The Light in the Piazza

This evening Joan and I attended our second play of the 2015 season, The Light in the Piazza.

After parking the car, we made our way to the theater and there we were serenaded by Duo Paolo & Felice (Paul Saltarello on vocals and mandolin, Felix Mucedola on accordion). They were playing traditional Italian music outside the theater's entrance.

Not knowing what to expect we took our seats with expectation. At first the Italian and the operatic feel of the play put us off, but once the characters established themselves and the play progressed, the storyline became clear. The individual performances were superb.

The highlights of this production for us were Fabrizio's first song, the romantic " Il Mondo Era Vuoto", the closing number "Fable", and the orchestrations by musical director Jeff Theiss.

Nathan Gardner is Fabrizio.

Heather Botts is Clara. 

Sally Wilfert is Margaret.

 David Wilcox’s review in The Citizen.

Len Fonte’s review in The Post-Standard.

Other shows of this season:
West Side Story
Late Night Catechism
Saturday Night Fever
Sweeney Todd
The Calamari Sisters' Big Fat Italian Wedding
Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings

Week Twenty-Six - 26 To Go

The authors are demonstrating a method not presenting definitive identification guides. Thus, while the photographs were stunning, the text was laborious.  Found their approach unique but personally not very helpful.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2015

The Story Walk - Monkey And Duck Quack Up!

The Story Walk features pages from a picture book placed on stakes along the walkway of Hoopes Park.

This summer's second book:

 Monkey And Duck Quack Up! by Jennifer Hamburg

First Story Walk of 2015 - Hurry Up and Slow Down
Third Story Walk of 2015 - The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
Fourth Story Walk of 2015 - I Don't Want To Be A Frog
Fifth Story Walk of 2015 - Wild About Books 
Sixth Story Walk of 2015 - There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books! 

2014 Story Walks:

Diary of a Worm

If You Give a Dog a Donut

A Pet for Fly Guy

Week Twenty-Five - 27 To Go

The soap opera continues with episode #33. Alcohol, especially Knob Creek flows freely; gourmet food abounds; Stone finds a new squeeze; Dino and Viv cover Stone’s back; and Stone gets a new jet. That being said. This latest from Woods' production line holds up well. To bring down a terrorist attack, Woods entwines inter-agency cooperation between the Americans and the British.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2015

First Presbyterian Church

Seneca Falls NY
 
More interpretations at Inspired Sunday.

Birding - Kashong Conservation Area

Arrived at the parking lot of the Kashong Conservation Area at 7:35 AM. . Since this area was a new one for me arrived late, ten mmebers of The Eaton Birding Society had already started on their walk.

Here is the list of birds seen:
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Chased by two Eastern Bluebirds.
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Eastern Bluebird - The two fledged young were perched wing to wing on a branch; one adult was nearby in the same tree.
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher - Heard by Leona
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Here are some of the birds that I was able to photograph:

Cedar Waxwing

Willow Flycatcher

Baltimore Oriole

American Goldfinch

Although not a bird I came upon this marvelous Old Oak:

Daisies were everywhere.

A couple of insects:

 Another great day for birding.

Birding - Montezuma

Observation Deck Deep Muck and Mitigation Marsh

Arrived at the parking lot of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuse at 8:30 AM. Entering the Auto-Drive greeted by Red-winged Black Birds, American Goldfinches, Canada Geese, and Tree Swallows.

American Goldfinch

Noted two Juvenile Bald Eagles in a tree across the Seneca River. Put the scope on them and took a photo. 

 Near the scope spotted a Skipper Butterfly on Trefoil.

Left the Auto-Drive and went to the South Spring Pool parking lot. There saw a dragonfly.

Went to the Deck Deep Muck and Mitigation Marsh. There an Eastern Phoebe gave me a good look.

Also a Great Blue Heron flew over the marsh.

Another great day for birding.

Week Twenty-Four - 28 To Go

Plausible. The manipulating twists and turns will keep you on your toes. Look forward to following Kathryn Dance as her life moves forward.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2015

Aunt Winnie's 90th Birthday Party

After receiving the above invitation we marked the calendar. When the day arrived we made our way down the Thruway to Utica. You could not ask for a better day; the skies were blue and bright with very few clouds.

Arriving at the Masonic Care Community, we noticed several family members in the parking lot. Making our way to the "Winter Garden" we encountered others who were headed toward the party. Upon arrival in the courtyard the guest of honor greeted us.

After enjoying a sumptuous, luxurious buffet, Aunt Winnie with help blew out the candles on the birthday cake as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday".

Following a champagne toast Aunt Winnie ate her piece of the cake.

Auntie Winnie's children gathered for a photo.

Photos of those in attendance:

All in all a most wonderful birthday celebration.