Messing with music March 31, 2006
Posted by jchome in Music.add a comment
A friend of mine, Paul, came over on Tuesday morning and we talked about arranging a song from the Children’s Songbook (used in my church) for the choir. After discussing it for a while, we came out to the computer and tried some things. I have Finale 2006, a real good music notation program. I also have the Personal Orchestra disk, which provides sounds so good that it is nearly impossible to tell the instruments aren’t real. We just used the Steinway piano sound for messing around. Paul was real impressed with what could be done. I need to spend some time getting it set up properly for the choir and organ, but it should work out real well.
So yesterday, I got to thinking, what if this song was arranged for a small string ensemble? 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, and 1 bass. I spent an hour doing it and it sounds pretty good! I wonder if there are enough people in the ward who play stringed instruments to make up a string ensemble? Might be worth looking at once I get better at the bass.
I need duct tape! March 31, 2006
Posted by jchome in Family, Kids.2 comments
So my six year old gets to go to a friend’s house and stay the night. This is her first sleepover other than Grandma’s. There’s 7 hours to go before she can go over and she’s already packed and asking “Can we go now?” Ah, yes, it must be so nice to be a kid and not have anything to worry about except when you can go see your friends.
UPDATE: I took her over about 4:30 this afternoon. Her friend has been doing the same kind of this all day. "Is it time yet?" "When's she going to be here?" I hope those follks know what they're in for!
Trash talk March 30, 2006
Posted by jchome in Just stuff.add a comment
The trash company is going to hate me tomorrow. I have 9 large bags of yard waste in addition to my normal 90 gallon container. I guess the first yard work of the season results in lots of yard debris. Makes for a big pile waiting for the truck.
Pasta with vegetables recipe March 30, 2006
Posted by jchome in Recipes.1 comment so far
Here’s a recipe for pasta and vegetables that I have found works well as a main dish or a side dish. Weight Watchers points: 3 per 1/2 cup.
- 1 cup pasta (you can use almost anything; spaghetti noodles do not work as well)
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 small to medium onion
- 1 broccoli crown
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 2 carrots, sliced or grated
- 6 mushrooms, sliced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Italian seasoning to taste
Optional:
- 1 pound of sliced beef, pork or chicken, in about 1” x ½” pieces
- 1 roma tomato, diced
Cook pasta according to directions on package. Allow to drain for a few minutes, shaking once to remove most of the water.
While cooking pasta:
If adding meat, slice meat and cook in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until meat is cooked through.
Slice the celery, carrots and mushrooms and cut broccoli into 1/2” florets. Dice onion and mince garlic.
Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to large frying pan (same pan that meat is in if adding meat) and sauté garlic and onions for 2 or 3 minutes. Add remaining vegetables and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until broccoli is starting to become tender. Add pasta and Italian seasoning. Add the remaining olive oil if mixture seems too dry. Cook over medium heat for another 3 or 4 minutes. If tomatoes are used, add in the last 2 minutes to heat, but not cook tomatoes. Serve and enjoy.
Variations: Alter vegetable amounts or types to suit your tastes. Different spices may be used as well. Hot peppers will add zip! This is a very flexible recipe.
Lardball -8 March 30, 2006
Posted by jchome in Dang Diet.3 comments
Wow! 4 weeks of Weight Watchers and I’ve managed to lose 8 pounds! After last weekend, I was sure this week would be a lost cause (no pun intended). Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to get down to 170 pounds after all.
Bread recipe March 29, 2006
Posted by jchome in Food Storage, Recipes.2 comments
Here’s a recipe for homemade wheat bread that I have refined pretty well. This makes 2 loaves and works very well in the Kitchen Aid mixer. If you don't have a mixer, you can mix it up and knead it by hand. It will turn out just as well. Weight Watchers points: 1 per 1/2" slice.
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups white flour
- 4 tablespoons gluten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 ½ teaspoons yeast
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons honey (or molasses)
Mix warm water, sugar and yeast in a glass container (I use a 1 quart glass measuring bowl). Stir occasionally. Let sit until water starts to become foamy.
Meanwhile, place wheat and white flour, gluten and salt in the mixing bowl. Attach bread hook and run mixer slowly for a minute to mix the flour mixture.
Melt butter in microwave. Add milk to the butter.
When the yeast mixture is ready, pour it and the butter/milk mixture into the mixer bowl. Add the honey.
Run mixer on slow (about 3 to 4 on the lever). You may need to use a spatula to push down the flour on the sides of the bowl. Run mixer for about 10 minutes. The bread dough will mix and soon become a glob being pushed around. Add small amounts of flour if the mixture looks too wet, or water a teaspoon at a time if too dry. I like my bread dough to be slightly on the wet side. Monitor the mixer to be sure the motor does not overheat. This is hard work for it.
After 10 minutes or so, turn mixer off, remove hook from dough, remove bowl from base and place it in a warm, quiet location. Cover with a dishtowel. Allow to rise for 45 – 60 minutes, until top of dough is level with the top of the bowl. Remove towel, punch down, lift and move around until dough is compacted. Cover with towel again and allow to rise until level with bowl top again, about 45 minutes.
Punch dough. Spray hands lightly with cooking spray and rub well. Remove dough and place on a cutting board. Carefully cut into two even sizes. Shape each piece into a rectangular shape and place in a prepared bread pan. Cover pans with towel and allow to rise until dough is about 1/2” over the pan size. Heat oven to 350 degrees. When oven is hot, carefully place pans in oven and bake for 30 minutes. When done, remove pans, and coat top with butter. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Shake bread out of pans onto a large clean towel. Wrap loaves carefully, covering all surfaces. Allow bread to cool completely. Remove from towel and store in a bread bad or ziplock bag. Ready to slice and eat!
UPDATE: Baked this last evening. Turned out as fluffy as Wonder bread!
One rule… March 29, 2006
Posted by jchome in General.1 comment so far
I welcome comments and feedback on items I post. I have one simple request. If you decide to comment, please keep it clean and appropriate. I have family and children who will likely read this blog from time to time. I will delete inappropriate content without hesitation. Thank you for your courtesy in helping keep this blog clean.
Ace of Bass March 29, 2006
Posted by jchome in Music.4 comments
I’ve decided to try something new. Actually, I decided last week. I think it would be fun and interesting to learn to play the string bass. I’ve thought about it for several years and finally have gotten around to doing something about it. I found one at the music store to rent and signed up with an instructor who is highly recommended. I had my first lesson last week and have my second today. So far, it has been going well, except that I am having trouble getting the fingers on my left hand to hold their positions well. The first finger needs to be spread from the other three fingers in a V shape, and I am having problems holding it. I suppose it will take some time. Also have a little problem with my hand cramping, but it’s starting to get better.
I found out a person I have become friends with here, Paul, plays violin. He knows a couple of other violinists in the ward, and possibly someone who plays cello. After a few months, when I get better at playing the bass, it might be fun to try and get people together and form a small string orchestra.
Since I have music notation software (fun, fun if you are into writing or arranging music), I can make arrangements of church hymns or whatever else and we could use some of them for musical numbers in church. Well, that’s in the future. For now, I’m going to take my lessons and see what I can do.
Weekend at John’s March 28, 2006
Posted by jchome in Family.5 comments
Here it is Wednesday already. It has been a very busy weekend. My sister drove over from Oregon and spent the weekend with us. It was very nice to see her after several months. We spent Monday driving all over town and getting her lost real good. She’s never been to Idaho before, so getting her lost was pretty easy.
We spent about 3 hours at the mall (I hate the mall). My wife and daughters, however, think the mall is the best place in the world. Yuck. I spent about half of that time sitting and waiting for them to browse all of the women’s clothing shops. Why is the mall about 80% women’s clothing shops?
After that, we went to the music store. I was surprised to see the Steinway kitchen piano back in the showroom. They have sold it about 3 times now, but it always seems to come back. Of course, the price tag is real scary – $115,000! Anyway, Cathy spent about 20 minutes playing it. It’s probably the nicest sounding piano I’ve ever heard. Sigh. Too much money. I’m happy with my Boston piano. It’s as close a second to a real Steinway as I can get. Besides, I’m not good enough to rate a Steinway, anyway. Nice to dream, though.
Finished the day at Costco and a restaurant supply store. Went to dinner and probably blew the diet, but I guess it allows for a little indulgence once in a while. Went home and sat up until after midnight playing games and laughing ourselves silly.
I miss having my sister around all the time, so it was real special to have her here for 3 days. We all had a real good visit.
Beginning… March 26, 2006
Posted by jchome in General.1 comment so far
Well, I’ve decided to start a blog. Having never done a blog before, I’m sure it
will be an interesting and enlightening experience.
I suppose I ought to clarify my blog title. I lived in Oregon
from the time I was 3 until last year, with a 2 year hiatus to Australia. Oregon
is a great state, but in recent years seems to be heading in the wrong
direction. Lately, it seems to be very
anti-business, and going in moral directions that I personally oppose.
When my wife and I decided to leave and seek our fortunes
elsewhere, we looked at Idaho,
liked it and moved. It’s the best thing
we’ve ever done. We decided to start
fresh. The results are great. My daughters are in good schools with great
teachers, my son is doing very well, our neighbors are good people, and we are
active in our church again.
I tend to think a lot about a large variety of things, not
very often coming up with something profound, but certainly putting my own
angle on them. Politics, religion,
computers, music, raising kids, etc. There’s
a lot to think about and I seem to spend a lot of time doing it.
Thus, Ruminations of an ex-Oregonian. Enjoy!
