24Dec
After more than five years of dormancy, John “played out” last weekend at the Coffee Cottage in Newberg, Oregon. Invited by friend, skating buddy, and fellow photographer and musician, Joel Bock, John joined in with Joel and Adam Sweeney on a Sunday evening show that packed the shop out. It was great fun for me (Erin) to be an audience member for the first time as the wife and not just a friend. John is always writing new music and refining previous things he’s created and he was ready for the chance to let others hear what he’s been up to. His set list included a few songs from his Blame It On John days as well as his recent stuff. Some of the really new stuff I particularly love because they remind me of specific places in our year of travel where he wrote the song. I love the connection that music can have with memories…like a soundtrack for parts of life.
It was a fun line-up and the audience seemed to really enjoy each musician and their different styles. Thanks to friends and family who came out and showed your love and support! I am looking forward to the next show!
...Joel on guitar with a great trumpeter accompanying...
...supportive friends and family...
...fun with lights and Adam...
14Dec
Although the tree has been up for a couple of weeks and the house has been decorated and we have already watched Christmas Vacation–all sure signs of Christmas–we took the Christmas celebration to the next level the past few days. Beginning Friday night with a sing-a-long to White Christmas; carrying into Saturday with a family holiday breakfast at The Allison, seeing 300 tuba-ists play carols in Pioneer Courthouse Square, checking out the chocolate/marzipan/gingerbread building at The Benson and the memorabilia of the old Meier & Frank Santaland; and wrapping up with a beautiful service at Newberg Friends Church Sunday night.
06Dec
It’s funny how the past few weeks have seemed too full to blog, but somehow we have managed to watch every episode of The Amazing Race, Glee, The Office, and Community to air in that time; get our Christmas tree and decorate the house for Christmas (of course, our two shoe boxes of decor doesn’t take too long to scatter around the living room); take in a Christmas concert at Newberg Friends Church; start Christmas shopping and gift making; re-organize the garage and set up a mini-recording studio in our office; and share a really great Thanksgiving with friends and family in Yamhill. Somehow blogging didn’t end up on the to-do list =).
We are trying to intentionally create space in this holiday season to not do. I do believe we have mostly made it through our full weeks and are happily looking ahead at a rather light December engagement calendar.
