Banner Weekend

Some weekends are real winners and this past weekend was one of them for us.

Friday evening's festivities included dinner with good friends

(Don made Chicken Fettucini Alfredo - quite good)

followed by "Java & Jazz" at our church.

We have to say - we go to the coolest Baptist church this side of the Mississippi.

The event featured the finest jazz instrumentalists & vocalists in Orlando.

Our area is stacked with entertainment wannabes, so you can find a horn blower or singer on just about any street corner - but these guys were the finest and the jazz they played was rippin' - it was blow your horn 'till you see stars jazz and it was smooth as velvet when the score called for it. Dessert and coffee was served by the Youth Choir, Amp'd, a fine ensemble of young people as well.

When the group played a particularly sultry arrangement of "My Funny Valentine" several couples got up and danced - Yikes! Dancing in a Baptist Church?! - The paramedics were waiting in the wings just in case a particularly stoic church member or two had coronaries at the sight.

All survived though and it was an exceptionally memorable evening, bringing people together and fine music.

Our friend and music director, Mike, did an incredible job of coordinating and playing trumpet and flugel horn in the ensemble - kudos, Mike!

Sorry the pics below are blurry - wrong camera setting - but you get the idea .....

Bonus! - LayDfrog herself - Dannye - joined us for the event along with her mom, Ellen.

She was quite excited about her new set of nails - Hey! Dannye! How was the jazz?

**************

Saturday morning, bright and early, found us out on the West Orange Bicycle Trail

(the link takes you to our "Christmas Wrap-Up" - scroll to the bottom for details on the trail) carting along the DivaDog in her trailer. We love the trail, and the Central Florida weather (75 with an occasional cloud) at this time of year makes it perfect for enjoying the outdoors. Jasmine and camillia are in bloom and make their aromatic presence known as you wind through some unspoiled bicycle trails and take in their sweet fragrance. A 4' gator slept lazily by the side of the trail along the way, unnoticed by Diva who would have had a fit.

This morning, we rode from the County Line Station to Winter Garden, a round trip of 10 miles - really not all that much by bike, but when you're hauling 100 lbs of canine and trailer behind you, the journey offers a considerable workout..

Sculpture at one of the playgrounds along the West Orange Bicycle Trail.

Saturday evening found us singing on the worship team for a particularly rockin' Saturday evening service at our church, First Baptist Church of Windermere, the coolest Baptist Church this side of the Mississippi. Afterward, a dozen or so from the team kicked back for close to 2 hours at an outdoor cafe, enjoying sandwiches and good conversation under a beautiful Central Florida sky. Perfect day .........

*************

Sunday morning .... back at church for the cafe service, an intimate & laid-back, interactive smaller venue where participants can enjoy coffee and pastries during the hour long service. Both of us lead worship for "Common Grounds Cafe".

Naptime in the afternoon followed by a speed-walk around the World Showcase Lagoon (twice) where we heard "Starship", the rock group from the 80s & 90s, along with some good friends. Following their first set, we squeezed in dinner at the Morocco pavillion (lamb gyro meat, couscous, tabbouleh & hummus) walked over to the Canada pavillion for a set by "Off Kilter" (men in kilts with bagpipes & penny whistles playing rock music - quite unique) and then back for a second set of "Starship"

Wow! Mickey Thomas still has quite a set of singing pipes! The man wails! ... and the band played all the kicks and riffs as on the original recordings to the great pleasure of the appreciative audience. Vocals were on-the-money precise making the show tight and exciting. Some of their tunes "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us", "Sarah", "Jane", "Find Your Way Back", and "We Built This City On Rock 'n Roll". Also on the playlist were some oldies from the 60s and 70s including Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" & "Somebody to Love" and Jefferson Starship's "Miracles".

Slept quite well on Sunday night.

Y'all have a great week!