Saturday Boosts...

Some things to invigorate you spiritually this weekend:

1. My friend Ally of the blog "Pans and Pickpockets" has such a way with WORDS
2.  A thought on SILENCE
3.  This SONG by Trip Lee:

Rap Music: Part One.

Fact:  
Not everyone enjoys rap music.
But more people should give it a chance.

The Key:
Good Content & Good Craft.

Example:
KB's song, "Hello"
Hear for Yourself:

Mesmerized...

Download Sufjan Stevens 

free holiday sampler,

Silver & Gold

HERE.

Pickamania

Today, Tanner & I

spent some time at 

Pickamania!

It's a bluegrass, folk, Americana, 

roots music festival held

every year in Silver City.

The weather was perfect for it.

Overcast, 

chilly...

perfect for snuggling up with a blanket

and swaying to the tunes together.

One of my favorite parts

about any festival or event 

in this town

is the fact that this one AWESOME guy

with his signature bandana

can always be seen dancing 

just below the stage.

The dancing man with his white bandana on his head.  Performance art in action.

It's like he's a reincarnated eagle,

moving his arms in the slowest

most graceful flapping motions

I've ever seen.

I love it :)

 

All in all,

the festival was wonderful.

Especially when "Mike & Ruthy" 

were playing - so good.

I Believe.

Better Now

I don't know if you've ever 

checked out the website

- NoiseTrade -

but you should.

It's an excellent way to 

fall in love with new music

and even download some free

tunes.

Through NoiseTrade,

I found "The Vespers"...

take a listen :)

Aware but asleep

Found this.

Loved it.

Sharing it.

The Boxer Rebellion.

"Caught By The Light"

Silent Night

Hello Friends :)

Well,

it's snowing here in Silver City...

In fact, we have around 8 inches 

on the ground

and more coming.

It's gorgeous.

So peaceful.

I'm a little sick (boo!), 

but I can't complain.

Hot chocolate 

+ 

old Christmas movies on Netflix 

+ 

Snow 

=

one joyful Jessie.

Sending love your way!

Here's a song for a cold winter night.

Enjoy!

Hallelujah

These two kids have been blessed to say the least!

Wow.

Glory to God.

Claws and Heartbeats

So, my painting endeavors are going well!

I'm almost done painting our wide hallway

Bermuda Turquoise

(by Benjamin Moore)

Can't wait to show you!

I must say, though...

Doing trim work

for any extended amount of time

will give a person, 

  what Sherry from Young House Love calls, 

claw-hands.

My right hand seized up for a second 

last night

and I dropped my paint brush.

slow motion style.

onto my carpet.

SAD.
DAY.

Guess who spent the next hour 

trying to extract said paint from carpet?

THIS GAL.

At least my husband was understanding...

Until we can afford to change out our 

14+ year old carpet,

We'll cover it up with a sweet runner rug! :P

Anywho.

That's my week so far.

Lots of painting,

Weird hands,

and listening to good music:

Have a fantasterific day!

:)

P.S. - check out this gal's AWESOME
giveaway
(if you like anthropologie!)

Back Home.

Our recent trip to Vegas and Disneyland was amazing -

not simply because we stayed up late

laughing on rides and people watching

or eating our hearts out...

Not because of the cool California air

or flying into Vegas and seeing 

"The Strip" all aglow...

Our trip was amazing

because we spent it with people

who mean so much to us.

And now, we're back. 

In fact, I'm happy to be back.

But there is a loneliness in returning home.

I'm not sure how to describe it.

Maybe it's just me, 

or the fact that Tan and I live so far from our families.

This distance has a way of making me feel isolated,

alone even.

I guess that's partly why I blog.

Well, it's cold and overcast here,

and I feel like sharing one of my favorite songs.

Enjoy. :)

The Ladder

Words Remain...

that's the title of this mesmerizing song by 

Josh Garrels...

BRAIN-POW.

Helloooooo!

It's been warm here (and windy)

leading me to work 

on small random projects

So here's what happens 

when I'm bored:

Ghetto Twiggy Necklace Holder!

(twine + branch + nails)

Simple Felt-ball Wreath!

(grapevine wreath + super glue + felt balls + paint/dye)

Yup.

I am that boring.

:)

On another note...

Tanner & I picked out some paint colors

and should be painting next week.

(WOOO!)

And I did an open mic night

for the first time in months...

At the Pinos Altos Buckhorn Saloon!

 It went well!

A drunk guy sang along with me. 

Good times, good times.

Progress De Lune

Hello friends!

Hope your Monday 
is full of simple joys,

like this song.

(I love the color blocking...)

 

Also,

On the home front,

we're working on getting a house!

We're just waiting for the pest inspection 

and

blah blah blah.

P.S. - I painted my coffee table 

Benjamin Moore's

Bermuda Turquoise.

It just might be my favorite color.

Pics to come!

(It's still drying, you know?)

:D

Beauty (& Llamas)

This video is magical.

Enjoy. 

Also,

you can write in llamas.

WHA?

Write in llamas?  

YES.

- Click Me -

Play Me Something...

Hi Friends.

I found something,

and I want to share :)

I'm a huge fan of music,

especially edifying tunes

that are simple

beautiful

and deep.

Enter:  Valley Maker.

This guy wrote, sang, and produced songs 

based on the Bible's book of Genesis 

- all for his Thesis Project.

I can't stop listening.

My Christmas Wishlist.

Lucky from Christian Sorensen Hansen on Vimeo.

1. A Loaf of this Christmas Cheese Bread.

King Arthur Flour's Savory Christmas Cheese Bread

2. These leather ankle boots from Target.

Mossimo Supply Co. Kaiala Leather Ankle Boots

3. This Navy Dress from ModCloth.

Main Character Dress from ModCloth

 4.  Penguin Classic Reprints (because they're so dang beautiful).

Clothbound Penguin Classics

What's on your list this year?
Seriously!  Share!

Tunnels and Such.

Untitled from Joshua Porter on Vimeo.
So, thanks to my buddy Alissa, 

who gave me some solid advice the other day,

I went on a hike.

You know,

One of those mind clearing

cold, refreshing,

digestive hikes.

My "lil sis" Kt and I grabbed our flashlight,

Pulled on our beanies,

And stuffed my bag with water and gloves.

The sun was hanging low when we set off,

and the trail was wide.

It seemed like everyone 

was coming back to their cars to warm up

and turn on their heaters

While we strode on the crunchy dirt path

Wrapping around the mountains,

winding away from the world,

away from the noise.

It was just me

and Kt

And our crunching footsteps.

And then we reached the tunnels.

They were a lot darker when we neared them.

Sort of ominous.

But beautiful.

So we went into the dark 

and talked of life

and fears

and struggles

and joys

and stupid humor

and you know what?

In the cold air,

and amidst the crunching beneath us

I could feel life swelling into my lungs again;

it was the sensation of living in rawness

and embracing reality.

Thank you, Alissa,

And thank you, Kt,

And thank you,

cold 
beautiful 
night.

Alrighty Then.

Hello wonderful people of the world.

Today shall be a random posting for sure.

I just feel like rambling about my scattered thoughts 

- maybe it'll help me to focus.

Life has been pretty wonderful in many small ways lately.

3 weeks ago (I think?) I did an open mic night at my favorite coffee place in town, Espresso.

It was fun! 

I always get nervous before I play a show, 

even though there are only a handful of people that will attend 

and I'm fully capable of singing and playing with no issues.  

Despite the nerves, I did get a boost of confidence from something unexpected.

Heidi braids.

I tried out a new hairstyle, which was bold, funky, and a little extroverted for me.

It's surprisingly easy, you just need some length to pull it off.

My favorite song I sang that night was "Hero" by Regina Spektor 

- I played an acoustic version.

I love how much raw power that song has.

Another happy experience for me was a quick solo road trip to Anaheim

I took last week to visit my aunt, uncle, and their 2 lovely children.

It rained nearly the whole time I was there, but I loved it.

On those few cold wet nights, my uncle lit up their brick fireplace

and we stayed up late watching the embers, drinking wine, and talking about life.

My little cousins were adorable, completely enthralled with the coziness 

of blankets, dim lighting, and the crackling fire.

So much beauty in simplicity.

Leaving was sad.

I realized it was probably going to be my last trip to California 

for a long time.

These next few months are getting so crazy 

and then I'm getting married

and then I'm moving

 and then 

and then

I'm gone.