Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The sound of roaring creeks

2.93 inches of rain Dec. 22-24 recorded at the Sky Castle weather station, this Christmas eve.  

The sound of the roaring creeks here is tremendous.   It's like living by the sea, except it is doesn't ebb and flow, it's constant.   It's particularly awesome at night, even a little scary.  The weather change abruptly today with the cold front.   It was 55º last night, and I had a window open to hear the sound of rushing water to sleep to.    Now, it's 41º with rain and fog.  Was planning on going to the track to train, but I think I'll take 2 days off and enjoy my last few hours of the year here in Sewanee before I travel.

Unlike a lot of my nature and weather videos, this has sound.   Have a listen to the awesomeness of nature - there is no greater church.

I'm off to FL. Merry Xmas, 2014.





Friday, December 19, 2014

Panforte!

Panforte is a traditional Italian fruit and nut cake.  Literally meaning, 'strong bread', it is a very dense and chewy dessert that is actually low carb since it is flourless.

The version I made has hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, dried tart cherries, golden raisins, dried apricots, figs, and dates.  It's topped with a chocolate glaze.


This is so easy to make. Simply mix your favorite dried fruits and nuts with some spices and almond flour. Heat 2 tbsp butter with 3/4 c honey and 1/2 c sugar, mix thoroughly, put in spring-form pan lined with buttered parchment, bake at 300º for 55 min, cool overnight. That's it. Make a chocolate topping by melting chocolate chips with a halfcup of milk or cream and pour over.

Here's what I use. All nuts and fruits are roasted and coarsely chopped. Amounts are approximate.

1 c. - hazelnuts
1 c. - almonds
1 c. - pecans
1/2 c. - figs
1/2 c. - dates
1 c. - dried tart cherries
1/2 c. - gold raisins
1/2 c. - dried apricots
2/3 c. - almond flour (or 1/2 c all purpose flour)
cinnamon, cloves or allspice, nutmeg to taste
2 tsp finely ground coffee

mix thoroughly in large bowl

heat 2 tbsp butter (I use butter - canola blend), 3/4 c. honey, 1/2 c. raw sugar until sugar is dissolved and mixture bubbles.

Pour over fruits and nuts and mix thoroughly in large bowl.
Add a few squirts of chocolate syrup while mixing

Line spring-form pan with parchment paper and butter the paper

push mixture into pan, compress mixture with wet fingers or spatula

Bake at 300º for 55 min.

let cool over night

remove from pan and paper

make chocolate topping and coat:
boil 1/2 c milk or cream, reduce heat, add chocolate chips (semi sweet) until melted

coat and cool


Monday, December 15, 2014

Fall concerts...

My fall concert season went very well...

My program included the new Handel Suite, 4 Brazilian cafe pieces (including Brasileririnho, my new transcription), Mallorca by Albeniz, and some American fingersyle pieces including 2 Jerry Reed pieces... (Drive In, Jerry's Breakdown).   After hearing Yo-yo Ma and Paco D'Rivera play Brasileririnho, I had to find a way to play it, and I did!  The piece ended my first half.  I also played some old stuff ... my lute set, a flamenco piece, Delta, Bluetude, and Frevo.

In addition to my guest artist concerts at Mississippi State University and Wofford College, I also did a lot of public service events.   These included numerous classes at MTSU - including a 150 member intor to music class, a church service at Otey Chapel in Sewanee, a concert for Adams Place retirement community, and 2 school performances - Centennial High School in Franklin, and Evergreen Charter School in Asheville, NC.   I absolutely love playing for kids and answering their questions, and listening to their stories!

Both college trips were awesome, long drives in the University car.   First, down to Mississippi St. on the Natchez Trace, and then to Spartanburg, SC through the mountains and Asheville, NC.   Wofford College's Leonard Auditorium was quite a grand venue and a decent crowd.  Happy to receive a standing ovation.   The Evergreen Charter School was so cool, a funky young faculty, everyone wore jeans and was comfortable, laid back, and cool.  The kids were polite and smart.  They were very nice and appreciative.  Thanks to Karen and the staff.

A nice fall tour.  Here are some photos...

Wofford College - Troubadour Series 

Wofford College - Leonard Auditorium

On the road through Asheville


Evergreen Charter School - 6th grade
Mississippi State University - after concert 





Soaring

On the wings of ...

woodpeckers


Lucky shot from the Sky Castle web cam on Sunday morning, 12/14. A still from the cloud video.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Fall '14 color and toward winter

It's been a whirlwind of fall guitar concerts, travel, and now winter vacation.  Finally, I am on vacation and will update here with some photos....

It was a beautiful fall ... an unexpected early cold snap on Halloween with snow on the mountain, a great fall party, and goodbye to the leaves as we come upon the winter solstice within a fortnight from now.

Here's a chronological set of photos of the fall color season -  earth, sky, and home ....

Oct. 26, Moonset

Oct. 26 - leaves beginning to fall

Oct. 26 sunset



Oct. 28 - near peak color


October freeze - the plants come in


Snow on Nov. 1 morning




Nov. 11 - the last of the leaves