staying with the high places... being grateful

Hotel Bethlehem Banquet
Originally uploaded by jefg99

The other night I returned to the daily Examen with ashes on my forehead. I am sitting with something I have been trying to ignore and may very well blog about that soon. But let me be grateful for the high places in my life.

I am working on a new collaboration project with Mosaic Woman on this day of a big date. After all the snow I am grateful for the sunny day and wider roadways that have come from gradual melting... we will be able to drive north tonight without weather concerns. A short visit with my parents will be followed by a walk up a hill to the beautiful and historic Hotel Bethlehem where we will say hello to my nephew who works there. He has hooked us up with a window seat overlooking historic Bethlehem and with gift certificate in hand we will dine at 1741 on the Terrace.

You see, when we thought about Christmas gifts this past year, I imagined a big date. Our favorite jazz singer was coming to the area. So we asked my parents for tickets to see Kurt Elling and the rest of the Monterey Jazz Festival on tour. Then asked my sister for a gift certificate for the dinner portion of the evening. There have been and will be many days this winter, which I don't want to see snow. Today may have topped the list. So here is to sunny days and gratitude for dry roads, music, historic buildings, good food, a loving family, and a Mosaic Woman to share the experience.

24 hours our style---- no explosions but really big botanical dates

Since we quit watching TV, word on the street tells me that there is a show called 24 hours. Seeing Mosaic Woman needed a break from craft show delirium, I dragged her on two big botanical dates.

Friday afternoon/night we took the train to Philly to see the big Flower Show (an eat Burmese food at Rangoon)...

see my post over at my other blog to see succulents that caught my eye

to see one souvenir see this post

Then Saturday we went out to see the orchid extravaganza...

 

happening at Longwood Gardens. Ten degrees on Wednesday morning, 70 degrees on Saturday had my nervous system in a twitter, so I grabbed onto this beech for stability and to stretch my shoulder....

the shoulder is happier and recognizing the fact that healing is no direct line, but like life is a roller coaster.

dating and adventures

Mosaic Woman and I try to do plenty of both.

Friday night when left the John Blake concert we were handed a pamphlet for the Berks Jazz festival out in Reading, PA. By the time we fell asleep we had plans for a big date in April.

But first we needed reservations in a historic hotel, but it was filled. So I searched other hotels, but nothing caught our interest and part of the adventure would have been staying where the late night jazz was playing.

So I went a searching and landed at the Cape May Jazz Festival. Now we have been tempted to go in the past, but the emphasis was a bit too heavy on the blues for Mosaic Woman, so onward...

I landed at the Women in Jazz Festival in Washington DC at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Ok, now that is a way to celebrate the beginning of a life shared, but it was the same day as M's spring concert and a gardening workshop I am teaching. onward...

On to our favored place in the Poconos, the Deer Head Inn, but nothing caught our fancy. onward...

So I turned to a closer place, Philadelphia, and we found one amazing jazz concert. Ordered tickets and to make it truly a celebration of our first kiss, booked a room in a historic art deco hotel.

then we went on a cheap date for Valentine's Day. Seniors in the music program at Moravian College give recitals, for free. We showed up in a room filled with folk half our age, well a few years less than half my age. The music by jazz pianist, Jeremy Sweet was just amazing. May he play many more gigs and I just sent him a message at facebook to pass on my best wishes.

now for connections. Friday night we bought a CD by the pianist, Sumi Tonooka, and on the CD she played a cover of Tempus Fugit (this is not smooth, but is cool even if a bit agitating) by Bud Powell. Jeremy Sweet chose that tune for his recital.