Lost Lake on Camano Island

This is the lovely little lake my mom and step-dad lived on when retirement came back in the mid-1980's.  They had many lovely times on this little lake, fishing and enjoying their own version of The Slow Life.

Sunday Drive to Camano Island State Park

I had not been to Camano Island for over 20 years (since my mom and step-dad lived there in the late 1980's).  It was a beautiful late-winter day yesterday, so we packed some snacks, grabbed Polly the Dog, and headed out around noon. It was a short 45-minute drive to the Camano Island exit, and soon we were off the freeway and enjoying the rural scenes via country roads.

While the town of Stanwood had really grown and expanded with malls and new homes, Camano State Park was virtually unchanged.  We had the driftwood-strewn beach to ourselves, and the silence was startling.  We walked and hiked so much that Polly slept the whole trip home!

Blueberry Coffee Cake for a Sunday Morning

What better way to celebrate Sunday morning than with home-made blueberry coffee cake?  Fresh Tazo tea was brewed, and it made a good pairing with the fresh-out-of-the oven pastry made with frozen organic Maltby blueberries. Yum!

Recital Time is Coming!

The Maltby Piano Studio is getting warmed up for its Spring events!  In March, my students will gather at the Music and Arts auditorium in downtown Bothell for our first Group Lesson.  One of my students is a musician and composer, and he will be teachng a one-hour session on music composing ("Composition 101") for my 14 students.  We will be working on a grand piano and a digital keyboard, and each of my students will actually compose a short musical piece before they leave.

They are all looking forward to this event, and to having a chance to meet their cohort group and share experiences of their musical journeys.

In May, we will have our studio recital at the same location.  My students are all busy choosing their repertoire for this event, and are practicing diligently.

Reviving the Art of the Sunday Drive

When was the last time you piled into the car on a Sunday afternoon to just pass the time and take in the pleasures of some lovely scenery?  In our busy lives, this special time can revive and recharge you, and set the tone for the new week ahead.  We're going to be sure to make time in our busy lives for some small adventures!

Our first Sunday Drive was a trip to La Conner, a small town about 50 miles north of Maltby.  We had a bright and sunny day for this trip, and we could feel that Spring is truly on its way.  The pictures speak for themselves.

Valentine's Day Recital at Everett Music Hall

For Valentine's Day, the Snohomish County Music Teacher's Association sponsored a Valentine Recital for any student who wanted to share a piece of music with an audience.  It was a fun and relaxed concert, featuring students from ages 7 - 18.  The musical offerings were varied, and it was fun to hear the students introduce themselves and tell the audience about the piece that they were about to play.

Concerto Recital and Reception

On February 8, the Snohomish County Music Teacher's Association (SCMTA) sponsored the recital for the five students who were the winners of the 2014 Concerto Contest at the Everett Music Hall. These winners are all students under 18 years old, and their musical ability is truly inspiring.  Each soloist was accompanied by the Starry Night Orchestra, a local group.

After the concerto concert, I was responsible for putting together the reception for 150 guests, including the soloists themselves, the orchestra members, and friends and family of the musicians. It was a great time of celebration and recognition of all of the time and effort these students had committed to learning and memorizing a concerto, and for completing a successful performance.