Pretty in Pink

I just love this time of the year - flowering cherries, plums, almonds, crab apples - they all have PINK blossoms - I especially like this tree in our back yard.








There are many of them in town along the streets and after the hard rain and winds that we have had for the last few days, there will be pink petals all over the place - looking like pink snow drifts.







Years ago when this tree was younger, there was a finch that would sit on the branches and pick off the flower buds one by one. I imagined that he was taking home a bouquet to his wife.







These are wild bleeding hearts - I don't think my domestic plant is blooming yet. The blossoms look like dancing ladies one way or ladies in their bloomers if you turn them upside down.







This adorable little lady was in the Easter basket that my Secret Pal from church dropped off at my office the Friday before Easter. There was a Lily of the Valley in bloom and lots of really good chocolate in the basket too. A Dor A Ble !!! Thank you Secret Pal!












This is the most perfect dogwood blossom. Actually the what we think of as pink petals are actually "bracts" and similar to the poinsettia, the flowers are the tightly closed part in the center, which will open up in a few days.





This lovely pink blossom is on our star magnolia is just a blush of pink. The pinks are rare and hard to find - but really pretty.

Going (not to far) back in time -

Yup, its back to March (just before I hurt my back) and more music - - -

A year ago when The Shepherd went to our church’s district meeting, he brought home a new song book, "The Earth & Spirit Songbook". Compiled and edited by musician
/composer Jim Scott, (who is also a Unitarian) this book is a collection of over 100 old and new songs by many well known modern day songwriters. Unlike other “sing-along” books, this one includes all piano accompaniments and chord symbols for guitar. Scott also makes it very clear that if any of the songs from the songbook were used, that you needed to send payment to the author/songwriter.

One of the songs in the book is the song “Somos el Barco”, which The Shepherd aka The Minister of Music wanted to use for one of our church services. So, as the “secretary to the Minister of Music” I set about to contact Jim to find out about what we needed to do. And while I was at it, I mentioned that we had enjoyed his concert the last time he was in Bellingham. And, while I was at it, “Oh, by the way, if he ever was out in the area again (he now lives in Massachusetts) would he consider doing a concert at a little church like ours?”

To make a long story short, he sent me the name of the author of the song, a suggested acceptable donation for its use and, yes, he had heard a lot about our little church and yes, he would be interested in doing a concert for us – unfortunately the timing wasn’t right – going into the summer when our church services are on hiatus – oh, well, maybe another time.

So, a couple of months ago, when I got an email from him – he was going to be out in Washington and were we still interested in doing that concert? I was excited! I talked with our minister, everyone on the church board and (after a promise that I would underwrite the concert if we didn’t sell enough tickets), the concert was scheduled for March 20, as a benefit for the Blaine Family Service Center – a local organization that our church supports.

Well, Holy Cow, I had forgotten what a lot of work it is to promote a concert, and with all the bad weather we had in January & February, and then the problems with Moni and the lambs – Yikes – the concert was only three weeks away and we hadn't sold a ticket! But, many folks seem to plan "last minute" these days and thankfully, everything worked out OK – I think there would have been a few more of our members at the concert, however it was the same day as the memorial service for a long time member of the church, and people just couldn’t do both functions. However, we not only sold enough tickets to make about $150 for the Family Service Center, but we totally exceeded Jim’s expectations about the concert – (Yeah!)

I have really been enjoying the three CD’s that I bought from him. Jim’s warm and inviting voice is very much like James Taylor and makes you want to curl up on the sofa with a “blankey” and a nice cup of blueberry tea (the kind made with Grand Marnier and Amaretto if you please). His music ranges, as the old saying goes, from the ridiculous to the sublime. Scott is probably best known for the song “Common Ground”, but he is an astonishing musician and song writer. He will often take a bunch of kids and a few ideas that they come up with and write a song about something totally off the wall that makes you tap your toes and you will be whistling it for days.

Here are some quotes the media has said about Jim Scott -

“Jim Scott sees his guitar as an instrument, all right. But he views it as an instrument to build bridges between people. His performances are "celebrations of the common humanity of all cultures - our connectionswith each other and the earth," as he puts it.”

“The performer's work on songs such as "Common Ground" and the "Missa Gaia/Earth Mass" with the illustrious Paul Winter Consort (1977 – 1984) pushed him into the national spotlight and he has since collaborated with top jazz, classical and folks artists, plus appearing often now with concert choirs.”

A review of his ALBUM, "SAILING WITH THE MOON" said: "The Rainforest Song" contains not only one of the catchiest melodies on the album, but masterful counterpoint work which seems to create a sonic rain forest with dewy vocal lines bursting, then fading into the main melody. The Braided Rug," a cut about a rug made from old clothes and the memories they spark, has a twisting melancholy to it."

Paul Winter has said that his music "sings of the life spirit."

Pete Seeger called him "some kind of magician."

Mr. Scott is a gifted singer/songwriter whose music blends jazz, folk, Latin, Caribbean, and other influences.

"The folk music tradition is the voice of the people," Scott concludes. "That's what I like to think I'm representing."

Jim tours quite a bit – especially in his native New England – you should keep any eye on your local music events and if he comes to your town, make sure you go – you won’t be disappointed.

That Awful Clock! (borrowed from Miss Peach)

Miss Peach really struck a chord with me when she put this sweet picture on her blog. It is how I feel every morning lately. I go to bed early because I am so exhausted from my back hurting all day and then I have to get up early (Ok, at 6:30 a.m.) to go into work at 8:00 am because my co-worker is not back full time from her surgery yet. Woe is me - That Awful Clock Again..........

Payday is over and I just have to finish my church newsletter - then I have stuff to tell you clear back from the middle of March!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Here's to another 15 years of peaceful co-existence.

We celebrated with a dinner of leftovers and fresh baked rhubarb pie.

Saturday we'll go on a trek, ending up at Gretchen's Wool Mill Spring Fiber Frolic and Spin-In. Should be a fun afternoon.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie.

Got some catching up to do......

Ta Da - got the new camera to download to the computer. Not the easiest software to use, but, I guess I'll learn - you know that story about "old dogs and new tricks????

Meanwhile this shiny blue balloon heralds the arrival of Cooper - or as The Shepherd calls him "Hurricane Cooper" or HC for short.




The craziest thing is that The Shepherd went back to the pictures of the very first lambs we had born here - guess what they looked like???

Little black fuzzy guys with black & white spotted heads. Hmmm - the more things change, the more they stay the same.




And this two headed monster is Vern/Galloway - checking out the dirt on the other side of the fence. They are goofy little guys -








And here is Sinda posing in the sun for her latest portrait.

I made our reservations for our hotel room for Black Sheep tonight. Almost screwed up - I thought it was the LAST weekend in June - nope - it's the third weekend in June - Luckily I realized it before I made the reservations, etc. Now I have to remember to change my days off at work too. And start cleaning house so the house sitter won't think I'm such a slob...

Things go from bad to worse..........

Random stuff to catch up -

• The week before the Talking Heads were born, I bent over to dry my toes and wrenched something in my back - It didn't really seem to be too bad - like when you pick up to heavy a load at the same time that you turn - Then I spent an hour out in the barn watching babies be born and getting cold - that and stress from work turned my back into a pretzel - So on to muscle relaxers, Reiki, Chiropractic, going to the MD to make sure it wasn't kidney related. It's better now, but still not back to 100 percent
  
  
• My assistant at work had neck surgery on the 7th - she was only supposed to be out for 5-7 days - but they had to fuse two of her vertebrae - involving doner bone, a plate and two screws - I've got to hand it to her though - she came in and worked for a couple of hours yesterday (10 days out from surgery) - and will start back part time next week - meanwhile - work kind of "piled up" - there's only so many hours in a day...
  
  
• I was having computer memory problems - little messages that popped up on the screen, Internet Explorer freezing up, things running slower than molasses - I was encouraged by some articles that I'd read recently - - "Oh don't get a new computer, just add memory to your old one" - so I took it into a local computer repair shop that was recommended by several people. Well, my computer was old, and, it sounded plausible at the time - but it was not possible to add more memory because the slot on the mother board was bad, (or something like that) and by the way, you'll have less memory now than you did before -and, we have a refurbished computer for $375 that we could sell you - Of course I went for the refurb - no sense in throwing good money after bad, was there?
  
  
• Got the "new to me" computer home on Monday (had to wait for some Antivirus software to come in) hooked it all up to the Comcast modem - No do workey - to quote an old friend... - called Comcast - walked through all the steps - Oh, you can't hook this up with a USB2 cord (like the old one was) - you need an Ethernet cord - OK, so we have lots of those hanging around the office and my boss said I could have one - brought it home - went through all the "steps" with the Comcast person and it still didn't work. Came home from work on Friday with three other cords - just to make sure I didn't have a bad cord - STILL didn't work - So I asked the Comcast person if I could go get a new modem - Sure, they'd give me a new modem - but she didn't think that was the problem - called and chewed out the computer guys - he was sure the problem was NOT the computer - and by golly when I got the new modem hooked up, it went "Well hello there - lets get you set up and hooked up to the internet" Houston, we have lift off....
  
  
• In the process of switching over my hard drive many programs disappeared - perhaps I didn't have them loaded right in the first place, but my photo download program, a couple of other miscellaneous things and ALL MY FAVORITES from Internet Explorer- Of course that didn't mater because they switched my browser to Mozilla Firefox, which is OK, I guess, I just wish they would have asked first.
  
  
• There is a poorly marked stretch of road by our new Fred Meyers that, if you're not paying particularly good attention, the right lane will take you off on the frontage road - which a lot of people don't pay attention to and then they cut in front of you, causing stomping on the brakes and cuss words - that happened to me today - (I was the stomper and the cusser, so to speak) But you know, all things happen for a reason - if I hadn't had to slow down those - oh, three to five seconds - I would have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just a mile down the road from my "stomping and cussing" I was literally three seconds behind the guy that got "T-boned" by a car pulling out of a driveway. Stomped on my brakes, screech, halt - less than a car length from the accident - threw on the flashers and called 911 - Luckily there were no injuries - only a couple of badly smashed cars - (altho the guy whose airbag went off is probably looking for some pain killers about now.)
  
  
• As I mentioned above, the photo download program disappeared from my desktop - which is kind of a moot point now that (hm mm) someone who shall remain nameless dropped the camera when I was handing it to him, and now the lens is stuck on open or as the camera screen puts it - "Zoom error" Shoot - I was kind of thinking about getting a new camera, but not quite yet - so, off I go to Costco to get a new camera - I'm hoping however that someone, somewhere can fix the little guy - that way The Shepherd can use it for his own and I'll take the new one.
  
  
• Pearl had her lamb today - a single ram lamb - his name is Cooper - or Hurricane Cooper, as The Shepherd calls him - If I can figure out how my new camera works - you'll get pictures in the next couple of days.
  
  

Well, The Shepherd aka, The Choir Director aka, The Minister of Music talked me into playing for church tomorrow, so I'd better get to bed. Some good things really did happen over the past ten days - Easter - a great present from my Secret Pal at church - and getting to hear Tapestry Artist Sarah Swett at my spinner guild meeting last weekend. Her work is incredible - she has an article on Spinning for Embroidery in the last Spin Off Magazine. Oh, so talented and a very fun speaker as well.

It's a small world after all

Not a very good close up, but The Shepherd has this bright yellow forsythia blooming in the greenhouse right now.

He has spent the past couple of days root pruning and cleaning pots, getting everything ready to move out to the benches in the garden.






A pretty pine with a very gnarled trunk.
















I'm fascinated by the lichens that grow on some of the plants - they are about the size of a straight pin.













Or smaller...








This little weeping larch has the most intriguing looking little cones, and when the needles first come out, they are as soft as they can be.



















He moved this out of the greenhouse onto our front porch this afternoon. I always say -" Some people re-arrange their furniture. The Shepherd re-arranges his plants..."

ON the Hook -

The only crochet project I have going right now is this scarf made from "Vanna Baby Soft" yarn for my younger sister. She picked out the colors, and I really didn't think they would look too good together until I started the scarf - but they do.

Also, the angle of the picture makes it look like I have really increased my gauge, but it's really all the same size.







I used a pattern that I found in this "Box of Scarves" - Very handy - each pattern is on it's own card, so you don't have to schlep around this big book or worry about getting photocopies made of your pattern. You just have this one 8 1/2 x 5 card that you can tuck in your bag with your yarn. Very handy.







Crocheting in the back loops only gives the scarf this cool texture - and the chevron pattern is so easy, I understand why my grandma made dozens of afghans in this pattern.

I'm still working on the brown and caramel colored plied Shetland yarn for The Shepherd's sweater vest. I'm a little over half done. It is such a huge commitment to make enough yarn for that kind of a project - I like to crochet, but I think making the yarn is half the fun.

Off the hook

After making all those hats for Christmas presents, I felt like I needed to gain a little more knowledge about hat making - specifically on the increasing / decreasing part when doing the crown of the hat. So, I took a look at the clases offered by my LYS (Northwest Handspun Yarns and they had an "Earflap Hat" class that sounded interesting. We had a little problem getting started because of postponments from snowy weather, and after the first session, I ended up being the only person in the class, so I had great conversation with Deb, the instructor, who is also in my spinner guild, about spinning for crocheting and how to read patterns etc., and I had brought my new magazine issue from Interweave Crochet (the same people who bring us Spin Off and Interweave Knits, plus a whole host of (would you believe about 30) other magazines!?) So we spent a bit of time going over all the patterns in the magazine - talking about materials and "tools".

I wanted to make this hat for myself. I have a wonderful winter hat - an ear muff style hat made from sheep skin - I love it, but it does kind of look like I have a squirrel on my head - and I don't always want to carry it around, for fear that I might lose it. I also have a large head - I've never been able to buy a hat "right off the rack" - they are always too small. Well this one is made "just for me" - and it fits perfectly - all the way up to over my twisted hair bun on the top of my head, but - I'm only letting you see the back of it, because The Shepherd says it makes me look like a big gnome.

Here's a picture of what it looks like laid out flat - I did put the chains down the front, because it just didn't hang right with out them, BUT, I do, however reserve the right to refuse to put a tassle on the top. I think I have enough yarn left over that I might make a pair of fingerless gloves. (in my spare time...)

Blessings from the earth

Sinda caught a few rays this afternoon - she loves this tree box -












This is Pacific Rock Cress - My camera doesn't do justice to purples at all - but it is so purple it almost hurts your eyes. There is one house in town that has two foot wide beds of this spring flower all the way around their yard. I always try to make sure I get by there when it is in bloom -









This little beauty is less than a foot tall and one of The Shepherd's prize bonsai plants. It got center stage at church last Sunday.














The dafs seem to have enjoyed all the cold rainy weather that we've had this spring - they are blooming like crazy!










The computer is going to the hospital this next week, but I have a few things "stored up" for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully it will be a one day/in and out/pretty easy installation of extra memory - I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one!

Free At Last

Sorry for my absence. (my sis even called me to find out if I was OK - You haven't been blogging! she said...) Well, about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I bent over to dry my toes after my morning shower and things have not been the same since. What is the old saying, "It's he** getting old"?? Two weeks of chiropractic visits have only led us to the conclusion that most of the problem is stress (not gonna lie - probably true) but still that doesn't solve my problem. I have been taking a Back & Muscle Relief medicine that was purchased at Costco in Canada - but may have to resort to going to my MD for something stronger as things are just not progressing the way they should . In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures taken the next day from our most recent "blessed event" - Don't they just have the funniest faces? We are calling them Vern (the one on the left) and Galloway (the one on the right with the "belt") Galloway is quickly turning grey - his belt won't show at all soon, I'm afraid.


This is our friend Diane who came to visit the boys their first morning - "Vern" is named after her husband.

The boys made so much noise the first couple of days that The Shepherd took to calling them "The Talking Heads"




And here they are a week older - yesterday a.m. when The Shepherd put them out in the front pasture. Lots of wailing and carrying on - mostly by Luna - "Where do you think you're going" She'd cry as the lambs took to stretching their legs for the first time - Olambpics, here we come!
She'll run off some of that post-partum chubbyness pretty quickly at this rate.

Looking back Sunday -

Looking back only a year ago, March 29 found us in the middle of a huge snow storm, determined to get to Monroe, WA, where we went to Gretchen's Wool Mill to take some of our fleeces for processing.

Gretchen showed us all around her lovely little farm, where she and her husband raise East Fresian Dairy Sheep. They are large, friendly sheep that often have triplets or even more.







Undeterred by the snow, The Shepherd had the back of the truck filled with carefully skirted fleeces.






Here is a picture of Gretchen's magic mill - the bats that she produces are very nice and easy to process for spinning.

And by the time we got back home, the snow was almost gone. We will have more fleeces for Gretchen to wash and card up from this year's shearing. Two are already sold - one for my spinner guild's sheep to shawl next summer and one for the upcoming spring Youth Fair here in the county. One, maybe two he will skirt up and take to Eugene next June and see if we can beat last year's Blue Ribbon with a Best of Show.

They're here! They're FINALLY here!

Whew, finally! The Shepherd has been on pins and needles all day - 2 hour checks then 1 hour checks - We didn't even go on our regular Friday night date - dinner and grocery shopping (I tried a new Chinese take out restaurant on the way home - blech - they won't be there long)

Then finally at 10:30 p.m. just before he was going to head for bed, he went out to check one more time.

I was working on an essay - nice and cozy with a freshly baked cookie in my hand -

Bang, bang on the window - Oh, oh, that must mean babies - run to the bathroom & go before you hit that cold night air, put another jacket on under the coat - don't want those two chiropractic appointments to get ruined by a frozen back (*that's a whole nother story - began a week ago by just bending over to dry off my feet - ouch)

By the time I got out there, Luna and The Shepherd had the first one pretty much cleaned off - then plop, out came this one -

Oh, man, they are BOTH rams. It's hard not to be disappointed, as they are both healthy, but 8 out of the last 9 lambs born here have been of the male persuasion. Something's gotta give here soon. Maybe Pearl will have a couple of girls.







Look at the belt on that little guy - we might call him Galloway (like the belted cows)









Whew - that being born stuff is hard work!













How much do you weigh little guy? Boy #1 was 5.5 lbs and boy #2 was 4.5 lbs. They both got a good drink of milk before I came in - The Shepherd stayed out for a few moments longer to button things up.










Yes, Luna, they are very handsome - and will probably get you to run off some of that excess baby weight that you've been packing, while you chase them up and down the pasture.

She was very attentive and talking to them all the time. I think she is going to be a good mom.

Still Waiting - but soon....

No, you're not a daddy, yet! But soon, hopefully - The Shepherd is out on a one-hour check-in right now. Oh, nope, he's back...still no babies.

We're still playing the waiting game - jealous of those who have new lambs - anxious to get back to a full night's sleep! I'll keep you posted.

Music, Music, Music (part two)

You know the old saying – It’s not what you know, but who you know – Sometimes that is right on the dot.

Sunday March 8 there was a concert at our friend Nancy's Farm. Several years ago, Nancy bought this farm out in the county and it had a big old three car garage attached to the house. One day right after she bought the place, while she was wandering around in the ReStore, our local recycle & reuse building products store, she found a wooden dance floor that had been taken up from a studio in rgw Seattle area. Turns out it was just the right size for to put down in her big garage (did I mention she is a musician in a Balkan folk band and loves to folk dance?) Voila’ – instant dance floor – and a splendid setting for “house concerts”.

The concert that day was Cindy Mangsen and Steve Gillette. Well, Cindy’s CD Voices, a recording in a trio with Anne Hills and Priscilla Herdman is one of my all time favorite CDs. When Nancy told me about the concert, and said "Come early and have lunch with us" – I knew that was not an event to be missed. Lunch with “us” meant lunch with Steve and Cindy, plus a few other friends. Wow – I don’t mean to sound like a country bumpkin here, but it was hard not to be “star struck”

Having only heard Cindy on the Voices CD, hearing her and Steve in person is a whole ‘nother thing – what great musicians – Cindy plays concertina, guitar, banjo, and probably a couple of other instruments that she didn’t have along with her – and she plays them well. All the nice words about them on their bio (click on the link above) are true. The only disappointing thing about the day was the weather and it SNOWED like crazy – then the sun came out and the snow went away, but not, I’m sure, before it scared a lot of people into turning back and going home. Steve and Cindy have been to Nancy’s Farm before (I believe Cindy has family in the area) so, I’m sure they will be back – and I’ll be there to hear them! (the nice picture is from their web site - I can't believe I forgot to take my camera!)

I bought Cindy’s new CD Cat Tales - and here, again, I’ll quote from their web site: “Imagine!! Ten wonderful songs about cats! Besides Cindy's own most requested, "Rudy's Big Adventure," based on the true story of the cat who got his head stuck in the garbage disposal and lived to bask in fame and glory, there are songs from Cheryl Wheeler, Buddy Mondlock, Les Barker, Nancy White, Grant Livingston, The Berrymans and others. No cats were injured in the production of this fine recording. Songs include; Meow, Open That Can, The Cats of the Coliseum, Rudy's Big Adventure, The Familiar, Our Cats, Guide Cats for the Blind, My Pretty Kitty, Le Chat Gris, and The Dog of Time.” The song “Rudy’s Big Adventure” – does the term “ROFLMAO” mean anything to you? Well – it applies to this song – Like cats – Like folk songs? This CD belongs in your collection, hands down.

Could the Musical Month Of March get any better – Yeah –

The next weekend, my old friend Curtis called to say that he & his wife were celebrating the 30th anniversary of his business, Interconnect Systems on March 19th, with a Chamber “Business to Business – After Hours” event and they wanted to make sure that The Shepherd and I knew about it. They were having their friends and Gypsy Jazz band supreme PEARL D’JANGO as the entertainment for the evening. Started in 1994 in the Seattle area, the band has had a few incarnations, but several of the members are still the same – Their CD’s (they have nine of them) have been on the jazz charts top 40’s lists, they are heard regularly on National Public Radio and the guys in the band are just the nicest -


(These pictures were taken two years ago in August the first time The Shepherd & I heard the band out at Curtis & Felicity's when they had a party at their home with Pearl Jango as entertainment. What a good idea)




Does it get any better than that?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact, it does – tune in later this week to see what happens when I shoot for the moon...

Music, Music, Music (part one)

WoW! With so much happening here at the farm in the past couple of weeks, I haven’t had a chance to tell you about all the music that’s been happening in our lives lately. Music - I don't think I could live without it - after singing professionally for 21 years, I have begun to realize that I miss the connection to my soul that I get when I sing. Plus, I have lost a lot of the strength and range that I had. So, I've turned off the talk radio in my car - well mostly - and have put the CD's back on -

We are extremely lucky to have this wonderful venue in Bellingham called the Mt. Baker Theatre. Located in downtown Bellingham's it is the largest performing arts facility of its kind north of Seattle. A beautifully restored 1927 architectural treasure, it is listed on the register of National Historic Places. The theatre is dedicated to showcasing some of the best live performing artists (we are situated about half way between Vancouver BC and Seattle so it is a quick and easy stop for a lot of top flight performers) It draws its audiences from all over the North Puget Sound area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

They have a series of a dozen or more shows each year and many of them are sponsored or underwritten by different people or companies in the community which allows them to have affordable ticket prices ($40 and under for most shows) They also have “memberships” to the foundation and for the $40 membership that I have, we get first notice of shows, priority ticketing, and a couple of passes to the Director’s Receptions that they hold before each big name show- a little dessert reception where the performers speak. The theater has been renovated / rejuvenated several times in the past 30 years – most recently they added fire protection and upgraded the electrical and the sound systems. (this nice picture copywrite Mt. Baker Theatre)

We try to get tickets to three or four shows every year and as luck would have it, three of the shows we chose this year were in March. Our first show, on Sunday the 1st was Sweet Honey in the Rock, the internationally renowned a cappella ensemble made up of five women plus another member who signs the entire show. They sing "blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation". They are occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, and "produce a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms."

In 2008 “Sweet Honey” celebrated their 35th anniversary – They have won two Grammy’s and been nominated for numerous others. In February of this year, they were invited by President & Mrs. Obama to perform at the White House for Black History month – (even the performers were in awe of that!) Because they have an “onboard” translator for the deaf and hearing impaired, their concerts are a welcoming place for these folks. We were sitting amidst a group of these concert goers and they were having such a great time - My recommendation if you ever have an opportunity to see Sweet Honey in the Rock – GO, the music is joyous, the company will be diverse and exciting. You won’t regret it. (this nice picture copywrite by Sweet Honey in the Rock - what a gorgeous bunch of women, huh?)


Our next tickets were for a concert called “Guitar Blues” on March 7. Three leading blues guitarists have spent the past two months on tour and swept through town with this one night gig. They included (this info is from the Mt. Baker web site – easiest way to tell you who they are, since blues guitar is not part of my music collection):

"Jorma Kaukonen – The leading practitioner and teacher of fingerstyle guitar, one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll. Jorma is a Grammy nominee for his highly acclaimed "Blue Country Heart." Along with the other members of Jefferson Airplane, Jorma was a 1996 inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ruthie Foster – A Texas singer/songwriter whose blend of gospel, blues, folk and soul has drawn comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading. Her latest CD, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, charted in the top 15 albums on Billboard's Blues chart, and is in the top 25 and still rising on Amazon's music sales chart.

Robben Ford – One of the premiere electric guitarists today, particularly known for his blues playing as well as his ability to be comfortable in a variety of musical contexts. Chosen by George Harrison for his Dark Horse tour (Harrison's only solo tour), Robben has also toured or recorded with numerous music greats including Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Michael McDonald, and KISS. "

They each did a set individually then came together at the end. I enjoyed Ruthie most of all – she is an amazing singer and musician - I'd have been happy to have her do the whole concert! Jorma was OK, and my appreciation for Robben Ford was, how do I put it? – minimal at best. (actually, I could have gone out and sat in the foyer and it still would have been too loud and raucous), but, you know what, The Shepherd really enjoyed this concert – he’s a blues kind of guy - and I know he has gone to some concerts where he didn’t have much appreciation for the genre of music that I enjoy – so all in all, it evens out.

Next on the line up – “Cat Tales” and Gypsy Jazz -

Hrumph -

Well, I spent two hours tonight putting together a post all about the some of the music that we've seen in the past month. For who knows whatever reason, I decided to do it on a Word document instead of on Blogger. And, for whatever reason, I didn't think to "name" the document until I was all done - I NEVER do that - it's one of my hard and fast "rules" but, while I was (finally) saving it, "Word" crashed and dumped the whole thing - I looked and looked, with no named document, there was simply nothing to recover except one paragraph in the clipboard - big whooopee. Rats - (actually I said a few choice other words that won't be repeated here in case I have innocent readers...)

So, in lieu of that post, here is Luna, big as a house (The Shepherd had been threatening to get a skateboard to put under her belly - poor short legged little thing) He says that if you watch closely you can see little lamby elbows trying to poke their way out. She doesn't look very pleased, does she. Come on, girl - have those babies so we can get back to life in general.

Making a fashion statement

Here is Moni, returned from her stay at the hospital. She was very glad to be home, with familiar tasting hay and her girlfriends all peering over the sides of the pen she was in.

She has continued to improve. (I understand that she was "pronging" around the pasture this afternoon) I never did clearly understand what the problem was- I know there was a lot of afterbirth that had to be removed (ick) after the death of the twins. The staff and Dr.s at Kulshan Vet in Lynden are just the best. They even sent The Shepherd a very caring sympathy note after he'd had Buddy put down and the loss of the twins on the same day.

Actually the coats and shirts all came off last Friday - the weather man was calling for rain, and since these garments were all of man made fabrics, we didn't want the sheepies to get wet and then chilled - making things worse. So Friday evening when I got home from work, The Shepherd was just finishing his "sheep laundry" and standing there laughing - it seems that he had missed this lable in the coat that H.B. was wearing - MacBaaaa - The perfect manufacturer for the clothing of the well dressed ram, now, don't you think?