Winter's Entrance

What a day! It was a snowy landscape this morning but I thought the day would be a nice one with a bit of shoveling in the sun and go on as usual. Then the power went out - twice. I have not had a shower. This is a very rare occasion and I'm not exactly happy about it. The wind came up about 9:30 and from then on it was a very windy day that definitely was not conducive to going out. A nasty day! I shoveled the deck mid-afternoon but had to warp the door to get it open this morning. Nasty! Winter has arrived. I'm going to ignore it all I can and try not to complain about it here.

The birds and cats are marvels. We, all three, were out on the deck together and it was wonderful. All living as we should. We all talked (chirped, meowed, maybe) and got along as pleasantly as could be with snow all around us. I provided seeds. The cats stayed out longer than I did and have been napping since. I love how it all works out.

One of my favorite songwriters of the past few years has been Brandi Carlile. I've been singing her praises since here. Her song The Story is still one of my all-time favorite songs. She is a wonder! Today I have her song, Hiding My Heart. I so love this woman's music and hope you do to. Brooke Miller is a girl I've known since she was young. Her mom is a friend of mine. She's married, a step-mother and living off-island now but I love her albums. Here is World On a Whim for today and Country From the Domecar as a bonus. A simple Google search brings all this.

Stories

Lilacs! The air is heady! I just sent some to a friend recovering from surgery but the person delivering them said that she may let my friend have a whiff but plans to kidnap them to her own house. Lily of the valley is in full bloom too. When the lilacs have run their course I hope the lily of the valley will still be around. They're both wonderful plants for scenting a house, especially bathrooms. I've got vases full of white lilacs everywhere.

I had heaps of fun at the party last night. There were friends, food, dancing and staying up late, all adding up to a warm, laid-back but tired satisfaction. I was involved in one conversation where each person's story reminded the next person of another story. That person's story led the next person to remember another story. It went on and on, came back to the beginning, and the moment was magic. We all understood that moment. It was like a collective memory spanning continents and characters.

My story was about having my skirt stuck up the back of my panties while leaving the x-ray department a few years back. I was dancing with a friend (who was at last night's party) at a multicultural fundraiser a couple months later and this fellow, who was a friend of my dance partner, dances over. He says, " I know you from somewhere." You guessed it. We'd sat in the x-ray holding areas for an hour a couple months before. Last night was fun!

We had great dancing music too though there were complaints abounding of it being too loud. The only song that I was still singing this morning (in my head) was Black Horse and Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall. I checked and it is officially missing from 'The Pages' so here it is again. Something else missing for song number two or something new?...?... Actually I'm going to play a song that fits last night's party. The Story by Brandi Carlile is one of my all-time-favorite- in-the-world songs. Here it is, and Stories by Ruthie Foster that is quite perfect as well.

Out With The Old? No Way!

My sister-in-law is my new hero. She drove me to the hospital and back in a snowstorm after I dislocated my shoulder again this morning. She is much more brave than I will ever be. I have driven through storms in emergencies and know how stressful it is. She got a migraine headache soon after we arrived at the hospital but through modern medication was able to stop it before it took hold. I have to think of something special to do for her. Any ideas or suggestions?

It is going to be a very long road to recovery for this shoulder. The doctor explained just how unstable it is. It popped out very easily when I was drying myself after a bath. I've been a bit off balance since the injury and when the other arm is busy with something, my whole body, not just the shoulder, is unstable.

It's New Years Eve. My crazy son is going to drive through the storm to go to a party. I strongly object to this but he is an adult and has made his decision. The visibility and roads are going to get much worse as wind is forecast.

To hear a bunch of New Years Eve songs go to The Late Greats. The Duke has a post highlighting many different songs but with the name New Year's Eve. I am going to reprise some favorites for me this past year. The songs are not even necessarily from this year, they were just favorites of mine this year. Feist's, 1,2,3,4 was from this year and I thought it was a great song. It has been heard widely and has even been in a commercial so, I'm not alone in liking this song. Here are some that I really dug but not in any particular order. My Singing Soul by Soel, To The Fallen by Ruthie Foster, Long Ride Home by Patty Griffin, Walk Around the Lake by Lost In The Trees, The Story by Brandi Carlile, and Got Up This Morning by Sage France and Jolie Holland. This is just a few. One more you say? OK here is Colin Hay with I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over Losing You. It wins for longest title too.

Stories

I'm having the best day! It's my first day home all day in a long time. Each of my days off have been filled with something somewhere. But not today. I've even enjoyed laundry and cleaning just because I'm doing it here. Cleaning and sorting are what I've done most of the day. Yesterday was a town day so there were things to put away and follow through. I've done things I kept putting off, you know.....until I have a minute. Very productive and nice.

I received a bunch of old family photo .jpgs the other day. Most weren't of my immediate family but relatives. There was one of my mother, however, and that is today's photo. She is wearing pants which my mom's cousin, Shirley, told me was very unusual for their lifestyle then. She is with her cousin, Arthur in the photo.

My mom's cousin, Shirley, and I have always kept an e-mail and phone relationship though she lives in Florida and I've seen her only once in twenty-five years. She has always told me stories of the past about her, my mom and other relatives. I have an aunt in Ontario who I have a similar relationship with, though I see her once a year or so. She also tells me stories. About a year ago I told them both that they should be talking to each other because they tell me some of the same stories. Well they got in touch and have been having at least weekly conversations for almost a year and are really enjoying the chance to rehash the old events.

I've got a bit of new music that I've been listening to and am really enjoying. I still don't have a 'real' stereo since the night of my party/thunderstorm. Just an old boombox and the computer. The music I'm enjoying the most is some new Brandi Carlile. I've sung her praises before and will do it again. Brandi Carlile is a fabulous talent. Her voice is what draws me but her songwriting keeps me enthralled. Her songs are dynamite. They are stories and here's one I had up already, The Story. Some new ones today are Turpentine and What Can I Say. Just listen to those stories.

Monday Again

I missed my doggie friends and my horse friends today. My usual Monday hike is cancelled for the time being with work but I may have Mondays off and if I do, I'll be hiking for sure.

The lilacs and apple blossoms are in full bloom right now. The smell in the house is incredible as I have several bouquets of each. The hoyas all over the house are fully in bloom as well, so when I wake in the middle of the night that's the first thing I become aware of because they are night-scented. I have hoyas that are in bloom for the first time and the blooms are very abundant on all of them. They are really terrific for scenting the house at night. I had one in my bedroom years ago and had to take it out as the strong scent kept me awake. Now they are all downstairs and still, the scent is very strong.

I am really taken with singersongwriter, Brandi Carlile. She had a unique, powerful voice and her lyrics are top notch. I've been putting quite a few of her songs on playlists and always get comments or questions about her afterward. The Story is the title of her new album and the title song is fantastic. You'd think it was written by an older woman. I can't find the song, Creep, on any of her albums but have this cut from a live concert. I'm not usually a fan of rock but she's rocky and I like her a lot.