Messiah Sing Out and Play

For the last 25 years, hundreds of singers have gathered in Stanford Memorial Church, to sing and play Handel's Messiah. Instrument players just show up and search for their music. Choral voices gather and belt out both their own voice parts, and any others they've always wanted to sing from basso profound to the highest soprano.  Everybody sings the solos.

Check the schedule at Stanford each year. The Sing It Play It Yourself Messiah is always on the evening of the last day of fall finals.

Don't Prick Your Dear Paws - California Agave In Bloom

Agave in Bloom

Pooch and I both daydreaming

Don't prick your Dear Paws

Between the Raindrops

Fungus - Stanford Arboreteum

Drought - since 2010

But now the mushrooms arise

Welcome El Niño!

Web Resources
http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_29386958/el-nino-not-fizzling-more-storms-barreling-toward

A Musical Evening at Christmas Cottage

I was off rehearsing with  the rest of Stanford Symphonic Chorus this evening, for the new year opening weekend performance at Stanford's spectacular new Bing Concert Hall (they call it "The Bing"). So I had no idea what had been happening elsewhere. 

Turns out that 'whilst I was inhaling the fumes of fresh resins and the crystal tones of the instrumentalists, a fine time was also being had by all  back in Christmas Cottage.

Fa la la la.

(co-published with A California Christmas Cottage)