Potential Piano Player Presses On

For some unknown reason I sat down at the piano on New Year's Day and began playing from a remedial hymn book.  My meager younger year's lessons helped restore what little knowledge I had learned.  Fortunately my fingers found the keys and it sounded so-so.  From that day to this without missing one single day of practise, time has been spent plinking out songs and familiarizing the fingers more to the ivory than the past twenty years has had. 

 It is starting to sound more like music than a toddler's noise or a child's banging and how good it feels. For years I have pondered what to do with a silent piano slowly wandering farther and farther out of tune. If one could practise every day for a year, would they be good enough to perform? In public? Scary? The last time was at twenty something and I forgot the memorized music. Fetching it from the floor I began again, finishing fretfully.

What is it about finding the keys correctly and matching them to the black spots on the paper?  Why do I freeze up.  That doesn't happen when I type.  Is it because of the hours and hours of repitition at such a young age?  No matter.  This 2013 resolution will continue to play until it wears out or I get more comfortable with an old new goal.  Do you know a good piano tuner?

1-3-13 New Year Welcome

Welcome 2013 and how is it going so far?   Have you made any great resolutions, enjoyed terrific events or done something different in the past three days? 

I was bummed to have missed posting on 12-12-12 because of procrastinating all day.  Since there won't be another great number system, I guess 1-3-13 is about the best it will get. 

Shockingly I have cross-country skiied twice and sat at the piano playing songs all three days.  These are both rare opportunities and were taken.  I liked it and will keep on keeping on the new and improved events. 

Have a great New Year and let me know what you are doing. 

Farewell Friend to 2012

I always like to review each month of the past year before it passes through the hour glass of time to never be retrieved.  Here are some blessings we enjoyed:

January-  New baby Joshua arrived healthy & hearty to Alicia & Dave in NJ.

February- St George watching Brayle's softball games and visiting special sites was a highlite.  We also sold my mom's home to a young family.

March- Sarah turned 8, was baptize.  We spent the week with her and baby Josh in NJ celebrating birthdays and blessings.  What happy times. 

April- Jory completed his first year of the Master's program.  I put my back out gardening.

May- We spent Memorial weekend in Portland with Jenn's family.

June-  I turned 60 and joined the Fitness Center. 

July-  A weekend at Bear Lake with the family while Alicia visited and a night at the Pickleville Playhouse and BBQ.  Also spent a week at Jenn's in Washington while she headed the Relay for Life raising $80k for the Cancer Society.

August-  Allan spent a month of working on the road and getting a broken toe.  Plantar Facsiitis came to visit, but we fought it hard. 

September-  Breann & Jed spent some special times with us and prayers were given in their behalf.  Jory and Sarah had a tubal pregnancy that broke their hearts, and more prayers, but we look to next year to try again.

October-  Lang Lang performed at Abravanel Hall and we visited Breann & Jed in Idaho Falls.

November-  Mike and Jenn visited for a week over Thanksgiving.  Hillary Hahn with the Utah Symphony kept us refined and an end to the foot problem. 

December-  Six stitches to Allan's thumb and blessing unbelievably received.  He even cut out this Twelve Days of Chrismas tree.  Our computer was upgraded to alive and an ipad was under the tree, too.  What more could a person ask for?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomato Cagerella Transformed Into A Tree

There once was a lonely tomato cage that worked really hard all summer long in the garden supporting numerous tomato plants.  People came to water or pick the ripe red tomatoes every day.  They commented on the abundant harvest of the plant, but no one paid any attention to the tomato cage.  Sometimes a strong hand would push it upright if the fruit's weight or the wind caused it to lean over.  It did all the work without any word of thanks. 

At season's end the plant was plucked out and the cage stored in a corner of the yard.  One day a brilliant woman that couldn't sleep at night, got an idea.  She couldn't afford a small tree to cover with lights to set on her porch, but she did have some out-of-work tomato cages.   Wrapping from top to bottom several strands of lights around the turned-on-its-head cage, she liked the result.   After posting her decorated tomato cage on Pinterest, women the country over copy-cated the idea with their own twist. 

Here is my copy-cat version.  You should see it. 

La Bella Vie la Beautiful Is

Soothing and beautiful are the La Belle Vie papers with their soft printed words.  The pleasant background takes us to the land of love and language.  'Bonjour,' it says as we want to share our story with loved ones.   Welcome and come to the class Thursday, Dec 13th at 7pm.  The kit is easy to assemble. then add your favorite French words.   It will be a lesson in la belle vie.  Call or just drop in. 

Feasting Folks

Are you ready for folks & feasting?  Well my table decorations are not like these.  They are some old creations from years back when I took the time to make them.  Who cares.  It is more important to spend time doing things together.   Mix up a batch of play dough, roast hot dogs and smores in the back yard or carve those last pumpkins or zucchini into ships or something.   The tikes will love it and stay busy for awhile. 

Pear & Partridge Passes With Flying Colors

Being a lover of the song, Partridge in a Pear Tree, I was delighted when Close to My Heart designed papers with the same name.  Our November class features this amazing paper for our 12 x 12 pages.  Highlighting reds and greens it doesn't have to be used for Christmas, but any color coordinated photos.  Try a Twelve Days of Christmas set of photos. 

Garlands and Garnishes samples are ready and willing when you are. 

Join us in making more Garlands with Garnishes of  Thanks, Joy, Snow, Peace or Love.  Class is same time as scrapbook or do both on Wednesday, Nov 7th at 7:30pm.