My Piano

 I have been taking piano lessons at the Maui Conservatory in town. 

I started Jan 2022 when the boys were taking acting since it was next door. I only did it until April 2022 (3 months) then stopped because of schedule change and it wasn't working out. 

Then, started again August 2023 and have been doing it since (8 months currently).

It has been a journey of learning how to learn, learning how to practice, being humble, focused, and determined, teaching me so much along the way.

My lessons help me with hand tension, relaxing and rhythm which are so hard for me!! 

I was getting so frustrated with my lessons but after doing some piano research it is just part of the process and learning how to learn.  Even though I am taking lessons, I do my own learning piano research and experimentation.  This has really helped me and made huge leaps in my progress!

https://youtu.be/qP3h9w2XaYs

I analyzed myself and came up with this plan. Since I did this I have noticed a huge change in my playing. I have gone from hitting the piano keys when the notes are on the paper to actually PLAYING.  The boys will be playing a computer game and their friends are always commenting on my playing. This motivates me!! I noticed when I made this video, it also motivated me. And lastly, Robbie inspires me since we were able to talk about our learning together and it was interesting that we are hitting the same roadblocks and progress. Nice to know again that it is part of the journey!!

How i learn/what works for me:(do for workout and school and works)

-Read

-Video/Listen

-Checklist practice

-Routine/schedule-during day read learn, afternoon and evening practice

Goal-exercise brain, learn music, play fun music when sit down, bored, Relax

-4-6 years study

-Learn how practice

Practice Checklist:

Plan: 30-1hr most days

Watch greater video

Simply piano

Practice class work

Learn fun piece

Focus Lessons on-?questions.  Maybe stop for summer, pick back up in the Fall if I have to.

-focus on notes, properly playing rhythm and notes with checking hand, questions and things to work on

Miss Rose

It has been a while since we have had a baby in the household.

It was time...

I spy 3 cats checking out little Miss Rose. 

What is this????

Greetings to the Edwards household.

Meet precious little Miss Rose.

So tiny.

Milk stash.

I clean myself.

Eyes barely open.

I am so small.

Hudson helping feed her.

Cuddle time.

Snug bug.

Time to update my Maui Kitten Blog.

mauikittens.blogspot.com

Kitten Season

 Kitten season is upon us.

I have not able to take babies since we were traveling, family visiting, our hearts welcoming Sharky back to our home, and refocusing on school.

Within one week, I denied a Maui Humane Society bottle baby (which ended up getting a foster), got a call from a friend on what to do with a kitten she trapped and then another call for a MHS bottle baby.

I ended up taking my friend's trapped kitten for an overnight and to the shelter the next day. Poor thing was sooooo terrified, covered in fleas and so hungry.  I was able to get it into a more comfy box with blankets, a litter box, and food/water. It is amazing how Churu treat works wonders. This poor kitten was so hissy, spitting, and trying to bite so I had to strategically move it around with the treat. I am confident that I could have worked with it for a few days and got it to relax. However, it really needed to be assessed and supported by foster team to get medical attention, supplies and support if needed and a foster that was ready to take on the challenge.  After, Owlly I was not ready for another socialization case! Especially a baby. I love it but it is too hard emotionally when they come around to trusting you and then you turn them over for adoption.

Cat Education:

Ideally, my friend should have released the kitten to see if Mom was around and if trapped it again then taken it in.  Babies are best with Mom until around 8 weeks when they can get fixed, adopted, or released back to their cat colony. This is a huge issue for kitten season and why so many end up at the shelter. People find kittens and don't see mom so bring them in.  Mom is probably out hunting. Best to leave babies unless they are in danger and monitor to see if mom comes back.

Poor thing!

Little more comfy!

Then, she called the next day saying she thinks she got mom and what to do.  I suggested she take it to the shelter and let them know her name and that it is probably Mom from the baby that was taken the day before. They could reunite them, be sure Mom is fixed and foster them out together until baby was old enough to get fixed and rereleased or adopted.

Another issue is cat trapping and relocating them.

(This happened to Baby Blue many years ago and luckily we found her!)

If you trap a cat, take it to the shelter. They can be sure it is fixed, scan it for a microchip to find their owner and preform any medical attention needed. This will help with the overpopulation of cats the more you trap and get fixed. Relocating them is potentially stealing a cat and dumping it, which is illegal!

More information to educate on managing cats in your community.

https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/services/managing-community-cats/

help! SOLUTION-Getting cats fixed!! 

Adopting from a shelter guarantees it is fixed. Trapping and taking it to the shelter gets it medical attention, fixed, reunites with an owner, or finds it a home. 

This applies to dogs too. 

March April Videos

 Sharky and Shelby:

https://youtu.be/_2VOG7dKWKE

Hudson Fishies:

https://youtu.be/vldwlE3kUek

Easter 2024:

https://youtu.be/eDMCXJS0UpY

Dylan Projects:

https://youtu.be/5A-02KAXbFI

Gym:

https://youtu.be/WYe2IZQr0DI

School MM

 Recent school moments...

Dylan bought a monitor mount.

He hung it himself. Handyman skills.

Our oranges.

Dylan is in a new class that is mentoring him in reaching his goal of creating a YouTube.  

She had him take a DISC survey to best be able to support him. It tells you how you best learn and response to people and tasks based on your personality.  Dylan is a determined conscientious.

 

DETERMINED

A Determined person:

•Does not give up easily

•Knows what they want

•Likes to be the leader

•Tries hard to win

•Can be daring or fearless

•Is self-assured

•Is not shy

•Can be competitive

A Conscientious person:

•Really enjoys tasks

•Likes to be organized

•Will concentrate and think

•Knows the details and facts

•Finds solutions

•Can be independent

•Likes to find a routine

•Can be sensitive

Sharky mentoring Hudson, haha.

Reading me his D&D character, Syrax's backstory.

Timeline for a history writing class. Dylan did history of D&D.

Dylan wanted to sell our eggs. In the country here they have stands with a money lockbox for an honor system. Well, we have a new homeless encampment upwind of us that is creating vagrants so that honor system will not work.  So, he decided to make a contraption where you put money in and it releases an egg.  He made and coded it.  Impressive!

Releases the egg.

Creating.

Watching the Hobbit for school since they read it.

Pizza making.

Teenage pictures.

Inspired to play the piano a bit.

Aw!

Love these two.

They both are so funny.

Dungeons and Dragon character development. I love these moment of creativity, imagination, and complete immersion in something they love.

Home

Hudson teaching his friend how to use the BB gun.

Friend music moment.

Ready?

Bella supervising game time.

Working.

Shelby

Speaking at the County Budget meeting. 

We have a homeless encampment upwind of us and it has made our neighborhood unsafe from criminal activity and wildfire risk.  I raised awareness for us and our HOA which turned into a community full of the same concern.  So, my concern turned into a community communication list with the County regarding our concerns and solutions to fix the issue of the encampment.  I have had to be very diligent not be the face of this issue and take it on as a time commitment! 

My only role is to communicate our concerns with the county and encourage others to do the 

same to they will fix the issue.  Politics! The joys.

Garden

My new obsession. 

Lot easier and low risk than horses, ha!

My garden and bird sanctuary.

Birds.

New bird feeders and bird baths.

Spring is here. Look at all the butterflies in the bamboo!!

They are using my bird bath!

Justin hanging a bird house he made me with the 3D printer.

Love my kitchen bird buddies.

Thank you for providing me with entertainment while I am in the kitchen. 

Eclipse

We were hoping we could see something from the eclipse.  The weather had been cloudy, windy and rainy and the sun rises in the far east.  However, WE got to SEE it!! We were so stoked.  What an amazing morning. Eclipse then ocean! Heaven. Something larger than us for sure! Thanks Grammie for the glasses,so amazing to see. So happy we could see it!!

Did you get to see the solar eclipse?? It was amazing, so happy we got to see it. We saw it on the way to the beach, then watched it as we shared our glasses with others so they could see it. Then I paddled out with them in my teeth and would look, take a wave, look again. Then, i even put them on for a look on a wave! Was so fun!!

Solar eclipse.

We were hoping we could see something from the eclipse.  The weather had been cloudy, windy and rainy and the sun rises in the far east.  However, WE got to SEE it!! We were so stoked.  What an amazing morning. Eclipse then ocean! Heaven. Something larger than us for sure! 

Thanks Grammie for the glasses,so amazing to see. So happy we could see it!!