First Drum Circle Last Night

Well, we finally did it!  Mark and I attended our first drum circle last night at the coffee shop above the Boomers music store in Fort Collins!  There were three newcomers so I was a little surprised that the leader didn't show some of the basic "hits".  Luckily, we had already gotten a DVD which explained these, so we were familiar with it and were good to go.


I was surprised how it started...no introductions, the leader just started drumming and then everyone joined it with their own drumming.  We must have played for 10 or 15 minutes before we stopped the first time.  It was good!   I think there were about 15 people taking part in the circle.  We had several different kinds of drums, a digeridoo, and various other percussion noise makers.  The guy playing the digeridoo was great!  I couldn't believe how he continued the sound for at least 10 minutes, maybe longer!  Once you figure out how to make a sound, the trick is mastering circular breathing and he was definitely a master at that!


We left after two hours as my hands were getting a bit sore and tired.  Also, my left knee was aching a little bit because I wasn't used to holding the djembe between my knees with my ankles crossed.  


After we got home, I noticed I had a few little bruises on my fingers by the palm of my hand.  Guess I was getting into the drumming a little too much!  :)  I soaked my hands for a little bit in cold water and also in warm water.  It felt much better afterwards and today the bruises are almost gone!


We definitely had fun!  The only thing we weren't quite ready for were the vocals that sometimes accompanied the drumming...sort of like chanting.  I think we'll do it again, though.


And, speaking of "again", I don't know if my hands will be ready for it but I just found out there is another drum circle at the Earth Day celebration in Old Town Fort Collins on Saturday which we've been invited to join in!  We'll see!

Seder Dinner

 I was raised Protestant and until our youngest daughter (Sara) married our son-in-law (Zach), I was not really familiar with any of the Jewish traditions and celebrations.  With open arms, Sara's in-laws have welcomed Mark and me at their Hanukkah and now Seder celebrations.


It was inspiring to watch how the whole family including the children participated in the Seder event last night.  They read passages, sang, and answered questions about the purpose of eating various foods and discussed actions such as opening the front door which symbolized allowing strangers in to partake of the meal.


We were introduced to gefilte (which I can do without) and a matzo ball soup that I thought was great!  The chicken and beef brisket were very tasty, too!  Mark liked the Manischewitz wine but I preferred the cabernet sauvignon.  All in all, it was a fabulous tasting meal and there sure was plenty of it!


Click on the link to the right to see pictures of the family gathering.  There is something to say about traditions and carrying on the togetherness that we experienced last night from generation to generation.



  

Great Days

I've had a busy birthday week and partook in several fun activities!  On Wednesday, I went to my first Fort Collins Newcomers Club coffees hosted by one of my friends, Karen.  Met several interesting ladies and hope to take swimming lessons from one of them this summer.


Thursday evening, Mark and I went down to Denver for my birthday...ate dinner and took in a play. We saw Shakespeare's "As You Like It".  Good production!


On Friday, we went to the club for dinner with Barbara and Dick and Carolee and Joe, two of our neighbors.  Barbara set it up since we hadn't seen each other all winter and wanted to catch up on everyone's "news".  Had a nice time!


Then, this morning, there was a formal dedication ceremony and opening of the River Bluffs Trailhead.  We road our bikes down to the trail and took part in the event. It was a little chilly when we started but within an hour or so, it was sunny and in the 60s!  Beautiful!


This afternoon, Sara and Zach drove up and we celebrated my birthday with them, too!  Sara looks great!  Only about 3 weeks left until our new granddaughter arrives!


Had a nice call from Holly this evening!  She had a booth at a fair in Ventura and she did really well on her sales!  I'm so happy for her and Erich because I know they worked really hard on all their wares.  

Gas and Food Prices Continue to Rise...Take Small Steps to Make a Change

Is it just me or is anyone else sick and tired of gas prices going up?  I recently heard that $5 a gallon gas is quite likely going to touch us all in the near future!  I'm tired of corporations and big businesses sticking it to the average American just so they can maximize their profits!  We should make it clear to these companies and to our government representatives that this is simply unacceptable!  Besides writing to our Congressman or Congresswoman, I think it would be great if everyone could try to make small changes in their daily lives.  

I plan on driving less by combining my trips for errands to the bare minimum per week.  I'll use our best gas mileage car for all trips.  I would suggest for others to try to carpool to work; get a few parents together and make a schedule taking turns to drop off and pick-up kids at school, to sports practices, to music lessons, etc.  If you can walk to a grocery store, invest in a small wire pull cart to put your groceries in.  Here is a typical one you can find on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Jumbo-Folding-Shopping-Cart-Black/dp/B0000UZ57S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302567200&sr=8-1 And, don't worry, you won't look like a little grandma bringing home your groceries.  You'll be the wiser one!  Just make sure where you walk is in a safe area.

Food prices continue to rise, too.  On average, a gallon of milk costs about $3.50 to $3.99.  Organic milk costs about $4.00 to $5.50!  To help reduce the weekly grocery bill, I try to be more creative in planning our meals and maximize coupons whenever possible!  (Okay, it's my husband who is the creative chef and I look for the cost-cutting coupons.)  I don't see prices coming down any time soon.  It gets old when the so-called financial experts tell us that there is no inflation hence no need for cost of living raises!  Try telling anyone on a fixed income that the cost of living hasn't gone up! 

So, we need to help ourselves as best we can.  There are so many sites on the internet that offer coupons for groceries.  It just takes a little time and planning each week but you can save a lot by using them.  Check out:  http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=13306&zid=iq37&nid=10&bid=alk0411180439bf7aa9bb313013 and http://www.couponmom.com/.  Pick up a Sunday newspaper and get the food coupon circulars for each week.  Also, check out the vendor Web site for coupons as well as the in-store flyers.

Another great idea is to have a coupon exchange with your friends and family!  Once every few weeks (or more frequently), get together with friends and family and pool unused coupons for other's to check out.  

There are a lot of ways to save in other areas, too.  Instead of keeping every shirt or pant that you own, why not host a  Dust Catcher's party and swap gently used items with others.   (I know I haven't worn half of the clothes in my closet this past year!)  My daughter, Holly introduced me to this concept and it's actually fun!  Invite family or friends to bring items they no longer need or want (e.g., jewelery, children's or adult clothes, lotion, perfume, books, the possibilities are endless.)  Have a few snacks available and let the "free" shopping begin!  Any remaining items are donated to Goodwill, ARC, or another similar organization.  

The little steps we take can make a difference!  I would bet the minute Americans change their driving habits, you'll see the gas prices retreat!  And, don't forget about repurposing...don't throw out that old packet of lemonade--you can use it in the dishwasher as a cleanser!  Do a search on "repurposing" and see many, many ideas that can help you save money (and in many cases, help save the environment)!

Nice Visit with Stephanie!

We had a very nice visit (albeit short) with Stephanie this weekend!  We stopped off at Sara and Zach's house for about an hour on the way back from the airport to Fort Collins.  (See Sara's latest pregnancy pictures on the right.)  She's in her last month of pregnancy now and according to her, she's ready to deliver now!


We took Stephanie to one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Vino, which specializes in tapas.  Yum!  Afterwards, we went to the local Moose Lodge to watch Mark's swing band gig.  Not really a hoppin' night there, but the band did okay.  I'm sure that's something Stephanie has never experienced!. :)


Hope all goes well for Stephanie's big client meeting in Colorado Springs tomorrow!

Where Did the Week Go?

Yes, where did this past week go?  Between band rehearsal and music lessons which (gladly) take up a lot of my time, throw in a couple of social events and poof!


It started with Sunday where I went to an Opera and Tea fundraiser at the Fort Collins Country Club.  A friend from our "Washington Group" (Paulette) told me about this event which transformed an opera singer into a Madame Butterfly "diva".  Since I had never been to an opera and the "diva" would perform several arias, I thought I would try it out.  It was very entertaining and makes me want to try a full blown opera (preferably a Puccini opera) at least once!


Thursday night was another fundraiser sponsored by the Foothills Service League.  It was a wine tasting and food event at the Embassy Suites in Loveland.  We went with Karen and Bob, friends we met through the Fort Collins Newcomers Club and had a really enjoyable time!


Tonight Mark's Swing Band has a gig at the Moose Lodge in downtown Fort Collins so we'll be going there later.  And tomorrow, our concert band director, Glenn Shull, is playing in the John Mills Orchestra in Greeley so we'll be meeting some band friends there for that performance and dinner at one of the couple's house afterwards.


With the rehearsals, lessons, and practice sandwiched in between it's no wonder time flew by this week!  


We are really excited about seeing our sister-in-law, Stephanie today as we'll be leaving for the airport in about 30 minutes to pick her up!  We'll drop by Sara and Zach's house on the way back to Fort Collins to visit for a bit.  Stephanie has a business trip in Colorado Springs for a couple of days and it was awesome she was able to come out a day earlier to stay with us!

Reflections on a Rainy Day

Ever notice how gray skies and raindrops make a great backdrop for deep thoughts?  I've got my cup of coffee, my laptop and my feet propped up on the ottoman...let the images in my mind develop into words...


  - When I look outside at our koi pond, I am relaxed as I watch the circular waves that each tiny raindrop makes.  The full red-breasted robins seem excited as the rain makes it easier for them to find their next meal.


  - I am thrilled that my oldest daughter and two grandchildren will be here to visit for three weeks in just a little over a month!  And I'm full of anticipation at the thought that my youngest daughter will give us another grandchild in about the same time!


  - So, that brings me to thoughts of being a grandmother.  What kind of grandmother am I?  How would I like my grandchildren to remember me?  


  - I'm not your typical grandmother in the sense that I don't wear Alfred Dunner clothing or "grandma" stretch pants.  And I haven't been able to let my hair go gray yet or cut my hair short.  My hobbies and interests are certainly atypical of most grandmas...I play drums and guitar, I'm often behind a camera and I like to write.  


  - I hope my grandchildren will feel the love that I have for them at all times.  I want to be in each and every moment with them when we are together and I want them to feel secure and happy.  


  - I hope they think of their Grandma as a fun and caring person who enjoys listening to their stories and questions; who likes reading books to them, and enjoys doing other fun things with them...camping, skating, biking, fishing, baking, coloring, singing and dancing, shopping, visiting museums, parks, and so many other things.


 - I hope they remember that their Grandma wouldn't hesitate to walk in the rain with them or play with toy cars or Polly Pockets with them.


  - And, as they get older, they will see one proud Grandma at their school, music, or sporting events whenever possible.


  - I want my grandchildren to know that I'm never too old to listen to their troubles and that I have all the time in the world for them!  Most importantly, I hope they will always know that they are special in so many ways and are totally loved!