - that's where Jo-Ann is - from last year.  They are much more confident and I didn't see anyone make a mistake.  The beginners and the intermediate groups have lots of children in them, but there seemed to be only a few girls in the more advanced ballet who danced en pointe.  

There was a new group this year - at least I don't remember many boys in the recital last year - who seemed to include students of a broad age span and varying ability.  These were boys rap dancing - well, in the program it was called "Hip Hop" - and they did a great job.  It was interesting to watch.  Several of them had some great moves.

One thing we didn't like was that the sound system was way too loud.  Several times I had to cover my ears because it was painful - and we were at the back of the auditorium.  There were many babies in the audience, including our Tangeni, and I was fearful for them, especially.  I think the organizers of the recital should be more aware of what loud noise can do to youngsters' hearing, and turn it to a reasonable level. 

We enjoyed the performances of all the children.  You may have wondered what the last picture in the slide show is all about.  That is Jo-Ann with a sister dancer on her back - the end of their performance, "P'Jilasi,"in modern dancing.   Jo-Ann also takes lessons in tap and jazz.

You may want to go to the Cabot Chronicle site - there's a nice picture of our own George Anderson with this year's Ice-Out Contest winner, Judy Lavely.  You'll find other interesting articles in the Chronicle, too.