I actually have time to read!! Or I'm taking time to read. After examining my book list from last year I decided I need to do a little more profitable reading. So I'm trying to remedy that. I just read a book called The Colonial Background to the American Revolution; fascinating. Gave me a lot of background information on the Revolution that I didn't know. I'm currently reading a book on the dress of the common people in England in the 18th century. Yes, it's interesting (mostly). And some of the artwork is lovely. And it's due back at the library...today. :)
I watched North and South (the BBC production based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell) with my sis in Kearney. Good movie, for the most part; now I'm itching to read the book again (it's on my list after I finish the one that's due today). I'm also quite interested in the industrial revolution and the history of cotton use and production in England (which would also have some effect on its use in the colonies...see the connection?). I'm feeling the gaps in my education; must research. Fun stuff.
I'm also taking the time to practice. We have a wonderful set of music for our CYS winter concerts. The Canning Fantasy on a Hymn by Justin Morgan is especially lovely. I can't find it on Grooveshark but one of my friends located it on YouTube, so you can probably find it there if you want to hear it. The Elgar Introduction and Allegro is great, but difficult, and the St. Paul Suite is just fun. We're also doing an exciting Mendelssohn string symphony. And I need to work on playing in tune high on the E string.
Piano gets its own paragraph. :) I'm considering auditioning for the Masterworks Festival this summer; if I go for it I'll need to have three substantial pieces ready for recording in a couple of months. I have some that I've done in the past two years that I could go back to...I've been messing around with some pieces and working steadily on the last movement of Beethoven's Appassionata. Not terribly hard, but it might end up being quite difficult to get up to speed. It's really good to be practicing again though.
Our oven is having issues, so I haven't been baking very recently. I want to make some banana bread, though, and some cookies...probably oatmeal raisin. Or gingerbread. We've had to come up with non-oven-requiring options for dinner the past few nights; I made pancakes/bacon/eggs on my night. Breakfast dinners are always good. :)
I'm slowing plugging away in the sewing room, working on some of my own stuff before the Great Redcoat Project, phase Two, resumes. Mom and I have also been crocheting (well, recently it's been Mom more than I, as I've been doing various handwork on my LH outfit); we're turning some of our yarn leftovers, the stuff nobody's used for years, into granny squares. Eventually we'll have enough for a quiltish sort of afghan, hopefully. It's fun.
Of course, lest I indicate that all I do is read and practice, there are always lessons to teach, rehearsals to attend, Good News Club to prepare for and teach (I love my kids!) and friends to visit and write...walks to take, skating to fit in, and so on. It's good.
Well, that's my life just now...rather slower than usual, and I'm quite all right with that for the moment. It'll pick up soon enough. God's blessings to you this week!
Till later,
Rachel
2 comments:
I say you SHOULD audition for the MW festival! =) If it isn't the Lord's will for you to go, they won't accept you. Simple as that. =) Though, of course, I and many others would be horrified and question the judges sanity of mind if they turned you down!
As a side note, I think of you everytime I fix myself a cup of Zen tea. (It's "delish" as people say down here in the south.)
I've been taking more time to read too. After looking at last week's tallies, I need to take more time to sew. And somehow the walks got pushed to the back burner... maybe that was the below-zero windchill. :) It's great to know what you're up to these days.
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