A TIME FOR RENEWAL

In an effort to meet some people who enjoy doing some of the things I like to do, I joined the Loudoun Chorale Group. This spring we're singing Brahms Requiem ein Deitsches, which just means that we are singing it in German. The music is very beautiful, very haunting in parts and very lyrical in others. I've enjoyed learning to sing the music, which is kind of difficult to sing because of the dynamics. I started out in the alto section which is where I sang in high school. But by the second rehearsal, I knew that I was better suited to the tenor section, so I switched. I'm much happier because now I have notes I can actually reach. LOL! The blending of all four voice sections is beyond beautiful.

I heard we're getting some competition from Kurt Masur who is conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in the Brahms Requiem from April 9-11, 2009, at the Kennedy Center.

As a little background, the Requiem is in seven movements:

1. "Selig sind, die da Leid tragen" (Blessed are they that mourn)

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. They that go forth and weep, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.

2. "Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras" (For all flesh is as grass)

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falleth away. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the morning and evening rain. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

3. "Herr, lehre doch mich" (Lord, make me to know mine end)

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee. Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and there shall no torment touch them.

4. "Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen" (How lovely is thy dwelling place)

How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will always be praising thee.

5. "Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit" (And ye now therefore have sorrow)

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.

6. "Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt" (For here we have no lasting home.)

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

7. "Selig sind die Toten" (Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord)

Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Home Sweet Home

My cute little dining room

It's been a while since I've posted anything to my blog, poor blog. Here are some photos of my cute (read very tiny) apartment. I have to say I miss my wonderful house and huge yard in North Carolina; but there's something to be said for a place that takes less than an hour to clean from one end to the other. Plus, it is kind of cozy. The only thing I hate is the fact that I pay more for this place than for my 1700 sq. foot house in NC.

My cute little living room

My cute little work space

Although it's hard to tell from these pictures, everything is within easy reach of everything else.

I know I'll miss having a garden this spring and summer, but I'm planning to put some tomatoes out in pots on my cute little deck. I also applied for a part-time job at a lavender farm, so I'm hoping that pans out.

Snow Day

It started snowing last night; and when I got up this morning, it was a winter wonderland. The roads were icy, and it was a blizzard outside. Since a liberal leave policy was in effect, I took a leave day. It snowed on an off all day. Although it may not look like much to the northerners, believe me, this was quite a bit for Virginia. This is the most it's snowed since winter started. I spent the day working on a transcript, laundry, and practicing the music that the Loudoun Chorale Group is singing for our Easter concert (good thing my neighbors probably weren't home). I love having a snow day, reminded me of when I was a kid growing up in New York -- well, except for the amount of snow ;-))

Merry. . . uh. . .What Was I Trying to Say?

Christmas Countdown

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just around the corner. I've been sick with an awful cold and have only done a portion of my shopping. No tree this year since all of my Christmas stuff is in storage in North Carolina and I'm not sure where I would put a tree in my very cute (read very tiny) one-bedroom apartment. I will probably get some wreaths for my doors and some Christmas candles to put in my windows.

I miss being close enough to spend part of the holiday preparations with my grandkids and my daughter and have been feeling a little lonely. I won't be leaving to spend the holidays with my kids until after Christmas since someone had to be in the office over the holidays and we're alternating Christmas and New Year. My kids won't be around until after Christmas, so it's worked out perfectly this year.

I'm planning to do a little holiday baking since my sister lives around the corner from me, so I'll take some things over for her family to enjoy. But my daughter is an awesome cook and probably has tons of goodies planned for her own family, so I probably won't be taking anything homemade down to NC when I travel. Maybe some great bagels from the local Safeway here. They make great ones!

Wine Weekend 2008

I left on Friday morning to meet up with my daughter, her husband, my friend Kathryne, and her mom and dad for Wine Weekend 2008. When I arrived (after getting lost and adding another hour to my trip), Kathryne handed me a bag full of goodies, including truffles and a music CD that she had put together just for the occasion. I also got a chance to meet her new kittens, Number One and Number Two (they haven't told her what their names are yet), who are totally adorable as all kittens are. We had a wonderful lunch at Michie Tavern where I ate way too much. The food is served buffet style on metal plates by people dressed in period costume. The drinks are served in small metal cups, and you can eat as much as you wish. The fried chicken was delicious and the peach cobbler are two that I would recommend.

After Michie Tavern, we headed out to Oakencroft winery. Oakencroft is closing permanently in December. I'll miss their wonderful wines and sitting next to the pond, which is right outside their tasting room. This picture was taken at sunset at last year's wine weekend.

This year we sat and watched flocks of Canadian geese fly in at sunset and land in the pond for a drink and a swim before walking over to the pasture across the road. I felt like I could have stayed here forever. It was so peaceful that I was completely zoned out in a zen-like state -- oblivious to everything except the geese, the ripples on the water, and the beautiful surroundings. After Oakencroft, we went to our rooms to rest for a couple of hours before going to a terrific Italian restaurant named Vivaci. The food was soooo good. I had the onion and mushroom soup and then the potato gnocchi, which was delicious.

On Saturday, my sister and her husband, son, and his girlfriend joined us. We started out at a new winery called Delfosse where I bought a bottle of dessert wine, maybe I bought two. I honestly can't remember. Here is a view of the land surrounding Delfosse.

And another picture of my daughter and Kathryne just outside of the tasting room.

From there, we headed to Wintergreen winery. They have the best raspberry dessert wine, which they were out of when we visited. But I did buy some homemade sourdough bread and pesto. Then on to Hilltop Berry where they make the best fruit wines and meades. I bought a delightfully different meade to drink at home.

Veritas winery was the last stop that day. We always end there with a picnic lunch accompanied by a few bottles of one of their wines. They have a gorgeous tasting room that has leather couches and seats, a fireplace that's burning when the weather is cold, and a huge deck supplied with picnic tables and benches. The view at Veritas is breathtaking, as you can see for yourself. I love it there. The barn in the background with horses in the pasture and a view of the mountains makes me want to stay there always.



Here is another view of the same scene from a distance. I was trying to capture the sun shining on the mountain where the beautiful fall foliage was highlighted in the setting sun.


I love the mountains in Virginia. Whenever I'm there, I feel like that's the place I want to live and never leave.

Curveballs of Life

I don't think anyone ever expects their life to turn out the way it does -- "The best laid plans of mice and men. . . ." and all of that. I expected to share my life with one person, to grow old with that person, and to become even closer when our kids were raised and gone. Instead, my life has moved in a completely opposite direction, one that I least expected or prepared for. I'm not complaining because the road that I'm on has had its own lessons and adventures that I would not have known otherwise. I don't know what tomorrow has planned for me at all, but I think the unexpected has made me a little more resilient and a little more willing to entertain experiences outside the norm of what I had planned.

I always wanted to grow old with someone that I had a long history with so that I would have the comfort of a loving and compatible companion in my dotage. That is not to be, at least as my life path seems at this moment. I don't feel sad about it. Instead I feel anticipation and comfort in the reliable routines I have made my own, on my own.