Except for teaching the two online classes, I spent the entire day in bed with three of five dogs. The seniors, Chief and Erma, spent their time on the cushions near the bed.
I went into my study to eat some soup and veggies while The Fab Five played. Well, Col. Deeds played and the others obliged and tolerated him. However, Deeds and Harrigan spent a good deal of time playing in the bedroom while the rest of us remained in the study.
It’s just after 10 PM and I am back to the bedroom for more documentaries and snuggle time.
On March 10, 1917 Orville brought home a St. Bernard puppy he named Scipio. Orville’s father, Milton, wrote about Scipio in his diary that day: “Scipio came. He weighs 16 pounds. He is a St. Bernard dog. He is a good-looking puppy.”
[From National Pure Bred Dog Day] “Orville Wright bought his St. Bernard puppy from Nina Dodd’s White Star Kennels in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1917. He paid $75 for the dog which today, would be about $1400. He collected the dog he would name “Scipio” with his nephew, telling the boy only that they were going to the train station to meet “Mr. Bernard.” By then, his brother, Wilbur, had been dead for five years, having succumbed to typhoid fever.
We think it means something that so many pictures of “Scipio” were taken. There are photos of “Scipio” stretched out on a Persian rug, photos of “Scipio” frolicking among the hawthorn trees, photos of “Scipio” snoozing on a front porch, or riding in a canoe on Lake Huron. Even more revealing is that when Orville Wright died many decades after his beloved “Scipio,” there were pictures of the dog tucked in his wallet.
We think there’s another important aspect of these pictures. Breeders have done a fine job of preserving type.”
Images: Scipio also shown with Orville Wright, and his sister, Katharine Wright, at their Oakwood, Ohio, home, Hawthorn Hill, and at their Canadian retreat, Lambert Island.
It’s an overcast day but still fairly nice outside.
I finished my Wednesday online classes and then hurried to Dayton International Airport to retrieve Mama Kay and Sue. They had a fantastic time in Arizona.
Yesterday afternoon I began feeling sluggish and achy, and it increased as the evening wore on. This morning has been rough but I see rain is coming in and the barometric pressure change is taking hold.
It’s time to teach my online classes in 15 minutes. I am already eager to snuggled with the pooches and watch some documentaries.
It was a gorgeous day. I spent some time on the deck while The Fab Five played. Deeds could not decide with whom to play with the most. He darted between the other four and had a marvelous time. Chief, who is showing his age and infirmities, does not play, but he does seem to enjoy Deeds’ company.
I did manage to clean the kitchen and get a load of dishes into the dish washer, but, I relaxed until it was time to teach.
Rita adjusted my schedule so I could go next door to hear the Sinclair Community College concert band and wind symphony. What a damned good concert! Michael Berning, Fairmont High School’s lead conductor, is now conducting the SCC bands and the program was so nice. Vocalist and teacher, Stephanie Voelker, was featured on Eric Whitacre’s “Goodnight Moon,” and Frank Ticheli’s, “Angels in the Architecture.” Stephanie was brilliant!
I learned that my aunt, Jenny Jolliff, has had a stroke. My cousin, Sam, wrote that she is doing fine, but there will be more tests run.
It’s a quarter past ten and I am already feeling inclined to move to the bedroom to watch some documentaries.
It was a beautiful day and I accomplished two things on my list: take a ton of broken-down boxes to the recyclable bin at the landfill and get a photo, or two, of Col. Deeds at The Deeds Family mausoleum at Woodland Cemetery.
The day’s weather, following several days of rainy cold surroundings, could not have been more accommodating. I threw a large bath towel onto the front seat and the little fellow sat, looking out the window. The cemetery was busy with hikers, cyclists, walks, and several burial ceremonies. We wound through the spacious, manicured lawns to the southeast section and parked before the impressive monument of Col. Edward Deeds and Edith Walton Deeds.
In November 2000, I took my new puppy, Flyer, to The Wright Family gravesite and she immediately scampered to Wilbur Wright’s grave where she plopped herself down. I later learned that Wilbur, in 1908-1909, while demonstrating their new flying machine in France, adopted a little mut which he named, “Flyer.”
Deeds, who has not been trained on the leash, was very cooperative and quickly made his way up to the monument without any resistance. I took several photos of him and then he became more interested in, and eager to investigate the balloons and crowd gathered across the road at the children’s burial portion.
I got Deeds into the car and we drove to the tallest point in Woodland Cemetery to catch the breathtaking view of Dayton.
We opted to not get photographs at gravesites of The Wright Family, Erma Bombeck, and Johnny Moorehouse, who is depicted in a sculpture with his dog who rescued his body after drowning in the canal.
It’s not a very attractive day, but it is what it is and my job is to make my day more energetic and attractive.
In a while, I have a meeting at The Schuster Center of the Performing Arts, and then I may lunch at my favorite Chinese haunt that is downtown. I have some items to return to Meijer so I may accomplish that while I am out and about.
Tonight, Laura and I are planning on a fish fry dinner. Tomorrow, we will see RENT with Springboro Community Theatre, and then, I am back to my regular schedule of teaching on Sunday.
Col. Deeds has officially been a part of The Haasienda one full month. He is fun, fast to learn, entertaining and energetic, an affectionate snuggler, curious, and growing. Deeds’ legs are now getting that spindly-look and he can no longer walk right under Chief’s belly. His high, squeaky bark is maturing and more tolerable on the ear.
The game changer has been Harrigan who is always serious and not playful. While Harrigan is highly affectionate with me, she is not a companion to others. I figured Erma would be Deeds’ playmate but it is Harrigan who spends more time playing with him. Bailey remains distant and still snarls at him; and she probably always will. I am astonished, but so proud of Harry!
We don’t have the beautiful warm weather that kept us spring-hopeful of the previous few days, but this morning is still quite nice with a temperature of 42 degrees.
Last evening, I agreed to meet a former student, now performing in New York City, for dinner down at Austin Landing since he was driving up from his parents’ home in Cincinnati. Before me was a most incredible and spectacular lightning storm. Fortunately, the rain held off until I was inside the restaurant; however, Cameron and I were feeling a bit leery at our window table with the lightning striking low.
Every morning, I finish my cereal and allow Erma to have the remaining milk. Col. Deeds finishes cleaning the bowl once Erma’s work is completed. He sits obediently, even proudly knowing he has a task at hand.
I have several things I wish to accomplish this morning.
Make it a great day!
“I Saw Two Clouds At Morning”
By John Gardiner Brainard
I saw two clouds at morning, Tinged by the rising sun, And in the dawn they floated on, And mingled into one; I thought that morning cloud was blest, It moved so sweetly to the west.
I saw two summer currents Flow smoothly to their meeting, And join their course, with silent force, In peace each other greeting; Calm was their course through banks of green, While dimpling eddies played between.
Such be your gentle motion, Till life’s last pulse shall beat; Like summer’s beam, and summer’s stream, Float on, in joy, to meet A calmer sea, where storms shall cease, A purer sky, where all is peace.
I finished breakfast, surrounded by The Fab Four and settled down to watch a documentary with Bailey snuggling on my neck. Harrigan and Deeds are snuggled at my feet.
I just finished a documentary on Kaiser Wilhelm II, Queen Victoria’s eldest grandchild. Now, I’m on a documentary of Queen Victoria’s final years.
Today is the birthday of one of my favorite people, my high school Latin teacher, Diana Garner, who has been a constant in my family’s life since 1979. My siblings also had Mrs. Garner for Latin and our mother adored her just as much as we did.
Natalis dies, Magistra Garnera!
I will teach my two online classes and then take off for north Dayton to collect Mama Kay and her cousin, Sue, from the airport. They’ve been with Kay’s older sister in Arizona for the week.
Monday, the windows and doors were open. Tuesday, the windows and doors were closed and a coat was needed. Still, the day was beautiful.
Until it was time to teach my on-line classes for my friend, I remained in bed watching documentaries. I finished teaching my in-person lessons earlier because of OMEA preview concerts and my Zoom students from the western USA are in technical and dress rehearsals for musicals.
Tomorrow, I will retrieve Mama Kay and her cousin, Sue, from the Dayton International Airport after teaching my on-line classes.
Deeds certainly keeps the balance of The Haasienda moving like a teeter totter! The older four seem a bit rejuvenated.
There were many hard working students, today, and I am both proud and grateful for all their fine efforts.
Tomorrow, before teaching a class on Zoom for a friend on sabbatical, I am hoping to run to one of the Goodwill stores to find some jeans and slacks with smaller waist sizes. All my pants are now too wide and I’m down to my last belt holes.
Earlier today, I took to my bed to relax and was joined by Bailey on my pillow while Harrigan and Deeds snuggled at the foot of the bed. I must say, I am so astonished and thrilled with how Harrigan has really stepped up to the plate to accept Deeds. I would never have guessed her to be so loving with him. Col. Deeds seems to adore her.
When I’m at the piano, Deeds loves to sleep near my feet. I always have to check to make certain he’s not on the foot pedals.
Okay, I am heading to bed. I’m not feeling up to par and have no energy or desire to work any further into the night. All is quiet on The Haasienda front; the Fab Five is sound asleep and motionless.
We have been blessed with another beautiful day in The Miami Valley and I wish I had the time to go outside and walk but the day has gotten away from me.
Last evening, Laura and I had a delicious dinner at Chuy’s at Austin Landing before heading to Springboro Community Theatre to see RENT. I had never visited their new facility at the corner of Central Avenue (OH-63) and Springboro Pike (OH-741). The theatre is so nice and quite comfortable.
The Fab Five was so glad to see me. I was gone from 5:30-11 PM, the longest I have been away from this crew since Deeds’ arrival.
I woke up this morning to find Deeds wrapped around my neck. The rest of his morning was spent playing with the others.
I have an hour before teaching commences until 11:30 PM.
Col. Deeds has officially been a part of The Haasienda one full month. He is fun, fast to learn, entertaining and energetic, an affectionate snuggler, curious, and growing. Deeds’ legs are now getting that spindly-look and he can no longer walk right under Chief’s belly. His high, squeaky bark is maturing and more tolerable on the ear.
I took advantage of a couple of additional sleep hours before showering and going to lunch with a teaching colleague, Carol Chatfield. We try to grab time as often as possible, and I think it was before Thanksgiving that I last saw her. We dined at First Watch and I believe we solved all the world’s problems.
And then, it hit!
The weather began rearing its nasty side. While talking to my son in London, he asked, “Are those tornado sirens?” Yeh, they were.
My 3 PM and 3:30 PM students were huddled with other students as their schools would not release them until the storms had passed. I finally taught my first student via Zoom so they’d not have to journey through the heavy rain. I was fearful the electricity would fail but it did not.
Deeds kept the other four companions on their paws all afternoon and evening. One student wore a long full skirt that kept him entertained the entire thirty minutes as he ran inside her skirt and around her legs.
The wind continues to be strong as I type during a break in lessons. I teach via Zoom until 11:45 PM. Tomorrow, one piano student and I will make his lesson as part of the Fairmont High School choral concert and later discuss the music.
The spring has already begun filling up with shows, winter guard/percussion contests, school and professional concerts, and other events. It’s exciting but also quite a lot.
And it’s time to start my 11 PM lesson, the last one for the evening.
My twin bed is raised up on four 9-inch risers so that it is easier for me to sit.
Col. Deeds, with the aide of the cat hut, can now easily get up and down.
The other afternoon I was in my study and could hear him yelping and yapping, accompanied by thuds that sounded like Bailey and Harrigan when they jump off the bed.
I stepped into the bedroom to find Deeds and The Sisters playing a game much like “King of the Hill” that I played as a kid. He was in the bed and when one sister hopped up on the bed, he chased them off. While he was on one side of the bed, the other sister would hop up and he’d chase her off. This game continued for over 45-minutes. When I went to check on “the quiet,” Bailey, Harrigan, and Deeds were sound asleep on the bed.
Now, when I prepare to lay down to watch a documentary, Deeds hops onto the bed and dashes to my pillow.
He is growing fast and I’ve noticed he’s a bit taller.
The weather is delightful for this triumphal entry into March. The Fab Five and I have been on the deck since 11 AM, nearly minty now, and my soul and body are feeling greatly rejuvenated. I may spend the day working from the deck.
This morning at 4:40 AM, I safely deposited Mama Kay and her cousin at the Dayton International Airport for their trip to Arizona. I reached The Haasienda by 5:15 AM and took advantage of two more hours of sleep before feeding the pooches. I decided to continue the sleep-pickup until 11 AM.
A few times, Chief has taken off toward the fence, barking, with Col. Deeds in hot pursuit; however, I don’t think the Little Colonel has figured out the reason why they are running to the enclosure with such intense ferocity. It’s amusing to watch.
Dear March—Come in— How glad I am— I hoped for you before— Put down your Hat— You must have walked— How out of Breath you are— Dear March, how are you, and the Rest— Did you leave Nature well— Oh March, Come right upstairs with me— I have so much to tell—
I got your Letter, and the Birds— The Maples never knew that you were coming— I declare – how Red their Faces grew— But March, forgive me— And all those Hills you left for me to Hue— There was no Purple suitable— You took it all with you—
Who knocks? That April— Lock the Door— I will not be pursued— He stayed away a Year to call When I am occupied— But trifles look so trivial As soon as you have come
That blame is just as dear as Praise And Praise as mere as Blame—
It was a great day and we had mild temperatures, no rain, and no tornadoes.
It was a generous day of being with the regular Tuesday gang for Taco Tuesday, teaching, going to dinner and a choral concert with a student in lieu of his piano/theory lesson, and a dash home for more teaching until 11:30 PM. I had a lengthy scene of gut pain last night and lost several hours of sleep. I was a bit on the cranky side most of the day.
At 4 AM this morning, I will drive my neighbor and her cousin to the airport so they can vacation in Arizona.
Tomorrow afternoon, I will teach a few make-up lessons that were interrupted by Monday’s tornadoes.
Other than that, it’s a relaxed week as we welcome March 2023 in just a few hours. I am looking to March with more hopefulness; February was a difficult row to hoe.
“Afternoon in February”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The day is ending, The night is descending; The marsh is frozen, The river dead.
Through clouds like ashes The red sun flashes On village windows That glimmer red.
The snow recommences; The buried fences Mark no longer The road o’er the plain;
While through the meadows, Like fearful shadows, Slowly passes A funeral train.
The bell is pealing, And every feeling Within me responds To the dismal knell;
Shadows are trailing, My heart is bewailing And tolling within Like a funeral bell.
What a superb concert by The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at The Schuster Center for the Performing Arts. Marvelous!
The concert opened with Grazyna Bacewicz’s, “Overture.” I was not familiar with the composer or his work but found it delightful.
Ahhh. Chopin! Spencer Myer at the piano for Frederic Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Opus 21. “Larghetto” was my favorite and I was smitten with the luscious voice colorings with the winds.
There was no mention in the program that before intermission, Mr. Myer would return for an encore of Chopin’sFantaisie-Impromptu. In 1917, Joseph McCarthy penned lyrics to the haunting Chopin melody and the song, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” was popularized by many artists. The piano concerto ended and the usher opened the doors beside me. I was in the upper lobby waiting for the crowds to sweep the Johnsons out when I thought I heard recorded music. It was still quite nice to hear “Fantaisie-Impromptu” from outside.
Intermission was spent in the company of Chuck and Teresa Johnson, and I would have preferred a much longer amount of time, even knowing I’d be hearing Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29 – Polish” for the first time.
I was hoping I’d heard this symphony years ago, but I didn’t recall it. Now, I’m fascinated with it. The bassoon was a nice presence throughout the evening and ever more so in this work. I also was happy to hear favorite orchestra musicians, Aaron Brant on French horn and John Kurokawa on clarinet, and at least three members of Carillon Brass. Fine work!
I’m within a few blocks of home and I’m sure the bus’s beeping will alert The Fab Five that I am about to walk in the door. This is the longest amount of time I’ve been away from Col. Deeds.
Aside from this morning’s rest period, I actually feel as though I accomplished a good deal.
Becca and Missy arrived with arms full of goodies for all of us. There are some new toys in The Haasienda that have elated Col. Deeds and Erma. I had seen Becca several weeks ago when she delivered Deeds, but this was the first time I had seen Missy in years. It was such a wonderful visit.
I had another Zoom meeting and took off for my Chinese buffet. Back at home, there was one more Zoom meeting, my Walmart grocery delivery, a quick nap, and a late Zoom gathering with two dear friends.
Last night, at 2 AM, I woke and could not settle back into sleep. I was still in gut discomfort and I am not sure if that was the reason for waking and remaining awake. The nice thing was that I had three tight snuggles from Harrigan at my knees, Bailey on my pillow, and Col. Deeds on the other side of the pillow.
I gave myself some additional resting time this morning with the deck door open to allow some of the warmer, fresher air to circulate throughout the house. Fortunately, I was able to readjust some things to the afternoon.
At 2:15 PM, my former student, Becca, and her mom, Missy, will visit Deeds! They’ve not seen him in three weeks. I know they will be amazed at the little man and how much he has grown.
I have several Zoom meetings from 3:15-5:30 PM and then a Zoom seminar, later. Friday is a trip to the Schuster Center of Performing Arts for a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra concert and Saturday will hopefully be spent watching winter guard, indoor percussion, and indoor winds for the MEPA (Mid-Eastern Performance Association) contest in Trent Arena, next door.
I am spending some Zoom time on the deck to soak in the beautiful day!
Col. Deeds spent a good deal of time kissing and loving on the others. Chief seemed to welcome the affection from his little shadow. Even Harrigan allowed him to smother her with kisses. The world has turned upside down!
The Haasienda on Shroyer... 