Trip to Washington DC

view from Kennedy Center

On Tuesday afternoon, we car-pooled up to Washington, DC, to see Shanbehzadeh Ensemble perform at the Kennedy Center. We felt like crazy fans, groupies following our band around. How fun! We weren't allowed to take photos of their performance but you can see it here:  http://www.kennedy-center.org/millennium   The performance was 15 minutes longer than those at the Richmond Folk Festival. Wow, what energy. We were sad when it was over and they packed up all of their instruments into their friend's vehicle for the next leg of their tour. They will be in New York City on Saturday the 16th and then on to the west coast, followed by Canada, before they return home to Paris. We had an intense week of bonding! We miss them already.

K Street by the Potomac River

Afterwards, we went down to K Street for some food. We sat near the Potomac, eating on a patio, amazed by our experience, before heading back down the pike to Richmond.

Diversions

What a spread

impromptu jam session

We have been very lucky in our life to have unexpected experiences. This weekend, we had a big diversion from our feelings about the loss of our sweet pup. It was the Richmond Folk Festival event. Three days of music! For us, the event actually started the previous weekend. Because of an e-mail I received through an organization  to which I belong (RPEC) I was able to connect the Iranian music group, Shanbehzadeh Ensemble, to a host family. They were coming a week earlier and needed a place to stay until their festival lodgings became available. We had a small dinner for them at our house a week ago Sunday. We invited our Persian friends to join us and everyone brought wonderful food to share.

We didn't think they'd play music while at our house, but Habib spotted my husband's kunga drums and tuned them up. Then Naveed, our son's friend started to improvise on the piano and Naghib joined him. There was clapping and dancing and even some joke telling by Saeid. We had so much fun that we became instant groupies.

At the Folk Festival,  first night

This weekend, we went to three of the performances given by Shanbehzadeh Ensemble. The audiences loved them. They'll be playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC tomorrow and we may just follow them up there. Groupies!

Otrov

On Saturday evening we went to hear La Exelencia, a salsa dura group. It was sooo hot but we danced anyway. What energy. On Sunday, the festival closed at 6 p.m. so we got there early to hear more. We heard Otrov, a band that played Croatian music on tambouritza. They were really good and the crowd loved them. In the near distance a young woman was dancing with a hula hoop, looking very much like she was doing belly dancing to the music of the group.

the audience

New Yellow Hat

The James River

After Otrov, we moved over to the stage to hear Shanbehzadeh again. It was sooo sunny and hot at that point that I went in search of a hat (having forgotten to bring one from home) and found a bright yellow one for only $10.  We found a shady spot along the river behind the stage where we could still hear the music. A nice peaceful view.

listening to rockabilly

We then made our way to the next stage area to hear a Rockabilly band, Deke Dickerson & The Ecco-tonics with Daryl Davis. They rocked it. People would explode with applause. We found a couple of seats in the shade where we could hear, though not see, the band.

La Exelencia

Golden sunset

La Exelencia played in this same tent, the dance pavilion, so when one group ended we just moved inside to dance salsa. The floor was not as crowded as it was on Saturday night so we had room to move around but it was still very hot. We had met up with some friends, which made it even more fun. We all danced!

A tall friend of ours kindly held up my camera to capture this photo of the band. What fun. What a terrific diversion. We headed home as the sun was setting, a golden sunset, the end of a really wonderful weekend.

I think this is the longest post I've ever done. I hope you enjoyed the Richmond Folk Festival! If Shanbehzadeh comes to your city, try to see them. You won't be sorry you did.   Today,  my calves hurt from dancing salsa in clogs (not recommended) and I'm still feeling the loss of our pup, but happy that we heard lively music and made some new friends.

Feeling blue.

Taking a rest, recently

This afternoon, we said goodbye to Smitty. He came into our lives, from the city pound, 15 years ago (this past July) and was a great little dog. He was, as we say, house trained from the start, and didn't bark until he'd been with us for months. We thought he had no voice! He wasn't afraid of being hit, if we picked up a broom or newspaper, but didn't like big boots. He didn't shed, which we thought was a big plus though we didn't realize that until much later.  We weren't planning on keeping him, I was just getting him out of the pound to rescue him from certain death, but within three days, he charmed us with his bouncy fun personality and cute face. He wasn't sure about being picked up or held on a lap. He'd keep his legs out stiff. Gradually, he realized he was with his pack, and truly became our dog.

Studio Portrait 1995

I'm feeling sad but it was time. We had to make sure. We didn't want it to be about us, the constant cleaning up the kitchen floor from accidents, or the inconvenience of not being about to take a trip, but rather about his quality of life.

On the porch, snoozing

Our veterinary doctor was wonderful. She was so sweet to him and to us. We're sad, but it's okay.

Taking a stroll

Mail Art sent!

Sent to Greece

 Hopefully these make the deadlines for their respective exhibits.

Sent to Poland

Luke arrived today!

Luke

Luke arrived today! I found out about him and other Neurons on Dude Craft the other day. I really liked the story behind the Neurons and couldn't resist having one live with me. It was hard to make a choice because they are all so appealing. Read their story here, at Neuron Rebellion. He's just so cute! And he arrived in his own brown bag traveling case cleverly closed with a twig (actually this was also in a box to protect it during shipping.) Read all about it and tell me if you think I picked the cutest one?

My book club

I was invited to take part in the same book club that my son is in. He thought I'd enjoy it, since they read some interesting books, and though I'm a voracious reader, have never been in a book club.   Neat thing: my club is a book and cake club. My son, however, brings home popped spicy popped corn every time and everyone loves it.  So the special thing about this club, aside from good cakes,  is that we've been able to do some different things. We read A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan and we got to speak with the author via speaker phone! My son did her web site. See it here. That was very cool and we learned a lot. Two books later, we read Ashes to Water by Irene Ziegler who happens to be a local author, and guess what? Irene actually came to the club meeting to speak with us in person. How sweet is that? See Irene's site here. These two books are so worth reading. Check out some reviews of them, read about the authors, read their books. They're very cool women, and good writers. Next book we're reading is Rat Girl. I'll let you know if we get to speak with the author!

The wedding!

Sara and Carlos got married!

Sara

papel picado and lights

flowers in tins and attendant bouquet

This past Saturday, Sara and Carlos had their wedding. It turned out wonderfully. Sara and Carlos loved their day so much  that they "want to live in their wedding." The children, and there were lots of them, stayed over at the kids table, ate snacks, played, even the couple's darling boy, happily ate his lollipop (he rarely gets them.) The guests participated, joining in the blessing of the rings and singing. The reception was a lot of fun. A pavilion was decorated with papel picado, all cut out by Sara, and table flower arrangements in reproduction vintage tins done by my honey, tiny lights lit up the space. Lots of dancing, good food and drink, happy crowd.  The dress looked fabulous, the bustle ribbons worked!! Sara looked like a Spanish movie star (or what we think that one might look like.) The whole event was magical. Now back to daily life. Oh darn!