Tag: songs

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

It’s That Time Again

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Today is Halloween in my part of the world.  It happens every year on the 31st of October.  I have mixed feelings on this day.  Some even call it a holiday now although I’ve always had to work at regular wages and we never got that day off.  But that’s OK, we all have things we love and that makes us – us.

The only things I don’t like about Halloween is that there has become an increase of blood and death and terror.  We had a house on the main road that set up a life- sized pentagram in their yard with a life sized human body on it…….scared the kids on the school bus each day as it passed by.  And when a co-worker of mine stopped by this house after his shift one year (they were relatives) he passed out and died in the front yard.  I’m not saying there was a connection – he did have a type of aneurism but one’s mind could wander and wonder.  They didn’t set it up the next year.

And now, since I’ve lived in the mid-west, I have managed to live on streets where absolutely no trick or treat -ers come by.  Where are they?  So I stopped buying candy a few years ago – I eat it all if no one comes.  It is kind of sad.

But I will watch some sifi show tonight or read a good book and crave Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  The rest of you – stay safe and have some pure innocent fun!

Here is a song that tends to creep me out!

Enjoy!

cate b

Meet Me

Life is full of many seasons.  This one, for me, is one of waiting – I hate waiting – who likes it?  But I have surrendered to the waiting because waiting means there is preparation going on.  Things need to fall into place to bring forth our desires and dreams.  So waiting is good.  If we could just jump instantly into the things of life it could be disastrous if it’s not ready to take flight.  So I say, “Wait”.  I want it to be right.

So, on that mysterious note…… I am fine.  All is well and good and better things are in the making.  I just cannot get into blogging lately.  Wait – I just did blog.

Here is a song from one of my favorite bands, Over the Rhine.  They make the waiting wonderful.

Enjoy!

cate b

overtherhine.com

Chocolate Cheerios and Jason Mraz

Being a grandparent is amazing.  I never knew I could love so much.  Having the four children I gave birth to was pretty amazing also.  Each one was a bundle of unique personality that I just adored.  I still do.  But a grandchild……. a whole different ballgame.

You hold them for the first time and look deep into their eyes and wonder ….. who do they look like?  There’s a bit of everyone wrapped up into this little human.  They change almost daily in their looks and their personalities unfold just as fast.  I was blessed to be in the birthing room for our third grandson’s birth.  When he cried and cried laying there on the table waiting to be measured and cleaned up I went over to him and said, “It’s OK.  I’m here”, exactly as I would tell him when he was in his mother’s womb.  I did that two times after his birth and both times he stopped crying.  He knew me.

Our fourth grand child is the first girl grand child.  She is two years old now.  I talked to her in the womb also thinking I would have the same rapport.  No.  She cried for me for the first six months of her life as I cared for her a few hours each day.  I tried not to take it personally.  Then one day she came over and smiled and loved me.  It is an awesome feeling.  Now, she sings with me and plays with me and snuggles and argues.

girl-singing-10390228She tends to prefer songs with a good beat to bop up and down to.  She know what she wants.  Jason Mraz is a favorite of hers.

She spent the night the other day.  When I entered her room here is what took place:

Me: “Good Morning. Lovely.”

L:  “I have Cheerios?  Chocolate?”

I girl after my heart…… cheerios that are chocolate.  Of course I said yes.  My kids never ate cereal like that – but nothing is too good for my grandchildren.

product_detail_chocolate_a

We now wait excitedly for another grand daughter who will arrive in October!  Who is she?  Will she look like me?

What will be her favorite treat from Mammy and Papa?

Love your family and friends – they are priceless.  There is much to be learned about life through our families and friendships.  There is much to be learned about ourselves.  I love that.  I love them.

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

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