SOLID AS A ROCK.  ROCK ON.  ROCKIN’ THE ROOM.  All those great expressions fit the donations I write about today as I continue my quest to gather items for the Symphony League auction.  We have the mighty rocks that reach to the sky and the rocks that turn to gems from the pressure inside the earth.

Books, CDs, a lunch pail, t-shirt, calendar, REAL ROCKS and a very special envelope are in the basket donated by Crazy Horse Memorial.

The photo shows the basket donated by the folks at Crazy Horse Memorial.  When I asked Ruth Ziolkowski for a  “little something” like lunch and admission for a couple, she said, “Oh, Korczak just loved the symphony so much.  Let me have Anne (one of her daughters) put something really special together for you”.

You can easily discern the books, cds and shirt.  But a lunchpail?  Who knew there was a lunchpail with Korczak on the front? …and check out the ROCKS ; these are bookends created from the granite blasted off the mountain.  One of Ruth’s 23 grandchildren, Heidi, lovingly polishes the fragments and creates unique pairs.

THE REALLY SPECIAL ITEM is the little white envelope you see peeking out from the center. In that envelope is a  gift certificate for four people : admission to the site, lunch at Laughing Water Restaurant,  a trip to THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN during the day ..PLUS a re-admit pass  for the night “Legends in Light” laser show.   If you are planning to entertain someone special this year, this would be a terrific basket to bid on at the auction.

RUTH ROCKS is the expression I am using today!  Let me use this opportunity to help you pronounce that last name.  The Polish language is a little tough with all those consonants, but let me make it easy.  Say JEWEL (like the gem), CUFF (like a bracelet), SKI (like going down a mountain). All together now Jewel-cuff-ski.  OK!  ( Thank you Ruth - I’ll be up to play the Steinway grand soon.)

MORE JEWELS - as in diamonds - will be part of the Symphony League Auction on Sneak-a-Peek night.  That’s because THE CLOCK SHOP really got into the spirit of things.  When Chris Johnson found out that it was the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra’s 75th Anniversary - the Diamond Jubilee - he smiled at me and said, “Oh, I can really do something special for you.”

HOW’S ABOUT A GENUINE, WHITE ROUND DIAMOND? It’s just a little over a quarter carat.  Chris asked me to trot across the street and have it appraised at Landstrom’s.  Marty gave it his approval and said it is worth about $400.   Now that is a ROCK.   It is very difficult to take a decent photograph of this lovely, so I am going to show you the beautiful clocks that live in THE CLOCK SHOP.  When I first came to Rapid City I chanced to be in the shop on a winter day just before 5 p.m. – one of the most memorable moments of my life.  When all of those beautiful grandfathers and grandmothers and GRAND aunts and uncles began to chime I was mesmerized.

THE SENTINELS OF TIME

Our BlizzAid-Holiday Edition was fun, but we didn’t raise as much money as the first one.

 ”I don’t want you to be discouraged,” said Richard Smith. “You never know what kind of impact this program has had.” Smith is the executive director of the Black Hills Chaper of the American Red Cross.  He and Betsy Mergenthaler were there to register players, count the cash and keep thing flowing.  Betsy is in charge of marketing and publicity for the Red Cross.  Her daughter Grace kept an eye on all of us.

My students were marvelous, as usual.  Caroline brought her cousin, Lily, along to play a piano/cello duet.  Christine and Emily surprised me with newly-learned Christmas carols and their friend Dana, who also played.  Their little sister Jillian kept up interpretive dance all afternoon. Thanks also to Rhye, Karen, Cleone and Ruby….and of course, the marvelous Curtis Bauer.  What a talented group.

We raised $146 that afternoon.  In the evening another musical friend called and asked if she could send a check for $25; the cold weather had kept her away.  That’s the spirit.  The Red Cross will continue to accept donations on the behalf of BlizzAid through December.

I can’t get my pictures to load up on this blog, so I cry out, “Uncle” and I’ll post some on my personal website blog.  Go to www.marielouisetesch.com if you would like to see more.

Thanks for stopping by. mlt

Yes, we are doing another BlizzAid.  We were just bowled over at the success of our little concert  put together in 5 days.  Now we are planning on BlizzAid - Holiday Edition at the Rushmore Mall on Sunday, Nov. 30.

My first job is to recruit more piano players.  If you’ve been practicing and you  have a holiday tune ready to go, please join us.  We will begin at 3 p.m. and play until the mall closes at 6 that Sunday.

There will be jars set out for the audience to contribute cash and checks for the American Red Cross.  Last Sunday we raised $1,110.  I think we could double that number with BlizzAid-  Holiday Edition.

Remember, the purpose is to raise funds to help the Red Cross for future emergencies - like the blizzard we just lived through.  Of course, the fact that we have fun playing and performing is just the frosting on the cake.

If you are interested, just click on the comment box below and send me a direct message right away.  Or, you may send e-mail to marietesch@rap.midco.net.

Thanks for stopping by.  mlt