Friday's Hunt...

I'ts time again for Friday's Hunt, with Teresa at Eden Hills.

This week's prompts are...

"Starts with V"...

This one was easy for me.  Jenna has two violins.  The one in the black case is her original "school grade" violin that she's had for years.  It stays at school in the orchestra room, and she uses it for rehearsal.  (a sure sign that school is almost over...they're both at home again)  The one in the brown case is the good one, that she bought after our trip to Philadelphia last summer.  It's the violin that she uses for auditions and performances.  It sounds soooo much better than the original one!  I can honestly say that I never tire of hearing her play!

 My "week's favorite" is what I found in two of my hanging baskets when I took them down for watering.  A house finch has a nest with four eggs in this basket, and her friend has five eggs in another one!

Every time we come near, or open the kitchen door, they fly away.  This morning when I watered, they were all out of sorts.  I had to hide inside the living room and take this picture through the window when this one came back to her nest.  Can you see her?

"Sunshine" is the last prompt.  We've had abundant sunshine this week, and are very thankful to be rain-free for a time.  The sunshine was so pretty this evening shining on my peonies, which just opened yesterday...

...and on the iris...

...and of course along with sunshine comes shadows...

Life certainly hasn't slowed down at all here.  We're glad that Eric is home and helping around the farm before he starts his summer job next week.  Jim finished first cutting of hay yesterday, the soybeans were planted on Tuesday, and tonight the corn planter is running.  Jenna will be finished with school next week, and will be able to be a big help too, although she's starting a summer job before long too!

What's happening in your neck of the woods?

The Farm Girl's Musical Weekend...

What a busy weekend it was!

Some of you know that Jenna plays the violin.

She plays in the high school orchestra and also in the Lancaster County Youth Symphony, which is new for her this year.  A friend that she's been playing violin with since third grade is also part of the group, and we carpooled with her for rehearsals. It was fun to hear the girls chattering on the way home about the music, etc.

Back in the fall, she also auditioned for the County Orchestra, which includes high school students from two neighboring counties.  She was happy to be accepted, and spent a lot of time learning her music.  The 150+ students spent all day Saturday, from 7:30 am rehearsing and preparing for the concert, which was at 5 pm. It was a fun, but very full day which was made extra special because our high school hosted the festival this year.

That was on Saturday.

Then came Sunday.

Sunday afternoon was the Winter Pops Concert at the high school...band, orchestra, chorus...the works. When it was over, Jenna and her friend packed up their things and quickly headed into Lancaster for yet one more concert.  (Thanks again to our friends!!  We were home milking.) The Youth Symphony String Orchestra gave their concert at 7:30 pm at a beautiful Church in the city.  (we like 7:30 start times!!)

The concert was beautiful!  This time, it was strings only, which I prefer.  This group shot was taken by a friend before the concert began...

Afterwards...

She had a great time, and was also glad that the busy weekend was over!

This is the fun part...getting to hear beautiful music played by all of these talented musicians who have spent much time and energy going to rehearsals and practicing their parts.

Well done, Jenna and friends!