darling duckie

hanging baskets

A couple of weeks ago our house was graced by my sister and sister-in-law (with the smiley baby in tow) for a day of flowers and lettuce wraps. I showed them what I learned last year about planting your own hanging baskets and my sister made her yummy lettuce wraps as we talked about light things and deep things. It was messy and fun and we all walked away with flowers to brighten our homes.

Winter War EP: Music in Review

Allie Barnes via her instagram feed

I have a friend, whom I have never met. She lives a couple states away, though she studies a mere 45 mintues from me. She is brave and talented and honest. And she is a musican. A real, full blown musican with a receontly released EP full of her words and little pieces of her soul.

You may think that I am a little biased since she is my friend, but I am being completely honest when I tell you how I love her music. Her voice is sweet and clear without being over-sentimental. Her words are honest and complicated. She shows her struggle with depression and healing, not just tells you about it. My favorite song of the moment is "The Slow Goodbye", though "Sirens" and "Husband" are tied for second place.

Although she has struggled with depression, she actively fills her life with meaningful things, helping her to deal with her struggle. She volunteers, works, studies, challenges herself to record a new song a week, speaks at conferences, and is just generally pretty cool. A few weeks ago, she wrote and recorded a song called "Everything" for Tiffany and Spencer, after their baby Calvin passed away.You can follow her adventures on instagram and her blog.

You can purchase her EP here. She also records lullabies and fairy tales, which you can buy here (I love Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and All The Pretty Little Horses). But my all time favorite recording of hers is Edelweiss, which she did as a service to someone. I listen to it over and over and over again.

(I know there are a lot of links. But I promise, she is worth it.)

I just love the album art work. So pretty. (Photo taken by her brother and art work by Caitlin Connolly.)

books books books

This just won an Oscar. I love the music and, of course, that it is all about books and people.

 

 

My Life in France: A Book In Review

"Good results require that one take time and care."

There are a couple of people that stand out in my memories of watching television while growing up: Bob Ross so effortlessly painting tree and birds and creating landscapes from nothing but a canvas and paint and Julia Child, with her distinct voice and her excitement for good food.

After reading Julia Child's memoir I have felt so inspired by her passion and determination to really learn. She was not always a cook. Her food did not always taste wonderful. But she loved food and her husband and worked oh so hard. And how inspiring was her relationship with Paul. They strengthen each other, supported each other, and were best friends. I love the picture above, where they sit side by side, working side by side. It is so romantic and (can I say it again??) INSPIRING!

Julia's memories and thoughts on her experiences really made me ask a few questions of myself:

Am I supporting my husband in the things he loves?

Do I really put effort in learning and growing?

What is it that motivates me, pushes me?

I really loved reading My Life In France. It was so different that I thought it would be and has changed me. (Plus every time I go to the DI I search out a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which I have yet to find, though I did score Volume II for a couple of bucks.) A friend let me borrow Mastering the Art... so I could make a recipe of Julia's for book club. Though I don't know if it turned out how it was supposed to be, it was yummy and I learned so much about cooking just through that one recipe and perusing the book.

Now I want to wander market places and cook something delicious...

art and meaning

Girl in the Yellow Suit by Lisa Golightly

 

“…We see a haystack by Monet, an iris by Van Gogh, or an asparagus spear by Manet and marvel at their presence and spirit and think that these works were about haystacks, irises, and asparagus. Not at all! Monet, Van Gogh, Manet employed haystacks, irises, asparagus to speak of the symphonies of light, the glory of God’s creations, the life force residing in all forms. We care about those paintings more than we care about stacks of hay, flowers, and vegetables because we care more about light, God and life than we do about any of their particular manifestations. Meaning, not beauty, is what we are after. Big, deep, wide meaning.”

~Peter London, from the book No More Secondhand Art

We really like art here in at the Fish Residence. Sometimes I think I buy too much of it but then I remember that there is a lot of value in having art in your home. Billy and I like to meander through museums. Of all the museums in Utah that we love, the Springville Museum of Art tops it. It is a beautiful building full of art with variety and lovely, deep meaning. It may be a little bit of a drive but it is so worth it. (Plus it's free. Woohoo!) We have been waiting for their upcoming art exhibit, the 40th Annual Utah All-State High School Art Show. It should be a good one. (High quality high school and university exhibits are my favorite. So many different styles and techniques. They are searching for their voice and style and it makes for amazing shows)

Most of the art in our home comes from independent artists we find at fairs and on etsy, with the rest of the art coming from my Grandpa Graehl's basement, thrift stores, ikea, and all posters. We collect from anywhere, but I do have to pace myself. Even putting this collection together for you made me want to buy a few paintings while Billy slept (tehehe).

I know very little about technique but I don't think you have to in order to appreciate and feel something through art.

Here are some of my favorite artist. We own some of these prints while the rest are on my wish list.

Who are your favorite artists?

What are your favorite museums?

 

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

 

Bridesmaids by Cassandra Barney

 

By Vivian Maier

 

Take Me for a Walk by Sarah Jane

 

Voyages Over Edinburgh by David Fleck

 

Justin Hackworth

 

Mother and Child by Cassandra Barney

Mountain View by Ryan Fowler

 

by Dorothea Lange

 

Almond Branches in Bloom by Vincent van Gogh

because it's been so long

maybe tomorrow I will have chance to write something.

until then, enjoy.

 

it was a long night

I hadn't been out of the house since Sunday. I was a little stir crazy and hoping Billy would take the child and me out somewhere, as the beginning of our early weekend. But he stayed late and by the time he got home, he was sick and I was sick. We laid on the floor for a little while, until it was time to put Millie to bed. Then we got straight into bed... at 8:45pm. The hope was that we could maybe sleep through the sickness and by the time we woke up, all would be back to normal.

Nope. We were up all night, tossing and turning and throwing up. Billy dreamt of work and I dreamt that Millie was in bed with us and that I kept forgetting. She, in fact, was not. She was very sweet and slept through the night. I am not sure what we would have done if she wouldn't have.

Now we are awake and tired but feeling better than last night.

So... for your weekend, here are some things you should watch. The first is nature in all it's beauty and the second, some sweet voices and creativity and the third was just fun.

Happy Weekend!

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

 

 

  The Staves and their song "Mexico"

 Video from here

peter and wendy: a book in review

I would be a little surprised if you were unfamiliar with the story of Peter Pan and Miss Wendy of Number 14. You know, the story of the boy who would not grow up and the girl who eventually did. I remember watching one of the film versions and being so heart broken that Peter still refused to grow up that I changed the ending in my mind. But alas, it was not to be.

James M. Barrie (1860-1937) was a novelist and playwright. And, although his life was full of successful works, his play Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up is his most well known piece of work. Peter and Wendy is the novel version of the play and a fantastic read for children of any age (be it 12 or 52).

When reading about his life, it is obvious that James felt more comfortable in the imaginative world of children. In the Neverland, where pirates rule above the seas and mermaids rule below. Where the island is fully of fairies and indians and crocodiles who tick tock tick tock as they go. This is a world were children fly simply because they believe and fairies are born each time a baby laughs for the first time. Really, where else would all the things be in one place at one time but in the Neverlands.

Throughout the book, one thing was very apparent... Peter Pan was a little rascal. The whole reason Hook was obsessed with ridding the world of Peter was because he was a cocky little thing. Peter always declared himself to be the clever one, though others were the truely clever ones. He loved stories of himself, though he could not remember most of the adventures he had been on. And he was oblivious of the fact that the girls (Wendy and Tink) were swooning over him. Even Sir Barrie was disappointed in the statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens because  "it doesn't show the devil in Peter."

The writing is creative, unique, and as imaginative as the children are. The "We" who write the story decides the story will go one way or another as they are telling it, just like when your parents lay with you in bed, telling you stories of rescues and battles. And all things have life and personality.. even the night lights:

They were awfully nice little night-lights, and one cannot help wishing that they could have kept awake to see Peter; but Wendy's light blinked and gave such a yawn that the other two yawned also, and before they could close their mouths all the three went out (beginning of chapter 3).

Doesn't that just paint a perfect little picture of how those lights went out?

The characters are beautifully described and their personalities apparent: Hook with his obsession with good form and bad form, his menacing demeanor, weakening fear of the crocodile, Tink with her propensity for cussing and bitter jealousy (and crush on Peter), Tootles and his doggone bad luck, Smee and his lovable nature, and Wendy, with her romantic name (come on, don't you just love to say it? Say it with me Wendy Moira Angela Darling), who was the Mother, who so wanted to be with Peter but was one who chose to grow up.

Peter and Wendy is a splendid little book that I very much enjoyed reading. However, I must say, by the end of the book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a child again or to grow up. Maybe a little of both.

(When you read it, tell me, what do you think "the kiss" in the right hand corner of Mrs. Darlings mouth is? I have some thoughts, thanks to Charity, but I am curious to know what you think.)

**The was a book club read. If you are interested in joining in on the fun and discussion, email me and I will keep you updated on future meetings and books!

sunshine and hanging plants

My neighbor is a fantastic gardner. She even makes her own hanging plants. Last Friday, she let me plant them with her, so that I could learn the tricks to a hanging pot that blooms all season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

her morning elegance

 

Creative and lovely... just thought I would share on yet another "no baby" day.