Blue Yonder

If You're Gonna Play In Texas

"... you gotta have a fiddle in the band..."

My oldest has been looking on, watching James and I feel our way around our guitars for some time now. He's been playing the piano for a while, but has had a longing of another sort... to fiddle, just like his great grandpa did.

With his birthday coming, we'd been scouring Craig's List to find one that was affordable and in good condition. When I found a 1/2 size for a song, I jumped, and then asked around James' guitar class for a good teacher.

Well, the teacher turned out to be phenomenal. We had our first lesson today, and loved her on the spot. The fiddle... not so much. It's TWO sizes too big!

Oh well, considering the good deal that we got, and the rate at which this boy grows, it won't be long before it's a good fit. Until then, he's renting an itty bitty one, and Daddy and I get to mess around on the 1/2 size.

Did you catch that? A boy on guitar, a boy on the fiddle, a mama on guitar, and Daddy on a fiddle, plus a wee man banging on the piano....

And not a one of us can actually play!

A joyful noise, that's what we'll call it. I think we might be handing out ear plugs at the door for a while!

Here's to the music that will be :-)

Oh, and p.s. If you're like me, and always wanted to play guitar, but lack the time or funds to take lessons of your own, check out this site. It's wonderful!

Saturday Is...

Waking up to the sound of rain on the roof.

Snuggling under the covers to watch the rain drops fall.

Belgian waffles with strawberries and cream on top.

Wearing pajamas well into the afternoon.

A little mama/boy jam session.

A little observational drawing.

Seeds sprouting in the windowsill, lifting their little heads to look out and survey the patch of earth that will soon be their home.

His favorite story read three times in a row (such a patient Daddy!).

Our latest favorite song played again and again, cuz it fits today just right.

"We have all we need, and all we need is enough."

Yep, just right.

Like Peaches and Cream

Of all the perfect pairs, I'm gonna have to say this one ranks right up there with peanut butter and jelly, peaches and cream, a biggo steak and a twice baked potato. Yes, my metaphors are all food related and that is because James and his guitar are, well, delicious together.

Do you remember, as a kid, when you got new shoes? You were so excited that you had to immediately shed your old pair and wear those shiny new lovlies out of the store, right?

It was like that.

We had to drive to within spitting distance of the Yucatan Peninsula to find the right size guitar for him. Of course, I timed it all wrong too, so we doubled our drive time on the way home by being stuck in rush hour traffic.

Not that he noticed. He was too busy giving a back seat performance. This, after saying, "Mama, please can I get it out of the case? Please? I just can't BEAR to wait until we get home."

I don't know where he gets that dramatic streak.

We had a little blues on the green out in the backyard.

Then, while I made dinner (okay, that's an over-dramatization. I poured cereal in bowls and heated a nasty frozen pizza), he and his brothers formed a band. Luke on piano, Ryder on rhythm (homemade rainstick) and, of course, James on lead guitar. They did a rockin' rendition of "Old MacDonald". There was head bobbing and foot tapping and everything.

The lessons begin on Monday, if my boy doesn't explode with glee first.

It is just so much fun to watch their journeys and dreams unfold.

His Latin Roots

This boy of mine marches to the beat of a different drummer. He's got his own groove. He hears his own song, both in the metaphoric sense, and in literal terms.

This kid LOVES all things musical. It can be John Denver or Jimmy Hendrix, all he asks is that it's "louder Mama, turn it up LOUDER!"

Wanna know what he wanted for his third birthday?

A "Gun tar" as it were. He played with it, slept with it, drug it everywhere, until it went the way of all toy guitars.

Since it's untimely demise, he has asked, with regularity, "Mama when can I get a real one? Not a toy one, a REAL guitar, for REALLY playing?" He's midway between 5 and 6 now, and still, it's all about the guitar.

He waits all week for World Music Night on our local radio station. He professes that flamenco (or "flamingo" as he calls it") is maybe his favorite kind of music. Maybe though, it's "rock". So "I'm gonna need two guitars, Mama. A 'lectric one, and a 'coo stick one."

He pushes "replay" on this, about a half million times a day.

It's funny really because you'd swear, if you saw us together that this was not my child. I'm darkish, dark skin, dark hair, brown eyes. He's glow in the dark pale, freckles over his nose, blue eyed and blonde. Deep down though, my boy has his Mama's Latin roots. He's got little fingers that are just itchin' to pick out a world beat.

... and I've a delicious little secret. His day is coming. It is right around the bend...

More to come :-)