Me Watching Richard Wagner The Ring Cycle

When we were in Seattle in 2013 and attended the fourth of the Ring Cycle, Gutterdammerung, or the Twilight of the Gods, I purchased a set of the entire Ring, the 1991 Beyreuth Festival in Germany, in the gift shop.  Their last copy!  On the screen you see the two giants, Fasolt and Fafner builders of Vahalla who expect to be paid in gold stolen from the Rhinemaidens. The first opera, Das Rheingold tells this part of the story. 

*Please go to August 30th, 2013 post --  Having Trouble Bursting Out of the Valhalla Bubble.

Taxes and Russian Basses

In the music room on this sunny first day of February 2016, Oompa  is getting the taxes ready to give to our accountant, John Belletete.

A word about the Russian Basses:  These men are trained so they can sing extremely low pitches.  If Daad was unable to attend a choir rehearsal at UUBN or a Civic Chorale rehearsal, I would often say he decided to go into the hospital to have work done on his vocal chords so he could sing like a Russian bass!!!

The Rachmaninoff Vespers which we sang in Civic Chorale years ago, was a musical high light for us.  Phyllis Parr with her gorgeous voice sang the alto solo, however she had awful flu.  I remember holding her up on one side and another person supported her on the other.  She was brilliant. 

Daad's Beloved Shoes

Meema and Oompa 2014

These are good pictures of us! 

The Present Colgate 13 -- Concert in Western Springs, Illinois January 13th

Bill MacIntosh, Bud Hedinger, Ed Hines

The present Colgate 13 -- Bill MacIntosh in center

13 was to concertize in Chicago as part of their January tour around the country. Ed wanted Bill MacIntosh, the oldest living Colgate 13 member whom we've visited through the years, to attend.  The venue would have been horrid -- many steps making it impossible for Bill and his wife Caroline to negotiate.  So my precious husband found a new venue!  Bill and Caroline's church, a building on the historic register!  A perfect place.  The concert was a huge success with a Colgate 13 alum from California, a professional documentary producer, flying in to film the concert.  This person has been creating a Colgate 13 documentary for the past few years.

Poor Deer

So cold and so hungry.

Foolproof Prime Rib

I haven't made a standing rib for years.  A friend told me about this recipe and it worked.   But ---- I took the rib roast out of the refrig and let it get to room temperature for 4 hours.  And -- where it says to reheat at 375 degrees, we did so for 1 hour.  Maggie Merkow, Carla, Neal, Gabi along with Meema and Oompa did some fine eatin'.  None of us suffered heartburn!!!! 

Christmas Out Here With Everyone

Here is a link to a Picasa Web Album.  Pictures speak louder than words.  Click on a picture to blow it up 'cause then you can see the entire caption as well as scrolling through the entire album with more clarity. 

 "Wasn't this a time?" Last verse from Peter Paul and Mary about the history of democracy called Wasn't That a Time and Meema used to play it on Gumbert, her beloved Martin guitar. I think I still know the tune AND the words.

Rain!

Seems like when the girls visit, we get inundated with rain.  Happily, the huge new sump is doing its job.

Three Generations

December 27, 2015