Just Jot It January,

The prompt word for January 22nd is “seasonal.” Thanks go to Kaye for the wonderful prompt!

Please be sure to check out Kaye’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/22/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-22nd-2023/ It’s fun!

Linda spoke of how her writing was seasonal. NaNoWriMo, CampNaNo and Just Jot It January becomes her writing time. Me, too. It seems those programs help motivate me properly. I haven’t won every time. And sometimes, like last month as I tried another goal, I made no progress at all. But often I make the 50k. Even on the camps. That would probably not surprise my teachers. Most of my report cards had comments like, ‘Darlene talks too much in class.’

This year I’ve over-goaled my life with all the gifts I’m trying to make and so writing has fallen by the wayside.

And I still have to podcast and start reading aloud my books, starting with my memoirs. The area in my house I planned on using, suddenly has Diamond Paintings.

My recorder playing, piano and voice practice have fallen off.

There are only 24 hours in a day. Still!!! I stay up reading until 3 or 4. With my old dog waking me often, sleep also seems seasonal. Heat and smoke and bugs of summer, icy cold and snow of winter affects everything in our house. Where we hang out, how we sleep, either covered up over my head with warmth or sheet to keep bugs off. And all this affects energy and pain levels, ya know?

Maybe I need to organize my day better and my week to include everything I want to do.

Thank goodness for the treadmill. It still gets used most days of the week.

How does anyone get anything done with a job? I did do NaNo. But the rest of this, writing, knitting, especially learning new stitches, artwork, music, etc. Little got done. Too tired. Housework. Phew!

Seasons of our lives are as influential as the weather. Whew!

Who Knew?

Review: The Beginners Method for Soprano and Alto Recorder, Book 1 by Sonja Burakoff

The Beginners Method for Soprano and Alto Recorder, Book 1 by Sonja Burakoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up the Kindle version of this book first. Later I ordered the paper version so I would have the book online or without electronic aid. I had a soprano recorder I was learning to play and decided to try the alto, too. I love how the book showed the fingering for both recorders and even combined to make duets that both recorders would play a part.

Every couple of pages, the book gives a new note or two. I am happy to say that I have played all the songs in the book, the soprano melody, and the alto melody. I am glad they were, for the most part, easily recognizable folk songs. That meant that this first go-round, I could concentrate on the fingering, which is far different from the piano that I’ve played all my life.

After a music hiatus, this book was the perfect way to get back in and enjoy music.

Though I have played the melodies, I plan to use this book the following way. I have an app or two that will help me. One will play the metronome, and then I will record each part of the duets presented. It seems like a fun way to get even more acquainted with the fingering I have mastered. I know I still need work on breath and tempo.

After this book, I have many more beginning recorder books to play with. Each has different approaches and ways to perfect what I know to get to the next level.

View all my reviews

Making Monday

As I sit here in the parking lot awaiting my husband’s colonoscopy to be done, I have lots to keep myself occupied.

There’s a bluish hat starting. Or the second red sock to reach 8 inches like its left-at-home mate. Or should I shut the window and play a tune?

While knitting I plan to listen on Libby to this:

I’m never bored!

What are you making?

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, Ode

Ode to Joy. This is often a beginners song in whatever instrument you are trying out. Here is one of my favorite recorder teachers teaching the classic. I am using this video to teach myself to play it on not only soprano but also alto and tenor. Both of the latter are much harder on my hands than the higher squeakier soprano.

Sarah Jeffery

I’ve always been interested in codes and other languages. Maybe the beginning code of my life was music. As a five-year-old, I can remember more of my music lessons than kindergarten or even first grade. Music code was followed by alphabets and Dick, Jane, and Sally. Not only did I learn that code, in the boring sense of black and white, but reading became one of my favorite things.

When I was little, I had a toy piano like Schroeder, with color coded music with keys that match the notes. Maybe that is why I see music and some odd things in colors. Smells have colors. Words have colors. My fingers on the piano keyboard make cartoons in my head. Okay, I never said I was totally sane.

Okay. Not Beethoven but cute, right?

Great for color-coded toy piano, not the best key for beginning recorder.

So sorry to have let my stream erode to elemental music but that is where my crazy ADD floats off to. I have overloaded on the code words when there were so many out there like these:

• biodegradable.
• photodetector.
• electrodermal.
• octodecillion.
• moderatorship.
• modernization.
• modernisation.
• photocathodes.

Just think of where I could have gone with photocathodes, whatever those are.

Per Linda:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ode.” Find a one- or two-syllable word that rhymes with “ode,” or use the word “ode.” Have fun!

Making Monday

Making music. My housemates and neighbors may disagree.

My free classes ended last Thursday. It was fun having a Zoom class making progress through elementary music.

I am a music major so I can read music,  no problem.  Well, except for the eyes that have problems seeing. But recorder music is only one line. As opposed to four or more in piano music. So recorder is easier.

Without the black and white keys I have had to learn finger positions. Seems easy enough. Except fingers, my fingers are short and have a hard time reaching.

Maintaining breath while hitting the notes and trying to keep time present challenges.

Any of you who had to take recorder classes in school might remember the screeching noises of the soprano recorder.

So I am attempting to learn the alto, too. I love it’s rich smooth sounds. But my hands hurt after more than few minutes playing.

All the music time cuts my knitting time. So the socks are just two inches from being done. Maybe this week they’ll be complete.

What are you making?

This and That Thursday

As I meandered my thoughts about today, I found my eclectic stroll even more so.

My current binge is The Walking Dead, again. My son has all ten seasons. I like watching the old way because there are extra bits like ‘the making of’ or interviews. The show parts I can let slide by as I have committed a lot to memory.

I was watching Outlander again. But it won’t have a new season until next year some time. I’d love to read another book or two, but I’m caught up there, too.

One thing I found in common between these two shows is the music. Guess what? Same musician in both.  Bear McCreary is amazing!

Today was my last Beginning Recorder  class with Jennifer Carpenter of the American Recorder Society.  They were free. As soon as I can, I plan to join. There are more lessons coming up in September. I’m loving learning on my alto and soprano recorders.

Meanwhile, I have a lot of Kindle and paper books to keep up the education.

And there are lessons on YouTube like those of Sarah Jeffery and Team Recorder. She is so much fun.

For those who think Recorder is for grade school take a listen:

That beginning photo at the top of my post? I stepped outside with the dog. The wind was hitting me in the face and the sky looked like it disguised itself with a mustache. It felt so grand to feel such a cool breeze coming from the north. That meant a lot less smoke for us today. I’m thankful for that!

Maybe soon I can start taking walks!? I did learn at the doctor’s appointment on Monday that I have lost over 23 pounds now. Lots still to go but hey, it’s working.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, igh

Sigh. Practice time is nigh. I’m getting better. It’s hard to hit the eighty-eight keys when midnight is in sight.

I’d love to say I’m improving on either recorder or piano. But I’m trying to keep the sessions light and as fun as possible. It’s been a long time since I put this much effort in. Trying to clear the practice cobwebs.

Sight is a problem. Cataract surgery not until after September’s consultation. Until then, I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m stumbling on what I could play flawlessly when I was 12. Having larger notations and less on the page helps. As I play a bit of cellular memory eases my plight.

On the recorder a lot is playing recognized tunes. I can read the music. It’s my fingers. If you don’t fully cover the holes air escapes and the higher squeaker tones come out. It’s a matter of laughing at myself and keep trying. Arthritis might be the problem. But if I stay relaxed and quit if it hurts too much, I’m more likely to try again later.

Housemates and neighbors haven’t complained at my late play time. The new position of my music/hobby room is far from open windows or others’ rooms. Still, when I wait too late I’m too tired.

So I’d better not delay the delight.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

And good night!

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “contains ‘igh.’” Find a word that contains the letters “igh” in that order and use it in your post. Enjoy!

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, Up/Down

Up in the sky, way over there,

Those thoughts that fly

When I need them most

Are having a hey day!

Down in that valley, yes, right here,

We try to carry on,

Spiriting up

Getting things done

Having down to Earth fun.

A lack of sleep night had me scurrying for words when talking to family. But I had my ups and downs in the day getting lots of recorder things done, piano practice, even scales with fingers running up and down the keyboard.

A couple boxes got unboxed. The first signs of the heat showed up. Though in comparison with those west of here our temps were down, I don’t think we got to the predicted 95. Not looking forward to the triples due tomorrow through Wednesday. Too hot to be productive when there is no AC. Well, we have fans and a little window AC. But not the whole house kind.

Keep cool everyone!

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “up/down.” Use one, use them both, but try to put one in your first sentence. Bonus points if you use the other in your last sentence. Have fun!

Thanks for the fun prompt, Linda G. Hill!

Tornado Tuesday

No. we’re safe. I know there are some really scary things like floods, and tornados on the east coast. And out here the fire season is getting serious, especially with the lightning storms we are having in spite of sizzling heat. But my tornado is more what I got done and then what I enjoyed as a reward when tired.

I did get a lot of the work done toward my vlog studio and my music studio. Not finished by far but a couple cooler days like today and I think that will be done. I can’t wait! I’ll take pictures if not YouTube the finished results.

And the day ended so beautifully! Forgive the dirty droplets on the window It has been windy and rainy making muddy windows!

I had an issue with passwords and getting into my games got weird. But the issue is finally ironed out. I am doing a sort of inventory of the purchased games to see which I should have downloaded and which I can skip. I tried out something like Mosaic 3? I can’t remember but it was puzzle after puzzle. I may find a time that I might want to play it in the middle of winter, but I need the distraction of great graphics and hidden objects. I can’t see to read well. But with my glasses on upside down, for some reason, I can see the screen well enough to find most objects. They seem to be getting my mind in removal mode. Does that make sense? I play a while then run and get stuff done. Then tired and game again.

My newest fun is Tornado: The Secret of the Magic Cave. The finding is harder as the pictures are smaller but this is a younger feeling game. Though the main characters are at driving age they seem to be living alone in a cabin, and then are having to survive in a cave after a tornado wrecks their lives. They are siblings so I guess that was the way to get away from the romantic element of some of these games. I wish it would play faster but I am enjoying camping without the rocks biting me in my chilled sleep. I probably won’t play the rest of the night as I haven’t played my recorder in days and I miss it.