Miss Mina Murray

Dear Constant Reader,

Our last show was on April first, right before my little world completely went to hell. It was good to get back on stage and even better to spend the time backstage with some of my favorite people.

We did two shows, an early and a late, as we often do on for a Saturday show. Sharon, one of our current apprentices, was an adorable stagehand in a watermelon-themed sundress, and we had Marek on follow spot. There were also a couple of photographers there, so  I may have some pictures to…

Dear Constant Reader,

Let’s try this tip thing again this week…

Feather fans, corset strings, wigs, and other burlesque staples are indistinguishable from toys by pets. Store your precious things carefully.

This is not inspired by a real life incident. However, realizing that Albert was an unusual cat who respected boundaries and that Bartholomew is a more typical adolescent cat, I have taken steps to protect certain belongings from his notice.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my…

Dear Constant Reader,

We are deep in the heat of summer and not all venues have air conditioning. I remember being on tour in July and there was one place where the theatre had AC, but the dressing rooms didn’t, nor did the the booth. It was brutal. Today’s tip can help alleviate some of that misery.

Use an insulated lunch bag as a micro-cooler.

The day before your show, open a bottle of water and drink about an inch. Now stick it in the freezer. Before you leave, put it the frozen water in your bag with a…

Dear Constant Reader,

I’d like to introduce you to the newest denizen of The Manor

Bartholomew A. Cat.

The A. is for Allen. He runs very fast.

He’s been in residence for just over a month and while we miss Albert more than I can say, little Bart brings some joy into the house.

He’s younger than we planned to adopt, not yet a year, and quite the intrepid explorer, looking for all the dustiest corners of The Manor and finding as many cobwebs as he can and he’s already figured out how to open some of the…

Dear Constant Reader,

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to review this glorious book. Scratch brought me back a freshly-released copy from the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in 2019, so it’s recently celebrated its third birthday.

The Costumes of Burlesque 1866-2018 by Coleen Scott, 2019.

Coleen Scott (aka Rosey La Rouge) is a costume designer with a passion for burlesque. Her first book, The Pastie Project*, focused on that specialty adornment unique to burlesque. This tome shows everything.

It’s a…

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s full summer here in New England and that means it’s hot and humid. Your costume pieces stick to your sweaty body. Except, of course, the items you want to stick — your pasties! Those seem to slide right off. Which leads to this week’s tip!

Pack a small towel to dry your skin before attaching your pasties.

Moisture can interfere with the adhesive; clean, dry skin improves your chances of keeping your pasties in place. If you are particularly sweaty, wash your skin and then dry it…

Dear Constant Reader,

I’m trying this weekly tip thing again. These tips are for always you, but sometimes they are for me too.

Waiting until you feel that the time is right to start (or re-start) a project is a form of procrastination. Just start.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 14 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Dipping my toe back into blogging…

It’s sour cherry season at The Manor again! I tend to share new recipes I try each season, but this is one I make every year. It’s easy and delicious — clafoutis. Technically it’s only clafoutis if you use cherries; with any other fruit it’s flaugnarde.

There are lots of recipes out there. This is the one I’ve cobbled together from a number of sources over the years. It’s more custardy than pancakey. I use other fruit too, especially in the glorious…

Dear Constant Reader,

I just feeling ready to ease back into writing here by resuming Friday Tips.

And I can’t.

With today’s Supreme Court decision, I am so filled with rage and sorrow and fear that I can’t think straight, let alone compose an educational and mildly entertaining post for you all.

Dear Constant Reader,

I’m not even sure how to start this. Our beloved Albert A. Cat died a week ago after three grueling weeks of illness. We kept hoping he would recover and did everything we could. In the end, he was in his favorite place, on Scratch’s chest, as they lay on the daybed in his room. He went to sleep and never woke up.

For ten years he brought so much joy into our lives. His sweet nature and rakishly handsome looks made friends and fans all over the world. He was a very special cat and…