Kids Songs

Hey, so I recently decided to compile all the songs Emma and I sing (mostly me really).  I decided to do this because in the car mostly, Emma has been asking me to sing songs one after another constantly...which can be tiring on a long drive.  I often can't think of all the songs we sing, and was surprised to see how many there were!  This list isn't even all of them...I got tired after awhile, and decided to stop.  Oh and if you're wondering why I chose to list those particular praise songs, it's because Emma knows them from the Praise Baby DVD's.

So maybe this list will be helpful to someone else who is endlessly singing to their kids also.

Sidenote:  I haven't critiqued every song, but as I was looking through other lists online, I noticed some of the most famous songs sung with kids are way off, as in not biblical...totally secular way of thinking or just plain confusing.  For example, think of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  It says, "he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake".  Either kids are going to think he's God, or a stalker.  Also, take for instance This Land is Your Land.  "This land is your land, this land is my land"...ummm, NO.  This land is God's land thank you very much.  Anywho, just a thought.

Foiled Again - by David R. Reid

This devotion really rocked me.  I think it's a must read for any Christian, or person who just wonders what is this whole life about anyway?  I had never thought about life, from the time before Adam, to our eternal stage in quite this way.  Dr. Dave goes through the time line from Satan's perspective, illustrating how he tries time and time again to foil God's prophesy that "the heel crusher" (one who destroys Satan) would come from the "seed of Adam" (a human).  Each time God reveals more to us humans, Satan learns more as well, and therefore tries to use that information to end the possibility of a someone who could destroy him.  God is so sovereign though.  Satan could never succeed, and we know that through Jesus Christ's resurrection, that Satan has already lost.  Praise God!  Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Picture:  Foiled is a term used in fencing by the one who is losing.

Painting my Piano

I am SO excited to have my mom's piano in my home now.  And I was even more excited when she said I could do whatever I wanted to it!  That, of course, meant I was going to paint it. 

At first, I thought I should sand it...I was worried about dust getting in the mechanisms.  I sanded the bench and a few small pieces of the piano itself, then decided to just prime it and go for it.  First I wiped it down with mineral spirits (paint thinner).  Then, I used Oil based Kilz primer, tinted gray.  I put on 2 coats, so there was absolutely no wood showing, except for above the keys, where the Wurlitzer symbol is...I left that wood.  (The picture to the left shows the gray primer.)

Then, I went to Jerry's and got a oil based green paint (Jade green - Benjamin Moore).  Unfortunately, after painting the entire piano, I realized that it looked like a highway sign...all it needed was "Exit 31" written in white letters to top it off.  (The picture to the right makes it look way better than it was).  

So, I went back to Jerry's and they nicely added some blue to it.  It ended up very much like Benjamin Moore's "Jade Garden", which is another color I was interested in.  (The picture to the left is after 1 coat.  Emma is trying to play it with the keys still taped off.)

After 2 coats and some touch ups, the piano is finished (minus the legs of the bench and the music stand, which I'm thinking of painting white.)  I love it!  And after it fully dries, I don't foresee any problems with chipping.  My plants look so good on it, and since it's oil based paint, in high gloss, it will be super durable and easy to wipe clean. 

As far as I can tell, the sound of the piano wasn't altered.  It went from hard wood floors to carpet, so I'm thinking that the dampening is from that, not the paint.

California Brown Rice Cooking Instructions

Okay, so you would think that when you type in "cooking directions for California Brown Rice", or "How to Cook California Brown Rice" to google, you would get a straight forward answer...but no.  So, here ya go.

Combine 1.5 cups of water with 1 cup brown rice. 

Let it come to a boil.  

Cover the pot and turn the temperature to the lowest setting.  

Let sit covered for 30-45 minutes.  

Turn off heat.  

Let sit uncovered for 10 minutes.

And in case you're wondering, I bought the rice, threw out the bag (with the instructions) and put it in this pretty glass container on my counter.  Didn't even think about the directions being on the bag.  So, I took a picture of the instructions on the bag the next time I went grocery shopping.  Gotta love cell phones with cameras!

The Crestwood Lodge

After months of preparation and days of building, it's finally done!  The Crestwood Lodge (aka:  The Frantz Castle) was completed as of a few hours ago, June 7th, 2010.  Here are some pictures to enlighten you of the transformation.

There used to be a tree in the yard that died, and consequently cost us $300 to remove.

Then, eventually, I planted a meek, yet entertaining none the less, garden.

Finally, we removed the garden and sectioned off an area which we filled with Fiberex from Rexius.

Lots and lots of bark....like a million wheel barrels full.

And here it is partway done.  (I love this, because it looks like my dad isn't doing anything...totally not true...just funny.)

And vwalah!  A finished swing set.  Complete with climbing wall, slide, ladder, fort, counter and stools, swings, and glider.

Now all we have to do is truck in the sand for the sandbox!!!

Guitar Tuning Nightmares Explained

So I bought a new guitar, and Scott and I spent an hour last night trying to figure out why when he tuned it, it sounded one way, and when I did it, it was different.  Also, when he played it, it sounded in tune, and when I did, it didn't.  We discovered some really interesting things, and then I found this awesome article.  It's a must read for any guitar player who wants to be in tune.  SO COOL.

Here's the article

Here is a short overview (my summary):

•  Best Tuner is one with an LED light
• 1) switch your guitar to its rhythm (neck) pickup, if it has one;
• 2) roll your guitar's tone knobs all the way off, to remove all the highs; and then
• 3) pluck the open string right over the twelfth fret, not over the pickup. Try it; you'll be amazed.
• Tune standing up if you will be standing (yes this makes a difference)
• Everyone use the same tuner...they can have subtle differences
• Use heavy strings (they stay in tune longer)

So, all that REALLY helps.  And on top of that, you have to learn how to use the intonation adjusters at the bridge.  This is a whole other story, because you use a screw driver to accurately tune the notes on the 12th fret along with the open string...it can actually make a HUGE difference when you go up the neck, whether it stays in tune or not. Read the section titled "intonation hell" for more.  He also talks about the effect of the truss rod.  Apparently, my new guitar falls into the category he talks about of guitars that have a sharp first fret.  There may be no way to correct this as of yet....I'm still looking into it.

Also, for the crappy news for me, apparently smaller fingers are much more likely to be able to push strings out of tune on an electric guitar.  I'm going to try heavier strings, but the deal is, a smaller finger can create a more V shaped arc between frets than a rounder, larger finger, which creates a more of an undefined U shape.  Believe it or not, this V shape creates out of tune notes if you push too hard.  Oh well, I just need to find some finger fatteners.  HAHA.  Happy tuning!

Gamma Vignette

This was one of several video montages that my friend Jayson Bosteder shot for a client of his. He has a local business, PushPlay productions. It was filmed for Meredith, one of America's leading media and marketing companies. It was to be used on the Gamma Women website to showcase their "new report uncovering the rise of Gamma women: a growing segment – significant both in number and influence – that is creating a groundswell in today’s new media and marketing landscape."

"Gamma women share and exchange information, ideas, opinions, contacts and recommendations with their wide-reaching network using multiple media and channels of communication. This is in sharp contrast to the ‘Alpha’ style of communication – a top down model of selectively passing along information. While a Gamma’s sense of self is guided by her internal beliefs, passions, and priorities, an Alpha is driven by external social hierarchies or other indicators of status or popularity. "

Find the whole article at - http://meredith.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=429.

Sumo Board Shelf

My most recent project:  The computer ledge in our dining room.

For awhile now, I've been looking for a space saving alternative to a desk in our dining room for our laptop.  After much research, I decided to put up a ledge using Sumo Board Shelving that I purchased at Jerry's.  It's not cheap....like$100 for everything I had to buy to put it together...but I love it!  Here's my review. 

Pros:  It's stylish, minimalistic in appearance.  You can remove the shelves whenever you want to create more space, or just because.  You get to decide at what height you're sitting.  The shelves are made of a lightweight technology so they can hold up to 88lbs of weight.  They SHOULD be easy to install.  Which leads me to the cons.

Cons:  If your wall is warped (like mine is) it makes it VERY VERY hard to install.  But I overcame, and all is well.  The only other con is that it does give when you lean on it, so you feel like you need to be careful when you have your elbows on it and go to stand up.

It's a little tricky to put two pieces together, as I did.  I bought one long piece, and one short one.  What worked the best was reversing the board placement with the metal tracking placement, so the two boards meet together as snugly as possible.  I then created a linen panel that hangs to hide any cords.  LOVE IT!

My Daughter the Evangelist

Yesterday, Emma and I were in line at Joanne Fabric's to get a piece of linen cut for a project that I'm working on.  There were several people in line, and only 1 person helping, so it was taking awhile.  Emma was talking up a storm, making all the people smile.  Then she said, "go, church?", to which I replied, "we don't have church today".  People thought it was cute.  Then she started getting bored, so I began looking through my purse to find something for her to do, but I didn't really have much.  I grabbed my bible and asked her if she wanted to read.  She yelled "Bible" at the top of her lungs.  Then said, "mommy, read?".  Now whenever she asks me to read my bible I say, "God loves you, Jesus is God, and Jesus loves you".  Of course, saying these words in public made everyone a little uncomfortable, so I noticed.  Oh well!  It's true.  As if this wasn't good enough, Emma then said, "pray!"  At this point, she usually names things or points to things she wants to pray for.  She began pointing to everyone in the line.  So, one by one, we prayed out loud for each person in the line.  It was the most amazing, wonderful feeling ever to share that with my daughter.  She made my day.

Ross Sisters Video

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNR74UCidBI&feature=related

My stepmom sent this to me today, and you won't be disappointed if you watch it through.  After they're done singing...just watch.  I'm convinced that we are getting less talented over time.  This morning I was listening to an old Mickey Mouse Club CD with my daughter and realized that the kids (young kids) are singing CRAZY hard harmonies, perfectly in tune....and that was before you could fake it with computers!