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.

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”