mamaroots

little local love

My best friend, my partner, my love made another full circle around the sun yesterday and the boys and I wanted to give him a little local love!  I got up at 5:30 in the morning to make some mini-pie jars, blackberry flavor to go with an omelet for breakfast.  We had to sneak out and pick some quick flowers and then woke him up by pouncing on him in bed!

Among his other presents we got him a signed copy of a fabulous book done by a local fiddle favorite Howard Marshall.  Not only is this book a fabulous chronicle of old time fiddle music in Missouri, but it is also wonderful for storytelling.  It comes complete with a CD and I think is going to be much enjoyed by my music playing and loving husband.

I can't say enough great things also about our local letterpress 1Canoe2 that makes amazing goods.  It is so great to see them become so successful and also to have them local so I can get their wares in our downtown shops.  

So big happy birthday to my fella that is the truely the pickin to my grinin!

counting to 31

We are counting all things leading up to 31st:  orange and purple, goblins and monsters too!  If you know the song Over in the Meadow you will have a hoot reading/singing this new book with your kiddos- seriously the illustrations make all the monsters, zombies, mummies, etc so darned cute, how could you not sing this song the Halloween!

Happy Saturday, happy singing!

a taste of Kansas

The yellow brick road was a bit chilly and soggy this year, but to be in good company with good tunes will always be fun!  This year's journey to the Walnut Valley gave me a continued awe at the musicians around me, on the stage and at my own camp.  Still hankering for a camper of some sort, got my eye on a little Scamp or Burro perhaps!

Walnut Valley usually signals the time when the seasons starts to change, looking forward to the first weekend of fall making soup and apple pie!  A handmade tasting spoon from the festival was just what I needed.

All in all the mud washed off the bikes and boots, and the music warmed us quite well, thank you Kansas.  A few more pictures are here of our adventures.  Have a wonderful Autumn Equinox tomorrow.

daddy's got a brand new song

Well, he actually has three new songs.  My beloved has started taking mandolin lessons and I am so impressed with how quickly he has picked it up.  We have this awesome group of friends that like to get together and pick and pluck out some awesome tunes.  It is fun to see and hear how music has evoloved into a common thread for gatherings and hanging out.

So these past few weeks it is not an uncommon sight to see daddy pickin on the mandolin, Jasper reading a Harry Potter book- (he started HP5 last night) Silas to be filling out pages of his journal with drawings of windows, and mama sanding some toys.  Makes for a fine winter's night.  The sweetness of the boys talking about what song daddy will bring home makes my heart sing.

A great new development is that Jasper will be joining daddy next week to start fiddle lessons.  Silas wants to learn piano soon.  Me- well I did my share of playing music from 4th grade until a senior in highschool and decided to be done once I hit college.  My insturment is definitely my wood sanding, but now that my boys have the strings a strumming I find myself wanting to sing more and more! 

How about you?

 

bones and flour

Hope you don't mind another music related post . . .me and music is really hit and miss.  My hubby said it best that I really latch onto certain songs and just play the heck out of them.  I find that generally music is just not that huge in my life but certain songs, styles just latch themselves into my soul and give a good yank that gives my booty need to move! 

Coming off of one fabulous music fest in Kansas to one this past weekend right in my own village was just down right fun.  The Roots and Blues and BBQ fest was on its 3rd year this past weekend.  We headed down with the boys Friday night and saw the Wilders that we also had seen in Winfield, then hubby suggested we go see this other band he thought I would like and I fell in love with them!  They are the Carolina Chocolate Drops- wow they were amazing.  Come to find out also that the gal in the band just had a baby and mentioned her midwife as well- sold right there! 

I loved their energy, their style and in essence though they seemed to be a young they really brought forth story and roots of their genre of music- perfect for a Roots and Blues fest!  My favorite songs were Cornbread and Butterbeans that I have heard my friends sings many times, and an incredible piece called Snowden's Gig- this one yanked hard on my soul- lovely!  My friend Shannon has suggested dulcimer as an insturment for me to learn, which is very intriguing, but in a heartbeat I am ready to pick up the bones after this weekend!  I had seen these in Winfield and they caught my eye, but I did not know what they were till this weekend- hooked!

The rest of the weekend swirled in music, soccer, and bread making.  We practiced with biscuits this weekend and tonight we break out the yeast to make the dough for our dragon bread tomorrow.  I found this recipe which looks to be our speed- does anyone have a favorite?  This is our first year in integrating Michaelmas into our celebrations, though not being Christian I am finding ways to integrate in my own nature spiritual path- there goes that hybridness!

the yellow brick

seemed to lead me once more through the fertile fields of sunflowers to Winfield this year once more.  This was my second year going to the Walnut Valley music fest with about 4 other families from our village.  It was a bit of a different experience in a good way from last year.  Last year the camp ground had actually gotten flooded and we had to camp about 10 miles away.

Usually tons of folks camp right next the fest like this year.  It was so great to just hop on our bikes and peddal on over and then come back to camp for a while.  It also lent the kids lots of freedom which was really neat to see them grow in their responsibility.  We had a lovely time, saw some great music, and relaxed with friends.  It is rapidly becoming a favorite fall activity!  

I am so impressed at the broad diversity of ages and folks that come together in the love of this old time music!  My 2 favorite bands were The Greencards and Still on the Hill.  Good times indeed.  I read, rested, and just relaxed!  I am looking forward to heading back down that yellow brick road next year with friends once more!  There are a few more pictures from the trip here.  Viva la bluegrass!

Saturday snapshots

backwards dinner- i.e.- riding our bikes downtown for some ice cream from our favorite local ice creamery and then peddling back home for dinner

shadow puppet shows set to the music of Bed Bed Bed before going to bed!  I might just have to make this fella into a character for Jasper tonight before I go to bed- sweet dreams all!

For the birds

Yesterday when I was making some soup in the kitchen something caught my eye right outside my window- I looked up and saw a bright red cardinal perched atop the recycle box peeping inside!  It reminded me how much the boys and I have been loving a new CD.  It is called "You Are My Little Bird" by Elizabeth Mitchell- I am so in-love with this CD!

Not only is it full of folky and sweet children's songs, but you can hear what I believe is her sweet daughter Storey playing harmonica and singing.  The boys were so impressed to hear a child singing on the CD.  In case you like to sing songs with your kiddos also I found the lyrics on-line here.  Jasper's favorite song is Buckeye Jim and Silas is quite keen on Little Bird, Little Bird- I am determined to find molasses candy for them for Easter! 

So I went outside to follow the cardinal and he led me to the lily sprouts near our old birdhouse- right now it is a decoration.  Any time I think about setting up a birding area it looks like a horror film in the yard.  One thing about my cat she is a survivor hunter but it is so heartbreaking to see the birds in her wake- I still have flashbacks seeing her get the hummingbird a couple years ago.  Jasper and daddy gave it a sweet funeral under the pear tree.  She is such a stinker too- when I try to put bells  on her collar she somehow always manages to remove them- darn opposable thumbs she hides!

Tree of Happiness!

Yay- I got nominated by Syrendell for a Tree of Happiness Award- what a great way to make a smile on this rainy day!  Thanks so much for the kindness!

So here are 6 things that make this willow girl happy!

1-those quiet sweet moment of kissing my boys just one more time before I go to bed after a late night of crafting!
2-my new CD Ijust got in the mail of Renee and Jeremy- It's A Big World and watching Silas listen to the lullabys on a full tummy of hot chocolate!
3-Syrendelle's Sprites- goodness these are devine!
4-An amazing e-mail from a friend that just gave me chills!
5-A fresh new amazing book called Sparrow Girl
6-The amazing new blogs that I discovered today thanks to this neato baneato award!

So I am nominating these blogs next:

Papillion Sky Photography- so great to see your friends doing amazing things!
DuckyKnits- talented fiber artist named Chimera- makes the sweetest creations
Molly Reads- love her book reviews and a sweet mama I have had the pleasure of meeting