Blossom-less cherries are just as pretty!

After babysitting today, I got to pick some of the surplus cherries from the family's yard. These aren't any ordinary cherries, however. These, my friends, are super sour cherries, best baked into a heavy cake, like pound cake or thick, yummy chocolate cake (obviously a favourite).

All I've got left to do is pit these babies and they're ready for dessert!
xxo, S

A distinguished group

So for those of you who don't go to school in New York State, the NYSSMA [n-ISS-ma] Festival is where  school orchestras, choirs, or bands go to perform musical pieces for judges who then give them a score.  Groups can earn either bronze, silver, gold, or the highly-coveted gold with distinction.

I have been in my school string orchestra for four years, and I began playing the viola in second grade. But when my orchestra went again to NYSSMA last week, I was unsure about how we would do. I didn't feel like our pieces were as strong as they could be - but I knew we would do our best.

So we showed up, played our three songs, and then awaited our score. To our surprise, we snagged gold with distinction! Our director, DL, couldn't have been prouder, and neither could we. This was my third time receiving the distinguished honour (the fourth time we only got silver) and I'm so glad I can leave school with that sort of flourish. I have a lot of confidence in the underclassmen who will take over the orchestra next year, too.

String Orchestra 2010

Last night was our concert for the parents. We went on after the sixth/seventh grade orchestra and the eighth grade orchestra. When we got on stage, our performance was like we said, "Okay, this is how it's really done." Today, in celebration of our two excellent performances, DL made us cupcakes (her other award-winning talent) and we listened to the recording of our performance and the judges' comments. The cupcakes were dee-lish! as always. And the judges' comments were "nice" (one guy said nice ninety-two times in his comments!).

Who knows when I will play the viola next, but it certainly won't be the same as the past ten years I've spent learning and performing with my peers.
xxo, S

Owning-a-pool etiquette

This Memorial Day weekend was super hot and humid. It was a perfect weekend for going to the pool or the beach. And if you are lucky enough to own a pool, you were probably nice and cool.

However, for those of us who do not have such refreshing bodies of water in our backyards, we remained sweaty and sticky all weekend.

But hey, pool-owner, wouldn't you kindly invite a non-pool-owner over for the day? Or even just the afternoon? Here is the proper etiquette for owning a pool:

1. If you are having a party, invite lots of people!

This way you can be sure all non-pool-owners will attend. They will be so grateful to have been invited, they will probably be the best guests you have ever had. And to be sure, they will definitely enjoy your pool.

2. Whenever the thermometer goes over 78, invite everyone you know!

(Or in extremely humid conditions, 70) Anyone who is the least bit human will be burning up in this heat and dying for the chance to jump in a pool. If it happens to be your pool, everyone will be at your beck and call for saving them from the ugly, hot weather.

3. If parties or entertaining is not your cup of tea, do not invest in a pool!

Owning a pool and not having people over makes you seem selfish and anti-social; and then, no one will want to hang out with you. Unless you are a super secret spy and need this sort of protection from having friends, this is probably not the image you want to have.

When I finally own a pool, I will be sure to abide by these rules. Until then, it is up to you, pool-owners of the world.

xxo, S