So Many Wonderful Fall Activities

Timpview High School has wonderful performing arts programs.

Two of my grandchildren, Kelly and George, sing with the  Madrigals.Their brother Aaron (on the right) plays cello in the Philharmonic.

BYU's Homecoming "Spectacular" in the Marriott Center lived up to its name. Guest star was Michael Stokes performing with all the talented campus groups.

My daughter Emily has worked at BYU's Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution. She recently moderated a discussion /presentation of their new book "Proclaim Peace: The Restoration's Answer to an Age of Conflict,"by Patrick Mason and David Pulsipher (on the right)..Proclaim Peace examines what it means to follow the Prince of Peace in a world of violence. The book seeks not to promote any particular ideology, but rather to invite readers, especially the rising generation, to reflect seriously on the interpersonal, ethical, and social dimensions of Christian discipleship.

BYU has many talented performers. This small group did a nice rendition of Luna, the story of a young migrant who learns to make friends in a life that is constantly being uprooted.

My son Marc has a YouTube series called the Ice Cream Meltdown. If you, too, love ice-cream, check out his ratings of MANY brands and flavors at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NzDgY-6b-A

My younger grand-daughters love eating in their little willow corral and enjoy playing in the ash tree leaves....

 This past week has brought snow to the mountains (transforming them from the brilliant yellows of 2 weeks ago), last night to the lower hills, and hopefully not to my elevation quite yet..

Along the Alpine Loop. Drive the narrow road at your own risk!

From my back fence.. before the snow and after...

From the BYU campus

I prefer to look up at a soft dusting of snow behind the temple in the Provo Canyon

At the BYU Art Museum there is always an interesting special exhibit. As a Francophile I love the current "Affichomania"(passion for French Posters). In the late 1870's, Parisians strolling the streets of their city witnessed a brilliant new art form-- the color poster. The success of the color poster is indebted to the 5 masters of the medium. Thanks to collectors (bought or torn stealthily from walls) many have survived until today.

Jules Cheret pioneered the 3-color lithography technique and elevated the poster into the realm of fine art. Printed before the addition of text, this version was intended for collectors rather than for use on the street.

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Eugene Grasset (French, born in Switzerland, 1841-1917) worked in bold Arts and Crafts style. He worked in a wide variety of media and designed stained glass, jewelry, ceramics, postage stamps, etc.

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Alphonse Mucha (Czech., 1860-1939... Prague is filled with his creations, which presented Slavic culture, and was also chosen as Sarah Bernhardt's (reigning queen of the Paris stage), favorite designer...He created the iconic female type of the era with haloed head and windswept tresses.

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Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen created ads from milk to salacious novels, and caricatures of the famous of the avant-garde. This famous poster advertises Chat Noir, first cabaret in Montmartre, where Jane Avril, Aristide Bruant, Yvette Gulbert, Toulouse Lautrec and others performed and gathered. He mocks Mucha by putting a halo on the cat's head. The model for his milk ad is his daughter.

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Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec drew upon friends, performers and patrons of Montmartre, often not at their most flattering, but very recognizable to their Paris audiences.

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Whether it's art, or music, or fall colors, or a good book, there is always something to enrich my new life. I'm grateful for family, friends, my faith, my health, a warm home (with the cold and snow outside), and happy memories of other good times and hope for the future of our crazy world. May you find peace and joy in small things, in brief moments.