Sal's Halloween

A couple of weeks ago, I went for a walk around the block and saw a Lego Halloween house (pictured below), in the process of being built.  I stopped and asked the homeowner if I could come back when the house was finished and take a picture of it with my tiny ukulele.  He said that would be fine.

I promptly forgot about it until I went for another walk a few days ago.  I made a "note to self" to return and get some pictures, so this morning, before driving out to the hinterlands to visit my mother, I stopped at the Lego house.  I began quickly setting up and taking pictures of Sal, realizing I'd better make it snappy (pun intended) so I wouldn't be late.  As Sal and I started to quickly return to my car, I heard a voice asking, "Is that yours?"  After a moment of surprise, I figured out that the person was calling to me from the neighboring driveway, and that she probably thought I was stealing something -- Sal -- from the Lego house.  I explained what I was doing, told her that I had asked the homeowner for permission, and that Sal was indeed mine.  I gave her a couple of Sal's business cards so she and the builder of the oh-so-cool Lego house would know where to find this post.  I also thanked her for watching out for her neighbor -- and I really meant it!

Isn't this cool!?  It looks like it's made of giant Legos.  And I love how the windows on the real house are boarded up, too.  There is also a spooky fence with spiderwebs and such around the whole yard, but I was in a hurry and didn't get a picture of that.  :(

I took a picture from low on the ground looking up, because I thought it might look spooky.  It doesn't, but I like it anyway.

I love the skeletons and Lego people all over the place.

Not being knowledgeable about Legos, I don't know exactly what to make of this.  Did the homeowner build the big house to replicate the small one?  I think so, but if he reads this, I hope he will send a message to travelswithsal@gmail.com and enlighten me so I can be more informative here.

I drove over to my Mom's house, stopping for a quick five minute photo shoot at Furnace Run -- a park along the way.  The leaves were so beautiful, and Sal was in the car...  I couldn't resist...

Next spring I'll be bringing Sal back here to get her picture taken with lots of daffodils.  According to the park's website:  "An estimated 40,000 daffodils – including dozens of varieties – bloom each spring along the H.S. Wagner Daffodil Trail, named for the park district's first director-secretary, who planted the first bulbs here in the late 1930s." 

I was playing around with holding Sal in the air to try to make it look as if she was among the leaves.

I arrived at Mom's in good time and we went off to do some errands.  On the way back to her house I had to stop at another park to take a picture of this giant totem pole.  We pass it every time I go shopping with her, and I often think it would be cool to take a picture of it.  This time I had to stop!  There was fall foliage and I had Sal in the car!

I'm sure you can understand why I had to get a shot of Sal with this totem pole!  Maybe I should do this in every season.

After dropping Mom off, it was time to go to work.  As you might expect, it's pretty slow at the library on trick or treat night!  Almost everybody in town is either going out collecting candy -- or handing it out, I suppose.

As I always do when I have to work on Halloween, I put candy in a bowl on the porch before leaving for the day.  I never know how many kids are going to come trick or treating chez moi, so I make a guess about how much candy to buy.  I've had years when only a couple of kids came, and years when 50 came.  One year I put a bowl of candy out, and it was untouched when I got home.  Tonight was rainy and windy -- not optimal conditions for little kids in costumes to be out and about -- so I was wondering if anybody would stop by for candy.  It turns out there were some hardy souls out there.  Half the candy was gone.  :)

When I come home and there is some candy left, it restores my faith in humanity.  Somebody could have easily taken all of it.  Nobody would have been the wiser.  But the trick or treaters have always been honest!  (Unfortunately, I am now tempted to eat the leftover candy.  Never fear!  I will eat a little and take the rest to work tomorrow!)

Sal and Friends Select Sing-Along Songs

On February 11th, the Cleveland Jumping Fleas will be presenting a program titled Ukulele Sing-Along! at the Fairview Park Library.  On the library's calendar the program is described thusly:  "Join the Cleveland Jumping Flea ukulele group for a fun evening of songs and laughter. You'll enjoy singing along as the Fleas play a variety of catchy tunes and merry melodies."  The target audience is, according to the calendar, "Seniors, Adults, Families."  In other words, we could be playing just about anything for just about anybody!  This makes the task of selecting songs a bit of a challenge.  Should we aim to please seniors who might come because they enjoyed the ukulele when it was popular in their younger years?  Or should we do a bunch of songs that families with young kids would like?  How can we find songs that just about anybody would be able to (and happy to) sing along with!?

Who is up for such a challenge?  That would be me, Bruce, and Lynn!  We compiled a very long list of songs we considered sing-along material.   We are now engaged in cutting that list down to 90 minutes of music.  So many good songs are being cut...  But never fear, we're keeping lots of great ones!

After several hours of conversation about music (and many other things), I took these photos of Bruce and Lynn with Sal.  You can see that even after all the work we did -- trying out various versions of songs and giving them thumbs up or down, etc. -- we were still a happy (or shall I say goofy) bunch. 

We'll be meeting again this Sunday to make the final song selections!

Bruce and Lynn with their ukes -- and Sal -- at the end of our selection session.  This meeting took place in my dining/music room.  Notice the photos of Sal with famous ukers -- and other musicians -- on the wall behind.

These guys are so much fun to work with!

Sal (and Her Newest Sibling) Enjoy Some Fall Foliage

Early in the week I figured that this weekend I would take Sal on a nice walk (or bike ride) and get some fall foliage pictures with her.  I'm not sure if this is going to happen, since last night and this morning a bunch of snow fell on the other side of town!  I decided that just in case Mother Nature was planning to take her show on the road and blow some cold white precipitation our way, I'd best get some leaf photos pronto!  So I took a walk to the park around the corner, carrying Sal, my camera, and my newest ukulele acquisition -- so far unnamed.

This beautiful instrument is a Druid Moon, made by Folkcraft.  It's so lovely -- in appearance and sound -- and is super nice to play.  The top is butternut and the body is black walnut and it has a really mellow tone.  I love this uke!  So why doesn't this wonderful instrument have a name?  Well, I was planning on naming her (yes, I think of this uke as a "her") Buttercup, but when I saw her, she didn't look like a Buttercup to me.  This model is called Sara by Folkcraft, but I want to choose my own perfect name for my own perfect uke.  Someday it will pop into my mind, but I'm still waiting...

I have had this awesome ukulele for a few weeks already, and wanted to include her in a post with Sal, but the right opportunity hadn't come up.  A lovely fall day, and the threat of a winter-style storm, made me realize that the time is now!

My beautiful new ukulele.

The sisters hanging out on a park bench.

Two lovely ukes by an equally lovely waterfall in David Fortier River Park.

Sal on the stone stairway leading down to a path by the river.

I took Sal's picture on this big rock, because the idea of Sal breaking the rules and going where she has been told to "Keep Off" was appealing to me.  I am too much of a chicken to break many rules, but I think it's fun when Sal is a bit rebellious.  Unfortunately the original shot didn't do anything for me.  I added two iPhoto effects -- antique and color boost -- and I like the result.  What do you think?

The original photo.  Meh.

 I think the antique effect gives the rock an appropriately "Keep Off" vibe, and the few bright spots -- courtesy of the color burst effect -- give it a little interest.

Sal Goes to UkeToberFest!

We are very fortunate to have many lovely parks in the Cleveland area, and Sal is always ready to spend some time in the great outdoors.  Sunday morning brought a uke-tastic opportunity to do just that.  It was UkeToberFest with the Cleveland Jumping Fleas!  This event was not about drinking beer in October.  It was about playing ukes in October!  A bunch of Fleas gathered at around 9:00 a.m. to hang out in the Harriet Keeler shelter eating donuts, drinking cider and coffee, and playing lots of songs together.  Of course we all had to pose for photos with Sal!

Sal with the UkeToberFest gang!

Of course we had to have a silly shot, too.  As usual, some were sillier than others.  ;)

Why would a group of presumably intelligent adults play ukuleles outside in 40ish temperatures?  The simple answer is that when we met at the same location a few weeks ago, we had a great time playing al fresco.  How could we know that the temperature would plunge so early in the year?  Fleas are hardy souls, however, and nothing can keep us from gathering together to socialize and make music.  And, despite being quite nippy, the morning was beautiful.  We were playing our ukes together whilst surrounded by lovely autumn colors!  All was right with the world!

Our fingers may have been numb, but the chilly air was full of hot music!

We got applause from some people as they walked by the shelter -- and one guy hung around listening for quite a while.  And why not?  The Fleas are awesome!

An extra added UkeToberFest bonus was the addition to our group of Tabitha's husband, Dan, who brought his double bass.  The low tones of this instrument added a wonderful note (pun obviously intended) to the proceedings -- AND I got a picture of Sal with the biggest string instrument I know of.  She's had her picture taken with a tiny violin, L'il Rev's uke, a Cleveland Orchestra cello -- and now with a double bass!  Many Fleas -- including yours truly -- were urging Dan to come back and play with us again!

Sal and her giant cousin.  Thanks, Dan, for bringing your bass!

Some Fleas had to leave after a couple of hours to go to work -- or because their hands were numb -- but a few extra-hardy members of the group stayed until noon.  Sal and I were, of course, in the extra-hardy contingent!  What a super-fun way to spend a Sunday morning! 

A Meeting of the Blogs: Sal Has a Long-Anticipated, Long-Awaited Rendevous at Squire's Castle!

When I started Travels With Sal a few months ago, I was the only active blogger in the family, but soon my sister started blogging, too.  Her blog, titled Life With Lili, is all about her outrageously cute dog.  After reading her posts and seeing the great pictures that she was posting, I started thinking that having adorable Lili photos in one of my posts might attract Lili's fans to my blog -- and that photos of the lovely Sal on Anne's blog might send Sal's fans to Life With Lili.  I asked Anne if we could do a photo session together -- a meeting of the blogs, so to speak.  I'm happy to say that she agreed.

Having heard much about Squire's Castle through the years, I asked if we could go there.  Anne, who has been to the castle many times, agreed that this would be a fine destination.  Now the problem was finding a time to go.  Between work, house and yard projects, and some fun with the Cleveland Jumping Fleas, time rushed by for me.  Anne also had lots going on, but Friday, finally, was the day!  And what a beautiful day it was!  Sunny and cool, with lovely fall foliage...  who could ask for anything more!?  Well, maybe a titch less sun would have been better, but I'm not complaining!  Fall is my favorite season, and the day was absolutely spiffing!

This post features some of the photos I took on our outing.  You can read about Anne's take on the day's events -- and see her awesome photos -- by going to Life With Lili.

Sal on the sign in front of the castle.

Inside the castle there were tons of great spots to take photos.  Anne had warned me several times that Lili doesn't like to have her picture taken -- even though she is extremely photogenic.  It turned out, however, that Anne's fears about possible canine noncooperation were unfounded.  Lili couldn't have been a better model!  It's obvious that Anne has put a lot of effort into training Lili -- and the results are impressive.  Lili sat still for gobs of photos.  We got pictures of Lili looking at us, and not looking at us, and even pictures of what I was hoping for -- Lili and Sal "interacting" (which really means Lili looking in Sal's direction).

I'd like to think that Lili is looking at Sal, but she probably just heard something outside.  ;)

This would be a great picture to use for a caption contest, I think.

After taking a bunch of photos inside, we walked around outside the castle for a while, looking for the best places to take more pictures of Sal and Lili.

It was time for Sal's close-up! 

I turned around to see that Lili was having individual portraits taken, too!

As we walked around the corner, we saw the perfect location -- but we were not alone in thinking so.  A young lady was posing for her senior pictures there. While we were waiting for the photographer (who had one of the biggest lenses I've ever seen) to finish, we had a brief conversation with the soon-to-be-graduate's mom.  I gave her a Travels With Sal card, so I hope she checks out this post (and keeps reading future ones, too -- hint hint.)  Later I thought that we should have asked the daughter to pose for a photo with Sal!  (I don't think she would have included such a photo in her album of senior pictures, but who knows?  Stranger things have happened...)

The coast was clear -- time for Sal to pose at this picturesque end of the castle.

I love this! 

Awwwww...

Gotta love the antique effect and edge blur in iPhoto.  They turned what started out as a meh picture into something pretty cool.

Time to get Lili in the act.  I wonder what she was smelling on Sal -- that uke has visited all kinds of places!

Anne giving Lili a kiss for being such a super-cooperative girl. 

 

At this point I suggested taking a meta picture.  These shots are the result...

I went outside and shot the scene from outside....

... and at the same time Anne took a shot from inside.  Lili's expression totally cracks me up!

We were having fun, but it was time to get going.  We stopped to take some final pictures of Lili and Sal.  We wanted to get a few shots of the two of them on a blanket on the lawn.  First we put the blanket in the sun, but it was too bright and the pictures didn't look so good.  Then we put the blanket in the shade, and ta da! 

Anne getting Lili ready for yet more picture-taking.  Thanks, Lili, for being such a good sport!

I love this picture.  Unfortunately, I didn't take it.  Thanks, Anne, for letting me use your great shot!

That's all folks!  Be sure to visit Life With Lili to see Anne's version of the day's events!  Since we didn't discuss what we were going to write, I can't wait to read it myself!*

*I hope she says nice things about her big sister!  ;)

Sal Goes To a Violin Lesson

Faithful readers of Travels With Sal may remember the following from the post titled Sal Spends a Perfect Summer Evening at Blossom Music Center  (August 26th):  "I've also been inspired to get my violin out of the closet.  I haven't really played it since high school -- which was a looooong time ago -- but seeing other people playing violins always makes me want to try it again.  Perhaps I should take a few lessons and see what happens.  I have discovered that there is a fiddling class nearby...  I would have to take refresher lessons first, but maybe next time fiddling is offered..."

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the phenomenon of getting a great idea -- and promptly forgetting about it.  I experience it often!  But this time, for some reason, I followed through.  I got the violin out of the closet, took it to Royalton Music to be checked out and get new strings, and e-mailed the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. 

I am happy to report that BW connected me with an extremely patient violin teacher, who encourages and challenges me!  Her name is Jessica Filing, and she plays her violin beautifully!  I can't say the same about myself, but with her encouragement I am improving a bit (I think).  There is no way that relearning this instrument is going to be a quick and easy process, but I hope I have the gumption to stick it out -- and eventually be able to do some rudimentary fiddling.  (At this point I'm working on a shorter-term goal -- to be able to competently play a song from the first Suzuki book!)

Sal come to my lesson with me today.  There were about 30 minutes of excruciating attempts to make a pleasing sound come out of my violin.   ("Excruciating" is, I must confess, a very slight exaggeration for humorous effect.)  Then I took three shots of Jessica posing with her lovely instrument -- and Sal.  Normally I would choose just one picture to post, but I have to use all three this time, because they are all so much fun.  For some reason, I felt that using the matte effect on iPhoto added something to these pictures.  I hope you agree.

The first picture.  I think this one captures the sense of humor necessary to be my violin teacher.

This picture shows a very nice person who has the patience to be my violin teacher.

I'm not sure what this one says about Jessica, but I think it's a fun picture, so here it is.

After we said goodbye, Sal and I stopped to get some shots of the beautiful reflective glass front of the building.  I wonder who has to clean all those windows...

Sal's Wonderful Sunday

The other day I realized that Sal and I haven't gone anywhere since we returned from our vacation last month.  Every day has been filled with going to work and/or trying to complete major projects in the house and yard.  Blech!  Since today was the first day in a very long time that I didn't plan on doing anything "productive," I decided to take Sal out and let her join the fun!

We started by attending the Sowing Seeds of Hope Annual Brunch to benefit Seeds of Literacy.  This wonderful organization is -- in words stolen from their website -- "an adult literacy program providing basic education and GED preparation free of charge to people in the Cleveland, Ohio area. A unique curriculum and one-on-one tutoring offer maximum learning by building relationships of trust between the student and the tutor. We bring people of diverse race and ethnic backgrounds together to help break a root cause of poverty - illiteracy."

Sal came along with me, but I didn't bring her inside.*  I didn't want to embarrass my son -- who works for Seeds -- by making a spectacle of myself at such an occasion.  (I didn't mind doing it at the Seeds Bowl-A-Thon**, but I wasn't sure Sal would be appreciated at a country club.)

* Of course it's not a good idea to leave a ukulele in a car on a very hot or very cold day, but the mild weather meant that Sal would be okay for a couple of hours.

** See the Travels With Sal post from May 18th for pictures of Sal at the bowling alley.

The brunch was held at the Westwood Country Club -- a lovely place.  I am sure they will never invite me to be a member -- or even a guest -- after observing me taking this photo of Sal posing on their sign.  ;)

As I returned to my car after the brunch was over, I was thinking about taking some Sal photos at the edge of the golf course.  Then I saw one of the Seeds of Literacy students who had given a speech at the brunch, and approached her about posing with Sal.  Titanisha Westry's speech had been truly inspiring -- and I confess to being teary-eyed as she described how Seeds helped her get her GED.  She also talked about the bright future she has planned -- and I believe she is determined enough to follow through and make those dreams a reality!  I hope she didn't think I was a kook when I told her about Sal and this blog -- and maybe she did -- but she kindly agreed to pose for a photo.

Titanisha Westry and her sweetie, Kenneth, with Sal. 

The next event in Sal's day was a Cleveland Jumping Flea jam at the Java Bay Coffee Shop in Bay Village.  (If you are thirsty -- or hungry for giant muffins, etc. -- you can find Java Bay at 27225 Wolf Road.)  As usual the Fleas had a great time playing and singing together, and customers coming in seemed pleasantly surprised to have musical accompaniment as they placed their orders.

Java Bay owner, Becky, and her helper, Dan.  This young man plays the ukulele and was instrumental (pun intended) in making it possible for the Fleas to jam at Java Bay.   

After the jam, Sal and I finished off our big day by going with our ukin' friend Norma to the Moosehead Saloon for dinner and a good chat.  It was a lovely evening to eat outside on the patio, and we ended up staying for a long and very pleasant time.

Norma and I started our Moosehead meal with refreshing beverages -- a Moosehead beer for me and a glass of white wine for her.

 What a great day Sal and I had.  Tomorrow it's back to getting stuff done.  Sigh...