Summer Thoughts

Well, yesterday got to almost 50 degrees here in northern Michigan -- it's unusual but not unheard of in December. But.... last night from about 4:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. the temperature plummeted over 30 degrees -- we are now in the teens!! Since it rained all day yesterday, the roads have become a solid sheet of ice, in addition, we've begun the famouse "lake effect snow" and the winds have howled all day at 20 - 30 miles per hour. All in all, a dismal, grey day. But... no school, a chance to allow my body to heal from the cold it decided I should get right now (I hear several of you saying "well, duh, when you're that busy and don't take care of yourself, what do you expect), and a chance to get a couple of projects done. Nope, no art, but I'm thinking of walking over to the studio and do a little -- the problem is, I have to go outside for about 12 steps. Maybe I will, or maybe I'll get another cup of hot tea, and grab a good book.

So - in honor of today's blustery weather, here are pictures from this summer. Summer Love!

Blue Lake's third session band conductors - Jane Church, Mike, myself, Dennis Zeisler. We sure have fun while working hard! Hot, hot days of summer!

flowers from the garden -- there were so many good garden moments this summer!

these were wonderful - the flowers were almost a straw flower like feel -- very unusual.

ASBDA Convention in Milwaukee started the summer - some great fun & this is a shot of the director's reading band -- and we were all decked out in our convention shirts! This is a picture of Jeff, from Warren, Michigan (Detroit area) who is a good friend to both Mike & I -- he has been National President of ASBDA, and I know I'll be asking him lots of questions in the next two years! (ASBDA is American School Band Directors Association - I was elected National President-Elect at this convention)

Nothing else spells summer to me like peonies, and I'll end today's post with a peony from my garden this summer. They always go into their beautiful, fragrant show just as school is ending for the year. I have four colors in my yard, this wonderful medium purple, a dark red, a light pink, and pure white. When I see peonies, I think summer.

Well, a little art making, perhaps, but at the very least, a little hot tea & dreams of summer!

November slipped by

November slipped by and I didn't blog once. Sorry to my readers, but it seemed like life took over.
Just a little update and some November thankfulness, and I promise (promise, promise) to post more in about a week when this very busy week is over.
In November 2008, I -
1. Went to MSBOA (in Mount Pleasant) and MMC (in Okemos) meetings
2. Published my first ASBDA Newsletter
3. Turned 50 (okay, I'm admitting it)
4. Had a surprise birthday party - see above - and wow, was I surprised! Thanks Joyce, Kathy & friends - you guys really got me!
5. Went to Chicago over Thanksgiving
6. Hosted All State Auditions
7. Drove the convertible with the top down
8. Shoveled snow (I've been waiting to write these last two - both in the same month !!)
7. went to work, taught lessons, did all the usual stuff
Well, no wonder I'm tired. I'm also trying to get ready for this weekend's Sleighbell weekend. I didn't have enough to do, so the band's Holiday Concert is this Thursday, to boot!!
Looks like I'm going to have a few journals, some paintings, some cards and a bunch of Polaroid transfers in my booth at the craft show. I'll also have some jewelery (cool beaded stuff) from Kendra. I've got to finish a journal for Laura, too, because I've owed her one for several months! (sorry, Laura, but it's on it's way!) Should be a nice booth, and I'm happy to be able to share my craft stuff with others -- I think sometimes I look at it more as a "show" than a "sale." I know I did my first time out -- people were asking if they could buy some of my things that I had just brought to "show." That surprised me. I guess there's always something to learn, isn't there? Well, I promise, promise, more later -- with pictures!