I kept thinking about yesterday's post - 88 blogs. But how much time do I really spend "following" the blogs? Not that much.
If you "follow" blogs, you know what I mean. I have a viewing pane where I can see the title of any posts made on any of the blogs I follow. The pane shows the newest posts first. So, I can quickly scan and see new posts from anyone I follow, and decide if I'm going to open the blog and really read the post. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I decided to watch the clock and see just how much time I really spend. Today, 10 minutes. But, today there weren't many new posts when I looked. Tomorrow there might be more. That's the excitement and fun - I never know what I'm going to get!!
Anyway, I think it was 10 minutes well spent!
Until next time - stay warm. (I'm typing this as it's a blustery, cold, grey northern Michigan winter late afternoon....brrrr.....)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Following
Okay, so I'm following 88 blogs. 88. Eighty-eight.
That means that I have this desire to see what 88 other people around the world are doing at any given moment. And, it's not more blogs, only because I haven't met these other people who will be my 89th, 90th, and 91st to follow.
Huh. I find that ironic. But I also think it's amazing - I can tell you what I'm up to today, include a photo if I want. You can read at your leisure. Comment if you wish, or not. We all get a peek into each other's worlds, and get to "connect" if only as if looking through a window, but still connect. What a world!
We (patient husband & I) judged at a solo & ensemble festival in a Detroit suburb yesterday. The students were wonderful and playing some great literature. It's always fun to listen to young talent. One of the teachers of several of the students came in to introduce herself to me during a break. She looked SO familiar. She finally stopped and said, "have you been judging here for a while?" I smiled. "By a while, do you mean a L O N G time? (said with a twinkle)" Turns out I had been her judge when she was in school. She's just received her Master's Degree in Performance from U of M. I was happy to be able to judge her students now - what a happy moment. Well, after I stopped feeling old...
Still can't get over that I'm following 88 blogs. Well, on to find #89! Happy Sunday.
That means that I have this desire to see what 88 other people around the world are doing at any given moment. And, it's not more blogs, only because I haven't met these other people who will be my 89th, 90th, and 91st to follow.
Huh. I find that ironic. But I also think it's amazing - I can tell you what I'm up to today, include a photo if I want. You can read at your leisure. Comment if you wish, or not. We all get a peek into each other's worlds, and get to "connect" if only as if looking through a window, but still connect. What a world!
We (patient husband & I) judged at a solo & ensemble festival in a Detroit suburb yesterday. The students were wonderful and playing some great literature. It's always fun to listen to young talent. One of the teachers of several of the students came in to introduce herself to me during a break. She looked SO familiar. She finally stopped and said, "have you been judging here for a while?" I smiled. "By a while, do you mean a L O N G time? (said with a twinkle)" Turns out I had been her judge when she was in school. She's just received her Master's Degree in Performance from U of M. I was happy to be able to judge her students now - what a happy moment. Well, after I stopped feeling old...
Still can't get over that I'm following 88 blogs. Well, on to find #89! Happy Sunday.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The days are getting longer!
I'm so excited the days are getting longer, and while I'm not reading a book outside (brrr - way too cold for that, anyway) at 9:30 p.m. yet, I noticed at 5:30 p.m. today, that it wasn't pitch dark outside. Yipee!! But, it's cold and snowy, still. After all, it's January in Northern Michigan!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
jewelry making adventures
I know that I've added a sidebar to my blog, where you can take a look at the items I have put into my etsy shop. And yes, it's all been jewelry to date. I've got other things to post, and the goal is to post at least 6 things a week this year, as there are things available to post. This weekend, I've been busy with band meetings (and will be again later today - yes, on a Sunday - I know, I know....) I haven't posted anything new until today, but I'm kind of getting into the habit, and it feels good to have a regular routine to my posting.
And the creating, wow, has that been fun. But, it's all so small! Like these - tiny little green kyanite squares, and even smaller red beads. What a challenge it has been to learn to work so small.
I am proud of these, especially, however, as they are made with sterling wire, and the beads. I had to learn to make the headpins (with a torch...fire!!! yipee!!), made the earwires (again with the torch !!), and then put them together. Learning to work with metals has been fun & ongoing. I've taken the Stephanie Lee "Homesteader's Metalsmithing" Online class - what a great class! Still working to perfect some of the other skills learned in the class, and those will show up in later blog post and etsy posts!
Now on to the next (and final) meeting of the weekend. Then, to catch up on business emails & phone messages, and THEN I can play in the studio....
I am proud of these, especially, however, as they are made with sterling wire, and the beads. I had to learn to make the headpins (with a torch...fire!!! yipee!!), made the earwires (again with the torch !!), and then put them together. Learning to work with metals has been fun & ongoing. I've taken the Stephanie Lee "Homesteader's Metalsmithing" Online class - what a great class! Still working to perfect some of the other skills learned in the class, and those will show up in later blog post and etsy posts!
Now on to the next (and final) meeting of the weekend. Then, to catch up on business emails & phone messages, and THEN I can play in the studio....
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Living Purposefully
I know this blog is about my artful endeavors, but before I entered into the world of visual art, I was, and always will be, a musician. But before that, I wanted to be a teacher.
I remember "playing teacher" when I was a little girl - I'd have my stuffed animals all lined up and would teach lessons to them on all manner of subjects - writing, reading, math. I remember loving to spend time at that endeavor. Then, one day a piano was unloaded at our front door - **BLISS** - I'd only been able to 'play' the piano at my aunt's house. Every time we visited, I'd slip away and sit at the bench literally for hours. Then my piano arrived. It changed my life.
That and the clarinet that arrived. Year by year, by skills grew, and the instrument collection grew. Then someone needed a lesson on bassoon. I'll do it. I was hooked. I was actually good at this! They got better at the bassoon when I helped them. Wow!
To college, where it was cemented - this was a path that I didn't just want to go on, I had to go down this path. I'd had time to let this path mature enough to know that it was destiny. But more importantly, to feel complete, it was what I had to do.
Fast forward a couple of years, when I started my second job here at the school system where I am now. I met a young man, who, at that time was in the 7th grade. A bright trumpet player, who was in a class full of aspiring musicians - all of whom have gone on to make a career of music. This trumpet player, too, followed that path, and has been an inspiring musician in the L.A. area.
I got the chance to talk to him in late August - a fund raiser for our local historical museum. He was there. It was the first time, I believe, I've had a chance to talk to him, perhaps since he graduated from high school. I've kept up with his career through his mother & sister, them telling me occasionally of his latest gigs. We had a wonderful conversation - long, funny, no holes barred. I really loved the conversation we had. I didn't want it to end, but I knew he was getting tired. He had cancer.
Today, I got the phone call I dreaded. His sister told me he had died. I'll always treasure that conversation - the time he spent with me that day. I don't think either of us wanted to stop talking, but we knew we had to. We laughed, we talked frankly, we didn't cry - I didn't want to spend my time with him that way.
I've spoken to many students about him over the years - told them that he had followed his dreams of being a professional musician. Told them that he had set his course and then followed it. I got the chance to tell him that during our conversation - I knew he needed to hear it. I told him I was proud of him. I meant it. I think I'll tell his story to my high school class tomorrow. And remind my students of the value of living every day, fully, purposefully.
I don't know where the road leads - Mike & I talk often about "this crazy life we lead," and how when we get up in the morning, often we don't know quite what will happen, who we will meet, or what the day will bring. I don't know a lot of things, but I do know that our interactions with one another are more important than anything else. I'll continue on this path, this destiny, this purpose, because it seems like the right thing to do. But today, I take a moment and remember another man of purpose whose life ended far too soon.
I remember "playing teacher" when I was a little girl - I'd have my stuffed animals all lined up and would teach lessons to them on all manner of subjects - writing, reading, math. I remember loving to spend time at that endeavor. Then, one day a piano was unloaded at our front door - **BLISS** - I'd only been able to 'play' the piano at my aunt's house. Every time we visited, I'd slip away and sit at the bench literally for hours. Then my piano arrived. It changed my life.
That and the clarinet that arrived. Year by year, by skills grew, and the instrument collection grew. Then someone needed a lesson on bassoon. I'll do it. I was hooked. I was actually good at this! They got better at the bassoon when I helped them. Wow!
To college, where it was cemented - this was a path that I didn't just want to go on, I had to go down this path. I'd had time to let this path mature enough to know that it was destiny. But more importantly, to feel complete, it was what I had to do.
Fast forward a couple of years, when I started my second job here at the school system where I am now. I met a young man, who, at that time was in the 7th grade. A bright trumpet player, who was in a class full of aspiring musicians - all of whom have gone on to make a career of music. This trumpet player, too, followed that path, and has been an inspiring musician in the L.A. area.
I got the chance to talk to him in late August - a fund raiser for our local historical museum. He was there. It was the first time, I believe, I've had a chance to talk to him, perhaps since he graduated from high school. I've kept up with his career through his mother & sister, them telling me occasionally of his latest gigs. We had a wonderful conversation - long, funny, no holes barred. I really loved the conversation we had. I didn't want it to end, but I knew he was getting tired. He had cancer.
Today, I got the phone call I dreaded. His sister told me he had died. I'll always treasure that conversation - the time he spent with me that day. I don't think either of us wanted to stop talking, but we knew we had to. We laughed, we talked frankly, we didn't cry - I didn't want to spend my time with him that way.
I've spoken to many students about him over the years - told them that he had followed his dreams of being a professional musician. Told them that he had set his course and then followed it. I got the chance to tell him that during our conversation - I knew he needed to hear it. I told him I was proud of him. I meant it. I think I'll tell his story to my high school class tomorrow. And remind my students of the value of living every day, fully, purposefully.
I don't know where the road leads - Mike & I talk often about "this crazy life we lead," and how when we get up in the morning, often we don't know quite what will happen, who we will meet, or what the day will bring. I don't know a lot of things, but I do know that our interactions with one another are more important than anything else. I'll continue on this path, this destiny, this purpose, because it seems like the right thing to do. But today, I take a moment and remember another man of purpose whose life ended far too soon.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Art-O-Mat visit
While we were in Chicago over Thanksgiving, Mike took me to the Art-O-Mat in the Chicago Cultural Center. It was the old downtown library, and it's a neat building - I can't wait to visit there again and go through the building more thoroughly.
And yes, you read that correctly, Mike took me to the Art-O-Mat. He had seen it first. Yup. He stumbled across it about 2 years ago, while exploring the building, and was describing it to me. I shouted - "You found an Art-O-Mat???? REALLY???" Of course, he told me this when we were at home, with no chance to get there. Last couple of visits to Chicago, I forgot to have him show me where it was located, or he was busy with meetings. This time - we headed over there! It was fiendishly cold that day, so I'm bundled to the hilt, but found it, and even bought two pieces. WHAT FUN!! My purchases turned out to be a charm and a wood block modern piece. I love them both, and can't wait to put the charm on a bracelet or necklace. I have the block sitting on my art desk in the studio.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Holiday pictures
The holidays around our house were hectic - how about yours? Like I said in a previous post, we had lots of family here for several days. It was fun to get to play in the snow, as they are from the Atlanta, Georgia area, and so skiing, sledding, snowman making, snow angels, and even an occasional snowball fight were all in the works. Lots of tromping in boots and mittens, and it was all good.
We had our wonderful retro-hip aluminum Christmas tree up, and it included a display of 50's and 60's era stuff, all gathered from around our house. Yes, a little like a history lesson... It was fun!
There was even the obligatory "dress the cat up in the Santa suit" - she took the indignity well.
And of course, cat naps throughout the vacation.
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