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.

Peace… Jennifer!

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…

So… Here’s the Youtube link:  (click this —>    “Slow Dancing with Ghosts”

It irks me… to hear so many people bemoaning the terrible year of 2016…  and how 2016 “killed” so many people and did SO many bad things…  HEY People!!!  2016’s  just – A YEAR.   It does not hold the power to kill anyone, strike anyone down, or cast evil spells… yet 2016 is talked about – like it’s some kind of sinister monster… but hey… if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse show up… then I’ll start paying attention.  Till then… let’s count some blessings!

Looking back at 2016… I don’t seem to recall a more busy, feverishly noisy year EVER…  and certainly not a year where I accomplished MORE things than ever – in less time.

I got my cd “Shadow of a Crow” finished… and the sales are going amazingly well, and I’m surprised at how great the digital sales are!   I finished 1 video – Low Willow – from my cd –   and have 2 more in the works with Tom, at The Production House.

So with all this positive flow going on… I am finding, that I’m writing… but not just writing… I’m brimming to overflowing with wild inspirations – and seeing things – everywhere I look… and I’ve already got 12 new songs written – on top of the 40 or 50 songs, already in the file… that just need music…  so I”m hoping soon, for the time to sit and come up with the music.  But all in good time!

My lyrical muse – has been doing double-overtime, in inspiration and thoughts… so I’m just going along with that wave – right now.

But one, very unexpected thing came out of all my music this year…  because I ended up landing a wonderful, new job – doing ‘voice overs’  for advertisements – which came as a bit of a pleasant surprise.   The awesome thing is,  I am able to work from my studio, at home…  and then transfer the projects – using the marvels of technology & internet.   I’ve found I really love doing the voice overs, as it’s interesting and a lot of fun, not to mention I’ve met some wonderful folks in the process!   I’m hoping eventually… to do audio books…. (hopefully children’s books)  but that’s my hopeful goal – for 2017!

On the harder side of 2016… I struggled my way through 2 rather frightening heart surgeries… both within the span of less than 6 weeks…  and no matter how healthy I’ve eaten over the course of my life, or how much I’ve stayed fit & exercised… nothing over rides hereditary issues…  but thank God I’m ok now.  I did learn that my Mio Go – Fuse – heart rate monitor, that I’d originally gotten for keeping track of calories & heart rate while cycling & other work outs… does actually match  ‘beat to beat’  with the  EKG machines & monitors at the hospital!  So between some pretty awesome Cardiac surgeons… and my Mio-go… they kinda saved my life… which is pretty cool…   So… I’d give an  A+   and a  5 star rating to MioGo.

I got back into growing an organic, veggie garden this year… and with the amazing help and support – of 2 strong Phils… I had the pleasure of growing a garden I enjoyed planning,  planting and tending…  And the many beautiful nights, when we built a bonfire out by the garden… was wonderful…

The fact that this lovely garden was devoured – one night, by a herd of ravenous deer… is a whole other story…  but they must have been REALLY REALLY hungry…     All that said & done…  I did enjoy planting it, and watching it grow.  My perennial flower & herb beds were never better though… and I did get a full 2 seasons of using the fresh herbs in my cooking each night…  and I really enjoyed the flowers for pretty bouquets!   And now, in winter… I’m enjoying the dried herb branches… I tied & bundled into fragrant bunches… and use as kindling – for the wood stove.   Benefits of my garden… still lingers beautifully in the air with the starting of each fire!  <3

I’ve also had – what I can only call…  an amazing gift of rediscovering a very dear friend… who I’ve known for a long time… but it was this year, that I’ve had the gift – of spending a lot of time with…  and I feel truly grateful for being given the opportunity to find a deeper level of friendship – that comes with sharing, talking and lots of wonderful times together…   We were camping, hiking, cooking, cycling, lunching & kayaking…

I’ve also ridden through some troubles together,  with a dearest heart & bff… and though we use to ride our horses and talk for endless hours… now we hold on through the temporarily storms in the troubled sea of things that have abounded… that are – we acknowledge – beyond our control… and remind ourselves… that it’s ALL fixable… and will undoubtedly – seem a bit more approachable… if we get to talk, and laugh… over a salad & a nice glass of wine!  She’s always there for me… and I’m always there for her… xoxoxo

And in 2016,  I’ve watched one of my fiddlers – recover almost fully – from a devastating stroke… and I’ve stayed by her side… and now – we once again,  have a joyful time playing fiddle tunes together!

In 2016, I have gotten to do more traveling than I’ve ever done in 1 year – before…  and I’m loving the vast & interesting adventures that have come my way!   I ran into an old friend from Illinois, and went to a Rutgers vs Illini football game… which was really fun!  Though I know absolutely nothing about football…  I had fun sitting in the stadium, watching the cheer leaders, drinking pepsi and eating a hot dog and wearing my Illinois hat and jumping up and yelling… when ever Illinois got a home run.

and as I look back, realize I attended MORE sports events – than I’ve EVER dreamed I would do – in one year… and still – have NO idea what the games were about!  haha!   But it was fun!

I also went on an amazing cruise with my Mom to Bermuda for 7 glorious days… where we just relaxed, sat in the shade, listened to music and had tall, dark, handsome men – bring us pretty fruity drinks with umbrellas in!  It was wonderful to just rest & be pampered!  Momma took me away… after the 2 heart surgeries…  and it was an absolutely glorious way to recuperate.

Cruise to Bermuda with Momma

With not feeling so well… I found taking long walks was a pleasant exercise… so I did probably hundreds of miles of hikes -with my darling Border Collie – “Boone”…    And wow –  he sure loved that!   He’s such an awesome pup…  and I love him soooooo much…

So it’s been a beautiful – though – slightly rough year… and I’m deeply thankful for all that I’ve been blessed with… and despite the bumps in the road this year…  my blessings have been many.  The experiences have been vastly interesting, exquisite, fascinating, and many times… deeply thought provoking, which I believe – is what gives me the fodder to write my music.  And as is in my nature in approaching everything I do…  I do it all – with passion – and a good dose of gratitude…  & I keep a curious eye – towards everything.   I appreciate the simple things, and never forget to give thanks…  One thing I can say is… it’s never boring!   so, I approach things with passion, or I don’t bother doing them at all…   heck…  it’s lots more fun that way!

Well… anyway…. happy new year, and wishes for a beautiful, new year ahead!  xoxo Jennifer!

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Just FYI!

It’s with a lot of excitement… and – admittedly… a touch of nerves…  that I’m gearing up to head out to the location for the filming of my 2nd music video – for my new CD!

We’re going to video the title track for – “Shadow of a Crow” – which is…  (dun dun dun)  “Shadow of a Crow”.   I was so happy working with Tom & his crew – from “The Production House, LLC”  during the first video – “Low Willow“…  so – tomorrow, we’ll be heading out, at the crack of dawn… & hitting great weather, at the height of the colorful, Autumn leaves to record.

Amazing – to learn how all this falls into place under the skillful direction of Tom’s keen eye & insight… Looking forward to a full, long, fun and creative day tomorrow!

But HEY!   Here’s a link for a clip of that song – available for digital download, or CD purchase through CD Baby, Amazon & all those music-y  online stores…  & here’s a Youtube – link… to the title track to “Shadow of a Crow”...     🙂

Here’s the FULL CD…  if you’d like to listen to the whole thing:

Play the entire CD! Shadow of a Crow!

Ok friends!  here’s the first of the videos to surface from my new release “Shadow of a Crow”…  featuring the 2nd track of the album – entitled…  “Low Willow”