Awesome August

There has been so much happening within the past month, that it might be difficult to catch up with everything....but I'll try.

Jenni slowly recovered from her gall bladder surgery, all the while trying to prepare for her CD Release Concert.  On the night of Jenni's concert, Ron had a showing of all his artwork in the foyer of the concert hall....it was held in Kirkland at the Kirkland Performance Center on August 24th.  It took Ron and I several weeks to prepare everything for the artshow.  I think that Jenni felt pretty special to see her name on the billboard at the Performance Center.

We borrowed wire grids to hang the photographs on, and got individual spot lights for each of his photos.  We arrived at 3:00 in the afternoon to start setting things up.  The evenings events actually started at 6:30.  We barely got things set up in time.  Both my mother, Thelma Lindsay and our oldest son Michael came up for the concert.  They were a tremendous help in getting things organized and set up.

Here are some photos from the concert.

Preston was originally told that he had to stay home with a babysitter and his little brother Taylor.  Jenni said that his lower lip puckered up and he started to cry.  A couple of weeks ago, she had told him that he could go to the concert....and he remembered that!  Soft hearted mom gave in and let him go.  Poor little guy was so tired and overwhelmed by all the people and the busyness.  He followed grandpa and I around until his dad came.  Then he stuck to his dad like glue.  He was able to go backstage an see what his mamma was doing.  When the concert was all over, he took a bouquet of flowers up on stage to Jenni.....and ran off as fast as he could.  Definitely NOT comfortable on stage....LOL. 

Jenni did a great job with her concert.  She had several other young women perform with her, and it was a very entertaining evening.  Kelley-Marie Johnson played violin on "Eventide" and "Night Flight".  She did a wonderful job.

Viktoria Tocca came from Sweden and spent two weeks here with Jenni.  They made a Music Video to a musical number that they recorded together called "Moonlight".  (an arrangment based on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.)    Viktoria sang three songs.  She has a beautiful voice.

Stephanie Yose played cello on Jenni's arrangment of "Secrets".....based on the theme from the first Bach Cello Suite.  Stephanie is 17....she also recorded this on Jenni's album, when she was only 16.

Stephanie's sister Kristen, who is only 14 and is Jenni's only piano student, played a duet with Jenni of her arrangment of Pachebel's Canon in D.

Kristen Yose, Kelley-Marie Johnson, Jenni, Viktoria Tocca, Stephanie Yose

After the concert, Michael helped up packed up all the photographs and grids, then he and Will took off and drove up Highway 2 near Lake Wenatchee.  They changed their clothes and started on a run over 5 mountain peaks.  Will is preparing for the "Wasatch 100 Mile Race" in a week, so they did a practice run.  Michael is going to "pace" him during the last 42 miles of the race.  They ran for over 12 hours, then had a three hour drive home.  To say the least, they were both wiped out.  The scenery that they saw was incredible......some of the most beautiful in the state of Washington.  (Will took this panoramic of Buck Creek Pass.) (Michael shared some of the other photos.)

Lyman Glacier

Looking north of Lyman Lake

Below, a map of the trail run.....38 miles.

Michael in a beautiful mountain meadow.

Michael, in a field of wildflowers.

Will and Michael taking a break for lunch......talk about a restaurant with a view!

Beautiful shades of green at Liberty Cap.

Michael flew home on Sunday evening.  It was wonderful to have him here for a visit....even if it was a short one. 

On Monday, Ron and I took my mother up to Artist Point near the Mt. Baker Ski Resort and went for a hike.  It was a beautiful day with crystal clear skies.  The temperature was only around 58 degrees at Artist Point....which is unusual for this time of year.  Normally it's in the mid 80's. 

We stopped at a pullout and took a quick photo of Twin Sisters.

Mom and I sitting on a bench at Picture Lake, with Mt. Shuksan in the background.

Picture Lake and Mt. Shuksan

Ron and I at Picture Lake and Mt. Shuksan

We took a picnic and ate at the Austin Pass Picnic area, then hiked around at Artist Point.  I love it there.....you look west and you can see Mt. Baker.  You look east and see Mt. Shuksan.  There's nothing else quite like it.  They have to be my two favorite mountains.

Mom and Ron on top of Artist Point.

Mom and I sitting enjoying the view on top of Artist Point.

Mt. Baker, from Artist Point.

Ron and mom on top of Artist Point.

A frozen tarn, with blue ice on top of Artist Point.

Looking south toward Baker Lake.

Mt. Baker

Hiking around at Artist Point.

Hiking around at Artist Point.

A frozen tarn with blue ice.

On the trail at Artist Point.

Enjoying the incredible view.

Hiking around Artist Point.

My crazy 84 year old mother just had to slide down a snowbank!  She still thinks she's a kid.

There is still a huge snow bank at the parking lot at Artist Point.  It should all be melted by now.  I wonder if it will be melted before the first snow comes this fall.

It was a beautiful day, and a lot of fun.  Wish we could do it again real soon!