Journey Songs

in thanks: 1/8/12

2012-01-08T21:31:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* a car that works and keeps me safe
* snow tromping and shoveling
* First Friday art walking with Claire
* soup on the stove
* grins and handshakes and hugs from 7 of the coolest kids
* invitations to make music
* my stalwart and loving Dad
* the U.S. Postal Service

in thanks: december 31, 2011

2011-12-31T15:16:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* this two weeks with family, sunshine, trees and cookies
* hugs and textbook loans from Natalie
* generous cash donations received
* calm
* those children awaiting me in AK
* safe air travel
* time at a real piano
* pruning the raspberry bushes and sunbathing in the field with Mom
* my sisters' health and happiness
* a new book club
* sewing and knitting projects
* the returning light

in thanks: december 24, 2011

2011-12-24T19:45:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* laying low in KY with my comfortable family
* unparalleled, graceful Southern manners and hospitality
* driving without fear
* healthy, happy, mischievous but good-hearted nephews
* sweet days with Jamie and Hannah Lynn in Ohio
* cleaning up Grandma's with her and Mom, with sun streaming through the dining room window
* friends here and in AK and around the world
* yoga muscles and my healthy body
* remembering what hope means (a glimmer of excitement, of expectation, of understanding that good things are possible and probable)
* four sisters in one house
* yoda cat
* listening to years-old mixed CDs from suitors of yon
* ballerina silhouettes of so many beautiful trees
* hiking and looking at art at Bernheim Forest

in thanks: 12/11/11

2011-12-10T23:29:00.000-09:00

In thanks for...

* music nights
* connecting with wise women friends
* the smell of the Christmas tree
* my students and their families
* KY in 6 days
* new yarn for new projects
* reconcilliation

in thanks: 12/3/11

2011-12-03T20:45:00.002-09:00

in thanks for...

* McKenzie and her hugs
* sitting with Angela and Tiffany on the ski lift, keeping our faces from freezing
* Hot and Awkward
* dancing
* swimming
* this cozy bedroom
* life and health of close friends and family
* singing
* the view from the top of the mountain
* not being scared to lean in to turns

in thanks: 11/11/11

2011-11-11T22:40:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* Natalie J, who inspires me with her kindness, patience and attention to detail
* summertime at the sewing machine
* KY in about a month!
* the glow of lanterns on new snow
* invitations and opportunities
* Elise, who among other things introduces me to so much culture (Go, Anchorage Symphony!)
* the Starling Sisters
* up time and down time
* making useful things (hats, bags, etc.)
* some kind of peace every now and again
* the people sitting in Occupy tents
* feeling stronger in yoga
* remembering to give thanks

in thanks: 11/7/11

2011-11-07T20:18:00.001-09:00

in thanks for...

* my sister beth, who is compassionate, honest and smart
* the eight little people with whom i spend my days
* snow, and shoveling it
* knitting, quilting, songwriting, furniture arranging, cooking
* school mentors who are utterly respectable
* pen pals in the lower 48

in thanks: july 29, 2011

2011-07-29T09:50:00.001-08:00

even in trying, restless, confusing or uncomfortable times,
i am still in thanks for...

* the nasturtiums on my porch
* my sweet sewing machine and the time to use it
* tomatoes from KY, ripening daily!
* friends who are kind
* boating / hiking / biking / flying through this beautiful world
* the peas on the vine, almost ready!
* projects and inspiration
* opportunity
* c's steadfastness

in thanks: july 11, 2011

2011-07-11T14:20:00.001-08:00

in thanks for...

1. cillian
2. looking forward to sewing with grandma
3. cooking with local produce, including arugula and kale from our garden!
4. just enough free time
5. job opportunities
6. new music: writing and listening
7. piano students and being inspired to play
8. daisies, fireweed, lupine, nasturtiums, sweet peas
9. two sisters in a day!
10. pen pals

a blessing house

2011-06-17T18:34:00.002-08:00

This one's for a friend in Kentucky. I stitched all sorts of prayers and wishes for happiness into it! Excited to bring it to her in a few weeks.

And Sew It Goes

2011-06-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

that cool name chart

2011-06-15T08:31:00.001-08:00

I love this thing! Have you seen it? It's an online chart - a Baby Name Wizard - that lets you see how popular a name is in any given year, and the increase or decrease in popularity of said name. As you can see, Amy peaked in the 70's... But there's a tiny increase in popularity during the past 10 years or so. So fun!

in thanks: may 24, 2011

2011-05-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* the belly aches that have disappeared
* growing things (cosmos, potatoes, nasturtiums, greens, beets, carrots, etc!)
* inspiration from friends afar
* time off
* going running in 10 minutes...
* sewing adventures
* the US Postal Service (c'mon, book!)
* picnics in the front yard
* summertime sunshine
* claire's impending visit!
* scheming about a KY visit...!
* a great meeting, and new beginnings
* my considerate, fun roommate who bakes bread
* bike rides, frisbee, hikes, walks, road trips

playing with fonts from veer...

2011-05-24T10:39:00.002-08:00

Upstairs Downstairs

2011-04-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

Oh, hurrah, for Masterpiece Theater! Get it while it's hot.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

in thanks: april 11, 2011

2011-04-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* homemade granola and yogurt
* writing songs
* the easy, great gigs
* homer, ak: the gleaming seaside, bakeries and galleries, yurts
* an almost-bloom on my geranium!!
* spotting the first crocuses (croci?) of spring on our morning walk
* purple seaweed and driftwood
* sunday dinners in kentucky
* the u.s. postal service

wee folk art

2011-04-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Just found a really great resource! It's Wee Folk Art, a Waldorf-inspired website chock-full of children's (and adult's!) craft patterns, activities, recipes and other inspiration. Wish I had found this earlier on in my Enrichment Program career, but it's been a good help already.

would like to ambush you with poetry

2011-04-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Here you go! Don't think! Just read!

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

in thanks: april 5, 2011

2011-04-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* a little bit more snow, all white and pretty
* homer this coming weekend
* the project room
* annie happy in austin :)
* UPS and their overnight fish-sending services
* morning walks with elise
* tulips from the cash-burkhearts
* sweet children at work
* music with students, and remembering that i know something about helping them learn!

coin purse success!

2011-03-31T10:13:00.000-08:00

Look what I made!! With a pattern. (My first one.) It only took two hours... I'm pumped to try it in different sizes and with different materials. Hooray for sewing!

Olivia's felted flower

2011-03-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

Such a sweet video on how to make felted flowers! We're going to try it with the kids at school next week. Fun!

Supplies we'll need:
* bubble wrap
* spray bottle with soapy water
* felting wool
* container with hot water
* rolling pins
* towel for cleaning up
* lingerie bags and a dryer
* sewing machine or needles and golden thread
* buttons and beads

in thanks: march 21, 2011

2011-03-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* a house full of happy people eating fried fish, cole slaw and hush puppies
* warmer weather! (in the 30s)
* youtube quilting instructions
* opportunity
* happy houseplants
* a sweet, tiny handmade doll from the WCS silent auction
* good work
* leftovers

Maria Snell

2011-03-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Suzanne just introduced me to talented quilt artist Maria Snell. Such beautiful work!

Check out her online gallery HERE.

one righteous godmama

2011-03-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

this is my godmother. i hope to live up to her amazingness someday!

sneak peeks

2011-03-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

Am loving these "sneak peeks" into designers' homes. So many thoughtful, beautiful and personal spaces! Sigh. Thanks, Design Sponge! p.s. These would be great inspiration for anyone who's, say, building a new home or moving into a new apartment... ;)

in thanks: march 14, 2011

2011-03-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* a gorgeous spring break
* more sun, sun, sun
* fun singing coming up
* taking charge (with a power tool)
* a bowl of mandarin oranges on the table
* sewing and quilting to be done
* good mail days
* two great hikes (Kincaid and Victor Creek)
* a clean house
* travel on the horizon

Ice Art 2011

2011-02-27T20:56:00.000-09:00

Cillian's ice carving team has been working in negative degree temps in Fairbanks. (It's -19 right now... Yikes.) But they're making good progress! Click the photo above to see minute-by-minute photo updates of the site! So fun to watch, and to get a glimpse of those four great guys. I won't tell you what the deisgn is, but here's a little hint: the team is called "The Fun Guys."

in thanks: february 24, 2011

2011-02-24T08:28:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* so. much. daylight.
* the sewing machine, still
* hanging out - like old times - with scott, amanda and james (and cash!)
* a flexible work situation
* music every day this week
* kenai lake cabin retreat with elise on the horizon
* getting to "facetime" with nat, mom and dad :o)
* getting to sing blessings to people: "here comes the sun...and i say, it's all right."
* fur rondy setting up
* nighttime skiing with s and m

coming together!

2011-02-23T08:46:00.000-09:00

in thanks: february 13, 2011

2011-02-13T17:00:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* the new sewing machine, and the fact that i know a tiny little bit about how to use it (thanks, grandma!)
* flight reservations to vietnam for two weeks this spring, with anna to see vanessa :o)
* the returning light, light, light... sigh.
* cillian completing his level 1 ski instructorship!
* a day of unexpected free time
* finally quilting a heart that looks like a heart (not an elephant or rabbit)
* hiking to kincaid beach yesterday with elise

progress!

2011-02-08T07:29:00.000-09:00

Excited to sew this puppy together, then send it off to Amanda's mama to finish! Cheating, I know, but still lots of fun. Now to find a good sewing machine for myself!

in thanks: january 27, 2011

2011-01-27T09:18:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...
* the bull moose in the driveway who camped out behind my car yesterday, preventing me from going to work for a full 45 minutes :o)
* planning a trip with Anna to visit Vanessa in Vietnam!
* singing and sewing with Amanda
* the Anchorage Folk Festival and Folk Week
* inspiring salads
* big city theater in our small town
* Cillian's geometry book from Mom
* a proper snow tromp with Elise
* kind words from listeners

downton abbey

2011-01-24T08:38:00.000-09:00

PBS's new Masterpiece mini-series, Downton Abbey, is charming with a little sass. Such a fun thing to look forward to on Sunday nights! Watch online for a limited time HERE. {Enjoy!}

scrappy quilt

2011-01-24T08:30:00.000-09:00

Amanda and I are taking a Scrap Quilt class! I love it. The scraps I have are mostly extra material from napkin sets that Beth's made over the past few years. So a lot of the material reminds me of her and of the folks who now own and use the napkins :o). It's been super fun to hang out and sew with Amanda, and to remember the times I've sewn before: dress-making with Grandmom in KY, quilting for Mima - who was an extraordinary quilter - with the rest of the Herde/Amshoff ladies... The colors are a great antidote for the winter blahs; I love to just spread the finished squares all over the carpet and dig in to making new ones. Thanks for the idea, Amanda!

Hearty Spinach and Chickpea Soup

2011-01-21T08:38:00.000-09:00

Sooooooo delicious, and different than anything I've made before. Thanks, Martha. Enjoy!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked brown rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms (about 4 cups), stems removed, thinly sliced
6 cups store-bought low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 bags (5-ounces each) baby spinach leaves
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Stir in brown rice and return to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook, covered, for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan or Dutch-oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add broth and rosemary; bring to a boil. Cover, and remove from heat.
Check rice after 30 minutes; if it is not yet tender, cover and continue cooking, up to 10 more minutes. Stir 2 cups cooked rice (reserve remaining rice for another use) and chickpeas into broth; return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and continue cooking for 5 more minutes to allow flavors to blend.
Stir in spinach; cook, uncovered, until just wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with cheese; serve immediately.

in thanks: january 16, 2011

2011-01-16T16:02:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...

* three-day weekends
* a few sweet series of parallel turns
* homemade yogurt and no more plastic yogurt containers!!!
* movie night
* the Christmas (winter?) tree
* wool, down, my snow skirt, warm boots
* the slowly returning sun
* snow tromps
* the upcoming Anchorage Folk Festival
* Mister Barrett

in thanks: january 6, 2011

2011-01-06T08:46:00.000-09:00

In thanks for...

* 2011?!! Holy cow.
* the sweetest, most rejuvenating trip home to Kentucky
* a new shower curtain. = loveliness
* inspiring, challenging friends
* old-school handwritten letters
* re-arranging furniture with C
* C's career happiness/contentment/inspiration
* the 5/6 year olds at school
* lights in the distance
* a planned skype date with anna
* finishing these headbands for my sisters

log cabin

2010-12-06T08:24:00.000-09:00

Have been looking for a pattern for log cabin washcloths, etc. HERE's one from a great crafts/knitting resource I found this morning: the purl bee. It's so fun to have a cold-weather hobbie (knitting), especially since Cillian is learning too, and I still meet with the K2D2 (knit 2 drink 2...) girls on occasion. Excited to get to go home in a week and a half to knit with Grandmom, too!

Another amazing online knitting resource: www.ravelry.com. (You've got to make an account, but they only ask for your email and name.)

in thanks: december 6, 2010

2010-12-06T08:01:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...
* the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree...
* Libby Roderick's talk on The Power of Listening
* KY in 1 1/2 weeks...!
* decaf green tea
* not minding the washing of dishes
* time for music
* paying off the album (wooo hooooooooo!)
* invitations
* new friends in Anchorage
* old friends around the world
* holiday treats

in thanks: november 2, 2010

2010-11-21T09:21:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...
* friends who help clean up when the party's over
* Mort's custard birthday cake for Natalie
* the hoar frost out the window
* waking up to the sunrise
* Bearfoot's inspiring, fun concert
* Natalie in Anchorage!
* sisters with birthdays
* KY in less than a month: road trip with C, music with grandpa, hanging out with the sisters...
* my dear Blake Reese, who left a legacy of love, music, and truth-seeking. May we carry it on.

in thanks: november 8, 2010

2010-11-08T22:28:00.000-09:00

in thanks for...
* snowy mornings
* tight harmonies and fancy dresses
* sister-friends who sing
* netflix
* boots
* time for playing the fiddle
* a little bit of good sense every once in a while
* car doors not frozen shut
* grandma's health
* suana nights
* getting yoga strong
* smart, kind, talented and useful cousins

in thanks: november 1, 2010

2010-11-01T22:22:00.001-08:00

thankful for...
* local beets
* anna, vanessa and claire
* looking forward
* somebody who sees me
* what the dark does, if it must
* being uncomfortable (thanks, caleb)
* the united states postal service
* photographs
* witty, sharp-as-a-tack, wise, full-of-living grandmom

sweet baby hudson

2010-10-27T09:38:00.000-08:00

WELCOME

sweet baby Hudson

born October 23, 2010

8:35 p.m.

to Clare and Nick

{6 lbs 12 oz, 19 inches long}

{photo by winnie parker}

in thanks: october 22, 2010

2010-10-22T08:55:00.002-08:00

in thanks for...

* friday
* singing with amanda and suzanne
* waking up early
* love love love in the mail!
* all this crazy energy (from yoga and vitamin D?)
* my work community
* anna, claire and vanessa, and a potential trip to vietnam!
* a freezer full of salmon
* bioneers - and my committee resignation letter!
* a clean, comfy house
* cillian's fun mind and creativity
* legs for running

oh, martha.

2010-10-21T09:07:00.004-08:00

I'll just write it out nice and plain: I LOVE MARTHA. She's got her stuff together, you know? You can trust her craft ideas, trust her homemaking tips, and - perhaps most importantly - you can trust her recipes! Here is a canvas checker board project I'd like to do with the kids at school sometime soon. And here's an easy-peasy, yummy-looking recipe for sweet breakfast quinoa that natalie sent earlier this week. Deeee-licious.

in thanks: october 11, 2010

2010-10-11T18:45:00.000-08:00

Have been a little MIA lately, as Annie would say. And have been a little negative about / annoyingly underwhelmed by the world. Am comitting to do more posting of "in thanks" lists! So:

in thanks for...

* the heater at my feat
* fresh-baked bread in the kitchen, and a roommate who keeps us well-stocked
* efficient, pleasant, productive meetings
* art club with my students on mondays - my favorite day at work!
* getting grant money for work (hello, 20-foot multi-colored parachute!)
* an upcoming gig with some talented musicians
* a letter found in the tip jar beginning with, "Dear Miss Singer-songwriter,"
* wool socks, sweaters, hats
* friends who've taken big risks and ended up happy
* a loved one's parents, who acted with great love and acceptance when she came out
* the colors of the sunset, creeping back in with the fall
* a new song: "It's the last breath of summer 'fore the fall, one clear righteous hurrah. And I'm with you, lookin' out, lookin' up - and that's all..."
* local veggies in the fridge

laura bean and southern flavor

2010-10-08T22:22:00.004-08:00

in thanks: september 16, 2010

2010-09-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* bust-my-bottom yoga in a mountain-top retreat house with great friends
* a boyfriend who will do yoga with me
* a cheerful, giving, earnest, smart staff
* berries in the freezer :o)
* geraniums and hens-and-chicks in old terra cotta pots
* happy children in my program
* upcoming music fun (Amy Lou sings at a low country boil!!)
* getting some of the stuff out of my life
* good friends and family far away but close to my heart

Terry Tempest Williams

2010-09-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

Last night, Cillian, Tadgh and I heard Terry Tempest Williams speak at UAA, as part of the Bartlett Lecture Series. Williams was gracious, passionate, well-spoken. Brandy recommended last year that I read her book An Unspoken Hunger, and it's been on my bedside table since then, unopened; I'm inspired to read!

Some tidbits from her lecture and the follwing conversation:

"Don't worry... There is just enough light shining on (your) next step."

"Think about what you love, think about what you want o give. And do it." (Do it with the people you love and with whom you want to make community.)

"We must see our denial of this truth for what it is: madness." i.e., The real power lies not in oil rigs but in the unstoppable ("untrimmable," says Mary Oliver) beauty, connectedness, strength of LIFE.

On having meaningful conversations with the 'other side': "How do we bypass rhetoric? Stories." When we tell stories, we create relationships. And relationships are not something we can ignore.

How can we deal with the huge change that is necessary for healing a broken world? "Be present" and pay attention to community.

yum

2010-09-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Grandmom Herde read an article about this delicious stew in the Courier Journal years ago. It's SO good! I was looking for the recipe the other day and couldn't find it. So here it is, for posterity's sake (and mine!), never to be lost again.

Asian Kale Stew

2 Tbls oil
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic, minced (~2 cloves)
1 Tbls sesame seeds
10 oz. kale, chopped coarsely
diced tomatoes (16 oz. can)
garbanzo beans (16 oz. can)
1 Tbls soy sauce
1 Tbls peanut butter
1 tsp hot sauce

Heat oil in wide, deep pan. Add onions and cook over medium high heat til translucent. Add garlic and sesame seed and cook 5 minutes more. Add kale, tomatoes and garbanzo beans. Cook, covered, about 10 minutes. Add soy sauce, peanut butter and hot sauce. Bring to a boil then serve, adding water if soupier mixture is desierd. Serve over brown rice or quinoa.

let us know

2010-09-10T08:41:00.001-08:00

The fun guys at Alaska Quarterly Review asked me earlier this summer to make a song from a work that they planned to publish in the fall. The poem, Let Us Know, is by Knute Skinner of County Clare, Ireland. It was an interesting experience - a blessing, really - to get to put someone else's thoughtful words to music; I found myself wondering what Knute would think of my interpretation, and also wondering how the song would have turned out differently had it been a more actively collaborative project. I also found myself thankful for the impetus to take on a project like this.

Yesterday morning I recorded at the studio and I like the results. Someday I'd like to add cello and violin, which is what I hear in my head while I'm singing the song. {What I see in my head is a moonlit night on a grassy hill on the Irish coast, with a wispy young person bravely and joyfully setting out into the night.}

Here's the poem. I'll let you know when it's available to listen online. Or just check in on the AQR website.

Let Us Know
by Knute Skinner

Let us know how it goes,
That hill looks calm tonight
where the new moon barely shows.

You move on sportive toes
and laugh in the evening light.
Let us know how it goes.

The high horizon glows
in fading Fahrenheit
where the new moon barely shows

and the oath obligingly goes,
whetting your appetite.
Let us know how it goes.

God alone only knows
-and even God, not quite-
where the new moon barely shows,

but you, a stranger to woes,
would haste to impending height.
Let us know how it goes
where the new moon barely shows.

far away

2010-09-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

Christine in Tennessee and Katie, who is somewhere in Australia, are putting together a literary magazine. The theme of the first issue (the entire magazine?) is far away. Interesting, because the theme for the Sketchbook Project I've been living into these past few weeks is lights in the distance.

My job is to answer the questions below. Why me? Because I left Alaska. Unlike the other people who've also been asked to answer, though, I came back. Christine's going to collect answers and compile in some kind of poetic and meaningful way. Will share the results with you if possible.

{Here's to international art swapping!}

Why did you come? And why did you leave? Is part of you still there? Are you looking back, past your shoulder at chillingly deep Valleys and dazzlingly steep mountains and crystal turquoise lakes and dizzying glittering dancing lights? Do you crave the dark? Do you chase the never-ending light? Did you try to smuggle a birch log in your suitcase? Did you fold onto your knees and kiss the red clay when you landed home? Did the magnolias whisper they told you so?

budgeting, light

2010-08-31T09:19:00.000-08:00

How long have I wanted to properly budget? For years. But have I ever? Sadly, no.

Thank goodness, Cillian just introduced me to a very cool webtool: mint.com. Input your bank and credit card accounts - all tres confidential, I am assured by the site and by Cillian, the king of keeping his web identity private - and you get instant feedback in the form of pie graphs, budeting tools, etc. I now know that I spend more on food than anything else (yikes!) and how my spending compares, month-to-month. Super cool!

cranes for Owen

2010-08-26T07:54:00.003-08:00

Some friends and coworkers of mine just lost their baby boy, Owen. He was a shining light of a child. At 14 months old, he had red hair, deep blue eyes and a quick grin and laugh. Our entire school has been grieving with Owen's parents.

I think I'd like to start making these for Owen. Maybe the kids in my program will help? I'm imagining cranes strung on string throughout the hallway, swooping up and up and up like our love and prayers and gratitude for him.

HERE are directions, in case you're interested in folding your own!

when life gives you...

2010-08-22T14:36:00.001-08:00

Dear friend Annie in Seattle has been taking (and posting) a photo a day for 233 days! Her goal is to keep it up for an entire year. In the past few weeks, she's spent some time at a butterfly house, eaten a huge and delicious-looking sandwich, tried some abstract painting and received some interesting feedback from her boss... I love the project for lots of reasons, but most of all because it's a neat perspective into Annie's every day life! Hooray for making art on a daily basis!

and that's a wrap

2010-08-21T21:46:00.001-08:00

Last week, I did something smart and contacted Kelly Mastracchio to makeover my fledgling website. I love the results! Kelly is one talented lady; two years ago when we were in school in Boston, she took the photos that are featured on the website. You can check out Kelly's daily art adventures HERE. {Thank you, Kelly!}

AmyLouMusic

2010-08-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

Oh my, this website design stuff is tricky! Even using a template at hostbaby, it still takes me an hour to change a font... Here (above) is what the homepage is supposed to look like, except with different fonts. But visit www.amyloumusic.com and you'll see that somehow the fonts transfer over but the layout does not. (The image above is a copy of the "preview" page on the designing site.) Tips?? Anybody really good at this stuff want to be my web designer? I can pay you in sockeye salmon and CDs.

in thanks: august 12, 2010

2010-08-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

{a special health issue, dedicated to my dwindled but still-appreciated eyesight, and the reading glasses i ordered yesterday morning}

in thanks for...
* banana blueberry smoothies in the morning
* walking or riding my bike to work
* Sunday's hike up Peak 3
* kale from the garden
* a much-needed facebook detox
* weekends away from work
* visits with Arnold, 94 and still lively alive
* regular music- and art-making for my soul
* the laurel's kitchen cookbook
* green growing things in my home
* hanging out with kids

toodle-ing

2010-08-09T16:58:00.001-08:00

When I returned from Montana, Cillian picked me up at the airport. He whisked me outside to his friend's car, which was waiting by the curb. We threw my bags inside, and I got in too. But C motioned for me to get out - to sit in a different seat, I thought? Before I knew what was going on, though, the car drove away. With my bags inside. This was confusing but I am used to interesting things happening when C's around, so I walked in the direction he led me ... toward a shiny purple bicycle with a basket of fresh flowers and my name on the front! So pretty. So fun. We rode home in the sunshine, on the bike path. = Perfection.

It's a toodling bike, for sure, made so one may sit back and look at things while pedaling around. And it's older than me (b. 1973) but still lookin' good, thanks to some good care and a major shine job from C. She's so pretty that on Saturday, two vendors at the farmers market came out of their stalls to admire and say things like, "Oh, that's a dandy!" I've never owned a comment-worthy vehicle before... To top things off, later on Saturday C found a great woven basket (fair trade, from Ghana!) to go on the front. It's one sweet ride.

{Thank you, Cillian!}

of roots and of wings

2010-08-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

The cd FINALLY arrived...!!! Am having a small album release party at some friends', and have also been madly trying (with Cillian's very patient help) to figure out HTML to make a website. Shew! There's big grattitude in my heart for so many things and so many people in the completion of this looooong project. Will be nice to move on to some new music projects, now...

in thanks: august 1, 2010

2010-08-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* new wheels (of the two- and four-wheel varieties)
* so much birthday goodness
* my year at HGSE and the thinking we did there
* all the cuties at art in the parks, especially S.
* friday after-work mountain top hikes
* more musical instruments than i know what to do with
* waking up from a dream with the beginning of a new song
* fruit: delicious, healthy, has little or no packaging, can be eaten by hand
* conversations with good girlfriends
* mail
* happy nephews

knitting envy

2010-07-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Just finished this washcloth - so pretty! And functional. But I'd reeeeally like to knit something like THIS. Just a little more practice, perhaps...

the sketchbook project

2010-07-29T09:39:00.002-08:00

I love love love art projects that are community-minded (and -mined), accessible and cheap. This one definitely meets my criteria.

For Brooklyn-based Arthouse Co-op's The Sketchbook Project 2011, anybody can order a sketchbook (small, Moleskin), pick a theme (mine's "lights in the distance" and sister Natalie's is "facing forward"), and start sketching (or pasting photos, writing down songs, making up recipes, etc!) . Participation costs $25, for which you'll receive a bar coded sketchbook to be filled and then placed on a nationally touring exhibit. Anybody can participate; in the past, stay-at-home-moms and professional artists alike made books. So cool!

tapped

2010-07-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

So glad I saw Tapped at the library last night. It's an eye-opening and informative film - about bottled water! Did you know that all Aquafina (Pepsi Co.) and Dasani (Coca-cola) bottled water is just plain tap water? And did you know that the FDA relies solely on producer/industry monitoring (no independent testing or research) of American food and drug products??
Geez.

art in parks 2010

2010-07-26T17:03:00.002-08:00

The challenge: Design and lead a meaningful and fun week-long environmental arts program held in a community park. Children ages 5-17 drop in for however many days they want, no registration required. Program will be held regardless of weather, and will serve between 10 and 80 children daily.

That's what I get to do this week. Today it poured rain the entire time. We sat and made Lummi sticks (sanded 12" long 3/4" dowel rods), then sang and learned some rhythms, then painted the sticks - no environmental concepts there, and I'm not sure if there were many artistic or musical ones, either. About 8 kids came, total. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain again. And Wednesday, and maybe Thursday.

My quandary, as I think about my plans - activities that support writing a song about the ideas of wilderness and city - is to figure out what's actually possible with a program like this. I mean, how do children build skills without consistent participation? Perhaps we should we write a new song every day: do the whole process of learning what a song is, then exploring the concepts of wilderness and city and then slogdance through the creative act of songwriting, with breaks in between for rhythm/movement/singing games.

The other artists who teach this scenario at other times during the summer have some things figured out. My favorite example is the week of building sandcastles....! How perfect. Who doesn't like to build sandcastles?? The kids learn (about artistic and environmental concepts, I assume) while having loads of fun. And it doesn't matter if they come 1 or 5 days. That's the kind of program I want to design/lead. Hmm.

go fish

2010-07-25T15:08:00.004-08:00

Just back from a weekend of dipnetting on the Kenai River. Friends Kelly and Hunter were amazing hosts for Cillian and me -- we got our full limit of 25 gorgeous sockeye salmon each! (Plus, we got one flounder. Such a funny-looking fish, with both eyes on one side of his head.) After processing, we ended up with about 200 pounds of fish... Anybody want some salmon?

you are there

2010-07-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

You are there.
You have always been
there.
Even when you thought
you were climbing
you had already arrived.
Even when you were
breathing hard,
you were at rest.
Even then it was clear
you were there.

Not in our nature
to know what
is journey and what
arrival.
Even if we knew
we would not admit.
Even if we lived
we would think
we were just
germinating.

To live is to be
uncertain.
Certainty comes
at the end.

"You Are There" by Erica Jong, from Love Comes First. © Penguin Group, 2009.

the hettingers take alaska

2010-06-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad are here! It's been so cool to introduce them to this wild and fabulous place that I love. Today we returned from a long weekend in McCarthy and Kennecott, where we stayed at friend Brad's sweet lodge. Mom and Dad spent one day touring the town and abandoned copper mine at Kennecott. And last night Mom and I took a sauna then had a very Alaskan jam session around the campfire with a bunch of great locals and some lodge guests. There was also lots of time for cooking and eating, looking at the glacier and conversation with some interesting folks.

A few firsts (so far) of Mom and Dad's visit to Alaska:
1. Dad's first glacier sighting
2. Mom's first sauna
3. Dad's first 7 hour plane flight
4. Mom's first time figuring out how to read the stinkin' Milepost
5. Dad's first time in Alaska
6. Dad's first time combat fishing
7. Amy's first time making marinated salmon (yum!)
8. Mom and Dad's first time meeting most of Amy's AK friends
9. Amy's first time picking up a hitch-hiker (who turned out to be this amazing guy, who is on a mission to climb the highest peaks in every American - both continents - country, and is on his way to Denali now... So cool!)

laura, laura, bo baura (bean)

2010-06-25T08:25:00.004-08:00

brassy, fun, smart and talented
sister laura bean
is 28, today!
do you love her new red hair? i do.
here's to a year of all good things!

bloomin

2010-06-24T00:10:00.000-08:00

So many flowers in the house! Mom and I picked daisies and lupine earlier today. Then Amanda, Cillian and LJ all brought something gorgeous to dinner tonight: a fat pink peony from Amanda (sitting there on the table with green KY apples), daisies from Cillian and an incredible orchid from LJ. So, so pretty. So nice to have the house full of my favorite people and then have these sweet reminders afterwards. :o)

in thanks: june 20, 2010

2010-06-20T23:48:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...
* grilling out with good folks
* rain for the garden
* a fun COSTCO run to fill the fridge for mom and dad's visit!
* baby pea tendrils clutching at yellow yarn
* blowing kisses with Cash
* running into friends at the neighborhood grocery
* the loooongest days of summer
* having the guts to be honest, and the peace that comes afterwards

driftwebs

2010-06-17T08:21:00.025-08:00

This past Tuesday night, I heard Pam Longobardi speak at the Anchorage Museum.

Longobardi is an artist, educator and activist who paints, makes installations, lectures, picks up trash from beaches and does public art. Her current work is Driftwebs, an interdisciplinary project focusing on marine debris and plastics pollution. Interesting and eye-opening. (Did you know that the gyre of trash in the Pacific Ocean is at least as big as Texas but maybe as big as the lower 48?? Yikes.)

:o)

2010-06-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

music: Tanya Davis, video: Andrea Dorfman

good tunes

2010-06-15T20:46:00.000-08:00

Have been listening to so much good live music these past 2 days, at camp.

But this past weekend I found a CD I hadn't yet given its due, and have been hooked ever since. Thanks, Nancy, for giving me that Tim O'Brien mix! So, so good. I've already gifted (on itunes - love doing that) one of the songs to a friend. I highly recommend; a good starting place is the song "Chameleon." :o)

folk arts

2010-06-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

Am living the good life, this week. I get to teach singing and songwriting at the Alaska City Folk Arts camp! It's a fulfilling and inspiring place to be. Huzzah :o).

spiritual shot in the arm

2010-06-13T09:47:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've needed a spiritual boost. Lucky me, I just returned from an inspiring and centering trip to the water and mountains of Haines followed by a sweet drive back home through incredible British Columbia, the Yukon Territory and Alaska (so obviously "God's country"). I've also been reading and re-reading some important-to-me sources of inspiration and wisdom. They are:

The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
** This one has given me so much clarity. I just wrote out the main tenets and hung them on the bathroom wall so I can see them every morning and night while I brush my teeth.

Gift From the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindberg
** Such a beautiful, succinct collection of essays for women or any human beings interested in remembering a fulfilling and peaceful way of being in this seemingly manic world. Clare and I read it out loud to each other in Haines.

The Artist's Way: a Spiritual Path to Creativity, by Julia Cameron
** This book is perfect for artists or anybody who wants to find/rediscover their purpose and passion. It's set up so you read a chapter a week then do tasks - sometimes extremely challenging, usually fun, always insightful - and do some daily writing. Very cool.

And now I'm reading for the first time, Mutant Message Down Under, by Marlo Morgan.
** Cillian gave me this one. It meant something big to him when he read it a few years ago, and I remember Mom and Dad reading it for the first time and being equally excited about it. It's an interesting story, so far.

in thanks: june 11, 2010

2010-06-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

in thanks for...

* renewed focus and a peaceful heart
* lovely clare and her family
* cil's trustworthy '89 honda, "teresa," and her 40mpg!
* canadian hospitality
* the alaska ferry system and dramamine
* porpoises, whales, otters, sea lions, bears, foxes, porcupines, squirrels, swans
* sweet-smelling purple petunias on the porch
* public lands (national parks, state parks, oh my.)
* fun new template designs from blogger (do you like this one?)

in the garden

2010-05-27T23:29:00.006-08:00

spent this afternoon digging and pulling and planting and watering in the sweet c street community garden plot with 2 of my favorite gals. saro brought her banjo and played for us, then taught us a great new song she wrote on her road trip. and amanda was the boss-lady, making sure we did the garden thing well (she knows what she's doing, that one!). it was HOT, if you can believe it, with all the hoeing and pulling huge clods of sod and turning over ground that hasn't been. so much sun and sweat it felt like real summertime!! (almost felt like kentucky summertime...)

am so thankful to have amazing ladies like those 2 around :o). thankful, too, for the seedlings tucked away in a comfortable, well-tilled bed, having been sung to sleep and resting under the graceful protective arms of kenai lake driftwood trellis.

in thanks: may 26, 2010

2010-05-26T23:00:00.003-08:00

in thanks for...

* two nights in a row of walks on the beach
* the cute beetle bug on my sink (means it's summertime!)
* finishing the cleaning of that used-to-be-awful work closet
* summer visitors, starting tomorrow
* art days
* friends in love
* purple, sweet spicy smelling petunias on the front porch
* a new car! well, an old car, but new to me. it's kind've purple-ish.
* smoothies :o)

in thanks: may 13, 2010

2010-05-13T21:00:00.002-08:00

in thanks for...

* healthy baby seedlings
* an upcoming road trip with C.B.
* my g street home
* bike rides
* my parents and their June 2010 trip to AK (!!)
* short sleeves, sandals, walking around with no coat
* the library
* kids and the things they say ("Miss Amy, I remembered my laugh.")
* the sweetest tip jar ever, made by amanda

in thanks: may 3, 2010

2010-05-03T09:50:00.003-08:00

in thanks for...
* sunshine, sunshine, sunshine
* my new desk/workspace!
* natalie's impending visit
* a sweet weekend with mr. barrett
* getting a better glimpse of what skiing is about
* the seedlings, an inch tall!
* friends at work
* my sister and a happy message
* a blooming geranium
* getting to meet a new baby tonight
* sunshine, sunshine, sunshine

what i learned

2010-04-28T23:17:00.007-08:00

Life? It's a wonder. It's worth holding on to, whether you grab a guitar, pick up a shovel or hold someone you love. Look and listen carefully. Speak honestly. Take your time. Tell people when you love them, and take care of each other. Keep your brain turned on. Pay attention to the world around you. Be careful around steep cliffs. Don't get yourself addicted to coffee, or cigarettes, or worse. Let loose, occasionally. Learn how to work hard. Be kind.

{In loving memory of B.H.R.,
who most certainly knew how to love and how to live.}

awake, grateful and hungry

2010-04-07T09:11:00.008-08:00

woke up to a small earthquake this morning, which is one effective way to get you out of bed!

and it got me thinking rather quickly, too, about things for which i am grateful. am appreciating the beautiful times i've had around the kitchen table lately, mostly time spent with wise women friends and food. monday night we had to pull in the desk chair, the piano bench and the plant table for seats, and all ate springtime kale potato soup, salad, wine and chocolate. then yesterday, carina and danielle and i had a gorgeous salad, great conversation and hot tea.

interesting, the things we do in spring, the committments we (re)make, the conversations, the work. it's a time for little earthquakes and putting things back into order. and it's a time for taking stock. i for one, in my shaken state, am awake, grateful and hungry.

almost famous

2010-04-01T19:19:00.006-08:00

so, you know that glorious concert a few weekends ago? well, teeka ballas wrote a lovely, lovely review in this month's issue of F Magazine (a thoughtful, interesting and locally-published culture and arts mag). you can download it HERE.

in thanks: march 23, 2010

2010-03-23T09:06:00.003-08:00

in thanks for...
* the returning light
* wise women friends
* this gorgeous rose on my kitchen table that is teaching me about gratitude
* making summer plans (gardening, visits, travel!)
* inspiring sisterfriends in far-away places
* progress on the CD
* friday's amazing concert
* a jeep loan from LJ
* waking up to the smell of fresh bread
* healthy, open and loving relationships

covers

2010-03-22T15:44:00.004-08:00

am thinking about album covers. here's a quick sketch of one i just did, and a beautiful one that andrea did last year (when the album had a different name). anybody out there want to try their hand at designing? just checking. it's fun, but i think i might need a publishing program besides Word-- something with CD templates and pretty fonts... suggestions?

{photo by annieinseattle}

here comes the sun

2010-03-17T19:38:00.004-08:00

This Friday, March 19th, Anchorage Alaska:

Four of Alaska's lovely ladies of song share the stage of the Snow Goose & perform solo sets as well as songs in the round. Join Emily Kurn, Amy Lou, Marian Call and Liz Malys for an exceptionally intimate acoustic show celebrating the returning light. 21+, Tickets $15 or $10 for students and seniors; available at the door.

LIVE STREAMING ONLINE: if you're unable to attend, this show will stream live via Ustream:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/singer-songwriter-showcase-anchorage-ak

i am a pro(crastinator)

2010-03-12T16:30:00.005-09:00

my last sweet day on O'ahu, and have i spent the morning on the beach? have i eaten papaya and avocado and bronzed this pale body a bit more? no. instead, i've spent the whole morning procrastinating (hello, internet and blog) the dreaded task of changing the strings on howard's borrowed guitar. aiyee. any guitarist worth her salt changes the strings without complaint, right? whatever. i've got one and a half strings off and just needed a little break :o).

this fabulous little mountainside hut is the perfect place for procrastination, though. the bookshelf alone could keep me busy for a year. makes me interested to meet the fella who so very simply inhabits this tiny, quaint space. here's a taste of the bookshelf:

El arroyo de la Llorna
next to
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
next to
Mars and Venus in the Bedroom
next to
What the Buddha Taught
next to
The Case for Same-Sex Marriage
next to
The King James Bible
next to
the Idiot's Guide to Understanding Iraq
next to
The Discoverers
next to
Lovingkindness
next to
Guns, Germs and Steel
next to
Japanese for Busy People
next to
e.e. cummings

in thanks: march 10, 2010

2010-03-10T21:32:00.004-09:00

{the O'ahu, HI edition}

in thanks for...
* flowers everywhere
* rainbows in the mornings
* that sun-glowy feeling after swimming in the ocean, when you're rinsed off, back on your towel and just getting warm again
* fresh avocados, papayas, apple bananas, tomatoes, etc.
* time with sweet, sweet Natalie J., sister of my heart
* hiking Waahila Ridge
* some great read-aloud sessions with Andrew and Natalie
* getting to tool around in a nice car
* crazy-beautiful LaurieAnn and her hospitality
* a guitar loan from Howard
* 9 hours of sleep each night interrupted only by righteous winds and rain
* finishing the Bees song
* the tiny mountain hut and its owner's generosity

aloha!

2010-03-06T17:09:00.002-09:00

in honolulu, soaking in sun and warm breezes and yummy food.
got my first pedicure yesterday, with laurieann! we're at a coffee
shop for a little internet and root beer float action, before heading
out to the beach. and look who we picked up at the airport earlier!!
so happy to be here with these lovely, lovely ladies :o).

in thanks: march 2, 2010

2010-03-02T22:19:00.004-09:00

in thanks for...
* girl scout cookies, and tagalongs, especially
* fertilizer that brought my geraniums back to life! (thank you, angela!!)
* hawai'i tomorrow :o)
* the beautiful clares/claires in my life
* when sweet children lean on my knee
* a fun new voice student
* keeping tabs on cillian in fbx
* elise's great send off (with plane snacks!)
* breakfast tomorrow with amanda and cash
* this morning's photo shoot with the song ladies
* packing way too early for once in my life

tricky business

2010-03-01T10:24:00.007-09:00

this week, Cillian is carving in the World Ice Art Championships, in Fairbanks, AK! very exciting. the "multi-block" teams work for 5 long, arduous days, in below zero temps... it's so cool to be able to keep tabs on his team's progress through the regularly updated web cam photos for each site. click the photo above to see what he's up to now. (that's him in the bunny boots, carhartts and beaver hat!)

a little context

2010-02-28T12:19:00.006-09:00

last night, i got to participate in the coolest event. new friends tara (who is from lexington, ky!) and james were inspired by a series in baltimore called stoop. they loved it enough to bring it to anchorage, as arctic entries. here's the official lowdown:

"In the manner of This American Life and other urban storytelling events, Arctic Entries brings community members, known and unknown, to the stage to share a personal story. 7 people will tell a 7-minute story relating to this show’s theme, “first times”. Singer/songwriter Amy Lou performs original music."

next month's theme is "food chronicles," and will be at the same place, same time. march 27, cyrano's playhouse, 9pm.

p.s. i was totally heartened and inspired by the evening and then stayed up half the night reading the beginning of rachel naomi remen's kitchen table wisdom, which beautifully speaks of the power of storytelling. i highly recommend!

runaway brides

2010-02-27T12:50:00.003-09:00

that's my gorgeous sister, with the mandolin and cute boots! laura's Runaway Brides are tearing it up in Berlin. i am so excited for her, and love their new photos. find the Bride's music and photos here.

warm head, warm heart

2010-02-27T12:45:00.004-09:00

hannah girl was so small when she was born that her body couldn't hold heat; she had to wear hats all the time! so i knitted her one. i could've chosen the sweet pink baby yarn, but went for this colorful stuff instead. {have to live up to being "hippie auntie amy," who sends her clothes with peace signs, invites her on hiking trips, takes her to concerts...}

in thanks: february 22, 2010

2010-02-22T22:48:00.004-09:00

in thanks for...
* fresh flowers
* the knitting girls
* laughing with cillian
* hawai'i in a week (!!!!)
* walks with amanda and cash
* a sweet home and housemate
* lisa's happy wedding
* chocolates from beautiful piano students
* emails from my sisters
* a CSA box full of wondrous things (like pea shoots!)
* the first young men's knitting group meeting - in my kitchen!
* making candles and cookies and origami at work

yes!!

2010-02-17T09:18:00.004-09:00

i always knew G street was one of my favorites in anchorage. it has the best art galleries, the performing arts center, the park strip, elise's house, the bakery... now, i'm excited to announce, a chocolate shop has moved in!! modern dwellers chocolate lounge is now just a short walk from my house!! their furniture is made from reclaimed materials, and there's lots of great art. hooray for yummy locally-owned businesses that are run with brains and heart!

here's the skinny

2010-02-16T20:08:00.002-09:00

just signed up for my first race of the summer, the skinny raven twilight 12k! 7.5 miles seems a little daunting right now but i will be back in tip top shape by june 4th... right? right. yay for running and for anchorage's awesome summer racing scene!

goings on

2010-02-12T19:03:00.006-09:00

two weekends ago scott and angela, amanda and james (and little cash!), cillian and i went to talkeetna. we stayed at the guesthouse at traleika mountaintop cabins, where the view is amazing: both mornings we woke up to the full moon setting over the alaska range followed by the pink of sun slowly creeping its blazing way down mountains beginning with the tip of denali. we did a bunch of eating and talking but also spent some sweet time painting, knitting and playing music. it was such a treat to stay there and to be with those gorgeous people for the weekend!
later in the week, cillian brought over some downhill skis, boots and poles. both danielle and i had a fabulous time trying them on and acting like goofballs. i am SO excited to finally have my own skiing setup. we're headed to alyeska on sunday so i'll get to try it all out. hurrah!

bodhisattva in metro

2010-02-09T08:19:00.003-09:00

occasionally, my mama would do this to us at the dinner table. she'd just start to laugh and chuckle quietly, and before you knew it we'd all be about to pee our pants!

p.s. last night i dreamed of whales! of swimming with them, of running down a steep hillside toward them. maybe because i'm headed to hawai'i in 3 weeks??