The Slow Life in Maltby is on Hiatus

Dear Readers: after seven solid years of writing this (almost) daily blog, I am taking a break in 2017 and starting a Maltby Piano Studio blog.  With over 25 current students, I wish to dig more deeply into a life of music and involve my students in our discussions, research and new music and music technology.  Stay tuned for the URL for the new blog once I design it.  And thanks to all of you who have followed our adventures over the last seven years.

Yours from the Slow Life,

Susan, Don, Dave, Kaila and Polly

The Raven

I was able to get this great shot of a raven in Maltby the other day.  How appropriate for the season!

Heather and Symba

One of my students has a beautiful little Papillon dog named Symba.  He is a little over a year old, and he's such a sweet little dog.  He is the mascot for the Maltby Piano Studio, and takes his job seriously!

Here he is in a couple of photo ops.  Isn't he adorable?

Pumpkin Man

I've always wanted to make a 'pumpkin snowman', so this was the year I got three large pumpkins and piled them on top of each other (24 pounds, 18 pounds, and 13 pounds).  I loan him my Martha Stewart garden hat, and his 'scarf' was made of an old garland of Halloween lights.  I think he looks pretty much like a Maltby Resident, don't you?

My Maltby Kitchen

One thing I love about our retirement home (we've been here 15 years now!) is its small size.  As fans of living "green" and re-using and recycling, we have not done any unneeded remodels where perfectly good wood and cabinets are dumped in the landfill just because we wanted something 'new'.  Our kitchen is a good example of this.  We did take up the vinyl floor because it was so dirty and pitted and replaced it with engineered wide-plank hickory, which should last forever.  Other than that, we have painted, removed cabinet doors, replaced old non-efficient appliances, and put in new faux wood blinds. It's a wonderful kitchen, and we spend a lot of time cooking and baking in this room.
Here's my newest photo of it all.  I have a lovely collection of three Yellowware bowls from the 1930's that I enjoy above the cupboards and on the top of the frig.

Wood floor, new appliances, blinds

Open shelves for French dishes, new green stool

French pot rack, African basket, original watercolor from local aretist

Flower World in Autumn

We took Polly to Flower World last week for a long walk through the fall foliage.  It is beautiful there any time of the year, and we especially enjoyed the colors of the leaves and the chickens!

Fountain in the Meadow

Is this Fluffy the Chicken from Country Village?

Susan and Polly

The Yard in Early Autumn

The weather has been so spectacular this Fall, and the yard is starting to get decorated in Fall style!