Rainy Monday

Rain, rain, and more rain -- yesterday, today, and tomorrow before it clears out.  Texas has been in and out of droughts the last several years - surely all the rain we've received this winter will give us a boost for the summer.  And if nothing else it's great for spring wildflowers (can't wait!! planning on a few day trips just to photograph them).

The weekend was busy, as many of ours tend to be.  A visit to the Houston Symphony is always a great time, but this performance was one of their family series and was held in the latter part of the morning.  We've never attended this type of performance, but will definitely do it again.  Yes there were really small kids there, but it was a really fun and informative experience (and we were in downtown during the day - when we could see things).  I truly believe everyone should see their local symphony perform at least once in their lifetime -- a family type performance might be a great introduction.  Although the music will most likely be familiar (ours was music from the Star Wars music - the actual score/music written by John Williams), to see it played - to watch the string players play (we're a band family - so strings are fascinating to us); the overall experience can be very moving. A bit of trivia we learned from the conductor -- The Battle of the Heroes is the most difficult viola piece John Williams has written.  The viola section was projected onto big screens so we could watch closely -- those musicians had their heads down and fingers flying!!

 Following are a few pictures from the event - taken with my phone, so not as high quality, but not bad either.

Storm troopers infiltrated the orchestra/stage -- they pretended to play the instruments, put rabbit ears behind the musicians (who tried not to laugh), and generally were all over (they were sometimes standing guard in the audience too).

Darth Vader -  yes he made an appearance too -- light saber duel with the conductor who was dressed as Obi-Wan.  The ticket prices were the same for all seats within the hall and we were lucky to get 4 seats in the front row!!  We've decided those are good & bad seats -- good because we (obviously) got a really up close view of action, but bad because we weren't able to see all of the orchestra and maybe get the entire balanced sound of them (but glad we tried it out).

Since it was daytime, we checked out a large sculpture behind Jones Hall.  I admit I am not knowledgeable in art, but this really reminded me of the old Rolie Polie Olie cartoon my kids watched years ago.  (Don't tell the artist Miro!) 

We were finally able to get the extended family together for my birthday supper - a week late.  I'm pretty sure these cupcakes aren't on my diet - but darn they were good.  Thank goodness there was only enough for each of us to have one.

Photography e-course assignment:  explore editing images. Although I added minimal effects/editing I do like the way the image turned out.

Last image details:
102mm macro lens (Nikkor)
macro setting - flash
edited using Photoshop Elements
minor cropping, dark vignette around edges to tone down the brightness and focus attention to the central bright flower bud.  No, brightness, or added saturation.  This is a lemon tree flower bud.  We've had a lot of rain, but for lemon trees - the more rain the juicier the fruit, so an appropriate image for our last several days.

January - A New Entry

A New Entry - several meanings come to mind from these few words.  A new entry into the blog as in a new post, a new entry into the blog as in a new approach (actually still working on that), a new entry into the connected world (although my space is not as popular as others - those darn spammers still found me).   I've been busy, kids, weather, house, work - you name it  - just like everyone else.  Reading everyone else's blogs and yes the dreaded social media - I searched for a better direction for this site.  Yes the blog title is "From All Directions" but it is, as I found out, possible to be a little too scattered (sometimes resembles my real life).  So, as I tiptoe back into this arena hoping to try out new angles, new approaches, new directions - hoping to find one that fits well.  In the meantime - here's a glimpse of what my family and I have been doing with our time the last several months. 

We've all been reading, some required books for school, some for fun.  This time of year I always read - a lot - it is kind of my catchup reading time.  A very small slice of what I've read:

I realized I never read this book.  Saw the movie when I was young and didn't quite understand it - probably early 1970s, but always loved the music.  It was interesting.

 

Another one I had never read - my sister loaned me SEVERAL books and this was in the stack.   I thoroughly enjoyed this book - not because of the subject, but because it really drew me in.  The last 1/4th of the book had me sobbing - it brought me inside its story so much.  I'm sure being a mother of a teenage girl was a starting point to my crying fest while reading.

 

Another author that I hadn't read in the past, but really enjoyed. I have a few more of hers to read on my stack. I also read Remarkable Creatures - enjoyed both and learned a little too.

Of course, we've been to the barn - like the mailman - sleet, snow, rain etc... won't keep us from the barn.  Yes, this picture is dark - purposely to give a little anomonity to my daughter, but still showing the mighty thoroughbred gelding in all his pink accessories.  She's currently working on completing her lettering requirements through USEF.  If you have a high school equestrian - I encourage you to look into this program.  Our school, like many, do not recognize dressage (or any horse riding) as a sport.  - USEF Equestrian Athlete


                                                                               

 

Music, music & more music - Christmas concerts for myself, my son & my daughter.  My daughter (I'm proud to say), made her all-region 9th grade band and the regular all-region band - not many freshman are able to accomplish this.  But I can confirm that no luck was involved - it was purely many many hours of practicing those etudes (even I dreamed about them - brought back my own HS memories of region band tryouts - ack!). 





While we are on music - our family (now that 3/4ths of us are involved in some musical group(s)  - attended the Houston Symphony's performance of The Planets.  We dressed up, ate supper downtown, then thoroughly enjoyed the music.  Just wish I was more familiar with downtown parking - I parked a little too far from Jones Hall - but gave us a chance to get  exercise in.

New Year's Day we decided to join many other people who participated in the First Day Hike.  We skipped the formal group hike, but took our own walk/hike in a nearby state park.  We didn't miss out on the obligatory food (we ate out), but we did miss the hours of sitting around the table afterwards (not a bad thing).  It was nice weather, and nice to get out and stretch our legs.

And finally a word about the weather.  We are along the Texas Gulf Coast - usually mild winters - but the polar vortex managed to find us - sleet, ice, below freezing all day - no fun.  Schools were canceled and we all hunkered down inside and ate (seriously - soup, angel food cake, etc.).  Today's weather forecasters say a high of around 70, but come Tuesday - another round of real winter - I don't like real winter. 

So, if you made it this far through my post - congratulations - it was long - we've/I've been busy.  Currently I'm still reading - making my way through the stack of "to be read" books, drinking hot tea with local unfiltered honey (keeping the allergies away), eating an orange every day (no thank you to flu & colds), and trudging on with the glamorous chores of a household (washing, cooking, bill paying, etc.).   But I've also been making plans, writing notes down of things I'd like to explore & hopefully this year (yes the ideas first came last year at this time) I will follow through with some of them.  I'll keep you "posted" - yes a bad pun.