On Christmas Eve the temperature dropped drastically but the predicted snow didn't materialize. I had to settle for icy fog and sporadic flurries.
Due to the intense cold, I stayed up all night - making sure the water pipes didn't freeze, keeping a check on the temperamental furnace, and thanking God that we didn't have a power outage.
I occupied the dark frozen hours by drinking tea and hot chocolate, eating all the goodies I could find, and watching videos on YouTube and movies on TCM.
Just before dawn the wind began to howl and it started to snow! Just like a Christmas miracle in a Hallmark movie!
Instinctively, I grabbed my El Cheapo camera and went outside. It was a bone-chilling 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) and still nearly dark, so I didn't stay out long - but at least I captured a few haphazard glimpses of the snow.
When daylight finally came I decided not to take any more photos, but I did toss out a supply of stale bread for the birds.
Back yard
My piano arrangement of White Christmas
And since I almost never post videos of myself at the keyboard, here's an old unedited VHS clip of me rehearsing the Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker ballet (recorded in Texas).
Video and audio are poor quality - and I had the light purposely focused on my hands - not my lovely face (lol)
More beautifully arranged and performed music from you, Jon! Just amazes me! Do you have a piano in your house now? I was just wondering if you still play? I always so enjoy your videos as well. The deer are lovely indeed.
ReplyDeleteYour pics are great, too. We only had a flurry or two - nothing more. :)
Many thanks for your kind words. I presently have two pianos in my house, but unfortunately they are gathering dust and attracting mice. I haven't really played the piano since I came to Tennessee.
DeleteThe movers "lost" many of my cherished music manuscripts and ALL of my mother's piano music (she was a brilliant pianist) I became very depressed over this and never fully recovered.
My entire life used to be completely immersed in music. Things have changed drastically now that I'm a hermit in the wilderness....but I'm sure that once I start playing the piano again my former enthusiasm will return.
Merry Christmas 🎄 Fabulous blog
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate that.
DeleteWhile we weren't gifted with a White Christmas, thank you for the gift of your music! BTW, I don't see my comment on your last post. I hope the Grinch didn't steal it. Merry belated!
ReplyDeleteMyra, I was late in reading the comments on my previous post, but they are all there now (hopefully!).
DeleteYou mentioned the Auld Lang Syne cup. I always take mine out on New Year's Eve, but I never actually used it. I like large mugs, but this one is unusually large - especially for beverages. Perhaps it could be used for some non-beverage purpose - - like candy or snacks...or whatever.
A white Christmas! (And not so much that you had to dig out... the best kind!) No snow here. Just rain, but it's a little cold for my blood. Not as cold as TEN, but cold enough. I hope you had a good birthday and an even better Christmas, cowboy. Thanks for sharing your music with us. I was singing along... didja hear me? :)
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised by the Christmas snow, and there was only about an inch - so it will melt quickly.
DeleteI definitely heard you singing....and then I heard a loud OUCH! that came from my furnace because of the high heating bill.
I almost missed your latest blog post, but finally got there today.
We got a barely white Christmas here. A blizzard, but the wind was so strong that all the brown grass shows on the lawn even if there are windswept piles of snow here and there. Lovely music. Now it is on to the New Year and saying goodbye to 2020!! :)
ReplyDeleteTennessee usually doesn't get snow until Jan. or Feb. but this year we had it twice in December (but only an inch this time).
DeleteI think we'll all be relieved to say goodbye to 2020.
Admittedly, I am a bit envious that you had somewhat of a White Christmas, Jon. By comparison we had a very wet one which effectively washed away all the snow from a week ago. Not only that but in the early morning it was about 60 degrees! Thanks for braving the elements to share your WC. And, also thanks for the gift of that music piece that included yourself, very nice.
ReplyDeleteI was delightfully surprised that we got some snow for Christmas, and the best part is that it was only an inch so it will melt quickly. However, I didn't appreciate the frigid temperatures. My heating bill will be astronomical. Rain is predicted for New Year's Eve.
DeleteI confess I watched this video a few days ago. I also watched the Turandot one. Both are worth the listen! I hope you will one day be inspired to make piano playing videos again. I for one have a list of music I would be more than happy to give you to check off. I also hope the notices that you have posted arrive on time next year. G-mail is nearly worthless I think! ❄️
ReplyDeleteAll of my old piano videos were done on VHS tapes, so the audio and visual quality is extremely bad. I'll probably consider making some better-quality piano vids in the future. I'm always interested in music lists.
DeleteAll of the blog posts on my reading list show up late - - and I agree that G-mail is generally worthless.