a joyful sound

photo credit: Noah Duyan (seriously my 4 year old is good taking photos. Also, he insisted that Kitty sit on my knee for the pic.)

A little known fact about me.... I love music. I mean, not just love music, but rather, I am a musical person.

My mother told me that as a baby, I used to sing. Like not cry, but sing ... as a baby? Its true.

As a little girl, I used to drive my older sister and her boyfriend CRAZY by singing Little Mermaid songs at the top of my lungs, at like 7 am in the morning. They loved me for it.

In grade 5, I joined a city wide choir, that I stayed in till I was 13. We went to Italy and performed in St.Peter's Basilica. It was a very defining moment for me. And as a teenager, I picked up my sister's old acoustic guitar and taught myself how to play. I wrote songs and held coffee houses in my house where my friends and I would perform.

Through the years, I have loved many different music genres. Rock, Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Indie, Folk ... each genre speaks to me in a different way, and helps me understand the world a bit. And songs, particular songs can conjure up so many memories. For example, anytime I hear any song from the 1980s movie Stand By Me, I think of my childhood and of my best friend. I love how music can take you to a place and a time.

Over the Christmas holidays, while visiting my friend Natalie, she told me that she had received a ukulele as a gift, and that she had also formed a little singing group with her friends. As I stayed over at her house that weekend, I heard on a few occasions Natalie singing away in her kitchen, to herself and to the kids, and I was struck with how joyful it made us all feel. I knew that I wanted to bring back the music of life into our home. That I wanted my children to sing, play and hear it more often.

I've taken some steps recently, to bring more music into our lives. And while I may not be an amazing singer or a fantastic player, I want my children to hear real live music (not just recorded), so I feel that it is important that I try. I bought myself a ukulele as well, and have been playing children's songs and some of my favourites too. It's been fun to have sing alongs with the kids and to try to learn a new instrument. I'm also just doing my best to sing to and with the kids on a daily basis, knowing that it helps them during transition time or when they need a little positive boost, to hear a certain song.

Yesterday evening, my best friend and I went on a date to see the lovely Canadian group, Trent Severn. To see these three talented artists perform was such a treat for me, and something that fed my yearning for more music in my life. Their voices, their precision when it comes to playing, their stories told through song .... this is what music is about. This is joy.

And finally, last week I purchased our tickets for the Atlin Music Festival that will take place this summer. We will be looking forward to a weekend of camping, hanging with friends and of course, listening to live music performed by some amazing Canadian talent. I can't wait to see my little ones take it all in.

xox

If music be the food of love, play on
From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

me with Trent Severn ... I have girl crushes on them all

these days...

I love the quiet after Christmas. It's such a nice in between time. There's still New Year's to look forward to, but all the excess of Christmas is over and all that is left is a few remaining Christmas lights and time to reflect.

Here in our home we have been taking our days slow. What else can we do in the winter when it's dark outside most of the time and we have a little new babe to take care of. Having Winslow home is simply lovely. I am beyond blessed that he is home, we all are. Right now as I write this I can hear him and Noah playing on the bongos upstairs...he is instructing Noah on how to dance. There is a lot of laughter coming from upstairs.

I've been catching myself lately just being in wonder of everything that I have. Today I sat in the quiet with the Christmas tree lights on, while my two precious babes lay on me taking a nap. It looked as though they were both fighting for room on my lap, each child taking up every inch of me that was available and I just thought to myself, how blessed am I? I sat there wishing that there was a way to bottle up their smallness, their sweet littleness. Someday I will miss them being this small. I already dread the day.

Yesterday I snuck out by myself for a short but much needed walk on my own. It was quick and I walked briskly, but it was nice to be on my own for a few minutes. It was good to walk quickly, it felt nice to have the cold air on my cheeks and breathe in the sharp air. I admired the beauty around me. The pink sunlight on the snow covered mountains, the animal tracks I saw in the snow, my colourful neighbourhood. I loved the quiet and the moment I had all to myself. Even if it was just for 15 minutes.

I'm listening to the new Feist album. Winslow gave it to me for Christmas and I love it. I think it's one of those albums that needs to be listened to many times to really "get" it. It's very mellow and pretty. Perfect for this time of year.

And how about you friends? Are you ready for the New Year to come along? Are you feeling ready to wipe the slate clean and start out fresh? I just love the start of a new year. I love cleaning the house, organizing my life, setting goals (not resolutions), and picking up healthy habits once again.

I hope you are all well dear friends.

xox

i was made for sunny days

Loving this song. Not that it's new, I just really enjoy it when I hear it. It says summer to me. I'm wondering, what's your summer song?

Today Noah and I met up with our good friends Sarah and Abby for a lunch time concert in the park. From May through till June, Whitehorse features a lunch time art in the park event where visual artists and musicians get together to preform and show their art. The music today was sweet folk music and it seemed everyone was out enjoying themselves. Noah and Abby had so much fun dancing around, snacking on treats and taking off to places where we couldn't see them. The whole scene said summer to me. Outside, sunshine, fresh air, sun hats and sunglasses, children dancing, picnic lunches and nice music. Pure happiness.

Lately little snippets of summer have been sneaking into our days. Like when Noah and his friend Evey enjoyed homemade popsicles on the front porch yesterday, that said summer to me. And when Winslow, Noah and I grabbed our favourite takeout of chicken shawarma platter and then went to the park for dinner, that said summer to me also. Ah sweet summer. Sun and warmth and days spent outside. After such a long and cold winter here in the Yukon, nothing is more welcomed than the short but sweet season of summer and I fully intend on making the most of each of our summery days here.

Happy weekend friends!

xox

new tunes

There is one gift that I always love to receive and to give, and that is music. From the mix cds that my bestfriend Amy still makes for me, to that first Aretha Franklin cd that I was allowed to choose out...I love music.

And so this year when I was asked by family what I would like for my birthday, I gladly gave a few suggestions of music that I would like to receive.

I asked for 3 new albums that are out and they have been on steady rotation ever since.

They are: "Oh little Fire" by Sarah Harmer, "Gem and I" by Emm Gryner and "Suburbs" by Arcade Fire (you should be able to listen to these artists if you search a bit on their websites). All so good, but I think my favourite is Sarah's new album...well worth the wait since her last.

Don't you just love getting new music? I think it's one of the best gifts to give because it is the gift that keeps on giving.

So how about you? Have you been listening to any good new or old music lately?

ma baby's first concert

Noah went to his first concert on Saturday. He saw Great Lake Swimmers at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival ( a free 3 day concert!). My little guy had so much fun chillen out just like all the other hippy babies and was clapping away to the music! I just love the summer and being able to get out with him and do things like this.