"The Elephant Diet" Day 126 Sneaky Zucchini

Anyone who grows zucchini knows that it can very quickly sneak up on you and grow to elephant size proportions!  Yes, I have grown a zuc that could feed an elephant.  I try to check my plants every few days to avoid an infestation, but obviously I am losing the battle.  I now have a 'baseball bat' factory in my back yard.  (I saw a recipe that called for zucchini and encouraged us to NOT let them get to be the size of a baseball bat.)  Too late for me.  I sense yet another batch of zucchini somethings-or-other coming up.  Zucchini milkshakes???

I have very little time left to focus on my vocals for my Christmas CD.  Next week I head to TN to finish them and I don't feel ready.  Somehow it has snuck up on me.  Not that I haven't been watchful and trying to fit in rehearsals, but after 15 gigs in July, Dr. appointments with my mother, a recent death in my husband's family and yes - raising and consuming giant zucchini, I think it has snuck up on me.

Today I am focusing on the final song we need to record called "you with me" (my favorite on this album).

I have marked on my lyrics sheet where we need to put background vocals.  After texting my vocal producer, Phil, I found out that he would like me to have a sense of what I will be adding to all the other songs when I come.  He will then give ideas as we work.  So, I need to go back to the other songs and decide where I want background voices.

Tomorrow we head to North Carolina to mourn with my husband's brother who lost his wife last week to cancer.  I will be singing "You Raise Me Up" at the funeral.  I hope I can make it through the song,  otherwise, it will be a piano solo.  I have never handled funerals real well and have considered telling people that I just don't sing at funerals.  It's so hard to sing with big lumps in your throat and pain in your heart.  But I will try to focus on the words and the strength that it will hopefully provide to the family.

For now, I must get back to finishing these Christmas tunes.

This has crept up on me.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 125 The Mountain (A special announcement)

It was cold and windy, but incredibly beautiful.

It was April in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and I was there to do music for a women's conference, but in my spare time, I went for hikes.

As I was walking, a blog began to form in my mind.  I started taking pictures and video with my iPad and writing this blog in my imagination (it wasn't real handy to hike with an ipad, but I'm so glad I did).  It's a perfect way to make a special announcement.

Click here to view video on youtube.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 124 A Dog's Life

I was finally able to accomplish a very big item on my Christmas 'to do' list this morning!  I sorted through 556 pictures from my photo shoot in June and chose my favorites.  I have picked 30.

My producer and photographer will have to narrow it down from there.  Good luck guys.

What does this have to do with a dog's life?

Well - there is one special pup in Nashville, TN who gets to go on photo shoots all day long with his master.  His name is Ezio and he lives up to his name.  He was 'easy' to have around.

I doubt he'll make the CD cover, but he etched his way into my heart immediately.

Tomorrow is Day # 125 on this journey and I have a very special announcement planned.  Stay tuned!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 123 Broadway or Pop?

Yesterday my producer asked me to send him a 'scratch vocal' of the latest song to be completed for the project.  It is the last song waiting to have the lead vocal done when I return in August to finish all the vocals.  Eager to work on it, I spent most of the afternoon yesterday recording my vocal ideas for the song and excitedly sent it over to him waiting for his reply.

This morning I got an email from him telling me it sounds too much like Broadway and he wants me to do it in 'pop' style.

Now I must confess, I appreciate the feedback - that's why I have a producer in the first place.  But, I grew up on classical music, never even saw "The Sound of Music" until I was in my late teens and that was at my Aunt's house in Oklahoma - far away from the watchful eye of my parents.  (Have I ever mentioned that we weren't allowed to see movies in the theaters either?).

I just haven't had exposure to music that many musicians typically have (except what was allowed in our house and it was a very short playlist, believe me).  I've spent many years just trying to catch up with musical styles, let alone learn the new ones that keep coming and still trying to settle in on who I am as an artist.  Not an easy task!!!!

I simply responded back to him by telling him that I will need help knowing what he means and what that sounds like when I record the vocal.  I'm sure Phil can help me with that.  It left me feeling a bit frustrated because I really like what I did and since I'm not sure what style it is, I don't know quite how to make it sound like something different.

Broadway or Pop.......another musical lesson I need to learn.

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 122 The Jitters

I have the jitters.  Bells are ringing and I'm about to make a life-long commitment to my Christmas CD. I received the final two songs in my mail box this morning.  Christmas bells are ringing and I'm excited....with jitters.

I remember when Tom and I got the jitters before we got married.  I think it's probably normal.  You realize you're making a life-long commitment to someone.

As I now realize that the songs are pretty much completed instrumentally, that means we are nearing the marriage date of vocals, instruments, back up vocals and photo shoots.  It will be a glorious snapshot of my creative ideas I've had for years.  Oh yes, the music will still evolve and change when I do it in front of live audiences, but the printed CD will become final and that gives me the jitters.

That's ok.  It's all part of the process.  Can you hear the bells??

# 22 Chris Fabry Live interview

Hear an interview with Moody Radio Host Chris Fabry from 2009.  Get a glimpse into writing songs for children - something I have really enjoyed doing as an artist and how it inspired me to keep going.

Check out this episode!

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 121 Take Another Look

This morning my 'in-box' contained another Christmas song.   Oh boy!!!!

"Take Another Look" has now gone from solo piano to oboe, harp, strings, cymbals and I think I even hear some synth in there.  It's absolutely beautiful!  The lead vocals are already done so now we can put it all together. 

The song is all about giving things another chance.  Don't make judgements based on one look alone.  Take another look.  Stop and ponder.

Yesterday I did this with my Mother.  I finally had a day to give to her and it was a great day.  We went for a long walk (long for her) and visited the gardens at the home where she is a resident.

Gardening used to be so therapeutic for her.  Now she's not even allowed to go outside to walk (unless I go with her.) Medicare rules I guess.  (Not that she always listens).

We sat and pondered the garden for a long time and talked about days gone by when she would make me special breakfast foods fresh from the garden. 

It was good for both of us to stop and take another look.

After a long stay at the eye Dr.'s office for another eye injection, we stopped and had lunch together.  THIS was our dessert. 

Go ahead.....Take Another Look!!!