Project Almost Done!

I have been working all summer on a remodeling project on our house, the first of several to be done. I have been transforming a room in our loft to be used for Nina's office space. She tore a picture out of a Cottage Living magazine in 2005 and handed it to me and told me she wanted it to look exactly like the picture. Well, it is almost done with yellow beadboard on the walls and shelves and desk space. I think it has turned out pretty well considering it was my first attempt at a project this extensive. Now it's time to get back to my music. I have some Fall and Winter concerts coming up and with the busy schedule of a church this time of year it'll be good to hang up the carpentry work. By the way, a good friend of mine David Tolley and I have booked a duel piano concert at The Columbus Museum of Art on Sunday, January 29. Hope you try to come to our jam session! It will be great fun.

Almost Spring!

Can't help but be a little anxious for Spring and warm weather. Winter in Ohio drags on forever. We are not out of the woods yet but I know we're on the good side of winter. Spring fever always gets me again motivated to come up with new music. I have been doing alot of composing lately. I just need to finish these tunes and arrange them in song and album form. I am also looking forward to playing golf and tennis this year. For the last 2 years I had been in pain with my right elbow. The doc thought he would have to do surgery to fix the tendons but he tried a new procedure called blood spinning where they take your blood out, spin it in a machine and then inject it back in the spot. Well it didn't help for the first couple of months and so my wife scheduled me for surgery right after Christmas but then all of a sudden it started feeling better. And now I think I can enjoy playing those sports again! And no surgery! It was really amazing.

Valentine's Concert!

Well I'm getting ready for the Valentine's Concert in Amish country in Ohio again this year. From Columbus the drive is beautiful. Lots of rolling hills and countryside so I'm looking forward to it. My concert is on Valentine's Day at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek but if you can't make it to that I will also be performing with another artist on the 12th at the Carlisle Inn in Walnut Creek. It's a dinner concert and I will be playing lots of romantic tunes as well as many of my originals. I've been inspired lately and have been coming up with many. Hope you can make it! http://www.dhgroup.com/en/shop/mcart.php?ID=1702

The Price Family

Last Friday as I was playing at Der Dutchman in Plain City Ohio a little 5 year old girl came up to me and asked if she could play the piano with me. She began by playing a hymn very well and I followed. She was very good and not shy one bit. Of course she came from a very musical family - 6 brothers and sisters all musical playing violin, cello, piano, etc. They were all home schooled and very well mannered and a delight to talk to. I was impressed and hope to see them perform someday! The picture I have attached is not the greatest but thought I'd post it anyway.

Spanakopita!!!!

Well yesterday I did something I have never done before. I actually made a Greek dish called Spanakopita. It is something my Greek grandparents made every year and I enjoyed so much. They made the filo dough from scratch but I didn't attempt that. I used 4 sticks of butter as each paper thin layer needs to be brushed. It really did turn out pretty good - for those that don't know it is a spinach and cheese mixture that is topped and bottomed with filo. Take a look at the picture...

Had a great Christmas but the best has been this week without any work responsibilities. And with Christa home from France it has been wonderful. Can't remember the last time I was this stress free. It really needs to be this way more often. Nina and I actually walked in the snow and sunshine today!

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas in this crazy season. My wife and I determined to make this years season a little less stressed with a lot more meaning so we decorated less and are trying to take more time out for reflection of what it's all about.

We've had a pretty crazy year with a mixed blessing. Nina's daughter and family (husband and 4 kids) lived with us for 22 weeks in our 2 bedroom condo! It was wonderful being with the kids every day with all the love and hugs but we realized we really needed a bigger house for all that action. But now they have moved into their new home and it's just a few minutes away so we can now see them on a regular basis. They used to live far away so this is great!

My daughter Christa will be finally coming home from France on 12-21! She has been studying there since August so it has been very hard for me as I have missed her terribly. So I am looking forward to the time after Christmas while she is home from school.

This has been a very busy season for me. I'm not complaining though - it has been a blessing. With many concerts and private parties to play for and all of my church work responsibilities as well as my regular gigs on Thursday's at Thai Orchid and Friday's at Der Dutchman busy is an understatement.

I am looking forward to my Valentines concert at Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek Ohio for Valentine's Day and would love to see you there. You may go to http://www.dhgroup.com/en/shop/mcart.php?ID=1702 for more information.

This next week and through this New Year I wish you joy and peace in Christ's love for you...

"Always" - new recording DONE!

As promised my new recording was complete for the Valentine's concert in Sugarcreek, Ohio. It really was hot off the press as the first time I heard it was just a few minutes before my concert. The concert was great and so glad the snow held off until it was over. Nina and I stayed for an extra day to celebrate Valentine's Day just hanging out at the hotel. We had dinner with my parents and Nina's mom and then they headed back to Columbus and we had a quiet evening listening to a college student play the viola and piano and spent time in the hot tub at the hotel. It was amazing. Haven't relaxed like that for a long time....On Monday we visited some Amish stores and then began to head back to Columbus at about 3 in the afternoon. Well the snow had begun and instead of it taking us 2 hours to get home it took 5! We traveled at around 25 - 35 mph so it was a slow ride but we took country roads home....it was actually very beautiful! The pictures above tell the story. We're back to work now but just for a little while as we will be going to Fla. to see Nina's granddaughter for her 9th birthday on the 24th! Looking forward to getting out of the cold for awhile!