August Fades

Oh how quickly the days pass from warm summer sun to the weaker sun of fall.  Our August was bright and full of fun days.  Visiting more of our home province and trying to enjoy the last few weeks before Kyan's first year of elementary school.

 
After the heat of July August faded in and out and moved with a more deliberate pace.
We saw some incredible sights; walking through old train tunnels, visiting community gardens, and gathering with friends to share music.

A highlight of the month was to witness the blossoming of dreams being realized.  Artists close to me (including myself) creating, working, striving to find their place and bring their truth to the world around them.  This manifested differently for each of us but filled my heart with a steadfast joy.  I feel lucky to have been there and experienced that moment in time.

come on along

Tomorrow we head out for a road trip.  Our first of such epic proportions, nine days on the road stopping in 5 different cities or towns.  Since I'm a road trip kind of gal I'm very excited and I had this idea that I'd take you along.  Wouldn't you like to take a road trip to celebrate summer's end?   I thought so too.  So to start you off on the right track you need the correct playlist.  I mean music is crucial to the whole vibe.  Here is my Road Trippin' 2012 playlist for you.

On the Road Again - Canned Heat
Without a Map - Sam Roberts
Elephant Gun - Beirut (my current song obsession)
Lonely Boy - The Black Keys (one of the boys' current favorites)
Imaginary Bars - Great Lake Swimmers
Road Regrets - Dan Mangan
How Come You Never Go There? - Feist
Road Trippin' - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
Pagan Angel And a Borrowed Car - Iron & Wine
Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
Come Together - The Beatles
Goin' up the Country - Canned Heat
Get out the Map - Indigo Girls
King of the Road - Teddy Thompson & Rufus Wainwright
Bobcaygeon - The Tragically Hip
Road to Zion - Damien Jr Gong Marley
Hard Road - Sam Roberts
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Santa Fe - Beirut

As always leave your addition in the comments if you'd like and next time I write it will be from the road.

someday...J is for Jasper

About 10 years ago this summer my sister and I took a 12 hour bus ride from Vancouver BC to Camrose Alberta to attend our cousin's wedding.  Along the way we had many stops but the one that is most memorable for me is when we stopped to stretch our legs outside of Jasper National Park.
From the Convenience Store parking lot I saw a far away mountain peak...(after searching mountain names in Jasper I'm still not sure which one this is)

   image source

And this wild and stunning landscape has been sitting in my heart ever since.  Someday a visit will be planned and carried out.  This trip will have a sense of pilgrimage to me.  I have many such places that I'd like to visit in a spiritual context.  Many are the typical pagan spots: Stonehenge, Newgrange, the Ganges river and some are just mystical and compelling to me for other reasons.
Being in wild places is very important to my pagan path.  It reminds me that I am small, that the earth in her mystery and power can inspire wonder and quiet the aimless ramblings of the mind.  I can get that when heading outside here as well but certain places in the world hold an allure of something deeper.  A lesson of place emitting an energy of a specific kind.  That energy can only be felt when your feet are planted on that ground, when you are breathing that air and feeling the breeze on your skin.
This song was inspired by this glorious place and only increases my resolve to visit.

For the Birds

As promised here is a little playlist to accompany the lovely birdsong that is bringing spring on the wind.  Spring is taking its time with us this year, teasing us with some sunshine here and there but bringing rains and winds that stir the juices regardless.  I hope this means a long and hot summer to come.

Birds

Cicadas & Gulls - Feist

Big Bird in a Small Cage - Patrick Watson

Sweet Bird - Joni Mitchell

Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown) - The Beatles

Given to Fly - Pearl Jam

Black Crow - Joni Mitchell

Emperor Penguin - The Tragically Hip

Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine

The Birds on the Bridge - The Deep Dark Woods

Blackbird - The Beatles

Bird Guhl - Antony & the Johnsons

Song to a Seagull - Joni Mitchell

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley

And Your Bird Can Sing - The Beatles

The Littlest Birds - The Be Good Tanyas

You may have noticed several Joni songs, she sings about birds a lot.  As do The Beatles but you can't deny the classics.  Feel free to add your favorites in the comments and get out and enjoy the birds.  I plan on doing a bit more to honour them this spring, I'll be back with more on that soon.

dreamers and doers

On a recent evening Dave put on The Strombo Show from January 15th of this year.  George Stroumboulopoulos was talking with a long time friend of his, Bob Mackowycz Jr. about their career paths and how they were such doers that they needed to remind themselves to dream.  They spoke about this at length and with a rather wistful nostalgia for their driven youth in which they worked crazy hours to propel themselves towards their future goals.  They saw themselves as doers; working hard, for long hours and becoming so "good" at living the life that they had created that they needed to make time to dream or challenge if you will, their patterns and habits.  The downside of their doer lives being that they would neglect the more intuitive parts of themselves, too busy to listen to their soul's voices that may be whispering to them.

This struck a cord with me and as George commented that he needed to be more of a dreamer I quipped that I do not have that problem.  In fact for most of my life I had the opposite problem; I was too much of a dreamer and not enough of a doer.  I could say that growing up in a rural area contributed to my dreamer state.  I spent hours in my room as a teenager, listening to music, drawing and imagining scenarios for my life.  Being a dreamer added to my t.v. addiction since I was able to imagine more future possibilities just by the flick of a switch.  I could be this, I could do that, I could meet....you get the drift.  I often tried things and did lots with school and friends but I certainly didn't have a drive to pursue my dreams at all cost.  Instead I waited for some magical day when all these ideas would manifest themselves.  And if there is one thing that I've learned in my 34 years it's that things practically never fall into your lap gift-wrapped and shining.  Instead you have to go and get them, work hard, try, fail, try again.  Push, nag, stop, start again.  In short you have to do it.

Being a dreamer is not bad or good or better.  Likewise with being a doer.  They are just different and can really change the way your life progresses.  An example of this can be found in Marion Fowler's book The Embroidered Tent: Five Gentlewomen in Early Canada.  Fowler describes the difference between Catherine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, sisters who both immigrate to Canada from England and make a go of it in the wilderness.  Catherine being the doer learns the trades of a pioneer housewife and deals with her fears and misgivings by mastering all she can control in her surroundings.  Susanna on the other hand is a dreamer, a romantic who revels in the solitude of the wilderness but fails to become a doer in her early attempts.   She struggles with her desire to dream and the expectations placed on her by her circumstances.

That push and pull makes a dreamer struggle in such a doer world.  Dreaming big is important to our souls and has brought many of the greatest inventions and art into this world, but dreaming can also isolate and paralyze.  And if you are mostly a doer you often fail to connect to something internal and bigger than your immediate daily tasks.   Those little ideas that need time to blossom or need to be fed with beauty and time  can be stifled by to-do lists or an over-filled schedule.

How is the balance achieved?  I'm not sure.  The dreamer in me is still a huge part of who I am.  I wouldn't change that despite the things I could have achieved had I been more of a doer.  Being a mom is about constant doing but I struggle in many ways to be more of a doer.  To stop reading blogs, pinning on Pinterest, listening to podcasts and just do, be, live my life.  Be here now.  Dream big, but be here in this moment.  Make more food, make more art, read more books, play more games with the boys.... I better get to the doing.

Oh, and just because I felt it was improper to not include the quintessential dreamer in this post here is a video of my favorite Beatle singing Imagine live.
"...I'm not the only one..." 

Top Ten Holiday Albums 2011

I love the holidays and I especially love holiday music.  Since childhood the familiar tunes have rung through our home for baking, wrapping and caroling.  My tastes have changed since my spiritual leanings have but this list has something for everyone who loves Christmas music.  You can find my top ten holiday movies here.  Please feel free to add your own must haves in the comments.

10.  The Rat Pack Christmas Album.  These songs are classic renditions of many favorites.  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. sing out White Christmas, Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland along with one that I've come to love Let's Start the New Year Right.

9. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers' Once Upon A Christmas.   Growing up with country music meant that I perused several country holiday albums as a kid.  This one sticks with me because of the original songs like Christmas Without You and With Bells On.  The twang of Dolly and Kenny is homey and simple which makes for a good album.

                                                     

8.  Elvis Presley If Every Day Was Like Christmas.   Another album from my childhood although we listened to Blue Christmas on vinyl.  But when I was linking to these the reviews for the cd version were negative so this album has all the songs I loved plus some others that sound nice.  Blue Christmas has to be one of the best songs Elvis ever sang and Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me is pure fun.  

7.  Melissa Etheridge A New Thought for Christmas.  I mentioned this album last year and it is really a nice departure from the typical albums with the classic songs.  Her rendition of O Night Divine is refreshing and focuses on the solstice.  This album rocks the holidays.

6.  Loreena McKennit A Midwinter Night's Dream.  Besides the cover art this album has some lovely old time sounding songs.  Gloucestershire Wassail, Good King Wenceslas and Coventry Carol are great and I love her originals Snow and Seeds of Love as well.

5.  Canned Heat Christmas Album.  Are you looking for some bluesy songs to get you dancing and grooving...then this is your album.  Deck the Halls, Boogie Boy ( Little Drummer Boy) and more get you out of your seat and moving.  This is not your grandma's Christmas carols.

4.  Santa Baby!  Various Artists.  The above album is similar to the compilation I have but it isn't the exact same.  I wasn't able to find it to link to precisely.  But if you happen to find it it's good.  Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby, Patti Page's Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, Louis Armstrong's Zat You Santa Claus all terrific and not the repetitive songs that can grate on your nerves sometimes.

3.  John Denver & The Muppets A Christmas Together.  I just discovered this one this year...funny since it was originally released in the 1970's.  Sweet and funny it's a perfect album to share with kids and enjoy.  The Twelve Days of Christmas version here is charming.

2.   Michael Buble Christmas.  His voice is like butter I tell you.  Great arrangements on this album, I love the style of old meets modern in the way he sings.  Holly Jolly Christmas is a favorite and the guy version of Santa Baby, very meterosexual! 

1.  Aimee Mann One More Drifter in the Snow.  There is just something about Aimee Mann's low and moody voice that exemplifies the holiday season.  Firelight, snow gently falling, drinking something warm - just a few things this album conjures for me.  Her version of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch is good for kids and adults (and really I'm impressed that she included it) and What Ever Happened to Christmas is contemplative and serene.  This album is a great way to pull some reflective quiet into a hectic time of year.

as you're leaving...

Tomorrow one of my best friends in the world leaves on a journey to pursue his passion.  I am so proud of him for taking this huge leap of faith and for taking his life into his hands.  Please follow his journey across Canada to perform songs from his album.  The story that will result is sure to be entertaining.  Blessings on the journey Matt & Dylan.

Matthew McCully's Blog

Song of the Open Road

by Walt Witman

AFOOT and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,
I do not want the constellations any nearer,
I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,
I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever
I go,
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,
I am fill'd with them, and I will fill them in return.)

...The earth expanding right hand and left hand,
The picture alive, every part in its best light,
The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is
not wanted,
The cheerful voice of the public road, the gay fresh sentiment of
the road...

an excerpt. full poem can be found here

Outdoor Weekend

Since we were outdoors for most of the weekend as well as today I wanted to share some of our adventures.  July is shaping up into a great month so far and I've been dreading avoiding packing for our move which is quickly approaching.

We visited with friends and their new baby and they took us to the "Birthplace of British Columbia" Fort Langley which is a charming little town.  This is their train station museum.  Our weekends aren't complete these days without some sort of train activity.

On Saturday evening we cheered on my brother-in-law Ricky as he ran his first 10K run.  He raised over $300 for the BC Cancer Foundation.  He had a great finish time and we enjoyed cheering for him.  After the run we enjoyed the sun glistening on the water in False Creek.

Sunday evening we enjoyed the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's free concert in Deer Lake Park.  It was relaxing and they played some popular pieces like Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and several pieces from West Side Story.  Our favorite though hands down was Darth Vader's theme from The Empire Strikes Back.  Yeah, we're nerds...I know.

 

Today we spent a blustery time at the park.  The wind was crazy and made what would have been a warm day a bit chilly.  But we played frisbee, enjoyed the teeter totter and played in the spray park's stream.   Tomorrow we plan to visit the outdoors but stick close to home and get started on packing.  If I avoid it any longer I'll seriously regret it later.

For the Senses: Spring

Here is my second edition of my seasonal senses trip. For anyone just tuning in these are products, people and things that bring joy to the senses, invoke beauty and hopefully inspire. This one is particularly girly....Spring is bringing out the flowery side of me.

Sound::

This woman's lovely voice and stirring music is one of those albums that makes you think you are listening to a movie soundtrack of your life. Joanna Newsom's songs are long but worth the journey.

Smell::

A delicate white flower will soon be emerging from lush green leaves. As I wait for them smelling them sounds like a good way to honour Spring's energy. Lily of the Valley Incense....would be just right.


Taste::

I made glazed walnuts last week to top a salad and then we had them on ice cream too. I used the recipe from Feeding the Whole Family but this one is similar. The only differences were that I used olive oil rather than butter and baked them in the oven at 300 degrees F stirring now and then until golden. Delicious!

Touch::

Felted soap have you heard of this? Are you with me? I bought some for a gift but have yet to try it myself. But SoFino's shop on Etsy has the most lovely ones. Green Leaves, Jumping Bunnies.....and once the soap is gone you have a lovely felted pouch to enjoy.

Sight::

Running along with the Lily of the Valley theme I just adore this this hand printed cotton shirt on maryink's Etsy shop. It is bright and simple and pretty. And everyone should feel like they are wearing art now and then.

I'll stop writing about Spring for a bit now since I've been going on for a week about it. It's my way of trying to conjure up some sunshine and warm breezes. Hope you are finding some where ever you are.

Sea Songs

My newest playlist to bring the salty sea air where ever I go.

The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
Born in the Water - The Tragically Hip
Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse
Wooden Ships - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Sailor's Eyes - Joel Plaskett
Ship out on the Sea - Be Good Tanyas
Oceans - Pearl Jam
Swallowed in the Sea - Coldplay
Down by the Seaside - Led Zeppelin
Sea and the Rhythm - Iron & Wine
Sea of Love - Cat Power
Sail to the Moon - Radiohead
Pirate of Penance - Joni Mitchell
Mark of the Mermaid - Matthew McCully
House by the Sea - Iron & Wine
Sea Lion Woman - Feist
Yer Not the Ocean - The Tragically Hip
Tahitian Moon - Jane's Addiction
Oh Sailor - Fiona Apple
Song to a Seagull - Joni Mitchell

As you can tell my taste is all over the map. What would be on your Sea Songs mix?

My First Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to bring you Chasing Domestic Bliss' first ever giveaway. This has been a long time coming since I think my first hint about this was over a year ago...but as with all art things like this cannot be rushed.

One of my best friends in the whole world is a singer/songwriter and is set to officially release his debut album Matthew McCully and the matter of principle in the next few weeks. It is already available on iTunes and Cdbaby for sale but one lucky reader is going to get their very own copy sent to them as a sign of my gratitude for hanging out here with me.

This album has been a labour of love for several of us. Heidi Joy and I sing back-up, I painted the cover art and Dave designed the layout. Dave and I also designed the website. But what this album is really about is the music.

Matthew is inspired by artists like Paul Simon and Elliot Smith. His songs are complex and his ability with lyric writing is exceptional but don't take my word for it, see for yourself!

So here are the requirements for entry into this giveaway:

Visit matthewmccully.ca, click on the music link and listen to one of the four song samples there. Then leave me a comment and tell me which song you liked best.

You can gain 3 extra entries by blogging about this giveaway and leaving a link to your post in the comment section. I would like to give any of my current 50 followers who leave a comment 2 extra entries just for being such loyal readers. And if you are new to the blog, like what you see and want to become a follower today I'll give you 1 extra entry. Please leave one comment per entry.

This giveaway will run until Sunday March 14th, 2010. I'll announce the winner on Monday March 15th. Good luck!

**disclaimer: if you know Matt I expect that you will buy this album. Comments will only count if they are made on the blog itself http://chasingdomesticbliss.blogspot.com not on Facebook.**

A Night out for two Mamas

We talked, drank wine, ate great food

We laughed, complained, and completed thoughts without being interrupted

We watched a ballet based on the music that had glued our friendship for life

We wore pretty clothes and tried not to yawn on the way home

We felt very lucky to have friends and family that loved us enough to make it happen

Happy Birthday Joni!

Today is the wonderful Joni Mitchell's birthday. She was born in Fort McLeod Alberta, Canada in 1943. I have to say that she is the coolest senior citizen I can think of.
My love affair with her music started in college probably in 1997. I watched a Governor Generals Awards ceremony on T.V. Joni was being honoured that year. Sarah McLauchlan sang the haunting song Blue in tribute to her. I went out and bought the album. Blue (also the album's title) is arguably one of Joni's most raw and popular albums. It was released in June of 1971, six years before I was born, but Joni's music is timeless. If you have never listened to Joni beyond Big Yellow Taxi ("you don't know what you've got 'til its gone") please give her a listen. I would recommend starting with Blue or Ladies of the Canyon.
What is it about her music that is so compelling? Her lyrics are complex and make images flow through you. She is a natural talent there is nothing that is off limits in terms of artistic expression for her. Here is the chorus from her song Sweet Bird (from the album The Hissing of Summer Lawns 1975)

Sweet bird you are
Briefer than a falling star
All these vain promises on beauty jars
Somewhere with your wings on time
You must be laughing
Behind our eyes
Calendars of our lives
Circled with compromise
Sweet bird of time and change
You must be laughing
Up on your feathers laughing

Joni's life is very interesting. She was a part of the folk music scene that championed Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills and Nash, but she moved beyond the blond beauty folk singer image in the mid-seventies. Some of her fan base and some critics were not happy about her departure. But she would not be a jukebox, instead she chose to follow her muse and she developed her music into jazz and beyond and experimented with many sounds and concepts. Throughout her music career she painted as well. She considers herself a painter first actually. Most of her album covers are self-portraits. Her most recent endeavor was a ballet that she developed with some partners. The dancers interpret her music through movement. I have seen it on T.V but hope to see it in person to get the full effect. It is called The Fiddle and the Drum. One of my life goals is to see Joni perform in concert. She does not tour much anymore so I may have missed the boat but I have faith that it will happen. Her music touches me in a place that really cannot express words. I leave you with a verse from the song Woman of Heart and Mind (from the album For the Roses, 1972)

I am a woman of heart and mind
with time on her hands
no child to raise
you come to me like a little boy
and I give you my scorn and my praise
you think I'm like your mother
or another lover or your sister
or the queen of your dreams
or just another silly girl
when love makes a fool of me