Summer Waterfall Adventures

This summer I had the goal of finding more waterways that I'd never been to before. And the thought occurred to me after I found the first one on my list, that I should be bringing my Native American flute on these journeys (so I could make musical videos at each waterfall). So here are those adventures, which include 2 flute videos. Don't worry, I'll find more this fall!

What I Did This Summer

So remember how this spring was wet? Well this summer was HOT. Nearly 30 days 90 degrees or hotter... Yuck. But I was able to do a few things this summer outdoors. They weren't really hiking, but I did get some steps in. Here are those photos. 

Early Summer Trails and Adventures

I've been able to hike a little more this year thankfully. Here are the pictures from the places I visited late May through July. Hopefully August isn't too hot so I can keep exploring!

Spring Outings

Once the rain stopped and the temperatures warmed a little late in April, I was finally able to get outside. Here are the photos from the few day trips I took this spring. 

My Trip To The SoCal Renaissance Faire

I decided early spring I should do more solo traveling this year, and this faire that I've wanted to go to, decided not to reopen in summer, but in spring. I got a weekend off work and voila a new adventure. Here is how it went. 

New Year, New Hopes

I don't know about you, but I was so grateful when the calendar switched to 2021. Even though the covid pandemic is still here, the vaccines have arrived, we have a new President & VP, and artists are dropping new music. God is good, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Here are the top 5 tunes that are giving me hope right now.

1) Great You Are by Jordan Smith

2) Rescue by Lauren Daigle 

3) Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be) by Jordan Smith

4) Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Pentatonix

5) No Longer Slaves by Jonathan David/Melissa Helser

What are you listening to?

Autumn Jammin'

Here are the Top 5 songs I'm listening to right now!

1) So Will I (100 Billion X) by Hillsong Worship
2) Drops in the Ocean by Hawk Nelson
3) Speak the Name by Koryn Hawthorne, ft. Natalie Grant
4) You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
5) All of Switchfoot, but mostly songs from their newest album 'Native Tongue'

What are you listening to?

Spring Tunes

Here are the Top 5 songs I'm listening to right now!

1) Ashes by Celine Dion, from the Deadpool Soundtrack (Written by Jordan Smith)
2) Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
3) Won't He Do It by Koryn Hawthorne
4) Who You Say I Am by Hillsong
5) All of Switchfoot :)

What are you listening to?

Summer Adventures

Pictures from various things I've been able to do this summer! Enjoy!

August Beach Trip

My Summer Adventures 

Just Some Great Current Classical Harpists Because Why Not?

                                                   

Emmanuel Ceysson

Principal Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

*I'm A Salvi fan, but this red Salzedo by Lyon & Healy is stunning!

Jana Boušková

Principal Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Naoko Yoshino

Lucerne Festival Orchestra

Yolanda Kondosassis

No. 1 Recorded Harpist

Kicking Off 2018!

A new year has started, and I'm determined to write more blog posts this go-around! But today I don't really have a good topic... So here are my current favorite things, two days in...

• Favorite Song - Mary Did You Know by Jordan Smith / Rise by Katy Perry
• Favorite Book - Eagerly awaiting King's War by Jill Williamson, but in the long meantime... What should I read?
• Favorite Food - Christmas Cookies I made yesterday 😋
• Favorite TV Show - Mork & Mindy 
• Favorite Game - Celtic Heroes 

Happy New Year Everyone! What are you current favorite things?

The Canterbury Renaissance Faire

Coming to you from the Canterbury Renaissance Faire in Silverton, Oregon! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so enjoy this photographic journey! It was super, super fun!! Blogger doesn't upload albums, so click on the link to the google photos album I made.

Rainy Day Favs

Rainy Spring days call for fun things to do indoors! Here's what I am into right now!!

While the noted San Diego band released their 10th album last summer, I only recently got it so I'm still in 😍 mode!

For a thrilling, high fantasy read with biblical allegory, try Jill Williamson's Kinsman Chronicles! I'm just now finishing the 2nd book, King's Blood! The 3rd won't be out for a while sadly...

But the next Medieval Fairy Tale by Melanie Dickerson, The Noble Servant (which hits book stores this May) should fill in the void quite nicely!

And recently the creative juices have been flowing with my own novel! If you can't find a book that you really want to read, write one yourself! 😃

On TV NBC's The Voice is back in full swing, and so is my favorite show Blindspot! 

🐝 And since it's Spring, might as well do some cleaning! 😉 What are your favorite things to do on a rainy day?

Mary Did You Know?

"Mary, did you know, That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know, That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know That your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know, That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know, That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby You've kissed the face of God

The blind will see, The deaf will hear, And the dead will live again!

The lame will leap, The dumb will speak, The praises of the Lamb!

Mary, did you know, That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know, That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding...

Is the Great I Am!

Oh Mary did you know?"

**Keep Christ In Christmas**

Why Staying Home for Thanksgiving Matters

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, simply because it always brought my entire family together to enjoy each other's company. Growing up, and even more so now, we treated Thanksgiving like a potluck. The host usually made the turkey, but then everyone else brought their own additions, so the food was always special. But that was never the most important part. The company was. We always made a point to give each person a moment to say what they were thankful for that year, and we always said a prayer for the family before the night was over. After the meal, we would break out party activities. Some years those would be board games, other years parlor games (like charades). When all my cousins and I were teenagers, we had a tradition of watching a different Lord of the Rings movie each year. In recent years, we've been using the time to share photos of specials trips we've taken. But no matter what we did, it was always all together. It was always at someone's house, with candles lit, and a fire crackling away. It was always about community.

Black Friday has been a major shopping day for as long as I can remember. But it's only been in recent years that shopping on Thanksgiving has become a wide-spread thing. People now have Thanksgiving brunch so they can finish up and make the sale lines at 5pm. Last year sales on the holiday were very close to those that were made on Friday. Family time has become less important than getting the best holiday gift deal. Relaxing has become stressing out in checkout lines. Vandalism reports on the news have risen, and small, neighborhood corner-shops have been feeling squished. None of this is what Thanksgiving, a holiday to celebrate blessings and freedom, is all about.

Luckily more and more retailers and businesses are recognizing the problem, and are closing their doors on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the major ones include The Mall of America, Costco, Nordstrom, IKEA, Sam's Club, and AT&T. For a preliminary list this year, visit this article on KGW.com: Not Just The Mall Of America.

But we cannot just rely on big corporations to shift the holiday back to what it's supposed to be, especially when the world's largest retailer, Walmart, is refusing to close their doors. We must make an effort ourselves. An effort to stay home or go out of town with family and friends. An effort to stay away from shopping sales, in stores and online. An effort to connect with those we don't see every day. An effort to be thankful.

This year, let's make that effort.

Your Brain On Musical Instruments

Music is one of the few activities that utilizes the entire human brain. But have you ever wondered what that looks like? Videographer Anita Collins has created a simple, creative video to explain just that! :D

Autumn Thoughts

"Daisy, give yourself away, Lookup at the rain, The beautiful display, Of power and surrender, Giving us today, And she gives herself away.

Rain, another rainy day, Comes up from the ocean, Give herself away, She comes down easy, On rich and debt the same, And she gives herself away.

Let it go, Daisy, Let it go, Open up your fist, This fallen world, Doesn't hold your interest, It doesn't hold your soul, Daisy, let it go.

Pain, give yourself a name, Call yourself contrition, Avarice of blame, Giving isn't easy, Neither is the rain, When she gives herself away.

Daisy, why another day?, Why another sunrise, Who will take the blame, For all redemptive motion, And every rainy day, When he gives himself away.

Let it go, Daisy, let it go, Open up your fist, This fallen world, It doesn't hold your interest, It doesn't hold your soul, Daisy, let it go.

Let it go."

~From the song 'Daisy' by Switchfoot

My Current Favorite Tunes

1) Rise by Katy Perry

2) The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) by Cher

3) Twilight & Shadow from LOTR: Return of the King Soundtrack, Featuring Renee Fleming

4) The River by Jordan Feliz

5) Rise Up by Audra Day

What are you currently jamming to?