VCCA - Virginia Center for the Creative Arts - AKA Paradise.

Just back from an astounding three week writing residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) in Amherst, VA.  Working on the biography of composer, pianist and pedagogue, Louise Talma (1906-1996), who did some composing there. Got some great work done. 

So grateful to have had this opportunity to focus.  So unusual...now readjusting to the Real World. It is not bad, actually - I do like my life (what a relief)!! 

Here are a bunch of photos so I can remember...my amazingly cute studio, the gorgeous setting (rolling hills) and an assortment of creatures.  I met some wonderful, creative folk who will continue to inspire me after connecting at this place, which is truly a treasure!

Thank you to all the people who made this possible - you know who you are!

Enjoy!

Namaste,

Sarah (who actually managed to keep the number of photos posted to a minimum this time)

Here is my sweet little studio known as the Corn Crib.  It was paradise!

at night

My second day there it snowed! 

I was utterly delighted, of course!

too many photos...

(yes, it is a theme of mine)

And my cute studio in the snow...

Emma, created right outside my studio (not by me)

OK, enough with the snow, how about VCCA creatures (non-human)?

The famous cherub with the gazebo (more on gazebo later)

Horsies (triangle)

from afar

up close

eating

cows from afar...

lying down

So many gorgeous, singing birds - cardinals, blue jays, blue birds (oh, the colors!) and those miraculous imitators, the mockingbirds (and lots more...I'm not a birder like some of my fellow fellows) - such a delightful soundtrack! Photos, not so many.

But who could forget the ever present...

Back to the gazebo. It grabbed my gaze on the walks back and forth between the residence and the studio...

by day

and by night

And that amazingly craggy tree outside the barn

With the promise of spring approaching (in spite of all the snow and ice), the same bunch of daffies went from this

to this!

If you've made it this far, you've had a taste of paradise.

OK, now back to...

Hawai'i!! Celebrating so much in Paradise!

WHOOPS - started this blog post over a year ago (it is nowhere "finished" but I'm posting it anyway). TOTALLY forgot about it. #lifegetsoverwhelmingsometimes

I just got back from an incredible journey to paradise.  Hawai'i really is amazing state of the union with so many gifts.  Adventures included: a stay with a dear friend on Maui with side trips to snorkeling with whales, climbing to the sky, seeing way big waves, bonding with my sister Ellie in yet a new way, going to Oahu and coming out as an "ecomusicologist" at an international conference talking about the amazing Louise Talma, enjoying that heart-opening conference, sailing at sunset with whales and flying for a whole day almost. Phew.  And today I get to celebrate my birthday (same day as MLK!) by posting some of the hundreds of photos!  Lucky me!  Recuperation with preparation for work, photos, exercise, music and a very cute kitty.  Life is good, thank you all!

sunset while landing in Chicago

 Landing in San Francisco - cool patterns!

 Way cool water bottle refill station - SFO - way to go!

 First view of Maui - wowee!

 Jet-lagged, lei-wearing SBD!

 Our destination - up country...so gorgeous!

I wish you could post a smell - so fragrant!

Just lost 120 photos...um, will resume later after frustration level subsides...sigh...breathe, be mature, (*&&^&%^&%$^%$)

Ascent to Haleakala