I was going to put up a review today and totally forgot. Let’s blame the heat.
Meanwhile, I did finish the second sea turtle diamond painting. I still need to straighten and seal. But
I hope you had a great Thursday!
Category: Creativity
I started my revisit to playing the piano at the beginning of October last year.
At that time two of my friends were in the hospital. In my piano journal I mentioned the deep thoughts and how it might affect my “playing”. Three days later one of my friends passed away and I worried the other might join her. Outside of praying there was little I could do.
Birds sing. They just do. Creativity has to happen. Just because.
I think I started before October. But the journey back to the keys got serious then. I started keeping the piano journal then.
I remember trying to figure out how to start.
My friend and I were already working on bringing back our creative muses. She said I should make sure to say ‘play’ not ‘practice’. It has worked.
But when I started back I found I couldn’t play songs I memorized or at least conquered back when I was twelve.
It was embarrassing, depressing, in fact, to even think about some of the songs. And I had to have everyone in the house hide away while I played.
At first I would play for five minutes. My anxiety was so high.
I’d play far easier things or sight read what might be easy.
Early on I looked at the Shirley Temple Songbook and felt that there was no chance I’d get the rhythm. Modern rhythms, syncopation. Bane of my existence.
Well, I finally got brave and started hitting the Songbook.
Still missing my Michele. But glad Yvensong is better.
Should be Finishing Friday, but hey, ADHD.
Okay, progress has been slow, but for the record:
Piano is harder to show progress. Has anyone noticed that once the usual mistakes are eliminated almost regularly, that brand new mistakes pop up? Even still, I think I’m ready to tape another Warts and All. While polishing up old challenges, I have new ones I’m learning bit by bit. I’ll list them later. I’m running out of energy and words.
I immediately got out this sea turtle. I love sea turtles. Well, anything to do with the ocean.
The poor basket weave hat hasn’t progressed at all so, no pics. When it can show off on its own, it’ll share the limelight.
While Sammie is happy, we got a phone call from my son with good news for us. And I hope for Sammie. I’d tell but I don’t want to jinx it
Today I went back to Phantom of the Opera. I used to play and sing these. Thirty years ago. Not for an audience, just for fun. My friends and I gathered at the grand piano on stage after voice class and sang our hearts out with these. I was surprised at how much my fingers remember, though there was a lot of sight reading. I can’t sing at the same time, yet. Soon. I am doing daily vocal warmups now.
Anyone out there go through this? I find a saturation level on pieces and put them aside for other songs. Those seem to draw my passions and energy.
YAY! My brother likes his socks!
Just for review: these were Turkish cast-on. Chiaogoo needles Two at a Time socks. Then arch ribbing. Fleegle Heel, my favorite.
I thought I was finished at a 2″ cuff, but my brother needed a longer one for his boots. Otherwise, I would have been finished on his birthday.
Towards the end I had to rely on Advil and Aspercreme. But now my hands can rest a bit.
I found a bunch of unfinished WIPs. Here are a couple calling me:
I’m nearly finished with Smiling Turtle!
I think next week I’ll record my favorite songs. I’m loving Going Home, God Bless The Child, Just the Way You Are, and a few more. With my new enthusiasm for improv or composition I now have a keyboard within reach of my every perch. (Recliner, bed, Dabbling Den)
I didn’t get ‘Dar’s Dabbling Den’ rearranged yet. I want to make more room for my Yamaha keyboard near my piano. Maybe this weekend?
I’d like to make it easier to switch gears, bring in violin, ukulele, recorders, art challenges, podcast or book narrations.
Since COVID months ago, I’ve not been able to get faster than 5 miles in 35. But I’m still trying. And now that spring may have arrived I need to find walking time. Still a work in progress!
Oh, and I am three book reviews behind.
Duolingo still plugs along. I seem more focused on Italian. It’s easier. I still visit the other languages when the spirit moves me.😉
I don’t know how I’m supposed to stream when it’s snowing so beautifully at the moment.
But it does quiet the mind to reflect. When you can’t remember why you walked down the hallway just moments ago, it’s nearly impossible to think of a whole year.
I think it has been a harder year. Loss grew. Angels and Rocks of loving friends passed. My elderly furry friends passed. I suppose, that’s life. And at 75 it is more usual than younger ages.
Depression tries to grab sadness and sink to it’s depths. Been there, done that, took the horrible prescriptions and found my way out. Now I know to recognize it and work through it. I win quite often. Sometimes I don’t. But I have the map out.
Gratitude. Just like when I was in full body pain, I looked for the hair follicle that didn’t hurt and mentally increased the tiny lack of pain and was happy to find it. So it has been with depression. Finding the happy wonderful thoughts about what/who was lost and being grateful I got to experience that deep love guides me out.
This year was that constant struggle. But I found my passions and goals moved the time.
I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated how even these old bodies and minds can grow healthier.
Who knew I’d be looking back at a growing ability to ride the stationary bike so consistently and increase time, length, or power level.
In fact, this year taught me about how to grow a FUN habit. Notice the capitalize word. It’s key.
Here comes an idea. I’d like to try that. Hey, that was fun. And we keep it in small commercial lengths. A minute, two minutes, five. I’m up to 45 fun minutes playing piano now. Who knew I could do it? Piano has been a psychological problem most of my life. I was forced, even quite physically. But I love music.
So I played a couple of minutes. Then I tried other musical instruments to see what they had for me. The same way. Tiny bits at a time. Those helped my brain to twist to new passions.
It worked first for Duolingo. As long as I do even the smallest, what, 5 minutes? Just keep my brain there once a day. It grows and shrinks with all that goes on and my own curiosity.
Knitting, well, yarning, has been that way. Learn a bit and the passion grew. And abilities.
But there are things that try to stop the growth. At this age, arthritis and other aches and pains, and distractions can make one pause.
Creativity cries to be expressed, even when we judge ourselves horrid. If we make it fun, um, with a spoonful of sugar, we grow, we learn.
So that sums up my year. In spite of darkness, pain, and sadness find the spark of interest and make a moment of fun. Be curious. Grow passion. Flake upon flake…
I’m enjoying my music.
And there are times I feel my inner child do this:
Sadly, my NaNoWriMo stalled. Holding the laptop hurts, my eyes couldn’t focus, yeah, the changing barometric pressure affects a lot for me. So I changed goals from 50k, to 25k, and finally to 10k. Today I have 9,642, so I think I’ll meet that goal tomorrow.
So nothing is near finished–except the dragon. But happy progress is happening.
Nothing is finished. The weather has made my favorite things uncomfortable if not downright pain. But progress goes slow. One second spent on projects you feel passionate about is still progress! So here are some things still moving forward.
And prayers for the safety of my adult kids driving over the river and through the woods, or some such. Weather will be rain/snow, etc. I’m worried but can’t wait to see everyone!
Darswords 
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