I don’t know if I will get to a story today- the relentless rain and the one o’clock meeting up north have me a little edgy and I need to get out the door.

If I did have something to tell you , it would be about yesterday, out in the front yard in the undergrowth next to the fence under deep blue skies and brilliant sunshine and a circling raptor or two. Mattski was looking at the eight-foot spacing on the poles on which the fence is hung, planning on replacing one with a metal gate of the proper width so we can walk between the properties, and navigate the the Turf Tiger tractor between the pastures for ease of cutting (and avoid the speeding motorists on Cedar Grove Road).

Natasha was leaning over the top rail, looking at my feral raised garden with a speculative eye, thinking perhaps she might put some of her tomatoes in there, which means we will have to put up an electric deer fence to protect them. She was having a tulip glass of Old House cinder’s Chardonnay, and saying:

“So, we went to pick up bee packages from the mysterious place in Rappahannock County named Castleton. We’ve spotted something interesting on the way. It is amazing what one can find in our neighborhood.”

Mattski chimed in: “Castleton was the brainchild of Lorin and Dietlinde Maazel. He is the Maestro- and they launched it in 2009. They thought they could emulate the winning business model of the historic Glyndebourne, Santa Fe and Caramoor opera festivals. Pretty cool. They have had over 3,000 young people go through open dress rehearsals, master classes and through a program for advanced vocal students which runs parallel to the Festival. It might be one of those shovel-ready projects, I don’t know.”

Natasha bubbled with enthusiasm, since the Bolshoi is part of her cultural upbringing after she moved from Crimea to Moscow in the old USSR. “Maestro Maazel has a 600 acre farm and the Festival is the largest non-government employer in Rappahannock County. They have a 648 seat air-conditioned proscenium theatre with an orchestra pit accommodating 90 musicians, and then the intimate Theatre House. It is a 138 seat proscenium theatre including seating on two levels and an orchestra pit for twenty musicians. We will attend the Bach cantatas this summer.”

Mattski grimaced. “I just wanted to find Bee keeper Bob. I am committed to going to five hives this year, and he is selling packages of bees at a reasonable price. This is going to be a money-maker.”

Natsha said when they found Bob’s farm about ten minutes from the festival grounds, it turned out he looked just like Mattski, only smaller. “Bob’s dwelling is up on the mountain in the deep woods. Tiny dirt road, old green barn, no neighbors, lots of used red and blue shotgun shells.”

“Sounds like a good road trip. I would like to do it,” I said.

Natasha laughed. “I enjoyed the ride, though a little bumpy.”

“Wow- culture lurking almost in our own woods! Amazing! I am excited to see the season unfold- bees and culture!”

“Bee Culture,” said Natasha. “Cultural Bees. I’ve heard them singing areas from Madam Buzzerfly all the way home…”

Copyright 2014 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twitter: @jayare303