Catherine Doss

08/24/2026

🔥 Good luck to all the families going back to school this week! 💪

Back to School Week is always a little bittersweet for me. We had our first day last week. 🥹

08/22/2026

“Bloom where you’re planted” — you’ve probably heard the saying. You may not know that the dandelion is the emblem of the military child. Wow, a w**d. Yay. But also — a w**d with medicinal properties, and a flower my own children have all loved picking and presenting to me with giant grins. 💛

Every other Friday or so, I do something fun with my kiddos — phone away, movie on, whatever we’re into. The next Friday, I do something fun for myself. Walks outside, a concert.

I live in a strange forested pocket of Northern Virginia — farmland on one side, sprawl on the other. We moved here during the 2021 housing crunch, sight unseen — we had no idea the house was on a gravel road until we showed up. I like the peace and tranquility here — but I miss the energy and proximity of the city. It’s not exactly easy to find a place that fits three pianos and an organ, though.

Five years in, from a military base where all landscaping and repairs were taken care of to managing 1.5 acres and a home myself, I’ve been learning that I can’t do it all myself — and I’d be wise not to try. There’s something beautiful that happens when you let people help you by doing what they do best. And I’m accepting that my yard is never going to look like a Southern Living spread — and that’s okay.

08/15/2026

I keep coming across people who, somehow, keep creating in the middle of extraordinarily difficult circumstances. 💖

Suleika Jaouad — Emmy-winning journalist, NYT bestselling author, artist — won her Emmy for Life, Interrupted, her video series on facing cancer as a young adult.

She and Jon Batiste met as teens at band camp. They married in Feb 2022, the day before her bone marrow transplant.

Her book arrived yesterday. I was sad to learn she’s now in treatment for a third leukemia recurrence, and that Batiste has canceled shows to be with her.

Not waiting for life to get easy, and still doing the thing that brings you joy. Maybe that’s part of what gives someone the tenacity to pull through.

08/13/2026

2 down, 1 to go! 💪

They didn’t match my shoes with the bandage this time. 😂

Three hours in the infusion chair:

* attended an online workshop
* became completely famished
* ordered DoorDash for the first time in maybe four years

Hands down the best Thai basil fried rice and lemonade ever. ✨

One more to go!

08/13/2026

Trying to figure out Jackie Evans’ “Leave You” after movie night w the kiddos.

We watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was actually pretty funny—and slightly random because they’ve never even played the Nintendo game. 😂

I can usually count on not having much energy left by the time the kids are in bed. Played through what I’d written yesterday, and that’s all I’ve got tonight. 😜

Time for bed.

BUT I LOVE THIS SONG.

To be continued. 🎹

08/11/2026

✨Works in Progress — August 29✨

This is a wonderful time of year to build (or continue!) momentum around whatever you’re working on. Come join us and share your works in progress! ☺️

As always, you’re welcome to share something you’re working on—music, writing, poetry, or another creative project—or simply come to listen and support others. Nothing needs to be finished or polished. That’s the whole point!

RSVP to me here or via email at [email protected]

I’ll no longer be announcing these gatherings through Meetup—the organizer fee is now almost $200! So we’re taking things off the platform and keeping it simple.

🖤🎶🖼️🎭

08/11/2026

Works in Progress — August 29

This is a wonderful time of year to build (or continue!) momentum around whatever you're working on. Come join us and share your works in progress! ☺️

As always, you’re welcome to share something you’re working on—music, writing, poetry, or another creative project—or simply come to listen and support others. Nothing needs to be finished or polished. That’s the whole point!

RSVP to me here or via email at [email protected].

I’ll no longer be announcing these gatherings through Meetup—the organizer fee is now almost $200! So we’re taking things off the platform and keeping it simple. 😊

Hello everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has attended our meetups and shared your work, listened, encouraged someone else, or simply showed up. **We will still b

07/26/2026

A little excerpt from today’s studio recital in Manassas. Looking forward to sharing this program again tomorrow at Groupmuse in Bethesda! 🎹🎶

04/24/2026

Such a joyous gathering earlier this month!

Connecting with friends from across the country ✅

two piano music ✅

yummy food ✅

Hearing what everyone is working on ✅✅✅

what could be better? Thanks for giving us a reason to get together, and playing the Mozart w

04/08/2026

🎶👖🌳Casual Classical: next Saturday

Join us for an intimate evening of chamber music for clarinet, cello, and piano—right here in your neighborhood. No commute to DC required.

Brahms & Beethoven

Doors open 5:00
Music at 5:30

Catherine Grimball, piano
Nathan Raderman, clarinet
Tiago Silva, cello

W**e and light snacks will be available

Suggested donation $15 (if you’re able)

Please RSVP to attend