In the coming days I will be restructuring my sites – creating one out of the many. This is one of those sites that I will be moving to my main site. You can read all about it in this post Simplify on laryssawaldron.com. I anticipate that over the next few months I will be transferring different posts from here over to that one and I will decide with my daughters what to do about the little business ventures we began. Hopefully they will not be gone forever, but improved upon as I find the balance that is needed. If you don’t already follow me there, please feel free to join me. And thank you for reading this blog, it has been a joy since I started it in 2008.
She said, “It’s an eyeglass or a bubble wand!” So silly! Love this kid.
We’re listening to an Army band playing a summer concert in a park. Right now they are playing a suite from Spielberg’s ET. It’s so fantastic. Makes me want to fly. Love John Williams. Love our military and our wonderful country that allows for so much creativity and ingenuity!!!
It’s just been a beautiful, fun, family day and as geeky as it is, I just wanted to celebrate families on this Fourth of July. Hope you have a great holiday!!!
Moms who make costumes for their kids are fantastic! We were at a Halloween fun run this morning, and a Mom had made Minion costumes for her children. Wow!
What costume ideas have you found?
Any favorite costume memories from childhood?
Also, just a note, the fun run was hosted by my sister and brother-in-law to help raise funds for an adoption. Visit them at their website here.
Kate Middleton enters Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011
I was so touched by the words of the anthem/hymn, Jerusalem by William Blake (1808) music by Sir Hubert Parry (1916) during the recent Marriage ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Poetry is not written like this anymore, where the words are so powerful, they move you not just through emotions, but with the desire to become something greater than you are now.
And did those feet in ancient time. Walk upon England’s mountains green: And was the holy Lamb of God, On England’s pleasant pastures seen!
And did the Countenance Divine, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold; Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand: Till we have built Jerusalem, In England’s green & pleasant Land
Beneath this poem, William Blake inscribed an excerpt from the Bible: ‘”Would to God that all the Lord’s people were Prophets” (Numbers 11:29).
Please see more of the interpretation of this poem here.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge exit Westminster Abbey
Much has been made of whether this is a Patriotic Anthem or a Hymn, to me it’s both.
So here’s my challenge. Try writing poetry, not in the Modern style (devoid of rules, rhyme, meter, or sense) but in a Romantic or Classical style that can be seen as an anthem or hymn. Something that is moving, both with words and phrases. It’s harder than it looks.
We have come to a time when mediocrity is celebrated. When people scoff at attempts to live enriching principles.
There was nothing mediocre about the wedding that was celebrated last weekend. Extreme lengths were taken to prepare for this wedding in the name of perfection and the celebration of Marriage. It was simply, Historic.
I want more from the art that comes from our time. I want Art that speaks to the inner goodness inside mankind. Words that don’t mock or deride a person for trying to be more than they are now. Creations that breathe life, action, and a desire to be better into our minds and hearts.
When people desire to undertake worthwhile challenges simply because it builds the soul, we will be better people on this earth.
“The Orion Nebula, just 1,350 light-years from Earth, glows in shades of blue and violet in an image captured by the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla facility in Chile. This view of the nebula, featured by the ESO on Jan. 19, offers astronomers a close-up view of a massive star-forming region in our celestial backyard. Infant stars are wrapped in the clouds of gas and dust.”
More amazing pictures can be found on NBC’s Month in Space (January 2011) site. Doesn’t it just make you want to leap outside yourself and touch something from the great beyond? There is so much more to life than we can even fathom. I believe the discovery of the infinite begins when we decide to take control of our lives and act rather than stay content to be acted upon.
Just found this CD at the Library. Baby Needs Baroque, a 1998 collection (there are a ton in the series) You can buy it from Amazon, Target, Overstock.com, etc. You can check out snippets from the songs and purchase for an MP3 player at many different links, here is one at Amazon.
Now, I bring this up, not because I work for the Baby Needs company or anything, but because;
That is a seriously funny picture.
Before I began this website, and started studying composers, I was never into Baroque music. Now, I cannot get enough of it. I’m serious.
Lately, when I’ve wanted to calm my sweet, yet hyper, daughters down I’ve been putting in this CD – works like a charm.
I’ve found a new favorite Baroque composer – Georg Philipp Telemann, all of the new songs that captured my attention on this CD was his.
I’ll share my favorite Georg Philipp Telemann piece that was featured on the CD. Adagio from Concerto in D Major for Trumpet and Orchestra. The trumpet is hauntingly beautiful.
This is a youtube video, poor video quality, but the sound is lovely because of the acoustics from the Church that they are practicing in. Brian Shaw, Baroque trumpet, in rehearsal with the BelleMeade Baroque Orchestra in Nashville, TN, December 2008.
I actually hadn’t heard of Ombra Mai Fu, and had to do some research (so thank you, because I found a new favorite). It is is the opening aria from the 1738 opera Serse by George Frideric Handel and is quite lovely. I don’t think they sound too similar, but then again, some of his work seems, at times, repetitive (forgive me, Handel).
I just wanted to post three more selections from Handel, in honor of Joyce.
Ombra Mai Fu – This is Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Cardiff 1989, bad video quality and it cuts off abruptly, but it’s a little taste and WHAT a voice!
Water Music – Performed by The King’s Consort and Conducted by Robert King
Finally, if you don’t have time for anything else – THIS is worth a listen and a watch.
Music for the Royal Fireworks – From the Queen’s Jubilee Concerts, Buckingham Palace(2002) conducted by Andrew Davis.
Have a “Nature” theme party. Put masking tape around each child’s wrist and have them go outside and get certain things to put on their tape ie pieces of grass, rocks, flower petals etc. when they are done they have a nature bracelet. Then have each child paint a pretty good sized rock. Hide their painted rocks in the yard and have them find them like a treasure hunt.
Thanks so much to Jamie for those great ideas!
Now that I think about it, I’m going to put up an email address in case you’d like to contact me, but don’t want to leave a comment. Please feel free to send ideas, suggestions, requests, etc.
Tamarack Idea Factory 