daily haiku : day 1

a loaf of bread

dead wheat, now risen

our daily resurrection

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i don't intend to post my haikus on here daily, only occasionally, just to spare you all.  if you'd like to join in this year's haiku challenge (write one a day, japanese or western-style, for one year), please leave a comment in the previous post, with a link to your blog if you have one.

haiku + examen, part i

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my friend molly is reviving the haiku-a-day habit that sara & i shared while we were both living in seattle six years ago.  our inspiration back then came from the haiku year in which seven (mostly famous) friends committed to writing a haiku a day for one year.  most of these were western haiku, in which there are no syllable rules, and that's the form that sara & i exchanged.  sara & i have committed to it again along with molly & some other friends, and i just broke out my old red cavallini butterfly journal from 2005 to reminisce.  

the holy spirit wears

blue & white stripes

& red rain boots

i was amazed at how three simple lines a day could carry so much meaning & memory (even if a bit vague or nonsensical to others!  this was about a little boy outside of the 45th street clinic, where i worked in seattle, wearing a soccer jersey of his team "espiritu santo" on a perfectly sunny day.  and i remember being extraordinarily happy that day.  see how those three lines recalled all of that to memory?).  

daily journaler i am not; it always feels too tedious.  i only journal when i'm angry or frustrated, to verbally process on paper in the absence of someone to actually talk to.  i do have a prayer journal, but in terms of chronicling my daily existence, haikus are where it's at!  josh keeps a record of our family's thoughts and movements, our story with God.  and that's enough for me.       

anyway, i am reviving the daily practice of haiku along with the examen (more on this in next post) this week, thanks to molly's challenge, and i invite you to join me in one or both of these exercises!  

oh, to inspire you further, here's a japanese haiku, traditional 5, 7, 5 syllable structure, that my brother jeff wrote years ago:

the moon hangs like a

ratty clipped-off fingernail

seeking a waste bin

(i apparently thought his haiku was so awesome i committed it to memory, and i still have it, ten years later)

* picture: michael stipe, one of the 7 friends in "the haiku year"

heron's room

we've lived here in our apartment in portland for over a year now, and it's taken me this long to get heron's room (mostly) in order.  she's been in need of a toddler bed for months now (probably since sheppy's birth!), but i kept putting the transition off in hopes of actually making her a bed.  but december had her sleeping in various "big-girl beds" including a single bed at my mom's, and queen-sized beds in hotels.  i certainly couldn't send her back into a crib after experiencing all that luxurious freedom.  so the moment we arrived back in portland post-holidays + touring, i laid aside my delusions of do-it-myself-ness, and bought her a toddler bed.  

since josh had rearranged heron's room during that week he was alone in portland, i found new inspiration for room details.  i am still working on a quilt for heron's bed, but for now she's using this vintage wool blanket i picked up in NC last month.  heron's room is now one of the most cohesive rooms in our house, and it's the family favorite.  it's pretty tiny, but we've finally managed to turn this awkward, formerly-problematic space into something sweet & cozy!

skateistan

as the wife of a skater, i must share occasional skateboarding content.  and... i love innovative social justice work through almost any means!

chicago, unplanned

shepherd is napping; heron just put her babies to sleep, too.  we're all taking a little quiet time in a cozy place.

we're here in chicago at the crown plaza hotel, having missed our connecting flight to portland last night.  we were up until midnight because the kids were wired when we finally got to the hotel.  so we ordered room service:  bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with sage butter, apple compote, flash saute of spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.  sheppy helped me with the apple compote, heron shared the cheesecake while she watched strawberry shortcake.

we were able to get a crib for shepherd, and heron slept in a big queen bed all by herself.  i slid a chair up to each side of the bed to help her feel safe, and sheppy joined me in my cozy bed in the middle of the night.  we awoke after a perfect night's sleep, and had a lovely breakfast together downstairs.  

: sheppy watching the planes land :

these kids have been such troopers!  we already spent four unexpected hours in the charlotte airport, had a long day yesterday, & now we wait again today.  we'll hopefully catch the 3:25 flight to pdx this afternoon, but this has been a fun little adventure with my babies!

: getting our YA-YAs out before the flight :

we're supposed to drive 7 hours to redding, california, with josh tomorrow.  hmm... not sure if that sounds good right now... (except for the being-with-josh-again part)

iphone four. we love thee.

josh & i got new iphones last week, just before he headed back to portland.  i'm headed back to portland in minutes, but i've sure been glad for daily "facetime" chats over the phone (above--feels like something predicted in science fiction, now a reality!), sending morning "hello" movies to greet his inbox, and papa reading stories over the phone/video to his little lady heron.  when josh was on the plane out west, we even recorded storytime and evening prayers, sending them as audio texts, so he could listen to them when he drifted off to sleep that night.  we're such mac geeks!

: here's a little snow video i shot on the phone :

nana time

at some point over the holidays, even after her cousins had returned to seattle, heron said, "mama, i don't want to leave nana's house... ever."  she was having the time of her life, mom loved having the company, & the kids & i had no reason to hurry back to portland.  so we decided to extend our visit here by one whole week, sending josh back to portland on our original departure date for some solitary time.  

     

when josh and i celebrated our anniversary in november, we talked about how we could support each other in our dreams/vocations/creative endeavors.  josh said some un-hindered creative time would be the best gift ever.  so once i realized how much we were all enjoying our visit here, it made perfect sense for the three of us to stay here awhile longer, and finally allow this time for josh.

: heron loves nana's ever-willingness to read to her :

we are still spending lots of time outside, or in the screened-in porch on rainy days.  we have to bundle up a bit, but it's still warmer than portland!  heron & sheppy love the walks in the woods, raking leaves, and playing with mom's cats, jasper & marmalade (now HUGE!)  i've been catching up with some old friends (daniel & monica from the home group we were a part of when we lived here, jill & nancy, tanya, annemarie & steve, the powells, mary peterson, & hopefully this week i'll finally catch up with cheli & avery!).  mom just started back to work on tuesday after a long holiday break, but we see her in the morning, at lunch, & at night.  heron wakes up early & climbs right into bed with nana for some morning snuggles, and nana climbs into bed with heron so heron can tell her bedtime stories at night (yes, heron is the one telling the bedtime stories these days!)

i'm missing josh & portland, but my soul is enjoying this rural respite!

at long last.

and so worth the wait.



way back in the heat of summer josh flew out to new york to collaborate with the nyu student musicians + filmmakers from mason jar music.  they had discovered josh's music, were smitten, and set about composing an arrangement to surround his voice + charango on his song "words remain" (on jacaranda).  so they invited him out to spend one day in practice, one night filming.  we couldn't be more pleased with the result.  the musicianship & film work are outstanding, the setting breathtaking, josh's voice so clear.  we are so grateful to these artists for seeking out josh, and for putting so much time & artistry into this production.  it all turned out so beautifully; josh feels so blessed & honored.

the small voice record, vol. 3

Rest

I’m writing you this update from the woods of North Carolina, where we’ve been spending a few weeks visiting my mother-in-law during this holiday season. Being here has proved to be a much needed time of rest and reflection, purposefully refraining from work while being intentional about our time spent together as a family. This will be the deep breath before the final plunge. Work In a few days we’ll be flying back home to Portland, where I’ll begin the final push to bring this next album to completion. Although there’s still a lot of work to be done, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and so I begin this last leg of the race with renewed strength and perspective. The process of creating this album has by far been the most rigorous mental and spiritual struggle I’ve known as an artist, so I’m thankful to be re-entering the process from a place of peace and purpose. The Logistics I’ll be in the studio recording through January and February, and then spending the month of March on the final mix and master of the album. This should make this album’s release May or June of 2011. Until then I’ll be working closely with a hand-picked team of collaborators that are helping build the sound of this album into something really special. The Team It’s my pleasure to introduce the cast of players who will be supporting the songs on “Love & War & The Sea In Between”: Jay Kirkpatrick Multi-instrumentalist and longtime friend. Jay’s playing can be heard on all of my albums; whether accordion or banjo, bass or melodica, Jay’s accompaniment has been an integral part of the “sound” on each album. Josh Green Drummer extraordinaire. The first time I saw Josh play was with the trip-hop jazz trio “Infradig”...and he was playing stuff live that didn’t seem possible. His drumming will add a new dimension to this current work. Mason Jar Music A start-up music production company based out of Brooklyn, specializing in orchestral composition and video work. I’ve done previous work with these guys (yet to be released!), and they’re currently composing music for several songs on the new album. Jason Brewer Electric and upright bass. Jason knows how to bring the funk, or create a tasteful upright thump. His work often inspires me to take songs in unexpected directions. Tim & Laurie Thornton Violin, cello, mandolin, and harmonica. I first met Tim and Laurie through their work with “Enter The Worship Circle” and “Blackthorn Project”, and have since had the pleasure of working with them a few times. I don’t know of anyone who can capture an old mountain folk sound like them. Colleen Davick Flute. I met Colleen when she was the flautist for the retro-hippie jam-band “Seeds”. We’ve been talking about collaborating for a long time. Annalisa Nutt Vocalist. Annalisa is a gifted singer-songwriter, but she’s also provided backing vocals for the likes of Grammy nominee Matthew Santos. She’ll be accompanying me on a few songs as well. Scott Frantz Electric guitar. I came into contact with Scott through his work on my good friend Josh Rosen’s albums. Scott’s one of those guys who specializes in making an electric guitar into an ethereal, ambient, and emotional instrument. Mike Garrels Trumpet and piano. My dad’s the one who nurtured the gift of music in my life, and, being a music teacher, he can find his way around on the trumpet and piano quite well. David Wilton Mixing and Mastering. Dave’s a gifted music engineer who’s worked with such artists as Aaron Strumpel, Sleeping At Last, Enter the Worship Circle, Blackthorn Project, and Josh Rosen. I’ll be flying out to his Studio--St. Ida’s, in Colorado, to complete the mixing and mastering of this album. Finances First, I want give the deepest thanks to all who have so generously given of themselves in prayer, gifts, letters, and finances. Thank you! Your response to our invitation has been moving, and we’re filled with gratitude for you. We have all of your names and information saved, and we’ll be sending each of you a pre-release of the album. Currently we’ve received about $10,000 in financial support towards the completion of this album! Guys, this is awesome. In the end, when all is said and done, the full cost of production will be approximately $20-25,000. This cost will include paying my team of musicians, investing in some production gear for my studio, mixing and mastering in CO, design work, and the final manufacturing of the album. If you would be interested in helping finance this final push, here's what you can do: You can send a check to: Small Voice Records c/o Josh & Michelle Garrels P.O. Box 11500 Portland, OR 97211 Or you can donate electronically by clicking here or by visiting the "Store" section of my website Sincerely, Josh P.S. Here’s a video of my new song “Farther Along” which will be on the new album, “Love & War & The Sea In Between”. ©2011 small voice records | P.O. Box 11500 Portland, OR 97211 Finances First, I want give the deepest thanks to all who have so generously given of themselves in prayer, gifts, letters, and finances. Thank you! Your response to our invitation has been moving, and we’re filled with gratitude for you. We have all of your names and information saved, and we’ll be sending each of you a pre-release of the album. Currently we’ve received about $10,000 in financial support towards the completion of this album! Guys, this is awesome. In the end, when all is said and done, the full cost of production will be approximately $20-25,000. This cost will include paying my team of musicians, investing in some production gear for my studio, mixing and mastering in CO, design work, and the final manufacturing of the album. If you would be interested in helping finance this final push, here's what you can do: You can send a check to: Small Voice Records c/o Josh & Michelle Garrels P.O. Box 11500 Portland, OR 97211 Or you can donate electronically by clicking here or by visiting the "Store" section of my website Sincerely, Josh P.S. Here’s a video of my new song “Farther Along” which will be on the new album, “Love & War & The Sea In Between”. ©2011 small voice records | P.O. Box 11500 Portland, OR 97211