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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Chive Talking, and Anne Gets A New Hoodie

 It was a great weekend to be a Mom.
Well, it was a great weekend to be this Mom, anyway.


And now, I'm a-gonna brag.
You have been warned.

Our daughter Anne, second from left in the picture below, now holds a Master of Fine Arts in Design.
This year's graduates and their parents joined some faculty for an informal lunch on Friday,
at the beautiful old home of the woman on the left, below,
who is also the Associate Head of the Design program, to talk about the past 3 years.
From left, Vickie (a professor and administrator), Anne, Stefanie (the other costume design MFA),
Ellen (a professor) and Cathy (who runs the costume shop -- where the magic is made.)
On Saturday, it was Convocation for the Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Rutgers arts conservatory.
It was held at the State Theater in downtown New Brunswick, where Howard and I (inexplicably)
were given VIP seats.  We had a great view of Annie's head.
And a clear view of her walk across the stage when her name was called.  

For 246 years, since 1766, students have been granted degrees by Rutgers;
that's a lot of caps and gowns and proud parents.



On Sunday -- Mother's Day -- 13,465 students were granted degrees
in a university-wide graduation in the football stadium.
It was the largest-ever graduating class at Rutgers.

We were not there for the festivities;
Anne had already started putting her shiny new degree to good use, and was at work.

Now, about that new hoodie . . . . it's regalia time!

The hood is brown velvet, indicating a degree in Fine Arts,
and the red satin lining is for Rutgers, the Mothership.


Considering that Rutgers had more than 13-thousand graduates, it does amaze me
that the size of Anne's graduating class for costume design was . . . two.
Each year, only two students are accepted into this three-year master's program,
and the same with lighting design and set design.

So, dear Anne . . . Congratulations on a very impressive achievement,
and making it through three years of intense study and work, with blood, sweat, and even tears.

Dad and I could not be more proud.

***********************************
Doesn't this look like the edge of a beautiful ball gown
or even a wedding dress?

It's the edge of an iris, one of those flashy, show-off-y garden stalwarts.
Our iris plants are in full cry.
 Is it just me, or does this one look like a face?
An angry face.

Most are nestled along the stone wall border.

 My favorite ones, the peach and lavender, are not looking too healthy this year.

They jumped the gun, and began budding way too early because of the mild early spring.
And their little noses got frozed a bit.

And now for some Chive Talkin' . . . 

I know that to get the best flavor from chives in the garden, you should not let them bloom.
Or at least that's what I've heard.
But who can resist those lavender fluffballs of delight?

And speaking of fluffballs of delight . . . the State Theater where the Convocation was held
is a really beautiful building, with a fabulous chandelier.

Too large for our dining room, don't you think?

Have a lovely Wednesday!  -- Cass


Visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.
At It's A Very Cherry World, it is Rednesday.  Go visit Sue!
Faded Charm blog has its 152nd White Wednesday.  Go!




15 comments:

  1. Well, lots covered here! Congrats to you and your daughter! just lovely! Your iris's are wonderful (well the blue ones). Haha! What a nice Mother's Day!

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  2. Congratulations. What an honor for Anne! Love the iris -- mine didn't bloom this year (I think they may be too shady!) -- but loved your pictures. And I'm of the let chives bloom school -- I don't think it affects the flavor and I use the blossoms in salads and/or make vinegar out of them (a wonderful pink oniony flavored vinegar) -- so let 'em bloom!

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  3. Biggest Congratulations to Anne - what an accomplishment! You truly should be bragging all over Blogdom at this one-of-two-this-year Grad!

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  4. God bless your Anne! That is an amazing achievement. I am really impressed and I know she will have a life long love of designing costumes. Bravo! Your flowers are gorgeous too.and I love chives! xo Diana

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  5. Congratulations Anne - A great honor!! Especially since only 2 are accepted into the fine arts program each year.
    Thanks Cass for sharing your beautiful flowers. Yes - that one does look like a angry face. :-D
    You and your family have so much to celebrate!

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  6. Our Iris girls are gone now but gave us a good show. Congratulations to your daughter! Don't you love that hood and all it stands for?

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  7. Just to add to the hoopla for your daughter's graduation, only grads of Master's Degree programs (and above) get to wear a hood at all!! Mazel Tov, Anne! I'm pretty sure you only get the floppy hat thing for Doctorates (maybe)!

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    Replies
    1. You are right -- the goofy hat, and the stripes on the gown sleeves, are for doctorates. Our other daughter Alida is a couple of years away from being able to don that regalia, but for Anne a master's is as far as she will go; there is no doctorate offered in theater design, so this is her terminal degree . . . which is fine with her!

      Both are girls are outdistancing Howard and me in the academic arena; he and I were lazy students! -- Cass

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  8. Congratulations to Ann! How proud you must be of her! Great snaps and lovely flowers.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. Congrats to your daughter, amazing achievement. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Congrats to your daughter! Our irises popped this week too and it's so much fun to watch them bloom. I am stopping by from Outdoor Wednesday. Have a great week!

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  11. Awesome. Congratulations to your Anne.
    Iris' are my very favorite flowers. Yours are gorgeous.
    (((hugs)))Pat

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  12. Congratulations! I know you are all bursting with pride in Anne's achievement. Being accepted into such a limited program is an honor in and of itself.

    My father grew many Irises, and had many varieties. I think one of my favorites was almost black, but I don't see them any more. Yours are so pretty!

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  13. It was a great weekend for you! Congrats to Anne! And your irises are beautiful!

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  14. Congratulations on your daughter getting hooded

    I just love graduations and both my daughters graduated from school of law , different states , one UMKc Kansas City Missouri the other Oklahoma City Oklahoma school of law

    you did have great seats and I loved your line up , lots of smart ladies there

    My iris's have already bloomed and gone, we had lots of rain soon as they bloomed of course. My iris's were not as pretty as yours

    Janice

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