Holiday post #2 (December)

I LOVE Old Fashioned Christmas in West Chester!  It's always the first Friday in December and all the shops and businesses are open late and there's a huge parade.  My string quartet plays annually for a law firm's open house (going on 6 years now?  I've lost track).  It is one of my favorite gigs of the year because we can play all Christmas tunes and it's so much fun!  Ahh I love string quartet playing...

Tree in downtown West Chester

December 6 was my elementary school orchestra concert and after that it was all about finishing grad school.   I finished up my classes, papers, and exit exam and got straight A's my last semester.  Somehow I got my Christmas shopping done in the last 2 weeks (besides Black Friday).  I am so thankful to finally be able to relax.  Oh my goodness, it is so wonderful!!!  

Dec 19 commencement

People keep asking me, "What are you going to do in all your free time now?"  Hmm...how about, have some?  Just kidding... here are some ideas:

1. Relax.

2. Read books.

3. Spend more time with friends/family.

4. ASQ marketing/business/gigs.

5. Do some string recording at local studios.

6. House projects/organization.

7. Plan meals/cook.

8. Exercise.

Is that enough?

Holiday post #1 (November)

It's been a while and I have lots to catch up on!  I'm finally done my masters program so I hope to blog more regularly.  Here are the highlights from the past couple months.

I love that a lot of our college friends still live nearby and we continue to get together.  Our friend Tom hosted our first "Friends Thanksgiving" where he provided the turducken and we all brought a dish to share & fill out the menu.  It was YUMMY!  Here's a pic of the girls:

Tammy, Erin, Joy, Allison, Rebecca, me

The next big event was my recital.  I performed a 50 minute program of solo viola (with piano accompaniment) for my masters program.  I felt very loved & supported by all my family and friends who came out!  I was happy with it and relieved when it was done!

 The Collins threw me a reception/party to celebrate.  I love them so much!  

Sean and I spent Thanksgiving at his rents.  I helped my mother-in-law cook/bake and made my first pumpkin pies and pie crust from scratch.  We all fit at one table this year which was nice.  Here are the "kids":

 Fred (Sean's cuz), Haley (Dan's gf) and Dan (Sean's brother), Sean and me.  Where's Nicky?  (Tammy & Ryne were at his parents this year.)

Playing Partini.

We got our Christmas Tree from Bernard's Tree Farm in Honeybrook the Saturday after Thanksgiving.   Since it's only up for a month, I like getting it asap so we can enjoy it more!  Plus it was a really nice warm day.  We went with Sean's parents and their dog, Tyler.

We set it up and put the lights on right away.  9 days later we (mostly I) put on the ornaments.  It was finally all decorated.  Sean and I sat down to relax and watch something on TV and a little bit later we watched the tree fall flat on its face.  :(  Of course I had just watered it so that was the worst part.  There was so much water on the floor to clean up.  (Thank goodness for the Sham wow!)  It was pretty funny. Surprisingly it wasn't the cat's fault either.  She was on my lap.  This is what it looked like after it fell:

All set up again:

I wanted the tree in the living room this year since we hang out there most but it's a bit cozy in our small house.  :)  More Christmas stuff to come in the next post.

Recital info

Yikes!  It's less than 2 weeks away! 

You’re invited to Joy Deminski's Graduate Viola Recital

When: Saturday, November 19, 2011

Time: 2:00-3:00pm, reception to follow in West Chester (receive directions at recital)

Where: West Chester University's Gates Recital Hall in Swope School of Music.Address:  817 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19383

The program:  Brahms Sonata No. 1 in F minor, J.S. Bach Suite No. 5 Courante and Sarabande, Enesco Concertpiece.

Not to insult anyone but you may want to brush up on your Concert Etiquette if you don't normally attend these types of things...  :) 

From http://www.wcupa.edu/:
As an audience member, you are part of the performance.  Your respect of the performers is shown through your silence during the music and your applause at the end of each composition. Performers as well as other audience members can be distracted by noises and movements.  Please act as an audience member as you would want an audience to act should you be on the stage yourself.

Please arrive atleast 10 minutes early. 

Please turn off all cell phones, pagers and electronic devices prior to entering the performance venue.  Text messaging and phone use is not acceptable concert etiquette.  No flash photography except during applause.

Your applause shows not only your appreciation of the music, but for the effort of the performer.  It is appropriate to keep applauding until all solo and chamber ensemble performers are off the stage. 

Do not enter or exit the hall during performances.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone has been posting lately about their fall foods and I just don't have time!  I don't have time to bake a pie or make muffins.  But since we have 2 parties this weekend, I offered to bring cookies and had just gotten this recipe from a coworker that I wanted to try.  They turned out very yummy! 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together until light and fluffy:

          1 stick of butter softened

          1 ½ cups sugar

Add to first mixture and beat in:

          1 egg

          1 cup of canned pumpkin 

          1 tsp. vanilla

Mix separately in another bowl and then add to first mixture:

          2 ½ cups flour

          1 tsp. baking powder

          1tsp. baking soda

          ¼ tsp. salt

          1 tsp. cinnamon

Add: Mini size chocolate chips (1/2 to 1 bag)

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

**Let cookies cool on pan, they will continue to bake as they cool.

I can't remember how many cookies it made...something like 4 dozen!

Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary! 9/29/2007

Sean and I celebrate 4 years of marriage today!  Today is also National Coffee Day so we both got free coffee at Dunkin Donuts (with coupons) and it's Rosh Hashanah!
We celebrated last night since I had grad class tonight.  We went to dinner at The Inn at St. Peter's where it all began...twice.  We had our first date there in May 2004 and got engaged there in June 2006.  The restaurant has since changed ownership and is now Italian.  Funny thing is that they unknowingly sat us at the same table we got engaged at!  Later, the waiter told us they had lost power during the thunderstorm and it came back on 15 minutes before we arrived.  That lead to a story about how when it was closed someone had called to make reservations, a lady (ghost) answered and took the reservation.  When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw it was closed. I hadn't noticed how creepy this town was until it got dark out.  With the sound of the creek water and thunder, it really started to feel like a ghost town!  They should really add some street lamps...

The Inn at St. Peter's

R.I.P. Simba II 2008-2011

Last Tuesday we said goodbye to a beloved family member, our cat Simba.

7/1/11

It had been a bit of a rollercoaster ride with him since May.  First he started not using the litter box and I noticed blood in his urine.  I knew something was wrong and took him to the vet.  An X ray showed he had stones in his bladder.  This can be fatal if a male cat gets blocked.  The only solution was to risk waiting to see what happens or spend a bunch of money of surgery to remove them (with a 50% chance they'd come back).  We decided to wait and put him on the recommended diet cat food.  I worried about him and prayed for him lots!  It took a few weeks but he got better and an X ray on July 29 showed NO stones!  We were so happy and thankful!

In August, he seemed a little thinner and we thought he just lost a little weight from the new food or wasn't eating as much.  He has always been a VERY good eater so this was weird but I wasn't super concerned...until 2 weeks ago when he was spitting up and looked terrible.  A vet visit told us he was very sick and had lost 5 pounds (down to 19 llbs) since our visit in July.  Poor thing... I was SO sad.  He stayed at the vet for 3 days while they did everything they could to get him better.  He refused to eat and was depressed.  I went to visit him Monday after work and just pet him for like 45 minutes and tried to get him to eat.  I prayed and thought about him constantly.  It was draining...not knowing what was going to happen... trying to not lose hope but also preparing myself to lose him.

Tuesday morning 9/13/11, I got the call on my way to work.  :*(   I miss him most when I'm home and he's not there. Especially when I lay in bed and he's not taking up all my leg room.  I miss how he would lay at my feet and roll on his back when I practiced my viola.  I miss how he'd follow me into the bathroom every morning and sit at his water bowl until I'd fill it with fresh water.  He was the most friendly, social, awesomest cat ever.  Everyone who has been to our house remembers him...mostly because they always commented on how HUGE he was!  But also because he had to meet everyone who walked in the door.

This is the second Simba we have lost.  Simba I (Nala's brother) passed away on 2/14/08 at 5 months.  Then we got Simba II.  Needless to say, there will not be a Simba III!!!

We still have Nala.  She seems totally fine and independent.  In fact, we kinda think she enjoys being the only cat.  She gets all of our attention and has been very affectionate.

Some favorite photos:

9/29/08  I can't believe he was once this little!

10/18/08

9/30/08 Jumping after the feather toy

12/20/08 Simba and Nala

5/29/09

11/25/09 He loves his belly rubs!

Summer Wrap Up

I know...I know... it's been a while since I've blogged.  So now that school is back in session, did I reach my summer goals?  Mostly!

1. I took 2 grad classes.  It was an intense few weeks but I was very happy with my grades.  After I was able to request my transcripts, I applied for my Level 2 Certification and my first "bump up" (raise) at work.  SO exciting!  I am also starting my last semester of Grad school and will finish my masters this December.  I am seeing the end but still have a ton of work to do.
2.  I painted 1 bedroom and finished the loft.  Haven't started the floors yet...oh well.
3.  Played a few weddings but still need to get a new website up and record audio samples with the quartet.
4.  VACATION.  I definately accomplished this in Mexico and Ocean City, NJ.  It was A-MA-ZING.  I think after not getting a break from the business for so long, it was that much more enjoyable and frankly, I earned it!
5.  I taught summer music lessons.
6.  I read 4 books for fun.

In August, since my last post, we spent a week in OCNJ with Sean's family where I spent every day relaxing at the beach and enjoying the boardwalk.  After that, we had 1 week at home, 1 week of house/dogsitting for friends, then school started! 
It was definately a memorable start to the 11-12 school year.  The earthquake tremer on 8/23 was on the first teacher in-service day.  I was sitting in a meeting with a dozen teachers when we all felt it and didn't quite realize what it was until it stopped.  I jumped on my iPhone and Facebook confirmed everyone else felt it too.  We flipped on the tv to find out more.
Then of course the hurricane which came through this past wkend.  Some people may have been "overreacting" but I'd rather be safe than unprepared.  It was a little scarey when even parts of NYC were evavcuating.  We stayed home and were a little dissapointed when we woke up a Sunday morning and it had passed by while we slept.  Then the power was out from 9:30am - midnight.  It's like when you don't have power you just want to use everything that needs it even if you don't have to!  Living in Downingtown borough, a lot of people delt with flooding, but we didn't get any water in our basement except a tiny leak from the chimney.  SO thankful!!  I am glad it motivated us to put shelves together and get stuff off the floor just in case. 
Then, 2 of our elementary schools did not have power the first student day of school and 1 is STILL waiting for power (and they haven't canceled school)!  How weird! 

Looking ahead, I'll be taking 8 credits this semester: viola lessons, solo recital (Nov 19 at 2pm), Instrumental Conducting, String Lit III, plus my exit exam.  It will be a busy season and will take a lot of disclipline and energy.  (Why am I not in bed yet?  Gotta work on this...)

So yeah, if I don't blog until December... you'll know why.  :)

Summer Love

Just got back from Mexico today!  It was such a fun trip, for so many reasons.  Sean and I have been talking for months about going on a vacation just the two of us but we kept putting it off.  Then we seriously talked about it last week and decided now would be the best time while I have the summer off and before Sean starts a new position August 8.  To me, it was a belated honeymoon we didn't get a chance to do when we got married in '07.  It was pretty spontaneously planning as we booked it last Wed July 20 and left early Sunday morning.  We spent 4 nights in Riviera Maya, Mexico at an all inclusive resort.  We scored a good deal through Apple Vacations which was super easy to book.  We didn't have to worry about a thing!  I would highly recommend it!
Some highlights...the swim up bar, swimming with and feeding the fish in beautiful water, seeing day old baby sea turtles, meeting new people, and just relaxing!  I couldn't be happier that we did this.  <3

U2

Last Friday (July 9) we were out at Kildare's in West Chester and every time you bought a Guinness, you got a raffle ticket for a chance to win free U2 tickets for July 14 in Philly.  So this became our whole night...hangint out til they raffled them off.  Our friend Chris ended up winning them and a couple days later, he said we could have them!  I guess none of our friends like U2.  I'm not a diehard fan but I do enjoy a great concert especially at this price, and Sean has always loved them!  We actually went to see U2/Muse for our 2nd anniversary and so we've seen the 360 tour twice.  The seats actually weren't good so we ended up hanging out where we had a good view.  A couple photos... video to come.

4th of July

So this is a little late but I've been taking 2 grad classes which took up all my time except for some fun on the weekends!  

Elijah Shoemaker



We had a super fun July 4th wkend.  Friday night we got to visit this cutie pie and his parents who are good friends of ours from college.  It's so fun to share in their joy in this new chapter of their life! 

 

My brother-in-law symbolizing no more debt!

Saturday we got to spend time at my sister's house at her "Hootenanny in the Hills" with family.  We spent the afternoon eating and playing outside.  Sean and I left for a bit to see a free Young the Giants concert (104.5 summer block party) basically just to hear the song My Body since that's the only one we knew.  The rest of the show was pretty underwhelming.  Later, back at the Hootenanny, there were some pretty crazy fireworks in their backyard!  They also burned this canvas which said "Wells Fargo" and "Salie Mae" to signify that their loans are finally paid off and they are debt free!  Dave Ramsey would be proud!

The wkend continued with church, a wedding gig, and dinner at my in-laws on Sunday.  Then on Monday, it was time to catch up on school work, go to another bbq/picnic and then top it all off with fireworks in Downingtown's Kerr Park.  We barely made it though since I thought they started at 9:30pm when the finale was at 9:30pm.  I hope to make this our annual tradition since our house is in walking distance to them. 

Ryan Dunn accident

I drive the 322 bypass in West Chester almost daily and finally stopped by the crash site of Ryan Dunn and Zach Hartwell.  Every time I drive by, there are people there.  This video and photos were taken on June 27, 2011.  My heart goes out to their friends and family.

wear your seat belt

I spent most of the day at home today...caught up on laundry, cleaning, email, etc.  I was working on my FB page for Appassionata Strings when I heard a crash and this happened.

The truck hit my neighbor's PARKED car after coming around a 90 degree turn.  You can't tell from the pic but their side bumper is falling off and corner is dented in by the broken taillight.  The best part is the story the young male driver told my neighbor...  He was really low on gas - so he didn't slow down enough on the turn- which caused his passenger -who was not wearing a seat belt- to fall into his lap so he couldn't turn the steering wheel and hit the car.  OMG!  Slow down and wear you seat belt!!!  I felt embarrassed for them as many neighbors stared at their stupidity.  The kid's parents showed up and I'm pretty sure I saw them reaming him out. 

On a different note, I went to my first Tastefully Simple party tonight.  It was good and definitely tasty!  For some reason, I did think it was more easy meals than dips, seasonings, desserts, and drinks.  Anyone else know of and like their products?

~Joy

Summer plans

I'm savoring every moment of summer so far...until my grad classes start next week!  It's been a great week already.  I'm already feeling rejuvenated and am excited for the things I will accomplish this summer.  This week I finished painting our loft (except the trim), began teaching some private string lessons through my school district, and enjoyed rich times with friends and my husband.  Sometimes you just have to grab a Victory growler, sit out on the porch and enjoy each others company.  :)

The loft.  I like how the colors turned out. 
Behr Paint: "Bleached Denim" and "Cornerstone".

So, what do I plan to do this summer?
1. Two grad classes at WCU which will get me closer to getting my Master's.  I will also reach 24 credits so I can apply for my level II teaching certificate.
2.  Paint and re-do floors in 2 bedrooms and get them organized.
3.  Gig/play weddings with Appassionata Strings and get a new website up.
4.  Spend a week at the beach.
5.  Teach private string lessons (about 14 students).
6.  Read for pleasure.
7.  Plan meals, cook at home more.

I just love getting things done and reaching goals.  But I also need to rest in the Lord and I am learning to just be in His presence.  God is so good and I have SO much to be thankful for! 


~Joy

Retractable Clothesline

I am so excited to finally have my clothesline up!  I had been wanting one since last summer but was too focused on painting and inside projects.  This year, as the weather got hot, I had to get it.  I had a little bit of trouble finding a retractable one though.  First, Home Depot told me they didn't sell them.  So I went to Lowe's.  I tried to find them on my own but it turns out they are not in the section of clothesline and rope but in the laundry section....but they were out of stock!  Ugh!  I thought about ordering it online but just went back in a few days when they restocked.  (Since then, Sean said he saw them at Home Depot also.)

Why retractable?  Our yard is small and I planned on running it from the house to the pole which cuts diagonally across the yeard so I didn't want it there constantly. 

First we had to tackle this thing:

 Ah, much better!

One other snag we ran in to... we had trouble getting a screw into the medal pole so we got a hose clamp (took a while to figure out what that was called!) with a quick link for hooking the line. 

Can't wait to use it!

New Blog

I've recently gotten into reading blogs consistently.  I have an RSS feed app on my iPhone which makes it super easy to stay up to date on all my friends' blogs.  The more I read, the more often I have the urge to blog myself.  So, here's my first entry!  We'll see where this goes...