New Songs

I don't know whether it is due to his recent involvement in school (pre-kindergarten) or he's just bored with my usual repertoire but my eldest son has lately taken to asking me to invent songs at bedtime. After we read "Where the Wild Things are" he wants a song about how monsters stomp. Or another night after reading a book with bird characters in it he wants a new bird song. Usually his requests relate to the book/s of the evening.

While this is a challenging exercise for me I can't help but think what a marvelous opportunity at improv. My son (at his current age anyway) is going to love whatever I sing for him so I might as well work on my improvisation abilities. Tonight was monsters stomping. What will my new song for tomorrow be?

Monica Interests Re-Discovered

I haven't written in a while. If I'm honest I will say that this truly has nothing to do with life being busy. It rather has everything to due to with the fact that I am once more drawn to reading every available (evening writing time) moment. Lost in the Scottish highlands with Sasenach (the Outlander) and Jamie, I've had little time for writing on my blog. I have, however, relinquished my book in order to play with my boys and organize my filing cabinet so I don't have to hide my stacks of papers in the closet anymore when guests come to stay with us.

Today I broke away from the book. The organization is a thing I do in rare spurts. Hopefully I will finish tomorrow...otherwise I might not for months. But in addition to filing papers today I also re-planted some herbs and a tomato plant (hopefully ridding them of aphids) went to the gym, then to the beach park near our home to let the boys and Jake (doggie) expend some energy, and after bedtime (for the boys) Natalie and I had a music session.

I was very happy sharing tunes with a fellow fiddler (or perhaps violinist as I believe she calls herself instead). We played some of hers and then some of mine and resolved on one to practice for next time so that we can play it in a round: Pachebel's Cannon. It's nice to have a fellow musician in the house.

Today was a gloriously sunny day after many dreary and rainy ones. And after many days of curling up inside and reading because I didn't want to go out, I finally felt the need to get out under the beautiful sunny sky today. I love days like this. May we have many more! But not forgetting that it's the rain which keeps our forests so beautifully green here in the Seattle area.