My earliest musical memories revolve around a Mason & Hamlin piano, a teacher named Wilda Reiff, and a fascination with making the piano sound. Looking back, those childhood lessons shaped not only my musical life but many of the habits that would serve me for decades to come.
Continue reading →As I considered rebuilding the Weber, a simple question emerged: was the piano worth saving? Research into its history, its original owner, and its place in American musical life led me to an unexpected answer.
Continue reading →A casual suggestion from my piano technician led to a visit with master craftsman Bernard Mollberg and the beginning of a journey I never anticipated. Looking back, this was where the Weber Piano Project truly began.
Continue reading →Winning a concerto competition seemed like a fun challenge. Instead, it led to an unexpected opportunity, a historic 1893 Weber grand piano, and the beginning of a journey that would continue for more than forty years.
Continue reading →An unexpected email from Omaha historian Jeffrey Spencer changed everything. What began as a simple inquiry about an 1893 Weber grand piano soon became a journey through music, history, craftsmanship, and the remarkable people connected to the instrument.
Continue reading →A garden weather station provides real-time local environmental data that can help manage irrigation, rainwater storage, and outdoor growing conditions. This DIY solar-powered project combines 3D printed parts, environmental sensors, and Home Assistant integration for long-term outdoor monitoring.
Continue reading →This article documents the design and construction of a solar-powered garage built to charge an electric vehicle at Roy Creek Ranch. The project adds a 6 kW solar array to an existing system, bringing total capacity to about 10.5 kW and enabling full Level-2 EV charging directly from solar energy. The post explores design constraints, construction techniques, and lessons learned building a solar garage in rural Texas.
Continue reading →This post is an overview about building the Virtual Pipe Organ Stop Tab MIDI Encoder, and continuation of “Building a Great Virtual Pipe Organ: MIDI Encoders for Pedals and Stops.” For readers interested in the technical design and firmware details … Continue reading →
With the structural modifications to the organ console complete, it was time to turn to a less visible—but absolutely critical part of the Virtual Pipe Organ project: how the physical controls would be encoded as MIDI.
Continue reading →After years of battling Hill Country soil, invasive grasses, and time constraints, we decided to completely revive our old vegetable garden using organic methods. The hard work paid off, bringing back the joy of homegrown produce and memories of my Nebraska roots.
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