Happy Birthday Ella

Today she turned five.  A year ago we thought we were just a couple of years away from being empty-nesters, ready to take on those travel requests, ready to downsize our house, ready to get all of the kids' bikes out of the garage; but those things changed when Ella came back into our lives in January.  When the paperwork was signed in August, I called Lisa and said, "Congratulations, it's a girl!"  Our lives changed.  I can't imagine life without her, and I don't mind waiting for that empty nest.

Heavy Playtime

Every month I make a new CD of music that fits my mood.  Some months it may be songs that have a theme, other months it may be something like favorite lyrics.  There is something about female singer-songwriters, fall, and October mornings that have led to a collection of music that is getting heavy playtime in my car and on my iPod.  Now that I actually have a drive to work that allows me to listen to more than half of a song, I find that these songs, especially on a cool morning when the frost is still on the grass, make the commute seem almost too short. 

·         Dream by Priscilla Ahn – This song was in a movie that Lisa was watching one night, and as I was almost asleep, she said, “You have to find this song!”  I’m glad that I did.  This is Ella’s current favorite as well and she sings along every time that Lisa listens to her copy of my disk (which is done frequently).  I just found Priscilla’s blog on this site, and enjoy reading her words as much as listening to her music.

·         Hardly Speaking a Word by Lori McKenna – I listen a lot to Pandora; my favorite “station” is Nancy Griffin Radio, this song came on last month and I was just taken back by the vocal power of Lori’s voice.   I only wish I could write as well as these talented artists.   Anytime that strings are added to an already good song, it makes it just that much better.

·         Love and Hate by Daphne Willis – I heard this song a few months ago on XM radio.  I learned a long time ago that I always need to have something to write on in the car because I hear so many good songs, but I would say that I heard this song about four times before getting the artist’s name.  I actually have another song on the October disk by her as well, it’s called Bluff.

·         The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert – I have been a Miranda Lambert fan since she was on Nashville Star (and feel she should have won).  A couple of years ago my parents, my brother, sister, and I were able to go back to the house that I grew up in.  It was on the market, and the minute I walked in it felt like “home.”  From little things like reaching around a corner to find the light switch that drove all the monsters out of the laundry room, to the shelf in the closet where I carved my name when I was 12, it was all there.  We stayed there for about an hour, but only spent about 15 minutes of that time together, the rest of the time we were lost in our memories.  Even if I never step into that house again, I can feel the door handle in my hand, and the slate floor on my bare feet.

·         Days Like This by Kim Taylor – Another Pandora find.  One aspect of having something like iTunes is the ability to be spontaneous.  This was one of my spontaneous buys, and I’m glad I did.  I think I listen to the melody before the lyrics in most instances.  While this song is pretty simple, the lyrics have risen to the surface, and it’s a good addition to the CD.

·         Steer by Missy Higgins – The Triple J Acoustic Version to be more accurate is next on the list.  I first heard Missy on KBCO about two years ago when she was visiting Studio C, and I was hooked.  She’s an Aussie who carries a bit of her accent into her singing.  Good sing-along material.   My favorite song of hers is Forgive Me, which was on my August 2010 playlist.

·         Quarter Moon by Cheryl Wheeler – I have been a fan of Cheryl Wheeler for almost 20 years now.  Lisa and I always go see her whenever she comes to Fort Collins.  She plays down at the Sunset Night Club.  The first time we saw her, we both just were blown away because her voice and her appearance don’t exactly correspond well with each other.  She is a wonderful story-teller as well.  I have a lot of favorite Cheryl Wheeler songs, this month this one just seemed to fit in.

·         Nobody’s Crying by Patty Griffin – I realized about a year ago that I have been a fan of Patty Griffin and didn’t realize it because so many of my favorite Dixie Chicks songs were written by Patty Griffin.  There’s one of her songs, Mary, on YouTube where she’s singing along with Natalie Maines of the DC.  You should find it.

·         America the Beautiful by Keb’ Mo’–  I have always been a fan of this song, maybe since it was written on top of the mountain that I grew up in the shadow of.  I have also been a fan of Keb’ Mo’ as well.  This song done in a “bluesy” way for some reason or another was a good cap on the October 2010 CD.

Words and Pictures

I fixed some hard-boiled eggs last weekend, and this one didn't make it through the process without some scars.

I woke up before the sun this morning, but as the sun came up our bedroom took on a golden glow due to the trees outside our window.  Where many of the trees have already changed their color, and dropped their leaves, the aspen in the backyard have just reached their peak.