Yosemite Valley After a Snowstorm
Last night Claudia and I went to the Bracebridge dinner at Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel. This is a wonderful event—musical theater combined with a seven-course dinner and Christmas celebration. And believe it or not Ansel Adams was heavily involved with the creation of this event in its current form. He re-wrote the script and music in 1929, and performed various roles, including the jester, or “Lord of Misrule,” for much of his life. Ansel was a very talented musician—and known for his great sense of humor!
Mike and Linda – the “Visiting Squire and Lady”
The story, loosely based on Washington Irving’s sketchbook “A Christmas at Bracebridge Hall,” is that you are Christmas dinner guests of Squire and Lady Bracebridge in their medieval English manor. Our good friends Mike Osborne and Linda Eade were invited to be the “Visiting Squire and Lady,” which means they got dressed in costume and sat on stage with the actors who played Squire Bracebridge and his family. Some of you have met Mike during one of the many workshops he’s assisted for me, and I thought you might get a kick out of seeing him and Linda in costume, so here’s an iPhone snapshot of them before the dinner. And even if you don’t know Mike or Linda, I hope this puts a smile on your face!
Claudia and I got to be the Visiting Squire and Lady a few years ago, and it was a blast. But I seem to have conveniently misplaced the photos somehow…
Well as you can see, we’re really enjoying the holidays. Wherever you are, I hope you’re warm and safe, enjoying the beauty of the season and the company of family and friends. To all who celebrate it, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Awesome! Thank you for the postcard from paradise.
Thanks, and you’re welcome Sara!
Thank You, Michael. I’m wishing you and Claudia a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
You’ve been a bright spot in my otherwise very ho-hum life, and your amazing photos of Yosemite keep me going. Keep up the good work!! 🙂
Thanks very much Patti, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Happy Holidays Michael. We hope you and your family have a super fantastic Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Mike and Veronica
Thanks Mike – Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Michael and Claudia!
Thanks David – Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all the best from us to you and Charlotte!
Merry Christmas to your and your family Michael. Thanks for sharing this wonderful history of Yosemite. I’ve always wanted to experience the Bracebridge Dinner (but I did get married in the Valley and we had our rehearsal dinner at the Ahwahnee!:)
Russ, I hope you get to go to Bracebridge sometime – it’s really fun. We got married at the Ahwahnee too – just like Steve Jobs, as I just read! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Happy Holidays Michael and Claudia
Happy Holidays to you Charles!
Thank you and you both have a very joyful holiday as well..
All the best to you Howie – Happy Holidays!
Dear Michael and Claudia:
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and happy new year. Currently in Carlisle, PA en route to Newport, RI to see my son and visit with old friends.
“Love and joy come to you, and to you good wassail too!”
Edie
P.S. see you at Horsetail!
Thanks very much Edie. Hope you have a great Christmas. Yosemite misses you! Merry Christmas and all the best from Claudia and me.
Mike and Linda Osborne? I kind of get that by looking but not sure. The Valley after the snowstorm is one of my favorites. You can’t beat the view at any time but after a snowstorm it is beyond spectacular. Happy holidays to you and yours and do let me know if squire and wife are the Osbornes. He used to be our boss! Dawn
Yes, dawn that’s Mike Osborne and his wife Linda Eade. Hope Mike was a good guy to work for! 🙂 Happy Holidays to you too.
I know them both and have not seen either one of them for at least ten years and I suspect maybe more like twenty. Linda still has the same impetuous smile, wonderful to see.
Vincent, both great people, as you know.
worked with them both in the early seventies. I am thinking that might make us old folks…
both wonderful people!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to both you and Claudia. Not sure if you remember me, but I met you when I was with Jeff Nixon shooting there this past March.
Hope to see you again next year.
Hi John – I do remember, though it was a brief encounter. Horsetail Fall was beautiful then. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mike (as in Osborne), all I can say is “wow!” OK, “WOW!” Somehow you look a bit different than I recall from, oh, McCabe Lake… 😉
Merry Christmas to all!
Dan
What, Mike wasn’t dressed like this at McCabe Lake? I think he needs to correct that on the next backcountry trip.
Merry Christmas Dan! All the best from Claudia and me.
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year. Thank you for all that you have shared and the example you make, Michael. It is all well appreciated.
Thanks very much David. Hope you had a great Christmas and a wonderful year to come!
Happy Holidays to you and yours Michael. I know that Santa is on the way with a new wide angle 10-20mm lens. I must have been a good boy this year. Can’t wait to do some winter Photography in your neck of the woods. Peace and Good Health to all.
You must have been a good boy indeed! Hope you have fun with the new lens.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family Michael. Looking forward to more inspirational photographs and words from you in 2012. Thanks so far keep up the good work. Take Care.
Graham, I hope you had a good Christmas, and a great year to come. Thanks for the kind words!