boys hike

700 year old tree

photo by Shawn

We walk through magical places with friends.  The photos serve as a reminder -- they bring us back, because the experience quickly fades to a memory.

a new sky song

Skylar's new album has been released.  She worked very hard on this.  She wrote all of the songs, sang lead vocals and all of her harmonies, and played all of the instruments.  Then she recorded the entire album and mixed it to boot. We sent it to LA to have it mastered.

Sky, I am so proud of you.  The songs are amazing.  (There are seven).

The first song is titled, "Too Wonderful To Be Here."  Skylar wrote this one a while ago, when she was thirteen.  Click here to listen.

corner view ~ out & about

Today my friend Kapua and I took Shawn with some boys to a native forest preserve that few have entered.  We drove way up into the clouds where everything was cold and crisp and wet.  Kapua and our guide did a native chant before we entered the preserve.  We hiked for three miles, breaking for a picnic in the misty rain.  We saw trees that were 700 years old, and learned all about plants and birds that only exist in this forest, in all of the world.  We saw a flowering plant that is close to extinction, and I was happy to see that people have planted more of it, to try to keep it on the planet.  We looked for birds with binoculars, the boys all took photos with disposable cameras, and we sampled wild berries and tender fern shoots.

We had a great time.

shawn's birthday bash

So much fun.  So many kids.  Over twenty!  Swimming, trampoline, swingball, dinner, and dirt cake.  A million gifts to open.  A happy day, all around.

circling the world/giveaway

back cover of "No Turning Back" designed by Gary and Sky

Here is the final song to share with you from Gary's new album.  This song, "Circling the World" is described by Gary as "about our inner search to find faith in love."

My interpretation -- This could be romantic love, or Divine love.  I like to think of it as both.

The first line is, "Every mind, circles a world, tries to find the sun it left behind."

That has been my task in the last year since I began my daily meditation.  A beautiful challenge, one that I have to recommit to daily.  It's easy to leave the sun behind.  But it's always there.  We just sometimes forget.

A giveaway of the CD "No Turning Back" is happening this week on Facebook. Click here and like Gary's page to play along!

corner view~flowers

I walked around our property today and snapped this shot of red ginger, a flower I am going to plant more of very soon.  I think it is smiling and happy to be living here with us.

This variety of ginger is a magestic plant that thrives in our conditions.  We are working to get our irrigation system providing ample water for our plants, so when we leave town they will be happy.  It seems we are succeeding.

right reasons

About Gary's song "Right Reasons at the Time," he said, "I got back into Bob Marley for a while and re-listened to 'Three Little Birds.'  He sings 'Don't you worry 'bout a thing.  'Cause everything little thing gonna be all right.'  But we can't always be on the same emotional level as the high priests in this world. This song is about what happens when we ignore the message of the three birds at our door step."

what's up over here

It's Saturday and baseball season is over.  Shawn's team came in second place with seven wins and five losses.  They lost last night, but they weren't playing full guns...because they had secured second place no matter who won, the coaches from both sides decided to not play their strong pitchers and not steal home ever.  This allowed all of the players on both teams to play positions they wanted to, but weren't great at.  They had so much fun, even though it wasn't as exciting as the games that were more competitive and close.  Shawn played catcher for the first time ever.  Despite the loss, our competitive boy was all smiles.  The coaches gave him the game ball.

During this season I was so impressed with these coaches.  They had so much heart and good sense.

After the game we had a potluck dinner with the other team.  All of the kids got small trophies and the coaches said something about each kid which was very positive, and so good for these boys to hear about themselves, publicly. 

We leave in a little over three weeks for our annual summer trip.  We are starting to remodel a small bathroom today.  I have a new guy helping me with our garden, repairing the irrigation system.  This coming week I am going to plant some native plants, Sky's new album is coming out, and Gary is doing a radio interview that will air in New York.  This coming week, Shawn's last week of school, we have something extra every day -- a school conference, an exhibition night, a theater performance, a volunteer obligation, and a trip to the homeless shelter to prepare dinner.  Sky has prom tonight.  Busy, busy.  Fun, fun.

I am really grateful that today I feel healthy, and intend to stay this way.  Last week I took a class in "Aromatouch" with these essential oils called doTerra that I have been using for the family.  Incredible smells.  They are such pure oils I can't get enough of them.

Have a great weekend my friends!        

corner view~one day in my life

This year Mother's Day was a day I felt very loved by my family.  Shawn made banana bread in school that we had for breakfast.  It was really good.  He was really proud of it, which was so cute.  Gary took us all to see "42," a great film about the life of Jackie Robinson.  Then we all went out to dinner.  

I have been very busy lately.  The only thing I wish for is an extra day to get things done.  There is a lot to do and we leave town in less than a month!    

time for a new song over here...

Somehow many of the songs Gary wrote for his new album remind me of our time in Italy, the Cinque Terre region.

This is a song that is close to Gary's heart.

In Papa Maestro's words, "The song 'Bells from Town' is an autobiography that never happened. I imagined one night what might have been if I'd have made other decisions in my life -- basically choosing touring my songs over starting a family. And I saw in a dream an aging washed-up ex-rock 'n roll star living in a big house by himself on a hill overlooking his home town. No one wants him to tour on the big stage anymore. He gave up the girl he loved to chase after that dream, chasing after an image of himself -- a modern Narcissus. And he is left standing at his gate, looking a little thin, hearing the bells from town, and wondering. . . . .

When it was time for the great lead guitarist, Tom Finch, to record his solo I told him the story about this guy and said, 'Tom, be him. He was a great player in his day, but he's done. It's over. And he's angry. He's not ready to stop. He's screaming through this one final great solo of his, that no one's ever going to hear. He's screaming about the loneliness, and the entire waste of a life! Play that!'

Fortunately, Tom Finch is not one to be intimidated. He's the real deal. And this solo proves it. I can listen to it over and over, and I feel this guy standing by his gate, screaming into the wind."

nature in the home

Yesterday we were able to trim trees on our property and a neighbors' trees and viola!  We have our beautiful ocean view.  And with it, this sparkling awesome body of water is brought all the way into our living room.

I am grateful for understanding and generous neighbors and Derrek the tree guy.

Today,  joining Lou's nature in the home series.

corner view~birds

You don't think they are going to grow up.  You think they will always be little, even though logically you know all people grow up.  But not yours.  It seems they will always be as they are, etched in time.

And then you look back one day, at photos of them feeding the birds, in St. Mark's Square, and you realize this is now just a memory.  And they are growing up.

sky has finished her album

It is called "Searchlight."  She worked really hard on it.  I am really proud of her.  It is a beautiful collection, seven songs total.  She is getting school credit for an attempt at world distribution and marketing.  I will be helping with the social media part.  Today I took her for a haircut and frozen yogurt to celebrate.

Overall, a very good day in Marksland.  

nature in the home

Hello everyone,
I was intrigued to find this new series via Andrea's blog.  I grabbed my camera and went outside and immediately saw a tiny bird nest on the ground, perfectly round, laying there as if it were waiting for me.  Since it was empty I picked it up and placed it in our guava tree for the above photo.

I guess it was meant to be.

Joining Lou's "nature in the home" series...

corner view~music

Music adds life to life.

Tonight I was finishing up dinner and I was running late so the natives were a tad restless.  But the broccoli could only cook as fast as broccoli can cook so there was some time to pass.  Gary walked over to the piano and started playing.  Annabel pulled out her electric guitar and joined him.  Shawn walked over to his drumset, turned on his computer to record and joined.  And they jammed.  They sounded great. I stood at the stove and danced while the broccoli sizzled, grateful that this all happened, that it could happen.

Always there is music here.

After dinner Gary showed the kids a video of Chuck Berry playing with John Lennon.  Later Shawn came to me and said that musicians listen to music differently than non musicians, as he commented on a new pop song that he didn't care for much.  "Musicians are more deep about lyrics," he said.  And I wondered what songs he will write some day once he masters the piano he has begun to learn this year.  

We are releasing Gary's new CD, "No Turning Back."  He is getting positive response from fans and new listeners.  Sky is finishing a new CD, and it will be done very soon.

Always there is music.

Here's the latest Gary Marks original song to hear.  It is titled "Words."  The first sentence is great.  "In a life of wandering, never cross a diamond mine with too much money to burn."

Free downloads of his songs are on his Reverbnation and Facebook pages. CDs for sale via moi. Just let me know if you'd like one.

what a game

It was close.  The other team was bigger, much bigger than our team.  But they weren't better.  The game was tied 12-12 in the last inning, and our team (Cubs) had the final at bat.  There were two outs, and Shawn went up to bat.  He hit the ball hard off of a good pitcher, one of their biggest kids.  Our boy ran it out, got on first, and drove in the winning run.  The game was over.

His coaches gave him a ball signed by all of the team as a birthday gift.

birthday dinner for shawn...

...complete with gifts of books, shirt, baseball stuff.  Just the beginning.  This weekend there is a baseball game on Saturday and a birthday party on Sunday. At present we have sixteen RSVPs but I am expecting a few more.  So yes, there is going to be a big birthday bash.

ten

Happy birthday to our son.  I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.  You have brought much joy and fun and liveliness to our lives.  I am so glad our girls have a brother.  I am so happy God sent you to us.  I asked for you, and you came.  

I am honored and proud to be your mother.  You are both fierce and gentle. You are growing up to be a great young man.  I can't wait to see what you do with your life.  So far, you are doing very well!

corner view~bridges and backroads

In 2009 we took the kids on a magical trip to France and Italy.

After spend some days in Paris we took a train to Bordeaux and then drove to Sarlat.
We were supposed to take a highway but quickly got lost from the directions that had been given to us in French, so we took the backroads.
What a fortunate change of plan!  We drove through some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen.  This country girl was in heaven.  It was one of my favorite parts of our entire trip!

I wrote about the train ride here and told the road trip story in detail here, if you want to see.

And if you are interested in listening to some new original American rock 'n roll, check out my husband's new song, appropriately called "Out My Window."

what our boy wants

This is what happens when Sky and Shawn do photoshop.

Shawn will be ten years old soon.  This morning he announced what he wants for his birthday.  A job at NASA.

time for baseball

I love baseball Saturdays.  Right now the Cubs have 2 wins, 2 losses.  They have lost twice to the best team, but the last game was close.  They are improving with every game.  Shawn is playing shortstop, second, and third base. He has pitched a little too.  I know it's not cool for him, but I think he is so cute in his baseball uniform.  Luckily he doesn't read my blog!

corner view~stunning architecture

Only in Europe will one find buildings like this.

When I am there I can hardly believe people can walk around without being totally stunned by the amount of beauty everywhere!

If you have liked my husband, Gary's music in the past you can either scroll down a bit, or click on this post and this post to hear two new songs from a new album.  And stay tuned, for there will soon be a giveaway.

nina

When Nina, Shawn's class pet came for the weekend, there was more cooing from all of us than I would have expected.  There was some remembering of how cute guinea pigs are when they eat lettuce and carrots.  There were stories about my childhood pet "Nibbles."  So much love was given to Nina.  She listened to bedtime stories and was held close by everyone.

But the most precious thing of all was that every night after the sun went down, my little whirlwind of a boy would take Nina out of her cage and sit in the rocking chair with her.  In the silence of the evening, holding her like a baby, he would rock her -- saying nothing, yet saying everything.

wake

Best. song. ever.  Makes me cry every time I hear it.  Click here.
Free downloads here or here.

Wake

We walked to the top of the wave                            
Touched the peak of the sunrise all ablaze
Crazy blue floating down as we feel                     
The time like a pulse til we know it’s real
               
Our colors shine
Good morning stranger                                         
Time to wake 

We walk through the streets of our town
Lights blurred and frozen from drops of rain
Somehow the moon still appears  
Through the clouds and the wind and the winter years

Time falls like snow
Good morning coldness
Time to wake 
  
We sit at the top of the stairs
Looking out to the life that we tried to share
And your eyes seem to swirl like the day
That we met and you walked me into the waves

Good morning night
World starts to fade now
Time to wake 

written by Gary Marks © 2012 Marksland Entertainment

corner view~shadow

Hello corner viewers.  Today is the perfect day to share something with you.  A few months ago Annabel wrote a song called Shadow.  Here she plays it live on electric guitar in her cool rock star outfit.  

She has been writing a novel and lots of poems too.  She would be thrilled to have feedback with her writing, if you have time to jump over to her new blog, Glimpses of Imagination, and say hello.   

Meanwhile, "Shadow" is a very evocative song, I think.

Lyrics -
Frozen darkness speared with the light

I turn away so I will not see
Your reflection
I know it's not real
So why can't I burn you away?

And I know I shouldn't be asking questions to myself
I'm only gonna hurt

So turn around, let me see your eyes
Don't look away from the damage you've done
Hold me
Don't abandon
Like I always knew you would
But I fell for your shadow

Empty trenches filling with sand
Are they still trenches?
Is our anger love

Show me
Your face again
It's made of glass and your sockets are hollow
Eyes, they are on fire
I can't look away from your shadow

I try to talk to you but I walk away in tears
Is it so hard to say?

"I love you. Your beautiful."
And look me in the eye.
Don't fall back into your other world
Where everything is burning
The pain keeps them alive

Pull your hand away
Pull your mind away from my tears
Because I won't love a shadow.

opening day!

Shawn's team had his first victory today.  Shawn played well.  He started at shortstop.  He got a hit, got on base and made it home.  He pitched an inning and struck out two batters.  This was his first time ever pitching in a game.

They won 9 - 7.  Our son was ecstatic.

no turning back

Gary's new album is out.
This is my favorite to date.  I am really hooked on these songs.
There are seven gorgeous compositions, including some incredible ballads and very catchy rock songs.

There are free downloads of the title track available here on Facebook or here on Reverbnation.

To listen to this song on Youtube, click here.

Lyrics-
Some of us fear the dark
Some of us fear the light
Someone needs to love
Someone needs to be free to find
love in their own time.

Some never find their way
They don't know what they feel
Don't be one of them
don't let them steal what's yours this time
You know it's all brand new.

No turning back
Take the chance
If you know it's true
No turning back
Illuminate what's in front of you
Ohh oh
Accelerate and go
No turning back.

Some of us wonder why
Until we never know
Some of us wait for things
That just won't ever show
Til we're here
At war with the world.

No turning back
Take the chance
If you know it's true
No turning back
Illuminate where we're going to
Ohh oh
Accelerate and go
No turning back.

Chaos flows on through
I watch the colors turn
to a shade of you.

Someday it all collides
like it's meant to be
and when the atoms clear
What's left is you and me
Close as a breath
A dream of breathing together.

No turning back
To the past
If you know it's true
No turning back
Illuminate what's coming through.

Ohh oh
Accelerate and go

No turning back.

corner view~spring

Spring is here.  And it's time for baseball.  Game 1 today.  We're rooting for the Cubs!

How is everyone?  I have been so busy lately I have had no time for corner viewing.  Happy to be back!