It seems October’s Bustin’ Out All Over! Suddenly one of our rose bushes in the back garden and a potted geranium both just decided to pop out more blooms at once than they have had all summer. I snapped these photos on October 1^st and 2nd. At least our dark woods in the distance (in the rose photo) are a bit more October-spooky. Yet, while in theory I love the various icons of fall, like colored leaves and pumpkins, I would be happy if it just stayed summer for several more months. Then have fall January to March and skip winter.

My trip to Washington, D.C., which I wrote about last time, went pretty much perfectly. I had been nervous that my talk at the conference would not be scholarly enough for them, but somehow they really enjoyed it and extended that session an additional half hour to fit in all the questions and positive discussion. If I heard correctly from the moderator, there was already a consensus to invite me back next year. We’ll see. Whew! My only small complaint aside from lots of rain there, was that Delta sub-contracted my flights to a smaller Republic Airways plane with the seat size designed for sardines with no legs, not humans. I needed a shoehorn to get into my seat and a can-opener to get out of it.

The night before, some good friends took me to dinner. They are high-powered Washington attorneys (one of whom helped make possible the recording of my second symphony) took me to Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Crab next door to the White House, and it did not disappoint. Here we are with my bit of birthday cake with a candle in it, since it was my birthday.  Before that I had big stone crab claws and sole meuniere. I think the check was around the amount of our monthly house payment, which I was thankful to them for footing.

Since Washington, I have pretty much been holed up in my home studio composing the third movement for my new Symphony No. 3: “English,” this movement subtitled “The Lady of Shalott.” (Shown here is an image of Anne of Green Gables pretending to be The Lady of Shalott.) I am about eight minutes into what should be a ten-minute (or more) movement. So the whole symphony is looking like it will be around 48 minutes, a few minutes longer than my second symphony. This movement does not attempt to literally tell the Lady of Shalott’s story, only to weave suggestions of it into my own purely musical narrative. Maybe next time I will post the audio mockup. The orchestration on this one has been really complex to work out.

On Monday (two days ago), I was on a conference call with the next potential choreographer for our ballet project (Raffaella, A Tragic BalletJ in Two Acts), set to premiere with dancers and orchestra in June, 2024. I have already written two-thirds of the music and prepared detailed notes coordinating specific moments in the music with specific events in the story. It appeared to all of us on the team that this choreographer is, at last, the right choice, but I will wait until his contract is signed to announce his name here. Exciting choice, and long awaited.

Crystal has had a bit of a rest from theater since her last weekend of Anastasia successfully concluded, with only a few rehearsals of the new show so far. But meanwhile she has had extra work at school, having to organize and direct choral music both for “Grandparents Day” and her upcoming school Christmas program, for which she teaches the music and conducts all the grades (pre-K through 8^th). Fabulous.

I will close with the Deer of October, taken Oct. 2, and the photo on the right shows the progress of “Baby Fawn,” whom I have discussed previously here. She still likes to venture forth alone, or to get lost, I’m not sure which she is doing here. So here she is, much bigger and with spots fading but still visible. She is truly “outstanding in her field.” And by that I mean out, standing in her field.

It’s a great blessing and very relaxing to observe the seasons and creatures here at Hilltop. I hope you have a favorite spot for a moment of peace, be it at a park or nearby woods or just a balcony with some flowers on it, where you can have a cup of tea.