Intensely Here

I've had a strange but wonderful day. Busy, with lots of things happening. In the midst of it all, I discovered that this was Thanksgiving weekend. I thought it was a week from now. I now have settled plans. A dinner here on Saturday with an unyet determined amount of people, work on Sunday, an another turkey dinner on Monday with a friend. I am going to town tomorrow morning as I have to buy a turkey. I could have bought it yesterday but was a week behind in my knowing when Thanksgiving was happening. I'm hiking in the afternoon and cooking pumpkin pies when I get home.

I am thinking in oranges and greens today. I got a great bunch of gourds, squashes and pumpkins today and am going to make a display, probably Saturday sometime. That's my explanation for the photo and today's music. Alexi Murdoch brings us Orange Sky. I thought I had it up already. Joni Mitchell has a new album. I got a copy of Shine, the title track today, that I'll share later. Everyone else has it up now. Today I have Joni's Little Green from her album, Blue. It is supposedly written for the child she'd given up. I love the album Blue and this song.

My other favorites, The Waifs has a new album out too. You can hear small exerts from each song and a video of the title track if you visit their new and recently changed site. It's all about the music.

Which reminds me, the Putfile site has either been hacked into or they themselves have replaced our text on our personal pages. I have their text erased from Page Two though it was difficult and I'm not able to put my words back yet. I still say I wouldn't be surprised if everything disappears some day. What an intense day!

Day and Night

My goodness, it's late and I wasn't here yesterday. I've been busy. First day completely off work in a long while and I did fun things and chore things (grocery shopping, etc.), watched Oprah, and am cooking a nice supper. Time flies.

I've been waking at four am quite frequently for the last few weeks. This morning I slept till six thirty, an hour later than even my usual wake up time so I've felt pleased about that all day.

I got up Monday morning at four. Didn't have to work that morning so hoped I could go back to bed after a bit. I did, at five-thirty, but left the kitchen light on because I was too tired to walk across the kitchen to turn it off. A friend called me at six-thirty and said, "I'm calling now because I saw your light on." Sigh! It was ok though, as I wanted to do the endorphen walk anyway. She was in a panic because she had gone off to work but had forgotten to water her horses. I'll tell you about that another time.

I feel like Greg Brown today. I wonder if he feels like me. I really like this guy! Here's GoodMorning Coffee , a fun version of a song that we all know at least part of the words to and Dream On. Did I say I like this guy? I like his spontaneously sounding, rapping style. Here's to having a sleep/time, time/sleep adjustment!!

Oops, had company; it's later still.

Just the Beginning

My Monday hike begins with a steep downgrade of about a quarter of a mile. Guess what! It ends at the same place but is then a steep upgrade. I've been eating a few desserts lately and in wanting to work them off, decided to do my two hour hike at a super fast pace. That last quarter mile can be a killer but today when I jumped in my car after reaching the top, I think my endorphen level was such that I could have made it home without a car. I still feel fantastic two hours later. I plan on doing a lot more hiking in the next near future. Anyone want to join me?

The leaves aren't even near as colourful here yet as they are in New Brunswick. The photo above was taken of a hillside visible on today's walk. The leaves are still mostly green. The next few weeks should be the most beautiful hiking weather. I'm very excited. I'm going to try to find someone to hike with as my regular partner has been busy and I like the company though solo is perfectly ok too as it is much quieter. As I said yesterday, no bears or moose to contend with here.

Here are songs 299 and 300 on page two. Autumn by Paolo Nutini seems like an appropriate song for today. We don't have colourful leaves yet but overnight we had our first major frost of the autumn. Autumn is here! Be Still by Los Lobos is today's other choice as today's hike was by myself and the stillness was such a big part of the occasion, a good part.

Changing

It's the last day of September and if you're with it at all, tomorrow is the first day of October. The colour changing of the leaves is again late this year so this will be a fantastic month for hiking. I'm going to my favorite spot tomorrow. I won't have to worry about moose or bear, just blisters. All the hiking I did when I was away was leisurely, not at all endorphen releasing and I need a good dose.

My son who was on vacation brought me a dvd from my other son of photos of his kids. I watched it when I came home from work last night. These kids are seriously cute. It made me want to see them so bad. I always wanted to be the baby-sit-on-Saturday-night kind of grandma but alas, when they're a thousand miles away..... The photo is from a while ago from my files, not really current.

Music is to celebrate the change in the calendar. September Song by Nat King Cole is for the month leaving us and Rosie Thomas is welcoming us to the new month with October.

Colourful Memories

Autumn has begun. There were record breaking high temperatures all over the Maritimes on Wednesday and the whole month has been warmer than usual. Today it is cloudy and nineteen degrees. That is probably warmer than usual but it's not summer-like. I've really been enjoying it. The cold can stay away as long as possible, as far as I'm concerned.

I have the most beautiful fall mum plant. It is pictured above but when there were more buds than blooms. It is now more blooms than buds. The golds, oranges and rusts are my favorite colours for flowers though I love reds too. Last year's mum was of the red tones and was beautiful too. This year's is huge. You could buy them everywhere for $7.99 but this one was $9.99 and I think the huge size made it worth the extra two dollars. To be sure, every season has it's beauty.

Even though I'm back to work and regular life, I keep going over my little vacation in my head. It was so wonderful! Ruthie Foster, who I love so much, has a couple of songs that take me back to to both the good parts and the bad parts of the week. One is Home and the other is Joy. Both these songs are from Ruthie's album Runaway Soul. Joy helps me think that my sister-in-law is now reunited with my brother. I think that was the thought of everyone at the ceremony on Wednesday who knew them both. They were so very much in love.

Colours

I have had quite a autumn vacation! The best and the worst has happened. The worst was that my sister-in-law who had suffered the massive stroke earlier in the week passed away. I attended her funeral yesterday on the way home. It was very sad for us all to see her children feeling so lost. It's very hard for them as their mom was everything to them.

There were several very good things that happened. I attended the 87th birthday party of the woman who was the mom next door when I was growing up. Her daughter was my best friend. It was fun seeing people who I hadn't seen for thirty plus years.

My cousin who lives next door to my dad was inducted into the country music wall of fame while I was there. I went to the big ceremony where I saw lots of relatives. The next day he had a brunch and we had a birthday party for Dad so with two parties next door to each other, we had one huge party with tons of relatives and friends. I had aunts visiting from Toronto and my cousin had aunts and cousins from away so the mixture was wonderful with lots of people seeing each other for the first time in decades. It was one of the best days I've ever had.

I was in the woods every day. With the beautiful autumn colours there was nowhere I'd rather have been. Months ago my aunt from Toronto and I had planned to spend a day in the woods and it was really nice and a special day. Supposedly there are lots of bears around as well as many moose and deer but we didn't see anything while we were out. We kept up a constant chatter and I sang to ward off bears. I knew my out-of-tune voice would come in handy some day.

For music, what else but Colours by Amos Lee. All of My Days by Alexi Murdoch is fitting on many levels of this post so that's the second choice for today

Life's Surprises

I can't believe a repeat of the same tragedy that has recently occurred with two people I've told you about has happened once again. First was my very close friend who had an embolism the day after her surgery that nearly killed her. Then I told you about the seventeen year old girl in my community who died of an embolism one week after surgery. This time it is my sister-in-law in New Brunswick who has had a massive stroke at 57 after having had surgery on the 20th, nearly a month ago. Then, this morning I read this in a music blog that I regularly read. What is going on? When it happened to both my friend and the young girl, I heard a ton of horror stories about just that event occurring. It seems that everyone knows someone who has had a stroke or heart attack from an embolism after surgery. This is too much!!!!

My sister-in-law has gone blind with her stroke. I don't know if it's common, if sight can return or anything, really. She is completely paralyzed on one side, can not really talk and is very confused. I spoke to my niece and she doesn't have many answers, only questions. There is only she and her brother for her mom as my brother, their dad, passed away from leukemia when they were very young children. The kids are in their early twenties living their lives in separate parts of the province, not that near to their mom but she is in the hospital of the city where my niece lives. That's good, for now. This is such a tragedy.

I'm off out of province for a few days. If I hang out at my brother's, I'll post with one of his incredible photos or if I'm at my sister's I'll do the same and some of their music. With this tragedy happening Time After Time, that's what I have for music today - by Cyndi Lauper. Also, I'm Not Afraid to Die by Gillian Welsh.

Sour Grapes

Twice today there were Island-wide power outages. The first one only lasted a second but knocked out the Aliant server for half the morning. When the server came back, I restarted the computer, made a cd, printed out the playlist, and decided to uninstall a printer that my daughter had borrowed for a week but never uninstalled. It said you must restart the computer to finish the uninstall. It was restarting when the power went off again - this time for 10 - 15 minutes. Aaarrrrgggghhh! It takes a good ten minutes to restart my computer because I have Norton 2007 and it has to do it's long-lasting thing every time. So that is three times this morning which is enough to make a person very frustrated.

I made a cd for my aunt and uncle who had a gift hand delivered to me a few weeks ago. Since I am going to be seeing another aunt who will then be seeing them, I will have her hand deliver something for me. It's all easy listening latin like Pink Martini and the Gilbertos and such.

That's not the music I'm giving you today though. I'll play the association game. Sour grapes reminds me of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Here it is by the wonderful Bettye LaVette. That song reminds me, and probably you, of Gladys Knight. Here she is with If I Were Your Woman. It's an easy game that I play most days to choose the music that I put up here.

Feelin' Free

I'm having a very quiet but nice day off. I've been puttering. I had a long leisurely bath, weeded the back flower garden, filled vases with fall blooms, did the usual day-off housework chores, watched Oprah and generally recuperated from four hectic nights. I'm rather tired as I got home past my normal bedtime last night and that's hard on me. I still get up at 5:30 no matter what time I get to bed so I've had a couple of hours less sleep than I need. I'll go to bed early tonight to try to catch up. One more night of work , one more day at home, then I'm going away for a few days. I'm not sure when I'm coming back. Maybe Monday, maybe later. I love the freedom to be able to do that.

We are having fabulous weather. This is the best time to travel in the Maritimes weather-wise. A drawback though is that many businesses close on Labour Day so there aren't as many shops to visit, activities to explore or programs to attend. It's a Catch 22 situation with owners not being able to afford to stay open.

Goodness! I started this over two hours ago. A friend dropped in, had a little visit then we went off on a little adventure and I'm just getting back now. Music that I was listening to before will have to do. There's The Rest of the Day Off by Neil Finn because I know the evening is going to be good and the old folk song, Simple Song of Freedom by Tim Hardin.......just because going away is putting me in that mood - freedom!!!!!!

Mushroomy Monday

I went on a five kilometer hike this morning but not in my usual woods. I went to a new spot and I'm very glad I did. I got a couple of pounds of chanterelles. Oh, boy!!!! I thought they would be passed season by now but since it's been fairly wet the season is still apon us. I found they keep very well in the fridge whic is good because I have lots. I have cooked and frozen them in the past, as well. Yum, yum, yum!!!

The walk would have been wonderful even without the mushrooms. I get complete joy being in the woods. The ferny, mossy smell overpowers me every time. I walked very quickly on the two and half km. up the trail so the endorphens were raging. I walked more slowly on the way bach as I was having to stop to gather the mushrooms.

I usually match the music theme to the rest of the post somehow but not today. Today's music theme is 'boat' which has absolutely nothing to do with the woods, mushrooms or hiking. Yesterday when I listened to The Waterboys I also listened to their song, Strange Boat. That made me think of Lyle Lovett's, If I Had a Boat. I have that but also a version by The Holmes Brothers, which I'm putting up today. Funny thing: both songs are both 3:06 in length.

Music to Live By

The kids were driving around a golf course on a golf cart when I talked to them last night. They are staying with a friend from here who is a golf pro in Jasper. He had to work so they were hanging out with him. When I call tonight they will be on the road back to Calgary. They had a great time with the Chuckies and Girlie even got to work on time.

I've been making cd's this morning. One has the theme of Higher Ground and one has the theme of Workin' For a Living. Soul of a Man by Ollabelle is on the first. I thought I had it up already but apparently not. I like Ollabelle a lot and don't feature them enough. Since I've provided a link, check them out. You can play their music while on the site. Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys is a song from the Workin' For a Living cd. I like their sound and have provided a link to them too.

Together Again

The kids are off to Jasper for the weekend. I'll call tonight when I get home from work and get all the buzz about their night hanging out with their close friends, The Chucky Danger Band. They are happy to just be together but with the band in town they were expecting to have some serious fun the last I talked to them. It will be nice this weekend for them to sightsee and have more fun before Son leaves on the next leg of his vacation.

We've had a really beautiful week weather-wise and later today we're getting some rain so it's cloudy today. We certainly can't complain. September can be yucky but this year so far wonderful - warm days and cool nights though very windy.

I can't believe I've never put up Chucky Danger before (they dropped Band from their name recently). Two of the boys have been my daughter's boyfriend and another was my son's best friend all through high school. My nephew was their sound guy but is not on the road anymore, but doing sound in one place.

Robbie promised me one of their new cd's but since I had to cancel my plans for their last two PEI performances, I didn't get one so will share songs from their 2006 album, Colour. Here's Beautiful One and, keeping with beauty, Beautiful Mistake. If Robbie ever comes round I'll post something from the new album. Since none of the kids are here anymore, I rarely get visits from the young'ns.

Windy Weather Woes

I should be mowing but I'm taking the Mexican attitude......manana. I'd rather listen to music and read blogs. I'm going to town in a bit and that will be enough adventure for the day.

We had a wicked windstorm last night. I'm used to windiness blowing lawn chairs around the deck but last night's wind blew them off the deck. I came home at almost ten and had take a sail down. I couldn't untie the knots so cut the ropes. One corner was on a hook and it had blown off and the sail was rolled up into a tight tube between the two ends that were still attached. You can imagine the apples on the ground. With a dozen or so trees, mowing is something else altogether when you have to pick up apples first. Its windy today but not like last night. I'd say it was close to hurricane strength.

Wouldn't you love to hear some Johnny Cash? It so happens I have him singing a couple of songs written by Canadians. One is even about the wind. Four Strong Winds, written by Ian Tyson, would be that song. I had it up previously but it has disappeared. This was recorded near the end of Johnny's life when his voice was a bit shaky. I love it anyway and think it deserves another listen. Bird On A Wire is written by Leonard Cohen and sung beautifully by Johnny. You wouldn't have wanted to be a bird on a wire last night on PEI!

Al Green Rocks

I'm working late afternoons and evenings this week so this will be my new blogging time for a bit.

My son who lives here in PEI had some business in Atlanta and is now on a much deserved vacation for a couple of weeks. I knew all of his plans but it didn't occur to me that he would be flying from the USA to Canada on September 11th. My sister-in-law told me he was nervous about it but hadn't told me. Suddenly I was really worried, almost panicy. The phone rang at that instant, less than two minutes after I was told about this and it was my son to tell me he was at my daughter's apartment in Calgary. Whew!!

I have a couple of versions of a great old song today. Love and Happiness was a big hit for Al Green in the early seventies. It's been copied by Marc Broussard, who has done covers of quite a few old soul songs. I wore out a few Al Green albums back in the seventies and still listen to him a lot, especially live cuts. He's now known as the Right Reverend Al Green. I always get a kick out of that.

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.

Time For Birthdays

I've heard about thirty people having birthdays this week with one in my own family tomorrow. I know why there are so many birthdays right now. These were people concieved Christmas/New Years week. A popular time for conceptions, it seems.

I attended my good friend's fiftieth birthday last night but left before the other celebrant (who was fifty-eight) arrived. I had to be up early for the new job so was a good girl and thought better of staying late. It was really fun though. These friends live in a beautiful beachfront home but thought the weather might be cool because of it being September so planned the party elsewhere. It turned out to be the hottest day of the summer. Sure would have been nice to be in the water yesterday but we had lots of fun anyway. It was just sweaty fun.

Music is for my son who is having one of those milestone birthdays. I just don't understand how he got to be this age. I'm not sure I'm as old as he is yet. It has to be Dylan for my boy and since he's heard it all, I'm sending along a live cut from a concert and a bootleg. Here's The Times We've Known and Heart of Mine. Happy Birthday, Darling!!!!

Facing Forward

I think my camera is broken. I thought at first that the rechargable batteries had reached the end of their lives but I now believe it is the camera. Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo. I feel lost. All photos, needless to say will be from the archives.

I finished my summer job today. Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo. I have another part time job but would like to find something full time. I know I can stay busy without working but it's the money aspect. You need money, sad as it is, to live.

I have a friend turning 50 tomorrow and a son turning 30 within a couple of days. How did THAT happen? His birthdays always affected me more than my own. Like, how could I have a son who is thirty when I feel thirty myself. Life happens when we're making other plans. Thank you, John Lennon.

For music today, artists who start with F. Why? No reason. Feist has The Limit To Your Love and The Finn Brothers has Won't Give In. No, no reason. OK, the broken camera. F........

The Sixties?

Had a spontaneous little get together yesterday with some people dropping in after work so no blogging got done. I probably would have written about how cold and really, really windy it was. Today is beautiful butonly nineteen degrees. We are having twenty nine tomorrow and going back down to nineteen the next day. Up and down.

This evening I am going to the wake of the girl I mentioned had died on Tuesday. There will be long lines, I'm sure; much like the wake I went to a couple of months ago where the deceased was in his twenties. This is so tragic and our community is stunned about it. When you have teens, a car accident, alcohol poisining, silly pranks are always in the back of your mind which actually help prepare you if anything happens to them. Nothing prepares you for this.

I'm reading a book about the sixties, Do You Believe In Magic by Annie Gottelieb, for the second time. Here's some music from those times. Crosby Stills Nash and Young with Teach Your Children , Suzie Q from Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Moody Blues with Nights In White Satin. Those are from today. Here are a couple more....1....2...3... An aside: My mother was ok with all of my music from this era, even Frank Zappa, but she did not like The Moody Blues. She couldn't stand them and I never understood that about her.

Where We Go

I and everyone in my community is in shock. A happy, healthy seventeen year old has suddenly had an embolism a few days after knee surgery and has passed away. Her grandmother and I closely work together as she is on the board directors of the organization I work with. Her dad worked with me at our family business when this girl was born. Entering grade twelve in a day or two and was showing her brother around the highschool for his upcoming first day there. The shock runs deep. I have no words.

I went visiting a couple of people after dinner. Brought a houswarming gift to one and had a regular visit to my senior friend. Ha, he would be a great-great uncle to this girl. These things hit everybody in a community.

Music: Where I'd head to for music at a time like this is straight to Van Morrison. I could choose from so many wonderfully fitting songs. Here are two I already have up: Across the Bridge Where Angels Come, Whenever God Shines His Light, . For today, Contacting My Angel which has personal meaning for me with this child. Van and Bob Dylan get together for Knocking On Heaven's Door. Just found out that it was already up too. Not surprisingly, all three were up on a post when my friend lost her Dad in March, two days after the funeral for my other friend's Mom on the aniversay of my Mom's death. Yes, Van's where I go.

It's Not the End Of Summer

I am at my most frustrated right now. You KNOW it has to have something to do with mowing. I have the mower deck moved/stuck again and my mower guy is elsewhere. I have the lawn a quarter mowed. Is there no end to the frustrations that can be caused by mowing?

I went back to bed this morning at about five-thirty and got up close to ten. That's the latest I've stayed in bed since I was seventeen. Of course the day has just zoomed by and I'm feeling groggy or something. It was a nice change though for a holiday as it makes it feel like a holiday.

I've been outdoors or out and about all day and haven't listened to music till now. I have my blogroll of music blogs that I listen to daily and I'm hearing some cuts I like right now. For something that I like that's not new, I have Al Green with the Gibb brother's lovely song, How Do You Mend A Broken Heart. No one does it better than Mr. Green. I also have a song that could be called appropriate for the day, the Black Eyed Peas with Labour Day. It was last Labour Day that they played on PEI, I believe - a real big deal.

Blues In The Night

It's 4:30 in the morning - an hour before I usually get up and I've been up for an hour already. I've been waking around three off and on for a couple of weeks. I'm going to stay up and since it's a holiday and I have the day off, I'll have a nap this afternoon.

I've had a very busy weekend. I had a small party Saturday night. In the early evening I had a call from a friend in Halifax saying that she and three others were coming over for the weekend. They called at 12:30 or so with changed plans and didn't come. My niece and two other people arrived yesterday but didn't stay the night - just came to visit. I had to work a shift at the second job which went very well. I made three batches of pickles between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning (but not during the party). It was Labour Day weekend after all.

The weather has really cooled off. Overnight it has become really windy and cold. My bedroom window is wide open and that could be why I kept waking through the night. Too tired to get up to close it. I bet if I went up there now I'd find Bella under the covers. She was laying really close to me - crowding me out really.

A couple of versions of a fabulous song that is appropriate for the middle of the night are already up but most likely in the land of the disparu. Blues In the Night is the song and the very different versions are from Dr. John and Katie Melua. Great song!

Sorry about the terrible photo but it's now impossible to delete a photo once it's up as you could in the past. I would normally just delete the whole post but this time I was finished everything else and put the photo up last - opposite of my usual way. It is the middle of the night after all....

Three Days!

I've probably said this before - I love Friday! Getting off work an hour early may not seem like much but it makes a huge difference, I find. Especially after working the night before. I like schedules and the night work once every two weeks messes me up. I've got three days off though I'm working a shift at another job on Sunday. I kind of need the break. I have a friend coming out for the day and night tomorrow which will be great fun.

I found a little baby mouse outside at work yesterday. He was still at the same place today. I moved it out of the window well and gave it some cheese and water. It didn't acknowledge either and had moved away from the cheese after a while. I doubt if it will make it. I certainly couldn't bring it home as the cats would have thought I was bringing a treat. Oh, well! Poor mousie.

I haven't played any Dan Hicks or Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks in a while. I've been a huge fan since the early seventies and play him a lot. It's time to do it here. Here's Dan with Walk Right In and The Hot Licks help out on C'mon a My House, one of my favorite of his songs. It is one of the disappeared ones but it's back again.

A Bit of Africa

I should be out there mowing as I work tomorrow night and have plans for Friday night. If I think about it too hard I'll go. Perhaps I should put the music up first.

Even though we've had magnificent weather this week, summer is slowing down. Work is very quiet. This weekend is the last hurrah for the tourist season. We get some shoulder season visitors on the island but not enough to keep most businesses open. It's a shame because September is usually perfect weather.

I was conversing back and forth with people on the Shutterchance blog. My photo today is one I took on my last woods hike. It is of bright green ferns and one lone red leaf, an early sign of autumn. The folks from South Africa are celebrating their first day of spring on Saturday while we're heading to the fall. It amazes us all.

I had the pleasant surprise of some unexpected company but they're now gone. Back to the blog. It won't take long as I already had the music chosen. African is the genre with the intention of ushering them into their spring. Momo Wandel Souma brings us a really cool jazzy number, Felenko Yefe. It is kind of long, but definitely worth the listen. He reminds me of Tom Waits and if you listen , you'll understand why. Really nice guitars and tenor sax. The other African song is from Youssou N'Dour. Don't Look Back has an immediately recognizable guitar sound of Spandeau Ballet but with the female vocals, a really nice song. Also worth a listen as both are wonderfully relaxing pieces. Just what I needed.

If there's anyone who would rather listen to some more dancable Artican listen here and here.

Moving or Not Moving

Today is moving day for my son in Ontario. He and his family are moving to a house with a big back yard. He and his wife both had that in their childhoods and want it for their kids. He loves to mow, luckily, and did not inherit that trait from his mother. The closing date was not staggered so everything is being done in one day. The other grandma (I wish it was me) is going to take care of the children and both parents are supurbly organized so I'm sure it will go well. I'm glad it's not me but at the same time I wish it were. I want a smaller yard so I don't have to mow. Wouldn't you rather be sitting in a chair like the above scene or lying in your hammock hung in the trees of your big back yard?

I heard about last night's lunar eclipse after the fact and though I was up, didn't see it. My daughter called just as I was leaving for work wondering what the heck was happening with the moon. She had received the well known hoax letter about Mars and the earth that was going around again. I wish I'd looked more closely because I did glance up just to see where the moon was when I got up at 5:30.

I've got a song to celebrate the new, big back yard and one for the moon. Our Trees by Tegan and Sara is appropriate for the yard. I hope there's a tree suitable for a treehouse as my kids had the fun of growing up with one though it was not the kind you'd dream about or anything. Carlos Nunez gives a nice celtic song with The Moon Says Hello.

Cooled From the North

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Had a spectacular day yesterday on a north shore beach. It was very hot and humid on PEI and where I was had a cool breeze from the ocean blowing for the whole day. Old friends, marvelous food, good music, a long hike, then swimming; spectacular and nothing less. My hiking partner broke his little toe during our beach walk but it didn't pain terribly.....until the evening. Then it started in earnest. He had to take ibuprophen. There was a great sunset that we enjoyed during dinner to top off the day perfectly. I have quite a few versions of the old standard up but who knows if any of them are still there. I think they're still reachable somehow..

We've had very hot and muggy weather for two days. It is dry now and will remain like that a few days and is then forecast to get hot and muggy again. It's still summerlike and that's good enough for me. Sometimes this time of year can feel like fall.

To celebrate I'm throwing out the song Summertime. There's the one we all know and here's a version of that is by Sam Cooke. The other song is by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince and not another version of the old standard....something completely different. My kids will probably like it.

I seem to be getting later and later with my postings. Busy, busy, busy. There is always a chore to do, a meal to make, a visit to attend to, or many other things. I had to bake today and make salad for a party tomorrow. I made a large blueberry-peach crisp for the gathering and a small one for myself. It is yummmy!

I'm not going to hike in the woods tomorrow but am going to have a long beach walk. It's so important for me to get those endorphins flowing. It makes you feel so incredible.

It is certainly garden harvest time around here. Everyone is passing me vegetables of every kind and they're so delicious. I have to get ready for some pickle making soon. I have two people offering me cucumbers. I haven't made any for myself for three years though I was still making them for the former workplace. This year will fill the pickle cupboard again.

My aunt called and told me to expect a hand delivered gift in the next week. They always send me cool packages but this one is hand delivered. My two other aunts are coming east in a month so it will be nice seeing them twice in the same year.

I've loved Randy Newman since he did the soundtrack for the movie Ragtime in the seventies. I never saw the movie but had the tape and pretty well wore it out. I haven't played anything by him in a while. I'm a Real Emotional Girl and My Life Is Good. Listen to those numbers of the same name.

A Little Rain Never Hurt No One

It's Friday, my favorite day of the week. Always has been. It was when my gang of friend hung out because we all had to babysit for our parents, who went out on Saturday night. I have the weekend off and plan to enjoy it.

I just had a couple of friends drop by and I may go out myself later. We've had steady rain all day and it is supposed to continue so I'm not crazy about going driving tonight. I have to go to the grocery store to get some baking ingredients to make a dessert for a gathering on Sunday. I was going to pickle too but have changed my mind and will do it this week.

This is the first time I've had a reason to play those rainy songs that I promised on Sunday (I think). I have a pretty good collection. Live Stevie Ray Vaughan is my treat for you if you like the blues. This piece, The Sky Is Crying, is superb. For something completely different, acoustic Tracey Chapman sings Let It Rain.

By the way, the eagle photos are my brother's. He should have a photo blog.

Trying To Breathe

What a difference a day makes. I lost that big burst of energy that I had yesterday. Mowing is what does it. I am a third of the way through the job and have run out of gas. I'm taking a break, supper is cooking and I will gas up and finish it later. I once traded my wonderful, rear tine tiller for a summer's lawnmowing; that's how much I dislike it. I had a match made in heaven once where my partner loved to mow. It was great!

The weather has been at it's most perfect with temps in the mid twenties and cool nights. Simply beautiful! My neighbour is taking in a second crop of hay off the field next to me. That doesn't often happen. We had the perfect amount of moisture this year for growing. A few crops were late, like strawberries. Some were early like chanterelles and blueberries. I live in the most perfect place for the most part. It is forecast to rain tomorrow.

My sister and niece are going to love this. I chose Pastures of Plenty by Alison Krauss & Union Station. Country-bluegrass....two days in a row. What I dislike most about mowing are the fumes that the lawnmower belches out. Because I tend to hold my breath when I'm mowing, I've chosen Breathe by Women In Docs. It is not the same as Sia's song.

I've just uploaded song number 250 on Page Two. I had started to delete inaccessable songs from Page One but have stopped for now, in case I can get them back. Darn I have supper burning.

Energy Flows

Time has flown. I left work an hour early and as soon as I walked into the house, the phone started ringing. I shouldn't have even been home at that hour and that's what the first call was about. A friend saw my car at home and wondered why. He and his wife are friends from 35 years ago and he calls me three times a year when he's in PEI on business. Planned on calling tonight but saw my car at home. Another phone call from a friend, (who knows I work till 5), then a visit from another friend, supper prep, and eating and it's almost 7 pm. Thank goodness I decided to mow tomorrow instead of tonight.

I worked outside a lot today again and it is perfect, perfect weather. If we could only bottle a day like this. I was in the woods again and since it's my favorite place in the world, well you know there were some endorphens released! Fabulous day! Energy plus and feeling good plus.

Down Home Girl is a nice and sweet song from Old Crow Medicine Show whom I haven't put up in a while. Another song of theirs always reminds me of the Grateful Dead. This is from a live performance and is called Wagon Wheel. A shout out for my sister and niece..... this is pretty well country music, especially the second one; you'll like it.

Short and Sweet

I heard today that the space shuttle and space station were very visible in our sky last night at close to nine o'clock. I actually had looked at the stars for a moment at about nine-thirty but didn't know then that they were to be visible. The person who told me said that the sighting was really beautiful. Who knew?

Speaking of beautiful things, isn't Ms MacKenzie (Kenz) a beautiful thing? I treasure my kitties every day. She poses and Bella doesn't like her photo taken so I have many more photos of Kenz. Clarke posed too but usually rolled over onto his back eventually, as an invitation to come pet him.

We've had the most beautiful day, perfect for working really, so I've changed my mind about posting songs about rain and storms. It just wouldn't feel right. I start a playlist every day when I first sit down to blog. It so happens that the first three on today happen to be under three minutes. One is already uploaded and is still here, so hear you go. Already uploaded, Lee Dorsey's familiar version of Workin' In a Coalmine and a version by Devo. Another oldie, Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Annuals.

It Goes On

The photo is of a pre-emerged sunflower. This link is to the mature flower. Pretty cool. Mature was the topic in Moody Monday - linked on the side. The asparagas was also considered in choosing the 'mature' designation for the entry.

Just finished supper and watched the many photos of waterspouts and rainbows yesterday on the evening news. It was pretty wild around here. After my post yesterday following my hike, we had rain, torrential rain, thunder and lightning, hail which was pretty widespread, and actual snow ( in Harrington). I had company in the afternoon and they left in the midst of heavy rain. My son was in hail twice, at his dad's and driving. Wild!

My neighbour is mowing a second crop of hay, clover really, at this moment and the smell is coming into the window in front of me. Hmmmm.

Music: I feel quite free now in choosing music because it doesn't matter if I put it up before. It's probably gone so I'm just uploading it again. Weather like yesterday's should be celebrated or at least acknowleged. My library has a million versions of Stormy Weather. Here's one by Dinah Washington. I posted a different song from her on the Shutterchance blog this weekend and was well received. I like this version a lot. Strange Weather by Tom Waits fits for yesterday as well. Maybe I'll celebrate weather all week.

Endorphens Released

Saw my first red leaf today.

Today's hike was fabulous. Enough to make us sweat but we weren't exhausted. We had an extraordinary amount of rain yesterday but it had also been very windy so grasses weren't soaked, as we did a lot of pasturing and fielding in addition to the usual old roads. The hilliness is what I enjoy most about this hiking area. A lunch and a visit ended my day with those friends. Since I got home I have been entertaining other friends who dropped in just when I got home.

The wedding was very nice yesterday despite the heavy rain which didn't start till right after the photographs were taken. The bride and bridesmaids looked stunning and there was food all night, not just during the reception. Awesome! I heartily approved of the groom whom I hadn't met till the wedding.

I got up at 1:30 Saturday morning for a couple of hours; couldn't sleep. I made the bride and groom a romantic cd, quite seductive, sexy and rhythmic. Yesterday while waiting the hours between the wedding and reception I heard the summer CBC Radio One program Live By The Drum which I've been enjoying each week this summer. This week's theme was music that portrayed or caused or aided sex, just like I had similarly explored a few hours before. I thought that was pretty cool.

Here are a couple of songs I put on that cd. Don't Stop till You Get Enough from Shivaree fulfills all of those previously mentioned parameters. It's a very sexy song. kd lang's very short version of Fever is my favorite version of that very often covered song. I had it on Page One but alas it is gone. Here it is again. Ha, it's no longer in my library any longer but my old file with 136 plays is what comes up when I re-access after just newly re-uploading the file. It's still in there somewhere.

To Celebrate a Day

Another work week over with a the weekend off and I'm happy for that. It's been a long and busy, but good week.

My son and I are going to help celebrate a wedding tomorrow and other than a possible hike on Sunday, that will be the excitement for my weekend. We do have a couple of hours in between the wedding and reception but they take place in different towns with home in between. We've not made any plans on how to spend the extra time. In ay event, it will be fun to have a date with my boy.

Diamond Rings 2007 by the oddly named (to me) Deer Tick sounds like a good song title for talk of a wedding. What goes with that? Keep Your Silver Shined by Devon Sproule. Actually those two singer sound like a wedding. They're very similar sounds.

Since I won't be around tomorrow here's an invitation to hear a couple of wishes and blessings for the couple. Our Love Is Here To Stay by Jenny Gear and Work Out Fine by Joel Plaskett Emergency sound like good wishes and dreams for a young married couple. Both musicians are from Atlantic Canada. That's something else to celebrate.

Please note that the songs from the last few days are on Page One of the music in the links. I signed in on that page to do something, haven't done it yet (it's a big job - to remove all the music that's gone) but want to soon.

Lateness

I'd better squeeze a post in as I work tomorrow night. I miss every second Thursday. I was on my way out to mow the lawn but we're having some rain so it won't be done till at least Friday. I could get a cow.....and eat it in the fall......

While I posted about the stunning flowers I was greeted with at work yesterday, the photo above is what greeted me when I came home from work right before posting. The girls have been trained to not touch a bird but no one told them you couldn't kill snakes. They were really proud and showed it off to me as soon as I walked up on the deck. I had photos of Clarke on the Shutterchance blog last year playing with a snake.

Just four days ago I posted Leonard's Everybody Knows done by Rufus (saving time here,) Was looking for something else today and saw this in the files. Ryan Adams uses the same name for his ballad but it's a completely different song. I think he's been a pretty popular fellow in the blogsphere so you may want to give him a listen. Something mellow is what I'm going for with my other song today. Dana Robinson was a recent discovery for me and I liked his simple folk song, Shady Grove. Reminded me of a long time ago. Just discovered that I uploaded these to Page One by mistake.

Sniff Again

This is what greeted me first thing this morning when I got to work. Yesterday's title applys again! Spectacular is not too big a word and I wish I could think of another......astounding maybe. As soon as I go in I open the window and the incredible odour wafts in all day.

I had an adventurous day at work but am not feeling well so I didn't enjoy it as much as it would have. It involved the woods and what do I enjoy more than that! I think I may have picked up a stomach bug or something. Handling money and serving the public will do that to you. I'll survive, I'm sure.

I've got some music today that I once listened to because of the band's name and found that I knew the music. That happens quite often aactually. I have never paid attention to band's names that's why I have so much trouble finding songs when I want to play them....I can't remember the name of the band. I always remember the music though. I knew these two songs. Here are the Poozies with Hey How My Johnny Lad and they're joined by Kate Rusby for Another Train.

I Wish You Could Smell This

I was just out shooting some echinaceia flowers then remembered I was going to put up the lily. You'll have to go here and maybe here ( possibly won't work as they're postdated- let me know) for the echinacia. I had unexpected company for the afternoon, a friend who is into flowers so we had a pleasant time out in the gardens, promising each other plants this fall and spring, each carrying a camera. Nice. I disturbed a spider she was about to photograph. I felt terrible. Just trying to help by pulling out a weed in front of it.

I can't remember if I told you that I've lost my stereo since the big thunderstorms when my relatives were here. Anyway, I'm using an ancient stereo that I replaced - with my broken stereo, in '96. Not my favorite choice for listening to music. I need excellent speakers. Anyway, music..... something my friend and I were listening to on the shitty stereo from recent playlists I had made. Boy With A Coin from Iron & Wine has the greatest, catchy rhythm for me with a whiney guitar that is perfect here. Too Hot To Sleep by Eilen Jewell is a song that's got some sexy lyrics and has been perfect for the weather lately. I like this song a lot. Hot for those hot days of August. I've got another hot August song that I'll possibly put up next post. The playlist is called An August Shoreline.

Flowers and Fire

I'm going to start with music. I wanted to put up a certain song and include a specific version that I'd just become familiar with. Didn't have a clue the name of the band or individual that did the version. You can start at the beginning or the end and go through the songs. I did starting at Z and the name of the band is Bat For Lashes. Wouldn't you know.

This song has been coming to me while I'm doing my usual humming so I'm sharing what's been in my head, which I sometimes do. I'm on Fire is a superb Springsteen song. Here's a version by the above mentioned, Bat For Lashes, which in my opinion should be called Bat Your Lashes or Bat Those Lashes. The other is from Swati. Ha, I'd put it up in June. Let's see if it's still there. Yes, so there's room for another. Here's Springsteen's version.

We are having absolutely perfect weather. It might be considered hot for some at 29 degrees Celsius but the humidity is completely gone and that makes all the difference. Sleeping has been great as the overnight temps have cooled to around fifteen. Fabulous! I stayed up till ten last night as my son and nephew dropped by. I'm going to try again as I'm off tomorrow and will probably have naps.

Today's photo is from my garden yesterday and tomorrow's photo is going to be of the lily I've been waiting to see bloom at work. It bloomed yesterday or overnight and is stunning. The scent is much like an Easter Lily and it wafts in every time the door is opened. Tomorrow.....

Above All, Relaxation

I've had the most gentle day off....really relaxed. I had two slight naps, went for half a walk, read in the sun twice, petted kitties who were so glad that I was home, and watched Oprah. I had planned a ton more walking with two areas up to pick for hiking...three, really. I changed my mind and opted for relaxation, not hiking. I decided to take a neighbourhood walk but the cats were out and wouldn't go in. Herding cats never works so I drove a little ways up the road and took a walk from there. They never follow the car. I think it's just what I need - a day of relaxation.

It's not over yet. I have a nice dinner of Mako shark planned with fresh from a garden veggies. You can't get any better than that. I want to burn some cd's and that's pretty darned relaxing if you're not in any hurry. I didn't make it up till ten last night but tonight I'm really going to try.

When I sat here the first music that came to mind was Rufus Wainwright. I put some on and that's what I give you now. I love this live version of Leonard Cohen's, Everybody Knows. I think he does Cohen songs well enough to do an album of his songs much like Jennifer Warnes did in the eighties. Gay Messiah is the more relaxing Rufus Wainwright.

Brown Water Day

I didn't lose trees today but there were certainly a lot toppled across the neighbourhood today and overnight. We've had a terrific wind storm with toppled trees and power outages across PEI and New Brunswick. Bad weather was good for business in my case, so I had a very busy day at work.

I needed an indoor day. It's been so very hot and humid and I've spent a lot of time outdoors in the heat. It was good to be inside and cool for a change. I am hoping to be able to stay up till ten tonight. I finally feel caught up. I have phone calls and e-mails to catch up on but maybe not all will be taken care of tonight. I'm off tomorrow so can finish up then.

I'm so bummed out with my music disappearing. I use the uploaded songs daily on the Shutterchance blog and my choices have been very much limited by the disappearance. I will carry on and see what happens with Putfile for the time being.

Though I'm trying to get some additional relaxation in my life right now, it needs a beat. Ry Cooder can usually provide one. I can get both relaxation and a rhythm from his instrumental, Drume Negrita and some relaxing and rhythmic inspiration from Comin' In On a Wing and a Prayer. Sounds like my life lately. I've got to get some dance music up soon as I have been too busy to do a lot of walking and have to remedy that.

Heat and Summer Flowers

I got off early from work today but haven't been able to even get to the computer till now. I had some really busy days at work that followed a partying weekend. Add hormones to that mixture and I am tired out, spelled OUT. I had a little nap and am feeling a bit better but need more, extra sleep again tonight. To bed by nine three nights in a row and tonight will be the fourth. Wake time is still five-thirty and I'm completely happy with that.

The photos are of day lilies from the garden that we visited on Sunday. I had planned to go back to get a flower that I later discovered was in the sale bin. Maybe tomorrow.

For music I have some African songs that say heat and summer. From Miriam Makeba, her anthem, Wimoweh, that later inspired a rock and roll song. From Africando is Hey Boy that I include on lots of dance playlists. Both fine pieces of music.

We Made It

Oh, what a weekend! The fact that I had no time to post is one indication. I'm tired and to me, that's another. My company left this morning and it's in total agreement that a good time was had by all. We had a great party and dinner on Saturday night. I brought the kitchen table outside and we ate on the deck but another thunderstorm began so we moved back in. It was over fairly quickly so a couple of towels to dry the wet chairs and we moved out again. The only casualty was my stereo which must have shorted with the constant thunder and lightning. It is fried.....dead!

We visited a couple of friend's who have market flower gardens over the weekend because my sister loves flowers but it wasn't really a popular activity for my sister in law. We did the beach in the evening yesterday. Now I just have to catch up on sleep. A friend who is 33 told me the other day that he has a hard time partying because it takes him a few days to get over the lost sleep. He's 33!!!

For music, I have a couple more versions of an old standard blues song. I may have already put Leadbelly's up but since most of the music is gone it would no longer be there anyway. These songs are listed with different titles but they're the same song. I have other versions of it as well. Here's Leadbelly with Where Did You Sleep Last Night and Long John Baldry with Black Girl. The song is also known as The Pines and I have it up a few times under that title.

Storm Has Hit

I'm writing in the middle of a thunderstorm. Now that Blogger auto-saves this shouldn't be a problem. I can't believe that Tuesday was the last time I posted. I've been incredibly busy and have not had a moment. I've not had time for a proper supper tonight. Peanut butter, whole wheat bread, milk, avacados and lime, and cherries will have to suffice. I'm eating the avacado now.

This thunder storm is causing havoc across the island and somehow, again as I've stated here, it is so far passing us by. We see lightning at both sides of the sky and are dry here. There is news of a boat having overturned in Ch'town Harbour. I just visited my workplace and there is a big, whole weekend, outdoor event happening. They are sitting in cars, waiting to see if things will be moved indoors, a couple of miles up the road. Glad I'm off and not helping make these decisions. I'm waiting for visitors who are coming tomorrow instead of tonight.

Music: Well songs are still disappearing from both pages. I'm so sad about it. I wasn't putting them out for download - just listening. I 've already put up a couple of versions of I Think It's Going To Rain Today. They're probably gone now. Here's a slow mood one fron Madeleine Peyroux and for a long, up-tempo song let's hear Pop Staples and the Staple Singers with A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall.

It has just started raining and I like to think my music has something to do with it. God it's now really thundering and it scared the cat away. I probably shouldn't be at an open window at the computer. As a matter of fact, go to page two for the links. I'll link them later.