Life of a Creative Mum

It’s been a while, I had another baby (may have mentioned that already? He’s already going to 1 tomorrow!) I had a big birthday a few days ago (yes, 40, woo hoo! I’m not even going to try to pretend that I’m not just exactly what I am) and I’m starting to get started again…

I was THRILLED and honored to be invited by the incredible bass player, John Munson, to perform a song at The Current Presents The New Standards 2011 Holiday Show at The Fitzgerald Theater in Minneapolis, MN.

I performed my song Bring Us Peace to two sold out audiences with The New Standards, their backing singers and beautiful horn section joining me, as well as Morgan Taylor from Gustafer Yellowgold on acoustic guitar. It was a magical experience for me, one I’ll never forget. Thank you John.

Looking forward to some more shows in 2012, a song to represent a book and a song on an album about girls and science… here I go!

My diaphragm was well supported, and I loved singing again, especially the new song that I wrote just last week – the first in four years. It felt great to be singing something fresh and meaningful. The food at Gabriel’s Café was amazing – a new discovery for us!

I’m inspired again to continue to create music.

I’m very proud to announce that I’ve been able to put together an album of live studio recordings gathered over the last several years, while I’ve been busy with Harvey Valentine and Gustafer Yellowgold (and now the as yet to arrive, but due within weeks, or possibly days… new baby) – COLORS.

These songs mean a lot to me.

Click the image above to purchase the album at CDBABY.

I’m already a mother, but I’m quickly becoming a “double mother”. Being a double person makes it even harder to be “creative” – although I still think creatively, I think!?

I’ve had a crazy summer, with a lot of traveling and a lot of Gustafer working – now I’m exhausted after a quick 2 week jaunt to North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois for a last spurt before we hibernate on the East Coast to prepare for the coming of the second in late December.

After all that, my body is finally communicating VERY clearly – with my eyes threatening to shut at any moment, and my body only comfortable when lying down – I need to give myself peace.

So this weekend I’ve been sitting outside in the warm fall sunshine, listening to crickets and birds, watching butterflies and dragon flies go by, enjoying Harvey at two and a half also enjoying being outside with no agenda other than just to be outside, listening to Morgan sitting next to me writing songs for the next Gustafer DVD (not the one that will be released next February, he’s already started on the one that we’ll release in spring of 2012!) Now Morgan has taken Harvey for a walk to tempt him to sleep for a bit, and I truly am at peace – and finally after 5 months of not having a second of free time, I can sit here and write a little bit, to remind myself, that although I am a mother, and a pending double mother, I’m also still myself.

We woke up all through the night, in a hotel room, with Harvey not feeling good and not able to relax enough to fall asleep – so we didn’t sleep either.

We were all tired and hungry, looking for the right place for breakfast, going the wrong way and having to turn around. Then a policeman walked out into the road in front of me and waved me to the side. Damn. My first speeding ticket ever.

The day turned around when we got to Jammin’ Java and had a great show, then were treated to lunch by the lovely Pickleberry Pie (bringing music into hospitals) people – Irene and Walter Light.

We had the whole afternoon free after lunch and decided that we’d take turns going to see the movie “Greenberg”. Morgan went first while I sat in the car with Harvey sleeping. I spent the precious two hours writing my home birth book – something I rarely have time to do, but desperately want to finish.

Morgan came out and told me the movie was great, that I would love it. So I went in and sat down with my popcorn, almost giggling with excitement that I was in a movie theater!

Unfortunately, Greenberg resonated very differently with me. Instead of it making me feel that my life was good compared to his (as Morgan had), I saw in it reminders of many of the experiences of unhappiness that I had had in my life, and how close all the messed up people in the film felt to me. It doesn’t feel that far away yet, and seeing a film touch on it all and force me to go there emotionally was not what I wanted to do in the rare opportunity I had to be taken on a journey. I wanted to have a happier escape. But it wasn’t meant to be.

But as it often does, the day turned around again once I was out of the theater and back with my family again. This was the journey I wanted to be on – reality today was far better to be in than anywhere else.

We went for dinner, chatted with an older couple who had lived all over Asia, and now lived here and had a Granddaughter a little older than Harvey. When we got back to the hotel, Harvey and I had a bath together and went to bed. This time he slept for long chunks of hours, so did we, then we all cuddled awake at 8.30am!! The day ended well.

We were driving from Oregon into California, headed for San Francisco, and needed to eat some food that was not made from wheat and cheese and and was not frozen and heated in a hotel microwave.

Morgan, at last, agreed to get Thai food – and we found this amazing place, owned by the mother (the chef) and daughter (the hostess) with her 11 month old son who was bigger than Harvey at almost twice his age… and talking parrots in the car park!

The food was delicious, and family was friendly. It’s another hidden gem that I’ll remember when we next drive up or down the west coast.