Tuesday at the Movies - "How To Be Well Groomed"

Now I too can look swell for that special date with Bill. Enjoy.

Autumn Project - Fancy Pants Leaf Candle

I have had the pages, torn from a now forgotten magazine, in one of my projects binders for years and years. Finally got around to making this last week. Once again, made with supplies from our crafts area.

Leaf Candle supplies gathered....


Step One - sponge paint dollar store candle, let dry - fuzzy but accurate photo...



Step Two - trim freshly fallen leaves from yard.....


Step Three - apply Mod Podge to back of leaves.....



Step Four - adhere leaves to candle, remove bubbles, and let dry....this is the part where you are ready to ditch the whole project.....



Step Five - apply thick, messy, gloppy coat of Mod Podge to entire candle, let dry overnight....


Step Six - admire candle, vow never again to work with Mod Podge.....on to the next project....

Tuesday at the Movies - "Good Table Manners"

Tess, Mollie and I love watching old Coronet, Handy Jam, and Encyclopedia Britannica films which were shown in schools the 1950's and 1960's. We decided that we will post one here every Tuesday to share. We can't keep these wonders to ourselves!

Hundreds of these great old films can be found here: Prelinger Archives.

Our first film subject? Well....we all need good table manners, don't we?? Enjoy...

Theme....Musical Photographs......

As always, music continue to flourish throughout our lives.....


Tess playing flute and piccolo with homeschool orchestra.....


Flute for Tess with Mimi....

Clarinet with Mimi for Bill...


Tess's morning piano students, sisters Katie and Carolyn....


Piano with Robin for Tess....


Robin giving Mollie voice lessons....


Mollie giving Robin harp lessons....


Tess's youngest piano student, Megan....


Finally, Tess and Robin at Festival of Pianos at Randhurst Mall....

My friend Will sent me this photo....

I love this photograph, though it elicits a sense of longing, a sense of something missed. I grew up in New York apartments, where learning to ride a bike was not part of my life, nor the lives of those I knew.

In my late teens I attempted bike riding in Central Park, always feeling nervous, scared, unsure. I knew that I had missed the time in which to take on this new task without trepidation. I missed the chance for this to become a natural, simple and secure part of the things I do.

As Sir Ken Robinson says...I became afraid of being wrong.

I envy those who master this skill while young, while believing all is possible.

I think that riding a bicycle must feel a bit like flying....

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together.....

Bill has been learning, on his own, the clarinet since June...using a clarinet we bought on eBay years ago. He also loves the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band where Tess plays flute.

The girls and I came up with a plan. We spoke to the band membership coordinator telling of Bill's love of the band, and of his desire to some day play with them. She was happy to help us make being a band member a reality for Bill.

We researched clarinets, and chose this beautiful clarinet from Suzuki Instruments. We also asked Tess's flute teacher, if she could take Bill on as a student. She agreed. The plan was taking form....

Clarinet....ordered.
Lessons....set.
Band........future goal set.
Now the waiting began....

This morning, the clarinet arrived....


Together, Mollie, Tess and I presented Bill with this brand new, gorgeous instrument....this is Bill looking stunned....


Heading out for new adventures....


First clarinet lesson....


Benny Goodman....watch out.....

Halloween Project #2 - Our Spider Family!!!

With help from Max (thank you Max!) who performed a little Photoshop magic for me, once again our magical, never empty crafts area provided us with the simple supplies needed for a quick project to add to this years Halloween decorations which went up today.

Supplies at the ready.....



Let the games begin....




One unwitting victim subject complete.....


Our little Spider Family is ready to find a new home....


Where oh where will they all live?

Why nestled under last years Halloween project, The Haunted Ghost Tree... of course!



Don't they look happy?

Christmas....Too Soon and Too Big.....

October 14th and Christmas has arrived at Costco. It's not even Halloween yet!

And what's with the gigantic Nutcracker? Words fail.....

Flute & Piano Concert with David Garcia

Bill, Mollie, Tess, Robin and I attended a beautiful concert tonight featuring David and Jesus Garcia at Forest View Educational Center. David plays flute with the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band, the same group that Tess is lucky enough to play with. It astonishes me that he takes the time to play with this local group each week. He is a truly lovely man and we are happy to know him.



Davids flute playing rivals that of James Galway (with whom he has taken master classes) in its clear, pure tone. I think that David is immensely talented. We were so lucky to be among the audience members for this evening of amazing music.

Tess and Mollie with David after the concert.....

New From the Library to My House.......

New Halloween Project....first of a few......

What do you get when you take a few simple supplies from a greatly overflowing crafts stash? You spend an hour making this of course!







PLUS....Mollie made me this pillow from her old Target Halloween t-shirt and a little fringe...such a nice surprise!



More to follow......