Belgian chocolates

Over the course of our honeymoon, Steve and I often wondered what country Jilly would have liked best. We speculated Germany, because of the wurst. However, Jilly has reached a different conclusion...


Yes. On Tuesday night, Jilly managed to open her box of Belgian chocolate doggie training bones. She ate almost the ENTIRE box. That's at least 8 months worth of treats, if we gave her one a day.

How is Jilly, you might ask?


Most proud of herself and feeling fine. She is, we've confirmed, just a large stomach with a tiny head who's tickled to be back home.

Picture caption: "Yo quiero Belgian chocolates!"

Moving Cats

This week I helped Calvin and Claire move...


...and Cindy, the owner of these lovely cats. The Hintons love their new home!

(I didn't get a shot of Clementine, who wouldn't come out of the closet.)

Busy

Several things have recently made life busy:

1) Jilly is back and has been requiring much love.

2) My parents have been visiting. This condo is very small for 4 adults and 2 dogs.

3) Wedding madness. Thank goodness not mine; a family friend. I sang at it Saturday. Steve donned a suit and looked very handsome.

4) I got a new job. Yes, I already have two...but now I have another one. I am the new interim Director of Choral Activities at Agnes Scott College.

More soon.

More makings!

I made my first batch of cheese yesterday from these instructions. It tastes decent so far; it'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

I also made pickles last week; I wrote a column at the People's Regime on how to do it. They came out pretty good, perhaps a shade on the salty side.

Jilly is only a few hours away!

Sooooooooooooooon!!!

Jilly,

Only 48 hours, Jilly, and you will be here! Back home with mamma and daddy Steve!



Jilly, you sweet sweet doggie, you. Why do you always make demon eyes at the camera?

Love,
Mamma

A short note...

... to say that Elise is back.

Santa Barbara Research

Part of my reason for taking this trip was to do some of my dissertation research. One of two composers that I will interview is Emma Lou Diemer. We met at her home to talk on June 19, June 20, July 16, and July 17. Here is a pic of us the last day.


She is 80, but don't let her demure look fool you; she can absolutely tear up that 8 foot grand behind me! A trained concert pianist and organist, she taught theory and composition at UCSB for 30 years. She's written music since she was 7 years old, including about 100 published things for choir.

She insisted that she take me on a sight-seeing trip following the last interview. We went up into the hills to get a great view of the ocean, and to the SB Courthouse. Particularly lovely for a government building!

Here's a staircase inside...

...and a view from the tower...


The building to the left of center is the old jail. Most aesthetically pleasing jail I've ever seen!

Pasadena

I spent today in Pasadena. My friend Rachel lives here. It is lovely.


While Rachel worked, I walked down to Colorado Avenue to do some shopping. This is, of course, where the Rose Parade is held every year. It's very beautiful and hip. I saw a woman that looked like Michael Jackson. Then I saw another. After about the 5th person I saw that looked like Michael Jackson, I realized what I was picking up on. People's noses and cheeks just not looking exactly right...yep: plastic surgery.

I'm not totally opposed to beauty treatments. I got a pedicure; perhaps one of the best of my life. The place was huge with what seemed like half the population of Ho Chi Minh City working there. Seriously, as I left I counted the technicians and there were 25! And stations for all of them! (And 1 or 2 looked like Michael Jackson!)

Home tomorrow! Hooray, Hooray!!!

Soon

Still missing my girls pretty bad, but I've been filling the time over here with some of my usual antics.

First, I bought a 50 lb sack of green coffee beans, so I won't have to buy coffee for almost a year and a half. Don't be surprised if you get coffee for Christmas! :)

Then, I made my first batch of pickles, a form of deli half sours. Wasn't too bad and they taste pretty decent. I ate one of the garlic cloves that I put in the pickling jar, and my breath is a lethal weapon. I'm glad Elise isn't around!

Oregon Country Fair

On Friday, I went to the Oregon Country Fair.


This activity was the kind gift of Steve's Uncle Pete and his wife, Penny. (They had me over for dinner earlier in the festival).


So anyway, here is a taste of the Country Fair's artful and authentic living:

Good eats. Most of everything was organic or multicultural; everything was healthy. (Not a diet coke in sight.) This bird was being fed a quesadilla by his hippie owner. Bizarre!


Harmony with nature. A brave dragonfly landed on Nicole's hand! Nicole is a close friend of Pete and Penny.


There was an exhibit about sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. The water in this papasan chair cooker was boiling!


A fashion show of recycled goods turned clothing... This teen is wearing a dress made from plastics found on the street following a race sponsored by Toyota. Little blonde in the back is wearing a dress made from chocolate bar wrappers!


Other creative recycling efforts... What better thing could you do with an old mixer or chainsaw?


...or old tin cans?


Lots of costumes! Here are a swarm of bees, with improvised stingers...


And last but not least...lack of costumes! I'm a little disappointed that less people reply to my posts than Steve's. This just tells me I need to go a little less 'Baroque music lover' and a little more 'mainstream hipster.' I figured this would boost my ratings...

I knew my husband would like the flaming boobs, in particular.

Peace out!

Pomp and Circumstance

I graduated from a very difficult and complicated curriculum yesterday. I know Elise is going to be jealous, with me having something like this on my C.V.


I am a trained Memphis BBQ Network barbecue judge.


Woot!

Butterflies

You have no idea how horrifying it is to have to sing by yourself in front of the maestro!!!

(This is my friend Darrick with Helmuth Rilling.)

Today I had to sing my tiny solo part for him. It's exactly 47 notes within a span of 15 seconds on the German text which translates "I heard him say 'I will destroy God's temple and rebuild it in three days.'" Of course all the other big-time soloists from Germany and choir soloists were there watching. I was nervous. Rilling made me sing this one line over and over again, trying to get me to brighten the "ah" vowel to sound more German. I think it improved. Somehow I survived with clean pants.

We perform the Matthew Passion on Sunday as the closing concert. My new uncle Pete and aunt Penny will be there for support. Tomorrow we're going to the Oregon Country Fair, as we have the day off from rehearsal!!!

Dear Momma

I miss you too. Please come home soon.

Haydn evening

Tonight we performed one of the late Masses of Haydn.


I can appreciate Haydn a little more, having been to his house (where he wrote this mass).


We recorded the dress rehearsal and performance, and will do touchups in the a.m. It will be available within a 6 Mass, 2-CD set next year, which is a Haydn year.

All is quite well, though I miss my husband and my doggie.

(Pictured: Jilly and "Green Burrrr")

Aww

Someone pointed me towards an article on concierge.com regarding the best barbecue joints in America. While I have my favorites, I'm pretty sure an article like this is going to make more people angry than happy.

But they pointed out the burnt ends at LC's in Kansas City, which I had forgotten about. Burnt Ends is something of a KC specialty. They do beef brisket, which has two parts: the lean "flat" and the fatty "point". In KC, they separate the two and throw the point back on the smoker for twice as long, and then chop it up. It's divine. Super-extra-smoky, you gotta be a barbecue lover just to try one. But when you do, it's the fatty bits of meat, the best crumbly bits, it's... wonderful.

My buddy Bryan will be especially tickled that they also singled out Cozy Corner in Memphis.

To Jilly

Jilly! Quick--get the squirrel while it's burying a nut!


Oh, Jilly; you would love it here in the Willamette Valley. Lots of dogs walk down by the river. Some even go for swims. You would love to get sweaty chasing squirrels and ducks, and then go plop down in the river.


Jilly, I finally found a tree that you might be able to climb (in order to get a squirrel). It's in the Eugene rose garden, at the base of Skinner's Butte. Check it out. It's very odd and old.



Jilly, come and be with me. We will walk, frolic, swim, and nap beneath large trees. Maybe we'll even stop at the Tuesday market and get some bunny lure...


I miss you, as does your daddy Steve. Please stop shedding on Mamaw's carpet. In only 3 weeks we'll be together again.

Love and sugars,
Momma

For Mom

Apparently this is my mom's favorite man. No, it's not dad. It's Garrison Keillor.


But I don't think dad minds. (They went to see him in Greensboro for her birthday last year.) He performed last night here in Eugene to a sold out house. (Close to 3,000 in attendance.)