A very happy 2019 to you! It’s been a busy, festive, and happy December that included my Magpie Consort concerts (thank you to all of you who came!), my brother visiting for a weekend, and adopting Miss Hazel, a rescue via Colony Cats... John and I were Christmas shopping and—poof!—there she was, all cuddly and lovey! It was a no-brainer. Obviously she has some experience in the arts— in the photo above she is helping me get photographs together for my Velvet Winter exhibit at the Meadowlark restaurant in Dayton next week. I'm busy framing, cleaning glass, making wall labels, etc etc. It's been a while since I had an exhibition, and I'm excited.
January also brings the start of rehearsals for the Magpie Consort's spring program, and my bookbinding class begins at CCAD's Saturday morning program on the 19th. There is still time to SIGN UP if you're interested. Anyway, here are more bits of news from the month…
December started with a visit to the Boy Scout troop 555’s Christmas tree lot. We found the perfectly un-perfect one!
Then, my brother came to town! Last year he wanted to come for my Magpie Consort concert but the snowstorm cancelled his travel plans. This year was a go!
The concerts were the perfect way to start the Christmas season, and I have to say I thought we sounded SO good at St. Francis. We packed the house that night too! It made me happy to look out into the audience and see so many friends (and family!)
That weekend my brother even got to fly “my” airplane! Not everyone knows that he has his commercial & twin engine ratings. Buuuut…. this was his first time in a tailwheel! On this 20 degree day, I think the heater only warmed up his left foot. And only a little. By the time his flight was finished his toes were frozen solid.
Speaking of flying, I tagged along with John on a couple of his long layover flights, including one to Augusta, Georgia. Right across the street from the hotel is my favorite cafe, the Boll Weevil. EVERYTHING is good there and they are famous for their “slices” of cake which are pretty much the size of entire cakes.
On the 18th, we adopted Miss Hazel…
I swear she was a Christmas gift from angels!
Sherman is slooowly coming around to tolerating/liking her. Copper never liked him AT ALL. She hissed every time he came near her. So I think he’s kind of surprised that Miss Hazel wants to be friends.
Ooooh it really felt like Christmas when the Magpies sang at the Nutracker. We caroled in the lobby before the show, and then the ladies sang the “Snowflake Waltz” for the performance. It does NOT get any more Christmas-y than that. We were in the orchestra pit and it just felt sooo magical.
John was working over the Christmas holiday, so I thought I’d follow him around on all his trips. Read more about that HERE.
At home, finishing my favorite puzzle…
It’s been a lovely Christmas. I wasn’t sure if I’d feel sad this year without Mom and Dad, but I didn’t. I was having too much fun. I kinda like what could be a new tradition of zipping through random airports on Christmas Day. My favorite mornings, though, are still the ones spent with pets and tea in my own living room.
Today I will more than likely be following John around on his trips, so if anyone is traveling through ATL give me a shout! Cheers!