My View of Life on the Dock
I heard Abbey Lincoln singing “Up Jumped Spring” on the radio while driving to Passports this morning to meet my friends for brunch–the lyrics couldn’t have been more perfect! Up jumped spring time – so Hello my friends!
Joey and Susan -Fujifilm x100 photo
Susan and Paul -Fujifilm x100 photo
Ed and Rick -iPhone 4S photo
Donna and Greg -iPhone 4S photo
Greg and Joey -iPhone 4S photo
The photos of Grace Church and Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana) were sent to GMG by my daughter Liv- a preview of blossoms to come (NYC is several weeks ahead of Gloucester in spring flowering).
Grace Church, a gothic revival masterpiece, was designed by James Renwick, Jr. when he was only 23 years old. The church was consecrated on March 7, 1846. Grace Church is located at 802 Broadway, NY, NY.
Joey you are the best!!! Thank you for teaching me how to live blog!
View from my bedroom window this morning
The iPhone 4S camera is not bad! I love that it captures color fairly accurately.
Thank you Sawyer Free for letting GMG know about the promo passes! The ICA is great fun for an afternoon and this is a terrific deal–especially when you total the cost of parking and meals after spending the day in Boston.
In looking for music for my butterfly documentary film I heard a very beautiful folk version of “Simple Gifts,” then found the John William’s recording, “Air and Simple Gifts,” with YoYo Ma and Itzhak Perlman created for Obama’s inauguration, which led to discovering Aaron Copland’s score for Martha Graham’s Applachian Spring (1944). The melody is perfect for my film. I then fortuitously ran into Kathleen Adams, the music director of the Annisquam Village Church, and Liv’s former teacher and mentor, at a cocktail party, and asked her advice. Kathleen graciously volunteered to share her talents and offered she and the church to record “Simple Gifts.” While Liv was home over spring break she very sweetly offered to sing.
Finding copyright free music is difficult and costly. I am eternally grateful for Kathleen and Liv’s gifts and generosity. Kathleen recommended Phil Davis, who is an expert in recording classical music and artist in his own right.
Kathleen Adams and Liv standing next to the gorgeous organ that Jeremy Adams, Kathleen’s husband, built for the Annisquam Village Church
I can’t wait for you to hear Liv and Kathleen’s rendition, played as written and with their beautiful improvising!
Although many people think that the tune of ‘Simple Gifts” is a traditional Celtic song, “Simple Gifts” was an American Shaker dance song written in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett. The song has been widely adapted. Perhaps the best known example is “Lord of the Dance,” published in 1963, which was then used without coyright permission for Michale Flatley’s dance musical Lord of the Dance.
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
When true simplicity is gain’d,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
My beautiful son, born on the first day of spring, during a snow storm, March 20, 1993.
Alex, on his first day of college this past September. I don’t have too many recent photos of Alex; he was in the camera shy stage for all his high school years–although lately I am getting the feeling he doesn’t mind so much his Mom with her cameras.
Best friends favorite breakfast of bacon and chocolate chip pancakes and strawberry smoothies ~ Shaffy, Alex, Sam, Mike, Cam, and Andrew
Alex and Liv August 2006
Preparations are full underway at the Ciaramitaro-Mohan’s–just a preview of the wonderful San Giuseppe feast dishes we will be highlighting in our upcoming videos!
Oranges for the sweetness in life, lemons for the bitterness, and bread is the staff of life
San Giuseppe bread
So many thanks to the Orlando Family for again opening their home and hearts.
Joe, Maryann, and Grandma Orlando
The singing and prayers are beautiful. We recorded an entirely different selection of songs (compared to the previous evening), followed by a delicious and lovely spread of homemade pastries and cakes, with much laughing and joke telling in the family’s kitchen.
Rosalie and Maryann
Maryann’s Sister Vickie
Felicia’s Viva San Giuseppe Bread
Vintage angel figurine
To read the extensive GMG coverage and see Joey’s videos from last year’s Novenas, go to the GMG search box and type in Novena.
I was touched beyond measure when Felicia invited my husband and I to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph with she and her family, and to record the traditional songs and family Novenas throughout the city.
Orlando Family Alter
Rosalie and Maryann Orlando created a stunning alter; even the curtains are color co-ordinated to match their color scheme of plum, rose, lavender, and white.
Rosalie Orlando and Felicia
Last night we recorded every song and tonight we will record the music again because the same songs are not sung every night. Then tomorrow night we will visit all the Novenas throughout the city in what Joey referred to as the “crawl’ and what Felicia calls “Italian Trick or Treat.” And then for the magnificent feast at Felicia’s home on Monday night… Stay tuned for much more to follow.
Pat, Lillian, and Phyllis sharing a joke…
After prayers and singing a delicious supper was served, with pizza made by Joe Orlando, salad, and homemade pastries. My deepest thanks to the Orlando family for allowing me to film thier beautiful family tradition. And for the very warm welcome to their lovely home, wonderful dinner, and much laughter!
To read the extensive GMG coverage and see Joey’s videos from last year’s Novenas, go to the GMG search box and type in Novena.
The Women’s Fund of Essex County is hosting their annual fundraising event at the Brookwood School, 1 Brookwood Road, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, April 4th, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
Power of the Purse is a ladies’ evening of fabulous hors d’oeuvres, wine, and purse raffle. Proceeds help fund special projects and annual grant awards made by The Women’s Fund to Essex County non-profit agencies that fund programs supporting women and girls in need.
The cost is $35 and $40 at the door. For more information contact the Women’s Fund.
Just one of the elegant purses that will be raffled at the event ~
Kate Spade Crocodile Embossed Bag
I wonder where the bowling alley was in relation to where the Beacon Marine is now?
My darling daughter is home from grad school for a few days during spring break. I adore her and we just have the best time together.
iPhone 4s photo ~ Liv and Rosie
My husband gave me a new iPhone for my early birthday present, while Liv is home, so that she can show me how to use it. My previous phone, a fossil from the Stone Age (as my son Alex often referred to it as) was not fun to use. When Siri started talking to us, I was just on the floor laughing in amazement.
iPhone 4S photo
I am in the process of organizing photos for my upcoming season of garden design lectures and am enjoying looking over the past year in photos. This was my first year with the Fujifilm x100 and the photo of the flowering quince below was one of the first photos I took with the x100. I do love this camera!
Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo-Nishiki’
Coaxing Winter Blooms
From mid-February on is the recommended time to prune members of the copious Roseaceae (Rose family) and their cut branches create stunning arrangements. The bare limbs dotted with five-petalled blossoms are particularly evocative juxtaposed against the cool, low light of winter. I am picturing the plum rose of Prunus cerasifera ‘Thundercloud,’ the vivid pink of peach blossoms, the elegant sparkling white blossoms of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca), and the brilliant fiery red-orange ‘Texas Scarlet’ Japanese flowering quince illuminating the rooms in which they are placed. I have to say my favorite of favorites is Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo-Nishiki,’ with buds swollen and ready to burst by mid-winter and flowering in multiple hues of white, rose, and apricot pink, the beauty of their blossoms emphasized by the sharply zigzagging branches.
Note: Flowering quince provides nectar for northward migrating hummingbirds. It is not too early to put out your hummingbird feeders.
More information about Chaenomoles ‘Toyo-Nishiki’ may be found in Chapter Three, “Planting in Harmony with Nature,” Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!
Reminder: Open House today from 2 to 6 PM to celebrate the completion of Opus 143, a two-manual, 21-stop organ. C.B. Fisk is a premiere and internationally recognized builder of organs. Their workshop and headquarters are located in Gloucester. If you have never been to an open house at the C.B. Fisk workshop, you are in for a very special treat. Delightful music provided by guest organists trying out the new instrument may be heard throughout the afternoon and refreshments are typically served. Opus 143 will then be dismantled, shipped to it’s new home in China Grove, North Carolina, and then installed there.
The photo is of the 1/16 scale model for Opus 143
C.B. Fisk is the first (and I believe only) American company to have ever been awarded the commission to design and build an organ for a European cathedral.
Cathedrale de Lausanne, Switzerland
C.B. Fisk is located at 21 Kondelin Road, Gloucester. Phone number: 978.283.1909
Link to Cape Ann TV Interview with Willy Wonka Cast
There are four performances for this year’s 2012 O’Maley School Drama Club musical, featuring a double cast and 75 talented middle school students in the cast and crew.
Evening performances are Friday, March 9th and Friday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m. Matinee shows are on Saturday, March 10th and March 17th at 1:00. Tickets ($5.00 students/seniors and $7.00 adults) can be purchased 30 minutes before the show in the O’Maley School Auditorium. Call Leslie Sellers at 978-281-9850 if you need more information.
I am glued to my office hour upon hour editing footage for butterfly film as well as photographs for upcoming lectures, though longing to get out and photograph on this gorgeous day. My goal is to have all accomplished before the garden design season is full underway. Fortunately I have our sweet dog and cat to keep me company and they are curled up in their individual and jealously-guarded-chairs. Making work even more enjoyable is the epiphyllum, which is in full, intoxicatingly fragrant, bloom.
Happy Gorgeous Day!
Epiphyllum ~ I am unable to share the name of this species because it was obtained without an identifying tag from a plant sale.
Good Morning Gloucester 