A Cozy Concert and Commenting Comments!

I will say the past couple of months have been stressful but I also felt a bit more was accomplished! There has been some fun, too -- so we'll start there. But first, my winter bunny!

Rick hosted a house concert featuring his guitar teacher, Brad DeRoche. Somehow we packed about 50 people into his living room for a cozy afternoon of wonderful music. 

Brad is a wonderful musician, a graduate of Eastman Music School and professor who has performed with a number of orchestras and solo performances. He's also recorded. 

I wish I had better photos for you. The back lighting wasn't the best. But it's not the photos that matter because I have some links to Brad's music HERE, including a number of pieces he played for us. It is well worth a listen. 

The program he performed for was beautiful -- a wonderful mix of music from Spain, South America and a lovely arrangement of Bach arranged by Brad. It was a marvelous afternoon.

After, we had a small reception. Several friends brought something for the table to accompany Rick's bread and cheese. I made chocolate chip cookies because I was desperate to bake but not have it in the house after! It was a great solution. And there is something about filling a home first, with music, then with people who have had a terrific time, talking, eating, sharing, smiling. It fills the heart.

Brad said that he especially enjoyed doing house concerts because they were so personal. It gave him the opportunity to talk with people (versus the concert or recital format which is more formal). And when you can have those conversations and bring the music to the people directly, it has a different impact -- one of more involvement and connection to the music.  

For me it was just darned fun! I met a lot of very nice new people and saw some old friends from various parts of my life. Included were a friend from Kindergarten, my best junior high friend and her boyfriend who I knew in high school and one of my college buddies and his wife, along with some of my Cork Popper friends. It was good to catch up with everyone!

There's lots to say about mold remediation and the aftermath but I'll save that for another day. Instead I'll end with a few photos with subjects almost as lovely as Brad's music. I saw these on my walk the other day. Someone told me they are called Winter Crocus.

 Sunset at the Ditch changes from moment to moment.

And the moments come very fast!

 And finally....

Goodnight, Moon!

A couple of notes on comments -- first, I'm way behind in reaching out to say thanks for your visits. Life has been getting in the way, so my apologies. I've been trying to keep up (with mixed results) on visits to your blogs but find myself falling behind. Bear with me!

And last -- and certainly not least -- I have recently received very lovely comments from readers relatively new to Marmelade Gypsy. I should mention again that I reply to comments via email and if one hasn't listed an email, then I go to their blog. I've found some wonderful blogs this way! So, to Steve, Tom, Barbara in Houston, Dawn P., Jim and Barb, Ashok, Roentare, Elizabeth, Regine, Jan, Joanne, Judee, Karen M., Sonija, Veronica, Regina, Kokopelli, V., Debra, Klaudia, Barwitzki, Nancy, Maggie, Linda Sue, Melody, Rough Terrain Crane, Unknown, Anonymous, Debra-She Who Seeks, and many others who visit frequently or even now-and-then, thank you! If you come here and I don't reply, it's because I can't find a blog or contact info for you. But I am ALWAYS so grateful for your comments. (Or, like the past couple of weeks, in over my head!) Thank you!

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