Spring Blossoms

 

Spring has sprung and even with a certain amount of neglect things still bloom forth in all their glory.  I look around our yard and there is a riot of blooms.  Not a lot of color in these pictures but there is some.  These first blossoms are a product of our neighbors hard work and lightly fill the air with a scent of sweetness as I race by them to or from somewhere.   Jasmine that covers the fence and a sprawling bulb the I'm not sure the name of.  The other ones are from our pear and apple trees repectively.  They are old but oh so productive.      

Across Country

 

Across the country we sent a birthday package.  Containing lots of handmade goodies including cards and a note written by a Japanese student who is visiting here.  I asked her to write Happy Birthday and she wrote a whole paragraph and then translated it, on another piece of paper, into English.  Also, in the box was a package of local salt water taffy and a water color.

It was fun doing the watercolor.  First we all came up with 21 adjectives that describe the birthday boy.  Then Eli painted a full page watercolor painting.  I cut the paper into small strips. I was just going to put them randomly on a piece of ribbon but noticed how cool they looked when placed almost back together.  We all wrote a few words so everybody's handwriting was represented.  Then I taped them onto the ribbon into a chain of colorful words!     

Happy Birthday to Nate

From the Utah mountains,

to the California deserts,

to the glacial lakes,

to the organic farms.

                        Here's to lots more adventures in beautiful places. 
                                          Happy Birthday to Nate!!!!!!!!!!

Piano Practice

After lots of practicing at home, there is the recital.  Eli donned the proper attire and played his pieces well.  This was a more formal recital for the students getting ready for Certificate of Merit.  Usually her recitals are very casual.  Mostly for practicing playing in front of other people.  She often adds a bit of entertainment by having some sort of trivia asked about the different pieces.  This recital is was mostly about what musical era the piece was from.  I can tell you, my score was zero.  

Opening Day

Baseball season.  Opening day.  Take me out to the ball field being practiced on the piano and sung out on the field.  Every player goes out on the field from t-ball players to majors.  Some running, barely making it over their own feet, while others have such determination and their eyes on pro-ball.  All high fiving the others.  All of them, ready to play some ball!       

To Heal

When violence comes next door to your doorstep, even if your not home, you have to take the time to heal.  To try return to normal.  You gather in a circle. You smudge the space with sage.  You reclaim the space.  You plant flowers.  You have a potluck on a windy, biting cold night.  Huddled around the picnic table we brought what we had.  Soup, cereal, popcorn, salad.   You paint a lot.  You make cookies and eat them and send some home.  You listen to the kids that were there, when they want to talk.  The kids that are safe.  You thank the teachers.  You say the words loudly:  I never want to hear the words: school. shooting. violence. children. in the same sentence ever, ever again.