Singing for Unit 16
Singing in Unit 46a
Our firehouse joining in
Singing outside the firehouse
Alastair and his pitch pipe
Alastair Stone
For the fifth year in a row, an ever expanding SBR was alive with the sound of carolers in December. Under the direction of our musical leader Alastair Stone, the SaddleBrooke Ranch neighbors joined together first on Friday night, December 16, in the Bistro Veinte in La Hacienda Club to sing some of the most beloved Christmas songs as well as a few songs of Hanukkah. Before the event Kerstin Seifert (flute), Barbara Martin (recorder) and Ernie Wolf (flute) entertained an ever increasing number of Ranchers with delightful melodies and later supported the singing.
The Bistro was packed as never before with over 100 people singing their hearts out. The 12 Days of Christmas brought the house down with each group standing up to sing a line. The “six geese a laying” table in particular had a great time! Thank you to the Bistro staff for supporting us singing in our usual place and nearly 30 carols and songs, both old and new, in what has become the SaddleBrooke Ranch ‘repertoire.’
Carol singing around the neighborhood was Saturday, December 17, with a somewhat smaller group than usual of about 30 carolers gathering at the SaddleBrooke Ranch firehouse to begin our singing tour. This became clear soon as the driveway parties were bigger and better than ever!
After singing for the firemen the SBR singers drove their carts to eight wonderful stops around the neighborhood where after singing they were treated to liquid refreshments and goodies at each stop. The hosts for these stops invited the neighbors near their homes for holiday parties to enjoy the carol singers and join in the singing. We want to thank the following residents for opening up their garages/driveways for our singers: Charlene and Dan Culver on Flat Rock; Marilyn and Tom Graham on Arbor Basin; Lori and Gene Round on Gulch Pass; Janelle and Bob Authur on Foxglove; Susan and Gary Engebretson on Arroyo Bello; Bev Hanson and Judy Andrasic on Arroyo Vista; Emily and Doug Smart on Desert Pupfish with the last stop being Elida and Chris Jerman on Arroyo Grande. All the parties were so good that somehow we ‘lost’ two-thirds of our singers by the last stop. The singers managed to make a special stop at Martha Sampson’s to welcome her home after surgery.
Alastair wants everybody to know that he MAY dispense with his pitch pipe next year after one dear fan said, “My favorite pic is of Alastair giving everyone a tone pitch. Bless that man as he keeps hoping we will get it!” He also wants to thank Susan for fortifying him with her special mulled wine/”gluehwein.” Yummy!