Joe has been sick for several days with some kind of nasty upper respiratory infection and Atticus also succumbed to illness for a day so our 4th of July activities were more low-key than usual. The boys were invited to be part of the parade but since we had been battling illness and the temperature… Read More Freedom
The Cavan Fiddle Studio musicians put on a beautiful performance on March 31, 2012. Each of my students performed one of their favorite tunes so it was a fantastic mixture of many kinds of music, from Irish and Scottish traditional music to blues to folk songs to classical music and even a breathtaking original composition. I’m… Read More Spring Music Party
Atticus learned this song from a Ralph’s World CD and I’ve been meaning to catch it on video for a long time because I know it’s only a matter of time before his squeaky little baby voice changes forever.
I’m trying not too think too hard about why we’re having such an absolutely beautiful early spring but it surely has made for some lovely walks! Liam took over the camera on our last walk to the library. This is Shady Patch, the little herb garden that Atticus planted (and named) last spring. I know less… Read More Walking in springtime
Liam has his very first piano performance coming up on March 31st and has been staging elaborate rehearsals with quite a colorful audience. Sam the dog is unimpressed but the rest of us are all very proud of his preparations (lift those wrists, son!). And what an audience! From left to right: Julie, Sockay, Toadie,… Read More Rehearsal
Shy. Bashful. Awkward. Introverted. I’ve been puzzling over these designations lately, particularly in regard to myself and to my oldest child. I have a long background in social services so I’ve taken the Myers-Briggs test many times and have always ended up with the INFP label. Whenever the test has been described to me, the… Read More Introvert
We had a great group of friends at our August session and we were especially excited to see Frank, a superb musician (flute and tin whistle) who I haven’t played music with in over five years. Also in attendance were Dave (fiddle and Irish flute), Dennis (concertina), Robin (fiddle), Keith (guitar, vocals), Kevin (harmonica), Abram… Read More August Irish session and changes afoot
Today was one of those absolutely perfect Iowa City summer days and we were lucky enough to spend a couple of felicitous hours at Uptown Bill’s. Among the players today: Marc (guitar, mandolin, and fiddle), Maia (fiddle), Guy (fiddle), Wendy (tin whistle), Will (fiddle), Tim (guitar), Annie (fiddle), John (guitar), Arianne (fiddle), Abram (fiddle and… Read More July Irish session at Uptown Bill’s
“I thought of the word.” Tom Gilsenan said to me yesterday when we took a break during the Irish session. “It’s diaspora.” I looked it up last night when I got home and he’s right, it does describe our little informal group of musicians who began playing together at the Gilbert Street Uptown Bill’s a… Read More June Irish session at Uptown Bill’s
I’m sure that the day is all too rapidly approaching when our children have no interest at all in attending a rock concert with us but today is not that day! We took the boys to Des Moines yesterday to the Every Family Rocks music festival at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. I think this is… Read More Every Family Rocks
Tara McGovern 