DulcetDreams

I recently dug into my archives and pulled out SPRING COLOR, the title song to my 1993 recording project, dusted it off so I could upload it to this post.  Click HERE to hear the song SPRING COLOR  for some easy listening or just read the lyrics below.  (Back when it was recorded, I only duplicated it on cassette tapes.  Recently my friend Andy converted it to an mp3 and emailed it to me!)

When I began to conjure up lyrics for this song, I remember walking along a dirt path at the edge of a farmer’s field in Spring Time beneath the magnificent sky that stretches between both sets of mountains that surround the Treasure Valley.  Today as I meander near the Boise Train Depot overlooking the city I notice that last week’s snow still clings to the mountains, but the parks are greening up and the tree buds are ready to sprout open.  The breeze is nearly a soft 70 degrees as if Mother Nature has finally given us an overdue benediction of Spring, even though the first official day of the new season was almost a month ago.  Of course, the forecast could change at a day’s notice and be 54 and rain again.  Oh well, as the saying goes, “April Showers bring May Flowers”.  Regardless, the promise of more days like this one hovers in the air – accompanied by bird song and the flutter of wings – and the anticipation crescendos (i.e. increases steadily)! 

Last week on FaceBook both my cousins, Scott and Bruce, were trying to decide whether they could finally put away the snow shovels and tire chains!   Since they live in New Hampshire, my thought is as soon as they store the winter tools in the garage, attic or shed, a Northeaster will blow through in May and they’ll just have to dig ‘em out again.  BUT if they are kept in plain sight where everyone can trip over them, this will ensure the uninterrupted continuance of Spring at least till June!   For Summer Time they may get away with pushing them over to the side of the garage or shed, but then again, the trunk of the car till next Winter is better yet!  

This photograph was taken by my husband’s cousins, Tracy + Charles Hoffman!  THIS is the color of green I refer to in my song!  Click HERE to go to their website and gallery! 

SPRING COLOR LYRICS  (The alto harmony is sung by the lovely Marla Blaser. Produced by Ian Townend

April Colors / Early March  

Tell me what the chances are

that my April flowers bloom and star

with Spring color / how I love Spring color

Rather risky this early Spring

causing my heart and the birds to sing

or will Winter wind come claim everything with his icy fingers

and steal away Spring Color

Have you ever seen pristine virgin green

The color of my dreams – Spring Color

Purist angel white like blossoms in moonlight

Oh, the perfect sight – Spring Color

If I could paint my innermost dreams

I’d have to start with the color of green

of the leaves on the trees at the earliest sight of Spring

I have a fancy that hope would be white

somewhat like the glow of warm candlelight

Angels in flight – you almost see them – not quite

Hopes and dreams are painted in Spring Color

Crystal clear in vision I become

I have come from underneath Winter’s frozen cover

In fertile soil, cleansing rain and sun

Purple rain clouds / Rich brown earth

Shades of yellow proclaim rebirth

Second chances just like the first

There’s reassurance in the appearing of Spring Color

Crystal clear rebirthing of my dreams

NancyKellyMusic Ó 1993

LYRICS: 

Chorus:  Your Mother and my Mother / Their bond is the bond between us 

Your Mother and my Mother / Their bond is the story of our lives

Two young girls on a sailing ship / Dutch ships don’t sink, Daddy said 

I’ll take you to America where my family lives

Nothing left for us here, nothing now that your Mama’s gone

We will have to leave Algiers if we’re to carry on     Repeat Chorus.

Two little French-speaking girls made their way in a brand new world

Learning rules at the Catholic school and later at COE Brown

Summer swim in the Northwood Lake / Winter skimmin it with ice skates

Their childhood was a happy one cuz of Grandpa and their friends   Repeat Chorus.

Bridge:  Could there be relatives in Marsailles? 

Maybe we’ll have to investigate someday - what do ya say?   Repeat Chorus 

NancyKellyMusic Ó 2009

Today is my Aunt Huguette’s birthday so I wanted to commemorate her life by blogging a song that I wrote on my dulcimer for my cousins concerning our mothers.  My mother Suzanne is Huey’s younger and only sibling.  The song speaks of their daddy, Colonel Melvin Wesley Rowell, bringing them over to America on a Dutch ship when they were very young, after their mother had passed away.  Till then they had lived in Algiers, Algiera where Grandpa Rowell was doing some consulting work for an oil company and had met and married their mother, a stage actress who was originally from France.  More on their story later as I update this post.

In December my mama and I flew out to New Hampshire to say goodbye to Aunt Huey since her health had taken a severe decline.  We were able to visit with her 2 days in a row, but the next day she passed away.  We were so thankful that we had a chance to visit and that these two sisters could connect before Huey’s spirit took flight to a place beyond our reach.  My mom will always know that she was able to give her sister a final hug and kiss and that Huey was able to see her one last time as well. 

Also, the trip was very special because we spent quality time with 4 of Huey’s boys (my cousins Gary, Scott, Bruce and David) and their families!   We were all mutually grateful that we could be together during this time of loss. 

Happy Birthday dear Aunt Huey! We are missing you!

March greetings everyone!  (now that March is almost over!)  Just letting you know that I’ve posted a short instructional video for whoever needs or wants help in navigating my BLOG-A-SONG category here on Dulcet Dreams.  It’s over in my navigation bar to the right, the 2nd item under Pages called Blog-A-Song Instruction Video.  Or you can just click here and you’ll be wisked over there right away! 

Along the way in the journey of motherhood (and fatherhood), there are forks in the road where you practice letting go of your child.  It actually starts early on when you leave your baby with Grandma and later with an unrelated babysitter.  Or you entrust your toddler to the nursery at church and then a few years later to the kindergarten teacher.  Before you know it you are watching nervously from the window as your teenager backs out of the driveway to drive alone to school for the first time!  Eventually you are helping the high school graduate pack the vehicles full of belongings to a destination you have mixed feeling about - that first apartment across town or the college dorm in another city - knowing all along this moment would come — you just didn’t think it’d be quite so soon.  You also know in your heart that the butterfly wings were created for a reason and to hold the child back would ultimately hinder a healthy flight. 

Fortunate for us (parents), letting go doesn’t happen all at once, but gradually and naturally, unfolding like a flower that blooms. 

This is a song that captures moments of Ashley when she was a little girl growing up in our house.  It didn’t surprise us that she, true to her butterfly nature, decided to test her wings early after graduating from high school.  Amazing to take these pictures of her in her 2008 Halloween get-up which was, of course, a butterfly with wings! 

OUR GIRL 

Everywhere are signs of her / smudges on the door

Laughter down the hallway you can’t ignore

Oh, the life and joy of her! / couldn’t ask for more

C: SHE’S OUR GIRL / OUR ONLY GIRL / SHE’S OUR GIRL

Hanging in her closet are dresses, jeans and lace

Everywhere are signs you see that she lives in this place

And everytime she looks at you life slows down a pace

And we’re all so blessed to know her / she’s our Angel Face

C: SHE’S OUR GIRL / OUR ONLY GIRL / SHE’S OUR GIRL

B: Like an open window with summer wafting through

Birdsong sweet - a Butterfly - that joy we know as you

If we tried to bottle you up - like a firefly in a jar

Your light would fade, wobble and stop so you wouldn’t fly as far

NancyKellyMusic c 1999 

My introduction to Motherhood  began on February 6, 1981 with the birth of our son, Benjamin Eugene Kelly.  I was 23 years old and ready to begin this life called My Own Little Family.  When I wrote the song, A Child Is Born,  in 1988 about becoming a mother, I referred to those feelings of aloneness in it, (yet not quite as negative as that may sound) - which were very raw in me in 1981, especially since it was my first experience of having a baby.  The previous year or so had been leading up to this event - I had conceived and lost an embryo at 8 weeks but subsequently conceived a child afterwards who gestated to full term.  This was the life that was to become our son.  Giving birth to Benjamin was an awesome, miraculous, yet somewhat frightening, event - frightening only because this was brand new territory for me.  Like every new mother before me, I had never been this way before! 

When the time came for Ben’s birth, he ended up positioned in the womb defined as Posterier, so consequently, he didn’t emerge too easily.  In fact, I pushed for about 3 hours before we prepped for a C-section.  We had prepared for natural childbirth (with the fervency of fanatics!) so were adament about bringing our son into the world with no medication, let alone surgery!  It was quite a blow to our perfect plan to finally relent to what became inevitable.  But alas, Ben somehow dislodged at the last minute so the surgery become unecessary afterall!  Triumphant and exhausted, and probably delirious, I still remember laying eyes on him for the first time.  It was like a dream to see our son, so exquisitely beautiful and handsome all in one, and I felt like the only mother in the entire world.  His coloring was radiant and his little lungs resonated gustily, notifying the delivery floor and beyond that he had arrived!  His Grandpa Eldon has described Benjamin as never having an ugly day in his life!  We tend to agree with his slightly exagerated assessment. a little biased.  But beyond the outer layer, Ben is a discerning and thoughtful person with gifts of wisdom and kindness.  As a mother, I could go on and on. . . 

When Ben was a one-year old, I was inspired to write a song about his crawling days right before he learned to walk. He was a typically energetic and busy little boy and had recently discovered the pots and pans cupboard.  You can imagine the drumming that went on in the kitchen!  I can’t recall if we thought of it as music to our ears. . .  At any rate, the title has always been the first phrase of the song, Benjamin, Our Boy.

Benjamin, our, boy

Your life is like the morning son arising

And we wonder what you will become

Benjamin, our son

Right now we love to watch you play

Your joy and laughter fill our hearts, our home

And we think about the years to come

Benjamin, our son

Right now, you play away the hours of the day

Curious of mind, you like to try and find things

You peek around the corner and then you go explore

Every cupboard, every door, and everything behind things

Benjamin, our joy

Your life, like the sun, will rise to defy the darkness

And we love you, Precious Little Boy

And we'll love you as you grow

But right now, you play away the hours of the day

Curious of mind, you like to try and find things

You peek around the corner and then you go explore

Every cupboard, every door, and everything behind things

And we love you, Precious Little Boy and we'll love you as you grow
Lei, di, da di, lei, di da di da di di
We just thought you would like to know
NancyKellyMusic C 1982
We’ve just celebrated Ben’s 28th birthday!!

THE VIDEO TO THIS SONG IS AFTER THE TEXT and BEFORE THE BABY PICS!

Our family is in the midst of celebrating our daughter’s 21st Birthday, which is today.  I say ‘in the midst’ because the nature of this particular birthday entails much more than 1 day.  It will be a series of events that we, as parents, will be given vague details yet may find them revealed later on MySpace!  Well, maybe not, now that Ashley is getting older. 

Anyhoo, the Collective We shake our heads in wonder how 21 years flew past us so quickly.  It didn’t feel like it was flying, at least not most of the time.  It’s only in retrospect we view it as a blink of an eye.  Life is funny that way.  I reluctantly admit that I now know why those annoying strangers in grocery stores felt compelled to tell me that my baby would grow up before I knew it.   I used to HATE that because I was in that amazing personal bubble of enjoying those precious moments and didn’t want to be reminded that it would ever end, especially before I even had a chance to savor the sweet gift of time with my children. (Note to Self:  Try to refrain from informing new parents their babies will be adults after cooing sincerely over their cuteness.)

21 years ago we experienced Ashley’s entrance onto the planet, our second child.  It was her first necessary, painful transition into life as we know it.  We had good company though, attended by her daddy, her big brother Benjamin, who was all of 7 at the time, our sister-in-law Linda, who was also born on January 15th, and our parents who took Benjamin in and out of the room helping him pass the time, going through a necessary transition of his own.  Then of course there was the cluster of nurses and our doctor, Gerald Carlson, of the Family Birthing Center.  We had planned to have our birth there but ended up unexpectedly across the street at Mercy Medical Center as Ashley turned out to be a breech baby.  We tried to birth naturally even so, but after 10 hours of labor, followed by an hour of pushing, we agreed to a C-Section at the wise urging of Dr. Carlson.  We were grateful we had insurance, grateful for a caring staff, and grateful for modern medicine in our time of need!  Most grateful, though, for a healthy 7.5 lb newborn, complete with all 10 fingers, toes, and everything else one needs to survive in a world such as ours. 

Both our children were winter babies.  (Ben, born in February, is a story for another time!)  After Ashley was born, I surprisingly penned a song about becoming a mother, drawing from both miraculous occasions.  Believe it or not, Inspiration came calling, an unexpected night visitor, deep in the evening of Ashley’s birth.  Stan, Ben and the other family members had gone home and I was awake-probably from the euphoria of giving birth to such a beautiful little angel.  An 18.5 inch papoose, Ashley burrowed snugly into my side, only a few inches from her previous 9-month home, and was a comfort to me from the very beginning. 

The window curtains were left open and snow was falling - big fat flakes - the kind we like to catch in mittened hands.  There was a peaceful hush in the room - one of those spaces of time that give you pause, like a presence you all of a sudden notice.  I realized then that Inspiration hovered near bearing a gift, waiting for me to partake as I took everything around me in.  All that gratitude, wonder and awe, with a tad of trepidation about nurture and care for another life, mingled together mulling around inside my heart–I guess it had to spill out somewhere!  Words poured forth as I managed to scratch them down on the back of an envelope before I lost them to sleep or to the unfortunate reappearing of an unbidden night nurse (who would unknowingly break the wonderful spell). 

So, a song was born on January 15th 1988, too, about becoming a mother and having a daughter and a son; how solitary yet joyful it all felt.  It’s about the beginning of our children’s lives, a journey I’ve never once regretted and will forever count as the privilege and blessing of being their mother. 

Here’s a vid of an acoustic piano version - I’ll be uploading a version with my keyboard soon since my flip isn’t recording my piano too well.  we learn as we go right? Oh, the lyrics are below the baby pics!

A Child Is

Born

Snow is falling down and all is silent

Everyone in town is fast asleep

Not far away a mother starts a journey

to a place and time love will always be

At first she’s counting minutes and then hours

Feeling things she never knew she could feel

She wonders if the pain she feels is ever going to end

as she ponders if the journey’s even real

Even though untold millions have tread this path before

To her this road is newly made just for her

No one can walk it for her though companions hold her hand

No one else can become a mother for her

At last it’s time when mother ceases labor

Life is born yet not without a fight

Giving Birth is such a violent way to start a life

But a peaceful day follows the stormy night

A child has struggled through its first transition

Both mother and the child have paid a price

Attended by those who can best support them

All share the joy of hearing that first cry

This is the beginning of a journey life-time long

The first measure of one eternal song

They’ll always be together yet their lives remain their own

As a mother takes her child safely home

Snow is falling down and all is silent

Everyone in town is fast asleep (how could they be?)

Not far away a mother and her baby

share a place and time where love will always be

On a gentle winter night a child is born

A gentle winter night a family formed

On a gentle winter night a child is born

NancyKellyMusic © 1992 / Penned January 15, 1988

Recently I wrote a Christmas song (on my dulcimer) inspired by my wooden star ornament that I had purchased at a craft fair years back.  I’ve always identified with the saying “We can’t all be shining stars but we can twinkle a little” feeling that it describes my music perfectly!  It’s tempting at times to throw in the towel when you see and hear the AMAZING talents of others, not to mention the great big music business machine out there that can cause an indie artist like myself to feel rather small and insignificant. 

But when I’m reminded by my little wooden star ornament to think about it, I remember that we’ve all been given a bit of light to shine that’s all our own.  Just because there are others who are more brilliant and far reaching than I am doesn’t mean I shouldn’t shine with everything that I’ve got.  Each of us, as we begin to grasp our significance, can add our light to the vast starry night host which creates healing light that can dispell the darkness. 

So, if you are reading this and feeling somewhat small as if you don’t matter much, remember to let your light shine, with the light you’ve been given.  It’ll make you happy, fulfilled, and will protect the hope stirring within you.  And just as important, it may help those around you that you shine upon in the process!  This way everyone wins! 

Stay tuned for an mp3 or youtube of this song when it’s practiced up enough to upload.  I’ll keep you posted!  Until then, Merry Christmas and may your light shine softly into the night.

Yes, I borrowed the name from the PBS Show so I hope they don’t mind. Hmmm they could use my chorus for their theme song if they wanted!! I’d deal!

 Click here for a listen!

This song is the first one written in our house in Boise.  I wrote it in May 2007.  It tells a bit of its story and sort of heralds the new life we enjoy living close to the city.  Since then I’ve written a few others that mention this great house like On The Porch, The Chicken Soup song of my last blog post, and a song for my brother who lived in this neighborhood years ago called Ring The Bell.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this first offering of a project that will enfold song by song.   I’ve started a photos page on my website to take snapshots of the journey; so click here: THE MIX HOUSE if you are interested in following.  I’ll be posting more here too though!  So stay tuned and to be continued for sure!

(LYRICS ARE POSTED BELOW AFTER THE SOUP RECIPE)

Last night I made a variation of my Chicken Rosemary Potato Bean Soup since it’s September.  Feeling in the domestic mood, I also made a half batch Nestle’s Toll House Cookies and refrigerated the remaining cookie dough for later.  It’s amazing what you find yourself in the mood for when you were supposed to go to the gym! 

 A few days later, Andy Stone,  my friend from England (the one who did the painting for my Christmas CD cover) left me a comment and suggested I write a song about it and I thought it was a great idea!  As you can see I’ve uploaded the song to YouTube and the lyrics are after the recipe below. 

Here’s the Recipe: 

1. Brown small chicken pieces, ground turkey, or lean turkey sausage (your choice) in large pot
2. Add 4-5 C stock and water mixed with rosemary, thyme, ground pepper, salt
3. In small pan sautee sliced mushrooms and diced onion then add to stock pot
4. In the small pan boil (in enough stock to cover) 3 small white potatoes cut in small cubes and 1 C mini carrots till semi soft
5. Add to stock with 1 can small white beans and 1 C lentils
6. Low boil to simmer 1/2 hour til lentils, potatoes & carrots are soft
7. Serve with a yummy bread like Pan Bigio   

Song Lyrics:

5:45 with evening descending –
The night before us pending
Glad for the wood pile Stan stacked by the house
Stoke the fire before it goes out

Potato Bean Soup simmers to hot
Throw in some chicken (since that’s what we’ve got)
Light the candle I just bought
Throw the spices now into the pot

CHORUS:  CHICKEN ROSEMARY POTATO BEAN SOUP ON THE STOVE
LET’S ADD THE LENTILS THAT BENJAMIN JUST BROUGHT HOME (from the road)
WHAT WOULD BE PERFECT IS SOME PAN BIGIO (warmed on a stone)
HALF AN HOUR AND WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO

Call up Ashley and tell her the soup’s on
Why don’t you bring Billy; stay as long as you want
Or if you can’t stay take some home for tomorrow
I’ll tuck in the recipe so you can follow

Repeat Chorus

End:  CHICKEN ROSEMARY POTATO BEAN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

© NancyKellyMusic 2009
Penned September 29, 2008   

Camping at Nehalem State Park, Oregon, July 2008

Manzanita Wind Instrumental played by Andy Stone

Stan and I recently took our yearly jaunt over to the Oregon Coast.  We like to tent camp at Nehalem Bay State Park (which has electricity and showers).  The camp ground is between Nehalem and Manzanita just about 30 minutes from Cannon Beach.  For some reason, lots of Boiseans stay at Lincoln City which has always perplexed us, but we are usually considered a bit odd so there you go. 

Our activities consist of eating seafood, walking on the beach (which for me includes writing in my journal and mulling over ocean song ideas), reading, sleeping, driving into town, eating salt water taffy and buttery soft carmels, and fresh local blueberries, drinking good coffee and so on.  After a week of this we drive back home wishing we could stay longer but grateful for the respite.

If you’d like to view the rest of the pics they are posted HERE.

Speaking of Ocean songs, I’ve written quite a few over the years - enough for a full record .  You can listen to a 15 year old version of Manzanita Wind HERE.  I do hope to record it again especially now that my voice has dropped in range and mellowed in tone.  My England friend Andy has been working on an instrumental version of the song you can listen to HERE if you missed the link at the top of this post.