Childhood Music Memories

I think that everyone must have a “soundtrack” to their life. For me it’s the music that makes up my earliest childhood memories, the backdrop to my first kiss and my first breakup, long summer afternoons with my best friend, and many hours spent alone in my room suffering from teen angst. Amazingly, I remember the lyrics to most of these songs when I can hardly remember what I had for lunch yesterday or what time my next meeting is tomorrow. These songs have become a permanent fixture in my mind.

I grew up with a variety of music, a little bit country and little bit rock n’ roll, as the saying goes. My dad liked old time country western music like Don Williams, Merle Haggard, and Emmy Lou Harris. My mom on the other hand was firmly entrenched in 1960’s-1970’s pop-rock. She taught me to do “the twist” to the Beach Boys and we listened to her Herman’s Hermits record over and over again. I remember swinging on the school playground singing at the top of my lungs that song by Barry Manilow, “I write the songs that make the whole world sing…” and belting out the Roy Clark version of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” (at my parent’s request) when I was 8 years old.

I went through a Beatles obsession when I was in high school. I even had Beatles posters hanging up on my closet door and I would jump around my room lip-synching “Can’t Buy Me Love” into my hairbrush. My favorite teenage pastime, besides reading geeky sci-fi fantasy books, was sitting next to my stereo with a finger on the record button of the cassette player, creating mix-tapes from Casey Kasem’s Top 40 countdown.

Whenever I hear a Jimi Hendrix or Bob Marley song I think of my first kiss with a boy named Josh and the song “It Must Have been Love” by Roxette brings back my first heartbreak. To this day almost any song from the 1980’s brings on a serious case of nostalgia! Who couldn’t love “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco or “Take on Me” by Aha? I’m only slightly kidding! I currently have many of these songs on my iPod (I love my iPod by the way)!

Joel and I have a dating soundtrack all our own. We used to go for long drives in his 1973 Ford Maverick (okay, 1971 Maverick--I stand corrected, Joel) listening to Steve Miller Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Eagles. We had a little “retro” thing going, before retro was cool. Joel was also into the Christian “hair-bands” like Stryper and Holy Soldier (oh my). We also loved U2 and The Violet Burning.

So enough about me! I’m curious about you! What are your favorite songs from childhood? What memories do they bring back? I really want to know! Tell me, tell me tell me! Please? Remember, I just shared my really embarrassing list of music with you. Pretty please?

Jen

Our "Babies"

We have LIFE! Look at those cute little veggies popping up to the surface.

Baby BroccoliGo cucumbers Go!

Check out this root.
The herbs are growing nicely as well. Basil is so lovely don't you think?

Oh dear. While we have been lavishing our attention on the vegetable babies, our human children have run amuck!

"Take me to your leader" (Notice the yogurt stains on this poor child's shirt).
This one has some serious attitude and blackberry stains on her face.
Please don't turn us in! At least we feed them, you can see the evidence all over!

Quick Farm Update

We should be able to sign the paperwork on the farm next week! As soon as that happens the building contractors will start remodeling and we will do some serious packing! I'm just so thankful that it's not happening this week. I am still struggling with this ear infection. Your prayers are much appreciated to help me get through one more day of work. I felt such mind-numbing exhaustion after a 1-hour snowy morning commute (it normally takes 35 minutes!) and a full day at work that I gave myself a pass on cooking dinner tonight. I ordered chinese food--delivery! That is one thing I will miss living out in the country!

This is what we get for thinking SPRING!

We had another snowstorm dump a few more inches on us yesterday. Our hopes for spring were dashed yet again, boo hoo! ;)
This is the worst winter we have had in the 8 1/2 years we have lived here. Most winters we are lucky to get an inch of snow and it usually melts later in the day. Despite the snow Joel still has carrots he digs out of the garden. Yum!
I'm not sure why I took this picture. I just thought the fire hydrant looked cool covered with snow and I was impressed with the size of those snowflakes!
Do you think we should have put the Sit N' Spin away for the winter? Oops.
Today we have sun and beautiful blue skies. There is still hope!

Planting Starts

It's that time of year! Despite all the snow we are thinking SPRING. Today Joel and the kids planted vegetable starts and transplanted those that were already started a few weeks ago. We had some seed packets left over from last year that Joel bought at Lowes. They had a fairly limited selection so we will still need to order from seed catalogs. Don't you just love how bright and colorful the packets are?


First Miss N & Z man helped daddy sort the soil pods onto trays. Water is added to the tray and as the pods wick up the moisture, seeds are pushed into soil. When this is done we place clear plastic lids over the top that act as a mini greenhouse. After the starts are big enough we transplant to larger containers and they will eventually be moved outside and planted in the garden.
N is very serious about her job. She is all business.


Seeds daddy?


Seed pods are creepy don't you think? Makes me think of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.



These are basil and oregano starts that need to be transplanted into separate pots.


N & Z love to help daddy with his projects. Sometime I will have to post pictures of them peeling apples for applesauce and placing fruit on the drying trays of our humongous homemade dehydrator.
Look at these sad little tomato corpses. Casualties of the destructive tendencies of my 2 year old.

The survivors soldier on. And they want justice!

He looks innocent doesn't he? Not like a plant murderer at all. Don't let him fool you.

Uh oh. He's beginning to lose interest in our project. Time to start goofing around.
I think the Body Snatchers have already been here. He's not mine, I swear. Time for a break! You people have no idea how hard I work!

N actually deserves this break. She's been working non-stop!

And now for a peek at our little "growing" operation. It's all legal, I promise!
We have a lot more work to do but its a start!

I Like Movies

I love to watch movies. And my favorites? I watch them over and over and over again. Tonight I found a new favorite. Joel and I watched an Irish independent film called "Once". It is about a street musician in Dublin who meets a girl from the Czech Republic. She is a talented musician in her own right and together they create such beautiful and soul-stirring music. It is also a movie about choices and timing. Those of you who know me well know that I love a happy ending, so you may deduce that this isn't one of those indie films that leaves you groaning, pulling your hair out and wishing you hadn't just wasted 2 hours of your life watching it. Quite the opposite. The ending was unconventional but satisfying.
My disclaimer: There is some rough language but not enough to detract from the music, the characters, or the story. Besides, everything sounds better with an Irish accent, right? ;)
Have a listen to to the soundtrack http://www.oncesoundtrack.com/, it's really lovely.

Right now Joel is watching 3:10 to Yuma. It's a western. Not my favorite genre. Yawn....

p.s, Is anyone else having trouble linking to your text? My link button has never worked, it just comes up with a big, blank pop-up box. I'm getting a little frustrated. Also the spellchecker is not working tonight. =(

She's Alive!

Hello. I am alive but not quite well! My son and I have matching ear infections. Isn't that sweet, he shared with me! I can't think of anything interesting to post to save my life but I promise to try really soon. As soon as the less than desirable side effects of my antibiotic subside.
Too much information, right? Right.