the finished kiln-dried pottery pieces:

in which the girls try band instruments!

last June, a new and wonderful music shop opened in my town, called Freworks Music.  The really cool thing about this music store, it is owned and operated by a friend from college....and his wife, whom I also knew from college!  They landed in SC first, in a small town on the west side of the state....where he opened his first music store, several years ago.  They opened their second music store in Yuma, AZ a few years later, because his sister lives there...and she manages that store.  And then about a year and a half ago, they bought a house here....and Fretworks is here!  I introduced him to a few of my musician friends, one who very recently started working for him.....(and who will be a tremendous asset to Fretworks and the band community!...he also happens to be a very well-connected retired marine musician).....thus, ALL the elements were finally in place, and I set up an appointment to bring in my girls and one of their homeschooling friends, for a private testing.  I will confess that neither of my girls were overly enthused, did NOT want to go, and were adamant that they would not be playing an instrument.  I made it very clear that I would not force them to play anything, but I couldn't not give them the opportunity to make an informed choice.

And guess what, they had a great time....and it appears they are both (along with their friend) very interested in playing an instrument!  Angel Girl wants to play trombone, and Fairy Girl wants to play percussion!  

Next (before making any rental or purchase investments)...I plan on bringing Fairy Girl to my next band rehearsal, so she can sit with the percussion section and see what they are really about (at least in a community band setting....maybe she was only planning on some homeschool garage band...but if you know anything about my husband, you will know that there's not a single spare square inch in the garage;).  I've already made arrangements for her to sit work with one of our music directors/percussionists (who also happens to be the Officer in Charge of the Parris Island Marine Band, and the percussionist on the Marine All Star Jazz Band....she has NO idea what an amazing opportunity this is for her!)

Then, I will need to make sure they have private lesson instructors....thankfully Fretworks has a percussion instructor on staff already....being new they are working on the wind instruments (which my friend who joined Fretworks last week will be helping with this, I'm sure!).

And finally .... they will need somewhere to play!  There isn't a band option for homeschoolers in my community, and a few people have been after me to start a band!  Well, I did!  Only beginning band students are not qualified for my community band;)....however, I did start a band, and we are now 501(c)3  non profit.....and I have some ideas churning where maybe we could get an educational band for kiddos going, as an extension of LWS (I haven't directly brought it up to the board of directors....of which I'm the treasurer......but soon...it's all timing;)

new furniture.....new style :D

It's amazing how one little furniture rearrangement can make such a huge difference in the flow and energy of the home. The way I had this space set up over the last five years, with a tall couch choking off half the windows and the view of the forest, was literally stifling...and it didn't really hit me until about a month ago! I had it set
up so our fireplace and tv was the focal point...now the backyard and fire place are focal, with the tv sort of blending in.
Sunshine and breezes flow freely now! 

 Piper seems a little uncertain....HIS familiar smells are no present (yet:)...oh, and we don't let him lick on the couch....he's not liking that:(


(and the couch is not really that close to the fireplace...that is just where the furniture delivery guy placed it and I snapped the photo asap:)