Eva *and* Will Water Skiing at Migis

Eva picked up water skiing easily when she first tried it two seasons ago.  This is also Will's third season, and water skiing did not come as naturally to him.  Now in his third season,  he has joined the ranks of successful skiers, and loves it. 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Bill's Photos & Miscellany

Arlington Chorus Fairies from A Midsummer Nights's Dream

This was taken after makeup, costumes and wigs before the Sunday matinee on the 15th. Not everyone made it into the photo, but quite a few of the group are here. I like this photo because it shows the variety of costumes (and wigs). All of the costumes seem to be variations on a pajama theme. Will's striped costume is so much like pajamas that he is now sleeping in it.

Via iPad

Posted via email from Bill's Photos & Miscellany

Will Getting Wigged for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at Wolf Trap

Will is performing this weekend as a member of the Arlington Children's Chorus at Wolf Trap in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (review here).  Will loves to sing and he has had a variety of performance experience but this was, by his own report, his biggest challenge.  He was on stage extensively during the three hour opera.  It is his most professional stage experience.  He had a wig (including fiber optics in his hair), makeup and a custom made costume(!).

I attended the matinee performance today, and had a chance to see and photograph the kids getting made up and 'wigged'.  It was a complicated affair, at least to me, with several steps including a white base, tying the hair down to better accept a wig, putting a sort of stocking cap on, then the wig, then blush and lipstick(!).  Will still looked a lot like Will after all the machinations but some of the other kids were completely unrecognizable!

He has one more performance on Tuesday, and continues to enjoy the performances, in spite of the late nights.  I do agree with the WaPo review, especially in wondering why Hermia would have the hots for a guy in long shorts and knee socks. 

More photos to come...

  

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Bill's Photos & Miscellany

I cannot believe this

It is 7:45 am but it is PITCH BLACK outside, like night, and another storm is starting to rage.  Last week there was a horrible thunderstorm and high winds that knocked devastated areas of Alexandria and people have only just barely recovered.  People had trees through their houses, their cars crushed and overturned, lost power for days.  We were fortunate not to be so affected.  It seems unbelievable that no one was killed or injured.  I cannot believe it is starting again.  I hope it passes quickly without so much damage.  CROSS YOUR FINGERS.

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Pyramid Valley Vineyards (Central Otago, NZ) and Williams-Selyem (Sonoma Coast) with dinner at Restaurant L'Atelier in Montreal

This is a belated update on a great dinner I recently had in Montreal with wonderful wine and company. I was returning for a day with colleagues and we had agreed I would bring some wine and my Montreal colleagues would pick the restaurant. They did a great job (thanks Nath). We met for dinner at Restaurant L'Atelier and it was excellent. Our server was enthusiastic, helpful and knowledgeable (doing her best for those of us who were French challenged) and the food was delicious. Poutine is a Montreal comfort food traditionally consisting of French Fries with cheese curd and brown gravy. I had L'Atelier's upscale version as an appetizer, and it was French Fries with aged cheddar, confit of rabbit and brown gravy over fresh cut fries. It would have been enough dinner on it's own. For the main course I had seared duck breast and for dessert a nougat. Nougat was new to me, sort of whipped cream or gelatin (I am not sure which) with chocolate chips and candied fruit mixed in. It was great with espresso and would have been even better with a little grappa. Excellent rich food, not subtle and not for the dieter or vegetarian. I brought two wines. We had a New Zealand Pinot Noir first. The Pyramid Valley was dark and concentrated and would have benefited either with more bottle age, or decanting. It was good from the beginning, but the last few sips had really opened up and were far better than the first pours. We learned our lesson and decanted the Williams-Selyem because I expected it to also be a rich wine. Whether from the decanting or just the wine itself, it was more of a 'wow' from the first glass. A strong dried fruit base with a lot of aromatics in the nose. I know Sonoma Cost is high on the Pinot hype scale right now, but the wines I have had from that area have been amazing. I certainly think L'Atelier is worth another visit, and I want to try a more typical downscale poutine next time I am in Montreal, though maybe with another good wine.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Via iPad

Posted via email from Bill's Photos & Miscellany