Planning Ahead

My mom sent this pic my way of her new patch of flowers. Last season she planted some that are supposed to come up every year...looks like it worked! Good job!

CINCO D'OHIO

If I still lived in Ohio I might need to attend CINCO D'OHIO at the Columbus North Market this weekend. The poster is pretty convincing...though just remember this event is dos de Mayo-- not cinco.

On Stage

The last performance of the 2008-09 season...I'm somewhere on the left. Ending with Carmina is definitely ending on a high note! :-)

Missing Something

Spring in Ohio

Long walks with Adam around Cleveland Heights

Trees in bloom

Lake View Cemetery bursting with daffodils and tulips

Unpredictable wind, clouds, rain, sun...

Break A Leg!

The Phoenix Symphony and Chorus are having a great week! Carmina Burana will be performed to sold out audiences both nights and the recently released Enemy Slayer is the number one downloaded album on NAXOS -the world's leading classical music label. Last night's dress rehearsal was ---as always--- a treat. Can't wait for tonight!

For the Beauty

For the beauty of the earth,

for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth

over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

It's WARM

Because HOT around here is 120.

O Fortuna!

It's concert week---and I am PSYCHED to perform Carmina for the first time!

Wake Up

Woke up today in desperate need of an Americano from Lux Coffee Bar. Too bad it's all the way downtown and Adam insists we are NOT hip enough to go there. When Brittany and Dominic were visiting in February, I made my first trip to Lux with them. The three of us ordered coffee, a few homemade pastries and sat outside. I'm not really sure what I ordered...but it looked like french toast (it wasn't) and had fresh strawberries. Also, they topped it off with a very large dollop of cream and butter. Delicious. The most recent contestant in our new apartment search would place us right behind this fabulous establishment. Not sure how I would deal with having the absolute best coffee in the area within a few feet of my doorstep. The temptation might prove too great.

It's Time

Diamantini & Domeniconi have so many clever and eye-catching clocks that it's hard to pick a favorite. There is at least one for every taste and room.


I'm usually not impressed with most of the clocks I see when out and about. Nothing that I would consider catchy enough to purchase. Adam and I haven't had a clock on the wall since Cleveland. Not that Cleveland's clock served any real purpose, except to confuse people. The el cheapo timepiece hadn't really worked since our stint in Oxford, Ohio. It's been 4:12 for 5 years! Obviously, I seem to have a bit of trouble letting go... BUT that's a whole new subject and time's a runnin'...better---as my grandmother says---get crackin'.

Small Bites

Adam made this picture the new background for our laptop. Pretty cute! Growing up, I was always thrilled by the rare occasion when a turtle was spotted in or near our yard. Most of the time I remember seeing them when they crossed the street. Seems like an especially bad idea for a turtle. Oh my gosh. My mind is so hysterical right now. I just convinced myself that the real joke was, "Why did the turtle cross the road?" Not turtle...CHICKEN!

Seeing Red

I found a couple items that fit the inspiration room in the previous post. The red Zeno Chair (above) is a splurge at $561----and the owl plate is $40. Ikea has a couple red chairs that could give the same feeling priced significantly less at $69.99 and $119:

More Moo

Hmmmm...I think my cow collection needs a few more friends. I've seen this design by Marimekko before, but never on plates and cups.

Oh yes, this will do.

You're So Vain

I'm having one of those days. Went to the dentist and -according to him- my filling came loose and there is a cavity forming underneath. He tried to show it to me on the x-ray...he said see...there...just a touch of shadow. Mmmhmm. So he tells me I will need a crown. Anyway. After insurance the whole thing is going to cost over $600. Maybe I should just let my teeth rot. Oh and I brush my teeth too hard. And I need my wisdom teeth out. Awesome. Adam has an appointment at the end of the month. We both cannot wait to discover the scoop on his pearly whites.

Happy Easter!

Today we visited my friend Kelli's church called Chrio. Her husband Richard is the pastor and he shared an interesting reading about Easter from Joseph Bayly's Psalms of My Life:

Let's celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter.

Christ died and rose and lives.

Laugh like a woman who holds her first baby.

Our enemy death will soon be destroyed.

Laugh like a man who finds he doesn't have cancer, or he does but now there's a cure.

Christ opened wide the door to heaven.

Laugh like children at Disneyland's gates.

This world is owned by God, and he'll return to rule.

Laugh like a man who walks away uninjured from a wreck in which his car was totaled.

Laugh as if all the people in the whole world were invited to a picnic and then invite them.

Good Friday

Isaiah 53:4-6 (King James Version)
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Mini Office

Such a great idea for a small space from Martha Stewart Living! Right now my "filing system" consists of miscellaneous large envelopes stashed in several bankers boxes. While not entirely in disarray, I have found this set-up inconvenient and lacking style. If I had something like this, it could really go anywhere.

FYI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2009

Michael Christie Leads
The Phoenix Symphony in the
Immense Masterpiece
Carmina Burana
Phoenix Symphony Chorus and Phoenix Boys Choir
Join the Symphony for Orff’s Oratorio

PHOENIX – Nancy Allen Lundy, Steven Stolen and Stephen Powell join Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie, the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, the Phoenix Boys Choir and The Phoenix Symphony performing Carl Orff’s powerful Carmina Burana April 23 and 25. Scored for enormous orchestra, three soloists and two choirs, Carmina Burana explores Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales musically, taking the listener from pastoral hymns to raucous drinking songs, and the sheer power of “O Fortuna.” Thursday evening’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Northern Trust, and Saturday evening’s concert, sponsored by Matson Navigation Companies, begins at 8 p.m.; both performances are at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix with a convenient light rail stop at Washington and 2nd Street.
Carmina Burana is paired with an equally energetic work, Spotlight Composer Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra commissioned in 2002 by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Tickets for “Carmina Burana” range from $22 to $72 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602-495-1999 or by visiting http://www.phoenixsymphony.org/. Remaining highlights of The Phoenix Symphony’s 2008-09 Season include “A Salute to Rodgers & Hammerstein” (May 15-17), “Joshua Bell in Concert” (May 23) and “Legends and Heroes” (May 28 and 30).

Team Sparky

Today, I officially accepted the invitation to study at ASU. Guess that means I'm a Sun Devil.

Critter Spotting

The sun only directly shines into our apartment in the afternoon, so mornings are the perfect time to open up the windows and enjoy the breeze. With the windows open today, I heard a woman talking loudly. When I went to the bedroom window to investigate, a hummingbird flew just inches from the screen. It quickly darted away and landed on a tree branch right outside the apartment with the loud-speaking lady. As it perched, it looked more like a leaf than a bird. I watched it for awhile as it sped like a flash from one patch of sky to the next. My eye soon rested on a lizard climbing the wall below. Why do most animals remind me of Zeek?

Just...

http://www.namasteworks.etsy.com/---- Sometimes we all need a friendly reminder.

KIND-ness

I have been on a KIND kick ever since moving to Arizona last August. Sprouts is the only grocery store in my area that carries them. My favorites are Macadamia & Apricot and Almond & Apricot. The apricot gives the bar just enough moisture to make it the perfect amount of chewy and crunch. I have encountered some seriously rough --break-your-teeth-- types in the past, but these are not it. KIND not only produces a product easy on the taste buds, but donates a minimum of 5% of its profits to PeaceWorks Foundation. PeaceWorks is dedicated to seeking an end to conflict and violence all over the world. So you can feel good about the low GI value, all natural ingredients and the fact that your $1.60 (more or less) is being kind to your body and the world. Oh, and they also have a pretty snazzy gift option for all your random acts of KIND-ness.

The Augury of Spring

Changed my calendar today---three days after March had expired. I can't say that I've ever had much respect for April. What other month do you know of that intentionally starts off jerking you around? That's right...none of them. When I was living in the cold north, April was a big tease. Every year I sought the augury of spring, conjuring up every ounce of prognosticating folklore. Did the groundhog see his shadow? Did March come in like a lion? Does April snow count for showers bringing flowers? And with that and other nonsense, I would wait...and wait...and WAIT. So now, when I wake each day to sunny, bird-chirping weather----I feel less superstitious. Though, one angst is easily replaced for another; mine is now summer.

*thanks to Samantha for a lovely calendar i enjoy very much!

Flutterby Butterfly

Outside my window, I noticed a commotion. Many butterflies colored orange, black and white were fluttering from tree to tree. From their markings, I would guess that they were Monarch butterflies. I tried to capture a few pictures, but they wouldn't sit still. Well, I suppose if I had wings I wouldn't either.

Acting Our Age

Last Saturday night we met Nicole at Carly's Bistro to hear Paul sing and play. With its nondescript exterior, Carly's could be a pretty easy place to miss. Luckily, we found it without any trouble and landed a parking spot right in front. At first there were many empty tables, but soon the whole place was filled. Paul performed a set of original songs and a few covers. Muy divertido!