It's May, It's May!

"These are days to remember / when May comes rushing over you, with desire / to be part of the miracles you see, in every hour / you'll know it's true, that you, are blessed and lucky / it's true, that you, are touched by something, / that will grow and bloom, in you." ~10,000 Maniacs, "These Are Days"

Spring has fully sprung, and the living is easier, if not easy, and colorful. Mint is growing wildly out of control and ready to brew for our favorite hot weather drink, meadow tea sweetened with honey. One of us seems to sneeze every other minute (although miraculously, our performances have been sneeze-free!) The Jenny Wrens and Eastern Towhees are here, singing their hearts out, and the Baltimore Orioles will arrive any day now. The irises are blooming. Life is good, but unpredictable. It always is, but this time of year, the ebb and flow of our days are evident in every moment.

Lavender irises

We have met many beautiful people over the past few months, more than we can mention, and our hearts are grateful. Some might be angels in disguise.

Among these beautiful people are fellow birders: one at Wildwood pointed us to a wood duck gathering, an astounding view of more than a half dozen drakes sunning in the grass; another pointed us to a Wilson's Snipe, feeding in the mud (the telltale telephoto lens, like binoculars, prompted the question: what do you see?) On a walk after a performance, we saw American Avocets in their breeding plumage at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Birding in the golden hour at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Among these beautiful people are fellow musicians. At a Farmer's Market Spring Fling event, we met a retired doctor who recently started playing publicly and struck up a conversation about the pickup in Dean's guitar.

Among these beautiful people are those who listen and respond with appreciation. At an outdoor poolside celebration one unseasonably warm evening in April, people hung out on their balconies and urged us to keep playing as they sat and sipped their wine and took pictures that they were kind enough to share.

Post-performance gig photo, taken by a kind stranger :-)

Among these beautiful people are planners, managers, directors of activities, and front desk attendants. With their help, we have celebrated birthdays of people from 75-103 and anniversaries of couples married for four decades plus. (Among these couples are some whose spouse resides in an assisted living facility and who visit every day without fail.)

Meanwhile, we are busy preparing for our summer duets program to celebrate the 250th birthday of America. For this, we'll return to the Fredricksen Library and venture to Downingtown, PA's library as well. For this, we have lyrics like "I remember well, the well where I drew water," "a bushy-bushy blonde hairdo," "don't forget Winona," and "these vagabond shoes" running on repeat through our heads.

Reading for research to share in our summer duets program, American Roots

Throughout the spring, we've been singing about sunshine on our shoulders and rejoicing that "spring has sprung." Summer is in our sights, but we won't rush the thrill of spring's roller coaster as we prepare our souls' soil for warm-weather blooms.

We'd love to know what you've been up to, how you have fared through this winter & spring, and whom you have met along the way (including possible angels)! Feel free to respond here or shoot us an email at thevillonesmusic@gmail.com or send a text to 717-577-5970. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing your smiling faces.

Front desk aquarium with baby fish (photo credit, Jennifer)

~with peace and love (and the constant donning and shedding of layers of clothing),

Vicki & Dean

The Villones