Caroling through the streets!

 Last night Zoey and I put rubber soled boots to the road... Our friend Jon wanted to celebrate his birthday with Christmas caroling.  We gathered at Cat's store -with nearly 30 others - and took our show on the road! 

Papers with song lyrics were available and Zoey carried hers around most of the night.  She pretended to read the words right along with all of the adults.  :)  (Rudolph and Bunny ended up hitching a ride in my coat pockets, which I figured would happen...  I suppose that's where the need for backpacks and purses starts... We, ladies, always take our friends along!) 

One of our stops found SANTA.  Poor Santa was sitting all alone in the local gifty/fudge store.  Boy, he was surprised when we showed up with a TON of kids!  (Or perhaps...  he KNEW we were coming... and stopped toy production to see US!)

These pictures were taken with my phone - and none of the ones from outside (our main singing spots) came out clear.  So, take my word for it...  we sang on the street corners, we sang in a bar, a pizza parlor, outside the other pizza parlor...  in front of tons of stores...  even crashed a business holiday party.  Oh, and yes, we sang Feliz Navidad outside Tampico's Restaurant.  The owner was cool about it and didn't make fun of our hideous attempts at Spanish.  :)  Thankfully, when invited into the restaurant, we sang a different song to the patrons.  :) 

Talk of making this a tradition happened...  perhaps we just might do it again. 

The "Train Song"

Zoey loves Johnny Cash.  Yep, she does.  So do we all in the Miller Manor.  I don't think I ever really listened to Cash much in my younger years.  I can't remember how I really came to like his music.  I'm sure John or someone else out there will remember - especially John.  He remembers just about everything (except birthdates of people outside of the immediate family).  (Oh, and to write things down.  He forgets to write things down.)  ;)

But in any case, we listen to Johnny Cash quite a bit.  Along with Frank Sinatra and a few others...  (right now I'm obsessed with Adele.  Thanks Nikki!)

A few days ago Z and I were playing in the front room.  She wanted me to "play the train song."  That means she handed me a guitar (this time the little flat wooden one) and wants me to sing "Folsom Prison Blues."  She had the microphone (from a drive thru kid's meal some time ago). 

After a few turns of her singing, then me singing and her playing, she wanted me to sing AND play.  Hard without a mic stand.  So, I held it between my knees.  She thought this was too cool.  To be able to sing AND play.  Well, then she took a turn. 

And Crinklehead got in on the action...

Music!  Smiles!  And a kid that thinks I can sing and play the guitar!  Whoot!  :) 

Some Music at the Manor

Uncle Bill came over a while back and played guitar for Miss Zoey. She loves when "Untel" Bill plays. This time she danced some and accompanied him on her tiny piano.

In this picture, she's looking off to the side to watch herself in the mirror. This kid LOVES to look at herself. As a side, Uncle Bill was showcasing his musical prowess by playing a 6-string guitar that currently only has 5 strings!

Here is a perfect picture of the whirling dervish that is Zoey! She's a bllluuurrrr!! :) (Photos taken July 18th.)

For the upcoming weekend celebrations....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Winter Solstice!

In honor of the Winter Solstice, please enjoy this beautiful song about family coming together and loving each other!! The song is entitled "Christians and the Pagans." It is by Dar Williams originally from her Mortal City album.

I love this song. Since the first time I heard it, I have wanted to add it to a Christmas compilation album and then give out the album as a gift... a truly Trisha Christmas (ya know, all kinds of songs: John Denver and the Muppets, BareNaked Ladies sing about Hannukah, Sinatra singing with Dean, Harry Connick, jr......) Who knows... You may get one next year! hehehe!

Enjoy and Blessed Be!



Here are the lyrics, if you are interested (sometimes it can be hard to understand the first time you hear something....)

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay"
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, "It's Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it's been awhile"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And where does magic come from, I think magic's in the learning
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother"
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here"
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve saying
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

Makes every moment happier!

"Colors" by Kira Willey

I am green today
I chirp with joy like a cricket song.
I am gray today
Gloomy and down like a morning fog.
I am orange today
Loud and messy like finger paint on the wall.
I am red today
Hopping mad like a playground ball.
I am black today
Strong and tall a great big bear.
I am purple today
Bright and happy like a butterfly in the air.

I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world are in me.

I am yellow today
I shine my light out like the sun.
I am white today
Soft and quiet like new snow.
I am blue today
Calm as glass and cool like the sea.

I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world.
I'm a rainbow today
All the colors of the world are in me.
All the colors of the world are in me.

I have been trying to load the You Tube video of this wonderful song onto my blog, but to no avail... "Embedding disabled by request" Oh Well... click on the link and listen.

This song brightens my world the moment I hear it. Some of you may recognize it from a TV commercial. I had heard it there first and HAD to find out who the artist was... Kira Willey. (Thanks internet!)

She is a kid's yoga instructor. She uses music to accompany the yoga - it is not only fun, but helps the kids remember the poses better. She has a whole CD of yoga tunes for kids. I want it! :) I also want to take her class. ;)

I love the fact that this song incorporates both happy/up emotions and imagery as well as sad/down. - A true rainbow of life!!