Summer’s hot days and humidity are finally gone and Autumn is finally arrived… and in retrospect, though I’m an avid fiddler… and play tunes every day, teach fiddle lessons & gig… I realized there wasn’t as much music this year – out on our front porch – as there usually was. Somehow, I realize now, the projects, chores and work weighed in a bit more than expected…
Starting out last Spring, with bright eyes & great expectations with all we wanted to do… we somehow allowed the (although exciting & beneficial) projects to become just a bit more consuming – than we thought… and they ended up taking more time… but thankfully now… these monster size projects – are finishing up!
But this summer was truly a season of tremendous growth & accomplishment… and it’s a rewarding realization, to look back at everything we did & planted, that has since flourished & prospered. Though, even into October… I’ve continued forward with the goals we set, and I put in quite a sizable addition to our existing herb bed, where I planted about 100 cloves of garlic – for a Winter crop… so things continue still, to grow.
The harvesting of the fragrant herbs, were a real joy to collect through out the summer… and I do love my handmade, antler basket that a dear friend made for me. It’s great for the harvesting… though in winter, it works nicely for my yarns and such!
The veggie garden’s spent now, but hopefully – my medicinal herb garden will hold on a little while longer as the days get colder. I hope to get one more good harvest from the plants that are still thriving in the chilly days – and I’ll get their greens snipped, bundled and hung onto the big, old drying rack – before the hard frost nips everything down to the ground.
But the realization just recently hit me… as the wood stove was fired up again, and my old “beloveds” as I like to call them… (a comfortable, well worn, old fiddle & my sweetest voiced mountain dulcimer) have come creeping out from their remote perches… where they’ve sat quietly… waiting most patiently for me – all summer long…
It’s with a joyful swelling of my heart… to hear Philip’s native flutes & whistles… following suit… gently joining into the chorus… and coming forward to bask tunefully in the warm and golden glow of the first, Autumn’s evening fires. And like a treasured, unforgotten memory… I smiled as I felt their strings under my fingers again… and heard Phil’s comfortable and familiar melodies – lilting & melding perfectly – in-between my notes, even after such a long season apart. I predict it will be a tuneful Winter… and I can’t wait!
It takes 1 second… to miss a stupid step, and now I’m laid up after knee surgery for the next 3-4 weeks… and I’m kicking myself for being – as I always tend to be… too hasty in my activities. But I know that’s useless energy spent… like rocking in a rocking chair… back & forth – doing something – but getting nowhere & getting nothing done fast.
So, I’m contenting myself as best I can, with an interesting, historical novel about George Washington’s spies… & I have a lovely candle, scenting the room with mango… I’ve got my fiddle & bow – and a list of over 200 tunes I want to learn… & I’m taking advantage of this down time… all while keeping the boo-boo knee elevated & iced. So I’m just working on tunes, new songs… correspondence… and just enjoying the quietness of the tick-tock… of the house.
All with my sweet Boone, not far from my side… a constant companion who listens to my every word… & runs herd on the ‘naughty cats’… as he sees fit. He’s been keeping a watchful eye on me – as I gimp my way to the kitchen & back, or anywhere in the house… and I’m enjoying the fresh garden cucumbers… that Boone loves too… we share.
Got my beloved Cannondale 613 – within my view – beckoning & willing me to hasten my recovery. I can’t WAIT to get back on my bike, & rower, back in the sea kayak, back to hikes with ol’ Booney… & especially get well for our upcoming trip back to Ireland again… I long to hike the foot trails along the “Dingle Way” – again… can’t wait!
But for now… my gardens lay abandoned… running amuck I’m sure… and I must trust the coop & the chickie’s care to any capable hands that offer assistance… and try and be patient directing necessary activities – from a lazy-boy recliner… ugh. Anyone who knows me – knows I’m not one ever to lounge around… so this is quite an undertaking and lesson in patience for me.
I’ll return to the Green – hopefully – next week with my spiffy, green patterned cane… and have a ton of new tunes & a song or two to add to the mix… So…. ’til we meet again – at the Green!!!
As everyone pretty much knows, I have a ton of energy, and channeling that energy into the various exciting avenues I find interesting – is always a grand adventure for me! I can find fun and learning no matter where I go… and this adventure into being a chicken owner – has been just wonderful!
So this blog, I’m sharing an article I wrote for a page called Back Yard Chickens. I started my own flock this past Spring- and it’s been a joyous journey. It still mixes with my music… as my little coop is a lovely place to play fiddle – and the chicks seem to enjoy it.
So here’s the link to the article I wrote – if you’re looking to share my adventure! Jenni’s Chickens
It’s been a while since I’ve written… having been immersed in this glorious summer… and the every day business of life… but then my thoughts began exploding, and I was drawn – back again -to write. I have to laugh though… because my mind’s constantly popping with new ideas, projects & ever so many things I want to do & try… and I swear, there’s just not enough time in the day to do everything I want!
I’ve begun compiling ideas for a new cd, which leads me to thinking even more. But I know I need to move past a few apprehensions… and reservations I’ve been holding, as they’ve become tedious. So time to sweep those out of the corners and be rid of them. In that area… of moving past fears, I think kayaking served as a huge turning point for me. Since childhood, I’ve been afraid of dark waters… but I really wanted to kayak… so I forced myself to overcome the fears, and happily so! BIG lesson – learned.
So… within the last few weeks… I thought I saw an old ghost from the past, come into the Pub when I was performing one night with the band. Not a really welcome ghost… just someone I don’t care to reconnect with… I began thinking, what would I say? What would I do? How would I handle that situation? Thankfully, I was mistaken, but the likeness of this stranger -was so similar – that even Philip thought he recognized the old ghost.
Then… I also had an interesting, intelligent, talented musician cross my path. My gut reaction made me want to hold back… listening to the ‘what if, what if, what if’ – echoing in my head. I do listen to my inner voice & trust my intuition… but this time… I don’t think it was intuition… I think it was fear. So I’ve thrown the “what ifs’ – into the wind… and know this will certainly be an interesting adventure… and I’m trusting he was put in my path for a very good reason.
So besides those minor, thought provoking disturbances… it’s been an amazing summer… and I’ve been savoring every day that’s dawned – seeing it like a golden gift… waiting to be opened… glistening in the beautiful, quite sunrise. I embrace the salty sea breeze, the calling of seagulls, and the gentle licking of the small waves, against the hulls of the boats… ahh… and that first, hot sip… of strong, freshly made coffee…
Each day – I joyfully look forward to embracing creativity as it flows over me in warm waves of enlightenment & inspiration. One of my greatest joys is teaching fiddle… & witnessing that instant – something musical -sparkles- into someones awareness. I love playing music with friends; and expressing myself through various mediums of art… splashing colors and shades, and creating what ever I wish; gardening the flowers, fragrant herbs & veggies that grow and ripen…. still warm from the sun – as it touches my lips. And this summer, I taught myself how to make kombucha… and then tried my hand at the second fermenting of it.
I revel in it’s healthful, wholesome deliciousness… (Mojito Mint -is my favorite – but whew… Kombucha is a WHOLE other topic… so I’m not gonna get side tracked onto that!) But we even named our new, foundling kitten “Kombucha” -or- “Bucha” for short… haha). ‘Boucha’ loves the music too, having no problem sleeping on my lap when I fiddle!
And looking at the joyful parts of life each day, there’s not a day that goes by, when I don’t realize that I’m more than blessed with my husband Philip… & we play wonderful music together. He is endlessly patient & kind with me, and lovingly encourages me to explore all the avenues of intellectual, creative, spiritual and emotional paths that I can find… as I ramble around in my searches towards personal development.
So… what’s the reason for this blog? How does all these little pieces tie in? (I do tend to ramble like a tangled, climbing vine) Well, I was repainting the flowers on the bumper of my little camper not long ago, and the words “Fly Away” were there… scrawled in and amongst the vining flowers… which got me thinking… ghosts, past stuff, faded flowers, old feelings… and so forth…
I’ve never had one of those lives – like some… who seem to be walking on rose petal covered paths, and their life is perfect. (yet, to read my blatherings above, you’d THINK I have!)… but instead, I have a gift 0f viewing -the beautiful things in life… and overlooking the not so beautiful. I guess you could say – I feed the good wolf within…. and pass over the bad wolf.
I wrote a song about flying away – on my last album… It’s probably one of my favorites… (here’s the free youtube link if you’d like to listen to it)
I strive to be free of old burdens… and to be able to fly… but I realized… it’s mighty hard to get off the ground when you’re loaded down with old ‘baggage’. So, I made the conscious choice – to let it go… & give up the ‘stuff’ that held me back…. ousting the internal junk, even from my recall… and vanquishing the repeating, internal dialogs that would sometimes run in loop form – inside my head… causing me to have self doubt. Sure, all that is still part of me, & it’s shaped who I am… but it doesn’t have to control me any longer. So I weeded out the ugly – and held onto the good things that hold positive meanings.
I can say now, that I KNOW – without a shadow of hesitation or doubt – that I’m on the right path… because I have absolutely NO interest, or even remote desire – to EVER look back again.
And, thank you God… it feels wonderful.
It’s sad… I know people who are looping & wallowing within their own baggage & issues… repeating them, blaming others, leaning on them, feeding on the bitterness within it all… and it’s sad, and really unhealthy. Get free.. let it go. It’s so much more fulfilling to embrace joy, love, & gratitude, as there’s so many joys that surround you, if you look ahead. Don’t hold onto the dark, bitter, & angry things inside from before… let it go & just enjoy the day, breathe deep, live… and fly free.
I finally completed my second video – off my new CD “Shadow of a Crow”…. Here is: “Slow Dancing with Ghosts” – one of my own, original songs and music… put into a creative, somewhat haunting video under the skilled, creative genius – of Tom DeAngelis – from – The Production House.
This song – was written from the perspective that… everyone has their own issues, obstacles and challenges that they face from the past… that we have to shoulder. But I view – HOW we deal with these things… as a choice. You can keep a ledger in your head, and document all the grudges and bad things that ever happened to you… or were ever said… then feed on this, & relive it and let it ruin things… OR… you can put it behind you & move forward… let it teach you, and build your character in a positive way – grow & learn from it… but don’t let it define you. Don’t dance with those ghosts… just let them shift away – and refocus your energy on the beauty, and the joys that are all around, instead… and let the bad stuff go… idk… that’s what I do… most of the time…
