Tag Archives: singing

Happy St. Paddy’s Day

A good portion of my ancestors came over to the USA several years ago. I never met them but am certainly a product of them. I love Celtic music and scenery and accents and much more.

For fun, a few years ago, I posted my “made-up” Irish blessings. They are more like “My Blessings” and pure silliness. Some thought they were real – shows they didn’t really read them 😉

Enjoy!

“May the wee bairns of the loch be ever with you
and may the wee folk of the clover
never darken the doors of your emerald hut”

“May the cry of the banshee never drift across the waters
and darken the gates of your shamrock garden”

“May the potatoes of your field forever fill your bellies
and may your grains produce much stout”

“May the lucky stars and rainbow marshmallows
forever fall into your pot o’ gold each mornin'”

Let’s sing all our troubles away and enjoy this day! 

Cate B

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What Uma’s Do

It is now my summer time.  It actually started about two weeks ago.  The university is pretty quiet now and I don’t have my sweet grand girls five days a week.  I am still adjusting to the quiet and the freedom to stay in my pjs for hours.

The girls did come over for a few hours the other day.  Since the first one was born, Lucy, I sang to her.  She liked to fuss a lot with me and singing certain songs always worked to comfort her.  They still do at the age of four.  One song I sang to her was Sloop John B – I changed the words a little so I wasn’t giving her ideas to drink all night and get into a fight to: Singing all night – till it was nearly daylight.  It works.  Her other favorite is JJ Heller’s song, The Boat Song.  She both loved the song and the music video on youtube.

Penny, however, didn’t take to those songs.  Her comfort songs became How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, Jesus Loves Me, and Shake it Off by Taylor Swift.  She can watch that video over and over.  She travels to a different beat.

Since I took up the Ukulele a couple of years ago, I play their songs for them (except for shake it off – I do that a cappella).  Well, I must show you what Penny June did with my uke.  I normally don’t let them play it.  But I put her hands in position and off she went……. I am bragging, I have that right, I think she is a natural.

Drum roll please…….. Penny June singing and playing How Much is That Doggie in the Window……..

Enjoy!

cate b

Ukulele Fun

It’s been about six weeks since I picked up the ukulele for the first time.  I am so amazed how it makes me smile.  A simple four stringed instrument and some mediocre strumming and I’m happy.  So, I printed out several songs with the chords to learn …….. one is King of the Road of Roger Miller fame.  I have always loved that song.  I remember when he would sing it on the old black and white TV.  I learned the words quickly and have song it for the last, well, say several decades.  Never forgot it.

So on the ukulele I strum it and get a kick out of it …… old stogies I have found, short but not too big around…. Hahaha.

I hope you enjoy it as much or more than I do!  Someday – MAYBE – I will record myself on the uke………

http://youtu.be/OmOe27SJ3Yc

Enjoy!

cate b

Happiness is a Warm Ukulele

I love to write about things that make people happy.  That bring a smile and a hope and joy. I hope this makes you happy as it has me.

I have a ukulele!  I type that phrase with a big smile on my face.  I can play guitar and chords on a piano or keyboard.  I can play around on a Native American Flute.  I’m not considered an accomplished musician and I’m not excellent on any one thing.  I just love music and I love to try new things.  So recently I got it in my head that I wanted to play the ukulele.  It just looks and sounds like fun!

So, while on a family vacation last month I picked one up from a local music store.  It was a gift.  I held it and walked out of there with a smile on my face very much like a child holding a bag of candy sticks from the local General Store.  I scored big time I thought.

I took it back to the house and googled what strings they were.  I had no idea.  I searched my iPhone for a ukulele tuner and chord chart.  Found one for free.  I tuned it and I played The Boat Song by JJ Heller and Sloop John B.  Such fun.

Now I pick it up when I sit on the couch and just strum and sometimes sing along.  It is a very happy instrument.  It does wonder for me when I get down.

So glad that a little instrument with just four little strings can bring such a contentment to a troubled soul.

IMG_3429 I’m not ready to video tape me singing along.  In time.

Find your little instrument in life to bring peace to your soul and happiness to your life.  We all get those dark times.  For some it will be music for some art work.  For some gardening.  But do it.  It is healthy and the outcome is great.

 

 

 

ukulele moon Next goal is to learn to play Over The Rainbow – Iz style.

http://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

cate b