Things I'm Loving...

1.  Bright green, thrifted cords

2.  Exciting Rumer Godden news from Virago (Thanks, Verity, for keeping us up to date!)

3.  Baking with apples.  I cannot get enough baked apples and I know I will be making some apple butter soon! 

4.  This autumn cowl (I'm starting it this weekend!)

5.  This be-cupcaked face:

6.  Easy birdfeeders!  

7.  A tattoo-idea.... This vintage owl embroidery pattern on my leg and the ink looking like embroidery stitches.  Whatcha think? 

8.  Made these pumpkin pancakes this week and they were FABULOUS!

9.  Super huge book sale!  I took a peek last night, but I plan on spending tomorrow hunting through thousands of books! 

10.  Lana Del Rey.  Lovin' her!

Arcade Fire!

Last night I took Hope to her very first concert, The Arcade Fire at Verizon Amphitheater.  We had a wonderful time.  As usual, the energy was fantastic and the band truly put on a vivacious show.

Spoon opened up for Arcade Fire.  I enjoy Spoon, but they don't send me to frantic heights of giddiness as do the Arcade Fire.  In fact, I can tell you very little about Spoon because we showed up slightly late and Hope was asking me a million questions about the band, the instruments, the concert, the people around us.... everything.

After the intermission, Hope and I waited with bated breath for the beginning of the concert.  The band started with one of my favorite songs -- "Ready to Go" -- from their new album The Suburbs.  Alas, despite our fairly good seats we couldn't see as everyone was standing.  For some reason, the Amphitheater didn't turn on the big side screens so that everyone could see.

I managed to jump around, sing, clamp, and act foolish for about the first 3 or 4 songs.  Then the fact I'm in my third trimester and that I had been up since 5 a.m. and worked all day knocked the wind out of me.  Actually, it was more because Atticus was dancing along and he can pack quite a punch.  So I had to sit the remainder of the concert (although I will say I chair danced with wild abandon).

Then the pot cloud descended and I felt like I should move the kid to a less groovy environment.  I totally pulled the pregnant lady card and got two seats in the handicap section that were pot free and we could see the show.  During this moving about and getting settled I missed about 3 songs and that bummed me out.

Once Hope and I were for real settled we completely rocked.  I didn't take many pictures as I was completely in the moment.  Hope sang and clapped and smiled and was generally excited.

The best moment of the concert was the last encore song, "Wake Up" from their Funeral album.  Hope threw her head back, opened her mouth, and sang with all her might all the while her eyes completely radiant.  It was one of the most beautiful and perfect moments I've had with Hope.  She was simply joyous.

Much like the Neon Bible tour concert in 2007, the energy was amazing and it was truly an awesome experience.

In the words of Eddie Vedder, "I'm still alive"

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Wednesday!  The last half of my week off from work flew by.  I accomplished a great deal, but, alas, I didn't have the time, energy, or any real inclination to blog.

So what did I do from Wednesday evening until today?

• Started a biography of Mary Queen of Scots


• baked Snickerdoodle cupcakes


• had my friend, Meghan, over for dinner


• went to lunch with my friend Erin and Hope


• bought the new Arcade Fire album and obsessively listened to it


• purchased yarn for a baby blanket and began furiously crocheting


• watched several movies with Sam


• had a day at the pool with Sam and Hope (I'm slightly burned)


• went to dinner with Sam and Hope


• cleaned the house


• did massive grocery shopping


• reorganized the pantry


• finished back to school shopping


• packed Hope off for her first day as a fifth grader


• packed Sam off at for his new job


• went back to work after 9 days of vacation and tried to catch up on work

WHEW!  I'm tired and amazed that summer vacation has flown by so quickly.   Between the two of us, I'm a bit glad that I'm back to my regular schedule.  I miss my routine and I honestly feel like I get more done when I have some order in my life.  Alright folks, I've a busy week this week but I am determined to get some reading done.

Musical Musings

I get obsessed with certain songs. Sometimes it isn’t just an obsession with one song in particular; it may be a group of three or four songs from different artists or an entire album from one artist. I can seriously spend an entire afternoon stretched out on a bed and listening to what-ever-obsession-it-may-be over, and over again.

Anyhoo, so let’s say there is this song playing and I like it and it finds itself stuck in my brain. I will randomly sing bits of it at odd times like when in public bathrooms, or when I’m shelving books at the library, or when I’m trying to sleep at night and can’t. It sort of loops through and then I tend to make remixes of said songs all smooshed together with the few words I pick up.

My friends find this annoying.

And embarrassing.

And weird.

But I can understand that it might be odd to be sitting in a very quiet Thai restaurant and your crazy friend keeps singing one line of a Xiu Xiu song over and over again…. “Boy Soprano!…. Dum dum dum dee… Boy Soprano!... dum dum dum dee.”

I guess I can understand.

So here are seven songs that I’ve been craving lately and they all happen to be on the MySpace so you can take a listen.

See if they get stuck in your brain… or heart… or whatever vital organ you choose:

. No Lucifer by British Sea Power
· The Charming One by Coal Beautiere
· Pumpkin Seeds by Devendra Banhart
· I Love the Valley Oh by Xiu Xiu
· Terrible Angels by Cocorosie
· The Devil by PJ Harvey
· The Mistress Witch from McClur by Sufjan Stevens
Who knows what it could be next week? I could get a hankering for Atari Teenage Riot and Vivaldi...