Fiddling Around

Jana Jae is a name I was totally unfamiliar with until last week. But now that I've met her and read a little about her, I'm very impressed and hopeful we will have another chance to meet up with her again. You can read what is said about her here at the National Fiddler Hall of Fame and on her website.

One of our ukulele players is friends with a friend of Jana Jae and when she heard about our group, she invited us to perform at her Fiddler's Workshop in Grove, Oklahoma. We were so excited to get this opportunity to play and sing, but somewhat nervous as well. As it turned out, there was no need to be anxious, because Jana Jae gave us such a warm welcome and so many words of encouragement. After hearing us, she asked us to stay a little longer, have lunch and play more. Would we? Are you kidding? We were having so much fun. Toward the end, she actually wanted to play with us! So now, we are all Jana Jae fans and she said she had no idea before meeting us that we were so professional. Okay, this coming from a real professional, our heads are totally swollen up!! And we've been invited back for next year's fiddler workshop.

So, what does the ukulele have to do with violins/fiddles? Nothing, except the ukulele was being introduced at the workshop and there was also a group attending who were learning to play.

We are hopeful that we will have more opportunities to play for other audiences, but we are content to continue to practice and play for the enjoyment of the residents of local assisted living and nursing homes. That truly brings joy to us.

Jana in the pink top.

The little girl in front is one of the ukulele students.

A huge thanks to my brother for making the trip with us to drive, and help with our equipment! Just riding to and from was a blast hearing and sharing hilarious stories with each other.

Apple Pie Hodgepodge

1. As we begin this brand new month tell us, on a scale of 1-10, where does your life fall in terms of being in 'apple pie order'? Please elaborate. (1=nowhere near it, 10=practically perfect in every way)

I have to say 8. I think it’ll never be perfect, because I miss my Dear Heart so much, I miss the kids and have to travel back-and-forth, I still need more landscaping, I’m waiting for my door, and I need window treatments for my windows, BUT

I have to say 8, because life is good, we have so many blessings. I enjoy good health, I’m close to my family, I have made many new friends, I love my church, there are so many opportunities and so many things to do, it seems like I’m running out of time to do them.

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away...are you doing your part? Red or green? Sweet or tart? Ever played the game Apples to Apples? Do you like apple pie? If so, ala mode or just gimme the pie?

I like pink lady, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious, which is neither red nor green. I prefer sweet apples. I have the game Apples to Apples, but I’ve only played it once. I like apple pie if my friend Alice makes it. And I do like it warm, served with vanilla bean ice cream.

3. Tell us about a time recently where you 'upset the apple cart' or the last time someone 'upset your apple cart'? Nothing recent comes to mind right now. Maybe I upset the apple cart when I made the move to another state and upset a few people, but that is almost one year ago, so I wouldn’t classify it as recent.

4. What are three words that come to mind when you think of September? Fall is coming.

5. What are you most looking forward to this month? Bible study fellowship begins, cooler temperatures hopefully, and getting more things done around here. I’m going to buy two trees and I’m excited about that.



6. Insert your own random thought here.

I posted plenty of pictures on Facebook, but I recently returned from a trip to Mackinac island with a group of seniors from my church. We had a wonderful time, but we all agreed it would have been nicer had we not stayed in a different hotel every night for nine days. But it was a great trip and lots of congenial people enjoying many interesting things. Our destination was Mackinac Island, but we stopped along the way to see some lovely sights, enjoyed delicious food, and met some wonderful people. I don't have good pictures of the Amish community, but that was one of my favorite places. Seeing and hearing about their culture, their work, their faith and their families was probably one of the nicest parts of our trip.

A Dutch Village

Carriage rides through the woods, gourmet meal and wine tasting at the Thunder Bay Resort. Another fun stop was a Reindeer Ranch--stick a graham cracker in your mouth and a reindeer will kiss you. Haha!! A barbeque meal there and hopefully, it wasn't barbequed reindeer.

The antlers are so heavy.

A beautiful arch at Mackinaw.

Lunch at the Grand Hotel

Castle Farms

A few from our group with the owner of Castle Farms.

She is a woman with vision.

We stopped for donuts at this donut place owned by the friendliest cops! 

Their coffee and donuts were a treat and mighty good.

So many beautiful flowers

The Kennedy presidential car at the Henry Ford Museum

Being part of the ukulele band as a singer is so much fun. On Tuesday afternoon, we went to play and sing at a luau at an assisted living facility. The last time we were there, we had a huge audience who cheered us on and ask us to come back every week. We now will have a standing gig on one Wednesday Happy Hour each month. (I know this is very small potatoes, but it is so much fun for us.) So we’re going to a hukilau! Haha! The people here are so wonderful and it just makes you happy to see them happy and singing along with us. They light up at hearing the old songs from their youth.

Poor Dave--the only guy in this girl band

We also have been invited this weekend to participate in a demonstration at a fiddling workshop. That’s the only way I know to describe it. It is introducing the ukulele to students of violinist Jana Jae. 

A Summery Hodgepodge

1. July 5th is National Hawaii Day...have you ever been to Hawaii? 

We visited Hawaii and Kauai in 2002, I think.

Any desire to visit or make a return trip? 

If someone would like to take me there, sure. Otherwise I’m fine with my memories from then. Jay and I had a wonderful time. We stayed at a beautiful Marriott resort and enjoyed seeing all the sights. We took the helicopter ride over the island, rode bicycles down Waimea canyon, saw the memorials for WWII and many other sights. I loved Kauai.

Pineapple, mango, or guava...what's your pleasure? Fresh pineapple would be my favorite.

2. Last time you were 'thrown in at the deep end'? 

This is a tough one for me. Explain. The toughest thing for me in the last two years was the day Jay died. When I took him to the hospital, I had no idea that he would not be returning home with me.

3. Sun, sea, sand, salt...your favorite when it comes to summer?

Maybe the sand in Sandestin, Florida. I love the sun when it isn’t beating you down during those hot Texas temps. Temperatures ranging from 65 to 85 are sun times that are more to my liking.

4. Bury your head in the sand, the sands of time, draw a line in the sand, pound sand, shifting sands...pick one and tell us how the phrase currently relates to your life in some way.

The sands of time. They’re going swiftly through the hourglass. The road ahead is shorter than the road behind now, (but the road behind holds such great memories). I’m thinking of a song:

The sands of time are sinking,

the dawn of heaven breaks,

the summer morn I've sighed for,

the fair sweet morn awakes;

dark, dark hath been the midnight,

but dayspring is at hand,

and glory, glory dwelleth

in Emmanuel's land.*.

5. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = make your own rules and 10=like a warden), how strict were your parents?

Make our own rules??? Ha!!! With my parents, probably an 8. We were quite sheltered, and also, because of our “religion”, there were a lot of rules. My mother made sure to see that we were able to partake in most things, but there were definitely lines drawn and rules. My Dad was more strict than Mom.

If you're a parent where on the scale do you land?

I was stepparent to two, and when I thought my husband was too harsh or too lenient, I was free to share my opinion about what I thought and we would compromise on the rules for them. It was a fortunate thing that his children were such good kids, and it was easy to let them have freedom.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thought is a little whiny today. But, at the same time, I’m also thankful. Since making my move to another state last year, I’ve completed the necessary details of things that had to be done, albeit with many challenges. I have fallen three times now in the past eight months. I took a fall last Fall and hurt my back, in February, I fell on the ice and broke my wrist, and two weeks ago, I fell in the shower while visiting family in Texas. I’m taking physical therapy for my wrist still, after five months, and now I’m trying to figure out what’s gonna happen with my knee.

The reason I’m thankful, is that none of these falls occurred during the time I was taking care of my husband or when I was preparing for my move. I’ve pretty much been able to continue with most things, however, my pickle ball game is just going to have to wait another few months. I had one try at it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it.

Saving here a few photos of good times in the past few weeks. I went to Texas a couple of weeks ago. My trip to see the kids was cut a little short by the fall, but I had a good time anyway. Brady and I went to Grandscape in The Colony and we had burgers, he drove a race car at Andrettis, and we had ice cream after. Jack and Kate and I shopped around a little at Academy, and Kate in the second picture is holding one of the chickens she finally caught. Notice the chicken coop in the background Jason built. Amy is the one who cleans it out. 

Goofy!

Noah went fishing with his Dad. Very nice fish!

Brady is at camp! He is in the center.

My life group met for fellowship at a local gelato place.

Here are a few of the people in our uke group. There are 9 of us. 

We are beginning to get dates for "gigs" as the shutdown is over.

A hat brunch with a few friends.

And I'm posting this pic because as I type this, today is International Kissing Day!

We always had a good time!

·       * Samuel Rutherford and A.R. Cousins. 1857

A "cute as a bug" Hodgepodge

 

1. Something you've seen recently that's “cuter than a June bug”? 

I know it’s only an expression, but I don’t see anything cute about a June bug. Maybe a lady bug. I might in the past have thought the baby bunnies were cuter than a June bug, but not anymore since they’re eating up my plants. My boss was named June and she was affectionately referred to as "June Bug."

But...to answer the question. I came across this picture in my iPad photos. It never fails to make me smile. I love this boy and he's much cuter than a June bug.

He's 10 now.

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

Working as a paralegal in a law firm during the week, keeping up with housework, and planning little trips with Jay and kids on the weekends. We had so much fun in those summers. Turner Falls was ice cold water, a sandy beach, and so refreshing on a hot summer day. 

 

Turner Falls, OK

S. Padre Island, TX

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

Sitting under a blanket in my recliner with my dog on my lap.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? No. What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I love poundcake served with strawberries and whipped cream, or peach cobbler and ice cream, or warm blueberry sauce served over vanilla bean ice cream. My favorite summer dish is made with zucchini, yellow squash, onions, red, yellow and orange peppers, and cherry tomatoes sautéed in butter and ginger until tender. I love this stuff. I don’t mind cooking in the summer.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

I just finished The Ocean Between Us, a very sad fictionalized account of the true story of the deportation of 130,000 children to Australia during WWII. Here are a few on my reading list. If anyone is interested in reviews, my friend has already read these and given her reviews. The top of her list with the highest review is The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan, which she rated 4.75. 

Saturday Evening Girls Club, written by Jane Healey: set in early 1900's. 

Also by Jane Healey, Beantown Girls. Set in WW2.  I enjoyed it and would rate it a 3.75

I was on a roll here with Jane Healey, so picked up her book called The Secret Stealers. Anna is a young widow (set again in WW2)  I liked this story And rate it a 4

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

There has been too much rain the past few days for me to have made my trip to Texas, so that is put off for a couple of weeks. Trying to schedule plans and coordinating with other people’s calendars can be a little bit tricky. In the meantime, I’ll carry-on with appointments and commitments made for the next two weeks.

 

 

Hodgepodge Wednesday

1. Besides the flag, tell us about something red, something white and something blue from your weekend.

I wore one of my favorite white tops to church on Sunday, bought a blue and white tunic, and slept in animal print pjs with a red top.  Friday and Saturday were beautiful perfect Spring weather with sunshine and lower 70's. The lawn man planted more shrubs for me (which included red roses), I had lunch with friends, church and then Memorial Day was cool and very rainy. I spent the morning working at the thrift shop and the rest of the day at home.

2. June is here and it's National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month. Who would you give a bunch to if you could? Tell us why.

Since our grandkids are past the "balloon delights", I would give bunches of balloons to the  kiddos in my 4-5 year olds Sunday School Class. We will be having company later this month with four rowdy little ones, so it would be fun to give each of them a bunch of balloons. To all of them I would give the balloons simply for the joy it would bring!! (Although I really hate it when they let go and the balloon disappears to unreachable heights and then the delight is over!)

3. What are three adjectives you associate with the month of June? Something you're looking forward to this month?

Sunshiny days, sweet summer evenings, beautiful blooming roses. I'm planning a trip to Texas next week although it looks like another rainy week both here and there. My nephew and his family will be coming through here on their way to Colorado, so I'm looking forward to seeing them. Our seniors group is having a "pickleball social" and I am looking forward to trying this with a group of beginners!

4. Tell us about a time (besides the obvious Corona answer) when you felt stuck in second gear.

I might be in second gear right now. Although I'm content and have plenty to do, it may be that I am expecting too much too quickly, especially knowing I've reached an age where we know without a doubt that time is precious. I'm longing to make close friends I can spend time with. I know, I know, it takes time. It took 50 years to grow the deep friendships I've left behind ... not really. They're still my friends ... they just aren't close by. So thankful they are only a phone call away.

5. Sum up your May in fifteen words or less. 

My birthday month came and went too quickly for me, but May was still full of good things.

6. Insert your own random thought(s) here.

1. "Sunrise, sunset, swiftly go the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears!" 
2. A very random thought/confession here is I find myself eating way too much and also watching too much TV. 
3. And my dog knows there are bunnies living under our deck, so she wants to go out much more than she normally would. She thinks she can stare me down.

She sits by the window waiting.

Then she moves on over a little to get closer to the door.

She won't take her eyes off me until I let her outside.

Then she comes back in and expects a treat!