Good morning World! How are you? March 2021 has surely flown by, right? It is March 26, 2021 and you made it. Life has been busy around here. It is amazing what a few simple changes to our home have made. It feels like we have moved into a new place, well, sort of, but you know what I mean. So far, we have replaced our floors and replaced our hand-me-down furniture. The animals, our “kids” love the new stuff. Our cat Taco Belle thinks the new easy chair is all hers. She even swipes at me when she thinks I am going to remove her from the chair.
We placed a blanket over the chair to protect it and this morning when I woke up there she was sleeping in the chair. No wonder I slept past 4 AM as she usually starts messing with me to wake up around that time. Guess my natural alarm clock got me up. Good thing though as I am trying to stick to a schedule. What I am trying to do is to find focus. Yes, I need focus. There are so many things going on in my immediate world and I just get so scattered. So, I have created schedule and have blocked off two hours to learn new things like dance and how to play an instrument. So for Friday’s two hours, I learn to dance. This morning I found an awesome line dance tutorial on Youtube. If you are a line dancing beginner then this is the video for you. Also, I love how slow she goes as I have trouble with coordination and the drop foot thing. Please press play…
Another exciting thing happened on Monday. For years I had told my kids that I was going to buy a stand up bass as I had dreams of having a home filled with music and I love the sound of the double bass with its rich, deep lows that you can almost feel. Anyhow, I saw a bass for sale a month ago and waited till we got a few things taken care of here at the casa. I told myself that if it is meant to be, it will still be there when I am ready to buy it and have the funds. I knew that it was only going to be for decoration but still, it is a great piece to have and it sounds lovely.
It may not be one of those fancy double basses that cost way much more that I can afford but it is in working condition and according to Hubby, it can be tuned. It has no identifiable markings so i am assuming that this bass was probably handmade and probably has quite a story. Anyhow, Hubby played it with ease. I will have to record him one of the times that he is goofing around with it. Me, I have started watching lessons on Youtube. I found one lady that is a great instructor and you can tell how comfortable she is instructing, it is effortless and makes me want to tune in for more and more. She does offer an online course that I am seriously considering taking the class but just need to get through the next month and then I will be able to join. Gotta remind myself, good things take time.
So, I figure I can work on the bass and guitar lessons on those days, I know that I will still practice with the other instruments on the other days of the week but at least will dedicate those two days to learning.
So, I have mentioned that I follow many food blogs and have virtually met a few kind souls. I follow Comfort du Jour and love the recipes and the stories she writes along with them. It is always exciting to get to correspond with others through WordPress and she has been so kind. Anyhow, her post inspired me to try making sourdough bread. Well, that photo right there is all I took as it did not turn out. Drats! Our oven has decided that it only likes to cook at the right temperature on one side of the oven. When I took out my first loaf of bread half was golden brown and the other half not. One side did not even rise the other side baked but still it was sad. Anyhow, now we are looking at new stoves! Yippeee!!!! Wish you guys could see me do the Cabbage Patch, a dance move from the 80s! Now to figure out how to work around the hotspots till the oven is replaced.
Time to get back to things like taking Jenny for her morning walk. She is looking at me just like in the photo. A face I cannot say “no!” to and mean it.
To you dear reader, where ever you are and what ever you are going through I hope today is good day for you. If you get the chance, DANCE!!! Hugs to you and you and YOU!
Look at that cozy cat! ❤
I love the facial expressions of both your critters. They do know how to manipulate us, don't they? Thank you for the shout out on Comfort du Jour…you are awesome! I'm sorry that your bread didn't work out right this time, but you will make magic in the new oven. I love the stand up bass, and how you persevere to learn all these new things! Have a great day! 🙂
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She has been a little bit of a pill, maybe the full moon. Yes, all of our pets know what looks to give us to get what they need.
You are welcome! Still wish I could be an official taste tester 🙂
We have been having fun with it. Take care and have a great weekend 🙂
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Cats do tend to sit and sleep pretty much anywhere they choose, don’t they! Our cat Panda – who also seems to come alive precisely at 4 am – is hilarious with his daily routine of going from one chair or spot to another, almost like clockwork. Taco Belle is so beautiful. And congratulations on getting your upright bass.
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Panda! Oh love the name. Yes, our cats let us live with them and put up with us sitting in there places, sometimes. I know the 4 AM playtimes. We have two cats and sometimes it sounds like people running up and down the stairs in the middle of the night when it is only them.
We almost got a little rain yesterday!
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I LOVE that you have a schedule to learn new things. My yoga mentor says that when you stop learning you die.
Hope your stove purchase goes better than my current frustration of trying to replace a dead washer and old dryer.
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I was so scattered and I felt like I was failing so even though I am technically retired I really need routine and scheduling time for exercise and art or meditation seems to be making a difference, I made it through the first week. I agree with your yoga instructor about the learning and growing.
Oh no! That is the next big purchase on our list, I wish you luck and success. it took us a few months to purchase a dishwasher and it is on back order so we are still waiting on it.
Have a good Saturday.
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You too!
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Good luck with your new instrument, it’s a beauty! I keep blankets on my living room furniture as well to ward off cat claws. Love the cat’s name.
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Thank you Ruth! I love the way the strings feel and the instructor I am signing up with has the most calming way of teaching and she you can tell how much she loves what she does.
We have several blankets out now to slow down the scratches.
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A good instructor makes a difference.
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I am a bassist..yours indeed looks homemade. I wonder if it was made in Mexico. No reason…looks like some Mexican basses I have seen. Enjoy~
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That is what my husband said and also because we are only a few hours rom the border.
It feels right, if you know what I mean 🙂
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I wonder what it sounds like..different woods. You’ll have to post when you are comfortable. My injuries have gotten in the way of playing. String bass can be physical.
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Oh no. What type of injuries? Sorry if I am being nosy. You don’t have t answer that 🙂 My husband also plays bass and guitar and I know he is having issues with his hands because of arthritis.
Yes, you are so right about how physical the string bass is. have a condition with my spine and just practicing for few minutes is a work out.
I will have to post one of my lessons 🙂
Michelle
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Awesome! A contrabass and an acoustic guitar are more than enough for an afternoon jamming session 🙂
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You will have to stop in for a jam session if you are ever in the Coachella Valley! Yeah, I miss hanging out with friends that played music. I fond memories of hanging out in my friends backyard and there would be several guitars out and someone playing a little hand drum and everyone singing. It was the best.
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I sure will!
Same here. Such moments were a treasure! One person would grab a guitar, another would find another guitar, some guy in the corner would grab a spoon, hit something and give the beat. 😀
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Oh wow, that sounds like my kind of night! Hope you still get to enjoy nights like those. This is another reason for me to learn how to play.
Spoons! Just magical! 🙂
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Let’s have that night someday! 🙂
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Yes! I agree, let’s make it happen 🙂
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