Cd cover

This is the cover I designed for the cover of the cd of dad's tape that he made.
On his tape he did not talk about his football season except to say that he sat on the bench most of the time. He never mentioned the saxaphone that he's holding and I don't remember him talking about camping with his folks. So all of you who read this blog ask about the pictures you see of your folks or grandparents and WRITE it down. You'll be glad you did.

Father's day

My father was a good man and a good provider and I know he loved me but I didn't know him very well. He was a master electrician by trade and loved his work. He had lots of hobbies: ham radio operator, hunting, fishing and photographer. My brother spent quite a bit of time hunting and fishing with dad but I never did. Now I don't know if that was my decision or dad's. I don't remember him ever asking me to fish or hunt with him - although I remember one time I went out in the boat with him. He fished and I read a book. Maybe that's when he decided I probably wouldn't want to be a fisherman but I enjoyed being in the boat with him and I have always loved the water. About the time I asked him to teach me the morse code (I thought ham radio was fascinating) I became interested in Lowell --- so much for morse code. :) So even though I knew what my dad did I don't remember ever talking with him much as a kid. Not like my sons do with their children.

When I was a little girl and then as a teenager mom and dad didn't get along very well and since dad loved his profession - home didn't seem to be a priority. In later years mom and dad learned to appreciate their differences for the most part.

The winter before he died he made 2 45 minute tapes about his life. I wish I had been able to listen to those tapes before he died because when I did listen to them I had questions. But I'm grateful for those tapes. I had a friend record them onto a cd so I could make copies for my kids.

My blue bike

I loved my blue bike even though it wasn't new and it was a boy's bike. I rode it everywhere. No matter where I went - to Grandma's, to my cousins, to my Aunts, even to town where my dad has his electric motor shop - I had to cross a brige and go up a big hill. But such fun going home!!! down hill all the way.

We lived just a couple of blocks from the park where my friends and I spent a lot of time. It was and still is a beautiful park. It had 3 levels so going to the lower level was lots of fun because it had 3 curves and you could really pick up speed. But coming up was really hard work. Ramsey creek flowed through the lower level with a bridge made out of stone by the CCC or WPA (works progress association)in the late 30's or early 40's. The pavillion was also made of stone by the same group of men. Sometimes my friends and I would pack a lunch and spend the afternoon on Ramsey Falls. Now that I think of it I'm surprised my mom let me do that because it was quite a drop from where we would sit to the water with lots of rocks between. Maybe she didn't know we did that. hmmmm.

Tagged

So I've been tagged by my daughter. 6 unspectacular things about me. hmmmmm.
Somebody has to explain this tagging thing. I don't quite understand how to continue it. My brain must be tired tonight.
Well 6 things:
1. I count when I set the table - 1-2-3-4 ect plates. 1-2-3-4- ect silverware.
2. I used to have to finish reading a book no matter how boring it was. I've stopped doing that.
3. When I'm by myself or Hubby is sleeping I watch two different tv shows. (I really like the remote control.)
4. I seldom remember the punch lines of jokes.
5. I spend far too much time playing computer games.
6. I really REALLY don't like to clean house or cook. laundry's ok

It died!

Hannah ran up to the house yelling "the lawnmower is smoking!" Her mom answered "It always smokes" "But this time it's ON FIRE, too!!!" And so the demise of the lawnmower began. We've have this lawnmower for quite a number of years and although it did smoke a bit it still did the job both at our house and the house on the hill.
As Avery said - it was sad and kind of funny, too. As we watched it burn we noticed that fire was creeping into the grass in the pasture. So David, Sharon and several kids grabbed buckets of water. The men that were working on the road came up to see what was going on and proceeded to help with shovels. Had this been closer to the trees we would have been in big trouble but the mower died without any other damage.

Other music stuff

It's raining instead of snowing - thank goodness. I think we all had our fill of that white stuff but ya know. next winter we will look forward to the snow again.

We had to cancel the Chorale concert for Saturday, also. Now it is scheduled for June 5. It can't possibly snow then - can it?

I had my piano recital Friday night (May 2) and I will say that it was a success. Some of the string students of my friend, Jeff, played also. So violin, cello, guitar and piano were mixed together and it made for a very nice recital. My 2 grand daughters played a duet. One is from south of Fargo who practices with her mom and the other grand daughter lives just up the hill and practices with me. So they only had to play it once or twice Friday afternoon and they had it down pat. Then Bria played the duet with Clara at her recital Sunday afternoon. So now I'm done teaching until next Fall. Whew - but next Fall I'll be ready again.

Now onto other musical things. Today I started working with the HS choir along with the regular accompanist. I'll get to play different instruments using a Insoniq keyboard. The choirs are doing music from several musical with lots of choreography. Mrs. D sure puts a lot of energy into her choirs and especially the Spring concert - this year May 14.

Winter again!!

Boy of boy, winter will not let go of us. A snow storm again. The yard was dry and I was staring to rake all the junk that had accumulated when David and Zac cut up a tree that Itasca Mantrap cut down. Guess I'll have to wait a-g-a-i-n.
Our classic chorale concert had to be cancelled tonight. Hopefully it will be a go tomorrow afternoon. We have some really good music.