This last Wednesday night, Chris and I went to a concert entitled "Baroque to Blue Grass" at the 75th Annual Bach Festival in Carmel.

We were entreated to the virtuosity and onstage intimacy of husband-wife mandoliners Caterina Litchenberg and Mike Marshall.  At the pre-concert talk and the concert itself, we learned some truly interesting facts:

Fact 1:There are different kinds of mandolins -- the classical "potato-backed" mandolin of Europe, the flat-backed American version created in the 1920s, and the leviathan mandocello.  Some earlier versions were played by a feather quill -- which we got to hear.  Did not know that.  It was as dreamy as swans swimming across a lake.

Vivaldi a contemporary of Bach, who died in such ignominy that ALL his works were lost -- until they were discovered in a trunk in someone's attic 150 years ago -- was oft called because of his red hair and his fiery and unmatched performances, the Red Priest.  Oh, yeah -- and he was actually a priest.

Vivaldi, the father of string music, would have been lost to us if one suitcase had not been found.  What other treasures has this world presented that have been lost forever?

I was alone in the house last night, just me and the dogs and the hedgehog.  I decide to take a shower before bedtime, and because I am feeling pretty cheerful, I start singing "Mack the Knife."

This morning's conversation with my husband, Chris, and our Sheltie, Desi (aka Desmond, aka Desmundo).

Chris: Desi loves Lord of the Rings.  He's read it, like, five times!  ... And he also says Dune sucks!

Me: Desi!  You are a bad dog!