Springing In on Friday, 20 March

Here is a photo of my finished window. There are objects behind it like a candle holder and box behind the blue and a piece of yellow glass in a holder behind the tree. The barn on the right in the hills is barely visible.

Kat, at Keep the Coffee Coming, spent her first morning of spring on the beach. I thought it was a marvelous idea. My walk to the beach was thwarted though, by dogs. I am terrified of dogs and there are several in residence on the road to the beach. I got just so far when every dog on the road smelled my fear and started to bark. I turned around. I think I will drive past the dogs tomorrow and then go to the beach.

It certainly is nice to see spring. My daffodils are about an inch out of the ground in my warm flower bed but there is still two feet of snow in my other flower garden. It is nice that way as I always have flowers from one bed earlier than the other. My Shutterchance blog is based in Britain and many Europeans have had fresh daffodil photos for a couple weeks now.

Hair trials are continuing. I used a different mousse today and more of it and the curls held longer. I believe the amount of mouse is important as is how long you hold the curling iron.

You probably don't have to guess about the music. I want to celebrate spring. Here is Ella Fitzgerald to help us do that with Spring , Greg Brown with Spring and All and Primavera (Spring in Spanish and Portuguese) by Mariza. Hello Spring! Glad you came.

An Aaahhhhhsome Day

Today I start my new work schedule with an additional day off - Mondays!!!! Those exclamation points can hopefully express my excitement. I'm so in need of an extra day off and I'm enjoying it fully. I have friends coming for dinner and have all the salads made, the lemon meringue pie in the fridge, the ribs slow cooking in the oven and the floor swept. I've been very busy but I'm not going to work. Yeah!!!! I don't like being indoors for the dishwasher cycle so took that time out for a visit with two friends so I feel happy all around. An extra day off will do that, much like a long weekend usually does.

I have resident crows. The same ones hang around and keep watch knowing I will often feed them. They are checking it out constantly. There are three in this first photo - one is in the shade to the left of the tree. I like having them around. I've always admired their shiny black feathers, their intelligence and fierce tenacity. They are a bit shy even though they should know after all these years that I'm no harm.



I've been blindly clicking different playlists on the mp3 player every time I sit at the computer. That there is so much great music always amazes me. There is more than any of us could listen to in a lifetime if we played music from this moment on. Like books, where couldn't ever read them all - even a speed reader. Here are two good songs I listened to today that are no longer on the music pages. Baby Please Don't Go is done here by Greg Brown and Bill Morrissey. Here are a couple of other versions too. One from the late, great Dutchie Mason and one by our Harry Manx. I won't play Van's version as was requested a while back by the Net Sheriff.

Oh oh, Dutchie's is no longer here. If I knew how to make the horizontal line through it I would. I'll put it back some other time. Mississippi Fred McDowell's is gone too.

The other choice today is the traditional blues song, Trouble in Mind, by Snooks Eaglin and here's a bonus. It's the song that's playing at the moment. Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by Nancy Griffith and John Prine. This song always reminds me of a friend who sings and does a fine job with both these artists.

My friends are here. I will add music later.

Update: When I look back on this post after a few drinks and a great dinner and visit with dear friends, I see a strange mixture of music from me. It's not related other than the songs were all on playlists I'm listening to and they grabbed my attention. So much more than just these songs has enthralled me. I listened to a live cut from The Waifs live album on one of the playlists and have enjoyed it so much in the mix.

Seriously Sunny

The sun is shining on Prince Edward Island. I hardly recognized it. I was starting to get wrinkles from all that rain. Tomorrow promises to be sunny and warm and I'm off. I have a serious car repair to take care of but the rest of the day will be spent OUTDOORS in the SUN!

I saw someone yesterday whom I hadn't seen in twenty-five years. Way back then, a group of us roller skated a couple of times a week. I stopped because I was pregnant with my daughter and not very good on roller skates. I haven't seen him since those roller skating days. It was really neat. He'd changed a lot but I didn't change at all. Those wrinkles he and his wife saw were caused by so much rain and will be gone tomorrow. It's nice to catch up on a whole lifetime. He and his wife were in the area looking at properties. They asked where I lived and I told them. They both shrieked. It is their dream home and they check it out every time they're in the area wondering who lives there. Now they know. I told them I'll sell in a heartbeat....

Keeping a couple of promises right now. The photo is of another rhubarb flower in a vase but not one I thought I had. I am constantly deleting photos so must have deleted the arrangement of rhubarb and lupins. If I find it I'll post it. Following Dylan's version of Gotta Serve Somebody, here's Mavis Staples fabulous, funky version. Greg Brown does a fabulous live version of Not Dark Yet that was up and quite popular here. I love how he does this song. It's more emotional than Dylan's.

Praise for Spring

Spring is my favorite season, always has been. Spring meant release from the confining clothing of winter and with my love of outdoors that meant freedom. I've always been a gardener and before that, a hopscotch player. Any excuse to get out in the spring sunshine. Today I was one of those, to quote yesterday's post, 'a teenager or someone who has something to prove' kind of person today; a tank top let alone tee shirt. It was a nicer day today. Currently the temperature is 17 degrees and it's sunny.

The asparagus has popped so within a week I'll be enjoying it's succulent flavour. Asparagus, if you have a nice enough plot and I do, is reason enough to love spring. Mine is juicy, fat and very plentiful so I'll be eating and appreciating it for a month. Kenz and Bella were enthralled with the weather too and both, in their excitement, were digging in the garden. Oh, oh.... a new behavior. I stopped them and they seemed to understand as they watched while I smoothed the dug up areas. We're very happy spring is here. I enjoyed gardening today and they enjoyed watching me. Ha, maybe they were actually trying to help.

This song has been on my mind all day while I was outside, though sitting here, I'm playing Latin as it fits the outdoor, happy spring mood. The Mose Allison Trio says it all in I Love the Life I Live. Music kind of circles around for me it seems. I have strange combinations in folders that make sense only to me. For instance I have Mose Allison, Greg Brown and Bill Morrissey in one folder. It would take a while to explain but it works for me. It explains partly why we have Spring and All and Rumba Flemenca by Greg Brown. Works for me.

Spring a Ling

For two days in a row we've had a large yellow thing in our sky that hasn't been seen in so long we almost forgot what it was. Sunshine!!! It is the same temperature today as yesterday - ten, but there isn't a cold north wind blowing so it is glorious. I wanted to go for a walk but have been waiting the whole day for a repairman which is one of the most frustrating things one must do.

I discovered I still had another version of A Change Is Gonna Come in the music pages. It is the Idol audition by Taylor Hicks. Randy and Paula love him but Simon says he'll never make it. Was he ever wrong!

You know I have to have spring songs for today. Spring Is Just Around the Corner by Sasha Dobson is about perfect to begin with. The John Butler Trio, the label mates of The Waifs, and Richard Shindell both have songs entitled Spring and Spring and All by Greg Brown will fit that bill. I'm feelin' so good about this weather that I want to say just that. Levon Helm will help and so will Nina Simone. They both have completely different songs with the same name - Feelin' Good.

The Bad News

I found out today that I must have surgery on my shoulder. It is considered urgent. It will be Thursday or Friday or next week at the latest. The surgeon didn't have his schedule and couldn't get his office on the phone so will let me know tomorrow. I'm dreading this for many reasons but will not get into that.

This truly could have been determined weeks ago and it really irks me that I have to start the process of immobilization again. It will weaken my muscles and physio will be harder and more time will have passed until I'm back to normal. Our medical system sucks!!!

I'm a bit pissed off so short post but four songs. You've Got To Move is considered one of my essential songs. I had two versions up in the past that are gone. Here's Greg Brown, Tracy Grammer and Dave Carter with one fabulous version, Mississippi Fred MacDowall ( my favorite) with one, and Two Gospel Keys with another. I know I have more but am not going to take the time to look. Instead, because it's late, Steve Dawson brings us At Arm's Length.

By the way this photo is minutes before my accident. I had my arms outstretched and was screaming to the gods, "I love my pond. I love it out here." Then that hockey stick that is visible at the very left edge was passed to me.....

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.

Spring and All

I got the lawn mowed after work tonight but didn't do nearly as good a job as my daughter did last week. Is it because I dislike the job so much and she likes doing it? Anyway, I'll be back at it in less than a week and will have a chance to improve upon this week's mess.

The photo is a small little piece of Monday evening's sky. I wish I could see more of it frome here and I didn't have the opportunity to go for a drive. It would be easy to get a fabulous sunset by taking very short drives and I just never do. Laziness or just content being at home are a couple of choices for a reason.

Haven't played any Greg Brown in a while. Ain't Life a Brook is a song I really like about splitting up by Greg and Bill Morrissey. They're fantastic together with their deep voices. Spring and All is by just Greg. His songs are always stories.

Folk Music Day

We are blessed today with beautiful weather that is continuing through tomorrow. I was in town running errands today so did my walking that way instead of out here in the beautiful countryside. I purposly park my car far from doors now and don't drive from one end of the mall's parking lot to the other to visit other stores. I walk.

I have a friend coming to stay for three days next week. She reacts to paint fumes and her husband is going to paint so she's coming out for an annual visit to the country. Her husband paints something at least once a year. If he doesn't, we pretend he did.

I'm not finished with spring music. I know it's been beautiful weather and all but we will still have some cold weather and maybe even some snow. It is still March after all. Spring Is Just Around the Corner is a great number from Sasha Dobson's album Modern Romance. You know how much I like Greg Brown. He does a great song called Spring And All that is pretty cool. I love his simple songs and original phrases. In this one I like the "two bourbon twilight, fall from God's cigar." It's a folk music day.

Always a Bit Confused About It All

Chickadee At Night

My camera is home. Hurrah! Now I'll have to get busy.

Today was town day. Appointments happen. When you live out of town and love the fact that you do, you go to town as seldom as possible. This is more so since gas has become expensive but for me it's always been a way of life. You cram as much into the day as possible and my personal benchmark is being home before Oprah. I got a lot done today and feel good about it. Bonus!

Music: In reference to the music of the last couple of days, Pattie Smith also does a cover of Prince's When Dove's Cry. I really like this song and like the varied covers. They're all different and bring their own meanings to the fairly heavy lyrics. I feel connections to so many songs. I am a collector or songs, as I have said in previous posts. One in my collection is Fever. Here's a version by Greg Brown, Ani DeFranco and Gillian Welsh.

Anyone who does any version of any song brings their own energy to that song. We can like one version better than the other and often that same version is not always and forever "the favorite". This is what I love most about music. It elicits an emotional response and emotions being what they are, the responses can change from day to day. Everyone has different taste. My brothers and sisters prefer rock and roll and country and we grew up in the same house with the same parents.

The differences of life are the best parts of life and are what should be celebrated. I'm not sure if anyone gets this.

Old and New

The weather is soooo great. I'm not sure what the temperature is since my thermometer is broken but I am able to go walking without a hat or gloves....in January. The temps are predicted to go up and up all week.....in January. Walking today was really fabulous. I know I talk about the endorphens released when walking but wow, they make you feel glad to be alive.

Things happen in threes they say and I've seen this happen. Yesterday someone hit into my car. Today I've discovered that my vacuum cleaner sucks. It actually doesn't suck thus it really sucks. Do you get vacuum cleaners repaired or buy new ones?

I've been having these bad luck cycles in the last month. What's the saying? "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." They pass, I guess.

Old music for the end of an old year. I kind of consider my birthday on the fourth to be more of a new year for me than the first. Today's music is from another era, the grandparents of our modern music. I love both of these cuts. This one, You've Got To Move by Mississippi Fred McDowell is already up by yesterday's choice, Greg Brown (here's the link to compare) and sticking with Mississippi....here's Mississippi John Hurt doing Since I Laid My Burden Down. I like listening to this old roots music then to other versions.

I guess tomorrow should be new music. Hmmmmm.

Weather Woes

I stayed in town last night. After dinner at a friend's house, I went to leave and there was a half inch of ice covering my car. I wouldn't have attempted to drive in freezing rain. My son overshot the driveway when he came home and I heard the roads were terrible.

One time I was visiting these same friends. They live on a fairly narrow street and when I came out the mirror had been knocked off the car. This morning I found that the signal/park light housing had been hit and is just hanging. The fender is also scraped. Nothing I can do really but pay to have it fixed.

My son is taking me to dinner tomorrow night for my birthday. That will be very nice as I've not spent much time with him over the holidays. He worked every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, and Sundays.

Music: I'm still into that deep Greg Brown voice. Here's Treat Each Other Right and Brand New Dodge and for Greg Brown with Bill Morrissey here's the link to, He Was A Friend of Mine.

Mixing It Up

My Granddaughter

Opening up today, I see they want everyone to sign over to the new beta version of Blogger. I think I'll wait a few days. I need some geek help. My geek friend moved to Calgary a few weeks before my daughter. He probably has a phone and I can find his number but he's not into blogging.

Having a rather lazy day. I'd forgotten that today was a government holiday and had planned to do some work/work. Most places are closed because of Remembrance Day falling on a Saturday. Retail stores were closed on Saturday so must be open today.

I did prune one of my trees today that has an insect. I found out yesterday that my blue spruce has a pine borer. The tree has had problems since it came to grow here and I thought it was doing better but now this insect has damaged it further. Hopefully it will recover.

Music: It's been nice to listen to some male vocalists. I've been listening to so many females in the past ten days making the five cd's for the Women's Festival. I have Mose Allison, Greg Brown and Bill Morrissey together in one folder because they are influences on one another, have all played together and are similar to my ears. I have songs from them all on the music page and am playing that folder right now. Here's one singing about the other....Greg Brown doing Mose Allison Played Here.

Yesterday the CBC had a special on Bob Dylan or as I say to my oldest son, The Bob. Three guests sang his praises and each picked their musical choice for the show. The last one picked Not Dark Yet which is one of my top three Dylan songs. I love Dylan, you know I do, but Greg Brown's version is even better in my opinion. I already have this up so am linking it here. Gives me an extra song to post today so from the same folder here is a short one, Everybody's Crying Mercy by Mose Allison.

Link: I've been following the first Painting a Day Blogger for the last couple of years. He is listed on the side. Many have followed in his footsteps and there is what I guess you would call an aggregator listing several sites that feature A Painting a Day. I check it every day in my blogroll then check out individual paintings. Enjoy, if you like paintings. If you can afford to buy them, enjoy them even more.

Normal Is As Normal Does

I'm working on a cd for a friend who turns 50 on Friday. I thought I'd have it finished in plenty of time for mailing today but it's been a hard one. I like to tell a story with the order of the songs but it also has to sound good. I know I have a lot of slow ballady music but I don't want 50 to be anything but a celebration for my friend. I'm still working and will express post it tomorrow.

Today feels like my first day off. Seeing the daughter off this week made me a bit anxious and far from feeling relaxed. Today, seems back to normal. I cleaned like a fiend and have a whole lot more to do. I have three empty bedrooms and will completely gut them and start again. I walked but didn't make it to the beach. Maybe Wednesday.

Music today: Something from the cd I'm working on for both my daughter and my fifty year old friend who has moved in and out of my life so many times in the thirty years we've known each other....You've Got To Move, a live version from a benefit by Greg Brown. Also, from the playlist, Someone Like You by Van Morrison.

The link: My friend and artist Greg Garand called this morning. I told him about my statement yesterday that I was going to link to local PEI artist whose works I have. He's happy for the exposure. I have probably the largest collection of Greg Garand paintings of anyone. I love his work. I have early and recent and he keeps getting better and better. So here's Greg Garand but please note that he wants to update his site and add new paintings. Life is such a rat race. There are never enough hours in a day.

Blurry

It's Friday night. It's late and I've had my fill. My friend Serge is here doing the Friday night Happy Hour thing that is mostly defunct but is still happening on many levels. We just played "Serge", one of my playlists from last year and found Baby Please Don't Go by Mississippi Fred MacDowell that I'd put on a playlist for him last year. It's definitely worth a listen. We found it quite funny that I'd put up another version just today. It's from Greg Brown & Bill Morrissey.

We've been dancing and now it's time to slow down. It's way past my bedtime and I have to work in the morning. We're good that way...my friends are all accommodating to each others work schedules and moods.....we're mature now. It's time to slow down the dancing.....another one from the "Serge" playlist...La Vie En Rose but this time by Edith Piaf. I swear we're coming full circle tonight. Didn't I post this song by another person yesterday? Edith's version is the standard for all others isn't it. It's not my favorite but it does set the standard....the first one I ever heard and definitely a favorite of the multitudes. I think sometimes that I have too many versions of too many songs....but....that thought is only fleeting when you're a collector of songs.