music and spaghetti - life is good

Grey and rainy today; no line dancing. Music was needed. I listened to Jacqueline du Pré play the Dvorak cello concerto and wept, for the glory of the music and of that frail, lovely young woman playing with such power and depth, surrounded by an orchestra entirely of men. To know that only a few years later her incandescent talent would be felled by multiple sclerosis - it's one of the cruelest fates I know; after those zillion hours of practicing and entrancing the world with her skill and talent, her body shut her down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_yxtaeFuEQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR22wHlO5NsEiobVzsevWMQooLAEv7Cy_BkI0vvq-uF0YceP7QdOgNTvSVQ

On the same page is Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, another exquisite piece of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzOmPUu-F_M

And Robbie Robertson somehow brought together a world of musicians, including Ringo, to play The Weight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2PYSfVFP7Hl1jNeJslkjs4-qxsNcjAEqjdg9gGEKoSVDWPvR_iXnKiDL0

I've spent all day sitting in my kitchen or my office, listening to music, as you can see. More edits from my friend Sam, but mostly emailing, reading online, trying to learn what is going on out there. Where does the day go? Talking to no one except a few words from my tenants downstairs and up; Robin upstairs has to work from home so has turned the spare room into his office. So now he walks downstairs to go to work.

People are emailing wonderful links or posting them on FB. Our Prime Minister is getting stern with us; today he said, "That's enough!" to people still meeting in groups, in the same tone I used to say it to my kids and Anna says it now.

Tonight I am looking forward to the next instalment of My Brilliant Friend.

My contribution to your wellbeing, besides all that music: this wonderful NYT recipe. Made it for dinner, with a salad - easy and delicious. Highly recommended.

Spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and kale

1 pound spaghetti

1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved (about 2 pints)

2 lemons, zested

¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

1 bunch kale or spinach, washed and chopped

Pepper

Parmesan for serving

1.     Bring just over a quart of water to a boil. Meanwhile place spaghetti, tomatoes, lemon zest, oil and salt in a large, dry, shallow pan. (The pan should be large enough that the dry spaghetti can lie flat.) [I broke the ends off to make it fit.]

2.     Carefully add the boiling water to the pan with the spaghetti. Cover pan and bring up to a boil. Remove lid and simmer for about 6 minutes, using tongs to move the spaghetti around now and then so it doesn’t stick. Add kale or spinach and continue cooking until remaining liquid has reduced to a sauce and the pasta is cooked through. Taste, season with salt and pepper, and top with Parmesan. 

While you make this, listen to the Pergolesi. Weep salty tears into the pot. Enjoy.