Saturday was the first day of true spring-like weather we have had.  The kids, the dogs, the neighbors all seemed to appear out of nowhere.  We have been secluded in our warm little cocoons all winter long and now it’s time to emerge and be sociable again.  Of course, as I headed out the door I grabbed my trusty camera!  Included in this album are some of the scenes I captured on what I consider to be the real ”first day of spring”.

Something happened last night that sort of threw me for a loop.  I was at Isaac’s choir rehearsal, and as we parents sat around waiting while our kids practiced, we were asked to help fold and stuff the choir newsletter, to get it ready for mailing next week.  As often happens during these “work” sessions, conversation happened.  Now understand, as a group of parents we sometimes have little in common with each other, except that our kids happen to be involved in the same organization.  Our personalities, backgrounds and philosophies are varied.  I guess the situation is not unique to this particular setting, but in my experience, choirboy families tend to be a little more diverse and perhaps even eccentric than say, the parents of kids on a baseball team.  After all, baseball is pretty much mainstream America – boys’ choir is not.   So the conversation meandered a bit.  One topic that is usually “safe” is anything related to the choir and all of the activities associated with it.  For example, the weekend sleepover party the kids had last Friday/Saturday, or the upcoming fundraising concert, or summer camp, etc.  Other less safe topics that were touched on last night were gay and transgender issues…perhaps you get the picture. 

Most of the parents that stay at the choir building during rehearsal are moms.  I don’t know why that is, but it has been true for all of the 8 years I have had kids involved in the organization.  Moms are more likely to be the ones bringing the boys to rehearsal, and MUCH more likely to be the ones who stay and visit with each other.  Of the 7 parents working on the newsletter last night, 6 of us were moms (or grandmoms) and only 1 was a dad.  And let me tell you, this dad happens to be one of the quietest, most private (introverted?) people I know.  I know his wife fairly well.  We live in the same community (the choir draws kids from many area communities…probably a dozen of more towns in a 50-mile radius of the location of the choir building), she works in our school district, and we both spent a week last summer rooming and working together as volunteers at the choirboy summer camp.  Even she admits her husband is an extremely quiet individual.  So much so that at times it almost seems that he resents being included in a conversation.  His answers to direct questions are short and to the point and do not invite further conversation.  He is the most difficult person to get to know that I have ever encountered.  I am not passing a judgment on him for this – I respect his desire for privacy.  He is always willing to help with whatever job is at hand, but he does not generally participate in the idle conversation that ensues.  That’s okay.

Here is what is not okay, though.  At least, it made me very uncomfortable.  Our quiet man made only two comments last night, both of them very defensive.  The first one was predictable, because it came during the discussion of gay/transgender issues, which is a touchy and controversial topic to begin with.   To converse on such a topic is to invite an argument.  Quiet man (hereafter referred to as QM) objected to a rather stereotypical statement made by one of the moms, and probably rightly so.  Stereotypes should never go unchallenged, in my opinion.  It was rather unexpected that he would be the one to state the objection, however.  And rather emphatically state it, at that.  Okay – after a somewhat awkward moment that subject got dropped in favor of what one would assume to be a more innocuous one – piano lessons.  Two of the staff from the choir – one a director and the other an accompanist — also give piano lessons.  My son takes lessons from the director; one of the other moms has a son who takes lessons from the accompanist.  We were discussing how our respective sons like their lessons, how we handle the practice time at home etc.   I am not a great piano player, but at this point I can still handle the music assigned to Isaac.  (This is his second year of lessons).  I also can read music very well, and have a pretty firm grasp on music theory.  All of this helps me to assist Isaac with his piano homework.  At times I have wondered how parents who have no knowledge of piano playing, or music reading and theory, handle the piano lesson assignments.  To me, it would be like trying to help my child learn to speak Chinese, when I have absolutely no knowledge or basis for understanding the language.  How would I know if what he was practicing was being learned correctly?  I wouldn’t.  So for an entire week (assuming lessons were on a once a week basis, as piano lessons typically are) my child could be practicing and *learning* their lesson the wrong way!  So I asked the other mom if she played piano.  Her answer was “I took lessons”.  Meaning – “yes, I understand how to play the piano but do not consider myself to be a piano player because I never achieved the proficiency needed to put myself in that category” (I am reading between the lines of what she said and making assumptions based on what *I* would mean if *I* made that statement).  So I replied (this is pretty much word for word) “The reason I asked you if you played was because I have often wondered how *difficult* (emphasis on the word difficult) it must be for parents who don’t know how to play and can’t help with the lessons”.  I was trying to express empathy for the difficulty of helping our kids learn things that we never learned (or at least never mastered) ourselves.  QM rather quickly jumped on my statement by saying “Oh, it’s entirely possible.  Lee does very well, and so does Katherine.  Denise (his wife) and I don’t know how to play.”  (He sounded mad when he said this).  So I asked him “What happens if they are playing something the wrong way, how do you help them correct the mistake so they don’t learn it wrong?”  And QM answered, “Well, that is between them and the teacher”.  With that, he abruptly stood up and left the room (it was just about time to be done anyway) leaving me no opportunity to discuss the topic any further.  I got the impression he was really upset with me – like I was suggesting that kids whose parents don’t play piano or don’t know music shouldn’t bother with lessons, or that I was somehow “superior” to him because I could help Isaac and he could not help his kids.  In leaving (in a huff), he gave me no chance to correct that impression, because I CERTAINLY did not mean it that way!  In fact, parents who give their kids the opportunity to learn new things, especially things they themselves never had a chance to learn (or perhaps never had the desire to learn), impress me.  I commend parents who let their kids determine their own passions, rather than trying to live their own unfulfilled dreams through their offspring.  Nevertheless, I think it must be hard when your kid’s areas of interest and passion lie outside your own realm of experience.  I don’t just think this — I know it, because not all of my kids have passions that coincide with areas I am familiar with. 

So – I am left asking myself two questions, well, maybe two and a corollary.  First – did I actually offend QM, or am I just misreading him, because, let’s face it, he is not an easy guy to decipher!   The corollary to this question is if I did indeed offend him, should I try to pursue the conversation further, to clarify my meaning, or should I just drop the whole thing.  Like I said, he is not a man who invites conversation, and I am not a woman who enjoys confrontation.  The second question is a broader question, not specific to this incident, but regarding society as a whole.  Just why in the world are people so easily offended, and why do we all have to be so careful about what we say around each other?  Can’t we all just CHILL out a little bit, and give each other the benefit of the doubt when it comes to perceived misunderstandings?  I do not go around intentionally trying to offend other people – I’m sure very few of us do.  So if in idle conversation someone says something that could be taken more than one way – one being offensive and the other not – can’t  we all just make a pact to assume the non-offensive meaning and live in peace?  After all – conversation happens!

I saw it!  My first robin of the spring.  I even had my camera with me so I could take its picture.  Finally, a sign that spring will not forget us this year.  (That, and its supposed to be 55 degrees today )  And look at the buds on those branches!  Sorry winter, your time is up. 

Here is my entry in the Weekly Writers Challenge.  This week’s challenge was to tell a story in 50 words or less:

It was a team effort, and he was the one letting them down.  She knew it in her heart, and it ached within her as she watched him try so hard, yet miss the mark.  She loved him extraordinarily, even though at times he was merely ordinary.  Her sweet son.

April really DID fool us this year.  I remember as a child my Dad used to wake me up on April Fool’s day by telling me it had snowed — but it never really had.  This year, it’s no joke.  This is what I saw out my window when I got up this morning! 

(Really, this is not a joke!)

Remember the picture from Easter with the snow bunny?  This lump is what was left of it.  Now we have a new blanket of snow, we could create some new snow sculpture.  Maybe some flowers, since it looks like it might be awhile before we see any real ones.

Happy spring!

I really wish I had time to blog something vastly important and meaningful.  Or even interesting.  Not today.  *sigh* 

(The following article and pictures appeared in yesterday’s edition of our local newspaper.  My son, Grant, has the lead role!)

Don’t be concerned if you spot ‘fools’ all over town in the next few weeks. Not only is *local community college* putting on a production of “Fools” by Neil Simon, but so is *Local High School*. Coincidentally, both Gail K. from the college and Bruce D. from the high school chose this play as their spring production.  By the time they realized they were both doing the same show, they were too committed to turn back. The schools jointly suggest you attend both productions because it is a hilarious play worth seeing multiple times and will most likely be done quite differently. The high school production is being presented March 27-30 at the new *middle school auditorium* and the high school performing arts center; the College Campus production is the following weekend at the new theatre on campus.

Neil Simon, known for his comedies “The Odd Couple,” “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Goodbye Girl” and others really hit the jackpot with this production about a Russian town cursed by stupidity until someone can come to town to teach them something and break the curse.

The high school production is opening at IMS for fun and will be presented in the school’s new auditorium. That show will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27.

The following three performances will be at the Performing Arts Center at the high school with performances at 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29. The final performance will be Sunday, March 30, at 3 p.m.

I only WISH I had a kitchen like this — tons of space, all of the latest gadgets, and spotless to boot.  I do, however, spend a great deal of time in my kitchen and I also love to read.  Sometimes I even read cookbooks.  Cooking….well, that I don’t love so much.  I do enjoy watching cooking shows on television from time to time, and if I could cook the way the TV chefs do, I think it would be fun (i.e. have someone else go out a shop for the food and prepare it in the perfectly pre-measured amounts so all I have to do is combine and cook).  Naturally, I would also wish for someone else to clean up after me!  What — am I asking for too much?

Speaking of cooking, tonight I have to prepare a meal for the kids in my sons confirmation class.  The class meets every Wednesday from 5:30 until 7:00pm, and every week a meal is provided.  This week it is my turn — again!  Coming off the soup suppers we had every Wednesday during lent (and I brought soup to 4 out of the 6 nights we had them) and the one extra night during lent that I brought food for the homeless shelter, plus bringing food for Easter morning brunch, well, lets just say it feels like I have been making more food for church meals than I have been cooking for my own family.  That isn’t true, of course.  It just feels that way.  On tonight’s menu is a chicken “hotdish”, basically chicken breasts covered with cheese, layered with stuffing mix . Sliced cantalope, tossed salad, bread and cookies will complete the meal.  I will have to prepare enough to feed the 10 kids in the class, the two adults who teach it, plus myself.  Then I will make a second portion of each to leave at home for the rest of my family.  Double the fun!  I only hope I don’t have to clean up at home after I get done with my church activities for the evening.  Art is usually pretty good about cleaning up in the kitchen when I am not home, especially if I have done all the food prep for him.  So I guess one of my “wishes” from earlier — someone to clean up after me – just might be fulfilled, at least for tonight.

HELP!  I am a very beginning knitter.  I learned to knit over 20 years ago, but put the needles away after a mediocre attempt at a knitting a sweater (I never did finish it) and took them back up again last year when I decided to knit scarves for all of my female family members as Christmas gifts.  The novelty yarns they make these days are so fun that they make knitting fancy-looking scarves a snap!  Anyway, after successfully making about two dozen scarves I decided to try my hand at something just a bit more challenging, so last summer (yes, it’s been awhile) while our family was on vacation I went to a knitting store (we don’t have one in my hometown) and bought yarn and needles and a pattern to make myself a shawl.  I figured if I start now I might have it done in time to wear it when it warms up a bit this spring.  It could even be worn on cool summer evenings.  Last weekend (the weekend before Easter) there was a “Crafting” day at my church, where anyone could come and spend the day doing any craft of their choice.  Brunch and lunch were provided.  The whole idea was just to enjoy each others company while we each did our own thing.  Many (most) of the others there were scrapbooking.  I had intended to do that as well, but when it came time to gather my supplies I couldn’t decide what to bring (I have too many scrapbooking supplies, I guess!) so I decided to start the knitting project instead.  The pattern title is “Simple Stitch Lace Shawl”  The pattern is on a photocopied sheet of paper, and I think that perhaps whoever made up the pattern left something out, because I am having a dickens of a time figuring out what is supposed to be “simple”.  Here are the directions, verbatim.  I am hoping someone with some knitting expertise can help me decipher them!

Finished size 30 inches by 68 inches excluding fringe.

Needles: size 7 straight needles or size to obtain guage.

Guage: 3.5 stitches perinch in pattern stitch.

NOTE: We recomment you cut your fringe strands first.  See Fringe Instructions.  (I did this) 

PATTERN STITCH:  (multiple of 2 stitches plus 1)

Rows 1 and 3: Purl across

Row 2: K1, * yo, k2tog; repeat from * across.

Row 4: * Ssk, yo; repeat from * to last st, end k1.

SHAWL: cast on 130 sts.  Rep Rows 1-4 of pattern stitch until shawl is 69 inches long or desired length or until you run out of yarn (assuming you cut the fringe strand first!)

The rest of the pattern has to do with the fringe, and I’m not worried about that, so I won’t copy it here.  The part of the pattern I am having trouble with is row 4.  Nobody I have talked to has ever seen the abbreviation ssk, so the best idea we could come up with is slip stitch knit.  However, that is still rather vague.  It could also mean slip-slip-knit.  So, do I slip 1 stitch or 2.  Do I knit the next stitch?  When I yarn over (yo) I am adding a stitch to the pattern, so where and how do I decrease?  I have tried various ways (I have ripped out my knitting and started over 4 times so far).  Somehwere in row 4 I have to combine two stitches.  What seems to work the best is to do this–  Slip two stitches to the right needle, yarn over, then knit the next two stitches together and repeat. 

Here are some pictures of my work (remember, I have started over 4 times, so this is my 5th try — if I had kept going from the start I would have much more to show for all the time I have put into this so far!)

Can anyone help?  If I have to start over again, I want it to be for the LAST time!  (And I want to decide if I need to before I get much further along).  Thanks in advance for any advice you have to give!   ~Leah~

Pictures from Easter — from egg dying to snow bunny sighting to family pictures to the “kids” gathered around the table last night for dessert at the neighbor’s house.  It was an altogether lovely day.  I’ve heard that Easter won’t be this early again for 220 years — so it may be the only Easter that we have so much snow!  It just makes all that much more memorable.

Hallelujah, He is risen!

He is risen , indeed!