Saturday, February 11, 2012

Wednesday, February 8th,/February 11th, 2012

I am putting in time before Lang Lang begins to play live at Carnegie Hall, - well, recorded Live, - there is a difference I guess.  Schumann, Haydn, Chopin and Liszt.  I look forward to the Liszt, although I don't think anyone plays his music with the elegance of Horowitz.




Days later, - I did enjoy this wonderful program, and went on to listen to a program of Mozart's Requiem, with glorious music and commentary.

If I listened to the Liszt with my eyes closed I could hear in Lang Lang's interpretation an increased maturity. - perhaps it is only his emotional facial expressions that distract me so, - and his waving hand.  Part of the program was verbal, and I was impressed with Lang Lang's enthusiasm for teaching and his empathy with children, so I opened my mind a little, and my heart, and Horowitz moved over a bit to make room for this new enchanter.

When it was all over and I was awash with music I did the go-to-bed chores, and slid in between the sheets, but alas, only for a short while.  Before I had read even a page of my book my prone position encouraged my cough mechanism, and eventually I had to resort to the reclining chair to sleep.  That has been five nights this week that the Cat and I have slept side by side, - me in the chair, and her on the couch....Charles has had the big king sized bed all to himself!

We had a little sunshine this afternoon, and believe me that has been pretty sparse lately......! Lots of fog, reaching right down to the ground and keeping the hills well hidden, so one could imagine oneself wandering around in a pewter bowl.

For the last few days, as Charles began to cough a little too, falling prey to this February virus, we have been very indolent, indulging ourselves with laziness and entertaining ourselves with the dreams that come with the short naps that overtake us.  Some of the things I think about when I am half awake and resting are about the garden, of course.  How can I move that beautiful clematis that has enfolded the remnants of the Russian Olive tree that we tried unsuccessfully to move from the garden before last to the one on the hill?


And if we do manage to move it, where will we put it?

And can I squeeze one of those seeded mats of wildflowers anywhere so we can enjoy the poppies??


and sometimes I dream of daffodils


They are good thoughts to banish the February Blahs, although some a little daunting.

Tonight I will try the bed again, and tomorrow I will get up and make a Birthday Cake.

Charles will celebrate his 88th Birthday.
WOW!!

8 comments:

Penny said...

Happy Birthday to Charles. I hope his cough doesnt develop into anything worse and i hope yours is getting better. Thoughts of gardens and slow days are good, could you not buy another clematis instead of trying to move it?
Still unseasonably cool here but I dont mind at all, I dont look forward to searing heat.

Hildred said...

Oh yes, I could buy another clematis Penny, - I just never thought of it :) We have had this one for about twenty years,and it is so healthy, - and also it is out in the middle of the pasture where the dead olive tree is, and I guess I'd just like to rescue it before it gets sold to someone who isn't a gardener and might just discard it.

Hildred said...

Thank you for birthday wishes, - I will pass them on to Charles!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

How lucky we are to be able to enjoy great music at the push of a button. Have a good birthday, Charles.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Very happy birthday to Charles. I am sure that his days in Coningsby, Lincolnshire seem a very long time ago.

Hope your coughs are soon better. As for your dreams - well I have so many (mostly very pleasant ones) and wake up enthralled with the complications that arise in them.

Sleep well.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh I hope both of you are getting/staying well. Garden planning in February was always fun when we lived in Oregon -- but unlike you, after a while I lost the will to carry through. Still the thought of your beautiful clematis makes me kind of wish....(I need now to go out and walk in the sunshine and dispel thinking of what might have been... by the way, it's a little cold this week here in Florida, leading to those kind of thoughts!)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh and I hope the birthday party was lovely -- I am behind on reading blogs.

Barb said...

Hope you are better today, Hildred. So far so good with Bob & I. We skied today in new snow. Keep dreaming of those flowers - soon enough you'll be getting your hands dirty. Happy Birthday to Charles! (What kind of cake did you bake?) Bob's Dad turns 89 in April.