River Concert Series

 By the time we left the vets office late this afternoon it had begun to rain.  This was such a bummer, well we need the rain and welcomed the cooling weather but we had outdoor plans tonight that I was worried would be cancelled.  We (read: I) wanted to go to the river concert at St Mary's College.    After some discussion we decided to give it a try and I am really glad we did.  It was raining for the first half but then it stopped and the whole family had a really good time wet or dry.

We got there and set out our chairs then went in search of food.  Everyone was starving (read: grouchy) but luckily they had some great vendors.  I got pancit and lumpia that was most delicious.  R and Lu got dogs and fries.  E got a BBQ sandwich and he and I shared some crab balls.  We also had kettle corn and pop and cheddar peppers.  A cornucopia of culinary delights. 

We brought our umbrellas and sat in the grass eating and listening and staying kind of dry (ish).  Jessica and Katelyn Lyons played a beautiful number Spanish Dance for 2 violins that was just delightful.  They had a wonderful singer from Czechoslovakia, and I loved the last piece The New World Symphony by Dvorak.   We saw some folks from R's work, our next door neighbors and some friends from church which made it extra fun.

The whole atmosphere was just enchanting.  Ethan and Grace spent a lot of time running around the grass catching fireflies.  (we sat in the heavy socializing section).  I spent as much time people watching as listening.  This cute little baby was dancing next to us and laying on the wet wet grass watching frogs much of the evening.  I enjoyed watching the old people in front of us with their picnic baskets and wine glasses sitting and listening, and the young people on dates, and the families with kids.  One cute boy had a pink bow tie and was with a pretty girl in a polka dot dress.  It looked like they were on their first date.  They were both kind of shy with each other and their hands bumped into each others while they shared an umbrella and chatted quietly.  Eventually their heads we leaning on each others and big smiles were on their faces as feet tapped to the music.  E & Lu blew bubbles that made a bubble army on the grass and a few  couples danced in the square.  Eventually the rain stopped and people put down their umbrellas and the frogs joined in the gypsy melodies.  The campus was beautiful and very "private school/new England looking" (read:charming and expensive), the boats on the water behind the stage bobbed happily (which honestly I saw more in my minds eye during the concert since the view was blocked by the enormous Sidney Opera House style blow up concert stage but that I actually saw on the way in and the way out and that I know were there just out of sight during and knowing is just as good as seeing sometimes :) ) and though the stars were hidden by the clouds and it was a bit sticky I don't think it could have been a nicer night.