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Pink snow

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:23:39 -0700

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Marionette opera

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:22:26 -0700

I was vaguely aware that there was a marionette company in Seattle that did an opera production each year. And when it crossed my consciousness I would think, "well that would be interesting to attend sometime."

This year, we did it. And boy am I sorry we didn't take advantage of this sooner. First of all, the production is not for children. But, I wasn't sure who might show up at a marionette opera-- opera people? early music people? (a number of notable early music musicians were performing) -- puppet people? I'm still not sure. It was an older crowd - older even than the symphony crowd - but there wasn't anyone we recognized. We go to enough music in Seattle that we are familiar with a set of "usual suspects" that show up to various types of classical performance.

Donna Anna & Don Giovanni

The opera was Don Giovanni, done in its entirety, with only very minor cuts. Rather than sing the recitative, it was spoken, in English, much of it quite funny (and adult -- again this was not for kids). The English dialog helped move the drama along. But the marionettes were amazing dramatically. It's hard to explain how expressive they were--both in the spoken dialog and the aria singing. The singers (local favorites, including a couple from the Tudor Choir) were accompanied by a string quartet plus flute. They were seated, dressed in black, in front of the stage. The experience was so intimate--it felt like you were in someone's salon. It was an incredible theater experience.

They announced next year's opera, which is Don Quixote. Marionette opera is clearly something we're going to be looking forward to each year. Marionettes have a very interesting history in theater--particularly in Italy--which you can read about here.

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Knitting up next

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:48:46 -0700

I'll have Drake take some photos this weekend of me and the sweater I finally, finally finished. Darn that looped crochet trim almost had me beat. But I would not surrender. Not to the looped crochet trim!

Up next is a shorter, summery project:

Berocco Can-Can

The yarn is beautiful mix of silk, linen, rayon and nylon (I'll be making it in a denim blue color):

"Silk Demin"

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Grilled Mustard-Rosemary Chicken

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:23:55 -0700

Chicken!

We've had an exceptionally busy week, but I did manage to post another recipe over at the Ward Street Bistro: Grilled Mustard-Rosemary Chicken.

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I've got a big backlog of things I want to post about, including an incredible marionette (yes, as in puppets) version of Don Giovanni that we saw last weekend.

But, now I am off to finish some laundry and housecleaning that I didn't get done earlier in the weekend. I've always thought a 4-day work-week would be perfect. Sometimes, there is just so much to cram into those two little days (Saturday and Sunday)...

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Lemon-Pepper Potato Salad

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:23:24 -0700

Summer's around the corner... I hope!

We've had a few warm days here in Seattle, inevitably followed it seems by unseasonably cold weather (it was in the 30's this morning when I got up.)

But, things are "warming up" over at the Ward Street Bistro. This week's post is Lemon-Pepper Potato Salad, a favorite of ours with grilled meat or poultry.

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Opera's man of the hour

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:09:47 -0700

Florez

Ladies and gentleman, I given you Juan Diego Flórez and his phenomenal high C's.

More about the performance (and his encore) here.

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Reasons I love Drake...

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:10:13 -0700

He's funny

He's intellectual

He grills a mean steak.

There are more reasons, but that's all I have pictures for right now. :-)

Photos are from our recent visit to the Orcas House.

And, Chris, if you're reading this post, the sweater in the second picture is the one I knitted with your beautiful Donegal Tweed Yarn. I'll post a full picture of it when it's 100% finished and blocked. I had a devil of a time getting the crochet loop trim right! It was tricky business to get the correct tension on it, so it didn't stretch out or pinch in the sweater. Now all I've got left is trimming one cuff! Yay.

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What's up with Six Apart?

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:40:58 -0700

First, this post yesterday from Techcrunch: Who Did Six Apart Acquire?

Then this in my RSS feed, but then the actual post is nowhere to be found Team Vox blog:

Exciting news?

I've got two Typepad blogs, so if something new is up for their "paying customers" I'm all ears.

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Pasta with Cauliflower

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:47:41 -0700

Mmmm... one of our favorites

Continuing with the pasta theme, my latest post over at the Ward Street Bistro is Pasta with Cauliflower.

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Well, just never mind then...

nobody@vox.com(hp) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:15:39 -0700

Message #1:
An exciting offer just for Seattle Symphony Subscribers!

Symphony giveth

Immediately followed by Message #2:
"Tickets would recall the message: A Special Offer from Seattle Symphony"

Symphony taketh away

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