Lebanon Cemetery, Apple Valley, Minnesota

My blog friend Roy is faithful in his treks to the local cemetery. He has beautiful posts about family names, stories about the possible people buried there, and such artistic ivy. These pictures are for you, Roy, as I attempt to do one of our local cemeteries justice.

The Lebanon Cemetery is located at the corner of two now busy roads, but it was not always so. The original cemetery was 2 acres of wooded hill amid the farmer fields and established during the civil war. The earliest recorded burial was May 25, 1861, and the stones of these first burials stand at the northwest most corner of the lot.
In May of 1997, Apple Valley voters approved acquisition of the cemetery and a bond referendum to obtain an additional eight acres of land. Transfer of the original two acres of the cemetery was made to the City in December 1998, and the additional land was purchased, and in 1998 went through some extensive remodeling.
Apple Valley was not always the name of our fair city. We were a township called Lebanon first, but the mayor in 1970's decided he liked the fair city in California with the same name very much. Apple trees grew on the west side of town, and many street names then and now have apple references.

Almost unheard of, this cemetery is owned and maintained by the city. The memorial is a very new addition to our only non-church cemetery. It is a public place to be buried, no questions asked. I really like that idea, that we can all become one, across denominations or no affiliation.
The pictures began as I was trying to capture the beauty of the lilac bushes across the road, and stumbled across the firefighter. There are more by another photographer here

Pictures coming soon, but it's been raining for over one week. Because the ground is holy to me, I can not push myself to trod its mossy mounds in the wet.

A Gift

May felt juggled,
tested,
wrestled to the ground.
Enough, enough!
Ambition and striving,
Due due, do.

Now, quenching, hydrating,
the June days greet me,
beckon, wryly wink,
in the gingham of a picnic,
bubbles,
sidewalk chalk,
root beer floats.

Unassuming,
as a great plain before me.
Will I focus on her vastness? or
discover the smile
behind a tiny, fragrant wildflower,
blooming and happy for the sun! Look!
Bee! Bee! Be.

© 2010 Wolf Piano Studio

An Open Note To Students

Hi there!
Yup, May and June are here. I feel your stress levels rising as we gain momentum toward the end of the year events. You're wound up. May I offer just a moment of deep breathing to you in the form of this letter? Breathing is so important, don't you agree?

Some of you have this idea that the month of May is all about tests. In school, it tends to culminate that way. Some of the music things you are involved in are even called "exams" "auditions", or "juries". This is what they are called, because the world labels things in terms it can understand. I would like to suggest that this is a PM, a performance moment. Yes, you will "pass" or get letter-type grades, you will receive comments in line with the essays you write in school. But this is not a test, repeat, these are not tests.

The person or people in your listening audience are on your side; they are part of your team. They are not your enemy or your adversary. A few may have lost sight of this, sadly. But it is true, nonetheless. This is not a sporting event; the judge is not your rival. You're in the same band, the same brotherhood, on the same mission. Excellent critical listeners realize this; they will be truthful about areas that didn't suit them musically, and encourage you to move to the next level of artistry. They want what you want, to find the utmost beauty and passion in the musical art of sound.

Let's get real. I'm not painting fluffy, la, la, you're wonderful, unicorns and butterflies here. I'm not saying you don't have to work hard. It will be daunting, exhausting, and trying. You may not perform the way you know you can. But wow, to put yourself out there, to face it and walk through it is to have learned something new.

Please let your music shine for them. And just in case you think you can, I want to say out loud that you can't please them. You must please yourself. Touch your own heart, make your own feet want to dance, and your own soul smile. This is the ultimate best prize; and one that surpasses a grade. I've heard moments of this in you and I was inspired. Listen. Hear me cheering for you? Really listen, the very world is a buzz in applause.

Are you breathing better now? Uh huh. Me too.

From one of your biggest fans,
Mrs. W.

PS: Will you do one more thing for me? Remember that your teachers in school want you to succeed too.

Copyright 2010, Wolf Piano Studio

Creative Juices FLOWING!

I'm composing like wild over the last week! I have got ideas abounding, and to quote my mother, I need to "make hay while the sun shines". I am trying to figure out a way to share them with you, but from the 3 minutes I spent on uTube, the songs need a video? Well, I guess I need to learn that next. Or maybe the video can be of the children in the musical at the end of June? I may have to wait that long to share.
Wolfy and I are also learning how to record vocals this week. Sadly, we're not very good at it, but I'd like to have a few background tracks for the musical songs, and a lead track that can help the students learn their part. We've spent a good long time hooking and wiring this into that, try this mic, this line, this port, that different cable. I'm so glad I have someone technical here. Why do they write such technical jargon for manuals. Don't they know I'm a creative type?
This week the students will perform for a national judge for a report card type grade. Students can do as few as 2, or as many as 20 pieces, by memory, or with music, and the judge is listening for developing musicianship skills. Our end of the year recital and awards ceremony is next Sunday, plus Mom and Dad's 50th next weekend.
Aah, the merry month of May is here. I feel like I'm so busy "doing" that I'm not spending much time "thinking". I'm a do-er, though, so this busyness suits me.
As I think about the dang ole issue I posted about last week, I am going to use it to propel the invention forward. I want to use this summer to push myself to get them in stores, and find a way to make lemonade, so to speak. Wow, I'm full of cliches this morning. TTFN, ta ta for now! I'm off to pick up May baskets of flowers, return clothes that I purchased for the girl that she didn't like, get a suit shirt for the boy, look for a more formal dress for myself, drive people places, practice for Sunday, and enjoy the windy day with friend on the deck later.

so close

The Pond (April 21)

We have the look and feel of late spring in Minnesota already. Trees around the pond are in the last push to give birth to leaves. The flower are vibrant, the sun-dappled pond shimmers, and the first batch of ducklings will arrive any day. Last year there was still a lot of snow on the ground. We had a frost on May 17th. I really enjoy the newness of life after winter.

I am dealing with the very serious issue of copyright in the midst of this new life. The irony is not lost on me. My invention and I have been violated. I don't want to deal with this. This is such grown up stuff. It socked me right in the gut and the feeling hasn't left me. I just don't understand why someone would do this? I can't talk about the situation, but I need to share my feelings about it.

I found out about it really late Friday night via an email. Dang, why do I check my emails before bed, anyway? I should just enjoy the evening and go to sleep, right? On Sunday, I got some wise council from friends, which I'll share here.

First of all, a friend asked me why I would roll over and not defend myself or my invention. That's why the systems are in place, he said. This is about so much more than money, it's about self respect, he said. Don't I have any? Ouch.

Then the sermon was all about crisis. Drawing a big purple X in the middle of the screen, the pastor said this is where the stuff happens. Little black arrows pointed toward the X. These are the many things that caused the stuff to happen. Growing out from the X was a big green arrow pointing toward the future. This was God, in the midst of it all, bringing new life and hope forward. Courage, the Pastor said, was moving forward doing the right thing, even when it's hard. Knowing that we are not alone in it brings the green hope of life.

Finally, being all mopey last night on the couch, my dear 16 year old snuggled up next to me. Explain why you're upset, Mom. It's such a small music world, I sobbed. I know what some people will say and they will judge this situation without knowing the facts. They will decide things when they don't know the whole story. I don't want to damage my reputation in the community; I have always worked so hard IN and FOR the music industry. Mom, she said, the people who care (about that) don't matter, and the people who matter don't care.

I haven't slept for three days. I met with a copyright attorney yesterday. I paid a lot of money to get some very good information and I hired him. I never thought as a little private piano teacher I'd have to deal with so much business stuff. They certainly didn't prepare me for this in college.

A copyright is a right to copy and copyrights are protected. May I be likewise.

Oh So Pretty, Huh?

I love spring! What else can I say?