If you've been reading my posts for any time now, you know that I am involved as a student at an exciting enterprise known as The Upper Valley Music Center. It is a music school in Lebanon, NH which currently provides music instruction for over 900 students. I am immensely proud that this is happening in the area I grew up in (even more so that Lebanon is my mother's home town), especially in these times when music (and art) instruction have all but disappeared from public schools.
The music school purchased a new facility last year: A splendid mansion (built in 1815) on Colburn Park in Lebanon. It's a dream come true for the school. Through enormous generosity, they have been able to retire a good portion of the mortgage and the push is on to get it fully paid so that resources can go into music instruction for today's youth.
The new UVMC
In an effort to retire the mortage, the school is producing a fund raiser going by the name "Sing and Play 50K" which will take place on May 19th in Colburn Park, the music school's facility, and other locations in Lebanon. Students and faculty from the school will perform 50,000 seconds of music on May 19th starting at 7:04 am and ending at 9:00 pm. This music will be free to any and all who wish to attend.
I, myself, am participating via the Upper Valley Chamber Orchestra (which is a program of UVMC), the cello choir (an adult course I have enrolled in for a number of semesters already), and playing part of Schubert's Fantasy for 1 piano, 4 hands.
As if all of this were not exciting enough, we, the orchestra are performing Terry Riley's 1964 masterpiece "In C". I cannot tell you what a thrill it is to perform this piece, it is epic. The cello choir I am part of will play 6 or 7 shorter pieces, and the Schubert speaks for itself. If you care to listen to either "In C" or the Schubert, here are some videos:
Terry Riley's "In C":
Schubert Fantasy, 4 hands, 1 piano:
So what is this plea? I am asking for donations to sponsor me in these performances. The really great part of this is that the amount donated is not as important as the number of donations, you see, because we currently have a challenge grant of $17,000 if we can get 1000 new donors!
As sincerely as is possible, I'm asking if you can spare $10, $20, or more. It would go towards an invaluable resource. Bringing music into the lives of today's toddlers, children, adolescents, teens, and adults working to fulfill their musical dreams.
I have a page where you can make a donation in my name. I can't thank you enough in advance for considering this. Thank you.
My fundraising page where you can contribute: Sponsor me
and the Sing & Play 50k main page: We have 8 days to acquire 213 new donors
Friday, May 11, 2018
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Spring is here! ...
And it feels wonderful!
Fiber works are slightly on hold while I tackle the page full of outdoor chores. The only work that got done this past week was warping the loom upstairs for some mug rugs and a bit of a start on the weaving. These are double weave with pickup--to create a pattern. Dressing the loom was quick, the actual weaving not so much as certain warps need to be lifted manually on each pick. This first mug rug is a tester while I learn the actual layout of the warp. There are some mistakes in the pickup and I need to clarify for myself exactly which thread is the first to be picked up in each row.
But my energy is focused on the out of doors right now. I planted some peas, lettuce, mesclun, radishes, and swiss chard this week--all in the ground.
Then I decided I had to renovate the 2 front flower beds. From somewhere, a ground cover crept in and was overtaking everything! I dug out half the first bed today, removing the perennials to other beds--beds I dug last year. As I was working on it, I decided that I would not refill these 2 beds with flowers, but with more vegetables! I am going to need the space, as you can see from my seedlings!
I have potted on many of the seedlings now, but there are still 3 trays to prick out and pot on. I am placing the larger seedlings outside during the day and bringing them in at night now that the temps are well above 50. I'm well pleased with their progress so far.
Top picture, top row, left to right: Hyacinth Bean, Sun Flowers, and Buttercup Squash.
Top picture, bottom row, left to right: Nasturtiums and Sweet Peas, Courgettes (Zucchini; I've taken a liking to the European name)
Bottom picture, under the lights in the bathroom, left to right: Romaine Lettuce, Corn Flowers (in front), Petunias, Carrots, Celery, and Parsnips. These last four need to be pricked out this week!
The Crocuses came and went, and the Daffodils are currently in bloom. So refreshing and joyful:
The excavator arrived today to start work on my driveway. It's going to get a renovation. He'll be taking the top layer of muddy, sandy soil away, filling it with coarse gravel and finishing it with blue stone. But before he finishes it, he'll install a culvert and dig drainage trenches to alleviate the spring flooding of the drive. At the same time, I'm having the "official" driveway shortened from 150' to 75'. The part of the driveway nearest the house will be removed and a couple inches of new loam will be put in. I want to seed it as lawn. Eventually, I will lay 2 brick paths through this lawn to accommodate utility vehicles and such.
I got a new bird!! A big one, made out of scrap metal. It was made by a sculptor in Rumney. A fine addition to the garden:
Speaking of birds, I saw a Northern Flicker this week for the first time ever. It came down to find sustenance in my lawn and garden. Very pretty bird. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me and I was afraid I would scare it off if I got up.
First bear sighting of the year this week... also on my lawn. It was dark and I didn't bother to snap a pic. Saw a moose on my neighbor's lawn last week. Tall. I love seeing moose; it's exciting.
Fiber works are slightly on hold while I tackle the page full of outdoor chores. The only work that got done this past week was warping the loom upstairs for some mug rugs and a bit of a start on the weaving. These are double weave with pickup--to create a pattern. Dressing the loom was quick, the actual weaving not so much as certain warps need to be lifted manually on each pick. This first mug rug is a tester while I learn the actual layout of the warp. There are some mistakes in the pickup and I need to clarify for myself exactly which thread is the first to be picked up in each row.
But my energy is focused on the out of doors right now. I planted some peas, lettuce, mesclun, radishes, and swiss chard this week--all in the ground.
Then I decided I had to renovate the 2 front flower beds. From somewhere, a ground cover crept in and was overtaking everything! I dug out half the first bed today, removing the perennials to other beds--beds I dug last year. As I was working on it, I decided that I would not refill these 2 beds with flowers, but with more vegetables! I am going to need the space, as you can see from my seedlings!
I have potted on many of the seedlings now, but there are still 3 trays to prick out and pot on. I am placing the larger seedlings outside during the day and bringing them in at night now that the temps are well above 50. I'm well pleased with their progress so far.
Top picture, top row, left to right: Hyacinth Bean, Sun Flowers, and Buttercup Squash.
Top picture, bottom row, left to right: Nasturtiums and Sweet Peas, Courgettes (Zucchini; I've taken a liking to the European name)
Bottom picture, under the lights in the bathroom, left to right: Romaine Lettuce, Corn Flowers (in front), Petunias, Carrots, Celery, and Parsnips. These last four need to be pricked out this week!
The Crocuses came and went, and the Daffodils are currently in bloom. So refreshing and joyful:
The excavator arrived today to start work on my driveway. It's going to get a renovation. He'll be taking the top layer of muddy, sandy soil away, filling it with coarse gravel and finishing it with blue stone. But before he finishes it, he'll install a culvert and dig drainage trenches to alleviate the spring flooding of the drive. At the same time, I'm having the "official" driveway shortened from 150' to 75'. The part of the driveway nearest the house will be removed and a couple inches of new loam will be put in. I want to seed it as lawn. Eventually, I will lay 2 brick paths through this lawn to accommodate utility vehicles and such.
I got a new bird!! A big one, made out of scrap metal. It was made by a sculptor in Rumney. A fine addition to the garden:
Speaking of birds, I saw a Northern Flicker this week for the first time ever. It came down to find sustenance in my lawn and garden. Very pretty bird. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me and I was afraid I would scare it off if I got up.
First bear sighting of the year this week... also on my lawn. It was dark and I didn't bother to snap a pic. Saw a moose on my neighbor's lawn last week. Tall. I love seeing moose; it's exciting.
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