i Madonnari in San Luis Obispo (2009)

Waiting for the Rain

Everyone’s favorite film rain moment.  I don’t know anyone who hasn’t tried some of these dance moves. 

 The sun was shining this morning, but the rain is rolling in.  It has been a very dry winter and early Spring on the Central Coast, so I can’t complain and the beautiful flowers and the vineyards need the rain. How nice when you can combine the two with a visit to one of the many wineries in the area.

 So many of the tasting rooms have marvelous landscaping and container gardening in empty wine barrels is always a delight.  Do flowers really smell better after a few sips of good pinot noir? 

 

 

 

Neil Sedaka is coming to the showroom of a local casino.  Laughter in the Rain has always been a favorite song.   I’d love to see him, but , I’ve got  Willy Wonka rehearsal.  How many times have I had to say that.   Maybe next time, Neil.   Willy Wonka is going to be a great show.  Only matinees due to the content, but such fun for kids of all ages.  Since I have never grown up , it works for me. 

 

Guess it’s time to load some rain music on the old MP3 player.   How about….

1. The Beatles  Rain

2. Eurythmics Here Comes the Rain Again

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival  Have You Ever Seen the Rain

4.Peter Paul and Mary Early Morning Rain

5. Chopin Prelude “Raindrop” in D flat

6. Ramsey Lewis After the Rain

7. Barbra Streisand Soon It’s Gonna Rain

8. Judy Garland  April Showers

9.   James Taylor Fire and Rain

10.  Blossom Dearie I Love London in the Rain

February by the Beach

This has been a month of beautiful sunny days and beautiful rainy ones as well.   A great time to take long walks and enjoy the new beginnings of the early Spring.

All of the neighborhood creatures are in full activity. 

The monarch butterflies are getting ready to leave the grove.

 

A family of birds is building a nest outside my window. the coloring of the bird is so close to the leaves in shade.

 

and the pelicans are flirting.

And in honor of the rain, this quote from the late John Updike’s memoirs:

 Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.

San Francisco Symphony Visits the Central Coast

I’m still humming Tchaikovsky this morning having had  7th row tickets to the debut appearance of the San Franciso Symphony at the Cohan Center in San Luis Obispo last night.  The program included Copland’s music from the film Our Town, Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra, and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony.  Three totally different works that together showed off each of the sections of such a great orchestra. 

Getting to finally see Michael Tilson Thomas conduct in person was such a treat.  He really is a rock star.  I am in awe.   I especially enjoyed my sight lines.  Being so close to be able to see his expressions as he conducted and to really be able to watch the concertmaster’s fingering, especially on the Tchaikovsky,  was spectacular.

The opening  credits of Our Town (1940)

The Second Movement of Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra

Finale from Tchaikovsky’s 5th

Jesus Christ Superstar

Went to see Ted Neeley starring in Jesus Christ Superstar last night. He’s still got it. The production is really well done. We were lucky enough to be invited backstage to meet him.  Ted is extremely gracious.  He was featured on CBS Sunday Morning a few weeks ago.  If the show is coming to your town, go.

Santa Claus Has Come to Town

http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/santainslo/

I Madonnari 2008

Another wonderful sidewalk chalk art show in San Luis Obispo this past weekend.  I never tire of watching the artists transform the blacktop around the mission into works of art.  People of all ages strolled and delighted in their surroundings. 

Two days watching the artists with side trips to local wineries, walks on the beach, visits from two out-of-town friends, and dinner at exceptional restaurants made for a glorious weekend.

 Here are some of my favorites….

My Fair Lady

“Every duke and earl and peer is here.  Everyone who should be here is here.  What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle, the Ascot opening race.”   (My Fair Lady-Ascot-Gavotte)

I’m currently a cast member in a local production of “My Fair Lady.”  Never having done, the show, I decided to audition and here I am.  Why “My Fair Lady”?  It’s all about the Ascot hats!!!  Here’s mine sitting on my dressing table.  Such fun.

Ah Spring, Ah Artichokes

“Well, it may choke Artie, but it ain’t gonna choke me!”  (Stymie, one of the “Our Gang” kids)

Nothing says Spring in the farm fields near the Red Door than the beautiful globe artichokes (Cynara Scolymus) just waited to be stuffed or made into filling for ravioli.  Yum!  Here are two recipes from Allrecipes.com for your artichoke eating pleasure.  The first reminds me of how my Italian father used to prepare artichokes, the second is a wonderful “lite” Alfredo sauce which is great over Trader Joe’s fresh artichoke ravioli.

Stuffed Artichokes                     Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce

And then there’s the wine.   Definitely a pinot grigio.  Light, cool and crisp.  Castoro Cellars or Meridian both make wonderful ones.

Songs of Spring

Getting ready for Easter dinner tomorrow and need to get the music playlist together.  Here are the  selections for this year. The list is divided into two parts: classical and pop/jazz.  Links are to Youtube videos of the selection. 

The poppies are blooming on the Central Coast.  I found these in a vacant lot across the street from my mechanic.  You can find beauty everywhere you look.  I’m going to have to go for a drive this week and find some more.  They revive my spirit.

Classical

• Sonata for Violin and Piano No.5 in F, Op.24 (Beethoven)
• The Four Seasons(“La Primavera,” No. 1), Op.8/1, RV 269 (Vivaldi)
• Appalachian Spring, ballet for 13 instruments-Simple Gifts (Copland)
• Blumine (“Flora”), for orchestra (discarded movement from Symphony No. 1) (Mahler)
• Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring), Op. 410 (RV 410) (Strauss)
• Spring Song (Mendelssohn)

Popular Music

• “Spring Can Really Hang you up the Most”
• “Beautiful Day”
• “Here Comes the Sun”
• “Turn, Turn Turn”
• “Daydream”
• “It Might as Well Be Spring”
• “You Must Believe in Spring”
• “Skylark”
• “Spring is Here”