March 2022

This March blog is way behind. April came tearing in with thunder, rain and blossoms, and I haven't caught up on March yet!

The highlight of the month was Kate's 18th birthday on March 25th. How quickly the years have gone by! We had a good Grammy time together at breakfast before school started. The rest of Kate's day after school was packed full of soccer, and gymnastics practices. In June she graduates from Trinity and after the summer break - College!! She is still waiting on letters from colleges, to decide on her preferences.




At Trinity, Kate and James' school, the athletic season started well.  Kate's soccer team won the first match, not an easy one though! James is into track with his long legs. I was able to see his first track meet at another local school. They travel a lot all over the state for meets and matches, but I don't go far.  


March 16, Zoe at 13, is finally going to school this instead of being on the computer day after day, month after month. Fortunately she always had great grades, so she's not behind. She is in the hair experience mode these days. I haven't been able to download the  photos she sent me but she is coming to Chapel Hill soon so she can help me with the technology!

March 21, An annual event for grandparents to do is to collect daffodillies' of all sorts around the grounds, and sometimes from the neighbors' gardens (they offer them to us). Usually we take vases of daffies to a local rehabilitation center for the convalescents. This year, we gave the vases to the teachers, staff and housekeepers. It's been a long difficult 2 years and everyone has worked so much to keep the school Covid-free. 




Music has come to life this month. The universities have booked us for Reunions, Graduations and Commencements. Towards the end of the month, masks at school were allowed to be taken off (phew!) although I continue using them if there are lots of people around. The weekly rehearsal of the Chapel Hill Philharmonia has been a fixture. We seem to be stabilized now on a regular schedule with the university. Hopefully our concert will be in May.  

I have been asked to join a music school in Chapel Hill starting in April, as a cello teacher for students of wide ranges. This was quite a surprise, and thankful after the drought of the past 2 years. I plan to continue my part-time teaching at Trinity as well. I have been able to continue with my private students - only one is on Face Time, the others come to my house for now. 

March 2 More music is opening up at the retirement community next to our development for outsiders to attend to concerts,  providing you get a resident to bring you as a guest. The level of performances are very high - recently a cello and piano recital by a local performer and teacher. The program included a Vivaldi Sonata for cello and piano, a Ligeti Sonata for solo cello, Rameau's "The Arts and the Hours" from the opera "Les Boreades" arranged for solo piano, ending with the gorgeous Sonata for cello and piano in G minor, op. 19 by Rachmaninoff. All beautifully performed. Another week gave us a Piano trio of women from Duke University, commemorating Women's Day with the program by women's composers - Clara Schumann, Piano Trio op. 17, 1846, Lili Boulanger, Piano Trio and Rebecca Clarke "D'un Matinde Printemps" 1918, and Rebecca Clarke Piano Trio in Eb minor, 1921. 

I continue to get my exercise with a group of weekly trail walks. There are many trails in our county so we don't have to drive too far for a good outing. A recent trail walk in Chapel Hill was in the North Carolina Botanical Garden. www.ncbg.unc.edu

I love these umbrella trees, here's one in front of my former unit. 

The last week of March was spent putting together eleven strings folders for our 20th performance for the Duke Alumni Reunion on April 10. It should be our 22nd, but we lost the last 2 years. We perform in the gorgeous Duke Gardens - flowers of all colors, blossoming trees, acres of grassy lawn for picnics. https://gardens.duke.edu

Spring is here! Happiness to you all!

Jane 




  

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