Some days...

Some days I don't feel like singing, and that's ok.

Some days are for listening.

Brown & white

Photos that didn't have a home.

My parents' clock

Dragonfly doorknocker

This is my piano bench.

Box from Minsk

A tiny but wise paperweight?

Carved box

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve to you all. I hope it's peaceful and full of love. I am playing/writing music, and getting ready for friends and family gatherings.

Enjoy the Christmas music :)

My beloved Fontanini set. We always used to put the baby Jesus in Mary's arms.

Or sometimes the wise men got to hold him. Heehee.

Holiday intermission

This Christmas break has turned out to be fantastic! I am really enjoying it. It's sparkly, colorful, intruiging, and musical! I was privileged to go to a CRS (Corvallis Repertory Singers) concert last night. It was incredible and stirring.
www.repsing.org

Bells on my stocking

This week is a contrast to last week, which was emotionally exhausting. Let me explain. I wrote two new songs. Writing music for me is hard sometimes, because the process can be very draining. After all the internal wrestling, frustration, searching for words, and much heart-wrenching, the end result is worth it all for me. When I have finished a song that conveys exactly what I was feeling when I wrote it... well I struggle to put that into words. I feel heard, complete, empowered, un-stuck, centered, joyful. One of the best feelings in the world.

I am very excited for this upcoming new year! Some really cool things are going to be happening.

Ornament from when I was born

Winter is not so cold

This orange made me really happy this morning

One of my favorite ornaments, passed down from my parents. It's just so cute!

Poinsettia...no matter how I took its picture, it just wanted to look pink.

Beautiful melancholy

For some reason I was just thinking about the trip to England last year, specifically the Hever Castle grounds. It was mostly devoid of people, and even the plants and flowers were sleeping deep in their beds. So still, so timeless.

The colors were muted, and the air was cold...but it couldn't help but be beautiful, even in the midst of a melancholy fall day.

Creative break

Finals are over. I have space to breathe. And feel. This is when I give myself permission to give in to all those thoughts and feelings that have been simmering in the back of my mind. And heart. It's my favorite part.

Here goes.

The air is delicious

Loving the feeling.


This picture is a repost but it fits today.

The air is delicious

Christmas break countdown

What do I do when I can't sleep since 4am? Write a blog, of course!

All sorts of energies buzzing around...and finals too. I cannot wait until finals are done. Over the last few months, when I haven't had time to sit down and write music, I have been capturing little ideas and tunes for use later. They are calling to me. It's usually when I'm in the middle of studying A&P. Convenient, huh. ;)

I leave my Christmas lights on during the night, because I love to wake up and see them when it's still dark. I'm not sure how to do the color balance properly with my camera, for night photos. So this isn't the best picture in the world. But I'm sure you all know how Christmas lights at night look: comfortable, happy, and serene.

(insert cheesy, but well-loved Christmas song here)

Thankful colors

I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Seattle. We ate good food, went to the movies, and just hung out. It was nice to be less busy. And I came home with all sorts of treats and goodness!

My mom loves hummingbirds, and has feeders up. We had numerous visitors.

Anna

It was snowing Thanksgiving morning, and it was so pretty!

Recording December 10th. Making progress. :)

For Amy: Light

These are all pictures in which I like the play of light, mostly taken within the last year.

To warm us up during the dark months!

Vinegar cruet that belonged to my great-grandmother

AU

Last summer

Tree basking

Look at these happy little crayons

Light through lace

Pretty light out at e.e. wilson

Vibes

This is just the color vibe today.

I like old books

Outside my window


My pillow


Inside the jewelry box



Lampshade

Lonely cookie sitting on the counter? won't last long.
(It's very photogenic, isn't it??)


Me

Anticipation

The potted 'Fall Mix' outside my door.

I like this picture. Their faces are turned away, anticipating sun.

In between other obligations, I'm finishing up a new song today. I like that feeling: being in the middle of some homework or other tedious task, and knowing there's a song waiting there to be completed. It's an idea hovering in the air around me all day. Or like a box of cookies I know is waiting in the cupboard for me. Haha!
Maybe I'll bake cookies today... (holla, Karen D!)

Excuse to stay warm and cozy

I'm sick today - but part of me is secretly pleased. It gives me an excuse to stay warm inside, snuggle in the pillows on the couch, warm my insides up with chamomile tea (with honey of course), listen to music, and just be calm and still. So I took these pictures.

Painted treasure box from Minsk, Belarus

Dried chamomile

My favorite earrings ever, from Balloch, Scotland

My kalimba, complete with decorative dust