Live Gram and Emmy

Unpolished, live performances of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris are somewhat rare, so I was thrilled to discover this. The video quality is not perfect, but you can still get a real feel for the dynamic, dare I say frenzied, excitement I imagine most of their shows held. Emmy is playing the fool out of that tambourine, no? :)

Tis the Season

My, what a bad blogger I am! My blogging habits bear a striking resemblance to my adolescent diary keeping habits, characterized by brief bursts of intensity lasting about a week or so, and then a sparse desert of nothingness for months at a time. I apologize for my absence. I've been a busy little bee during the past month or more that I have neglected this space. Autumn and early winter are without a doubt my favorite seasons, and what with all the cider to be drunk and pumpkin pies to be baked and eaten, I've just been swamped. You understand.

And it's already the first day of December (!!!), so the holiday frenzy is creeping in. The tree and all the Christmas decorations went up the day after Thanksgiving, and our little cabin is simply magical. When I opened up the box of ornaments, I was so surprised to find, instead of the jumbled, tangled mess of family history that usually greets me, all of our ornaments neatly and carefully wrapped in tissue paper. I know, I couldn't believe it either. It's very unlike me to be so organized, and I secretly wondered what sort of little Type A elves had been in the storage shed rearranging my stuff. But then I remembered that last year, when it came time to take the tree down was not only the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of my new life, staying at home with my little one. And so, without the pressures of the working world beckoning, properly storing Christmas treasures fell within the realm of possibility. Really, it was so much more pleasant, unwrapping each one, eagerly anticipating which one it might be, and the flood of stories and memories it would bring with it. It's amazing, the power those little trinkets have to bring smiles and tears and that oh so familiar ache in the heart that seems to permeate this season. For my daughter, who will be two in February, these holiday times are pure bliss and joy, full of twinkling lights, wonder, and sweet tastes and smells. For me, the wonder is still present, but the shadows of time creep in as well. At no other time of the year are joy and sadness so jumbled up together as we think about those we have lost and the bittersweet passage of time. And perhaps that's the ultimate beauty of this season.

Hank Williams and Anita Carter Duet

This gives me chills!

Winter Hat

It's supposed to be a cold day today, so I thought I'd take this opportunity and show off my fancy new winter hat. I just ordered it from Portland based designer Liza Rietz. She has a lovely etsy shop, and I'm so pleased with my hat. I love the glamorous 1920s-esque cloche style, but it's also made of warm black wool, so it keeps my head nice and cozy.

Simply Breakfast

Wishing my breakfasts were always so pretty!

(Simply Breakfast/Jennifer Causey)

Bright Star and Weekend Travels

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I certainly did. Friday night I went to see Bright Star with some girlfriends. It's the film about Romantic poet John Keats. There's no way Mark would have gone to see that one with me. When he asked me who John Keats was, I told him he was sort of an 18th century literary Hank Williams. Well, they both were brilliant wordsmiths who died tragically while still in their 20s, right? Anyway, I had high hopes for the movie, and while I don't mean to bash it, I must say I was a wee bit disappointed. It was, of course, really sad, but that's almost like going to see Titanic and then complaining that it was sad. If you know the story, you know it's not going to end well, so I was prepared for that. But, the movie was sooooo slow. One film critic called it "restrained," which I suppose means "boring for long stretches with the occasional burst of interest." Also, I didn't find any of the main characters very likable, even Mr. Keats himself! But, since my mama taught me that if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all, I will say that, in terms of sheer cinematography, it was one of the most beautiful films I've seen of late. It was full of such exquisite imagery, I almost wanted to pause certain frames, take a picture, and hang it on the wall.

Saturday, we drove up to Boone (about two hours north of us) to visit Mark's folks. The autumn leaves are at their peak in the High Country, and it was a gorgeous drive. We spent the night with Kate's Grandbob and Mimi and then came home Sunday afternoon, where we spent the rest of the afternoon taking a short hike and then settling in for an Andy Griffith marathon.

Really a lovely weekend. And yours?

Caroline Herring

I just bought this album by Atlanta based artist, Caroline Herring. Completely mesmerizing! Imagine if Eudora Wetly had chosen to write songs instead of short stories and you have Lantana. Herring is a Mississippi native herself, and actually sites Welty as a huge influence on her songs. The album falls squarely within the southern gothic tradition, unflinchingly delving into the troubled past (and present) of the region. The song "Paper Gown" (about the infamous South Carolina woman, Susan Smith, who murdered her two children) is utterly chilling and disturbing, but hauntingly beautiful at the same time. The entire album is powerful, soulful, and brilliant.

New album, Golden Apples of the Sun, comes out October 27th!