Noah performed at our city orchestra's music hall this weekend. We were all very excited to hear our little virtuoso! He clowned around with his friends before the lights went down, but then sat remarkably still. He waited and listened to the violins, the violas, and the violins again. And then - it was time for the cellos! Up he marched with the other children, finding his instrument, safely parked where he left it. Out with the endpin, up with the bow, and waiting for his teacher's prompt to begin... he was off! Bowing away in unison with the others, some older, some younger. They were all very serious, to be sure. And how we all clapped when they finished! Soon, all the strings were on, singing - occasionally squeeking - us into swells of parental pride. Were there ever such talented children anywhere else on the face of the earth?

And then we went to Friendly's, where Noah appropriately dripped chocolate sauce onto his dress shirt. After all, he had kept it clean and tucked in until then.







Fans, left to right, Aunt Bev, David, Ben, Papaw, Bubbe, and Nanny







Pre-concert silliness calms the nerves. L-R: Isaiah, Noah, and Jamison










Serious musicians











Noah with Miss Barb











Proud parents, David and Jill, with their small cellist

a floral walkabout

I had the most pleasant time with blooms and foliage yesterday. I had to capture the joy...

My neighbors azaleas. I think this is the best color. It's old-fashioned, like my heart.









Again, the neighbor's flowers. I don't know their name, but they were so sweet and unpretentious, I had to add them to my collection.











My clematis, not sure of the variety, but I like them because they remind me of pink dogwood.
They have overtaken one of our mission arborvitae. I think it is demurely pleased to be so elegantly clothed.









More clematis...










Clematis buds, quietly waiting for their debut...










Couldn't resist one more shot. Isn't the little purple bud dear?









Holly - their blossoms, so often overlooked, deserve som attention. Faint pink and white, jutting their pollen out on stalks. Come, bees, for a tasty appetizer!







I always enjoy these bright, white little flowers. They remind me of edelweis. They're probably weeds, which is all the more reason to capture them. Persistent and lovely - shouldn't we take a lesson?






Ah, the majestic purple iris. This has been one of my favorite annuals, since 1986. It required a showcase indoors.

March 2010

David and I were married 25 years ago this last March. Our family threw us a party to celebrate, complete with a silver-trimmed cake and many silver gifts.












Sarah, Jill, David, and Rebekah, March 2010










A sweet sentimental gift from my mom - the sterling silver candlesticks she used for about 40 years.









Then a caravan of us headed down to VA to see Rebekah in the play, An Inspector Calls. It was a morality play set in about 1912 Britain. It was so good! Of course, Rebekah shined! Afterwards, her director and teacher for 4 years took David and me aside. He told us that she was the best acting student he'd ever had, that there was never anything artificial when she was in character. Wow!





Our lovely Rebekah, as Sheila, a newly-engaged upper-class young lady













The adoring fans - L-R: Nanny (Winifred), Papaw (John), Ben, Rebekah, David, Jill, Noah, Grandpa (Gary), Erin, and Grandma Brenda

What a busy month we've had! It all started with Noah's Book 1 Suzuki cello recital. I enjoyed getting the house ready for this musical soiree. I laid out cookies, fresh vegetables, nuts, crackers, and hot herbal tea, as well as coffee. I also collected various bloom from our yard, and put them in the candle vases I have. I thought they looked very nice for the occasion. His teacher, Miss Barb arrived early so that she and Noah could brush up on his encore, as duet of French Folk Song. Soon all the guests arrived - David's parents, "Nanny" and "Papaw, my parents, "Bubbe," "Grandpa" and "Grandma Brenda." Also, my sister, Gayle, her son, Michael (Noah's best friend), my brother, Steve, and my two little sisters, Erin and Robin, plus their guys, Brian and BJ. And of course David, Ben, and me. So it was a nice gathering, but not overwhelming. And of course, we were an easy crowd to work, clapping for most any little thing. And some big things, like Minuet #2, or Happy Farmer.
Next came Easter, and then a very big event: Noah's learning to ride a bike! He and David put it all together, and then, 2 weeks later, off came the training wheels! Noah learned in a snap. He's enjoying his bike so much now. I just took him to the park today.

In the midst of all the busy-ness, I did get a picture of the back yard from our balcony. I'll nver tire of all the color - the dogwoods, redbuds, and azaleas all blooming at the same time.

Mighty dog

Here's Cosmo. He often looks out the window this way, scanning for interlopers. I feel so much safer knowing that my whimpering little 20-pound dog is protecting me.

Diet

David and I are on the Mayo Clinic Diet. This means:

• No sugar
• Whole grains
• LOTS of fruit and veggies
• Moderate meat
• No eating in front of the TV
• Regular exercise

The ban on sugar has been the hardest. I am using Splenda, but as David hates artificial sweeteners, he is at a loss. He won't budge on iced-tea, his "elixor of life." But as it only has a scant 1/4 cup of sugar per 1/2 gallon, I don't think it's too too bad. The example couple on youtube lost about 9 lbs each after the first two weeks. I hope that happens for us!

Rebekah came home for the weekend, bringing her "biggest fan," Krystal. She had a local audition, which she did well at. We had fun on Saturday. We went to a snobby little tea shop, and then an artsy gift shop my friend, Faith, had shown me a year ago. We especially liked the Alice-in-Wonderland type furniture.

Shrinking

My family is shrinking. Sarah's married off, and Rebekah and Josh are away at college. It's just the four of us now - David, Ben, Noah, and me. And of course the dogs, who count for one adult human being when it comes to food and mess-making. So I guess it's more like five.

I put on a meal and find I have leftovers. I make a batch of cookies, and there are still some in the cookie jar three days later. The kitchen stays a little cleaner. David and I can have private conversations more often. The house is oddly quiet much of the time, especially if Ben is out with friends. It's weird. I don't know if I like it. Well, maybe a little.












I helped with Noah's Valentine's party yesterday. There is something endearing about second-graders passing paper hearts with clothes-pins in their mouths, to win a game. Or holding hands in a circle, singing "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold..." Later, they were anxious to decorate little bags and fill each other's with Valentines.












Tomorrow I help with the bowling field-trip. This will be entertaining. I'm bringing my camera.