Bringing Music Home

After not playing for nearly 25 years I bought myself a ‘new’ guitar. It is a used acoustic/electric 6-string guitar. After only having 2 months of lessons back in high school, it is almost like I never played. I know almost nothing. The teacher I had never taught us to read music. I’m starting from scratch. I brought it out twice so far and practiced some bar cords and strumming. At least I remember that much.

I went to the store 3 times. The first 2 times with the kids, needless to say no testing guitars happened those trips. They both want ‘batars”. When they can say it we’ll think about getting them each one for their birthdays. In the store William was trying hard to say it. Selena was trying too but in the middle of the store after several attempts she announced she wanted an ‘instrument’ as clearly as could be. Everyone that heard her was obviously impressed and amused. Since they changed from ‘batar’ to ‘instruments’ I got a dollar store recorder/flutes and nice tambourines for each of them. So the kids have a few more things for the box of musical instruments I have been collecting for them. They had a bongo drum, Little Tikes tambourine, maracas from Mexico, several kinds of shakers, etc. to share. I also share my basket of instruments which so far consist of a bodhrán (Celtic drum), gourd shakere, egg shakers, a whistling tube, and other small noise makers, but under supervision.

I back to the store alone and picked a nice used guitar, a case, strap, and 2 beginner’s books with a CD. I didn’t get an amp or electric guitar accessories. I wait and get that when I can actually play. I’m doing this one step at a time. The kids you might guess the kids get quite excited and want to help or do play my guitar themselves.

I had my first guitar lesson last night. I impressed the teacher that I have remembered as much has I have. I’m the first adult student he has ever taught so the fact that I can read makes his job much easier. But still he was impressed with the figuring I have remembered and that I can do a bar cord that sounds pretty good. He sent me home with 4 pages of notes to practice. I spent 15-20 minutes practicing last night. My fingers tips were sore enough I decided pushing it too much would actually cut into practice time rather then increase it. I hope that if I do 15-20 minutes a night I might build up some calluses by my next lesson

Kennedy Center

Shortly after I moved to the DC area my then boyfriend took me to a classical concert at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts (more commonly know as the Kennedy Center). He was able to get what is commonly referred to as ‘nose bleed seats” but they were still fantastic seats. We could see everything on stage, the reaction of the audience below us, and the beautiful modern architecture. I remember the chandlers being so basic and so beautiful. The looked like hundreds of upside down simple crystal bowls from close up and from a distance they were just dazzling. The performance was wonderful.

In 2000, I went back as part of a DC Trolley monuments by night tour. This time I had another chance to admire the sculptures and art work along with the architecture.

Most recently I was there in 2007 with a few thousand other people getting ready to walk the 2007 Avon Walk For Breast Cancer. It was a fantastic back drop for the warm ups and emotional pep talks before we march out into the capitol city.

If you are interested in learning more about the Kennedy Center Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Center ) has very good information. Information about performances and their educational programs can be found on their website: http://www.kennedycenter.com/.

Bedtime Stories by Sandra Boynton

Bedtime stories are an important part of our bedtime routine. It provides a perfect opportunity to spend some quite or not so quite time with my wonderful little people while exposing them to the joys of reading. Here are two more of my favorite books to read to them. Both of these books are written by Sandra Boynton. The stories flow and are easy to read. The words express loving kindness. I've been told her other books are just as wonderful.

Snuggle Puppy

What's Wrong Little Pookie

Clemyjontri Park

The Clemyjontri Park is part of the Fairfax county park system. The 18 acre park in McLean was donated by Mrs. Adele Lebowitz. She had the dream of a park for all kids to come and play no matter what their abilities are. This colorful park is designed for children of all capabilities to enjoy. Many of the structures are wheelchair accessible with ramps and rails. Most of the things are low for a child to reach or for an adult to easily assist. The kids love it.

This weekend was very hot with heat advisories for outside activities so we went in the morning after a quick swim in the kiddy pool. We started our day in the park with a ride on the absolutely beautiful carousel. The carousel has stationary and moving horses along with a few seats designed to accommodate a wheelchair or other special needs. After 1 ride with a promise of one more before we left they took off to race around the rest of the park. My little people ran from cars to airplanes to train, to mazes, to swings, to slides, and back again. After nearly an hour we all climbed back onto the carrousel for one last ride. It was hard to get them off the ride the second time. I promised them we would be back.

Because of the heat we stayed in the parking lot for a short time to tailgate. I made sure each of us had a bottle of water and some juice before we all buckled up to find a good pho shop for lunch. Pho is Vietnamese noodle soup. It is a wonderful broth with lots of rice noodles, meat, and crunchy sprouts to put on top. Pho is traditionally eaten with chop sticks and a spoon. The kids love it.

Spelt Zucchini Pancakes

I did a little experimenting this morning. I made a batch of the regular banana pancakes and then I pulled out the zucchini. While the family was chowing down on banana pancakes I was grating fresh zucchini from the garden. The husband wanted to know what the green stuff was and what I was making. When I told him pancakes it was met with total disbelief. The basic recipe is a modification of a 1984 Joy of Cooking pancake batter

Zucchini Pancakes

1 c whole spelt flour
½ c white spelt flour
1 t salt
3 T sugar
2 t double-acting baking powder
1 t ground cardamom
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1 dash ground clove

1 large egg
3 T melted butter
1 c skim milk
1 medium zucchini, grated

Sift together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix together the wet ingredients. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together quickly. Spoon onto hot oiled griddle. Cook until bubbles are firm, flip and cook until golden.

Finished pancakes can be frozen. I use plastic lids (coffee can plastic lids) with the rims cut off between the pancakes to make separating easier while they are frozen.

I loved them. The husband thought they were okay. One kid refused to try them because they had green spots. The other kid tried them (twice) but said she didn’t like them. Oh well, more for me.

My Favorite Bedtime Children’s books: Love Stories

There are two books which I love to read to my children. They make me feel all mushy inside and don’t even come close to telling my two little people how special they are.

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak (Cartwheel Books – Scholastic) is a wonderful book which goes through what you love about that special little person in your life. We all know we love their silly side and their mad side but how often do we really tell them that. The loving words are accompanied by beautiful drawings of a little person and their teddy bear. My kids like this one too since we play along. I’ve shown them or asked them where each body part such as their ears and toes are as we read along or we act out the emotions like their silly side and mad sides.

On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (Red Wagon Books) is another loving book. This beautifully illustrated book describes how the world prepared for your coming. I like this one because it not only conveys how important and wonderful each little person is it also tells of how we are all intertwined with our environment. For this book the kids are starting to ask questions alike how the earth’s gravity keeps us from floating away.

I got bored the first time I read Good Night Moon but I have yet to grow tired of reading these two.

One in a Million

Yes, I’m one in a million, in more ways then one. There are over a million people living in the county I live in. That number can be overwhelming and some days the traffic can be BUT the pros so out weigh the cons. Just about any thing that interests you can be found here. There are people living here who represent all corners of the globe. They bring their customs and beliefs. There are people here of just about every religion, political party, and philosophy. If you are willing to ask around you can find almost anything here. The cultural centers, colleges and universities, restaurants, museums, parks, zoos, theme parks, historical sites, movie houses, performing arts theaters and concerts venues are everywhere. There is something for just about everyone you just need to be willing to look around to find what you are looking for.

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is located in downtown Washington DC on The Mall. This Egyptian style obelisk is just over 555’ tall and was completed in 1884 as a memorial to George Washington.