The Haasienda on Shroyer…

It’s a comfortable 72 degrees at the moment. Rain is predicted to begin around 2 PM.

I was awake at 6 AM, fifteen minutes before my alarm was set to wake me. I was fully rested and feeling somewhat energetic. I woke at one point expecting to see the clock read 4 AM but I was overjoyed to see it read 1:08 AM.

I have always loved this photo of my younger brother, Destin, with our neighbor, Carter Anderson Herndon. Dick & Betsy Bryant Herndon moved next door to us around 1969. They were such fun neighbors and I especially loved their affection for US History. I still have two Lincoln paperback books Betsy gave me from her classroom.

The winter of 1974, Mother and Betsy were both expecting and due four days apart. Mother was due on October 31, and Betsy was due on November 4. they switched due dates with Carter’s birth on October 31 and Destin’s arrival on November 4.

Until the Herndons left Main Street to live on South Anderson Street in Elwood, Carter and Destin were playmates. Betsy captured this photo of the boys at her piano.

It’s time to start getting my day moving along with plenty on the agenda, today.

Make it a great day!

I had a number of great-great uncles and aunts with whom I was close. These uncles and aunts were the siblings of my Jones, Daugherty, Barmes great-grandparents.

Uncle Alphie was the younger brother of my great-grandmother, Mary Belle Jones Clary, and the son of Joel Monroe Jones & Anna Greenlee Jones. he married Clara Gunhildt Swanson who was born in 1913 on the ship that carried her family from Sweden to The United States.

Uncle Alphie was born and raised in Boone Township, Madison County, Indiana, but lived in Chicago from the 1920s until the early to mid 1950s. He was dashing, dapper, witty, a master prankster, and an instigator for my own mischievous side.

In July 1969, I was seated between my great grandfather, John William Garrett Clary, and Uncle Alphie as we watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.

These photos are of Uncle Alphie with Aunt Clara and their adopted son, Jimmy. I only use “adopted” to show how long adoption has been a part of our family.

Mother’s birthday is April 6th. She was born six days before President Franklin Roosevelt’s death.

Her birthday always coincided with the arrival of spring’s blooming. Several perennials in my front yard were a gift from Mother which she purchased from a nephew’s school fundraiser.

The weekend, at least for me, has come to its end and I resume teaching at 3 PM. One of my Colorado students who is visiting his Kettering grandparents will be here in person for his lesson. I have a good many student out of town for spring break trips so my Monday, after tending to mild rescheduling onto the other days, is freed up.

Friday night, Laura and I went to dinner and then caught the touring production, ANASTASIA. Despite loving the music, I will be the first to say that I was not at all keen on heading off to see this show as I sensed it would be so watered down and idiotic like the cartoon. It was not! This Terrence McNally script, and readapted score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens is far removed from the cartoon and is quite good, soothing my fear of Chucky Cheese version of history. It was dramatic and funny, as well as beautiful and moving. The costumes were extravagant and the scenic design impressive with extraordinary projections to captivate the eye.

I truly wished I could see it again. In fact, one of my studio moms sent a text as the ovations were continuing, asking if I wanted to join her and another friend to see this afternoon’s production. Sadly, I will be teaching and could not redo the Sunday schedule after having previously rescheduled this day.

As expected, I was keyed up with continued excitement from seeing ANASTASIA and sleep was not to come easily. Sadly, Saturday’s plans had to be aborted as my body was wracked with tense and aching muscles all over. I spent the day in bed watching documentaries, but mostly napping. Saturday night’s sleep did not advance any better and the last numbers I recall seeing on the clock before sleeping were 430 – 4:30 AM.

Saturday was my half-year birthday and in six months, I will turn 59, thus entering my sixtieth year.

So, I move into this sunny, chilly morning with alertness, but I doubt it shall last long after retrieving my grocery delivery from the front porch.

Make it a great day!

It is still dark and a bit on the chillier side, this morning. It’s currently 34 degrees with a prospect of hitting 49 degrees this afternoon.

Due to Spring Break and various shows, I had the last evening free and committed most of my time to my bed, hoping to ease the aching limbs. I recall precious little about the afternoon and evening. I feel a bit stronger this morning, but I have a sinus headache.

I saw this post on a hometown Facebook page. Mr. Zerbe was one of the kindest men in Elwood, Indiana, and I loved going to his shoe store. In 1969, my great-grandmother, Mary Belle Jones Clary, died. I adored this woman and at age 4, had spent much time with her since my great-grandparents lived down 9^th Street from us.

At Copher-Fesler Funeral Home, we gathered for my great-grandmother’s visitation, or “viewing,” as it was called at that time. As I stood beside her casket, I felt the overlay of material hanging on the side. It was cushiony.

Several months later, Mother and Grandma Donna took me to Zerbe shoe store to purchase a new pair of shoes. Mr. Zerbe brought out a new brand with very soft, comfortable insoles. As I stepped into the shoes, I exclaimed, “These feel like the material of Grandma Belle’s casket! I didn’t know they made casket shoes.”

Mr. Zerbe nearly fell off the shoe-stool, howling with laughter.

Thus, my new shoes were known as my “casket shoes.” Fifty-four years later, I still refer to comfortable shoes as my “casket shoes.”

Make it a great day!

It’s on the frostier side with 28 degrees outside. However, by early evening the forecast promises a high of 58 degrees.

Last night, I saw BE NATURAL at Neon Movies in downtown Dayton, and I loved the documentary which was hosted by actress and director, Jodie Foster. I did not know of the French/US director, Alice Guy-Blache until a few months ago and I am smitten with her journey. Following the movie there was a panel of four film-making women who provided more insight to some of the constraints women continue to face today in a field still heavily dominated by men.

It’s approaching the weekend and I am trying to plan some “me” time. It’s been a bit cramped this week trying to pin down a time for writing and pursuing my other interests. Last night was a big help, but I’d prefer a bit more time to absorb myself in my interests and spend time with the FabFive!

Make it a great day!

 As the high school marching band entered the track after the half-time show, passing the crowd in a seemingly endless line, two abreast, there was a point where the marchers turned their heads while moving and saluted the stadium crowd and using their peripheral vision to maintain a straight line and to see where they were going.

The drum-majors were the last pair to take the track. There was a designated point where my co-drum-major and I knew to snap our salute to the audience and it just happened to be where Mrs. Mrs. Shirley and her daughter, Carole Shirley Boston were seated in their permanent spot. Mrs. Shirley told her daughter, “Darin is saluting me!”

Once I learned that information, I directed my eyes and saluted at Mrs. Shirley.

Mrs. Shirley was a snazzy, beautiful lady with a darling personality, and it was present in her daughter, Carole.  Carole Boston and her husband, Bruce, who had gone to school with my parents, operated the local roller skating rink for many years in Elwood, Indiana. I don’t think our town could have asked for two more caring, attentive community bonus parents during that time. Nearly fifty years later, I still cherish the memories spent at the skating rink and where I looked forward to seeing Mrs. Boston behind the ticket window, smiling, calling nearly every child or teenager by name, and offering that beautiful Shirley smile to each visitor.

I was damned lucky and I am grateful for Mrs. Shirley and Mrs. Boston!

The salutes continue…

It’s been three productive, semi-but-good-stressful days and I decided to treat myself to my own kind of midweek adventure with Chinese food, getting several dress shirts and black slacks at Goodwill in the Oregon District, and spending some time at Neon Movies to see BE NATURAL about pioneer film-maker, Alice Guy-Blaché. A good crowd is gathering for this 2018 award winning film.

The week has been filled with time away from The Haasienda which has been a test for the still potty-training Col. Deeds. Beck Melin has been a god-send with stopping by the house to give the crew a potty break.

Thursday will be busy and Friday will be even more adventure-filled.

April is upon us and I do love this history packed month which also will include a tip of the hat to Mother’s birthday on April 6th.

Here’s to a good film ready to begin.

It is still very dark outside at 7:20 AM due to the rain that began yesterday, off and on, with more bands passing throughout the night and continuing into today. Col. Deeds and the three sisters did not remain outside long but two minutes due to the rain shower but Chief, true to form, ignored it and spent at least eight minutes hiking and surveying the yard.

Still, the resident cardinals sing through the rains, winds, and darkness.

As I eat my raisin bran with blueberries, Erma sits at my side, ready to drink the remaining half cup of milk, and not too far behind her sits Col. Deeds who will get his turn at the bowl when Erma has finished.  I am impressed that he, still very much a puppy at almost five months (April 3^rd), sits in his designated spot with no prompts from me to stay put. I only commend him for his patience. Eventually, Erma will leave the bowl and Deeds will walk, not dash, to her vacated spot. After two months living in The Haasienda, The Little Colonel is well-versed in our schedule.

I need to clean the house this morning before teaching my online classes, after which I will grab a 45-minute nap before feeding the pooches and getting ready for dinner and going to see ANASTASIA this evening at The Schuster. I am looking forward to seeing the show as I love the music of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens but am I bracing myself that their making this into a family/kid friendly show has distorted the true story of The Romanovs. It’s a musical, not a documentary.

I am finishing this blog’s post while listening to the last moments of “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” from Wagner’s opera, LOHENGRIN, a recording by The Dallas Wind Symphony. I can still remember discovering this bounty when I was a sophomore in college. I had my first Walkman and listened to a recording that included a chorus walking to and from classes, avoiding walking with friends so I could glue myself to this powerhouse.

There’s a good deal of prepubescent barking (Deeds) from the bedroom. I am guessing The Little Colonel has engaged Bailey and/or Harrigan into some playful shenanigans.

Make it a great day!

I am loving the temperature this morning. It’s 58 degrees with an expected 8 more degrees by Noon, making it 66 degrees. It’s wet and gloomy, but the temperature is enough to make me smile. By late evening we are to have a long series of rain showers.

There are several things to accomplish today before a busy Friday and Saturday that will lead back into the teaching stretch. Several western Zoom students have productions this weekend while another batch is in Florida for Disney’s a cappella festival. Online teaching continues this week and I am really enjoying myself and these two classes of students.

Off to move this day along.

Make it a great day!

It’s a grey Tuesday morning but the eastern light is pushing through. The next several days are expected to bounce back and forth between the upper 50s and mid 60s. I hope my legs feel cooperative enough to walk the dogs in shifts.

I’ve been wide awake since 4:30 AM after being awakened by a bad dream. All the components matched up with a conversation I had with a studio parent. I considered getting up at 6 AM but was pinned into my covers by three pooches who had no intention of rising.

I never get to see concerts on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays due to my teaching schedule. I miss the Springboro Symphony Band and Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra concerts on Sundays, and a lot of school concerts on Mondays and Tuesdays. When a former studio parent, Mary (Hutcheson) Moenter sent me tickets to The Miami Valley Community Concert Association’s Monday (March 20^th) concert, DIVAS3, I figured it would not be possible. However, all my students after 7 PM were in dress rehearsals for upcoming shows or in concerts. Even my ride to Centerville worked out since my last student was neighbors with the senior studio mom who joined me for the concert. The show was outstanding and not a minute was dull. This trio, with one being a Dayton native, covered female powerhouse performers from the 1960s through the 1990s with a tip of the hat to the 2000s with “Let It Go” from FROZEN.

The FabFive was excited to see me, and we spent the remainder of the evening in my study as I worked on a few items before heading to bed at midnight.

Tomorrow, I hope to attend a lacrosse game with a former student, providing the weather obliges. The weekend is filled with a musical, and out-of-town guests that I invited.

Make it a great day!

Yesterday, I posted this meme about spotting cows out in the field while driving. I’m amused by the number of personal and comical responses from others.

When I was quite young, I was aware that cows often lay down in the field before it rains. By the time I was in college, o could predict the per cent of rain we should received based on the number of cows and the number of those lying down.

One evening, early in my freshman year at Ball State University, a group of us piled into a fellow student’s car. While winding through the countryside along the somewhat new IN-332, inspired a

Many social media friends have commented on how much Col. Deeds has grown. He has. Although the photos, taken seven weeks apart, don’t necessarily show it, I can certainly tell the difference in his size, especially his weight. Now, my arm falls asleep due to his heaviness.

PHOTOS: February 3rd and March 18th.

Baseball season is just around the corner but Wright State University’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Picture and director, Joe Deer, have hit an over-the-fence home run with their season closer, ON THE TOWN.

I’m not gonna go into detail. There’s so much I could say that would take several hours to write. I’ve only seen this show twice, the first being the 2005 Muse Machine production featuring a number of my former students who went on to Wright State’s program.

Check out this video link featuring Joe Deer and student actor, Tanner Gleason: https://dayton247now.com/good-day-dayton/wright-state-theatre-on-the-town

I’m attaching photos I stole from Joe’s Facebook page.

For tickets: https://liberal-arts.wright.edu/fine-and-performing-arts/theatre-productions/on-the-town-96701

Now, just get your tickets and go see this production. It’s a helluva show!

A lovely glow emerged over the eastern trees and rooflines and gave the kitchen a molten ginger glow. The projected temperature is 57 degrees and I am hoping it will be comfortable to sit on the deck for some reading or research once I finish teaching my online classes.

I am listening to an interesting documentary about the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. It was posted on YouTube four years ago, one year before we were greeted by our own pandemic. I find it interesting to learn just how similar the scenarios are, most especially the food transporting issues.

Col. Deeds, upon finishing potty detail in the backyard, now races and beats Bailey and Harrigan to the deck’s door. The Sisters are still quite fast, but he is now several body lengths ahead of them. Right now, the loveable little cruise director has all four of his fellow canines, Chief included, engaged in some game in the hallway and bedroom. Deeds barks out a command, to which there is a grunted response from the others, and then I hear their paws pounding the floor throughout the rooms.

When Deeds and Harrigan chased into the study and wrestled behind me, I heard Erma grumbling. I figured she was just being a patroller. No, she was upset The Little Colonel wasn’t playing with her, too! Once he turned his attention from Harrigan, Erma was content and playful.

I need to investigate a few items for the online classes before relaxing.

As I type these last few lines, I can hear two cardinals piping away. The approach of Spring is rejuvenating.

Make it a great day!

Last night, I was still revved up from my teaching when I crawled into bed a little after midnight. It was another great afternoon and evening of working with some hard-working talent. However, sleep was not easily kept as I woke often throughout the night and worked eagerly to regain my former state. This morning, I begrudgingly pulled myself from beneath the covers, weighted with three dogs, and saw the snow covering the ground and deck.

I saw this meme which really sparked wonderful memories of my fourth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in Elwood, Indiana. I was blessed with the best of the best teachers at Washington, with the exceedingly strong exception of my first-grade teacher, but Diana Lane was the teacher who loved reading to the class. I can still see her expressions, hear her vocal intonations of the characters, and remember my unbounded joy when it was time for her to read.

Three books stand out, “Old Yeller,” by Fred Gipson, “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” by E. L. Konigsburg, and Marguerite Henry’s, “Misty of Chincoteague.” I still have the paperback copy of “Old Yeller” that I purchased during fourth-grade.

There were others, but these three ignited a tremendous fascination with various places, a sustained love for dogs, and an intensified passion for reading. Mother began my reading by the age of four and in first grade, I was permitted to read with Mrs. Hennegan’s third-grade class to keep me challenged. Mother founded the structure and process of reading, but Mrs. Lane added the color, the heightened love, and the ability to tell the story with significance.

Over the years, it was Mrs. Lane’s reading that led me to visit The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and Chincoteague and Assateague islands on the northern Virginia coast. And of course, I’ve not far to visit when it comes to seeing dogs!

We celebrated the Academy Awards two nights ago and while I love the magic of the movies, I am much freer to mentally explore and create with the collaboration of a great author.

Thank you, Mother and Mrs. Lane!

I finished up in my study at 12:45 AM, spending some additional time to make up for the few hours from finally escaping from The Haasienda to absorb some fresh air and Chinese food.

I came into my bedroom to find my fearless five already prepped for their nightly slumber. Col. Deeds was swathed in the top dog blanket with Harrigan using him as a pillow. As I took photos, Bailey left my pillows and joined Harrigan and Deeds.

Col. Deeds is physically growing, mentally grasping everything, becoming an emotional blessing and delight, and adopting a tyrannical teenage attitude.

Now, when I say, Deeds, come,” he’ll look up for a moment and then completely ignore me. Often, the older four will come in his stead and he will follow.

Since he is growing in size, Deeds doesn’t play the puppy victim with the others. He takes command of getting others to play with him and the sounds of feet tearing through the rooms is a common sound.

All in all, he’s a terrific little fellow, typical in his puppyhood, and wonderfully loving. In fact, I just now took this post-dinner photo where he hopped onto my bed to snuggle.

The world is sunny and bright and our temperature this afternoon is 44 degrees with a promise of rising further to 48 degrees. Thursday is expected to be 57 degrees!

I had two great online college classes to teach and I believe it was the first day since the adjusted time for Daylight Savings that ¾ of the classes were not yawning and struggling with sluggishness. I detest Daylight Savings changes and how it screws with our sleep-wake cycle.

I finished teaching my classes and The Fab Five joined me in my study where Col. Deeds was raising holy puppy hell after joining the other four in good behavior while Dad was teaching. I posted the videos on my Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Deeds occasionally gets scolded for chewing on the corner of a carpet remnant in my study where the student music stand rests. Today, I yelled at him three times and he scurried away, only to return for repeat offenses. The fourth time, I really yelled at him and Erma rose, walked over to the carpet remnant, and laid on top of it! What a smart girl!

I have some things to do before feeding the tribe at 3:30 PM and hitting research hard and heavy.

Continue making it a great day!

It’s been a long day but a productive one. I’ve got a break in lessons and will have one more at 11 PM.

I had an earlier break with a student in dress rehearsal for their show. I went to check mail out front and it was foggy and snowing. on the deck, The Fab Five left their paw prints.

The pooches were animated and Col. Deeds, as always, led that charge.

Born on this date, March 12, in 1874, Edward Andrew Deeds played a vital role at the National Cash Register Company before co-founding the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company with lifelong professional partner and friend Charles Kettering in 1909.

Deeds later co-founded the Engineers Club of Dayton with Kettering as well in 1914.

Col. Deeds and his wife, Edith, founded Carillon Park with their generous gift of the carillon.

Serving as President of the National Cash Register Company years later, Deeds passed away in Kettering in 1960.

Grey skies and damp earth are greeting The Miami Valley this Friday morning.

I only have my online classes to teach, starting at 11 AM, and that is all the heavy work on my docket. My goal for this evening is to make it next door to listen to some high school choirs in the OMEA (Ohio Music Educators Association) large group contest. These choirs won’t compete against one another but receive independent attention and a grade.

Yesterday, my blog site received an email on a post about my third great-grandfather, Andrew Taylor Greenlee. The lady reported she was now living in the home built by Andrew Greenlee’s parents, William and Harriet Sayre Greenlee who migrated from the Kanawha River Valley, Virginia, now Charleston, West Virginia, in the 1850s to Boone Township, Madison County, Indiana. William and Harriet’s son, Andrew Taylor Greenlee, and his wife, Prudence Ball Greenlee, inherited the farm and raised their family there for many years. Through some brief correspondence, I learned that Andrea knows quite a few of my family members, some of whom are descendants.

Despite the outer appearance of this day, it’s still an opportunity to make it a great day!

The day promises to be grey and chilly. With the clocks advanced one hour, it’s difficult to predict the day’s weather direction from the east.

I love waking up every morning to The Fab Five! Before swinging my legs out of bed, Bailey, Harrigan, and now, Col. Deeds, shower me with their wiggled love kisses. While this ritual commences, it allows Chief time to struggle to his feet and move over to the side of the bed, alongside Erma. Then, I give my Seniors a few minutes of love and hugs before closing all of them behind the gate so I can go to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast and theirs.

Once I let them outside for their first-morning potty and sniff expedition, I eat breakfast while checking email. Usually, the first to reenter the house is Erma so she can sit at my side until I have finished my Raisin Bran with strawberries. I set the bowl down so she can drink the remaining milk as the little colonel sits at attention, with surprising patience, to have the “nothing” that Erma has left for him. In his mind, he is getting something.

The past six days I have been chiefly bed-ridden and these pooches do add their own brand of medicine. Yesterday, seeing my students gave me a tremendous boost, so I am eager to see today’s crew, as well as tomorrow’s.

Three years ago, the world was shutting down for the lengthy quarantine. I watched sadness deflate so many of my private students as their winter guard and percussion contests, show choir contests, and musicals came to an abrupt halt. I watched former students and other professionals step through a threshold of the unknown. I began my fifteen month escape from the world until June 2021.

I had many wonderful friends who checked on me but I was always surrounded by The Quartet. Their company, plus my Zoom lessons with students and online events with colleagues and friends kept me going.

I have a few things I want to complete before my morning energy recedes. By that time, Deeds will be a bit more relaxed, too!

Make it a great day!

In a few hours, we move forward one hour for Daylight Savings Time. I am just not a fan of this moving back and forth. The fall clobbers me and the spring, though slightly clobbering, is much easier.

I spent most of the day recovering in bed, only getting up to attend to The Fab Five and to grab something to eat.

The pooches are sensitive to my needs and snuggle even closer. Deeds, even though very young and the least tenured in The Haasienda, is especially loving.

My range of documentary topics has been wide. Most of the late afternoon and evening has been set with the 1976 presidential election between President Ford and then Governor Carter. I was eleven and twelve during the campaign, and mostly concerned with the nation’s Bi-Centennial.

At 9 PM, I adjusted all my clocks and light timers throughout the house so it’s done and out of the way. I’ve been doing this for years.

Now, it’s time for me to announce, “time for bed,” so Deeds can race to my bed and claim the pillows.

Now, whenever I shout, “time for bed,” Col. Deeds races to the bedroom, hops up onto the bed, and claims my pillows. The rituals have begun.