Highlights from Cedar City

I have received a few questions about what is so amazing about Cedar City and what special allure attending a festival dedicated to Shakespeare holds. Well since I was a young girl of 12 I have had a secret love of Shakespeare. I had a brave English teacher that made us read "Romeo and Juliet" and then watch the 1970's version of "Romeo and Juliet" and I was instantly hooked. She noticed that I had a special knack and interest in Shakespeare and so she introduced me to, "The Taming of the Shrew" and it continued on to this day of reading about 25 of the 37 plays. My husband served his mission in the Birmingham England Mission and actually served in Stratsford-Upon-Avon the home of Shakespeare and his theater the Globe. Eight months after we were married Bill and I traveled to England where we were able to visit Shakespeare's home, the Anne Hathaway Cottage, and the outside of the Globe. We weren't able to see any plays and so Bill promised me that one day he would take me to Cedar City to attend the Shakespearean Festival.

But why Shakespeare? I have a deep love for the intrigue, the duality, the complexity of the characters, the humor, and the tenderness, and poetry that I find in my reading of Shakespeare. Though his plays were written over 400 years ago, they are still relevant today. He understood human nature and though times and language have changed what makes us who we are hasn't thus Shakespeare is still relevant. I love to dig deep down and examine what he was saying not just in a literal sense, but in a figurative sense as well. I love to really question and ponder what he is conveying. I love having a few friends that love Shakespeare as well and we really get into some amazing discussions about the plays. (I love doing this with anything I read, see or watch not just Shakespeare stuff!!)

I also enjoyed sharing my love of Shakespeare with my true love Bill. It was a lot of fun to be together in this amazing setting. We enjoyed a modernization of "The Taming of The Shrew" where the costumes and play were set in Italy at the end of WWII around 1947. The words were the same but the time references were more modern and relateable. Then we were favored with a great performance of "Othello." Curious choices for us since we were celebrating our 12 year anniversary!

We also enjoyed seeing parts of Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon, and Cedar Canyon. We have already decided that this will be our new tradition and that we will attend every year. Next year we will catch one Shakespearean play and one of the modern plays that the Festival offers. The only problem will be choosing 2 out of the 6 plays that they offer! Good thing we have a year to decide! If you enjoy theater, literature, and Award Winning performances, then I highly recommend this festival. Bill and I enjoyed how accommodating and helpful everyone was. We were afraid that we would be amongst stuffy people that would make us feel inferior or something like that but instead what we found were ordinary people passionate about Shakespeare and art in general that wanted to share and enjoy Shakespeare with you. There are different discussion groups, literary groups, backstage tours, costume seminars, productions seminars, acting seminars, lunch with the actors and directors. Not to mention the fun filled humorous romp of the Green Show, yummy English fare, a great gift shop, and tons more! There is so much to do with the festival that you don't have much time for exploring the Canyons or area surrounding. It was such a great experience and I am still smiling from ear to ear knowing that my hubby must love me lots and lots to have given me this amazing gift!

I am taking Introduction to Shakespeare this Fall and I am super excited since I know the professor and we will be readings some of my favorites this Fall. This was a great way to whet my palate and get me super excited to go back to school! It was a great trip and I am so grateful for this experience! Thank you sweetie!

To Dream The Impossible Dream

My head is spinning as I realize that I haven't posted in like a hundred years, OK maybe more like fifty years but I have a really good excuse, here it goes. My computer died and I have had to resort to using the Computer Lab on campus. I am waiting until school starts in fall to purchase said computer thus I am without a means of conversing with all you my friends out there in blogger space. So I haven't had the chance to update you all on what has been going on in Fullmer Land. So here is the short list:

1. Sadly Bills Grandma Clara Rabourn passed away on June 14th at the age of 92. She was an amazing woman of great strength and character and we miss her greatly.
2. Desmond Irvin Fullmer, Liams fifth cousin born this year came into the world 3 weeks before his due date and he is sure a cutie boy!
   
3. Liam continues to potty train and will be entering preschool next week, wish us all luck!
4. Bill's Mom and step dad Irv were sealed to one another on July 1 in the Logan Temple. All of Bill's siblings and siblings-in-law were in attendance. It was an amazing day!
5. Bill and I celebrated 12 years of marriage on June 19th, love you babe!
6. We attended the Logan Art Festival, amazing!
7. We had a fun filled Fourth of July at Bear Lake with my family, it was tons of fun!
8. I am at this very moment living out a life long dream! I am right now writing to you all in Cedar City Utah. Bill and I are attending the Utah Shakespeare Festival!! We are having a great time and I am smiling the hugest smile since I am basking in the glory of the Bard. More on that at a later time! Bill's amazing mom is right now watching our off spring so that we may have this wondrous opportunity to be here sharing in this experience. Thanks Grammy, we love you!

So I haven't been captured by aliens or gone AWOL, well not just yet anyways! Adieu and Adieu!

One Of My Favorite Summer Traditions

I am sad to report that our computer has died and so I have resorted to using the Computer Lab and so I am way behind on my posts. Last Thursday, Bill and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. Last year for our Anniversary he had purchased tickets to the Cache Valley Parade of Homes. We loved it so much that we have returned this year! There are 13 homes in total and we have only 3 left to tour. My father is a builder and General Contractor. My entire childhood was spent watching him and my brothers build homes. As a youth I would pour over blueprints and house plans for hours and hours. Dreaming about the homes I would build myself one day. I have always nursed a secret desire to be an Architect but alas I am mathematically challenged and so I am afraid I won't get to be my hearts secret desire! But all the same I enjoy viewing houses and seeing what builders are doing. I especially love to see new neighborhoods going in since I fondly remember my family creating the Finlayson Subdivision when I was a young girl. It brings back wonderful memories of spending time with my dad, him asking me for my advice on floor plan ideas and color combinations. My dad would show me how seams should look like, how corners and angles should line up, details like that.
So as I am viewing these Parade Homes I am using what my dad taught me and I feel like I am actually viewing a piece of art and I understand what a good piece of art should look like. You can see the experience of the builders and contractors in each home. Some are amazing and others are still learning their trade. But I am enjoying the process and I am so grateful to my husband in taking me around Cache Valley dreaming about what our future home will be like. I have lived in Married Student Housing for 7 years now and I really can't wait to move onto a "real house" somewhere in our future. Thank you honey for this wonderful gift! I love spending time with you dreaming about our future together, I love you!

This amazing home is my dads latest creation, to see more images or to purchase this home you can visit his blog here.