Playing Jane Austen…

Week-in-Review: 2nd Week of November, 2009

The first week of November wound to a close as we drove along a chill, colorful landscape to North Carolina.  The trip held good anticipation for all of us, as there are so many ties in the state due to our many Fine Arts Summer Academies that have been hosted there.

Sunday found us in a quaint little town called Clayton, playing at a very warm, pretty church, packed with an energetic and fun-loving crowd.  Amongst the audience were many people we knew, and, after the concert, at which we were blessed to have a very talented singer and good friend join with us for the final song, we were able to enjoy some kindred fellowship over delicious lasagna.  

Monday morning we arose before the sun, and were soon driving down the continent toward Florida to meet the thankfully dissipated Hurricane Ida.  The drive was a very long one, stretching over eighteen hours of almost constant gray skies and sprinkling clouds, but we kept our strength up due to the delicious pomegranate seeds and apples that our dear friends had given us for the journey.  The pomegranate seeds were an especial delight, as only God knows how many times I've bought a pomegranate to try to uncover its delicious secret, and had no idea it was hidden in the raspberry-encrusted seeds!

Tuesday we played a rousing and fun concert at a very sweet, welcoming church, and then, when Wednesday came around, we once more woke with the dawn and hit the road in cold and rainy weather.  Thankfully the delectable gifts of seeds and fruit, pistachios and baked goods were there to regale us.

Thursday and Friday were spent at Raleigh's Association of Christian Schools International convention, and a very early sunrise the first day saw us navigating the gigantic building and loading in our gear and merchandise as quickly as we could.  The morning sessions passed by in praise and preaching; the afternoons in seminars and booth-manning.  At the Thursday night concert we were joined by four wonderful singers from FASA, who sang just beautifully on the climaxing song of the evening.  Thanks guys!

Saturday we performed for a very rambunctious, fun crowd in a town an hour-and-a-half away, and then the next morning were blessed to play in the same church's Sunday morning services, at which we heard a rousing and spiritually benefiting sermon.  Sunday night we travelled thirty minutes away to a beautiful little church-building, where we were served delicious food from the church's own and even got to see a bit of Andy Griffith before we played for a packed and welcoming house.

Monday morning we were once again driving down winding country highways in order to escape the rock slide that had effected our original route, and were graced by the lovely farmland and mountains that we passed by.  Gretchen, Jeremiah, and I were even blessed enough to get a run through a bit of meadow in the light of the dusk.

And that's the week-in-review…

~Camille

Jupiter: A Haiku

Three moons 'round red eye

Zeus in a Grecian temple
King of the planets.

By Camille Wolaver

The End of October…

The eye of the storm passed us by in the garb of a quiet week at home, with two free weekends and a couple concerts close to home. We were privileged to play for a whole ballroom filled with young musicians, and then, the next night, to perform at a delicious banquet.

We came home for another empty weekend, and then got up on Monday at three o'clock A.M. to drive to the North-East. The early drive was pretty tiring for the drivers, though the rest of us didn't feel the effects of it so keenly, as we had the blessing of being able to sleep away the hours before dawn in the back of the car. The drive was beautiful, though, especially as we came into the Amish farmland of New England, with its brightly colored maple trees and rolling green meadows.

Finally, after a twenty-hour drive, we arrived in New Jersey. In bed at half-past midnight, out of bed again at five o'clock, and to the church where we set up our gear for the NYC Association of Christian Teachers International (ACSI). After a quick run to Dunkin' Donuts for caffeine-riddled coffee, we were awake and ready to go, and enjoyed the main session immensely. The audience was rousingly energetic, and the speaker very innovative and inspiring.

The day whiled away. We were blessed to be able to meet and interact with many of the teachers there, and I even had time to converse with Gretchen and Benjamin about mine and our favorite topic: books. That afternoon we tore down our gear once more and headed off toward Pennsylvania, breaking up the drive with a refreshing stop at Barnes & Noble, where Gretchen, Benjamin, and I looked eagerly for any Masterpiece Theatre mini-series that we hadn't yet seen. After the rush-hour traffic had slowed a bit, we drove on, finally getting to Jonestown, PA a little after midnight.

Early the next morning we loaded into the church, and had a great time rendezvousing with our good friends there. After playing for the church's school students, we took Javier's parents, who were visiting from Puerto Rico, out to our very favorite restaurant in the whole of New England: the Hershey Pantry. Having been quite delighted by the quaint and pretty atmosphere of the restaurant, the utterly delectable food, and the fun conversations, we went back to the hotel and slept for a couple hours with very warm and fuzzy stomachs.

That night we had a great time playing together for a full and energetic house. Afterwards, we enjoyed getting to catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones as well. Soon duty called, however, and, after tearing down and loading up, we gathered once more into our long-and-tall vehicles, and drove overnight to Boston. There, at about five o'clock in the morning, we were very much blessed by our kind friend, who let us drop our very big automobiles in his driveway. After gathering up our stuff, we journeyed to the airport, and flew on the wings of the mechanical dove back to our home sweet home.

And that's the week-in-review…

October Tidings…

The trees took our breath away. Mountains and mountains of them, rolling past the car window as we drove toward Delaware. Autumn swept through the boughs, encrusting them with gold and rubies; the air felt chillier and chillier whenever we stopped, and, suddenly, we realized that iced green teas at Starbucks seemed a wee bit out of place, and chose instead hot pumpkin-spice lattes. Delectable goodness!

We arrived at Delmarva Christian High-School on a beautiful and blustery morning, and were very happy to be able to come inside out of the cold to the warm greetings of our hosts. A little after noon, we were privileged to be able to perform for a crowd of young folk, and even to hear the high school’s very own praise team sing and play. Afterwards we were amazed to find the room transformed, in the course of half-an-hour, from stage-and-audience to stage-and-banquet in preparation for the morrow, thanks to the work of all the high-schoolers. Many hands make light work!

Afterwards, our group loaded up into our home away from home and drove off down the road to our hotel. The scenery continued to bless our eyes, as we passed several lustrous cornfields and meadows. Finally arriving at the hotel, we unloaded our things and went out to eat at a yummy, local Italian place, with very delicious garlic bread. Returning to the hotel, we rested in the comfortable rooms as we sipped hot drinks, read, wrote, and otherwise amused ourselves till we drifted off to sleep.

Next morning Gretchen, Alex, and I headed next door to the Starbucks and spent a few pleasant, coffee-scented hours reading, studying, and working, and then, after a light lunch, we all drove back down the road to the school.

We sound-checked and then repaired back to our green room, where we were made jolly by the hilarious Far Side comics that graced the room. Soon we were taken to our seats at the banquet. We were all hungry, and the food was very delicious, with beautiful decor, lovely music by some of the school’s own, and enjoyable conversations with the other partakers around the table. After an hour of such pleasant pastime, we stepped onto the stage and played for the audience. We had a great time!

Afterwards, we tore down the set, loaded everything up, and once more hit the road, with the frosty moonlight shining down upon our noble white steed…

She Walks in Beauty Like the Night

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meets in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress

Or softly lightens o'er her face,

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek and o'er that brow

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,––

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

Poetry by Lord Byron

Art by William Bouguereau

Ice Cream in Indiana

Finishing a busy, productive week at home, our family loaded up once again on our good old steeds and galloped down the road to Columbus, Indiana.  Part of us, due to some necessary business that had to be transacted before we left home, didn't succeed in trotting off till late at night.  We girls didn't mind so much, as we quickly claimed the back seats of the car and went off into a deep sleep (the bench seats after seven years of traveling are like second beds to us), though Mama, Alex, and Daddy felt more of the brunt of responsibility, as they were in control of the steering wheel and driving-shotgun duty.  Thanks to some burgers, parfaits, a long phone call with Grandma, and the new mixes of our upcoming album to listen to, we arrived safe and sound early on Sunday morning.

    

After a very good sleep, we awoke and were soon driving to the church, where we were welcomed with luscious hospitality in the form of warm fellowship with some kindred, like-minded people, and a bounteous spread of fruit and muffins.  In addition to these luxuries, we were very happy to experience a great deal of sunny, cool weather, after the continual humidity and rain that Nashville has had for the last two weeks.  

    

The church services were very wonderful, complete with communion and some good theological conversations.  Afterwards, we had another delicious meal provided by the experienced and talented cooks of the choir, and then, when our stomachs were warm and satisfied, we drove to the town's famed Zaharakos.  

    

The ice cream shop and museum will be forever planted on our memories.  Such a unique place, with original 1910s, Norman Rockwell-esque furniture and decor, complete with period soda fountains, neon lights, and marble-topped sidebars.  The boys ordered an array of homemade ice cream and milkshakes, which we girls took many bites and sips of (we couldn't order our own, you see, because then we'd feel guilty, so we just ate everybody else's), and proceeded to the museum, where we were even more amazed at the antique display.  There was a grand old organ, with instruments inside which created a one-man-band sort of musical experience when played; masterpieces of design and architecture in the form of soda fountains built in the shape of marble houses and pump organs (very distinctive in the greatness of making grandeur and beauty inherent in necessary, every-day items), and even enjoyed an old-timey toy and candy shop, where Jeremiah was favored with a period wooden yo-yo.  

    

Having enjoyed ourselves to the full, we took a quick nap back at the hotel and returned to the church for an energetic concert with a full, lively audience.  Afterwards there was yet another delectable feast prepared by some more skilled cooks (Columbus must have some magic in the air, for there was an extraordinary number of gifted chef-artisans!), in which we enjoyed some first-rate conversation with good friends, and then we returned for a short night's rest at the hotel.  

    

Early in the morning we saddled our horses once more and cantered ourselves down the highway for our Tennessee home.  And that's the Week-In-Review!

~Camille