It was another great week. Quiet during the week as I was working hard to finish a small quilting project that was a gift needed for Sunday, so that took care of most of my weeknights. I've finally gotten back into using my craft room and really enjoying it. So much so, that I bought myself a new toy yesterday. I'd seen a sewing machine while I was out searching for a new coffee maker last week (sadly, our old Senseo died) that intrigued me. The price point vs the features seemed a little too good to be true so I took a photo of the box and went back to my computer to search out some reviews. By all accounts it seemed like a good idea after reading a very lengthy review by a professional sewer. It obviously doesn't have the functionality that a machine worth several thousand dollars, but at less than $300.00 it is WAY better than the simple one I have. So I picked it up and and spent last night playing.
I see lots more time spent out in the garage in the future. (Now Lloyd can use my old machine to learn to sew, then he'll have something to do on night shifts.)
Saturday afternoon, I met up with Brenda and Meghan, as well as Meghan's friend Cynthia and her boyfriend. We all convened at The Factory for the Saturday afternoon Blues Jam. It's been a while since we've attended this particular event and as usual it was standing room only (fortunately for me the others arrived early enough to secure a table). I stayed for the first half of the afternoon but left at the break. It had been a very busy week and a just as busy Saturday and quite frankly, I was very tired. So I left and came home and had an afternoon nap. A quiet supper of nibbles in front of the TV was a great way to finish off the week.
Sunday morning it was up and at it early (or so I thought until I realized we'd forgotten to turn the clocks ahead). Our friends Mike and Willow were coming out with their two little girls to have lunch and see the kids. We had a simple lunch planned - lamb burgers and a Greek salad with butter tarts for dessert - so not too much to do. We had a lovely afternoon visiting and the girls enjoyed the animals.
Lillian and Alexa meeting the babys with mom, Willow
Even Celery got in on the action
Yesterday evening, after supper Lloyd and I made our evening trek out to the garage to feed the goats. When we entered the garage I could hear bells tinkling. Bernie had picked up some little bells in Moncton on Saturday and Lloyd had tied them around the kids necks. How cute are these. They even have their own names on them - I recognize Brenda's hand on that one. Now all they need are proper collars.
Lastly, the music world was saddened last week to learn of the death of the Beatles record producer, George Martin at the age of 90. It was just my good fortune that Patti happened to be in London when I heard the news. I sent her an email and asked if she could pick up a newspaper before heading back to Canada. I knew it would be big news over there. She assured me that she would, then sent a second message confessing that she had to Google George Martin after I emailed her, as she had no idea whatsoever who he was. As someone said to me "This is YOUR daughter we're talking about?" I suppose she can't know all Beatles details from over 50 years ago! The world has indeed lost a truly great man, at least in my opinion. I think Sir Paul summed it up best
It’s hard to choose favourite memories of my time with George, there are so many but one that comes to mind was the time I brought the song 'Yesterday’ to a recording session and the guys in the band suggested that I sang it solo and accompany myself on guitar. After I had done this George Martin said to me, "Paul I have an idea of putting a string quartet on the record". I said, “Oh no George, we are a rock and roll band and I don’t think it’s a good idea”. With the gentle bedside manner of a great producer he said to me, "Let us try it and if it doesn’t work we won’t use it and we’ll go with your solo version". I agreed to this and went round to his house the next day to work on the arrangement.
He took my chords that I showed him and spread the notes out across the piano, putting the cello in the low octave and the first violin in a high octave and gave me my first lesson in how strings were voiced for a quartet. When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks. His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.
This is just one of the many memories I have of George who went on to help me with arrangements on 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Live and Let Die' and many other songs of mine.
I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him.
My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.
The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music."
God bless you George and all who sail in you! Paul
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