Fragmented Heart Day

Happy Heart Day! My heart is not broken but it is fragmented today, just for blogging purposes.  On this cold, snowy February day, I've taken off my winter gloves long enough to type out a few Friday Fragments.

Let's see what's buried under all this snow.

This is what the backyard looks like with a dusting...

This picture was taken some time ago, at least 3 snowstorms ago, because we haven't seen that green stuff covering the ground for weeks now. In case you have forgotten, it is called grass.

This is what the backyard looks like now, with a dumping...

I have no comment on the current snow situation. Wait. Yes I do actually have a comment. Enough already.

We even have snow inside. There are actually two-foot drifts IN our screened in porch.

We had just gotten the mess cleaned up from the ice storm last week.

I don't remember moving to Vermont. Enough already.

I do remember how smart my two sons are though. They both have excellent grades. We celebrated this week at the middle school honor roll ceremony. Leonardo stopped by after to say hello, give me his certificate for safe keeping and let me snap a shot of him. He looks a bit proud (or maybe that's middle school embarrassment) and he should be. Proud not embarrassed. These kids work hard to get good grades. Good job!

I will say that I saw something that was very disappointing at the honor roll ceremony. Afterwards, there were several of these certificates in the trash. Kids had thrown these away before they even left the cafetorium. I know it's just a piece of paper but seeing them in the trash immediately signaled to me that those kids don't value their education...or maybe their parents don't. Or maybe the parents do but the kids don't value their parents' opinion. Either way, that is very sad to me.

So again, Happy Heart Day! I will be teaching yoga tonight at Sol in New Market and it will be a love-centered, heart-opening practice. Join me! Bring your special someone! I might have chocolate!

Hope your day is filled with love!

Live from Bo's House

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. - Plato

We live by this moral law. Music fills our souls, sends our minds soaring, brings wonder and happiness to the every day in life. And music filled our house Saturday night. We hosted another house concert. Two years have passed since our last house concert and a few things have happened since then. And when lots of things happen around here, songs get written. 

This Bo Weevil house concert highlighted the songs that have been written and recorded in the last two years. Songs from Holding Hands with Grace (May 2013) and recently completed 86Vox (December 2013)  were showcased.

Bo also previewed of a few new songs not yet recorded.  Between numbers, Bo shared stories about the songs' inspiration or anecdotes about his musical roots.

Grandfather Ira Scott with harmonica in hand and Bo

Father Thomas Scott late 1950s

He even shared a few vintage photos of his previous life when his hair was long and his guitar was electric. Someone at the concert pointed out how the 90s looked very much like the 60s in this photo. They might have felt like the 60s some times too.

circa 1992 ...Bo is on the right

House concerts are such an enjoyable, comfortable way to hear live music. They are the NetFlix of music. I mean that in the best possible way. The way NetFlix has changed our movie watching habits, house concerts have changed my view on seeing live music. I still like to go out to shows, but when you can get live music in a comfortable setting, who would say no? Shows like Daryl's House have only made going to traditional venues for music less appealing by offering the feel of a live performance in a super laid back setting that you can watch from your couch.

Live music in a venue is a totally different experience than a small intimate house concert. I can appreciate both. But I am spoiled now by having experienced house concerts. House concerts offer the best of what you want in a live music experience...great seats, great acoustics, beverage service, intimate atmosphere with the performers...without all the negatives of a public live performance... parking hassles, riffraff seated around you, exorbitant ticket prices.

But no doubt that the best part of a house concert is the people you share the evening with. In between sets, family and friends mingle, talk, laugh and share precious time together, appreciating the charm and gaiety that the moral law of music demands.