Learning from the more Experienced.

My colleague Emily is 28 years old, but plays in the Siena Heights University Youth Symphony.  
She invited me to attend.  I saw many friends there, but it was an enlightening experience for me. Older experienced musicians play in the symphony alongside young adults to give them the experience of playing well together.
It's sort of like putting a less experienced athlete on a "stacked" team.  This was interesting to me, because my granddaughter is in softball and is playing alongside other girls who have very little experience playing ball.  There are many concepts to be learned in softball that are hard to translate into practice just by verbal direction.  It seems that these girls could have benefitted by playing alongside older girls with more experience who could verbally command and visually demonstrate the goals of the game.

Farmington

I went to Farmington for a memorial service.  I arrived early and took a stroll around the town, bought cookies and bread at the local bakery, visited a few shops, walked around the historical museum and cooled off in the library, which had a perpetual book sale - one grocery bag for $4.  Yes, I got more books.

Many things were weighing on my mind when I went to the memorial service.  But God had this quiet comforting little adventure designed for me.  It was a sweet time and it filled my heart with gratitude so that I could come with grace to give to a grieving family.

French Cooking Class

I was offered the opportunity to go to Ann Arbor to take a French cooking class.  The chef teaches at a variety of venues, but class it was instructed in her sweet home.  Her lovely daughter assisted and we were taught how to make a raspberry meringue pie, chicken tenders with mushrooms, scallops and port.

The theme of the meal was Normandy. 

There was wine, water, sparkling water, and hard cider. Appetizers were baguette,  a platter of cheeses (the sheep cheese was the big treat) and roasted marinated eggplant with basil on french bread. Additionally there was scallops and port.  

My classmates were tax preparers from the H & R Block in A2.  It was an enjoyable and diverting activity to kick off the summer.

Brutus

 This is Brutus the Goldendoodle. He is a good natured dog. In fact he is the most laid back dog I have ever met.

He belongs to my friend Jamie.  She asked me to stay with him while she and her fiance' went on a trip scuba diving. Before I stayed with him he got trimmed.  Good thing too because we had a 90 degree plus day already.  I took my granddaughters for a swim in Brutus's pool.  As you can see he has his own life jacket.  This is mostly because he is an older dog who might tire out easily.

Honestly is was the best swim party ever!

More Little Joys

I gifted myself with this sweater for my birthday.  

I received more chocolates from Le Chatelain, Bozman MT. 

Joys

Many things go unposted because I don't have internet. But here is a sampling of the little joys 2016 has brought so far.

I won this small metal clay charm at the Hot Chocolate Hustle.  It was designed by an AHS art student. 

One day in March I went out with the girls from work and we visited the Humane Society.  A very sweet deaf pit bull was there.  She waited a long while to be adopted, but many people were rooting for her and she had a large following on face book. In the top frame her collar indicates that she is deaf.

 I found this decaying pumpkin in the Fedor's garage that I found strange and beautiful.

This is my young friend Emma as Dr. Watson in her school musical.  All the songs were written by a classmate and high school student.  This was very impressive, not at all schmaltzy.

Kitten Tracks left in an early March snow.

Cute handmade bunnies found at Peaceable Kingdom.

Friends and Family weekend at the Second Baptist Church. The youth group is directed by my friend and co-worker.  It was spiritually uplifting.

I spent Easter at friends.  This is their fine Blue Heeler Cooper.  This is a great dog. He is full of energy and can play ball all day.

This is their other dog Zoomer.  He can't be let loose or he will run, and run, and run.

 Cake at work

 I cut the happiest piece I could. I've never done that before.

 My grand daughter was a pirate in Peter Pan.

 I found these lovely English porcelain earrings at the second hand store. 

An early April snow. 

 This is a blue aka lilac aka silver beagle I met at the farmer's market.

 This is the beagles yellow lab mix companion. She is a little shy.

I bought these large may morels from the mushroom man at the farmers market. They were so tasty. 

Harriett Cooking Fly Soup

I don't eat fly soup, but I am so proud of how capable Harriett is!