Since Dizzy’s found out that learning something new is good for the brain, and especially for people with MS (it has been proven to stimulate new connections in the brain and even help the brain to generate new cells!), she has been determined to find something new for us to learn! 🙂
And Dizzy’s come up with the violin…
…this is something I have wanted to learn for a while, but I’ve never attempted it as I’m not exactly the most musical person. She also had Sid on board who bought this amazing pink one for me for our anniversary. 🙂
Dizzy’s already been having a little go herself!
Dizzy’s definitely showing more promise with this than me! She’s already on the strings and I’ve just figured out how to hold the thing! We might also do some little videos to document our progress, so that will be something for you to look forward too… (me playing the violin badly! 🙂 ).
Have you started a new hobby recently? How have you been getting on with it? 🙂 xxx
I haven’t started a new hobby but I think you learning the violin is great
Thank you! I’ve never managed to learn to play any instrument properly so will definitely be a challenge. 🙂 xxx
are you going to learn classical violin or fiddle music or both?
Both…will keep us busy for a while! 🙂 xxx
this is so awesome……….good for you!!!
Thank you Wendi! 🙂 xxx
I bought a guitar once bit didn’t get very far! So…morale to my story… have Dizzy push you! 😉
Pretty color!
Currently I started drawing… and still toying with crochet… and trying to learn Romanian. 😬😳
Lol, I have exactly the same guitar experience! I got it years ago, managed a very vague twinkle twinkle little star tune and gave it. It still sits in it’s box in my room!
Drawing is a great hobby to have. Learning a language sounds hard though! How are you getting on? xxx
Going well… Thank-you for asking and for your constant support. 🤗
Guitars must be jinxed! 😉
The violen is beautiful and I hope that you learn some beautiful songs… AND… I would be delighted to hear them too. 🤗
So great you found such a nice hobby:)
I would love to see videos on the progress, and don’t get discouraged if you encounter impediments, it’s about the journey and not the destination 😁
Ps: cute violin 🎻
I’m currently super proud of myself just for figuring out how to hold it properly! I can just about play the open strings but the sound is definitely not always the prettiest… 🙂 xxx
**Any** time is a good time to learn something new!!!!
Congrats on your new musical journey.
🙂
ps-don’t let Dizzy hog the instrument!
It’s true, it really is. 🙂
And I won’t. I’m hoping if Dizzy keeps practicing though she’ll be able to give me some tips! 🙂 xxx
Yes, it is always more fun to take lessons with a friend!
hugs to you both
😉
I’m so excited for you Heather! Your violin is gorgeous, and I know with some practice, you’ll make it sound as beautiful as it looks. Congratulations to you and Dizzy on your new adventure!
Thank you Terri. 🙂 I think it will take us a while but we will get there. Dizzy’s loving it! 🙂
Hope you are having a lovely week. 🙂 xxx
If you get discouraged like I frequently do, keep in mind that we have to learn to walk before we run, and just picking it up is a start….can’t wait to see videos!!!!
Thank you for the reminder. And that is so true. I was so proud of myself just for figuring out exactly where the violin should go! 🙂 x Hope you’re having a good week. 🙂 xxx
Good idea! I am trying to identufy every moth that appears in my moth trap!
That sounds fascinating. How are you getting on with it? Have you got a book to help? 🙂 xxx
Lots of good books and web sites to help!
Enjoy. I am attempting Python Coding and Macrame
Macramé is beautiful. I have no idea what Python Coding even is though. How are you getting on with them both? 🙂 xxx
Yay! Enjoy the journey!
Thank you. 🙂 xxx
Dizzy good idea with the violin. I love-love-love the happy color. I recently learned to knit!! And I’m playing with my paints again. Starting my BLOG still has a large learning curve but I would also like to learn a new language or learn to play the guitar. Both of those have been goals for a long time.
Dizzy your so smart, beautiful and kind to everybody. I hope to one day meet you.
We love the colour too, and it glistens in the light! 🙂 So even if I can’t play it, at least I feel happy looking at it! 🙂
Which language would you like to learn? I’ve always been pretty bad with languages, and knitting wasn’t much better! Dizzy asked if you have considered knitting a knitted donkey? 🙂
And Dizzy also says thank you for the compliments and hopes to meet you one day too. 🙂 xxx
Hi Dizzy and Heather—
First of all I’m glad your enjoying the violin. Second, if I tried to knit a Donkey it would be flat☹️. The learning curve is still large. I’ll keep it on my futures list!!!
As for learning a new language, my family wants to go to Europe so German or French are on my list currently.
What are your future goals? Was it yoga and violin? Those are both challenging and uplifting.
I sure enjoy your posts!! Keep doing what you do!!!!
Dizzy said she would love to see what you are knitting, even if it’s not donkey shaped. 🙂 What are you working on at the moment?
Do you have one that you are leaning towards? 🙂 I learnt French and Spanish at school, I really wasn’t gifted at languages but can remember a little of both.
It is yoga and violin! I do yoga at home and go to aqua yoga sessions which I love. I’m also in the early stages of starting drama groups for people with MS, so really hoping that works out. 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂 xxx
Wow—your so busy Heather!! When my life slows down I want to take YOGA or WATER YOGA. Have heard good things.
Currently I am purling a blanket. I’ll post a photo when I accomplish. Perhaps I could knit a blanket for DIZZY this winter!!!
What color is Dizzy’s favorite(s)??
Love your enthusiasm!!!
Water yoga is amazing! You should definitely give it a try if there’s somewhere near you that you can. Otherwise normal yoga is also really good. 🙂
Dizzy would love a little knitted blanket! She does get chilly in the cold weather. She loves any bright colours, as they make her feel extra happy. 🙂 We can;t wait to see your photo. xxx
I’m on it Dizzy!!!
When I get your blanket done I’ll let you know.
Heather — strictly between you and me—Is Dizzy a boy or a girl?
Dizzy is a little girl donkey. 🙂 Well maybe not so little with the amount of biscuits she eats, but she is a girl. 🙂 xxx
I wasn’t sure so I started with a happy 😊 Spring Green. Then the HOT PINK spoke to me so I started adding it in too. Glad my hunch was a admirable color for Dizzy
And about the biscuits 🍪—- That’s okay Dizzy you are as cute as you could be!!! Eat biscuits and enjoy life little girl!!!! Your beautiful inside and out!!
Awww, green is my favourite colour! And me and Dizzy both like pink. It will match our violin too! 🙂 So your hunch was definitely correct. 🙂 xxx
Oh yes—- the hot pink beautiful 🎻 !!!
I’M SO EXCITED for the colors now. Hope you’ll love it Dizzy!! Anything for you beautiful girl.😉
Dizzy will love it! 🙂 She’s so excited, and especially now she knows what the colours will be. 🙂 xxx
I one time attempted to learn how to play the piano…….. didn’t go so well. Although I do still remember how to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (my first and last song I’ve ever played XD)
Hope you have tons of fun on your new musical adventure!!
<3 Rachel
Lol! That sounds exactly the same as me with the guitar. I managed twinkle twinkle little star and that was it. Hoping to get abit further with the violin though! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful weekend Rachel. 🙂 xxx
Bravo! the violin is not an easy instrument to play but it is wonderful in the range of emotions it can express. So persist and of course Dizzy will be good at it too.
Dizzy’s already decided she will be an amazing violinist. I’m not so sure about myself though. :/ I am really enjoying learning though. We can just about play the open strings, just! 🙂 xxx
Good luck with that. I still remember the awful sounds I made as a child learning to play the violin 🎻 🌹
Lol! Probably similar to the awful sounds I’m currently making. 🙂 xxx
Yeah I recently started to crochet…not the easiest but fun. Hope you and Dizzy enjoy your new found hobby 🙂
I always think that looks really fun to do! What are you making at the moment? 🙂 xxx
I’m working on a blanket for a friend of mine. I’ll post a pic once I get done with it…hopefully it’ll turn out nice 🙂
I’m sure it will do, and I look forward to seeing a picture of it when it’s done. 🙂 xxx
Will post it as soon as I can 🙂
Wow! what a beautiful gift. I love the pink. You and Dizzy are all set to make some wonderful music. I am looking forward to hearing you play. xx
I love the pink too. 🙂 And thank you, I think it might take a while but we’re really enjoying it. Dizzy’s decided she will be an amazing violinist within a couple of weeks… 🙂 xxx
Brilliant. She is a musical genius. xxx 😍
What a beautiful colour for a violin! This is so exciting!! Will you be learning primarily from the internet? I attempted teaching myself guitar once years ago (no good, hands not big enough to do many of the chords and they cramped through trying) and also keyboard (similar issue not being able to stretch tiny paws enough, then got frustrated & it now collects dust, which seems a far more useful purpose for it). The violin, however, would have been a more logical pick for me. D’oh! Really do hope you enjoy learning this – keep us posted! 😀
Caz xx
I do love the colour. 🙂 I was going to but I have decided to have just a few lessons to get me started and then learn from the internet. Just because I was struggling with the beginning steps, such as holding it and knowing how to use the bow! 🙂 I tried teaching myself the guitar once too! Twinkle twinkle little star at the speed of a snail was about as far as I got, and mine is also collecting dust now. I can’t bring myself to part with it though.
Have you got any hobbies at the moment Caz?
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂 xxx
You managed Twinkle Twinkle on guitar? You should be proud, I don’t think I even managed that! I get the ‘can’t-bear-to-part-with-it’ problem, and there’s no harm holding onto it if it’s not getting in your way. I think a few lessons to start you off with the violin is a good idea, might help keep you motivated over the first hurdles too. You’ll do great, and it’s exciting learning something new! 🙂
No hobbies for me at the moment, unless you count reading. I feel very ‘stuck’, too exhausted to do anything or try something a little challenging/arty/expressive, yet so incredibly restless. I wanted to write, but I can’t bring myself to. I know that probably sounds silly, but it’s just one of those moments like Alice trying to run up the hill… just isn’t happening.
Anyway, enough rambling.. Thank you, you have a lovely weekend too! xx
It was a very slow twinkle twinkle little star. 🙂 And I’m awful with holding onto things. I try to have a tidy out but I can never bring myself to part with things!
The exhaustion is so hard and you can’t do anything that will make you feel worse. Reading definitely counts though. I love reading. Are you reading anything good at the moment? And blogging definitely counts as a hobby and a form of writing too. Your blog is amazing and you achieve so much with it.
Hope you have a wonderful week Caz. 🙂 xxx
This is absolutely amazing! I think learning to play the violin will be fun and maybe even relaxing! I learned the trumpet and flute in high school, but have not played in A LONG time. I want to learn to play the piano and my husband’s aunt said she will teach me! Once again, Dizzy is adorable and without a doubt deserves a ginger cookie!!!!
It is really fun! I think it will be relaxing when the sounds I’m producing with it are abit more pleasant on the ears. 🙂 That would be wonderful to learn the piano! Do you know when your lessons will begin? 🙂 And Dizzy said thank you. 🙂 xxx
I believe you will do an amazing job and the sounds will get even more beautiful!! I imagine it isn’t easy to learn!!
The piano is at the house we will be moving to. The move has been a MAJOR stressor for me, but it will happen soon hopefully!
Please send Dizzy my love!!
House moving is so stressful, even for people who don’t also have to deal with MS. Do you have a rough moving date? Sending lots of love and Dizzy sends her donkey hugs. 🙂 xxx
I think the move situation has caused me more stress than I have even realized! My husband has been dealing with depression (not officially diagnosed, but I am smart enough to know) and he has NOT worked since October! I am doing my best but honestly I can’t handle full-time work. I refuse to move until I have a job because I NEED insurance and the way things are going in the US I worry that something bad will happen and I will lose insurance. Things here are pretty terrible and I blame Trump for anything and everything. I get so angry with him I will even blame the rain on him, yeah I take it a little far!
Please tell Dizzy I said thank you so much for her donkey hugs! Y’all are amazing!!
I hope you and Dizzy had a nice weekend and feeling well!
I’m so sorry it’s such a stressful time at the moment, and you’re being very wise making sure you have work before moving. Full time work is a lot, a lot more than I could manage. Are you looking for a part time job to move too?
Hope the start of your week has been ok. Sending hugs. 🙂 xxx
Thank you so much! I have to continue believing things will get better in time! Full-time work is WAY too much for me to handle at this time in my life. My pain levels get incredibly high after 5 or 6 hours, so I just can’t handle it! I am a pretty strong woman and do not cry about pain, so when I say I am in too much pain, it is close to a 10 on the pain scale. I would prefer part-time work or if I could find a work from home job! My husband hasn’t worked since October, so it is almost forcing me into full-time. I really am determined to find a work from home job!!!
Thank you so much and I hope your week started off great! Sending you lots of hugs, I am sorry I do not have donkey hugs though LOL!!!
There are lots of jobs you can do from home. 🙂 It can take abit of searching around but they are out there. Most of my work is now from home, and it does make life a lot easier. 🙂
I hope you’re had a good start to your week, and Dizzy sends double donkey hugs! 🙂 xxx
Thank you Heather! I am searching for a work from home job and I am determined to find one! I am a stubborn and very determined person, so I will not give up!!
My week has been a little busy, but it is okay. Please thank Dizzy for her donkey hugs and I said she definitely deserves some ginger cookies for her kindness!!!
This is awesome. It’s a difficult instrument to learn and play. You can do it, and I think you’ll do well.
Thank you! I think it may be slow progress, but we’ll get there. 🙂 Dizzy’s already convinced that she’s very good! 🙂 xxx
Wow! That is a great hobby. I always admire people who know how to play the violin. I can’t wait for you to share your videos especially with dizzy. Have fun!
P.S. Your violin is so beautiful. I think it’s my first time to see a pink one.
Lol, I’m not sure people will be saying that when they hear our first videos. The sounds aren’t great! Dizzy’s convinced she’s an amazing violinist already though. 🙂
I had never seen a pink one either, but they come in all colours! I even found one with an owl on it! 🙂 xxx
Oh. I’m sure you’ll learn. 😉 I have seen my eldest in his violin lessons so I know. And I’m sure dizzy will help you catch up.
Wow! Nice! I would like to see that owl. It’s one of my favorite birds.
I love owls too. 🙂 It’s here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mystic-Black-Glitter-Violin-Outfit/dp/B07D7RPSJ7/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532899307&sr=8-3&keywords=violin+owl+black but not yet available in the UK and abit more pricey! If I’m still playing in a couple of years I might treat myself though. 🙂 I can’t resist anything with animals on. xxx
That great to hear! I checked out the violin. Oh boy! It’s really pricey but it’s beautiful! I hope you will be a pro. 😉
It is pricey, but I love it. I even considered painting an owl on mine, but did realise that probably wasn’t the wisest idea! I doubt it would have ended up looking quite the same… 🙂 xxx
Good development! I started a Maths blog. Thanks for sharing.
That’s amazing! What’s it called? I’ll have a look. 🙂 xxx
mathematics111.wordpress.com
Thank you. 🙂 xx
You’re joyfully welcome the wise and gifted!
I tried learning it when I bought a used violin from a friend in college. Watch out for painful neck cramps from getting the instrument in proper position. Tried rigging up padding but never succeeded.
Took piano lessons when I was little. Was fairly good at playing my uncle’s bugle from when he was in the military. My mom gave me her clarinet to play first. Then took up the xylophone due to loss of finger control. Resumed clarinet but bass clarinet this time. Played saxophone, tried trombone (my arms were too short for the school’s instrument), never tried the flute.
Playing a musical instrument is a great past time that I miss dearly. Do not have the hand control or breath control necessary any more. You will be forced to learn patience if nothing else! Hope you have neighbor’s who are deaf or you might end up angering them 😉
I was getting that but then found a neck rest for £5 on amazon, and it’s amazing! Also helps me to stop the violin slipping down. 🙂
It’s lovely to hear how many instruments you have had experience with. Which one was your favourite?
I think patience will be a big one! But I am forcing myself to learn slowly, just one thing at a time. 🙂 It’s something I’ve never done (except a feeble attempt at the guitar) so I am enjoying the challenge. xxx
This is the greatest news I’ve heard today. I would love to hear your progress. I love listening to the classical violin. I’ve learned a little bit of piano and a little bit of recorder, I’m a singer.
I haven’t had any new hobby because I spread myself too thin with the hobbies I have now, gardening, photography, watercolor painting, drawing and a couple minor things.
We will be posting little videos of our progress, but I’m not sure anyone will want to hear the first couple. I also thought it might be good motivation for us, so we can see that we are (hopefully!) improving. 🙂
Singing must be wonderful! I’ve always enjoyed it, but I’m not very good at it. And I agree, you have lots of wonderful hobbies already! 🙂 xxx
Looking forward to hear your progress. 🙂