Encourage creativity in your child with music

When you notice your baby cooing vocal slides, imitate them. When your toddler or preschooler sings a song or a rhythm, reply in the same musical way. Any tune will do. Make instruments from things you find in the kitchen (I bet you already have). There are some great ideas for homemade instruments on www.familyfun.com
Provide simple instruments of good quality sound such as jingle bells, shakers, and rhythm sticks. You can keep these in your car and take them out one at a time when you and your child are listening to a CD. Explore just one instrument at a time. Explain that these are not toys, and they need to be treated with respect. (Thanks to Jan Boner and ECMMA www.ecmma.org for the above ideas from "Perspectives," Winter 2007)

Blueberry Cheese Pie

The best!
Crumb crust
1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
2 TBPS sugar
pinch salt
1/2 (1 stick) melted butter, unsalted

Combine crumbs, sugar and salt in bowl and toss together with fork. Add butter and stir well til blended. With your fingers, press and pat the mixt. over the bottom and sides of a 9 in. pie pan. Bakd crist in a preheated 325 (165 C) oven for 8 min., then cool before filling.

Cheese custard filling
8 oz cream cheese, at room temp.
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract, the real thing
2 egss

For the berries:
2 cups blueberries, washed
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch mixed with 2 TBSP water (do this almost last)

Preheat oven to 325.
Make the cheese filling: In bowl, combine the cheese, sugar, and vanilla and beat well til mixed and smooth. Beat 2 eggs in small bowl and then stir gently into cheese mixture - use a whisk to blend together. Pour this into cooled, baked shell and bake until just set, 25 to 30 min. Remove from oven and let it cool.
While custard is cooking, combine berries, water and sugar in saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 4 or 5 min., stirring once. Remove from heat and add the cornstarch and water mixture. Bring back to boil and cook for about 1 min., if necessary (mine does not need this part for some reason). Remove from heat and let cool til tepid. Spoon the berries over the custard. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Makes one 9 inch single crust pie.

Your child can sing

All children are innate singers! In fact, the cooing of a child is very light, high, and musical. By keeping the child in a singing-rich environment your child will retain his/her singing voice and gain control of it in an ever-expanding range. And singing songs, playing instruments, dancing, and rocking with you elevates these experiences so they live on in the mind of the child forever.

Add a blog to your rss reader so you know about updates

You can add my blog to your rss feed reader on your favorite website. I just added mine to My Yahoo reader http://my.yahoo.com/p/2.html

Musikgarten music classes for children and parents

Musikgarten is an international early childhood music program for babies,

toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and their caregivers. Founder Lorna

Heyge pioneered this research-based, developmentally-appropriate early

childhood music curriculum that includes adult involvement.

All children can learn to sing on pitch and keep a beat. By providing real

music experiences in addition to teaching concepts about music, Musikgarten

immerses children in the joy of making music.

Musikgarten's programs awaken and develop your child's inborn joy and talent

for making music. Early childhood is the optimal time to start this musical

journey. Starting with the first course at 6 months and continuing through

Music Makers at the Keyboard at age 6 years, your child steps across that

important bridge from general music learning to instrumental skills. Share

the lifetime gift of music with your child.

Hotwire failed me

Until now, I have had a good experience using hotwire to book a great hotel room. I found out the hard way that if you choose a 2 1/2 star "hotel" you can end up in an awful "motel." This happened to me last week when I wanted to stay in Tifton, GA overnight on my way to Ellijay. I ended up in a Holiday Inn motel, which was pretty awful, scary, and with a creature crawling up the wall the moment I stepped into the room. Earlier in the day, I had called both hotwire and the Holiday Inn trying to change, to upgrade, to cancel, whatever, but once you book it, you are stuck, unless there's a funeral in the family, or a written doctor's rx. No exceptions, I don't think. Of course I survived the night, but it was mostly sleepless since anyone could have broken into my room. Therefore, with hotwire, I'll stick to 3 1/2 stars and up in the future. That just might insure a Hotel. Comments welcome, I'm all ears. - Susan

My blog on Yahoo News Reader

I just added my blog url to My Yahoo News Reader. You can too, and you will receive an alert whenever a new blog is published. http://susansmusik.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

How to improve your singing voice

Are you afraid to sing? Try apple cider vinegar and honey and warm water in the morning - it will improve your vocal chords, truly! 2 TBSP vinegar, 2 TBSP honey, and 1/2 cup of warm water - tastes good and works like a charm! - Susan www.singingsusan.com

How to start a blog

Do you want to start a blog, but you are not sure where to begin? And do you want to be able to monetize your blog? Go to iTunes and search Tom Antion. Download his one hour audio guide for $4.95. He is fantastic. I'm sure his website is filled with free hints and tips, along with some ads, of course. Here is his webpage from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tom-Antion/e/B001HD33V2/ref=ep_sprkl_at_B001HD33V2?pf_rd_p=479564851&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=Tom%20Antion&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=05KNJDA157QVG5697RNF

Keep your children happy in the car with music

Going on a road trip this summer with your children? Don't forget to take your favorite music with you. Before you starti hearing "Are we there yet?" just put in your cd or i-pod and play some broadway tunes, your Musikgarten CD, or whatever music you and your family enjoy together. If you are singing along with the CD, you will soon discover that your children will sing along too. Find a song that you ALL like, then turn off the CD and see if everyone can sing the song without the CD help. Have a contest to see who can sing all the words from memory! With music, you'll arrive at your destination happy, with a lot fewer sibling arguments.

Paris Creperie to go far for

A fabulous find of a restaurant in Paris, thanks to our budget tourbook - the Breizh Creperie - in the 3eme arrondissement, in the neighborhood called Le Marais - every dish was exquisite and very reasonable - finally, something that didn't hurt our wallets too much, and every bite was delicieux. Once I find the metro stop and address, I'll let you know.

Want a Better Marriage?

Does it feel like your marriage is on the rocks? Check out this website - Chris Siggins has it together - http://www.rockmyfamily.com/

Pack your suitcase easily

Use a packing list and check off your items as you pack.
I've been using one for years and it's cut my packing time in half, maybe more. With this method, I can even pack over several days when I find 15 min. here, 10 min. there.
There are so many websites with packing lists - I have created one that works for me over the past 15 years. Here is one website: http://www.independenttraveler.com/packing/

Recipe for Duck Breasts from Williams Sonoma

I had such fabulous duck in Paris and in Chartres - now I want to learn how to prepare this myself...check out this duck recipe from Williams Sonoma http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/recipedetail.cfm?objectid=6CDF2E07-48ED-47FA-B5AF14BA3CC57AD1

Cheap Plane Tickets

99 percent of the time, I find the best airline fares at www.sidestep.com especially after I have refined the search

Can Loud Music Hurt Your Ears?

Find out if loud music can hurt your ears
http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/rock_music.html