Chirping night!

Last night after the Dems debate we tried to go to sleep. Well, I tried - Ellen went to sleep during the debate. I was about to succeed when a loud "Chirp" broke the silence. What was that? About ten minutes later it "chirped" again. I finally figured out it was the smoke alarm battery telling us it needed to be replaced. I checked the clock - 2:39 a.m.! What to do? Ellen was asleep. The chirp was not waking her. I didn't know exactly where the alarm was. If I got up and turned on the light it would wake Ellen, who I knew was very tired. So I tried to ignore it. But that was hopeless. I considered getting up, turning on the light, finding the alarm and removing the battery. But the ceiling was high and beyond my reach. I would have to stand on something and there was not a chair in the room suitable for that. So about 3:30a.m., I got up and called the front desk. I figured the negligence of management in failing to replace the battery in the fall - as we all should do, right? - esp. If you are running a motel! - required that management pay some price of inconvenience, so I felt no hesitation in calling at that hour. I felt badly for Ellen. That did wake her up. But the guy came pretty quickly, apologized, changed the battery, and that was that. Ellen went back to sleep immediately but I didn't. It was probably 5a.m. before I got some sleep, and then I slept until after nine and woke up when Ellen got up to take a shower. Not a good night.

                          Room 12 at Motel M

We got a good breakfast at Samantha's Restaurant in Angola, IN, which helped. We'll be in Bartlett before 4pm for sure. 

Wauseon, OH

We are in a motel near Wauseon, OH tonight. Just off I-80 SW of Toledo. We'll have a leisurely morning here and an easy drive to Bartlett tomorrow. We had a relatively easy drive today but Ellen did not get a lot of sleep last night so she is tired. So we'll take it easy tomorrow.

Wonderful concert!

               Rainy driving!!

We heard a very beautiful concert this evening by Piffaro, an early music instrumental ensemble, together with a string ensemble, Tempesta di Mare and Choral Arts Philadelphia, a choral ensemble. Music of Praetorius, Scheidt and Schutz. It was held in the Cathedral Basilica of Ss.  Peter and Paul in downtown Philadelphia, near Logan Square, a church visited by Pope Francis during his recent trip to the U.S. Perhaps the most exciting piece was the Praetorius Magnificat, which pulled all the stops. But the whole concert was gorgeous.

Cherry Street and City Hall - we ate at a Fridays near here before the concert 

I stayed home and rested at Wallace's today while Ellen visited Sarah and Harry. I was sorry not to see them but I didn't feel well at all. I feel better tonight for the rest and Ellen had a good time. 

We got to Swarthmore after 10 pm last evening after a long drive, hard rain, heavy traffic and a missed turn that led us to the Jersey Shore instead of Philly and we had to cut across the state on Rte. 70 - way out of the way.

      Cathedral Basilica of Peter & Paul

              The performers

 

              The rector of CBSsP&P greets the audience.

               A side altar

Today (Sat.) we drive toward Chicago, arrive Bartlett, Sunday aft.

About ready

 It's almost 2a.m., but I think we're almost ready for our trip to Boulder. It being  Christmas, with gifts and all, there is more than the usual preparation. Plus, we have a funeral in the morning. We'll go to that all packed and ready to roll, and head for Swarthmore immediately after it ends.

Last night there was a gathering of singing friends at Andy and Robin Davis' house. That was very nice: good food, good conversation and good singing . 

Tony Barrand at last night 's gathering. 

                Peter Amidon and Andy Davis

         Calvin Farwell, Julie Petersen and Jack Wesley, Robin & Andy Davis. 

Two concerts

Saturday was a two-concert day for us - one we attended, the other we sang in. When we came back from the Revels performance Friday evening, we stayed at Katie and Savanna's place instead of going back to Vermont, had breskfasf wiith them Sat. a.m  - scrambled eggs and nice freshly baked muffins-and then headed down to South Hadley Falls to the lovely new Public Library where Brendon was in a concert with the South Hadley Children's Chorus. Each song they sang had some connection to a children's book, e.g., Kipling's Jungle Book, A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, Travers's/Disney's Mary Poppins, etc., so after the children sang a song, the librarian read a portion from the book it was based on. The children sang very well, and it was a charming program.

         Brendon in the chorus.

The setting of the concert overlooking the Connecticut River.

After this concert we had lunch with K, S & B at the Tailgate Deli in South Hadley, and then Ellen and I came back home, picked up some things and hightailed it to Putney for our River Singers concert warmup in the newly renovated Next Stage - the former United Church of Putney now a classy theater and performing arts space. A new venue for us. 

        River Singers warming up

Our marvelous  Rwandan singers: Apollonaire and Enathe.

I led the choir again Sunday morning in Dummerston and then we had a Music committee meeting after church, a second River Singers concert in the afternoon, and a rehearsal of Carmina Burana in the evening. A full day! 

Over the top Christmas decorations

We were going to Dummerston Choir rehearsal Thurs eve on a fairly remote rural road and suddenly came unexpectedly on a house that has Christmas lights beyond belief. This photo does not begin to capture the reality. 

Christmas in Dummerston ! 

Revels

This afternoon we drove to Cambridge to see the Revels. Usually this is a Tolles family event that happens after Christmas, but our going to Colorado for Christmas precluded that. So we went early. The theme this year was Wales - and what a great choice! Lots of beautiful Welsh hymns and carols and songs. The show was at 7:30p.m., but we left a bit after 3p.m., drove to the Alewife Metro Station, parked the car there and took the Metro to Harvard Square and had a little time at the Harvard Coop bookstore before the show. Then afterward we came back to Alewife and drove to Katie and Savanna's because Brendon is in a choral concert Sat. Morning. 

    The Red Line at Harvard Square

The lobby of Sanders Theater. What a magnificent building.

Inside the theater. We were early - this all filled up.

The finale with snow coming down 

Tomorrow evening is our River Singers concert!