Monday, February 28, 2011

KALEVALAN PAIVA




Today is Kalevala's Day in Finland. The Swan and Egg image is based on prehistoric rock carving on Lake Aaninen, Karelia. Pagan belief from this corner of the world held that a bird brings the soul to a newborn, and that same bird takes the soul with it when a person dies. This bird was called sielulintu, soul-bird.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MEMORABLE TO ME


l to r: Kimberly, me, Nancy, Ann-Marie, Cynthia

Every time I hear the song, "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn, I am reminded of a childhood friend. When I hear the lyrics, "I could fly from the highest swing, played pretend between the trees, fed my house guests bark and leaves, laughed in my pretty bed of green," I am no longer an adult sitting here in my kitchen. I am a freckle faced girl sitting on a swing in my friend's back yard on a warm summer morning. Shaded by large trees, we swing on a big, old swing set, the kind you used to see in school yards. Her mother, red bandana over bobby pinned hair, hollers out of a second story window. Shaking the rug, her mother yells at her not to swing so high. I slow my swing, dragging my feet in the dust. But not my *white-blond* ringlet-haired friend, Ann-Marie. She laughs and laughs and pumps her legs even harder.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

BRAVE GIRLS CLUB




The six week course of the Brave Girls Club has now come to an end. It required a lot of time and effort. More, actually, than I had anticipated but it was worth it. The activity that I enjoyed the most was the time line. Decorating the accordion booklet was fun...lots of paint and glue and modge podge and markers and glitter. The best part though, besides seeing the finished product, was going through pictures and memorabilia. What a trip back in time. Pictured are two things I came across. And what fun that was, digging through things, as I had not done that in a very long time.
A watercolor painting from Kindergarten.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

MISTA CHALEE



Meet Mr. Chalee, the first artist signed to Solid Breed Music Publishing. His song, Be My Valentine, was the first song published by my company so it has a special place in my heart.
Last year I wanted to share it on Facebook so he was kind enough to put together a video synchronized to old movie clips. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Be My Valentine by Cheek to Chic is available on iTunes.

Please mute the playlist on the sidebar for the duration of the video.

"BE MY VALENTINE" by Cheek to Chic

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

ANIMANIACS, YAKKO'S WORLD

Something fun and educational today.....and tomorrow is Yakko's Universe.
Annimaniacs was a 1990's animated series, enjoyed by children and adults alike. A collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Warner Brothers, it featured many songs teaching mathematics, history, etc.