Home for the Holidays

I was lucky enough to go to my parents house over the Christmas holiday. In fact, it was the first time my husband and I traveled together to Idaho in the winter since before we were married (almost nine years ago!) 

My Parents' beautiful home in northern Idaho.

David has said he feels like he is in "The Shining" when he is trapped in the snow -- and there was snow aplenty this winter much to our (Texan) surprise.  There were many days of gray and white, but I thought it was lovely (although I admit I don't miss living with that much weather!) 

A lovely picture David took with Schweitzer Mountain ski resort just visible behind the trees. 

But I do love the snow. I love the heaviness of the silence in the trees. I love the monochromatic wonderland of gray. I love how the cold air hits your lungs and it is at once shocking and refreshing. Mostly I love the spectacular beauty of the place where I grew up.  I was more than a little homesick before we left and felt much restored after coming home. 

I also had a wonderful time with my family. I am incredibly blessed to have come from people who prioritize family, and they also happen to be wonderful people too! 

Here are my parents looking happy on a sleigh ride. 

My mom surprised us with a horse-drawn sleigh ride. It was so neat! Almost my entire immediate family was there, and it was a gorgeous, albeit nippy, day.  I had always wanted to go on a sleigh ride. :-)

My beautiful cousin, Loni, and her darling baby, Ayla, on the sleigh ride. I think Ayla liked it. 

The sleigh ride took place at a really neat ranch called Western Pleasure in Sandpoint. (Here is the link to their site if you are interested: http://westernpleasureranch.com/ ) I am looking forward to going back. Maybe next year we can do some snowshoeing there.  

I think she liked the horses. Not sure how they felt about her.  :)

Being home with my family was just what I needed to start the new year. There are lots of changes in store for David and me including a move to Austin in March and a new organist job for David. I am trying to channel my creative forces into new and challenging projects of which I will be posting pictures soon.  And I am contemplating taking voice lessons again and maybe auditioning for different things in ATX.  Stay tuned! 

There is almost a sadness in the beauty of snow.  Going on the sleigh ride I couldn't help but be reminded of Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Here is a link to my favorite musical arrangement of the poem by Eric Whitacre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDH5R_BgheI

Finding Inspiration in San Antonio

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my family and I went and toured some of the missions in San Antonio; my favorite is Mission Concepción. It was built in 1731 and is still an active church which holds weekly mass. I believe that after a long period of abandonment restorations have been done to both the exterior and interior. Sometime in 1970 it was designated as a National Historical Landmark. And let me tell you, it is an absolute treasure. Everyone has heard of the Alamo and it is a neat place to visit, but Mission Concepción, oh be still my heart.  The cathedral is spectacular inside and out.

Mission Concepción exterior November 24th, 2016

Some of the interior frescoes have been uncovered and restored, and they are lovely. Sort of a bright, cheerful primitive art feel that is charming in its simplicity and vibrant color pallet.

Photo of a ceiling fresco in the narthex. I am not sure, but maybe the chain is a bell pulley.

Unlike some of the other missions in town, Concepción exudes a calming solitude. I feel like I can step into the Nave of the cathedral, take a deep breath, and be alone to think about the mysteries of life.  Perhaps it is the quality of light inside, or the deep reverberations of the past, but as I observe other people inside that sacred space, tranquility seems to seep inside of all who enter. My guilty pleasure is to wait until most passers-by have left, and then I love to sing medieval chant. The acoustics are incredible, and it makes my voice warmer and richer and softer than it could ever hope to be in another venue. I would love to make a recording there, and to that end, I am working on learning new, old (medieval) music.

I always leave Mission Concepción feeling refreshed and invigorated. Creativity flows better having spent time thinking and feeling inside those walls. It makes me feel incredibly lucky to live so close to a place that makes connects me to the past and the present.

A gorgeous stairwell in the back of the building. It is unfortunately closed to visitors at present, but what I wouldn't give to climb up and explore.