This and That

Our singing series has finally come to an end.  It was a fun-filled time as you might be able to see from the picture below.  Here we are singing a crazy number called, "The Orchestra Song", where everyone becomes in instrument.  It turns into a chaotic form of harmony that gives us all a good laugh.  I'm sad and glad that it is all over.

Shortly after our singing ended, Audrey and Isaiah drove over to spend the weekend with us.  Well, not exactly with us.  Granddaughter-in-law Morgan was having a baby shower in Blackfoot and Audrey wanted to go.  Isaiah wanted to go to spend some time with his brother Chase.  I wanted to go too so the three of us drove the 4 hours to Blackfoot last weekend for a two hour time there for the shower, then drove 4 hours back.  Somehow the driving felt tedious, but it was worth it to support Morgan and the shower crowd was welcoming and friendly.  We loved spending time with Audrey and Isaiah too.  Audrey is very good to visit with; she has such a great capacity for putting her thoughts into words.  So we talked a lot.  And we permed our hair.  And we went shopping and bought some shoes.  The time together passed quickly, as it always does.  By last Monday afternoon they were on their way home.  I always mourn a little when my kids leave me.  Even now.  

Here are Audrey, Isaiah and me, just before they left.

On Tuesday I drove to Draper to visit Bob and Maryanne.  I asked several people to drive over with me but no one could.  Layne wanted to stay home this time.  So I drove alone.  I found it pleasant enough.  I passed the time listening to General Conference talks.  Before I knew it I was parking in front of their home on a beautiful spring day.  We spent three days bonding, mostly over genealogy.  Maryanne was telling me how easy it is to find family information online now.  She decided to demonstrate that by finding family names for our neighbors here, the Wilkeys.  Maryanne found information in all sorts of online places and had so much fun doing it that I had to beg her to stop so we could go to bed.  She was off and running the next morning, searching for more information.  I believe the Wilkeys will be thrilled when I show it to them.  Maryanne is a great family detective.  "Hum," she will say.  "That didn't work; let's try this..."  And so it goes.  I so admire that.  When my plans don't work the first time I have a tendency to just decide it can't be done.  Bad, Bad, Bad!

Here is Maryanne and me.  Her hair is slowly growing back after her brain surgery.  Here she sports hair about an inch long.  

The sights from the Berrett home are beautiful, since they live on top of a mountain.  I could not resist take a few pictures of the view.  It is always fun to be with family.  Maryanne and I get along quite well and she puts up with my constant suggestions of things I think would make her life easier.  Her brain surgery has greatly improved her functioning, which I was so happy to see.  We managed to get some of her projects done.  We sorted her closet and I came home with some of her rejects; mostly shoes, which, if you know me at all, is a happy thought indeed.

View from the back yard.

                            

                                                View of the Berrett's back yard.

 I drove home on Saturday.  It was a particularly lovely day and the traffic was light, even through the Salt Lake Valley.  With one fill-up and some snacks I drove through Utah and into Idaho.  The highway was not crowded and the sights were beautiful.  I've come to love the drive between Idaho and Utah.  I listened to more of General Conference until my eyes began to glaze over.  Then I turned on some music and sang all the rest of the way home.  I felt happy and peaceful.  It was a wonderful drive!

As always it is good to be home.  I missed my man and meeting up with him was a particular pleasure.  He fixed my sewing table while I was gone.  He often does something special for me when I travel without him.  It is always a happy surprise to see what he comes up with.  The table looks better than it ever has.  So we are back to our routine, filled with all sorts of activities and commitments.  Speaking of that, we are off to another...you guessed it...addiction group.

Singing With Rayne

I never imagined myself a singer.  Ever.  Well maybe, but only in very large groups.  But singing with my Treble Clef group has pressed me into a whole new world of music.  Perhaps you will remember that this is a group of women who sing to senior groups of all sorts and, sometimes, to community groups.  We earn money with each performance and donate it to charity.  I've been singing with them for several years now and I feel myself transforming into something of a minor singer.  Nothing truly special, but now able to sing in a duet, or even, shudder, ALONE.  Since our audiences are very accepting of any effort on our part, stretching into singing is not very intimidating.  And that has made a big difference in my level of musical stress.

We are in the midst of our spring concert series, finishing up this coming week.  Our series of songs is light-hearted and happy.  Layne continues as our token man, beloved by all the girls in the group.  Bonnie, our leader, makes sure to pick a song to suit his bass voice, so he sings a solo with every concert.  He's never soloed before, so even he is stretched by this experience.  But his strong bass voice moving through his song is lovely.  Our narrator, getting a little carried away in introducing him at one of our performances, called him the "Lovely Layne".  We've had quite a bit of fun referring to him since as the Lovely Layne.  The audiences seem to especially love his singing.  You can hear a sample below.  He and I sing a duet too--Singing in the Rain, complete with an umbrella, which provides a bit of humor as we trade it back and forth throughout the song.

Here's the "Lovely Layne" singing "Sing Baby Sing."  Below is a picture of our duet, "Singing in the Rain".

"Singing in the Rain"

All of this singing fills our days for the three weeks we are performing.  But I have come to love it, as I learn how to sing with this group and move to the music.  It has become a source of growth, friendship and fun.  It ends for our spring season this coming week.  Then life will return to normal.

                                   Part of our singing group singing "The Orchestra Song".

In the midst of all this singing, our granddaughter Rayne came to visit.  She arrived Saturday of last week and stayed through the weekend.  So she was pressed into service taking pictures at some of our Monday performances.  We had such fun with her. She and I walked the path along the Boise River one morning.  I suggested that we take the path on the other side of the River to return, which we did.  Then we got lost.  Let me clarify, I, who live here, got lost.  Rayne, who has never been on this trail. knew where we were and how to get back.  Hum.  Do you think I might have a little problem with direction?  I have come to think that I am definitely losing my sense of direction.  It used to be so good!

                                   Rayne and me along the trail beside the Boise River.

The Boise River, at a high point from the release of the Winter melt.

Our lovely Rayne, on her last day with us.

In addition to singing, we are also in the process of visiting all of the addiction groups we are supervising now.  Rayne accompanied us on one of those visits also.  Poor girl got exposed to much more than she planned on, I'm sure.  So, between singing and visiting addiction groups, we are much busier than normal.  Somehow I've got to find a way to fit all I want to do into my schedule.  Oh yes, even in my older age there are times when I feel a little overwhelmed!  I didn't imagine it would be like this at this time of life.  But I suppose being stretched into new territory is good for us at any age. Right now is a stretching time.