Jim Brickman

Last night was the first concert I attended of our Bradford Creative and Performing Arts series. We are so fortunate in our town to have top notch entertainment brought here. I always try to attend some of their concerts.

 

Jim Brickman is an American songwriter and pianist of pop and adult contemporary music, as well as a radio show host. Being named the most charted male adult contemporary artist to date, Brickman has earned six Gold and Platinum albums.

We were treated to the most beautiful piano music which was soft and melodic. Jim made the evening fun by telling anecdotes about his life between songs. He also brought with him a male Broadway singer to add to the performance.

Now I will download some of his piano sheet music and give it a try. I tried to insert a YouTube video here without success so I do hope you will use this link to hear a taste of his music




https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Li2QBHf8jI


The concert was held in the Bromley theater at the University Of Pittsburgh at Bradford just down the road from my house. This intimate theater is a perfect setting. There is not a bad seat in the house and because it is smaller you feel very close to the artists. It was a great evening.

 

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November is coming

The month of November makes me feel that life is passing more quickly. In an effort to slow it down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully.

Henry Rollins

 

 

Tomorrow is Halloween and then it will be November. These months seem to be flying past like a witch on her broom. I seem to have been excessively busy this year. I've done a lot of traveling which gets a lot harder on me the older I get. But I love being with my family.

When I am home the hours and days fill themselves up. So I am looking forward to November. Days of relaxing and reading, doing photography and playing on the computer sound like fun ways to fill my days.

 

 

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Computer Fog

 

I'm in a computer fog. My big computer is running so slowly I can hardly use it and the iPad is so slow going from page to page. I'm guessing that it must be my internet connection. That means a phone call to Verizon for tech help. I'm 71. Can't they just send a person out to solve this problem? Or boost the signal remotely? Oh no. I have to talk to someone halfway around the world with an accent so thick that I sometimes have to have them spell a word before I can understand them. We have to go step by step..do this...now do that. One time a girl in Malaysia finally gave up on me and took control of my computer. I know my computer is old by technical standards but my iPad isn't.

On top of that I'm trying to learn how to use Dropbox so that I can put things on one device or computer and view it on another. That isn't working for me either. Slow learning curve. Wouldn't it be nice if you could just call someone and they could sit down with you and just show you how everything worked? Now there's a job for someone. I can see their ad in the paper now..

Having trouble with your computer? Are you completely lost and can't figure out what the heck to do? Don't bang the computer or go out and buy a new one. Call We Can Help...a service for those who just need a little hand holding. We will come to your house and show you step by step how to solve your problem. And we will leave you with clear written instructions because we know how you are mad that nothing anymore comes with a manual. Don't worry...be happy now. Call 123-4567 and end your techie frustration.

 

Can anyone relate?

 

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Outdoor living

Chris and Michele closed on their new home yesterday. This is a new adventure for both of them and they are insanely happy. I can't wait to visit in the summer. I may never leave. Their outdoor entertaining space is amazing.

The sunroom

 

The pool

 

Even the grill has a home.

 

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Love is in the air

Have you ever been in a romantic mood? It's one of those days. And there's nothing like thinking about great love movies to warm the heart. Here are some memorable quotes from my favorite movies.

Love Actually has to be one of the greatest ensemble love movies of all time. I keep in on my DVR list so I can watch it whenever I want. ...and I am not one to repeat movies.

On the other hand Titantic was a great love story but I could only bring myself to watch it one time...too tragic.

At Christmas time it is a tradition to watch It's a Wonderful Life.

Ok, I lied. I can watch movies over and over. Especially written by Jane Austen.

 

How many of you have watched Dirty Dancing more than once? Raise your hands!

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant...classic. Who doesn't love his boyish charm?

 

More classics..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a favorite love movie or quote?

 

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Octobers past

 

2006..my second post. Visiting in Virginia with my sisters

Here we are...the three of us. Everytime we are together we renew our love for each other. We can't wait for the opportunity to visit together even though it is only a few times a year. This time it was at Linda's house to help her with her garage sale. We celebrated our Septmeber birthdays. Linda made a pumpkin roll which we enjoyed eating. Dad made us the witch's shoes which say..if the shoe fits...! Of course, there was the obligatory shopping trip. I had great luck finding curtain material for my new bathroom in the addition. I found a curtain rod, a brushed nickle waste paper basket, and a nickle soap pump. I have a design in mind for the bathroom and can't wait until I can get it all together. I also visited with Chris and the boys. It was so much fun to hear Dan play in the band and see Scott with his new bird. I love going down to stay with them for a weekend.

2007...Dan's soccer game

 

2008

It snowed...

 

 

2009

Dinner with my friends...how I miss my best friend. Today was the girls lunch at my house. I had a surprise for the girls when they got here. It was a participatory feast. I handed each girl an apron and had them help make the lunch. Yrsa was in charge of making Angels in Heaven an angel food pasta dish with pine nuts, spinach, bacon, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Kay made the salad with mixed baby greens, strawberries, mandarin oranges, mixed dried berries, with warm Poppyseed dressing served with Parmesan round crisps. Linda’s job was the Sausage Wellington made with crescent dough wrapped around sausage and cream cheese with sesame seeds on top. It was a full meal along with multigrain artisan bread, honey butter and a pumpkin layered mousse. We had a great time…even Sadie who finally settled down.

 

 

2010..cleaning out my China closet

 

2011

It’s a typical fall day outside with temperature at 43 and damp. This is a perfect day to make chicken pot pie. It’s a family tradition at my house using my mother’s recipe. There is nothing more comforting than the associations of my mom’s table and the deliciousness of the pot pie. It’s a simple stew with dumplings on top. When we would visit my mother in Georgia the pot pie would always be served. My mother was an excellent cook with good southern recipes. Last summer when my sisters and I went to Savannah we ate at Paula Deen’s restaurant. It was a great experience and we had tons of fun. The good southern food was just like we had growing up….biscuits, corn bread, chicken, ..all those delicious southern dishes. It sure brought back memories of sitting around my mother’s table. My mom was a Georgia native and I was born in the same small town that she grew up in. She was born at home on the farm as was the custom of the day and she also tried to have me at home, but I was a little large (only 5 pounds) for her small frame and we had to get to the hospital. Mom and Dad shortly moved to Savannah and I lived there for a year. Then we all moved north to DuBois and eventually to Bradford.

 

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Souper Day

The theme to my day yesterday seemed to be soup. With the cool days coming on I was hungry for a nice warm bowl of soup so I made Corn Chowder. It is one of my favorite soups. There is nothing like a steaming bowl set in front of you. This recipe is easy.

Corn Chowder

4 slices bacon cooked and cut into small pieces ( I use precooked bacon...so easy)

1/2 c. chopped onion (for some reason I love to chop onions)

3 stalks of celery diced

6 small potatoes cut in half inch cubes

2 c. corn ( I only put in one can. It was plenty)

1/4 t thyme

4 c. chicken broth

1/4 c flour (I didn't use this, I probably should have as my juoice was a little runny. STill good though.

2 c half and half (I just used milk)

1/2 t salt and 1/2 t. pepper

cook bacon, remove with slotted spoon, return later. Cook onions, clelery, potatoes and corn till soft. ADd thyme. Beat in broth and four. Boil, reduce heat to medium and cook fifteen minutes. STir in milk and salt and pepper. SErve with chives , vaon and cheddar cheese.

I sauted the veggies and then put them in the microwarve tiill tender.

 

AFter that declicious lunch it was time for my Literary Club meeting. Our program was Dr. Holly Spittler from the Universitiy of PIttsburgh at Bradford who told us about their annual Empty Bowls dinner. This will be the eleventh year that they have raise money for our local soup kitchen. The students at the university paint ceramic bowls, the local American Association of Uiversitiy Women make sets of napkins, and the students and faculty make woven baskets. For only a ten doallar ticket you are able to choose among the items and then sample the many (as many as twenty five) varieties of soups. The third graders at our local elementary schools created placemats for the event. There are also homemade breads and cookies. It is a wonderful fund raiser and I plan to attent this Mach during Women's History Month.

Followng the meeting there was a lovely array of cookies and brownies to go along with our coffee and tea. It was a delightful day.

 

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Painting

I completed my painting last night. I worked from a photograph and I'm happy with the way it turned out. Those two hours pass so quickly when I am in the zone. My teacher is so supportive. Next time I am going to paint a sunflower. I love working in oils.

 

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Photography fun

 

I've been busy the last few days with all the pictures I took over the weekend. I have made a few movies with the videos and photos using Windows Live Movie Maker. I'm still trying to download them. My big computer is sooooo slow and that is presenting a problem. It's my internet. I can't even do On Demand movies on the tv. I've called about it but didn't get any satisfaction. I will have to call again.

But I can make the movies and that has been really fun. If I ever get them up I will try to post them on my blog here. But don't hold your breath..lol.

Tonight is my art lesson. I should be able to finish my painting tonight. I love doing it. The two hours go so quickly. My instructor is an amazing artist and I've already learned a lot. She is giving me confidence.

This week is passing fast and has been busy. This weekend I am looking forward to staying in and relaxing. Almost all the leaves have fallen and we are entering our gray season.

 

 

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My wedding shots

I was not the wedding photographer but I think I got some amazing shots.