The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Friday, July 19, 2019
Community News: July 19, 2019
Check out the awesome things people are doing.
If you live within the Herald-News' coverage area (most of Will and Grundy counties in Illinois), and you'd like to share your organization's news or upcoming events, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.
Morris teen wins composition competition
By Brandon Grossi
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/18/morris-teen-wins-composition-competition/a88j0z1/
Joliet students enjoy a field trip at the ballpark
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/joliet-students-enjoy-a-field-trip-at-the-ballpark/auxq910/
Paint Night at Troy Cronin involves parents, students
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/paint-night-at-troy-cronin-involves-parents-students/aekeyno/
FEEG Group sponsored its 5th annual gala to help Will County seniors and youth
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/feeg-group-sponsored-its-5th-annual-gala-to-help-will-county-seniors-and-youth/aw66sil/
News updates from the Forest Preserve District of Will County
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/18/news-updates-from-the-forest-preserve-district-of-will-county/a4067p5/
NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for the Will County Go Guide
http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/will-county-go-guide/#//
Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story Newsletter
http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/locallit/
Sign up for The Munsonville Times
If you live within the Herald-News' coverage area (most of Will and Grundy counties in Illinois), and you'd like to share your organization's news or upcoming events, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.
Morris teen wins composition competition
By Brandon Grossi
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/18/morris-teen-wins-composition-competition/a88j0z1/
Joliet students enjoy a field trip at the ballpark
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/joliet-students-enjoy-a-field-trip-at-the-ballpark/auxq910/
Paint Night at Troy Cronin involves parents, students
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/paint-night-at-troy-cronin-involves-parents-students/aekeyno/
FEEG Group sponsored its 5th annual gala to help Will County seniors and youth
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/17/feeg-group-sponsored-its-5th-annual-gala-to-help-will-county-seniors-and-youth/aw66sil/
News updates from the Forest Preserve District of Will County
https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/18/news-updates-from-the-forest-preserve-district-of-will-county/a4067p5/
NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for the Will County Go Guide
http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/will-county-go-guide/#//
Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story Newsletter
http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/locallit/
Sign up for The Munsonville Times
https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times
Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow
him at artworkbytopher.com.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Birthday Presents
Our family creatively approaches gifts.
We don't, generally, have wish lists or buy "wish" items. Instead, we keep interests and the element of surprise in mind and then give from the heart.
That said, here are some of the lovely birthday presents I received these last couple days.
A fish and water scene (left) and a mermaid (right) that my granddaughter Jessica made in Vacation Bible School. Note the heart shape in the fish scene near the bottom left. I love all the blues!
We don't each much red meat in our family, but I do like a nice steak a couple times a year. Timothy, who did all the grilling on Sunday, came home with a great one when he went to the store with Joshua. Both boys were pleased with their purchase. And since Timothy is a chef, he had to show me the raw beef and point out all its wonderful attributes that made it a great steak.
And, yes, because I'm a mom, I shared a few pieces with Christopher and Joshua, who both love steak and whose budgets haven't allowed for steak in years.
Jasmine and Rebekah made this BryonySeries cake, which I shared at The Herald-News yesterday. Yes, it was too much cake for me to finish, but Jasmine's goal is to own her own bakery, so any chance I can show off her efforts, I do.
Two employees did ask for her information, so I sent them the link to her Facebook page. Here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/sugarnspiceandeverything/
Jasmine and Rebekah also made me this cat blanket. Yes, I own cats (rather, they own us), but white cats are also a BryonySeries trope. The blanket is purrfectly soft and fits nicely on my bed.
This lovely purple rose preserved in glass came from Cindy and her son Justin.
Rebekah wanted to take me to a paint night at the Book and Bean Cafe last night to paint mermaids, but it wasn't in her budget. So she assembled this kit so we can have our own painting time.
These three grandchildren on the floor (from left: Riley, Jessica, and Ezekiel), called me at work to sing "Happy Birthday" along with Joshua and Amber (standing in the background, right).
The handsome young man on the stairs is another grandson, Micah.
And then Riley wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" to me, while I sang it to her, alternating the verses. The best part was when we got to "Happy Birthday, dear Riley," and then she sang in a sweet little voice, "Happy Birthday, Grandma Baran," and then we sang the last line together.
When I arrived home from work, this card from my sister, featuring a picture of me and Faith, was waiting for me.
Have a beautiful day, readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. ;)
We don't, generally, have wish lists or buy "wish" items. Instead, we keep interests and the element of surprise in mind and then give from the heart.
That said, here are some of the lovely birthday presents I received these last couple days.
A fish and water scene (left) and a mermaid (right) that my granddaughter Jessica made in Vacation Bible School. Note the heart shape in the fish scene near the bottom left. I love all the blues!
We don't each much red meat in our family, but I do like a nice steak a couple times a year. Timothy, who did all the grilling on Sunday, came home with a great one when he went to the store with Joshua. Both boys were pleased with their purchase. And since Timothy is a chef, he had to show me the raw beef and point out all its wonderful attributes that made it a great steak.
And, yes, because I'm a mom, I shared a few pieces with Christopher and Joshua, who both love steak and whose budgets haven't allowed for steak in years.
Jasmine and Rebekah made this BryonySeries cake, which I shared at The Herald-News yesterday. Yes, it was too much cake for me to finish, but Jasmine's goal is to own her own bakery, so any chance I can show off her efforts, I do.
Two employees did ask for her information, so I sent them the link to her Facebook page. Here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/sugarnspiceandeverything/
Jasmine and Rebekah also made me this cat blanket. Yes, I own cats (rather, they own us), but white cats are also a BryonySeries trope. The blanket is purrfectly soft and fits nicely on my bed.
This lovely purple rose preserved in glass came from Cindy and her son Justin.
Rebekah wanted to take me to a paint night at the Book and Bean Cafe last night to paint mermaids, but it wasn't in her budget. So she assembled this kit so we can have our own painting time.
These three grandchildren on the floor (from left: Riley, Jessica, and Ezekiel), called me at work to sing "Happy Birthday" along with Joshua and Amber (standing in the background, right).
The handsome young man on the stairs is another grandson, Micah.
And then Riley wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" to me, while I sang it to her, alternating the verses. The best part was when we got to "Happy Birthday, dear Riley," and then she sang in a sweet little voice, "Happy Birthday, Grandma Baran," and then we sang the last line together.
When I arrived home from work, this card from my sister, featuring a picture of me and Faith, was waiting for me.
Have a beautiful day, readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. ;)
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Naming a Baby is Easier Than Naming a Song
Monday, January 17, 2011
Naming a Baby is Easier than Naming a Song
Not that I took naming any of my children lightly.
Each time, I put much thought and prayer about the perfect name for this particular child. I said it aloud. I printed it on block paper. I wrote it in cursive with sidewalk chalk on the front porch. The name had to fit my children’s looks, personalities, and even destinies. I wanted them to like their name, to be proud of it. They would wear those names for the rest of their lives.
On Saturday, James Onohan (http://www.jamesonohan.com/), who composes and plays original piano music, sent me two, newly recorded songs for my review. He’s creating a ten-song Bryony CD and has already written its theme song (It’s beautiful). The songs (I love them!!!) were accompanied by a request to collaborate with him in their naming.
So, early Sunday morning, in the morning’s wee hours, while I rolled and delivered Sunday newspapers, I played and replayed those two songs and jotted down notes as I listened to them. What was James trying to communicate? What might he have felt as he wrote and played them? What was I feeling? What Byrony images did the music conjure up for me?
Later that day, I emailed my impressions to James, and he sent me his ideas. He’s pleased with the exchange because he really wants his music to reflect my book. We haven’t named the songs yet, but we’re closer to it today than yesterday. My seventeen-year-old daughter shook her head at me during the umpteenth listen and said, "Well, whatever you're into.'"
Oh, I am so into this!
So, why is this harder than naming my children? With my children, I had certain first and middle names assembled that I already liked and a goal for bestowing them. Heck, I even had a formula: one Old Testament name, one New Testament or saint name, and a combined meaning of the two.
I think it’s trickier to simultaneously and accurately sum up James intention behind a song while correlating it to Bryony, but I’m finding it no less sublime than naming a child. As my publicist would say, ‘We’re making history,” so the titles have to be right.
James’ songs are going to wear those names for a very, long time.
Each time, I put much thought and prayer about the perfect name for this particular child. I said it aloud. I printed it on block paper. I wrote it in cursive with sidewalk chalk on the front porch. The name had to fit my children’s looks, personalities, and even destinies. I wanted them to like their name, to be proud of it. They would wear those names for the rest of their lives.
On Saturday, James Onohan (http://www.jamesonohan.com/), who composes and plays original piano music, sent me two, newly recorded songs for my review. He’s creating a ten-song Bryony CD and has already written its theme song (It’s beautiful). The songs (I love them!!!) were accompanied by a request to collaborate with him in their naming.
So, early Sunday morning, in the morning’s wee hours, while I rolled and delivered Sunday newspapers, I played and replayed those two songs and jotted down notes as I listened to them. What was James trying to communicate? What might he have felt as he wrote and played them? What was I feeling? What Byrony images did the music conjure up for me?
Later that day, I emailed my impressions to James, and he sent me his ideas. He’s pleased with the exchange because he really wants his music to reflect my book. We haven’t named the songs yet, but we’re closer to it today than yesterday. My seventeen-year-old daughter shook her head at me during the umpteenth listen and said, "Well, whatever you're into.'"
Oh, I am so into this!
So, why is this harder than naming my children? With my children, I had certain first and middle names assembled that I already liked and a goal for bestowing them. Heck, I even had a formula: one Old Testament name, one New Testament or saint name, and a combined meaning of the two.
I think it’s trickier to simultaneously and accurately sum up James intention behind a song while correlating it to Bryony, but I’m finding it no less sublime than naming a child. As my publicist would say, ‘We’re making history,” so the titles have to be right.
James’ songs are going to wear those names for a very, long time.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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