Ode to Summer

The new season is bringing changes with it as I move out of my 'first' house. I love the little cabin I've been able to live over the spring and summer. I love the peaceful seclusion of living out in the country. Going for walks down the lane, watching the birds, seeing the flowers, and being in the sunshine make me happy! I enjoyed several walks this summer and wanted to share a few of the pictures I took.

Here's a view of the back of the cabin:

Ok, I will admit that I added the lens glare to this picture ... :)

As of Friday, I've officially moved into the farmhouse. I am enjoying all the space and I love being back on the farm again. It has taken a little getting used to: being by myself in an entire house versus the one-room cabin! But I won't be alone for long, because TOMORROW is the day!!! I've been counting down the hours and minutes until Dad and Lawrence arrive.

Olivia asked me to do this photo challenge with her during the month of October. It looks like fun! If you decide to do it as well, I'd love to see your pictures!

Piano Lesson Parodies: Episode 1

... because my piano (oh, and violin) students are always cracking me up ...

One of the very first funny things that happened was with one of my violin students. At some point during his first lesson, I told him to "put his violin up." I meant, of course, up to his chin. Imagine my shock when he started to put his violin away! Living in England for four years, I had not heard that term used, so I forgot that it had a different meaning here in America. It made me laugh really hard, which wasn't quite conducive to keeping things serious with the lesson... but oh well. We still joke about it to this day :)

As Lyndsay was playing her piano piece, she reached a part that was meant to be played softly. She made a sudden violent move with her right hand, crossing it over her left hand. Then she stopped and just started laughing. I was rather stumped at what she was trying to do, until she informed me that she was reaching to turn down the volume like she does on her keyboard at home!

Sarah referred to a mid-song change of hand position as a 'cruel trick.' (It doesn't take much to make me laugh, I tell you.)

Ever tried to play violin with a fly landing on your hair, your ear, and your eyebrow? Several minutes of Trenton's lesson were spent swatting at the fly with our hands, his bow, ... and his violin. We were in a big auditorium and that fly had to pester the four square feet we were standing in! By the end, Trenton was plotting to eat the fly to get rid of it (and spit it out, of course.)

I was doing flashcards with Caroline, when we reached a time signature which looked like this:

Students are required to tell me what each of the numbers mean. She thought for a moment and said, "The bottom number ... is just there," and then proceeded to try to rush to the explanation of the top number.

Yup, just there for good looks. I was very amused at my obvious failure to pass along that small piece of knowledge. (But to her credit, and my own, it was years before I actually understood what that number meant despite all of my wonderful piano teachers!)



And last, but certainly not least ... as I explained what a 'syncopated' note was to my clever high-school student, his reply was, "At least it's not constipated."

Yes, that is indeed, a relief.

Because sometimes we need cliche analogies ...

I was trying to think of something very clever and helpful to write, but also include some fun pictures. The result was this over-used analogy that we never put into practice as much as we should.

Have you ever heard, or thought, that life is like a roller coaster ride? How many times have you heard life compared to mountaintops and valleys?

A few nights ago, I went bowling with some friends. I played two games. The first game was my mountain in which I scored 159. Probably a lifetime record for me so far. But the second game didn't go so well. Not feeling the need to remember, I didn't take a picture of the second gameboard, but I think the number was in the 60s or 70s category. A definite valley.

The moral of the story is that I didn't give up, even when I was in the middle of the 'valley game.' And in the middle of life's valleys, we can keep on going too.

One day can be the happiest day of our lives in which everything is going just how we think it should go. The next might be the complete opposite. Circumstances, people, and moods all change. When we only look around us, we are the most depressed creatures alive.

The other option is to look up. Jesus is unchanging: He is our Rock. We still go through the valley/mountaintop experiences, but if we are focused on him, we don't have to let them dictate how we feel.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.- Psalm 61:2

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. - Ps 31:3