The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (Featuring Ronnie James Dio)

Never too late -- Michael Franti and Spearhead (SPREAD LOVE)

The Garden Song

 

 

Garden Song

Written by: Karisha Longaker, MaMuse

On this bright and healthy morning
I wanna sing my song
Let it be sung
And as I let it fly out into the world
Let it be known
I hear the music in all things today
The dance is on

I lay down on the ground
In the garden,
let the earth
Crawl up into my clothes
Stared up at the sky and we fell together
We really are so close
He whispers hello, hello, hello
And the dance is on

All the world is conspiring for me
The dance, the dance
Everything everywhere nourishes my growth
The dance is on
Let it be known
I can hear the music in all things
Today it's on
This one's for me

The bees are buzzing for me
The dance, the dance
Even the distant train is calling my name
The breeze is orchestrating
a complicated ballet
Between the leaves
The dance is on
This one's for me

All the world is conspiring for me
The dance, the dance
Everything everywhere nourishes my growth
The dance is on
Let it be known
I can hear the music in all things
Today it's on
This one's for me

The spiders are making rainbows
Between collard greens and the sun
There's a hummingbird calling
Up in his tree
I can hear his wings from way over hear
They beat for me
This one's for me

Hey - I Love You

A Christmas Present

One of my ultimate favorite holiday songs!

Heart Beat of Mother Earth ~ (With A Beautiful Native American Chant)

Kaylee's First Mosh Pit or Is It Her First Show ?

Had a great weekend with Kaylee as usual.  I embrace being a grandma! We made Chocolate Maple Ginger Bliss Cookies and enjoyed some Chai Rice Pudding with the peaches we canned together this last summer. We made some Creamy Broccoli Soup and some Vegan Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream. We colored and made some greeting cards.  Just about the best part was dancing to the March Fourth Marching Band.  They stopped in Portland for a couple shows on their current tour.  They have an all ages matinee so their small fans can shake their stuff.  A band who engages the audience in the show, the kid's love it as much as the children over 21. We are big March Fourth fans, but enjoy the shows most when the fans are under four feet tall.  You can see that the band enjoys it too.

Kaylee's been to see the Marching band before, the first time she was two. The stilt walkers picked her up and she's not forgotten it. She got to put on her fairy wings, dance, and become part of the show.  The band members reminded the fans that it can be dangerous in the mosh pit and to be careful of each other.




I took her to Sea World in 2009 and she draws pictures of killer whales and includes herself as a trainer in the pictures. I am anxious to see some drawings of her future dreams now.

I'm a Gardener Today

Get to have a day of my own today. Starting the day a little slower than usual, sipping my coffee and listening to music. Enjoying a little extra time with my sweetie in the morning. I get to go out and do some work in the garden today.  I'm putting some bigger tools in the car than usual and getting some real work done out there.  I've been waiting for the sun to shine so I can get out there.

We've had a break in the pace at work and the sun has been shining. The weather reports say this could be the last day in the 70's for quite some time. I am fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of it to love my garden a bit today. Since the sun goes down a little earlier, we haven't been able to spend as much time out there. Many chances I've gotten on the weekends, the weather has been wet. There is much to be done. There's still lots of vegetables to be harvested, weeds to pull, and potatoes to be dug up. I can plant my garlic today and get some of the tomatoes and peppers that haven't ripened uprooted so they will ripen indoors. I'm very excited to be outside today. I do so love playing in the dirt. 

Michael Franti - Hey World Don't Give Up

I've been moving through life at a fast pace lately.  It's a busy time of year at work and at home.  I'm a little behind with my blog. I haven't felt much like sitting at a computer and blogging when I get home from work the last couple of weeks. There's also been quite a bit to get done in the evenings.  The garden still needs lots of love and time and I've also been preserving all the produce I can while it's in season.  The last two weeks we have canned rhubarb, peaches, homemade sauerkraut, and pears. We just received a large bag of apples.  Applesauce and maybe some apple butter to prepare soon.  Life should slow down a little soon, if I let it.

I guess it's officially fall and it will be colder soon.  I'm already reaching for the socks in the morning instead of sandals.  It's a lot of work, but joyful work, and I am happy with the fruits, vegetables, and herbs we have ready for the winter. I did remember I wanted to share this wonderful video.  I had the opportunity to dance, sweat, sing, and share some love with my sweetie enjoying this man's music last Saturday night.

Enjoy!

Vacation "At Home" with Kaylee

I've been on vacation at home the last week enjoying the company of my six year old granddaughter.  We've made lots of good memories and I have lots of blogging material.  I just haven't had the time to sit down and do it.  I said aloud to my husband, that I was amazed at women who work and have small children to raise.  I even said "How do they do it?"  Oh yeah, I did that,duh!  Guess we just forget very quickly how much energy it takes.

I take a vacation 'at home' thinking I'll have some restful days of not getting up early and racing out of the house each morning.  I think I almost always work harder when I do this than go on a vacation adventure away from home.  I was actually looking forward to getting to work today to do some mind work and not move around so much.  Last week, besides learning how to live with a small child around, I canned and froze 27 lb of cherries, sweet red and Rainier, a flat of strawberries, a flat and a half of raspberries, a flat of blueberries, put away a pint of garlic cloves in olive oil, (the garlic is from the garden), and made some lavender oil for the first time.  All of these grown by local farmers and gardeners.  I picked the lavender myself in Port Angeles and Sequim.  I also put some herbs and onions to dry so I can use them during the cold weather when the garden is sleeping.

We started the vacation adventures on Friday with a few hours sleep, left at three a.m. driving three hours north to pick up our granddaughter.  We had an ETA of 6:00 a.m. so we could see her mom before she went to work.  We made it at 6:30 a.m., then on to the Edmonds Ferry to Kingston, and another hour or so drive to Sequim where we met up with Uncle Bill.  On the way to Sequim we stopped to take a short walk and stretch.  Kaylee was ready with her camera "let's go on a nature walk grandpa."  We were happy to oblige.  We weren't very far on our walk when we realized we were in an old private cemetery.  It was a very beautiful spot.  Very original, no two graves were alike.  This was a very special and beautiful spot. It was also at this place that it occurred to me that we had not been on a weekend trip together that didn't involve going to a penal institution since we were in Sequim in December. I was pointing out to Kaylee how a flower pod spreads it seeds with the help of the wind to plant more flowers in the forest when a sudden gush of love just rushed through me.  I almost lost my breath when I figured out where I was and what I was doing.  What a great way to start the weekend!

After a stop for a late breakfast and stroll through the farmer's market we were off to Port Angeles for a restful three days away from it all.  Our friend's up there have a very nice private spot on a hill overlooking the Straight of Juan de Fuca with plenty of room for Kaylee to run.  They've built a chicken coop and a pen for the rooster since we've been there last.  Kaylee had a great time running around with the chickens and she learned a thing or two about roosters.  He tends to chase children, she learned the word 'aggressive' rather quickly.  They got along well as long as he was in his pen.

Priscilla—"Queen" of Pristine Farms

Some of the younger girls

The older women have their own yard

I had free rein of the kitchen and the garden.  I so love just going up there and staying.  The guys go to the bay and fetch some fresh crab, I brought all the vegetables I had along with supplies I like to have when I cook.  I think the guys we visit, Ken, Allan, and Bill look forward to my strange and healthy way of preparing meals.  I always try to create something new for them to try.  After all, I get to go there and be comfortable in an atmosphere of love and beauty for nothing.  I don't mind cooking for everyone at all, in fact, I love it. I've been cooking with and for Bill and Scott for over 28 years now. We all used to be roommates in California.  Scott and Bill have been friends and brothers for over 45 years now. He is our family and I don't feel like 'company' up there. For those of us who share their love with food, at least I'm learning to do it in a healthy way.

Gotta have my favorite items to cook with

After the four hour drive home Monday, we were at the garden checking out the growth over the weekend.  Wednesday we went to a concert at the Zoo, a band from Africa.  That was something!  The music was good and very lively, but I think we came very close to group child abuse.  Just think, there were probably over 500 small children at the show and none of them got to go see animals.  It was a common question being asked by many short people, including the one we brought, as we left the zoo:  "Mommy, where were the animals, I wanted to see animals" Oops

Thursday night was music again at our local summer concert at the lake.  I was happy to hear Kaylee ask to just stay home this weekend.  We just about did that from Friday to Sunday except for our daily trips to the garden to weed and water. By the way, for those of you wondering what I feed her because we eat mostly vegan, I haven't changed anything because she is here.  She hasn't complained about anything we have offered her except one dish I made a little too spicy.  She has eaten the many raw or cooked fruit and veggies we eat daily and drank our nondairy milk and seems to like it as much as we do. I haven't turned on a television since she's been here either and she hasn't seemed to miss that either. I hope that doesn't change too soon.

Here she is  with a stewed cherry shortcake smile.

Joy

I love it that the cabbage look like big roses. :-)

I'm waiting anxiously like an excited little kid for my husband to come home in a few minutes so we can get out to the garden.  We didn't go yesterday and it is so funny that I miss it in only one day.  I have lots on my mind today and have wondering what I'd have to blog about.  When I realized the joy I just felt knowing that my best friend will be here soon and we can go do what we love, I figured out what to write about.  Joy!

I've posted this song before, but it is a song that makes me feel happy.  The people on the stage and in the crowd are our friends and family. Check out Mark Binyon on the piano. Whew!  We have danced many a night indoors and out to their music. Pescadero is where we had a son and began our life together. I am the girl at the local restaurantè in the song. It's the only country song they play and it's hard to get them to do it anymore.

Enjoy the day!

Secret Garden

What a day, glorious! By Ma Muse

I found these beautiful musicians via a friend of mine from Santa Cruz.  These women are riding bicycles from Shasta to BC this summer sharing their music along the way.  Hoping to catch their music in Portland.

MaMuse: (Ma as in Mamma; Muse as in the one who inspires) "Beautiful Harmonies woven into a tapestry of strings and stillness."

    The songs of MaMuse are love poems to the Earth. They also speak to the depths of one's own inner terrain.   MaMusic stirs the heart through deep soul felt lyrics and sparse supportive instrumentation. Sarah and Karisha together create original music that breathes. Tight vocal harmonies ring out a Capella or blend with upright bass, mandolin, guitar, flute, light percussion and finger snaps to deliver the gift of  joyful truth telling.

    The encouragement and support of their hometown Chico, California community (MaMuse has received awards two years in a row from local voting music enthusiasts for Best New Act, Best Folk Act and Best Local Act) has provided the strength for the "rootsy female wonder duo" of MaMuse to make her way out into the world, touring regions across the country as well as establishing a strong presence through the Bay Area and Northern California. 

    Celebrating her second year of Being and sharing, MaMuse delights in this year's 2010 Spring and Summer invitations: Chico Bicycle Music Festival, Davis Whole Earth Festival, California World Music Festival, Esalen International Arts Festival, Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival, Mystic Family Garden Party and the American River Music Festival. 

   Beginning July 31st, MaMuse will set out with a small support of friends to promote their second full-length album Strange and Wonderful. The tour will begin in Shasta, CA and meander northward through Oregon and Washington. In Seattle, MaMuse will continue their adventurous Northwest tour by bicycle, ferrying across the Puget Sound and sharing their music through the San Juan Islands. Bicylces support the journey for MaMuse whenever possible, as they have pedaled their bodies and instruments from their homes in Chico to the World Music Festival (Grass Valley, CA), the Whole Earth Festival (Davis, CA) and the Bicycle Music Festival (San Francisco, CA). 

    The essence of MaMuse is rooted in the transparency of a journey shared by two women who feel a lot and dare to express their experiences through song and story. "As a community we are all strengthened when even one of us discovers his or her voice and dares to share. We dare you to sing with us. We dare you to discover your own song." (Karisha)   

"MaMuse is what a meadow would sound like if she could sing." She can be found singing on the inter web meadow at : www.mamuse.org

 MaMuse has released two albums to date: 2008 debut album, All the Way and May 2010 new born, Strange and Wonderful. Both are available for purchase online through her website or Cd Baby. 

"Oh what a day, GLorious!"

Love is All - The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper's Feast

As I work at turning negative into positive, I know it works so much easier with love. This video was posted on another site I visit recently. The singer, Ronnie James Dio, passed away last week. Artists, poets, and musicians bring such joy to our lives. This just makes me smile all over. :-)

Plant a Radish, Get a Radish

We recently saw a performance of "The Fantastiks" by a local theater group.  If you don't remember the story, it's about parents and children and the children growing into adults and making their own decisions no matter how the parents try to interfere.  There is a song in the play that really hit home.  Made us both smile.

Plant a radish.
Get a radish.
Never any doubt.
That's why I love vegetables;
You know what you're about!

Plant a turnip.
Get a turnip.
Maybe you'll get two.
That's why I love vegetables;
You know that they'll come through!

They're dependable!
They're be-friendable!
They're the best pal a parent's ever known!
While with children,
It's bewilderin'.
You don't know until the seed is nearly grown
Just what you've sown.

So
Plant a carrot,
Get a carrot,
Not a Brussels sprout.
That's why I love vegetables.
You know what you're about!

Life is merry,
If it's very
Vegetarian!
A man who plants a garden
Is a very happy man!

Plant a beanstalk.
Get a beanstalk.
Just the same as Jack.
Then if you don't like it,
You can always take it back!

But if your issue
Doesn't kiss you,
Then I wish you luck.
For once you've planted children,
You're absolutely stuck!

Every turnip green!
Every kidney bean!
Every plant grows according to the plot!

While with progeny,
It's hodge-podgenee.
For as soon as you think you know what kind you've got,
It's what they're not!

So
Plant a cabbage.
Get a cabbage.
Not a sauerkraut!
That's why I love vegetables.
You know what you're about!

Life is merry
If it's very
Vegetarian.
A man who plants a garden
Is a very happy man!

A vegitari-Very merry
Vegetarian!
 

Tomatoes, Lavender, Artichokes, Butternut Squash
Ready for the Garden

Walking on Sunshine

Moose and Gram 1980

My very dear friend, Moose, sent this to me today and it put such a smile on my face, I had to share.

Ramble on Rose

You'll Be in My Heart - Phil Collins

There's love in the world if you look hard enough.

Weeds, Soup, and Music

The weather was mild today, we are on the road to Aberdeen tomorrow, and it might rain Sunday so we hit the garden for a couple hours this afternoon, pulled some weeds and turned some grass. I found some healthy spinach plants that made it through the winter. I think there are about ten plants that are alive and well. I cleared their areas of weeds and gave them all a trim. There is a nice bowl of spinach ready to clean and use in our meals this weekend. We harvested something in March. What a trip!

Spinach

One of last year's artichokes.

It has a beauty all it's own even tired as it is. It was a nice shade of pink last year.

After messing around in the mud and weeds, we went to a little coffee house around the corner, "The Intermission." We've been in a couple times before. They have a nice seafood chowder and it's close. It was getting close to a feed mom moment for both of us. 

When we got there we discovered it was a young musician's hangout on Fridays. Seems it was open mic night. The little place was getting filled with young people, some of them carrying guitars, drums, and keyboards. We got some of their seafood bisque, warm bread, and a coffee. Dinner out was only $15. We found a quiet table in the back room where we could watch and listen. We were two of the very few people over 25 years old.

The first young man played a song he said was popular before he was born, but liked it a lot. He played A Day in the Life by the Beatles. Then he played an Elton John song Levon. When he introduced the Elton song, he said it wasn't one of the popular ones, but he liked it. It was popular when I was their age. :-) (Oh no! I had it on an 8-track tape.) There were lots of musicians and singers in the crowd. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't think many of those young people had heard either of these songs well enough to sing them. What a treat for us though, having a nice meal with a lot of young people playing music we know and love. I wondered since it was a local crowd if any of those young adults were some of the kids at our house when they were five or six for a birthday party. Could be, it's a small town.

 Sunset in the Garden

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rona Yellow Robe

Two of my favorites from this talented woman.

Voice of the Trees

Amazing Grace 

Rona Yellow Robe