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!