Tuesday Tunes

Wake Up, we’re going to the country

We’re going to the country and we’ll do it right

Cook up some sweet potatoes and tomorrow night

We’ll watch the stars dancing with the satellite

We stumbled upon The Gourds this Spring while settling an argument. Us Vs. The Internet. When Tim and I were first dating he made me a mix CD for my birthday. (insert aww here) Don't you remember making a mix tape for someone, a friend or a crush? Then it moved on to CD because, let's face it tapes were out and now what? I think my kids are going to make up Playlists for people, and that just doesn't have the same impact as a CD or Tape. When you can touch the cover, pull out the handwritten song list. I don't think iPod can every quite capture that.

Anyway, one of the songs on the mix was a cover of Gin & Juice by Snoop Dogg. Yeah, that doesn't bring the awws quite as much, unless you've heard the song. It's freaking hilarious! Thankfully Tim already knew we had a very similar sense of humor, but I give him kudos for putting a song like that on there. Shows that he had some courage and faith that his new girlfriend would laugh and not be offended. So at the time, Tim thought that the song was a cover by Phish. Everywhere on the internet said so and we believed them.

A few months ago we discovered we were quite wrong. The Gourds, this tiny, little blues/folk/kickass band out of Austin was the genius behind the cover. (That's NSFW and NSFK by the way!!! It's a Snoop Dogg cover after all people, what did you expect?) If someone tries to play you "this awesome cover by Phish!"you can let them know that although it's a rocking cover, it is most definitely not Phish. There is also a segment of the internet population that claims it's Dave Matthews Band - they're wrong too.

So we watched a few fan videos on YouTube, heard some more of their songs and really started to like them. Later that morning I went to the library and - I kid you not- The Gourds newest CD was on display in the Bluegrass section. Strange. So I grabbed it and we liked it so much we had to get our own copy and it hasn't stopped playing around here since. Now, if only we can get them to tour New England.

Wake Up, we’re going to the country
We’re going to the country and we’ll do it right
Cook up some sweet potatoes and tomorrow night
We’ll watch the stars dancing with the satellite

That’s right, we’re going to the country

Yer country loving gets me off all right
Yer country loving is complete
Yer country loving gets me off all right
Yer country loving is so sweet

Wake Up, wake up we’re in the country

Growing Right Along

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Things are starting to really grow and rippen in our "garden" these days. I say "garden" because we have a container garden. We don't have the space to actually plant a garden, though someday we will and I will relish in the tilling of the soil, planting the seeds and watching an abundanec of produce fill our kitchen. That's what happens when you have your own garden right? It's easy, right? Ok, so I know it's not as idealic as I imagine but until I have that big garden I'm quite content with the porch produce we're seeing this year.

This is the actual garden. From left to right (way in the corner the other side of the fence) are the Cucumbers. Then back on the porch from left: Lavendar, Rosemary, Lavender(again), Four tomato plants split between those two large black containers, Parsley,Chives Basil, Pepper Plant. the two railing boxes have petunias and pansies and one also has Pinneapple mint and Spearmint. Not too shabby for our first real attempt!

First cuke!

Bell Pepper

Lavender seedlings, they're a good inch taller now, just a week later.

Tomatoes - which ripen VERY fast and all at the same time evidently!

Geranium from one of the hanging baskets. It's important to have some pretty in the garden along with the useful.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

We peaked in on the boys sleeping last night and saw this funny sight. Nate, asserting his territorial rights to the left side of the bed, even in his sleep! That's the strong willed, funny, determined boy we know!

Tuesday Tunes

Did they tell you, you should grow up

When you wanted to dream?

Did they warn you, better shape up

If you want to succeed?

I don't know about you, who are they talking to?

They aren't talking to me

Loved

It seems to be a bit of a rough year for us unfortunately. I'm trying to stay hopeful though. As sad as I am, I'm trying to be mindful of the cyclical nature of life - remembering that death is a part of life. Its timing is not always so easy on us, and there have been many days when I have caught myself wondering why we've lost so many people in our family this year. But that wondering does not rewind time and I have to remember to enjoy who and what is in my life now.


My grandmother passed away last Saturday. She was 90 years old, and had lived an incredible life. She defied the odds from the beginning, being born at 2lbs in a time without NICUs and modern science to help support life at such a fragile interval. The doctor who delivered her didn't even write up a birth certificate for her, assuming that she wouldn't make it to the next day. She made it, and then some! She went on to live through the Great Depression, marry my grandfather, to raise two children, to own a successful business, survive breast cancer, volunteer with local community groups and be a truly loving, positive presence in many lives.

My cousin summed it up surprisingly well a few days ago, by simply saying, "Everyone loved you more than you could know!" I hope she did know.

Tuesday Tunes

But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start

When you were young
and on your own
How did it feel
to be alone?
I was always thinking
of games that I was playing.
Trying to make
the best of my time.

But only love
can break your heart
Try to be sure
right from the start
Yes only love
can break your heart
What if your world
should fall apart?

I have a friend
I've never seen
He hides his head
inside a dream
Someone should call him
and see if he can come out.
Try to lose
the down that he's found.

But only love
can break your heart
Try to be sure
right from the start
Yes only love
can break your heart
What if your world
should fall apart?

I have a friend
I've never seen
He hides his head
inside a dream
Yes, only love
can break your heart
Yes, only love
can break your heart
-Neil Young

Weekending

Saturday morning we set out to finding the Wiggly Bridge in York Harbor. I've been wanting to go for a long time, and even made an unsuccessful attempt last fall, about a week before Sydney was born. We set out around noon to find this great walking path near the ocean with the ever allusive bridge. About fifteen minutes into our adventure we gave up. The traffic was terrible and the drivers from out of state were swarming and cranky. We decided it wasn't the best time to cruise through an area we don't know very well trying to find a landmark we've never seen. That and we would have sat in traffic for at least a half hour trying to get to a place about twenty minutes from our door.

We turned around, headed back towards home and then thought of a new destination. I think sometimes my stubbornness comes in handy. It was a beautiful day and I was determined that we would spend it outside. We drove over to Odiorne State Park instead and had a much better time than we had anticipated. WE hiked the stairs to the top of one of the forts and then went down the other side and off into the woods, where we found the fattest Garter Snake I'd ever seen, a white, fuzzy caterpillar, a weird rock wall or fountain, some mosquitoes and lots of fun. Tim said we made a good recovery of the day and I couldn't agree more.