Sunday Music

Music  The Wilde Boys

The Wilde Boys will be performing at the Vail Theatre of the Arts April 24.

We took the Airstream to Picacho Peak to meet some friends and enjoy the wildflowers.  Most people think Arizona is hot, dry and colored only in varying shades of muted greens and browns.  Most people would be wrong.  The yellows, golds, and blues of the spring wildflowers are so vibrant that they sometimes don't seem real.  And they don't last long,  so we have to enjoy them quickly because in the blink of an eye they're gone.  And we are left wondering if in fact they were real. 

Sunday Music

Too much C-SPAN today!

Now for something completely different,

The soothing a capella sounds of 

Sonos

Visit the Sonos website

Diamonds OR Rust

There's a Joan Baez song, Diamonds & Rust...

I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust 

Diamonds are fine, but I like the rusty stuff 'cause that's where the memories are. And while I may not know exactly what those memories are, they are there. The Mr, having been on enough treks with me through the desert and thrift stores and salvage yards, knows what I like.  Occasionally he'll find something while out working and bring it home to me.  This week he brought me these.

 Butterflies

 

 Many colors

along with some rust

and mud.

Treasure is everywhere!

Sunday Music

We have music in our community on Thursday nights (yes, I live in a great community).  Through these Courtyard Concerts, I get introduced to the music of lots of musicians out there "trying to make a living with a microphone" as this song says. Lost in Holland, Josh Hisle and Michael G. Ronstadt,  made their audience go, WOW!  Great music, interesting backgrounds and funny road stories.  There is a clip about Josh on the youtube page if you scroll down a bit and Michael is a Ronstadt, (yes, as in Linda).  You can't swing a dead cat in this town and not hit a Ronstadt, and they all seem to be musically gifted.  

And I'm a sucker for a cello.

The sound is not great but hope you enjoy Lost in Holland.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,

I was writing about refurbing the Airstream.  By the way, I've now named it the Escape Valve.  I did finish the pleatless curtains and I like them, if I do say so myself.  We are still discussing, accent on the cussing,  what to paint inside the trailer.  Here's the deal tho, if I paint while he's at work, and he comes home and likes it, we both win, right?

I say this knowing he has never disliked anything I've painted in the 30+ years we've been together.  And I've painted a LOT of stuff.

Anyway, here are the photos.

Dinette

Dinette, looking into living area.

Living area with new roller shade

Side and front window

Notice the farm animals?

Mt Graham from Roper Lake Campground.

What's up with the Masthead?

Something happened to the color in the title.  For now just pretend that it says Straw Cottage somewhere up there.

I'm adding a new blog to the Blogs I Follow List!  Kelly at Behind Blue Eyes  is not only a gifted photographer, but a beautiful writer. I've been reading back through the archives and enjoying every minute of it. Her wintry photos make me realize how much I like Tucson winters.  She also has a Dog Blog, Life with Jasper and Toki  . 

Check her out!

Behind Blue Eyes

Sunday Music

I love music of almost any genre.  Not so much into the techno thing but outside of that, almost anything goes.  And since I know you are all clamoring for a chance to hear my musical choices, I am granting your wish.

Carolina Chocolate Drops

We were first introduced to them at Pickin' in the Pines, the annual folk/bluegrass festival in Flagstaff.  Loved the music, the singing, the dancing.  They literally had the audience on its collective feet (even Rick, which is saying something, believe me).  

This is one of their "fusion" numbers.  Check out some of the traditional music they do.  It's all good!

Do Your Loved Ones a Favor

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I want to once again draw attention to The One Slide.  We were lucky in knowing what Mom wanted and didn't have to second guess every decision that needed to be made.  Knowing her wishes meant no one of us had the burden of making those difficult decisions and it decreased the likelihood of devastating family conflict. 

Waiting until "it" happens is too late

Quilting with Mom

It's been two weeks today since my Mom died.  And while there is sadness that she is no longer here, I am focusing on being grateful.  Grateful that she lived a long, and mostly healthy, life.  Grateful that the process of her dying was, although sometimes painful, not protracted.  Grateful for my many friends, some who knew Mom, some who didn't, who have offered shoulders, food, conversation, silence.  Whatever I've needed, they have provided.  Grateful for all those who came to share their remembrances of Mom and helped my brothers and I realize that she did indeed, have a life well-lived.

But one of the things I am most grateful for is learning to craft from Mom.  Until her stroke seven years ago, she was always doing something, crocheting, sewing, quilting, stained glass, ceramics, even the crazy punch card wreaths.  She enjoyed it all, and today I have a connection with her that will always be with me.  

 Mom, working on a stained glass piece.

When I returned from the funeral in Ohio, I realized that I had made a commitment to have two quilt blocks completed by March 1st.  The blocks would go into a quilt that will be auctioned off to provide funds to help our community school.  I wasn't sure I could do it. I wrestled with my dilemma (Mom was also big on keeping commitments) and talked with the organizer. Finally, I decided to try.  Making quilt blocks is a logical, mathematic endeavor that when done correctly, step-by-step, creates something beautiful and is very satisfying.  Once I began, the process was calming and provided just the right amount of distraction for my grieving mind.  It felt good to complete something and a part of my Mom will live on in that quilt.

Wall-hanging I made for Mom.

Triple Irish Chain, hand-pieced by Mom.

Enjoying Tucson Botanical Gardens, Fall, 2009