Mad About...

Piano



I think I could listen to piano music for hours. Especially when I can hear a friend play in person. There's just something about it.


I found out in recent years that I am absolutely not a natural when it comes to playing musical instruments. A depressing discovery seeing as I have played the piano since I was in the fourth grade, when my Grandma bought us a Baldwin. I can read music, slowly, but I can't just sit down and play a piece off the top of my head. Sure I memorized a few when I was younger for recitals, but they all left my brain and my muscle memory long ago. Nevertheless, I love to sit down (with music) and play. I've also found it's a nice way to relax at the end of a long day.


That being said, Erin gave Emily a book about a month ago that has chords for a heapful of classic rock songs. (Emily plays the guitar now. For awhile I said that "Emily is learning to play the guitar" but I think she is beyond that now. For sure.) The three of us along with Sarah (am I allowed to let this out?) will get together every now and then for the particular purpose of...well...jamming. I mainly watch and listen, but I enjoy it. It's opened up a new apect of music to me, playing with other people! So now, on my own, I am trying to kinda teach myself how to improvise with chords. We'll see how it goes. (Did I mention that Sarah is really good at piano??)

Moo

I am in love with this picture.

That's all!

"That'll be the day..."

Photo credit: The Pioneer Woman

That John Wayne quote would be a direct response to, "Amanda in the kitchen". (Well, let's be honest here; I was found in the kitchen plenty, just not as cook.) Yet it's true; I've joined masses and masses of women and fallen prey to the Pioneer Woman. A section of her site is devoted to The Tasty Kitchen. It's kind of like the online version of "A Taste of Home" in that readers add their own recipes to the site. My new diet has forced me to be a bit more creative with my food and it has renewed my excitement over cooking!
I've already tried a couple of recipes from the site. Rosemary Gorgonzola Chicken and Provencal Tomatoes. (Tomatoes stuffed with all kinds of good stuff including gruyere cheese.)

Maybe it's just me, but I think the above dish looks delicious. Pad thai...mmm! It IS called Pad See Ew. Maybe not the best word to go along with food, but I'm sure it means something else in Thai! Only one way to find out. :)

Update: Guess what one thing would stop me from not making the above recipe? Not being able to find the ingredients! I went to Trader Joe's and Albertson's after working out, and by that time, I had no more energy to go to an Asian grocery store. Oh well.