What's Been Up

Oh My Gosh! We've been away so long! James and Beatrice have been sick and I've been busy caring for my family. Poor things!

First of all, let me assure you that James has kept up with his songwriting. A song a day, often more. Don't worry, he'll post them here...as soon as he gets a handle on that dripping nose of his. Despite his lingering cold, he has also stayed on top of schoolwork. He had two tests and a project on Sunday. All A's, good man.

As for Bea, she tries so hard to crawl, but her little arms just aren't strong enough. Still, she'll crawl before she sits on her own. Mmmmm, she's so cute we can hardly take it.

Being sick, we've watched a lot of movies. The Man Who Knew Too Little last night, Land of the Lost before that, Elizabeth I and The Proposal we watched together. On my own I watched Miss Congeniality and part of Monsters, Inc. and Marcelino Pan y Vino. That's a lot, even spread over a few weeks. Damn Blockbuster and their rewards card!

On that note, can I just say one thing? I am not a Will Ferrel fan. It's just that his movies are funny. I haven't seen all of them and I don't intend to, but he makes me laugh. He's got one of those faces, you know, like a lesser Bill Murray.

In other wonderous-fantasmical news, Beatrice sleeps through the night! And when she does wake in the dark hours, I don't get her. Finally, Mama is well-rested. This was all James' doing. He put his foot down after the Most Dreadful Night of Them All and I thank him for it every morning when I emerge from the bedroom blurry-eyed and dis-shevled from such engrossing sleep. I love you, James! (He plugged in the white noise generator on my side of the bed and cranked it.)

So I didn't really get sick, but at one point I thought I was getting sick. Turned out I was just in desperate need of a shopping spree. That happens to me sometimes. Luckily, Christmas is just around the corner, so I have a good excuse for the frenzy. It's like vampires on the hunt. This time, I didn't have wheels so I had to content myself with the online thing. Oh, blessed, blessed, glorious PayPal, you are so good to me!

Okay, signing off,

Lily

Song of the Day No. 10

"Reverend Bramble Childress" (based on a character created for a collection of short stories.)

Reverend Bramble Childress
Ain't from around these parts.
But he show can impress our women;
He show can steal they hearts.
His eyes are thunderstorms;
His smile's a lightning bolt.
Though his hair's all white
No one knows how old.

Reverend Bramble Childress
Is the fastest talker around.
He could sell charcoal to the devil
Or convince "up" it's really "down."
When he gets up in the pulpit
All his flock agree
They would follow him through hell
If it was necess'ry.

Reverend Bramble Childress
Is a servant of the Lord.
He cast them devils out
With his demon-killin' sword.
He exorcised ol' Brandon Boyles
'Til B.B. couldn't see,
But saved him from the Lake of Fire
And suffering eternally.

Plus two for Baby Bea:

I.
Daddy wants to give
His little girl a kiss.
Daddy wants to kiss his Beatrice.
On her - cheeky cheeky cheeky cheek!

II. "D" (Lily's been writing songs for Bea based on the alphabet. So far she has A-C. So here's "D"!)

D is for diamond and dragonfly.
D is for dynamite and dandelion.
Doorbell, detail, dizzy, doe,
D is for all these words and
"Daddy-O!"

James

Song of the Day No. 9

Two very short songs for today:

I. "The Starship Balboa" - a fragmentary companion piece to "The Starship Pizarro" about the first planetary exploration mission that left astronauts stranded on Ganymede.

A.
She's leaving Planet Earth.
She's leaving Planet Earth.

B.
The Starship Balboa
Is the first in its class
To explore the planets
Though she won't be the last.

Simple ternary (A-B-A) form.

II. "Let's Sing a Song" - a simple singalong with a melody reminiscent of Irish drinking songs. One verse and chorus, repeat them over and over again.

Everyone, gather round, round, round.
Hear this tune I have found, found, found.
When the world gets you down
Lift your voice; make this sound:

(Chorus):
Sing a song. Let's sing a song.
Sing a song. Let's sing a song my friends.

James

Song of the Day No. 8

Another Sci-Pop song!

The time machine's almost complete.
She's got a sunroof, A/C and heat.
She can travel at the speed of light
And turn the left around into the right.
So climb aboard and take a seat.

(Chorus:)
'Cause we're going to the future,
Yes, going to the future.
We're going to the future
And we ain't never coming back!

The time machine's all that we need.
It will get us out of here at speed.
We'll learn about where we are headed
While space-time fabric's torn and shredded,
So climb aboard and take a seat.

(Repeat Chorus)

James

Pictures of Things I've Made Lately

Good Crafternoon

Like James said, I've been spending a lot of time making stuff: I've made shoes for Beatrice and toys for Beatrice. The shoes are based on a number of patterns I found for free online. One I like especially is here. But this one is the one I've used most.

I'm in the process of altering a dress of mine into a skirt. It's a dress I made for Easter years ago. I don't like the style anymore, but the fabric is a beautiful batik that begs to be worn. By me.

Have you noticed how expensive baby clothes are these days? Instead of buying them, I'm making them. All I have to do is go up to Goodwill on the weekend (they have $1 and $.50 racks) and find grown-up clothes in fabrics I like. Then, bring them home and make nice, warm, weird things for Bea to wear. I made her some hot pink sweat pants the other day. They are super cute.

Speaking of baby clothes, I found this website where lots of good ideas live. I used their stencil technique today to turn boringly plain onesies into delights.

I made a sweater for her, too. It's one of my first adventures in crochet. Kinda bulky. Next time, maybe I'll try this one.

I have also come up with a number of stories to tell her. I wrote them all down and have started illustrations.

I did an oil painting and a crayon drawing.

That's what I've been up to.

Hopefully, my next move will be selling all my pretty-baby-handmade wares...

Song of the Day No. 7

Sometimes I draw inspiration for songs from real life. Other times it's total fantasy. This one is a combination of the two.

Everything is better
When we are together.
Everything is alright
Here tonight.

You are the sunshine
And the shore.
You are the one
Whom I adore.
You are not like other girls;
Your eyes are complete worlds.
Oh darling, please come home to me.

You are the moonlight
And the breeze.
You are the green
And all the leaves.
You are not like all the rest;
For your love I am truly blessed.
Oh darling, please come home right now.

James