I've been enjoying a weekend home from school, and man it feels good. The reason I came down after only a month away is because the music director at my church needed an accordion player. Of all things. Naturally I jumped at the chance, and had a fun time playing with a polka band in church as part of an Oktoberfest worship celebration. Yes, my life is awesome.
It was really fun today seeing all my friends at church. I love it at school, and I'm weathering the challenges well, but there's no place like home. Actually, I spent so much of my time in high school at church, that a lot of people were not surprised at all to see me around this morning. Aside from jamming out on the accordion, I've spent my time finishing a research paper, which I'm glad to be done with, and practicing piano with my snazzy new metronome (which looks like a miniature beige coffin, which is why I associate metronomes with DEATH).
Today I've just been hanging out, knitting, and watching football. I miss this idea of free time!
My home-schooled background has helped me in a lot of ways; I get stuff done promptly, and I'm not burned out from years of being in school already, so I'm curious as to how things all work. Doesn't mean I like all the deadlines and creating annotated bibliographies, the late nights, and general fast pace of everything, but I roll with the punches. Even though I'm in college, I still identify myself as a home-schooler-–four years of college won't change that.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Irish Fair!
Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the Irish Fair. It was so cool! And of course the best part for me was the Irish musicians, performing all types of traditional music all day. The Fair was held at Harriet Island, which looks over the beautiful Mississippi River in St. Paul, and honestly, we couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day. I went with a few friends, and we just set up our chairs under a big shady tree by the main music stage, then we'd go off and explore. There was a big merch tent with tons of cool/expensive stuff, from jewelry to Irish rugby jerseys to Celtic instruments and swords.
Oh, and kilts. Lots and lots of kilts. I would say the vast majority of men I saw were sporting them. It was quite the fashion parade: some of them were the traditional plaid tartan patterns in green, blue, black or red, but there were also lots of modern and/or unusual kilts, like blaze orange, Yield sign yellow, camouflage and denim. I would have loved to get good pictures, but it's just the tiniest bit awkward, you see.
Although I got this one, because I loved his socks.
(I made the mistake of wearing a black t-shirt amongst all of the green. Totally anti-festive. I don't even have a U2 t-shirt)
There was a sheep herding demonstration...
and a hurling match.
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641460260060675218" />
First of all, it's not THAT type of hurling.
I didn't get there in time to hear the exact rules of the game, but from what I could tell it looked similar to lacrosse. Instead of sticks with nets, though, they were wooden sticks with a flat, paddle-like end, which they used to scoop up the ball and whack it to their teammates. It was fun to watch, but I have no idea who won.
I didn't get a picture, but the Irish wolfhounds came out in droves. They are so huge! If they stood on their hind legs I'm sure they'd be taller than me. Want.
After all our exploring, we ended up sitting under the shady tree, listening to the great music as the afternoon cooled into the evening. It was a great time...I hope I can go again next year.
Oh, and kilts. Lots and lots of kilts. I would say the vast majority of men I saw were sporting them. It was quite the fashion parade: some of them were the traditional plaid tartan patterns in green, blue, black or red, but there were also lots of modern and/or unusual kilts, like blaze orange, Yield sign yellow, camouflage and denim. I would have loved to get good pictures, but it's just the tiniest bit awkward, you see.
Although I got this one, because I loved his socks.
(I made the mistake of wearing a black t-shirt amongst all of the green. Totally anti-festive. I don't even have a U2 t-shirt)
There was a sheep herding demonstration...
and a hurling match.
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641460260060675218" />
First of all, it's not THAT type of hurling.
I didn't get there in time to hear the exact rules of the game, but from what I could tell it looked similar to lacrosse. Instead of sticks with nets, though, they were wooden sticks with a flat, paddle-like end, which they used to scoop up the ball and whack it to their teammates. It was fun to watch, but I have no idea who won.
I didn't get a picture, but the Irish wolfhounds came out in droves. They are so huge! If they stood on their hind legs I'm sure they'd be taller than me. Want.
After all our exploring, we ended up sitting under the shady tree, listening to the great music as the afternoon cooled into the evening. It was a great time...I hope I can go again next year.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
I'm blogging right now from my new Mac, and it makes me oh-so-happy. I've never owned one before, so it'll be interesting trying to figure everything out before I leave for school--yikes-- in a few weeks. The Apple Store in Mall of America was crazy busy and slightly intimidating, but we emerged triumphant with a MacBook Pro awhile later.
In the afternoon, my brother and I zipped up to Fort Snelling, where they were hosting a shape note singing get-together. If you want to know more about shape note music (also called Sacred Harp), you'll find me explaining it in this post.
I'd never been to a singing before, and was a bit nervous. I walked into a small schoolroom where singers had gathered.
"Would you like to sing with us?" one of them asked. When I said yes, he said, "There's songbooks over there, fans right there, and water over here. Get those and you can take a seat." I filled up my water bottle, passed on the paper fan, got the songbook, which said The Sacred Harp on the cover, and sat in the alto section. My brother had gone off on his own to explore the rest of the Fort, hang out at the blacksmith's, and watch the cannon presentation, of course.
It was hot and muggy outside, and inside the schoolroom it wasn't much better. Behind me I heard a few mutterings that it wouldn't be a Sacred Harp singing without a lack of air conditioning. The singing got started after about 20 people had gathered. Most of them had been singing Sacred Harp music for a number of years, meeting weekly in the Twin Cities to sing and attending conventions throughout the state and country. I made sure to sit next to one of those people, and luckily, my neighbor could really belt it out. Whenever I lost my place in the music (which happened a lot), I'd just do whatever she did.
Shape note singers sit in a hollow square formation. Anybody can suggest a song, and anybody can get up to lead it from the middle of the hollow square. Leading a song means you give the pitches for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass, and keep the tempo by waving your arm up and down, pretty much. The huge amount of sound we were able to produce was startling. People visiting the Fort would pop their heads in wondering what all the ruckus was, and sometimes they'd even join us.
After an hour we stopped to take a break, because the leader of the cannon presentation had to start presenting outside our door. Certain singers had brought food for a potluck, so we ate and chatted for 20 minutes or so. My observation is that fellowship is as much a part of the Sacred Harp tradition as singing is--and it made things even more fun! Because firstly, the fact that any of us were there meant that we were a very unique, unusual set of people: I met some like me who had first heard of Sacred Harp through the Internet, documentaries, and the movie Cold Mountain. Most of them were my parent's age or older, except for me and a few college-age girls. The resurgence of Sacred Harp has definitely been an intergenerational kind of movement across the country, though. I don't want to say "popularity," because it's still such a fringy thing, like being a Civil War reenactor or speaking Esperanto.
I got talking with one guy who, on finding out it was my first time at a singing, convinced me to lead a song with his help. That was exciting! Of course, as a newcomer, it wasn't always easy to keep up, but it was still by far the funnest and unabashedly nerdiest thing I could have done with my day. The people were welcoming, and the music and energy were exhilarating.
It was weird, though: I went from the Apple Store in the morning, to singing 18th century church music all afternoon. It was a time warp of a day!
In the afternoon, my brother and I zipped up to Fort Snelling, where they were hosting a shape note singing get-together. If you want to know more about shape note music (also called Sacred Harp), you'll find me explaining it in this post.
I'd never been to a singing before, and was a bit nervous. I walked into a small schoolroom where singers had gathered.
"Would you like to sing with us?" one of them asked. When I said yes, he said, "There's songbooks over there, fans right there, and water over here. Get those and you can take a seat." I filled up my water bottle, passed on the paper fan, got the songbook, which said The Sacred Harp on the cover, and sat in the alto section. My brother had gone off on his own to explore the rest of the Fort, hang out at the blacksmith's, and watch the cannon presentation, of course.
It was hot and muggy outside, and inside the schoolroom it wasn't much better. Behind me I heard a few mutterings that it wouldn't be a Sacred Harp singing without a lack of air conditioning. The singing got started after about 20 people had gathered. Most of them had been singing Sacred Harp music for a number of years, meeting weekly in the Twin Cities to sing and attending conventions throughout the state and country. I made sure to sit next to one of those people, and luckily, my neighbor could really belt it out. Whenever I lost my place in the music (which happened a lot), I'd just do whatever she did.
Shape note singers sit in a hollow square formation. Anybody can suggest a song, and anybody can get up to lead it from the middle of the hollow square. Leading a song means you give the pitches for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass, and keep the tempo by waving your arm up and down, pretty much. The huge amount of sound we were able to produce was startling. People visiting the Fort would pop their heads in wondering what all the ruckus was, and sometimes they'd even join us.
After an hour we stopped to take a break, because the leader of the cannon presentation had to start presenting outside our door. Certain singers had brought food for a potluck, so we ate and chatted for 20 minutes or so. My observation is that fellowship is as much a part of the Sacred Harp tradition as singing is--and it made things even more fun! Because firstly, the fact that any of us were there meant that we were a very unique, unusual set of people: I met some like me who had first heard of Sacred Harp through the Internet, documentaries, and the movie Cold Mountain. Most of them were my parent's age or older, except for me and a few college-age girls. The resurgence of Sacred Harp has definitely been an intergenerational kind of movement across the country, though. I don't want to say "popularity," because it's still such a fringy thing, like being a Civil War reenactor or speaking Esperanto.
I got talking with one guy who, on finding out it was my first time at a singing, convinced me to lead a song with his help. That was exciting! Of course, as a newcomer, it wasn't always easy to keep up, but it was still by far the funnest and unabashedly nerdiest thing I could have done with my day. The people were welcoming, and the music and energy were exhilarating.
It was weird, though: I went from the Apple Store in the morning, to singing 18th century church music all afternoon. It was a time warp of a day!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Comings and Goings
I have four children, ages 23, 21, 18, and 14.
The 23 year old, after not living at home for four years, is home. Home for the summer, home for a last semester of college this fall. Then we'll see.
Home and remembering house rules. Pick up after yourself. Replace the toilet roll when you use it up. Ask before you borrow the car. Fill the tank. Wash your own dishes. Don't assume all the steak in the freezer is yours. Make your own bed.
Home and contributing to family life. He loves to grill. He doesn't mind physical labor, hot and sweaty garden projects. He offers his technology when the house DVD player breaks down. Nice give and take.
The 21 year old is away. Living on her own, or almost. Taking responsibility for herself, mostly. Until tuition payments are due.
She checks in more frequently than she did when she had something to prove [to herself? to us? to whom?]
The 18 year old is making lists. Phone, checking account, laptop, laundry detergent, and all the other things she needs before she moves to college dorm life.
That one spends more time considering how many musical instruments will fit in her dorm room than she spends on what clothes, books, or gadgets to pack. Latest count: violin, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer [it's small] all go. Piano [it's MINE] stays. Accordion [it's not hers either] goes back to its orginal owner. Cello, that's up for debate. Is there room in her closet?
The fourteen year old schemes and plans about having his bedroom to himself again.
And me? It's going to be quiet in my house this fall.
We're going to have to negotiate cars if the 23 year old plans to commute to school this fall.
I'm proud to see my kids accept the responsibility of independence. And I'm pleased to see they can ask for help [and a spare bedroom] when circumstances warrant that. Love to see them go, see them grow, see them live in community, see them give back where ever they are.
For a long time I've said, healthy birds leave the nest.
But healthy people know when to ask for help, and a temporary home.
Love my kids, coming and going. Growing.
The 23 year old, after not living at home for four years, is home. Home for the summer, home for a last semester of college this fall. Then we'll see.
Home and remembering house rules. Pick up after yourself. Replace the toilet roll when you use it up. Ask before you borrow the car. Fill the tank. Wash your own dishes. Don't assume all the steak in the freezer is yours. Make your own bed.
Home and contributing to family life. He loves to grill. He doesn't mind physical labor, hot and sweaty garden projects. He offers his technology when the house DVD player breaks down. Nice give and take.
The 21 year old is away. Living on her own, or almost. Taking responsibility for herself, mostly. Until tuition payments are due.
She checks in more frequently than she did when she had something to prove [to herself? to us? to whom?]
The 18 year old is making lists. Phone, checking account, laptop, laundry detergent, and all the other things she needs before she moves to college dorm life.
That one spends more time considering how many musical instruments will fit in her dorm room than she spends on what clothes, books, or gadgets to pack. Latest count: violin, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer [it's small] all go. Piano [it's MINE] stays. Accordion [it's not hers either] goes back to its orginal owner. Cello, that's up for debate. Is there room in her closet?
The fourteen year old schemes and plans about having his bedroom to himself again.
And me? It's going to be quiet in my house this fall.
We're going to have to negotiate cars if the 23 year old plans to commute to school this fall.
I'm proud to see my kids accept the responsibility of independence. And I'm pleased to see they can ask for help [and a spare bedroom] when circumstances warrant that. Love to see them go, see them grow, see them live in community, see them give back where ever they are.
For a long time I've said, healthy birds leave the nest.
But healthy people know when to ask for help, and a temporary home.
Love my kids, coming and going. Growing.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Guilty
I am feeling a lot of Mom Guilt this week.
Emily is gone for the week, and I'm so happy to have the piano all to myself. [guilt, guilt.]
I don't have to have an early morning consultation each day about who gets to practice when.
I just get to practice whenever I want. Whenever I don't have a student. Whenever I feeeeeeel like playing.
[guilt, guilt.]
A good mom would be happy to share her piano.
A good mom would take delight in her child's passion, discipline and drive toward success.
[guilt, guilt.]
I really do take delight in all those things. And, I wish I could have my piano all to myself, at my beck and call, and not have to share.
[guilt, guilt]
Em's got access to a piano where she is.
[happy, happy.]
Emily is gone for the week, and I'm so happy to have the piano all to myself. [guilt, guilt.]
I don't have to have an early morning consultation each day about who gets to practice when.
I just get to practice whenever I want. Whenever I don't have a student. Whenever I feeeeeeel like playing.
[guilt, guilt.]
A good mom would be happy to share her piano.
A good mom would take delight in her child's passion, discipline and drive toward success.
[guilt, guilt.]
I really do take delight in all those things. And, I wish I could have my piano all to myself, at my beck and call, and not have to share.
[guilt, guilt]
Em's got access to a piano where she is.
[happy, happy.]
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Graduation, again
Our third child has reached that stage of life known as high school graduation. It's a little bit surreal. As a family that homeschools with the philosophy that learning is a life long endeavor, to mark an "ending" of schooling seems odd. This particular form of schooling ends, the learning never does.
And yet, it is good to recognize and celebrate this transition from home and family to continuing the learning in a different setting.
As each child 'graduated,' we have asked family and friends to contribute their thoughts -- memories and bits of advice -- to a book that we have compiled for the graduate.
I am always stunned at the thoughts people share.
As connected as I am with my children, they have lives apart from mine and my influence. This is a good thing.
I am so grateful for the people who have been part of my children's lives. They so often notice and remark upon aspects of the child's personality or gifts that I take for granted. They see it as special, whereas I just see it as *Emily*.
And I love the pieces of advice they share. Sometimes it's something they heard from their own parents. Sometimes it's something they've learned the hard way.
Best of all, so many of the people in my children's lives share their foundation of faith with her. Remember, Emily, you are one of God's children, now and forever. Rembember, Emily, God will help you when you need help and guidance. Remember, Emily, you are baptized. Remember, Emily, you can be a witness of God's love in the world.
Thanks to all who have or will contribute to this book.
And yet, it is good to recognize and celebrate this transition from home and family to continuing the learning in a different setting.
As each child 'graduated,' we have asked family and friends to contribute their thoughts -- memories and bits of advice -- to a book that we have compiled for the graduate.
I am always stunned at the thoughts people share.
As connected as I am with my children, they have lives apart from mine and my influence. This is a good thing.
I am so grateful for the people who have been part of my children's lives. They so often notice and remark upon aspects of the child's personality or gifts that I take for granted. They see it as special, whereas I just see it as *Emily*.
And I love the pieces of advice they share. Sometimes it's something they heard from their own parents. Sometimes it's something they've learned the hard way.
Best of all, so many of the people in my children's lives share their foundation of faith with her. Remember, Emily, you are one of God's children, now and forever. Rembember, Emily, God will help you when you need help and guidance. Remember, Emily, you are baptized. Remember, Emily, you can be a witness of God's love in the world.
Thanks to all who have or will contribute to this book.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Graduating?! What?!
Life is feeling pretty surreal right now. I know it is for a lot of graduating high schoolers like me, but my case is a bit different. The last time I was in your typical classroom environment was in pre-school, and now in a mere two months I'll be in college. Yowza!
My peers and I are at this weird stage where everything in the future is new, exciting, and scary. For me as a home schooler, you can multiply that by a million. I don't want to think about my future, but that's all I end up thinking about. I know I already have certain skills I can use to survive and do well in the world, so I try to stop worrying. (Let's see how that goes, shall we?) I know I have comforting and supportive people around me, though, and I'm definitely not alone in my anxious thoughts.
Some people ask me if I'm going to be part of the local high school commencement ceremony, but the answer is no. I suppose I could process through my livingroom and my mom could hand me a diploma, but I'd rather not. Fanfare and funny hats aren't my thing. I'll just take the party, please.
~~
This last week I've made progress with a few compositions, which is always an exhilerating feeling. What's strange is that I could sit at the piano and play you a multitude of tunes that frequently roll around my brain, but to this day my complete collection of finished works--though they're not as epic as the title may suggest-- comes only to a total of three. I'm kind of new at this whole composing thing, so that's probably why I underestimated the insane amount of time it can take to perfect one measure, let alone an entire piece of music. But I'll keep on truckin'. It's a fun mind-bending type of challenge for me. Some people do Sudoku, I write music. What I'm working on now is a piece for choir, because I'm a choir geek raised by more choir geeks who hang out with other choir geeks, and then another piano thing. That's kind of my big summer priority--to finish something--along with catching up with people before I leave for school.
Exciting times are ahead, without a doubt.
My peers and I are at this weird stage where everything in the future is new, exciting, and scary. For me as a home schooler, you can multiply that by a million. I don't want to think about my future, but that's all I end up thinking about. I know I already have certain skills I can use to survive and do well in the world, so I try to stop worrying. (Let's see how that goes, shall we?) I know I have comforting and supportive people around me, though, and I'm definitely not alone in my anxious thoughts.
Some people ask me if I'm going to be part of the local high school commencement ceremony, but the answer is no. I suppose I could process through my livingroom and my mom could hand me a diploma, but I'd rather not. Fanfare and funny hats aren't my thing. I'll just take the party, please.
~~
This last week I've made progress with a few compositions, which is always an exhilerating feeling. What's strange is that I could sit at the piano and play you a multitude of tunes that frequently roll around my brain, but to this day my complete collection of finished works--though they're not as epic as the title may suggest-- comes only to a total of three. I'm kind of new at this whole composing thing, so that's probably why I underestimated the insane amount of time it can take to perfect one measure, let alone an entire piece of music. But I'll keep on truckin'. It's a fun mind-bending type of challenge for me. Some people do Sudoku, I write music. What I'm working on now is a piece for choir, because I'm a choir geek raised by more choir geeks who hang out with other choir geeks, and then another piano thing. That's kind of my big summer priority--to finish something--along with catching up with people before I leave for school.
Exciting times are ahead, without a doubt.
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