fun stuff | Change Is Hard

March 13, 2016
by dawnkinster 7 Comments

Music of Angels

Last night we were treated to something extraordinary from the Ann Arbor Symphony. Of course that isn’t a surprise because every performance the symphony gives is extraordinary. But this truly was music meant for feisty angels.

Those of us in the audience were treated to the Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, Op 25 composed by Alberto Ginastera. If you’ve never heard it you’re in for a surprise. I, for one, didn’t know a harp could make the sounds that musician Primor Sluchin produced on the beautiful instrument.

She told us, in the pre concert lecture, that we probably thought harp music was something soft and gentle, something you’d find on clouds. And then she proceeded to demonstrate a few of the techniques she’d be using in the piece that evening, which included rapping her knuckles rhythmically on instrument, and plucking the middle of strings for a sound almost like a gong.

And who thinks to pair a huge percussion section comprised of 28 different instruments with a harp? Composer Ginastera did. The whole piece is amazing, influenced by Argentine music and with a contemporary feel, it requires the musicians to remain focused and concentrating on counting. There is no room for relaxation, either by the musicians or the audience, especially in the third movement.

The intense third movement gives you a feel for how different the piece is. Ginastera was commissioned in 1956 to write it, and he didn’t finish it until the end of 1964, saying it was a most challenging piece to write. Guest artist Sluchin said it was very challenging to play as well, and that her whole body would hurt by the time she was done. After listening Saturday night I imagine her physical pain is something like a marathon runner’s — the body hurts, but in such a very satisfying way.

Listen to the third movement yourself. In this video link you’ll get a birds-eye view of the harp, the percussion, and the rest of an orchestra. It’s not Ann Arbor, but it will give you a good idea of how it felt to listen and watch the piece. It’s about seven and a half minutes long. If you’re short on time start listening at minute 3 because that’s when things really get jumping. I think you’ll be just as amazed as we were, and though the artist in the video is not the beautiful, talented and incredible musician we saw, you’ll probably be on your feet applauding at the end.

Just like we were Saturday night.

So once again, thank you Ann Arbor Symphony, thank you for a wonderful evening of inspiring music and soul filling joy. I know you know how wonderful it was. I saw the smiles on your faces, the head tilts, the relaxed shoulders, the bodies leaning forward as Primor Sluchin played her encore, a sweet and gentle harp piece that showed the softer side of the instrument. You were all as mesmerized as we were out in the audience.

I guess we all got the same gift last night. And it was big enough to share.

March 8, 2016
by dawnkinster 18 Comments

WordPress Photo Challenge: Harmony

I play clarinet in a community band and within the group are several parent/child combinations. I’ve been lucky enough to watch their musical relationships over the years. It’s been pretty cool, and I think it’s one of the best things about a community band.

For the past few years I’ve enjoyed watching a particular relationship right within my own section; a mother and daughter, both playing clarinet. I know the memories they make playing music together will last a lifetime. They have a special connection and it’s easy to see how much fun they are having.

So for the photo challenge this week I could think of nothing more appropriate than the harmony so obvious between them as we readied ourselves to play a concert on Saturday. What they have is pretty remarkable these days – mutual respect combined with love and a lot of laughter. Just another example, as far as I’m concerned, of the benefit many kids get when they grow up playing music. Especially with their parents.

You can see other interpretations of harmony as comments to the original post. Or you can check out a few of my favorites here, here and here. It’s a good theme. What do you find harmonious around you? We’d love to see, share it and link to the original post.

Guaranteed to make you smile.

March 6, 2016
by dawnkinster 16 Comments

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Couples, Twins, Two of Anything

Two tuba players share a conversation on the way to performing a concert.

Break a leg.

This past weekend our community band played in a festival a few towns down the road. Walking through the fresh snow into the facility I noticed these two. Remembering Cee’s challenge, I fumbled with my gloves, found the camera in all the stuff I was carrying, and got the shot.

I thought it was cute to see two tuba players deep in conversation, casually hauling their giant instruments along almost as an afterthought. Turns out they were our musicians, and we all had a fabulous time playing music together a few hours later.

March 2, 2016
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Wordless Wednesday

Devil dog

March 1, 2016
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Scanning memories

Technology. It frustrates me, confuses me, tests my patience, pushes my buttons. I’m not even on the learning curve but usually somewhere far behind it. So I’m feeling pretty progressive these days as I help a friend scan her family photos. And I try not to think about discussions we had in library grad school about technology changing and future generations (or even sooner) having to move collections of documents and data to whatever the latest viewing technology is available. That someday no one will be able to view CDs full of data unless they have an antique reading device. And that paper documents still available from centuries ago are still readable if they were preserved.

But that’s another blog.

This one is about the process of providing access to memories for everyone. The way to distribute family photos among surviving members electronically, quickly and efficiently. And that’s a misnomer in itself. Once a file is complete the transfer to other people will be quick. But putting that file together takes a long time.

I love the 'mid-century-ish" of this. And it was mid century too

I love the ‘mid-century-ness” of this. And it was mid-century too.

I cleaned out a closet this week and found a box filled with random photos, some of them very old, of family. They are so fun to look at, and bring back so many memories that I want to share them with my brothers and sister. So I’m scanning them into a file. And I’ve found that scanning a friend’s family photos is much faster than scanning my own.

Working through a pile of photos spanning my own history takes time. Time to peruse each image, each face, to take in the background and figure out which house, which city, which trip, which year. To sort out which baby image belongs to which child.

Time slips away as I am immersed. And then the dog barks, or the snow slides noisily off the roof, and I am jolted back to reality. Mom and Dad are gone. My brothers and sister live far away. I miss them all but am still very thankful that I have the memories captured in these random photos.

And so I scan the next picture and smile at the baby smiling back and remember summer days and adventures from long ago. Someday this project will be complete and I’ll be giving them their memories for review. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did putting it all together.

I can’t see how they won’t. Who can resist pictures of cute kids?

Lean on me…

February 28, 2016
by dawnkinster 27 Comments

WordPress Photo Challenge: State of Mind

Last week we were running through the park in shorts.

But this is Michigan, so this week is different. Can you guess what my state of mind was when I snapped this?

The weather outside is frightful.

You would be correct.

For other interpretations of ‘state of mind’ check the link. Or visit a few of my favorites (so far) here, here and here.

Seems obvious to me that the ground hog lied back at the beginning of this month.

Pretty though

February 26, 2016
by dawnkinster 16 Comments

Support your local kids. Even if you don’t have any of your own.

There’s magic behind these curtains.

Forty-four years ago I played in the pit orchestra for our high school spring musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. I was sixteen. I remember long rehearsals and the weekend performances like they happened yesterday and coincidentally yesterday was opening night at my local high school’s production of the same piece. I couldn’t resist going, especially since a number of the kids that play with our community band were playing in the pit for this production.

It was magic.

The musicians were stupendous, the acting was great, the voices strong and sure. I remembered it all, the lines, the songs, the jokes, even obscure bits of music blending into the background. I remembered Billy Bigelow the out of work carousel barker, and Julie Jordan the mill worker who fell in love but who were too scared to admit it. I remember Carrie and her beau Enoch Snow the uptight fisherman. I remembered the bad choices that were made and how even in the worst of times people pulled together and eventually did the right thing.

I was transported.

Such talent we have among us! And they loved what they were doing so much that their enthusiasm spread through the auditorium. I kept seeing my own classmates in their faces, yet they interpreted the piece as their own. They earned the standing ovation at the conclusion and you could see the glee on their faces as they accepted our applause.

School musicals, band and orchestra concerts, debate team competitions, robotics challenges, sports events, art showings, these all showcase the best of what these young adults have to offer. They deserve to be supported. The auditorium should have been sold out last night. I hope it is tonight and Saturday and Sunday too.

Even if you don’t have kids in your local school district check out what’s going on there. I bet every high school in the country is putting on a spring musical right about now.

Take a chance.

Disrupt your usual evening of watching television, arguing politics, doing laundry or reading a book and head out to see what the kids are putting together. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Those of you that live locally, there’s still five more performances here. It’s stopped snowing, there’s no excuse not to go. Let’s sell out that auditorium.

Attend a high school musical and prepare to be transported.

Good job!

February 25, 2016
by dawnkinster 20 Comments

Now this is more like it!

Katie here.

As you might know I’m a sheltie princess, and we shelties love snow. We come from a land far away that is very cold and whenever we get a chance to play in the snow we’re very very happy.

At least that’s the official story.

Maybe I’m just getting older but I have to tell you this storm we’re getting right now hasn’t been that much fun for me! It’s been snowing for over 24 hours and there’s a lot of snow on the ground. My dad went out three times yesterday to clear the driveway. I don’t know why they don’t just wait till April when it would all melt by itself. Humans don’t always have common sense, you know?

Remind me why we’re out here mama?

Anyway, this morning my mama and I went out back to fill the bird feeders. I like to help her with that, mostly because I like to sniff all around under the feeders. There’s lots of good sniffing under there, I can tell you.

This morning mama had to shovel a path across the deck just to get to the feeders. I barked and barked at the shovel cause I don’t like it. Not one bit. But after she got to the steps she just went down them and over to the seed bin. Well! I had to go too, so I raced down the steps ….and got stuck at the bottom!

Uh oh!

The snow was deeper than I am tall! I couldn’t touch the ground and I couldn’t go anywhere and mama was laughing at me. I gave her the stink eye and she came over and picked me up and set me back on my feet and I scrambled back up the steps to the deck where I waited patiently for her to finish filling the feeders.

I’ll just stay up here mama.

When we got back inside mama went out the front door to clear up the driveway. I wanted to go with her. I go everywhere with my mama! But she said ‘no baby, you won’t like the snowblower. You don’t like the vacuum and this is just like that only it throws snowballs far away!”

Well!

I told her off! I love to run after snowballs! What was she thinking! But she still said no so I stayed inside and picked the snowballs off of my legs and left them all over the house to melt so that she could be pleasantly surprised when she stepped in ice cold water puddles later.

This is a fine mess I’m in.

She was outside a long time. And when she came back in she was covered in snow! She asked me if I wanted to see what the snowblower looked like, and maybe check out my poop room that she shoveled as well. So we wouldn’t have to go back out just as soon as she took her coat off she said. (I don’t know what she’s talking about. I always pick opportune moments to ask to go out.)

Doesn’t look like a vacuum mama!

Mama was right. I didn’t really like the snowblower thing. It was big and weird looking. But I sat next to it cause she asked me to. I am nothing if not an obedient dog. You believe that right? Of course you do. A princess does not lie.

Not often anyway.

She made me sit behind daddy’s truck too. I don’t get it. She’s always telling me to stay away from cars and trucks and then she wants me to pose next to one. I guess it was pretty obvious this one wasn’t going anywhere soon.

Are we going to go on an adventure mama?

Here it’s not even noon yet and I’m already just exhausted by all this snow. I think I’ll just take a little nap now. Mama says it’s snowing harder and she or daddy will have to go back out and clean up that driveway again. I don’t know why. I think they should follow my lead and take a nap.

zzzzzzzzzz

I hope you all get your naps in too, and be very careful if you’re driving. Cause I, the princess, want you all to be safe!

It’s a winter wonderland!

February 22, 2016
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

WordPress photo challenge: Seasons

Here in lower Michigan we’ve been confused by the seasons. It’s supposed to be cold and snowy in February. In fact this time last year we had wind, drifts of snow, and frigid below zero temperatures.

So you can imagine our joy at the temperatures this February. And the lack of snow. Sure there are piles of it in the shadowy woods or where city trucks dump their street slush. But mostly, around here, it feels as though we dodged the winter bullet.

Temperatures in the 40’s F (4.44 C) had people running around town like it was the middle of summer. Out at the park I actually stalked a runner for this photo challenge.

I had just finished my own 3.5 mile walk/run, and was climbing into my car for the ride home when I spotted him starting out. I loved that he was wearing shorts in February and that his shirt was bright green. So I shoved the car into gear and raced to a parking lot one mile down the road, where I leaped out and trotted a ways up the path, positioning myself on a curve, pretending to take pictures of the dried up winter lake, when in fact what I wanted was him running in shorts in February in Michigan.

Warm run in February.

To show you that ‘seasons’ can’t always be predicted, and staying flexible is always important.

You can see other interpretations of this challenge at the original post. Or visit a few of my favorites here, here and here.

What season is it at your house? Please share with us, especially if it’s tropical. Because here in Michigan we know for sure that this little respite will be brief and winter will be back with a vengeance soon. So we’ll live vicariously through your photos until June or so when we can enjoy our own summer sun.

Just ignore that pile of snow.

February 21, 2016
by dawnkinster 15 Comments

Creative types

Fun stuff.

Almost two weeks ago I showed you all the things people were doing in the middle of a Michigan winter out at my favorite park. And I mentioned that there were also a number of artists painting there that day, so many that I figured they deserved their own post.

And now two weeks have passed in a flash.

So before more time slips through my fingers, let me show some very talented people at work capturing their vision of my favorite park. They were spread out near the nature center, some along the bike/running path…

Painters and runners share space.

…some tucked further into the woods.

Painting in the woods.

Most were focused on parts of the lake, fringed with cattails and surrounded by bare trees against the brilliant blue sky.

There’s beauty everywhere.

It was cold that day, and they were painting while dressed in heavy coats or hunting gear, scarfs, gloves, hats.

Staying warm with art.

But the cold certainly didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Their work was beautiful. I wanted to stop and talk to each of them about what they were doing, but they seemed very intense. So I admired from afar.

Something else I admired from afar was this guy. Or girl.

Our national bird.

This photo is cropped 3 times, the bald eagle was sitting in the top of a heron rookery far out in the middle of a lake. I’ve never seen one this far south, and I wouldn’t have seen this one if he or she hadn’t flown in with a huge stick while I was across the street watching artists. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a fringe of trees between us, and I wasn’t sure what I was seeing. So I ran back to the nature boardwalk and looked through my long lens.

I still couldn’t believe it.

I stayed a long time watching the eagle watch all of us. And if it weren’t for the cold I might be there still. I felt privileged to have witnessed the low flight of this bird, and its sweep up to the top of that tree. Eagles are very special in our family and I’m so glad to have seen this one. Another photographer said a pair of them was around that lake all last summer, though I never saw or heard anything about eagles being there. I’ll keep a sharper eye out this summer and keep you posted.

An incredible day captured.

Meanwhile…the artists were packing up and headed home to warm up and reminisce about their lovely day at the park. I decided I would too.

Maybe someday I’ll try oil painting. I think it would be fun, but probably frustrating, to capture my version of things I see. If I give it a shot you guys will be the first to know. And I hope I see the artists and my bald eagle out at the park again this spring and summer. I’ll let you know about that too.

Waiting and watching.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

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