It's the Lord's Day. Church was awesome this morning. I need time to think through the pastor's sermon on Lazarus and the rich man from Luke 16. I am convicted to alter my way of living. I'll have to listen to it again at trinityonline.org because there is no time to meditate today. I usually keep Sunday as a day of rest, but today and next week will be exceptions.

After church I spent the rest of the day at the University of Redlands observing my 5-year old student, Audrey, and several others take master class lessons from Cathy, a teacher trainer here for the weekend from Texas.

When my student and her father arrived in the auditorium, there were squeals of excitement by Audrey and one of her nursery school friends as they discovered each other and realized they are both piano students (different teacher).
At the end of the day Cathy for 4 more of us piano teachers gathered for a dinner party and much catching up since we only see her once a year. Our visiting included updates on our families, funny or exasperating experiences we've had with students or parents over the years, and how to approach problems in our teaching.

Well, it came out that I have been hinting to Tom that I would like a dozen roses. I think that is one of the ultimate romantic things a man can give a woman. I'm not asking for diamonds, just roses. But no roses yet. Naomi said she doesn't care for roses, but her husband buys them for her all the time. I was incredulous! Cathy said her husband sends her roses from time to time with a sweet note. We all fell over laughing when she offered to have her husband send me a dozen roses from Texas and sign the card, "Love, Bruce." "That will get your husband thinking," she said. But I am fortunate my husband loves the symphony, especially when there is a violin or piano concerto, and great choral concerts, and for six years we had season tickets to the ballet where we saw the great ballet companies from around the world. After hearing that, they said I should forget the roses. Now I'm not a diva, but I still think roses would be awfully nice.

Fuzzy socks and tea

Well, the vacation is over. I had to work today!! Saturday!! Up at dawn for a 30-mile drive through thundering rain to evaluate twenty piano students for Certificate of Merit, a program of advancement and recognition for piano, voice, strings and winds students. To begin with, I'm always a little anxious on the first assignment of the season. We only do this during February and March, so I was cramming like for a final exam last night to be sure I was familiar once again with the judging criteria.

It was a dreary day, and I was feeling dreary that vacation was over, when 20 little rays of sunshine came into the room and one after another lit up my day. These little 12 - 16 years old students were mostly applying for advanced levels. I was afraid they were over-reaching, but they were amazing! It's easy to evaluate students who are excellent. Its more difficult with the ones who give marginal performances. But today there were only two of those. You wrack your brain to find something genuinely positive to say when all you can think of is what needs to be improved. You write comments like, "You play with great energy," then point out the tempo is Andante, not Presto. Or, "You have a really nice legato pedal technique," then mention the damper pedal wasn't invented yet when Bach was composing.

Back home to fuzzy socks and a cup of tea.

Saying goodbye...

The day started by saying goodbye to the infinity edge of the ocean

and heading for the snowy hills of home.

We arrived home in time to say goodbye at the memorial service for Don, the husband of a friend, held in my old neighborhood at the same church where we were married. Surreal.

There is a very large group of people who have attended this church at various times in their lives, and we have kept in touch through the years attending family weddings and funerals. We are held together by our common faith, longevity of friendship, and the love that one special pastor taught us to have for one another. We are like a little country village in a transient world. Ten of us women have kept in touch for at least ten years by a round robin letter that circulates about once a year, reaching Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and California.

Everyone stays for a meal together after a memorial service and there was lots of catching up to do.

Afterward I couldn't walk by Johnny & Helen's home (my elder former neighbors) without dropping in for an unexpected visit. It was another lovely reunion with tea, like we used to have together on a Sunday afternoon. How convenient it was in those days to live across the street from the church we attended and where Roxanne went to Christian school.

On this day...

So the anniversary began with breakfast at Ruby's Diner

at the end of the pier,

where a pelican is keeping an eye on the fishermen.

Wandering among the shops...like the Lady Godiva Chocolate Shoppe.

The smell was tempting, but I didn't buy any.

Then a long walk in the surf for me while Tom watched Olympic women's hockey.

Several of those waves were about a quarter mile long,

and there were usually four breaking at once, one behind the other.

Deafening.

And I got a head start on my tan.

Later a delicious dinner. A nice day.

Everybody's Gone Surfing....

On to Huntington Beach...Surf City, USA!

A late February morning and there were dozens of men

in wet suits waiting to catch a wave.

Where are the women?

You can rent,

or buy

Those who weren't in the water were on the beach playing 2-man volleyball.

Don't these guys have jobs? Must work nights.

Or maybe they're all piano teachers like me who work swing shift? NOT.

Ocean Lifeguard Tryouts

Speedos required :)

Let's see...what am I doin' THAT weekend?

Crown of the Sea: Corona del Mar

Corona del Mar. My favorite beach.

Today, the 24th, is Roxanne and Eric's 14th wedding anniversary.

Disneyland

4-3 Yep, that's 43 years....married, not old.

Oh, to be 43 years old again.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue in front of Fantasyland Castle.

The scent of hyacinths was very strong and they were beautiful.

We got a free day at Disneyland today (and this button) because of our volunteer work at Micah House. We booked a motel right across the street so we had free parking too! Beautiful weather and although there were many people, all the lines to attractions were very short.

Of course, I didn't take my computer on vacation (it was a REAL vacation from EVERYTHING). So these next 4 days of posts were written and post-dated after returning home.

Thanks, Julia

Today I made Boeuf Bourguinon, for the first time, from Julia Child's The Art of French Cooking. It was sooo delicious. I'll have to make more of her recipes (now that her cookbook has been sitting unused on my shelf two years).

Sunday Afternoon Concert

The Marina Quintet performed in a concert this rainy afternoon here in town. My friend, Rae Kate, is pianist. Music by Dohnanyi, Debussy and Argentine tangos by Piazolla. Very passionate. Makes me want to take up the violin again. When he was dating my daugher, Eric would hear me practice the violin. He was surprised I played piano so well after hearing me practice the violin (I was a beginner and pretty awful). I only took a couple months of lessons, then stopped to focus on their wedding planning!

Something new: edible glitter on the Petit Fours served at the reception after the concert.

Mustard Seed Faith

It's the Lord's Day, and I've been thinking for some time about faith that moves mountains. No, really. Not just since the recent earthquakes. Although when they happened it was amusing to think, "I wonder if someone is praying?" I'd like to talk with that person. Not to tell them to stop, but to find out how they came to such amazing faith. If faith can move mountains, shouldn't skiers be warned? :) Tom and I read that passage several months ago in morning devotions, and I can't stop thinking about it.

God is not only willing, but it gives Him great pleasure to do amazing things in answer to prayer. When Jesus scolded the disciples in the boat during the terrifying storm for their lack of faith, could they, by their faith in the God of the Universe, have caused the winds and waves to obey them? Could that have been possible? I wonder.

I don't think Jesus meant He would only move mountains metaphorically, although he has moved in many immovable situations in my life. Is it audacious to think He would REALLY move a mountain if we had faith as small as a mustard seed? But I cannot see any plausible reason to ask God to actually move a mountain, so I cannot see myself asking for that. But I want that kind of faith. My faith is even smaller than a mustard seed. How bold would I need to be to ask God such a thing?

One June many years ago I secretly dared to ask Him for three things: a baby, a girl, by the end of the year. I kept pestering Him, trying to be polite and respectful, but just annoying Him with repeated requests. I knew He could do it, but I didn't FEEL any great faith. I didn't KNOW He would answer, but I kind of expected Him to do it. It sounds disrespectful, but I expected Him to act like the God He said He is. Why would He inspire the words of the Bible, make promises in the Bible, give me the privilege of learning to read, having a Bible, and give me the faith to believe it, if He was going to ignore me from then on?

Reading about the faith of the great men and women of the Bible isn't enough for me. If God is God, I need Him to be MY God. I need Him to answer MY prayers. Well!!! HE DID IT. I was speechless (well, no, I'm never speechless) but still to this day I find it hard to comprehend that Almighty God paid attention to MY request.

God has answered many prayers for me, but most of them I considered small ones (how rude). Just recently He gave me a HUGE answer to another prayer. Wow. Praying is more and more fun as I wait to see what God is going to do.

Tom is taking mustard seed faith to heart also. He made a list of several miracles (things beyond his control) that He is asking God to do this year. Today I will write out my own list.

EARTHQUAKE!

Okay. What's with all the earthquakes? We've had three in the past several days and just had three in a row this morning, each one a little more powerful than the last one. Hopefully, the earth is getting settled and shifting into a comfortable position with these smaller quakes, and we will not have a massive quake. Stay tuned.

Twisting my arm

After our walk this morning I met my very good friend Nancy for a 2-hour breakfast where she finally convinced me to accept the nomination for president of our music teachers association for the next two year term beginning in June. Being nominated means you WILL BE elected in this organization. Out of the 60 teachers in our branch, only six are willing to work the big jobs. Some have worked so hard in the past they refuse, others are just not organized or are unreliable. I accepted because there are honestly valid reasons why the other responsible ones cannot do it just now, and I couldn't let my good friend down. I can hear my husband now..."Like you need ONE MORE THING to do."

Houses of Redlands

Six years ago my sister and her husband moved less than a mile from our home. It is so special to have a sister nearby. We walk together weekday mornings. Each day we choose a different neighborhood to walk. This morning I remembered to take my camera.

A children's playhouse in someone's front yard. We have been talking about having a pretty cottage style shed built in the backyard for all the garden tools, but the truth is I want to put in a pretty rug, a soft chair, a pretty lamp, some books and music and maybe a small microwave for hot tea. And it must have shutters and window boxes overflowing with flowers... a retreat for me. Well, Tom could use it ...sometimes.

These are two of my favorite storybook homes. I would love to live in either one: they have so much character.

My piano student, Kelsie, has chickens! She got six for her birthday last October. I told her when they start laying, I will be her first customer. Today she brought me this tiny basket with the second egg her chickens laid (of course she kept the first). How sweet is that?

I have a reputation in my family for wanting chickens, but my daughter laughs at me and my husband says, "Absolutely NOT." Anyway, we live in the suburbs with close neighbors. But SOMEDAY, maybe I'll have chickens.

What's the point?

Got my teeth cleaned today, then immediately picked up my daughter for lunch. Felt a little guilty eating so soon afterward. Seems like I should fast a few hours with sparkly teeth...that won't happen. We went to our favorite dive, Sundowners. This little restaurant is very popular, but not with the up-scale crowd. It's more like a transplanted diner from a country town. Always over-decorated, which is part of its charm. Good food for a lower price too.

Ai-yi-yi

These late nights watching the Winter Olympics are killing me.

Somebody loves somebody

Seen a few blocks from my home.

Aloha & Fashion Statement

My sweet children returned from Hawaii and brought me this table-topper as a thank you for dog-sitting Bella Mia (whom they missed more than me). It is hand-appliqued and hand-quilted and fits the TV console perfectly. I'll show it off at my quilt guild (Citrus Belt Quilters) at the end of the month. The Hawaiian dress is from Hilo Hattie's. I trusted the girls to pick one out for me (a gift to myself).

And my Valentine bought me a huge leather purse for Valentine's Day. It is totally not my style, but I'm thinking I need to change my style because I'm loving the purse!

Home-made Tamales

Alejandra is in my mother's Bible study at Micah House. She helped me make home-made tamales with banana leaves rather than corn husks: something to do with taste and size. She speaks only a little English so it was very interesting communicating, but we did rather well. She said it would only take two hours, but then she only makes 4 at a time. It took us 4 1/2 hours today because we used all the banana leaves in the packages and made 22. The tamales turned out GREAT!

My dear husband is bummed because he only got to eat three, because I gave some to Alejandra for teaching me, some to our friend John who gave me free concert tickets for tonight, and froze the rest for my cooking club in April. When I make them in the future, I'll spread it out over two days. I must make some again soon so I don't forget the techniques she taught me.

Valentines Day is two days away. Give your Sweetie a little sugar.

New resolution

I feel bad about admitting I don't eat green salad. So my resolution for the month of February is to eat up all the lettuce growing in my garden. This one has Feta cheese, pecans, and tuna.

Oops...

Having a grand-daughter who is a cheerleader means you get the privilege of buying something at every fund-raiser they have. This time it was chocolate, so I'm good with that. It was a lot of money for a small box, but it was See's Chocolate so how could I say no? Well, my first mistake was opening the box when I was home alone. I ate half of every piece to see which ones were my favorite. Then I taught piano for a few hours, went back to the box and ate the other halves!!! But I skipped dinner to make up for it!!! So it should all even out, right??? Hey, there aren't any more calories if you eat them quickly than if you spread them out over several days.

Seven-month-old Bella Mia and I are buddies this week while Eric & Roxanne and family are in Hawaii. (Repeating to myself: "I will not be jealous. I will not be jealous....") It's raining here and a chilly 41 degrees. It's 80+ degrees there and they are in swim suits taking catamaran cruises, enjoying a luau, lying on the beach. Sigh...

Winter garden

I thought if I grew lettuce I would eat more salads. But I still have to MAKE myself eat green salad. I like it in the restaurant, but not making it at home.

The brocolli doesn't look like the produce market. But the bees are very happy. I feel a little guilty harvesting it and depriving the bees. The heads will be steamed and part of "Broccoli, Raisin, & Bacon Salad." I LIKE vegetable salads. The stems will be cooked tender and become Broccoli Cheese Soup.

The cabbages will be Cabbage Rolls then "Corned Beef and Cabbage" for our annual St. Patrick's Day dinner.

The lemons on the new tree are almost ready. I counted over 30 new baby lemons. The first harvest will go into a lemon meringue pie. Forget the diet for a couple days :( So the garden is growing great. I prayed over my little vegetable garden, because I'm much better at growing flowers than vegetables.

Almost finished!

I've been stitching three hours a day for the past three days to finish a year-long project. The handwork will be done by the end of the week, and the big reveal will come in about a month (I hope).