Otherwise known as “Declaring Blog Bankruptcy.”
The biggest deterrent to writing on this blog is when I have too many past events to write about. Sometimes the best direction is to forego writing about them and press on.
Onwards! Into the . . . present!
We’ve been enjoying a lovely Seattle spring this year. I finally managed to visit the cherry trees at the University of Washington after three previous attempts.
The first attempt was rained out. The second was sunny, but so crowded that we couldn’t even drive on campus. We visited the Seattle Japanese Garden instead:
The third attempt was thwarted by whiny children who said they’d rather stay home.
The fourth time was obviously the charm. Brian got to join me as well, which had mixed results. He is usually so mentally absorbed in his research that it can be difficult to engage him in conversation in the middle of the workday. (I find it endearing.)
The cherry blossom viewing was followed that evening by a fun evening at a tri-ward Pinewood Derby. Eleanor’s car was the fastest of all the girls’ cars, and 3rd place overall. Way to go, Ellie! (William won the prize for “sleekest.”)
Then on Saturday Brian and I got to hear our three eldest perform in “Sacred Space,” the spring choral concert by the Seattle Children’s Chorus (SCC). The choir directors were very excited about the performance space : St. Mark’s Cathedral.
This is an Episcopal cathedral in the city; it was a very special if unusual building. The walls were made of a not-incredibly-attractive combination of brick and industrial concrete; the ceiling was made of coffered wood; there were traditional hanging-chain chandeliers. The main oriel window was covered with a glass-and-steel modern interpretation of a rose window.
I am sad to say that this was the first SCC concert that our children moaned an groaned about. They enjoy going to choir rehearsals but don’t like concert days. I can’t blame them, they are long. Between rehearsal and performance time, our kids were at the cathedral for five hours. Yikes.
But it was beautiful! Among other songs, William’s choir (Brio) performed John Rutter’s “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and Jeff & Ella’s choir (Intermezzo) sang an arrangement of Franck’s “Panis Angelicus,” as well as other works by Rutter and Vivaldi. All of the music was from the sacred Christian tradition, which was unusual but not surprising for SCC. I was taking notes of which SSA choral pieces I want to perform at church with my friends.
Casa Camisas 