St. Louis, Nauvoo, Knoxville, and Evansville...

Becca and I have had our share of incredible weeks this Fall tour. I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this job has been for me and how life-changing. It has taught me the importance of traditional values and bringing up children in a good, clean, and healthy home. Working for Missoula Children's Theatre isn't just changing the lives of children, it's changing my own.

Now...for something completely different--prepare yourself for a barrage of photos.

Half-way through our Fall tour, Becca and I had an unbooked week. That's where no one has hired us. For us, unbooked weeks are rare but that's how we like it. Too many unbooked weeks would just get boring.

For a week of paid vacation (essentially), we were able to stay for free at an acquaintance that Becca knew in St. Louis, MO. We were about 30 minutes outside of downtown STL, and it was incredible. The zoo was FREE, the City Museum only cost $12, and we had just...so much FUN!

The Arch. I was too scared to go up inside it. Too high. 

A sea lion. Eating. 

Gorillas fighting over a hammock. 

THE CITY MUSEUM! 

MORE CITY MUSUEM!

EVEN MORE CITY MUSEUM!!

SERIOUSLY. THE CITY MUSEUM IS INCREDIBLE. THOSE ARE STAIRCASES. 10 STORIES HIGH.

After our unbooked week, we headed back to work in Knoxville, IA. It was a great week. On our way there, we stopped at Nauvoo, IL. It was so wonderful to go see a bit of Church history and experience what life was like for the pioneers. 

The Red Brick store in Nauvoo, IL. Unfortunately, it was closed that Sunday. 

The final and actual resting place of the Prophet Joseph Smith, his brother, and Emma Smith. 

We saw the blacksmith's shop, and we got Prairie Diamond rings and a horseshoe. 

Becca's ready for the trek west. 

Joseph and Hyrum on their ride into Carthage, with one last look at the temple. 

Beautiful Navuoo, IL temple.

When we were in Knoxville, we had time to go exploring around. The Fall colors were beautiful.

View from the observation tower--9 stories high. 

Pretty cool. 

Gorgeous fall colors.

Becca's not modeling, she's just casually watching the waves gently lap at the waterfront. 

Which brings us to our current week, Evansville, IN. It has a small downtown area with gorgeous homes, courthouses and churches. 

Pretty downtown cobblestone street.

County courthouse. Looks more like Versailles to me. 

Creepy old blue apartments.

Old victorian-style mansion in Evansville, IN. 

And to finish off, some random pictures from Woodward, OK, Pella, IA, and a cut. 

Our set in the Woodward, OK opera house. Isn't it just spectacular?! 

A windmill in Pella, IA.  

An endearing drawing and letter from Caleb, who was a member of the Frowny Face Tribe in Woodward, OK. 

Some weeks, we do a theatrical make-up workshop. I do grossies and gories, and this week the kid wanted a "cut" on his newly shaved hair. It turned out pretty awesome. I just wish I could have added more blood--but it was against the school rules. 

Seriously. I love my job. 

Ranch Life Photo Post

We're staying on a ranch this week. Here are some photos.

The Unbreakable Vow

“‘Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?’”

A third tongue of flame, shot from the wand, twisted with the others, and bound itself thickly around their clasped hands, like a rope, like a fiery snake.”

~Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

***********

When Becca and I were on the road, we met up with some veteran tour actors who said that during the school year, it would be wise to find a hobby to fill up some of your free time. 

Well, I've found mine. Digital art/photography. 

I call this latest piece, "The Unbreakable Vow". It's got an interesting look to it, almost comic-book style. I like it. 

This was inspired by my latest reading of this fantastic book. 

© 2013 Andrew Foree

Digital Post "Old Man"

Recently, I purchased a Wacom Bamboo Splash creative/drawing tablet. It's pretty awesome. I made this old man relatively quickly. I think he's kinda cool. 

Forgotten Photos

I've been chilling here at my sisters house in Arizona between the Summer and Fall tours. It's been extremely nice to just relax and rejuvenate before I get back on the road.

Since I post mostly pictures, here you go:

Driving Back to Missoula...

Well, oops. I have forgotten to blog for the last week of our fall tour. North Kingstown was great, and the kids were incredible. I just never had the opportunity or reason to take pictures of the adventures that week. The Fall tour will be better, though. 

Before we left on the long drive back to Missoula, we met up with an incredible friend who we met in New London. Her name is Kate, and I've mentioned her before. We had dinner on the river front at a restaurant called "Bridge", and we talked about our job, her new job, the future of arts education in New London, and many other things. 

It was a magical night. A little emotional, too. But, I won't go into those details. 

Once we started our drive, we hit major traffic going past NYC, near the George Washington Bridge. A stretch of highway that should have taken us 10 minutes took us 1h30m.

Driving is fun.

Waterville, ME is very...watery.

With a name like "Waterville", you would think that the town was near a large body of water, like a lake or an ocean.

Nope. 

While Waterville is indeed watery, it is not near any large body of water. There is a river. And some shut-down factories. And...well...that's about it. 

This week, we're performing in the Waterville Opera House, which is small but very beautiful. Later this week, I'll share some of the photos of the theatre. 

For now, let's explore the town together, shall we?

A river. And a factory. Thrilling. :)

Becca posing all sassy-like on the Two-Cent Foot Bridge. 

A train bridge. 

A close-up of the shutdown factories. 

An overview of the train bridge over the river.

A little R&R...

A few weeks ago, Becca and I met had an incredible experience in New London, CT. While there, we became good friends with our contact, Kate. Today, she invited us to her family's beach front cottage in Waterport, CT for the afternoon.

It was magical.