I was interviewed on a blog about healing through the arts. Here it is, along with demos of a few of my songs…

I’ve never successfully uploaded a video here before. Here’s another try.

I wrote it. I hope that…

1. you can see and hear it
2. you like it!

seein-you-again-movie2

Follow up- and it would appear that you have to click the link, then click the movie looking icon thing, then you can see it. Let me know if it works for you, or if you know how to post videos more gracefully. Thanks!

I couldn’t sleep the night before last because song lyrics kept running through my head and I got up to write. So yesterday I was super tired, but I also worked on recording the new song. Until someone decided that it looked like so much fun, that THEY should take over

and that pretty much wrapped it up for me.

My mom knows a guy whose daughter is getting ready to record a CD in Nashville. My stuff is hardly country, but we sent him 4 of my songs. He said she’d listen to them. Kind of cool.

So my gorgeous, warm new hat is done. And wet.

I hate blocking. So much so that I don’t always do it, but I could tell that this hat would look better if I did.

So I wait.

It is both flattering and really annoying that now the girls all want a slouchy hat like mine. How many times have I made fingerless mitts, or legwarmers, or hats only to hear “I want one! I want one!” So I make some. And they wear them once. And then I find them on the floor, under the couch, etc. for the rest of forever.

But I will probably make Abby a hat. Veronica isn’t too interested, and Liv made herself one awhile ago, that I don’t seem to have a picture of. It’s really cute.

Here’s something that few will find interesting besides myself… But I LOVE it!!!

This is my pedalboard case. For those of you who are confused, a pedalboard is a board with pedals on it that you plug an electric guitar into. Pedals change the sound of the guitar. You turn the different pedals on and off, depending on what sound you’re going for.

This is the board that sits oh-so-happily inside the above pictured case-

Anyway, (and I can’t remember if I’ve told you all this already), when my pedal board sits out, it collects undesirable things like cheerios and goldfish crackers. It also gets stood on and messed with by my little boys. So quite awhile ago, I bought a set of sturdy, Samsonite suitcases real cheap on Craigslist intending to use the biggest one for my board. More recently, I made pillows to cushion the board in it’s case, and now, I’m decorating the outside of it with stickers.

My brother has the smaller of the two cases for his board, and at his initiating, we’re kind of competing to see who’s case will be cooler.

Can you tell that I love, love, love The Living End? If you have the time and want to see some AWESOME… here are three videos. Enjoy.

First of all, here’s Liv as a brunette. Or redhead. Or whatever.

We had a wonderful time at the bluegrass thing. I’m so impressed by Liv’s orchestra teacher. She teaches at 2 junior high schools, so both schools came. She was the only one in charge. It was just her and assorted parent chaperones. We spent Thursday night in instrument specific classes, where the kids learned how to play the instrument of their choosing. I was able to help out in the guitar class. Then late that night, a number of instructors, chaperones and students played together, mostly improvising. Bluegrass style. Totally fun.

The next day, we divided into 6 groups or “bands,” mixing the instruments up, and each band worked on a song. We played all day, in about 1 hour increments, breaking for meals and a block of 2 hour free time in the afternoon. Then more band practice. Then sound check. Friday night, the parents arrived and the instructors (a mom, dad, 3 sons and one friend) did a show. Then each band performed their song. Ours was “shortenin’ bread”). The instructor family did a finale of “Johnny B Good” bluegrass style, and it was rockin’.

So. much. fun.

However, the food completely sucked. I can’t even articulate how bad it was. If I go again, I’m taking a cooler and feeding myself. Well, myself and Liv. She hated it, too.

This was our band.

I’m in a pink hat, in the back, on the left. Liv is to the right of the banjo, under the horizontal cello, wearing red. Our instructor is in black, holding the yellow stand up bass.

Here are some more photos. Our practices were all indoors, but we played outside while waiting for our turn to sound check on stage. And it was freezing.

That’s pretty much all I got in the way of pictures. It was a busy 28 hours.

The local fire station was hosting a pancake breakfast and tour Saturday morning, so we all had fun with that.

Can you tell which of my kids really likes to have her picture taken, and which totally doesn’t?

In other news, I need a black/gray based hat. I don’t have one, and I have acquired some shirts and a scarf over the past year that really don’t go with brown. So I might have some spinning and knitting in my near future. It got real cold, real fast, and I need more woolies to keep me warm.

The weather couldn’t have been better. If it had got any warmer, I would have been uncomfortable, because I was prepared for the worst. As it turned out, Clark shed his coat and hat. I took off my coat, but still had on the snowboots, alpaca legwarmers, wool fingerless mitts, scarf, and hat. Happily, we didn’t need rain gear, but it looked threatening a few times.

All in all, a lovely day.

I’m really excited because this afternoon, Nate’s taking over the household duties and I’m chaperoning Liv and her orchestra at a Bluegrass/Roots music retreat. It’s 28 hours of intensive instrument lessons and jam sessions culminating in a live performance Friday evening. The students get to pick either their orchestra instrument, banjo, mandolin, stand up bass, or guitar. Liv is going to learn the stand up bass. The parents are encouraged to play instruments along side the kids, so I get to take my guitar.

It sounds like so. much. fun.

I’m taking all the seats out of the back of my Expedition in a few hours so I can swing by the school and pick up a truckload of basses and cellos. Then Liv and I are off to the party!

🙂

Max was quite charming and adorable today. Hooray! It’s always nice to enjoy someone on their birthday.

Max totally understood the “blowing out the candles” thing. I, however, didn’t fare so well. I only put one candle on it the first time. Max blew it out. Nate asked if there shouldn’t have been two candles on the Zinger, and Clark and Veronica yelled at the poor birthday boy to stop reaching for his cake while I went and set-up the “do over.” Which totally confused the little guy and actually means he blew out a total of three candles…. that’s not a problem, is it?

He handled the mishap quite gracefully and with some light reassurance that it was now ok, ate his cake.

In other news, today was my first day in Clark’s Kindergarten class heading up music time. Yup, I get to take my guitar into class once a week and lead the kids in some fun songs. We kept it short and simple today, but I have grand plans…

Anyone know where I can get props like frog and monkey masks really cheap?

The girls and friends are cutting up old clothing made from knit fabric to make headbands, fingerless gloves, tote bags and such. They’re having fun. Nate’s in Canada ’til tomorrow afternoon giving a marketing presentation to some lawyers. I’m cleaning things.

I’m not sure where the boys are at the moment. They’re playing with cousins. I should go find them. They’re being awful quiet.

I played and sang in a band assembled for a one time performance in the park at the Pioneer Day celebration on Saturday. It was really fun. My first live performance. I had to practice in front of a microphone because it’s not that easy. It takes some freaky coordination to play, sing, and keep an appropriate/consistent distance from the mic.

But I had so much fun!

(I’m the one with the guitar. Ok, the one standing up with the guitar. The other one is a bass)

We were playing old folk songs a la Home on the Range and Clementine. We also snuck in a few others like Horse With No Name and Tinman from America.

Having my first taste of performing live music, I want to do it again, so I’ve put together a setlist of my own songs that I’m practicing in front of a mic at home. My own songs are a lot harder to play than two chord folk songs like Skip To My Lou, etc. but I’m doing it.

Here are a few pics…

Clark before his haircut (I was overruled. I love his beautiful curls).

Brothers playing cars on the porch. So cute.

Liv and her cute little friend, Dylan at our watermelon carving party on the 4th of July. (They snuck inside the church with cousins for some recreational music).

I actually have more pictures of the 4th.

stop the press! A picture of Abby that isn’t the back of her head running away from the camera!

Liv and Dylan again.

watermelonhead

coolest watermelon of the day (not ours. This is Tim’s creation)

Later that night, Nate lighting his watermelon

Clark’s first year enjoying the fireworks instead of hiding in the house, covering his ears

Max and I, watching fireworks

I think that’s it. Wow, posting takes a long time!

I finally got pictures of Max! He made it extremely difficult, ’cause he wouldn’t sit still for nothing, but out of nearly 60 pictures, I got a few. (Digital photography is the best).

So here’s the baby, 16 months old now…

Those elbow dimples make me weak in the knees.

Clark has preschool today, but the girls are home as it’s the end of semester and the teachers are grading.

Nate and I watched It Might Get Loud last night, which is a Rockumentary (love that word) on Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. It was so cool. And as I’m listening to these guitar legends talk about songwriting, I could totally relate to some things they were saying. It was a bit surreal.