Monday, December 12, 2011

Monday Morning's Bits and Pieces


I have enjoyed creating things with beads for quite a number of years already and when my sister-in-law gave this beaded baby rattle to Rosebud I knew immediately that I wanted to learn how to make them too. 

Life became busy and with moving several times I somehow can not find the instructions anywhere and my attempts to make them have not been exactly successful. So now I'm wondering if anyone knows where I could find instructions to make these? And yes, I realize they would probably not be deemed baby friendly but I would still love to make them even if it would never belong to a small child.

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This summer we spent some time in the Lancaster area and while there we ate at Yoder's in New Holland. If you ever have a chance to eat there I would highly recommend you try it out!

I really enjoyed their breakfast selection. Among it was the best french toast I have ever tasted and I have been trying to find a recipe to recreate it ever since. Do you make a stuffed french toast that you would be willing to share the recipe?

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We have often been asked about what we think of the changes we experienced when we left the Amish. While a lot of them came gradually we didn't really have a period of time where we experienced culture shock.

There is one little area though that I don't think I'll ever get used to.  Let me explain.    I have loved singing for as long as I can remember. Singing while I work, singing for hours every day, and during my teenage years I enjoyed spending two hours every other Sunday evening singing hymns with the rest of the youth. I still enjoy singing and listening to good music.

There is one kind of singing that I don't enjoy.  The first time I heard it was a number of years ago, at church. The choir was going to sing as a special treat before the regular services started. I settled in to listen and enjoy the harmony and beauty of the words and voices until near the end of the song my ears were abused with unearthly screeching and caterwauling that totally ruined the whole experience.

I have sat through many choir performances since then and it seems every time they have to finish it off by screeching. Knowing that will be coming has me tense and unable to enjoy the lovely part and I always get the urge to squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ears once that last line or two is being sung.

I'm curious if I'm the only one who wishes church choirs would omit their screeching parts?

12 comments:

  1. Yup! I totally agree. I just get irritated too when they deviate from the original music/lyrics. Help!!

    Yes, Yoder's is a wonderful place to eat ... recommend it for sure. Wish I had known you were that close ... would love to have met you, Mary Ann.

    Merry Christmas
    TTFN ~
    Marydon

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  2. Sorry, I can't help with the baby rattle pattern, but I'll ask my dd if she has seen one when I talk with her next.
    I despise high pitched screeching disguised as singing. Can't imagine why anyone thinks that's worship. Sounds like showboating gone awry.

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  3. I agree about the screeching. If somebody has a good, clear soprano voice and can reach those hign notes, go for it, but don't subject the congregation to a vain attempt, when you KNOW you can't do it.

    I'm also driven to distraction by any singer who has to "rewrite" the music to a song, especially at Christmas. Just sing it the way it was written, dagnabit.

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  4. Can't help with the rattle, sorry.

    I don't see why people need to screach in general while singing. Seems to me that most "modern" music is a load of screaching and swearing, and I'm not sure which is worse; the screaching that hurts my ears, or the swearing that is totally not necessary! For some reason people think to modernize music is to make it screachy and/or add swear words, and that doing so makes it better. Well, I say stick to the originals where you could listen without getting earache or wanting to cover your children's ears!

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  5. We are told to make a 'joyful noise' unto the Lord. I suppose some people might consider screeching a joyful noise but to me it's just plain annoying. I'm with you.

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  6. Not being much of a singer myself,as my Dad always said, I can't sing good but I can sing loud,I agree with you about that high pitched screeching noise ! Also another thing in this more modern musical styling that annoys me is when they can't seem to find the note they are trying to reach so they just keep searching ! Give it a rest !

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  7. I love to sing just like you described. I have been playing piano for churches for years, so I have WAY too much opinion to share. But I wanted to say that I believe that all the music at church is meant to talk to
    God. Worship, praise, and prayer, and if the words cannot be understood or the singers or instruments are distracting... it is not conducive to corporate services. I believe that church service is meant to be focused on God, and not to showcase the abilities of men. This is my first comment, so I wanted to say that I think that you are a wonderful writer! Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  8. I agree that screeching at the end of a song sure takes away from the beauty it could have had.

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  9. I don't recall ever having heard "screeching" at the end of a hymn. Screaming at the end of a metal song, sure, but...not on a hymn.

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  10. I've heard choirs with sopranos who were singing beyond their comfort zone :-(
    Happily, our choir director recognized the fact that many members were getting older and not able to reach those high notes. She was able to find 4 part harmony music especially written for "older" choirs ... *ahem* I'm one of the younger ones at age 59 ... Our music is beautiful to listen to and sung to the Glory of God, as all music should be!

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  11. Completely agree... hitting the high note at the end that says, "Hey, look at me!" takes away - doesn't add too.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.