Summertime beauty

This beautiful sunset brought to you from the top of the John Hancock Building in Chicago. Lovely.

One Month Later - So Many Stories, So Many Memories

So, I was noticing that my last post was exactly one month ago today. Wow, has time flown. I've done so many wonderful things in the past month, I am very blessed.

Since I last wrote, I have:

Had my students perform in a wonderful parade (I got to march through twice!!)
Ate caramel corn from the caramel corn lady that comes to town only once a year - what a treat!
Driven to Orlando to preside over a marvelous and energizing convention of wonderful educators - again I feel blessed to be part of such a tremendous group of people.
Driven back to Michigan to do laundry and...
Drive to the summer camp I have now worked at for 22 years, and work with some wonderful students and tremendous professionals. We'll put on a concert in a few days, and it's going to be outstanding (if I do say so myself!)

Whew.

And today... I learned how to "cast off" in knitting. This, after of course, learning how to knit just before we went to Orlando. Now, mind you, I don't know purl. No, I know "knit." That's it. Today I expanded my knitting knowledge by 100%, as I now know "casting off." You may ask, but you must have "cast on." Yes, yes, I did. I didn't retain a thing. I am going to "cast on" with my new yummy yarn, and hopefully this time it will stick. I am also going to learn "purl." I have a great teacher - a woman who taught needle arts in a high school for 33 years. She assures me that she can teach "even me...." We'll see, but so far, so good!

See my new scarf - the object of my "casting off" lesson today!



And see my yummy new yarn that will be the next scarf. I am not sure, but what I will only do "knit" on this scarf, as well, as I like the idea of the textured yarn and the nubbie quality of the use of only "knit." Rats - my teacher told me what that is called (there's a name for it), and I have forgotten that. Back to class!!

The whirlwind continues

In the midst of some of the busiest times of my life come these amazing flowers. I smile each time I walk by them. And...I try to remember to stop and enjoy them! The business & hurry hurry of today will not last, and eventually things will slow down enough to get back to enjoying art and friends, but for now, I just have to remember to breathe deeply & take enjoyment in all things.

Oh, and journals

Okay, so there are a pile of unfinished journals on my work table. Some **spoken for**, some to just make. Okay, so they're going to get made some time within the next couple of weeks.

It's always interesting to me to watch how the creative process goes - there is a time that I walk by the pile of unfinished journals and say "Ugh, I can't even imagine doing that..." That's been going on for at least 2 years, in my case..... I'm admitting it. And yesterday, after I finished my assignment for my class, and I had no more time for 'creating' I said "oh, that looks like so much FUN...' Yes, it's a mysterious thing, the creative process.

But, Journals will be produced. Journals will be sent - Laura email me your address. I owe you a pink and black journal, and I'm thinking maybe a little more! :-)

I am so excited

Well, it's May, State Festivals are over, I've been to a Michigan Music Conference meeting, the ASBDA Convention appears to be pretty well in hand, and now I can focus on the things I like to do. I spent the day yesterday catching up on things I like to do: 1) I did my assignments for my Juliana Coles class - I'm completely caught up. It was fun, I am doing this class about an "Extreme Art Journal" - pics to come. 2) I did some work on the yard. Yup, yard work. Me. Don't like the work, LOVE the result. 3) Got to dream of when I don't have to work on someone else's clock.

Then today, I spent the better part of a day working at a Michigan Music Conference meeting. Love working on coming up with ideas, and implementing those ideas. Don't like a lot of the rest. I guess that's why I want to be in business for myself some time in the future. Maybe sooner rather than later - who knows.

I am so excited, however, with possibilities. I love the possibilities of new ideas. I think that's what I've always loved about being a band conductor - the possibilities of new ideas, new things - new problems to solve.

Perhaps it's time to have new problems to solve. Perhaps. Time will tell.

Juliana Coles online class

Hey, Kim - I see we're both in the Julianna Coles online class - I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm gong to have to hurry to finish before June 10th! HA! Just joined today, so now I have to pick out a book. I've missed taking classes from Julianna, and this is JUST what I remember. It will be a good time!

Don't forget to enjoy the moment.

My friend Lucy, the secretary at one of the schools where I teach, sent me an email last week to tell me that she had the list of kids who would be helping me on Thursday and Friday as we hosted our last evaluations of the year (with literally thousands of people coming - 24 groups, each group made up of between 30 - 80 kids and the additional parents/grandparents/well-wishers who follow each group - stress levels were high) with words that I've really thought about since then - she said "do great things, but don't forget to enjoy the moment."

Thanks, Lucy - I did enjoy the moment - it was sublime! One of the best concerts I can remember conducting.

And now, it's spring - don't forget to enjoy the moment!