While I wasn’t asked to start blogging again, I feel the need to write. And, as I’m asked about this and that of our travels, it seems easier to just write out what we are doing.
Dale and I have been doing lots of traveling, at least it
seems that it is the case when we wonder where we were last week, or last
month. If not traveling, then entertaining for sure.
I’ll start with the main event this summer and then tomorrow
or so, I will discuss the trip we are about to embark on.
First, Dale and I enjoy classical music. We have traveled to
Europe several times to enjoy concerts in several countries. We have since discovered
the Victoria Symphony, and this past season enjoyed several symphonies.
The symphonies we have attended are usually on a Sunday
afternoon. This means going down to Victoria on Saturday, attending the
symphony on Sunday and returning home on Monday. We normally stay at “The Magnolia”,
a small hotel near the harbor and within walking distance of most symphonies.
And within walking distance of a wonderful bookstore and tea shop.
The Victoria Symphony, like many in the US, needs to raise
extra money. For this, the symphony had a sweepstakes selling 5 tickets for
whatever prizes they were. I bought 5 tickets.
I was in the eye Dr for a check-up when I got a phone call
saying that I’d won 1 of the prizes. The prize? A private concert with the
String Quartet. Wow!!! This was one of the prizes I hadn’t really paid
attention to, but really, had just bought the tickets to contribute to the
symphony. I had no idea what this prize would be. And to be honest, had no idea
about what any of the prizes were except the big prize to hear Yo-Yo Ma.
We could have 10 people so 1st we thought about
who we’d invite. One friend, Rick Penner, had just asked, maybe 1 week before,
if we had a string quartet in Victoria and we didn’t know. Well now we knew and
we invited him immediately. We started to ask friends and neighbors who would
like string quartets.
We also thought we’d have a “Downton-ish” type dinner. We
knew that we couldn’t get friends up here to serve but we’d do the next best
thing.
In the end, we turned our home into a symphony hall, seats
in the front row (couch and grandpa chair) and balcony seating. The Quartet, http://emilycarrstringquartet.com was
probably 10’ away from the front seats, right in front of the living room windows
Our guests all had their jobs. Kim Bergman made desserts,
Marty Ediger and Rick and Wanda Penner helped with this-ing and that-ing.
Marquise was to help with lots of stuff. We had instructed everyone on how to
move the table to extend from dining room into living room, where to place
plates, napkins, sterling and crystal. After the concert, everyone moved
quickly and efficiently, and it was perfect. And, if not perfect no one noticed
any problems nor cared. It was perfect for us!
Dinner was really based on Downton dinners we’d already had;
Beef Bourgogne, potatoes, veggies, salad, mushroom Bourgogne, champagne to
toast the quartet and our friends.
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Wow, what a prize. Really great friends, a concert in our
home and good food. It doesn’t get much better!!
