MIDWEEK MUSINGS: THE 3 S's

Learning outside of the classroom took some LifeQuesters to Trio's private dining room for an early evening for some wine tasting, delicious h'ors d'oeuvres,  acoustic music and some good company.

Or as my cousin Sheri donned the event with the 3 S's: "Sip, Savor and Socialize."

We tasted 3 different French wines... I learned a lot from Trio's Wine rep.

Starting with a champagne.  Champagne is versatile for more than weddings and can be paired with anything.  This was my favorite of the 3.

Champagne Mandois: Brut Origine, a blend of Chardonnay,  Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier- a pale yellow with fine bubbles, white peach and apricot, honey and toasted hazelnuts married all of the h'ors d'ouevres.

Second was: Terre de Silex from Château de Sancerre, in the Loire Valley, a Sauvignon Blanc with a distinctive mineral edge and structure.

Third: From Burgundy the Savigny Les Beau from Domaine Laurent and Karen Boussey is a red Pinot Noir - deep cherry color, red and black fruits, discreet tannins, and a balanced, elegant finish.

Great assortment of heavy hors d'ouevres: roast beef mini sandwiches, skewered chicken, cream cheese salmon, cheeses, charcuterie board with salami, pickled okra, veggies and assortment of crackers with a chocolate mousse torte for dessert.

I made some new friends at my table.  Tammy and her husband inherited a vineyard of muscadine grapes from her Dad. It yields ~ 50- 100 bottles of wine annually.  I am lucky to be sampling it soon with my own bottle. Ya hoo.

I told you one is never too old to learn...

tUESDAY tUNES: MUSIC TO MY EARS...

tUESDAY tUNES with two greats who shared the stage and it was pure bliss. Take a listen and watch them make music to your ears too...  Gregory Hines & Sammy Davis Junior do a little impromptu...

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

MONDAY MUSINGS: INSPIRATION

We all need to be inspired so MONDAY MUSINGS is just that - a very special place to sponsor the arts. This past week, I was introduced to Inspiration Point Fine Arts Center in northwestern Arkansas, in a town known for years for its Passion Play, the once-quiet small town of Eureka Springs.  Yet, this is Inspiration Point's 76th season.

Sitting on the outskirts of the town, a new state-of-the-art amphitheater gifted by the Waltons, replaces the older dilapidated ones where I enjoyed the fruits of their program, the 2026 Opera in the Ozarks program consisting of:

 an operetta Candide by Leonard Bernstein, 

2 one-act Puccini operas, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi,

and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera: Le nozze di Figaro.

*and there was even a traveling children's play off site : Monkey See, Monkey Do... 

A pre-play discussion by the actors is offered on the front patio sheltered by the building..

/Indoors during inclement weather

"The Opera in the Ozarks Orchestra comprises young professional musicians from across the country. The instrumentalists enter fully into the artistic and social life at The Point.  Rehearsals began June 14 and culminate with their final performance is July 24.  After the main stage operas have opened, opportunities for chamber music, practice and relaxation abound.  First-year musicians receive a stipend of $1500; housing and all meals for the period of the six-week contract are included."

These amphitheater opera tickets were affordable to the public @ $40/ ticket so many more can experience opera and the fruits of these budding new artists. There is even a double cast so these music students can hone their craft by switching roles.  

Truly, I have been inspired and filled with an opera experience which my own city, the capital of the state, Little Rock, does not offer. Private funds are needed for everyday upkeep, housing for its students and staff, salaries, its kitchen, etc. 

Go patronize their programs, be inspired, and whether you can/ cannot be their in person, do help support their programs monetarily. 

It takes a village... 

                                                                                    

 The views are stunning... 

whether its day/night time.

Inside the theater, automated blinds lower 

before the performance begins, setting the stage...

Bravo to all those who made this happen.

FOTO FRIDAY: A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHICKEN

 FOTO FRIDAY: A new 'shroom for me that I found in the Eureka Springs Thursday market. 

Take a look...

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY

TBT: CARMEL BY THE SEA

TBT: All week long pics from my Carmel by the Sea visit have been popping up from a couple of years.  So many great memories. 

I'm so lucky to also have kids also living up in the San Fran area. Love their cooler temps !

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: SIBERNIK

On to Šibenik in this week's MID WEEK MUSING. Šibenik takes the title of being the oldest Croatian town on the Adriatic Sea.  Documentation as early as 1066 shows it was founded by Slavs, not Romans or Greeks. A historic town indeed being chosen a UNESCO site since 2000.

The most impressive was the all-stone Cathedral of St James which took over 100 years to build without using mortar, mixing Gothic with Renaissance styles.

impressive doors ...

                                           covered its façade...  

                                         mouldings and statues galore...

In almost all of the towns, we would see these unusually shaped corners. Note the newer triangular additions. Any clue why this change was made? >

Croatia was my first time seeing these modern architectural features. They are to prevent male tourists from relieving themselves in these corners. The angle will reflect the pee back at its perpetrator... You gotta love modern man/not.

Although we navigated a lot of stairs, I personally chose not to navigate up to the St. Michael's Fortress as I was fortressed out. But it dates back to the 11th century guarding Šibenik.

The Aussies and I did climb plenty of stairs to reach the restored Medieval  Mediterranean Garden at St Lawrence monastery also tied to the Franciscan Monastery. Small but sweet, where we could see emerging herbs and medicinal plants, pomegranate trees in an interesting medieval pattern. Dragutin Kiš, landscape designer, helped in 2007 with this effort after the garden had lain dormant for ~100 years. 

There's a coffee shop where one can enjoy a coffee/ cold drink and enjoy the environs. I loved their sign...

The beds are aligned forming a cross in its paths.

You are spared flower shots for now, but no worries since Foto Friday's approaching.

Interesting sculptures also dotted our šibenik walking tour...

Old meeting                                                           the new... 

Nice visit...

tUESDAY tUNES: BLACK IN AMERICA

This tUESDAY tUNE came across my screen thanks to buddy Martina . Take a listen to Dusty Rivers singing  " Black in America, This skin."  Some songs speak volumes...

BLACK IN AMERICA