I like when Mother Nature flexes her muscles; I always enjoy the wind. Monday January 6, 2025 was a “Blustery Day.” My imagination took me to distant waves crashing on a Celtic jetty, a friendly pub and warm fireplace… a mountain cabin, snowed in, turkey and baked apples in the oven.

Blustery Day Soup 

On such a day I like to cook. I made a beef lentil barley soup I call “Blustery Day Soup”.

Blustery Day Soup:

Beef Shank,

Onion,

Bay Leaf,

Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 3 1/2 hours until meat is tender. 

Add Carrots,

Celery,

Potato,

Minced garlic with Celtic sea salt,

Fresh thyme,

and Fresh dill,

let simmer 1 hour.

(Note: Soaking lentils and barley over night in a separate pot is recommended.) These were then cooked and added to the stock.

We’re Okay 

Tuesday January 7, 2025 was another windy day. The thought had occurred to me if a fire started in this wind…

Note the wind’s effect on the palm trees.

What were the odds that 2 fires would simultaniously start with several more to follow? At 4:00 AM we got the order to evacuate. Our family got out safely including our 2 cats Olive and Ren and our bearded dragon Mushu. And I took the soup with us. 

We are staying at Faith Lutheran Church in Tujunga where Sheila and I play Flute and Organ for Sunday Services. 

Here is a link to the Christmas Eve performance at Faith Lutheran where we played with the Elegant Music Quintet.     

See video: Traditional Christmas Eve with the Elegant Music Quintet @ Faith Lutheran Church Tujunga, CA.

 

Humanity At Work

Wednesday morning January 8th we had heard from our neighbors that our street and home had been spared. On Thursday January 9th we went to see our house but the usual route had restricted access; only utility trucks and emergency vehicles were allowed in. We got off the 210 freeway at the Lincoln Avenue exit and drove North until we were 2 blocks south of Woodbury Road. Woodbury was barricaded. There we met a news reporter from Europe. As it turns out the Press were allowed in. The officer on duty was distracted, reporter showed his “Press Pass” and we followed the reporter in and showed him around the neighborhood. 

Super King Market, one of my favorite places to shop was closed but the building was intact.

I spoke with a security guard who had gone to work with his puppy in the car. Later that day on our way back to our car it was encouraging to see Super King receiving shipments of food. 

Our reporter interviewed those we encountered on our way up Lincoln Avenue.

Heroes

One exhausted gentleman was sitting on a fire hydrant in front of his house. Esequiel Ibarra had been up for days. He had been ordered to evacuate but Mr. Ibarra had other responsibilities than his personal safety. He fought the fire from the roof top of his house with a garden hose keeping his house, barn and yard wet.

He was successful in protecting his house, horses and other animals.  The school behind his house however had burned.

 

The wind had been coming off the mountains from the North right down our street with hurricane force since Monday. One of our neighbors “upwind” on our street had evacuated; and then, “just got a feeling that he needed to come back to his house and check on things”. He found out that his neighbor’s front porch had caught fire which he quickly put out; a fence had caught fire and had been blown up next to a house which he also put out. He then found other small fires starting from embers blown by the wind; he put these out. His efforts combined with the efforts of the many first responders were effective in preventing a bad situation from getting much worse.

I think these actions saved our house.

Calls, Texts, Emails

Sheila and I had received many inquiries asking if we were Okay.

The night we evacuated I got a call from Jim and Stacy. 10 years ago Sheila and I had performed Flute and Piano Music for their wedding ceremony.  I was also their DJ and Master of Ceremonies for their wedding reception. Jim is a Fire Protection Engineer. I recognized his voice right away. He was calm and gave me sound advice:

“Can you see the fire from your home?” he asked.  “Yes.” 

“Do you smell smoke?”  “No.”  

He said that the wind was blowing the smoke away from my house but that “the wind will change” and when I do smell smoke, it’s time to get out. 

Later that week I had a text from Voice Actress Jodi Adler checking if we were OK. She was great to work with; I have fond memories of her wedding a year ago January 2024 at ”Mistral.” An amazing French Restaurant 13422 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

I had performed Solo Piano for her wedding ceremony and cocktail hour and then conducted the festivities of her wedding as her DJ and Master of Ceremonies.  I love working with Artists; more about this wedding in a future post.

Festival of Brides

I had received a voice message from Maryanne Bradley now living in Spain. Starting in the 1990s Maryanne produced the best bridal shows in Los Angeles. Recently, a gentleman from Spain who she had dated in her 20s started communicating with her again and over time, traveled to Marina Del Rey to see her; the “flame” ignited again (pun intended).  There’s a love story there to be told.

Open for Business

When you love what you do you keep on doing it :-)

I am sure that some day AI will prove to be reliable. But in checking “Google My Business” there was an incorrect notification on my listing that “Elegant Music” was “temporarily closed.”  This is not true! The covid fiasco didn’t stop Elegant Music. The two recent fires haven’t stopped Elegant Music. AI disseminating incorrect information will not stop Elegant Music; we are having too much fun doing what we do :-)

 

Elegant Music is a preferred vendor at the Langham Huntington Hotel Pasadena, CA. Note: Previously Elegant Music was a preferred vendor at this location when it was The Ritz-Carlton.

See: Weddings and Events @ The Langham by Elegant Music

 

 

Starting the Year off Right

Elegant Music Jazz Trio Plays “Chattanooga Choo Choo” @ Rose Parade Party

 

Weddings and Events Aboard The Queen Mary by Elegant Music

See: Weddings and Events Aboard the Queen Mary by Elegant Music

 

Yes, we’re are Okay.

It is important to Sheila and I that you are Okay.

I am sure that there are those you know who would like to hear from you and know that you are Okay.

Reach out and say hello and listen…

I think the correct response to a disaster is to show compassion; every bit helps.

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

• DJ

• Master of Ceremonies

• Pianist

• Bandleader

• Host of Wedding & Event Podcast

Elegant Music 323-270-3650