Across from the St. Paul farmer's market this musician plays his pipes for passersby, hopefully a profitable venture. Visitors stop and talk to him between tunes and he discusses what kind of pipes he plays. I, however, hurrying by didn't hear what he said so I won't even hazard a guess to what kind they are. Therefore, I leave the mystery for you to solve.
Your music cracks my heart open Taking my spine two stairs at a time Leaving every door ajar Colors alight with hollow bones
Aching melodies spin Crinoline clouds weep Freedom, Granted and received
Truth and wonders Are the fragrant petals You toss through the gap-toothed Windows of my soul.
~~
Based on a prompt of 'soar' for Sunday Scribblings, my gratitude to Ludwig van Beethoven for his short, sweet Symphony No. 6, Pastoral, which causes a mighty separation of soul and body every time I listen. Listen to my favorite, the fourth movement here.
[The graphic above is from a painting called "The Bedroom"--1658/1600 by Dutch painter Pieter de Hooch.]
Above, Friday's Flowersare back. These hale and hearty pansies are from my patio bravely *facing* our cold and damp weather (snow is predicted; but then you know how I swear laugh at snow!)
and because I am always counting on the old being new again,
Fleet Foxes, my new fave.
“ Those who wish to sing, always find a song. ” Swedish Proverb
with a little help from my friends. My new agenda I follow to ward off the long winter syndrome most days, after the usual duties, includes a couple more simple and very satisfying endeavors: a little baking, a little knitting and some movie watching.
First the baking: this is Inland Empire Girl's yummy recipe for spicey Pumpkin-Chip Bread. Hers includes chocolate chips and walnuts, is moist and keeps well. Seemed to make the holiday season stick around awhile longer. I loved grating the whole nutmeg for this too.
I'm embarrassed to admit how long it has taken me to finish this dear little 'Cupcake' hat I first heard about from my friend, the other Marianne, who's just Knotminding. She got it from her friend Norma at Now Norma Knits. Let's just say it has been a challenge that involved not reading the instructions carefully or completely. Does the word 'chopsticks' make you think of anything besides Chinese food? In the spirit of all things snowman I must say that the cupcake was delicious!
The indie film Once is one I can't quit recommending to everyone, even if they don't like movies involving music, because it is somehow unforgettable. A Sundance winner it has a simple plot about two musicians in Ireland--he plays on the street and works in his dad's vacuum cleaner repair shop. She is a Czech immigrant who drops a dime in his open guitar case on the ground while he plays one evening. The soundtrack is amazingly original and haunting. My advice: run out and rent it, stay with it until the end and remember the piano.
Here's what Steven Spielberg said about it: 'A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year.' I agree with Schpiel, as I like to call him, and I say, "Raise your hopeful voice."
