Strawberry Festival

The clouds parted and the rain disappeared just in time for Saturday’s Strawberry Festival!  It was a day worthy of song, and sing we did!  The audience was lovely and the music flowed.  Take a listen to Dani singing, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye”…

Here the group sings a song new to their repertoire, Peter Gabriel’s “Shakin’ the Tree”…

Another new addition is Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence”…

Back to Business…

Has it been 3 weeks since we’ve seen each other? Yes!

The girls met at Sue’s house this evening to chat, make plans and eat:-)

On the agenda…recording a new Christmas cd.
The consensus…do it – but wait until next year:-(

We also discussed new songs to add to our repertoire and we ordered new music in hopes of finding some crowd-pleasing pieces. YIPPEE!

Spotlight on…Dani

Our Dani is the newest, the youngest AND the tallest Woman of Note.  She joined our group in 2003, and not only were we gifted with the addition of her beautiful voice, but we were blessed with her friendship, as well! 

Dani primarily sings first alto with her singing partner, Robin, and she also is a strong and solid soloist for our octet.  Since we have not made a formal recording of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye”, you’ll have to take a listen to it at one of our concerts.  Hearing Dani’s lead vocals alone is worth the trip!

 

This girl is a total dynamo…she is a wife and mother of two, she

She even does dishes!

home schools, teaches at York County Community College, volunteers at local nursing homes, is an active member of her church, sells Arbonne products, AND she sings with us – WHEW!  Her children have served as our “Kids of Note” for several years now, selling our cds (and mouse pads AND coffee mugs!) during our concerts. 

 

Some truths about our friend, Dani:

-she is a very delicate and ladylike sneezer – say  iss-you in your lightest voice…now say it even lighter…there, you have it:-)

-she gets most thoroughly, wholly and utterly carsick when she rides over hills and around bends in the back seat after eating a hearty brunch.  The last time this happened she had to be driven home by a police officer…

-she is very chilly – always.  A combination of long underwear, fleece pajamas, and a maxed-out thermostat MAY get her through the night.

-she occasionally finds herself at a loss for words – she was completely speechless when a member of the Oak Ridge Boys asked her how long our group had been together.  Dani??  Dani are you there??? 

 

Labor Day, 2007 - the Women and the Oak Ridge Boys

Our Dani is a treasure to us and to all who know her.  She is most assuredly a woman of note!

Last Year At This Time…

 

"White House Holiday Open House - Women of Note"

 

Last year at this time, the Women were in Washington D. C. where we were guest performers at the White House Christmas festivities. No group of girls ever had more fun traveling together:

We met at the Park and Ride and we were on our way!

Flying off from Boston!

Hailing a Taxi at the airport...

That night…singing in the East Room of the White House…

...and the next morning, as well...

The next day we toured the Capitol Building...

 

Looking up into the Capitol Rotunda...

 

Barry, our fabulous tour guide from Senator Snowe's office...

We rode in an official elevator...

Then, we tried on hats...

...nice...

 

 

 

 

 

To end our trip - drinks on the roof of the Hotel Washington - with the Washington Monument as a backdrop...

Good memories...:-)

Plugging Away…

  

 

 

Denis, Lisa, Nancy and Robin

 

The Women practice every Sunday afternoon.  Our space is a “Ladies Lounge” at a local church, and we are very happy and comfortable there.  We have access to a piano, a tea kettle, the thermostat, and a bathroom – what more do we need?!

Dani, Fran, Judy and Sue

We’ve been busy getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season.  We’ve added three new pieces and revived 2 oldies:

NEW:

-Holly Jolly Christmas

-Deck the Halls

-I Wonder as I Wander

REVIVED:

-Ring Bells in the Steeple

-Going to Bethlehem

Our first gig is next Sunday, November 30th.  For our complete Christmas schedule please click on “upcoming performances” at the top of this page.

Denis

Fran, Judy and Beth

Spotlight on…Lisa

Yet another charter member of Women of Note…Lisa! What would we ever do without her?

Need a place to get a good pedicure? Lisa will give you a list!

Need a gold sequined scarf and matching pumps? Lisa will pull them out of her closet!

What should you do if your hotel catches on fire? Lisa will hand you a wet towel and your pocketbook.

Need to know how to thwart an attacker? Lisa will teach you the right moves!

Want to raise money for a good cause? Lisa has the caring and connections to get the job done!

What can we say? She is a phenomenon and we are blessed to have her in our lives and as our friend.

Lisa is a married mother of two who volunteers her time and energy to a plethora of causes in and around Southern Maine. She enjoys shopping, helping others, spending time with George and Barbara Bush, off-roading in her Hummer, and dining out. She can throw a party together (and a really GOOD party) at a moment’s notice, and she is able to parallel park in a space that is exactly the length of her car.

Lisa - always smiling!

She not only sings with the Women, but she also accompanies Tim Janis (http://www.timjanis.com/) both in the recording studio AND on tour.

Robin, Fran, Lisa, Dani and Beth

Lisa primarily sings first soprano along with her singing partner, Nancy, but her bluesy voice also lends itself beautifully to alto work. If you’d like to hear Lisa, take a listen to “The Rose” from our One Fine Day cd. You’ll be glad you did! Click here! the-rose

Fall 2008 Retreat

 

Retreat 2008:  The evening was spent visiting friends… 

eating…

Toasting our friendship

 

laughing…

Lisa - just plain happy

Exchanging Yankee Swap gifts…

Dani, modeling her lovely Yankee Swap gift!

and just enjoying ourselves!  

Saturday morning we went skipping off to walk along beautiful Goose Rocks Beach!

done

A special THANK YOU to the Boulangers for the use of their lovely home for our retreat.  We hope you enjoy our gift!

 

 

Spotlight on…Robin

 

Robin, singing her heart out

As diverse as she is talented, Robin has been with Women of Note for nearly 9 years.  Although she entered our group to fill a slot as a first alto, we soon found out that she has a huge range and her heart truly lies in singing first soprano.

Robin and her singing partner, Dani

 

 

 

Robin sings regularly with the South Berwick Community Chorus and was also with the Manchester Choral Society for several seasons.  Just this summer she performed the Liebeslieder Waltzes at two venues in Southern Maine.  

 

Lisa and Robin at "Dancing with the Seacoast Stars", 2007

Besides her singing, Robin is busy appraising homes, teaching ballroom dance at the Portsmouth Ballroom, and giving massages!  For the past two years she has partnered up with a local “celebrity” for the “Dancing with the Seacoast Stars” competition.  She can also regularly be seen kayaking along the rivers in coastal Maine.  She is an amazing Woman of Note!

A Few of our Favorite Things!

A few favorites of the Women:

1.  Ricola Cough Drops – Don’t know where we’d be without them.  Dani has a never-ending supply in her bag.

 

 

 

  

 2.  Throat Comfort Tea – It tastes so good AND it keeps us warm – who could ask for anything more?

 

 

 

3.  Thai Food – No group can put away the Thai food like this group can.  We like it all…and we eat it all!

 

 

Hot Cross Buns

 

4.  Fran’s Hot Cross Buns – Our group heads off on retreat twice a year and Fran always brings her hot cross buns for breakfast.  They are scrumptious!

 

 

Cosmopolitans

 

5.  Cosmopolitans – One sip and we’re smiling, two and we’re laughing, three and we’re phoning Denis to serenade him with “Kung Fu Fighting”!