a day in the past

the girls and i spent another lovely day in the past today in williamsburg. autumn is still out of reach, which seems so odd for the end of october in virginia. the weather was stunningly beautiful. the bees are all but gone (although the mosquitoes were out in force in the evening) so we were able to eat our picnic lunch outside wren chapel in peace, save one cheeky squirrel who was expecting a handout and wandered a little too close for comfort... but he finally gave up on us... whew!

today we visited musicians, theatre players, blacksmith, printer, and bookbinder, as well as a lovely little garden stroll... we learned much and enjoyed all.

my personal favorite was the heavenly music and illuminating conversation made by two musicians playing the viola de gamba and baroque flute (as well as recorder and whistle). the viola de gamba is a six stringed instrument looking like a cello at first glance, but NOT from that family at all. it is tuned in major 4ths with a major 3rd thrown in there somewhere (huh?!). the baroque flute (transverse, wood, 17th century, perhaps actually preceeding baroque?) had 6 holes and a single key. both instruments were lovely, very lovely, and played expertly by their masters. aaaah... "after silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." ~ aldous huxley