Summer Vacation: GOALS!

Singing Songs of the Civil War Era with the 5th graders of Stowe Elementary

Technically, we still have two days until June, but I've finished up my school programs with Stowe Elementary, we had a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend, the Bowdoin seniors are officially graduated, and it simply feels like summer. So I'm going to pack up my blog for the next three months and head outside. I'll try to keep in touch over Facebook and the like, but I hope to be offline more than on.

As usual, I have a lofty and possibly unattainable to-do list this summer:

1. Finish writing my current novel-in-progress by the end of June.
2. Write a rough draft of a new novel I've been outlining.
3. Create a bird-friendly garden in the backyard.
4. Paint my writing room.
5. Track down "wish list songs" for each of my music students.
6. Unpack at least some of the boxes that are still in the basement from our move last summer.
7. Play music.
8. Sing.
9. Spend time with my siblings.
10. Read.
11. Try some adventurous cooking.
12. Walk in the woods as often as humanly possible.

Does that list sound like heaven or what? Do you have similar lofty, restorative, fun goals for your summer? I'm sure as always, I'll get off track, frustrated, and bogged down at some point, and that's when I have to remind myself that life does not conform to goal sheets and lists. I suppose that should be my lucky #13: Be Flexible.

Summer Blog Break

I'm gearing up for one of my busiest summers yet: moving to a new house, working on a revision of my novel, teaching Songwriting and Fiction Writing for Kids classes, and traveling across the country to celebrate a dear friend's wedding. If I have any time and energy left, I'd like to start a new garden, paint my new music room, and catch up on my reading.

So you can see where this is all leading.

I'll be offline for a good chunk of the summer. When I come back, I hope to have all kinds of new books and music to share. I hope your summer is filled with sunshine!

 Photo by Mommamia

Powering Down: Blog Break

I'm taking a little blog/Facebook/Twitter break for the rest of the month so I can catch up on a few important things (including sleep!)

Photo by San Diego Shooter

Blog Vacation

I'm taking a bit of a blog vacation, but I'll be back at the end of the month. Here's what I'm planning to read while I'm away from the computer. A little eclectic, but that's how I like it. :)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

 

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

No Applause--Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous by Trav S. D.

Merry Christmas!

"Found in the Snow" photo by Just B

Merry Christmas, everyone! I'll be away from my blog until mid-January, but in the meantime, have a wonderful holiday, stay warm, and give lots of hugs to your family and friends. See you in the new year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you have a great holiday with lots of delicious food and good company! I'll be back to the blog again soon...

August Blog Vacation

This August, I am taking a blog break to work on some writing projects, enjoy my brother's wedding (hooray!), see old friends, soak up some sun (if it ever comes out), pick blackberries, and read book after book!

Until September then...or as Bilbo put it...

Farewell, friends! The sails are set,
the wind is east, the moorings fret.

Blog Vacation

I'm taking a little break for the first half of January, but you can be sure that when I return, I'll bring you up to speed on everything I've been reading and listening to over the last few weeks!

Happy New Year!!

Blog Vacation and I Wrote a Hit Song!

I am going on a blog vacation until July 21st. I'm going to try to stay off the computer as much as possible during my time off, but I *will* be stockpiling all kinds of great music, books, composting tips, and maybe a recipe or two for my return to cyberspace.

In the meantime, please check out this summer's I Wrote a Hit Song! winner (Ketty, age 9), and leave a comment for her on her song page. And while you're there, scroll down to check out all the other budding songwriters and leave a comment for them as well...they'll appreciate your encouragement, probably more than you know.

Vacation Music

Starting tomorrow, I'll be away from internet access for a week (you'll miss me, I'll miss you, but it'll all work out I'm sure). So for today, I thought it would be appropriate to post my top 5 albums to travel with. (Now I'm not saying the top 5 greatest albums in existence...just 5 I like to have on a trip for various and sentimental reasons...there's a difference, of course.)


1. Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits (Volume 1) Normally, I'd choose Pet Sounds, but what can I say? When I'm on the road, I just want the 20 greatest hits.




2. The Sky Is Crying I took this on a family road trip when I was a kid & listened to it for a week non-stop while I read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series. I still can't imagine the Dawn Treader without thinking of Stevie Ray...somehow it just works.




3. Sister Sweetly There's something about this album that I never get tired of. I could listen to it on repeat for days and my husband would want to pull his hair out but I would be just fine. Again, listened to this one through an entire book series on a family road trip in high school...this time The Chronicles of Amber. Cards, anyone? (Somewhere out there, my husband is sounding the "nerd alert.")





4. Ella and LouisCan you travel anywhere without Ella & Louis? I can't.








5. Give Up One of the newer additions to my traveling music. Fun & peppy in a hypnotic sort of way. Suits both the excitement and repetition of the open road.