Christmas Carolling

Since before I can remember Judi used to get the guitar out, gather all the neighborhood kids together and go Christmas Carolling around the neighborhood. We'd start by rehearsing in the music room. First stop was always to the other end of the house to sing to GrandDad. Next stop was down the hill to sing to the cows, Daddy and Uncle John in the barn. Then we would go to all the houses in the neighborhood.

Wonder if there's anything like that going on anymore?

The Oboe Desk

This is the desk where Judi taught oboe lessons.

The Students

I spoke with Earl last night about a concert at Emory Church this past Sunday by the C. Milton Wright High School orchestra. Sheldon Bair conducted. The concert given in part to raise funds for a music scholarship in Judi's name.

At one point, Sheldon got up and spoke about the orchestra and Judi. He reminded the audience that both of the oboe players in the orchestra studied with Judi. Judi taught strings in a couple of C. Milton Wright's feeder elementary schools. Earl then described how Sheldon asked all those students that Judi started to stand. More than half of the orchestra stood up.

Church Music

I'm burdened (well, it's not too much trouble) with the lector's schedule at St. John's Episcopal Church. I won't go into too much detail, but we're having a Lessons and Carols service again this year and I was given a print out of the program from last year in order to figure out what readers we would need.

I noticed the top of the docment listed a prelude by Judi Famous and Jennifer Famous.

Judi and Jen played a duet as a prelude to the service. Mom always jumped at the chance to play with Jen or play in our church. Last year's program was a surprise reminder of how short a time it has been.

The oddest things

Mom used to show up for visits with a couple odd things she found around the house from my childhood. I can think of the pewter bowl I used to use when I was little. Probably made of lead which explains a lot of things about my brain development. I can think of a cloth growth chart and a red and blue sweater that's soo small I can't imagine how small I was when I wore it.

I wonder how she came upon these things. Did she have a drawer of stuff and just dowl out things over time? Did she rummage through the attic and find things that were not heaved out the window into the wagon and hauled away with the tractor? Did she find things in closets around the house.

They were always interesting things, but now they sit in the back of my closets. Maybe I need to build a display case?

I wonder if I will be delivering Emma's old things to her some day once she moves out?

Heather's 50th Birthday

This is Ganma Judi spending time with her two grandchildren (at the time) during Heather's 50th Birthday party. This was Feb 26, 2005 - less then a month before she passed away.

Toddler

This is Judi as a toddler. Sure looks familiar ... Doesn't she.

The Mill Green Inn

Judi got married and raised her family in Mill Green. An Architectural History of Harford County, Maryland by Christopher Weeks documents the house. It shows a photo and some history on the house Judi raised her family.

This page lists the house as "Mill Green Hotel".

Catering and Special Privileges

Judi always organized the food for the Harford County Solo and Ensemble Festival. This allowed her to get there early and setup in the library - the make-shift judge's room. As the day progressed, this also became the special reed making and emergency oboe repair room. It always worked out nice for the oboe players under her care.

Emma Lloyd Concert

This photo was taken warming up for the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra concert in memory of Emma Lloyd, Judi's mother. She is pictured with Wendy Bowdell.

Mom always got people involved in the SSO. Emma would sing when there was a choir singing with the orchestra. Mark and Jen also met in the orchestra and the highlight was the time Earl played church bells for the 1812 Overture for a concert.