Halleluja

I am so upset. My friends from Australia and Summerside, PEI were here for a visit this afternoon and I didn't get a photo. Two of the women were taking photos and I was being photographed but forgot to pick up my own camera. I'm thinking of calling the house where they are having dinner and arranging to meet for a late night photo. I can easily drop in and make it happen. There were five of us women all chatting at once and time got away so quickly.

They had a tour of my studio which currently is set up for painting, and had a look at my glass portfolio. One of the women was new to me. She is from Colorado and met the other three here after their vacation in Provence. We had tea and a nice visit. I've been home, a working girl. The other four have been traveling the world.

I had my last shift at work yesterday and I'm a free woman for the time being. That's what I want to celebrate, with music. It can only be done with this song. Two more versions of Halleluja. Here is a 'Live at Glastonbury' song from Rufus and Martha Wainwright. I really mean I want a celebration so here's another version from Allison Crowe. You can Bloggersearch on the top left for other versions on the blog.

Round and Round

After four days of glorious sunshine we had light rain today but it seems as though the sun is trying to come out. My daughter just commented that it's snowing (or has snowed) in Calgary. We are supposed to get some on Sunday as well. It's all ok though because spring is here. Green grass is poking through the brown, the daffodils are growing an inch or more each day, and people are smiling. That's all the proof I need.

It's funny how one little music search can lead me round and round. On Kat's blog today she has a song sung by Elizabeth Mitchell called Winter's Come and Gone. I thought I knew the song from a long time ago but upon research found it was written by contemporary Gillian Welsh. I looked in my files thinking it was familiar because I had it but no, I do not. It's really bugging me because I was singing along with the chorus. I know that song!

Anyway, above her name I saw That Masquerade by George Benson. That brought back lots of memories. I really liked George Benson years ago and even extravagantly bought a boxed set of his music as a gift for another fan. The song is also a memory of the movie, All That Jazz, which I loved. I looked at the information on That Masquerade and found it was written by Leon Russell who I also am a big fan of. So today's music is about going round and round. Here's Leon doing a Bob Dylan cover, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall and Bob Dylan doing a live cover of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja. Now if I could only find Leonard doing a George Benson cover......

Cooling Down

The weather has turned to autumn this weekend. We went from the mid twenties last week to nine degrees today. The leaves will really turn this week I'd say. The walking tomorrow should be really great with the cooler temps. Friday was way too warm, especially when we were walking so fast.

I saw theses horses on Friday for the first time in a long time. When I was there on Monday they were further away in their pasture and I couldn't see them. On Friday this is as close as they got and would come no further. They are in beautiful shape for rescued horses.

Guess what I had for lunch. If you guessed leftover turkey you'd be correct. It's just as good the second day.

For music today I've put up some kd lang from her Canadian songwriter tribute from a few years ago, hymns of the 49th parallel. This is how much I love this album. I had the cd, but saw one at a secondhand cd store and bought another one just to give it away. I can't even remember who I gave it to. Love Is Everything is my favorite song on the album. kd does it even better than Jane Siberry, the songwriter. It makes me melt. She does a nice version of Neil Young's Helpless, which I'm putting up today and her rendition of Leonard Cohen's, Halleluja is the favorite version of many, including my sister-in-law. Some days are just kd lang days ........ Canada's finest voice, in my opinion.

Another Birthday Girl

Today's walk was better than yesterday's in that the yappy, little dog who likes to chase my heels did so for only five minutes compared to yesterday's twenty minutes. He is smaller than my foot so I'm not really scared of him but he sure is annoying. He's a toy terrier of some sort. If he ever bites me it will be the last bite he ever takes.

I have no cold whatsoever today. It may be allergies that have been causing this occasional stuffiness. I am certainly not complaining. I love being healthy and fit and not addicted to cigarettes.

It is my favorite ex's (sister-in-law) birthday today. My sister's two days ago and another ex sister in law's at the end of last week. I always thought it was kind of neat when both of these women were sisters in law and my sister were all having birthdays in a few days.

She loves the song Halleluja so I'll add Brandi Carlile's live version to join the other versions up already. Also for the favorite ex, To Be Young by Ryan Adams.

Halleluja

It's finally here...the last party of the year at my work. I have a finish up day for the year next week and then that's it. Whew! It's been a siege to say the least. S. is coming out to volunteer and have a free dinner and then we're coming back here to have a drink or two and celebrate another year finished. Did I say Whew!?

I heard from my daughter last night. They were close to entering Manitoba, making good time and there was not a blizzard. It was snowing but not too bad. Our weather is warm and sunny. People are complaining about the lack of a white Christmas. Bah!

On the radio right now is kd lang's version of Leonard Cohen's song, Halleluja. The song before that was Ray Charles', Halleluja, I Love Her So. The segment is a kind of special on the word Halleluja. I have lots of versions of Halleluja and a few up on the music page. I also have Ray's song up already. Here are a few more Hallelujas in honour of the last Christmas party. To add to Allison Crowe, kd, Jeff Buckley's versions are a powerful one by Rufus Wainwright and the original by Leonard Cohen himself.