Spring Snow

When the forecast called for snow this weekend, I laughed it off. After all, it’s spring…right? It rained all day long on Saturday, and by late evening the temperature had dropped considerably. Maybe the weatherman was right after all?

Sure enough, when I woke up early on Sunday morning, I looked outside to see approximately four inches of snow covering the ground. So in honor of Illinois’ freak spring snowfall, I’d like to share my snowy day song (one that I thought I wouldn’t have to think about for at least eight more months).

Snowflakes, snowflakes, float to the ground.
Here they come without a sound.
Big and small, down they fall,
It’s a snowy, snowy day.

See the ground, all covered in white,
Can you feel the cold air’s bite?
Making snowmen, snow angels too,
Snow is falling, yes it’s true.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, float to the ground.
Here they come without a sound.
Big and small, down they fall,
It’s a snowy, snowy day.

Make a snowball with your hands,
Toss it up and see where it lands.
Soft and powdery, white as glue,
Snow is falling, yes it’s true.

Luckily, most of the snow has melted and the high today is 60 degrees. My spring break starts next Monday, so I’m crossing my fingers in the hopes that this weekend was meant to balance out a perfect week of sunshine and 70 degree temps. I have other weather songs, ones about warm weather and fun in the sun, that I’d really like to get to. Have a great Monday, everyone :)

Friday Fave: My Piano

Can I tell you a story? It’s about a girl and her piano. The piano came long before the girl did…it belonged to her mother, and what a prized posession it was. The piano was the centerpiece of the living room, and a source of endless entertainment for the girl even when she was very little. When she turned five, her mother asked her if she’d like to take piano lessons. Of course she said yes, and so she began her first of many, many years learning to play.

The girl had lots of different piano teachers. First a whole slew at the music store in the mall, then a nun named Sister James Marie throughout junior high and high school. But while her teachers changed, she came home and practiced on that same piano. She didn’t practice as much as she should have, but she did the best she could. After all, she was a very busy girl.

When the girl’s mother turned 40, her family threw her a surprise party. But the biggest surprise was a baby grand piano, which sat front and center in the living room. The old piano still had a spot in that room, but it was mostly ignored. When the girl’s parents moved to a new house, the big shiny one had it’s own room upstairs while the old piano was relegated to the basement. There it stayed for several years, collecting dust.

By now, the girl was all grown up. She and her husband bought a new house, which had a room perfect for her teaching studio. All it needed was a piano. So all the men in the girl’s family got together and rescued that old piano from the basement, lugging it up a flight of stairs, out the door, onto a truck, and finally into the room where it will live from now on.

And that is the story of this girl and her piano. It’s amazing to me that the very same instrument I once banged on as a toddler will be used to teach countless other children how to play. I love my piano.

The New Digs

I’ve talked about it enough, so I thought it would only be fair to share with you – my lovely readers – the place where I’ll be doing most of my composing, recording, and blogging. I still have some work left to do (I’m waiting on an area rug and there are pictures to be hung) but here are just a few snapshots to give you an idea of what’s going on in my office/studio.

I promise, I don’t usually blog in the dark…

The piano I’ve played since childhood.

Oh, just brushing up on my Mozart.

Daydreaming about Broadway shows in New York City.

Deciding which instrument I feel like playing.

Bookshelf # 1, organized by category.

Bookshelf # 2

Bookshelf # 3 (and Tink!)

A couple of accomplishments, waiting for wall space :)

So there you have it: a sneak peak into my new favorite spot. I have a feeling I’ll be spending most of my time in this room, and that is okay by me! I have yet to reveal the best parts, so stay tuned…

Eat Your Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Growing up, I despised breakfast. I didn’t like eating in the morning, and I could hardly stand most breakfast foods. It wasn’t until high school that I willingly ate breakfast, which usually consisted of a granola bar and Capri Sun during my first-hour latin class. Now I’ll eat just about any breakfast food (though I am very particular about my eggs), and it is a required meal if I want to have a productive morning.

I know I wasn’t the only kid in the world who wasn’t a breakfast eater. You probably know a few, yourself…or maybe a kid who doesn’t like to eat lunch or dinner. Children can be very picky when it comes to mealtime, which is what today’s song is all about.

Eat you breakfast lunch and dinner.
And you’re sure to be a winner.
These three meals keep your body strong,
Morning, noon, and night – the whole day long.

Breakfast comes first, it’s how we start the day.
Have it before school or goin’ outside to play.
Eggs and bacon, pancakes too,
Orange juice and milk are good for you.
Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

Lunch comes next, it gives us energy.
For learning, or running, or climbing up a tree.
A sandwich, crackers with some cheese.
And a juice box if you please,
Lunch is the second meal of the day.

Dinner is last, it’s what we eat at night.
When our day is through, let’s have a bite
Of chicken and a vegetable,
Dessert if you are not too full,
Dinner is the third meal of the day.

Eat you breakfast lunch and dinner.
And you’re sure to be a winner.
These three meals keep your body strong,
Morning, noon, and night – the whole day long.

You can always replace the foods I included with whatever your child likes to eat – it’s okay if it doesn’t rhyme! Speaking of breakfast, lunch and dinner, I need to plan my grocery list for the rest of the week. Have a great Tuesday!

Friday Fave: The First Day of Spring!

I must start this Friday post with an apology – I’ve been a bad blogger this week :( But I promise I have a good excuse; I have been moving all week, and that has used up almost all of my energy. Actually, there’s no “almost” about it…I am completely drained, both mentally and physically. But today is a very important day, and I just couldn’t stay away any longer.

SPRING!! Raise your hand if you have been counting down the days until its arrival (my hand is high in the air). Even though it’s pretty chilly outside this morning, the sun is shining and the promise of consistent warm weather is palpable. Most exciting of all is that I finally get to sing my “spring” song, which goes like this:

Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone, let’s go outside, it is spring!

Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers grow, no more snow, it is spring!

Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm days, sun’s rays, spring is here!

In more moving news (I know, you’re probably sick of hearing about it by now), we spent our first night in the new house last night! Most of the boxes are unpacked, and our new furniture will be arriving today along with direcTV. It is finally beginning to feel like our home. I will try to post some pictures this weekend, so until then, happy Friday and happy Spring!