Mom Buys A Car

A car that is new to her. Look at that joy, pride and, well, attitude. My Mom is one-of-a-kind and I know we all say that, but sometimes we actually call her by her first name with the appellation “THE” and yes, all caps! As my younger brother inked on a hand colored plate as a gift for her when he was about 7 - “There is no other, like my Mother”!

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Barbara Tria
Music at McBride Plaza

Music at McBride Plaza 2023

me can change everything….the Downtown Coral Gables music series that I created featuring Frost Music students is recast as Music at McBride Plaza. Thanks to sponsorship from the Arthur B. McBride Sr. Family Foundation and the City of Coral Gables. The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s Welcome Center also contributed sponsorship dollars for the first performance. The student musicians are fantastic and the crowds are so appreciative. At the end of the performance on February 23rd the audience got up and almost everyone folded their chairs and put the up agains the building. Great to see that community spirit!

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Barbara Tria
Music Inside Out

Music Inside Out - 2023

For over 20 years, Christ the King Lutheran Church’s congregation has invited the community to join them on Sunday afternoons in March for music outside on the backyard lawn. It’s a gorgeous setting adjacent to a canal, oak trees filled with orchids and a wonderful gazebo, Kate’s Place, where the musicians perform. On Sunday, March 5th we hosted Sambalel, a fantastic band that performed Brazilian Jazz from 4 - 6om. Join us this Sunday, March 12th for Strings Attached - amplified cello, violin, keyboard and voice - and enhoy some folk and soft rock classics….

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Barbara Tria
What a difference a year makes

What a difference a year makes….this photo was taken 12 months ago this week. That’s me walking behind my son James as we head back to his condo after enjoying a family dinner outside in Sunset Harbour. At the time we considered it a luxury as James had just received a negative Covid test. The very next day, he called to say the test he took earlier in the morning indicated he was in fact positive for Covid. After about a week he recovered, thankfully, and I never got it from this exposure. As of today, I am “member” of the triple vaxed-Covid express crowd….let’s all stay healthy!

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Barbara Tria
If you could smell pictures

Speechless beauty. While walking at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden recently, my friend and I spotted this beauty. A gentleman was taking a photo of it, he put his camera down and told us a little about it. He said it has a fancy name scientific name, but what I remember is that he called it a something, something Gustave. Anyway, this bloom smelled deliciously delicate; like a cross between a rose and honey, dusted with dark chocolate cocoa.

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Barbara Tria
When I'm 92....

Booster shot DONE!! Hip, hip hurrah for my Dad who received his first vaccine at the VA in January 2021. Even though he’s showing a funny smirk, he is also proud to be wearing all his favorite things - Newsboy cap , check; Marine Corp Jean Jacket w sleeves cut off, check; POW bracelet, check; Grumman Aerospace 25 year watch, check; NYU granduation ring, check (can’t see it, but it’s there); and of course, wedding band, CHECK!

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Barbara Tria
Almost like home....

Rode my bike to Matheson Hammock and saw this piece of driftwood when I rolled up - typically see paddle boarders, kayakers, or wind surfers on the water but this morning was cool and clear and the shoreline was practically empty. This is the first time I have seen driftwood like this at Matheson and it reminded me of the driftwood that piles up on the north shore of the Long Island Sound where I grew up.

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Barbara Tria
South Florida's Got Talent - Alhambra Orchestra

Alhambra Orchestra 2021 - One of our first rehearsals using Covid-19 safety precautions, outdoors (thank you Pincrest Gardens), socially distant (only half the string section playing at a time and widely spaced one musician to a stand), and masked. As you can see, it was a very cold evening as evidenced by my sweater and vest. Was a joy to be back perfoming beautiful music with friends again. Our performance was recorded and can be seen on Youtube; South Florida’s Got Talent Annual Concert, Alhambra Orchestra.

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Barbara Tria
Nature's Mirror

Biscayne Bay was like a mirror on this morning. So peaceful and quiet that I felt taking my iphone from my bike saddlebag was loud and disruptive. Perfectly stillness.

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Barbara Tria
Mt Rainier

My sis sent this image - a beautiful sunset with Mt. Rainier towering above the horizon. Living on separate coasts - and about as far away as you could possibly be while still residing in the continental US - we couldn’t be closer. Especially these days.

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Barbara Tria
River Landing

River Landing, a mixed use project on the former Mahi Shrine site in Miami. We walked the project a two weeks before Christmas 2020 and it was buzzing with people. People in Publix, TJMaxx, Hobby Lobby - super busy. Lots of outdoor space and amazing views. This image from the top of the stairs looks over the Miami River towards Marlin Park, catching the views available from the office space at the property. A beautiful project that is already transforming the neighborhood.

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Barbara Tria
Purple Carpet

I love when this tree is in full bloom. However, when I see this beautiful carpet of lavender, I think I love the tree even more.

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Barbara Tria
Heavy Reading....

Lotus House Shelter is an amazing organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless women, youth and children. They operate Lotus Thrift as a means to offer real-world retail experience to guests and to raise funds. The inventory is eclectic - from furniture, to clothing, to home accessories and jewelry. Today’s IG post made me think someone did some heavy reading during Covid.

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Barbara Tria
I like my bike

Very simple, very straightforward. I like my bike. As my knees have been “talking back” from all the running I have done over the years, I moved to riding a road bike. After Hurricane Irma and having a broken foot, my Hybrid Bike is my go-to option - allows me to feel safe if I have to jump a curb or roots/ruts along a ride to avoid any danger. I like my bike.

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Barbara Tria
Discovering the National Parks Service IG page

At some point over the summer months, a National Parks Service IG post auto-populated on my IG feed. Wow, am I glad that it did. I love following the National Parks Service as the images and text of their posts are fabulous - the person that manages the text of the posts is incredibly witty. Love the graphic images, like this one, that tell us how to behave on on a hike. As we spend more time out doors, let’s be sure to enjoy and protect our parks (and our friends:)

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Barbara Tria
Highwayman Sky....

When we moved to Miami in 1986 and lived in Coral Gables, I saw artwork by a group of artists referred to as The Highwaymen. The vibrancy of the colors they used to paint sunsets, night skies and the beautiful landscape of Florida was, well, shocking. That is until I saw how vibrant those colors can actually be. This is a photo from August 2020 that reminded me of how spectacularly colorful our world is and how talented The Highwaymen are.

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Barbara Tria