My daughter loves to search for unusual or inspiring videos.  She found a great one this time that I hope you all will enjoy.  This young man who walks to the beat of a different drummer can sing.  I was inspired by his ability to sing in front of a large audience for his first performance ever!  He had never sung for anyone but himself in his bedroom, no training whatsoever.  He feels like a misfit but I think he is awesome.  I hope you will take the time to listen and be amazed as well.  You never really know what lies beneath a person.  You might turn and look at him with disgust just seeing him on the street but he is a beautiful spirit with a gift from God.  Enjoy the music, the video and this wonderful Sunday!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 11 29th, 2015 | No Comments »

A piano….a cello….beautiful music with which to begin a week of Thanksgiving and gathering to say prayers of gratitude.  It’s a time for family and friends to be together for the joy of eating wonderful food, giving thanks and spending time just enjoying life and the beginning of the holiday season.  It’s my favorite of all the holidays!  I know you’ll enjoy this wonderful video by Titanium as they perform together.  Peace be with you all!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 11 22nd, 2015 | No Comments »

Only in New Orleans could I find out about St. Catherine….and the upcoming parade in her honor.  In the French tradition ladies who come together every year for this event will once again don their finest chapeaux and join in the annual St. Catherine’s Day Hat Parade.

“Catherinettes, Paris, 1909” by Agence Rol – Bibliothèque nationale de France. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherinettes,_Paris,_1909.jpg#/media/File:Catherinettes,_Paris,_1909.jpg

St. Catherine is the patron saint of milliners and single women.  “Catherinettes”, as her French followers are known, make all sorts of wonderful hats in shades of yellow and green.  Some of the hats are outrageous and others more simple in nature. The French Catherinettes are women who have not married by the age of 25.  Hats are donned for the day as a pilgrimage is made to the statue of St. Catherine to pray for suitable husbands.  I love what wikipedia lists for the prayers:  The French say that before a girl reaches 25, she prays: “Donnez-moi, Seigneur, un mari de bon lieu! Qu’il soit doux, opulent, libéral et agréable!” (Lord, give me a well-situated husband. Let him be gentle, rich, generous, and pleasant!”) After 25, she prays: “Seigneur, un qui soit supportable, ou qui, parmi le monde, au moins puisse passer!” (Lord, one who’s bearable, or who can at least pass as bearable in the world!”) And when she’s pushing 30: “Un tel qu’il te plaira Seigneur, je m’en contente!” (“Send whatever you want, Lord; I’ll take it!”).

So this coming Sunday, November 22nd, at 10:00, all of the lovely women with their wonderful hats will meet to share champagne, bringing a bottle is encouraged, march together and enjoy the music of Bart Ramsey and members of ZaZou City.  It promises to be an unforgettable day AND it will be my first ever parade in New Orleans, Lord willing and my new knee will cooperate!

I cannot wait to meet this fun loving group of women and share in the celebration!  St. Charles Avenue at Pleasant Street is the gathering place with this year’s theme “The Hat Pack” setting the scene for a wonderful party!

Melissa | Out&About | 11 18th, 2015 | No Comments »

I love stumbling over videos by artists who combine their talents to create beautiful music.  While watching a PBS video of an interview Tavis Smiley did with singer, Judy Collins, they discuss her newest CD, “Strangers Again”.  Ms. Collins performs with some of music’s greatest male artists, including Michael Mcdonald, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson and, a surprise to me, Jeff Bridges.  She talks about meeting with Jeff Bridges in regard to what he’d like to sing with her on the album.  I knew he sang, but I had no idea about what or when….or where.  He selected “Make Our Garden Grow”, a lovely piece from “Candide”, the wonderful musical by Leonard Bernstein.  So on this Simple Sunday I’m featuring the music Judy Collins and Jeff Bridges made together.  It fits the day and it suits my mood.  I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 11 8th, 2015 | No Comments »

“Begin to weave and God will provide the thread.”  This old German proverb stands alone on the page of a book recently sent to me by author, June Hall McCash, “The Thread Box”.

“The Thread Box” is the latest of Ms. McCash’s wonderful books.  Unlike her other works of fiction and non-fiction that so many readers have enjoyed, this is a collection of poetry.  The lovely simplicity of the books’ cover with its vine of thread, seashells and flowers guides one inside the pages to discover that Ms. McCash can pen poetry in a way so few can.

Google Images

The book begins with a section on Jekyll Island, Georgia.  The author spent countless summers and holidays there writing about the island’s history and providing us with a peek into the bygone days of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel with its rich cast of characters and events.   The poetry you’ll find in this first section will have you feeling the squish of sand through your toes as you walk on the beach or gasp as you experience the color of wildflowers along the causeway leading onto the historic island.

June Hall McCash is an award winning author of eleven books of fiction and nonfiction.  Her soon to be released work of young adult fiction, “The Boys of Shiloh”, is set in the Civil War and promises to be a great read, not just for middle schoolers, but for any age.  But I’m stuck on her poetry for the time being, devouring every line and letting my imagination see the images her words create.  I highly recommend “The Thread Box”, it takes you away from the cares of the day and paints pictures of the vast life and experience the author has enjoyed.  Just to whet your appetite a bit….here’s a short poem from the book entitled, “Winter Fragment”.

Winter Fragment

a dusting of snow on the roadway

like flour sifted on the castle floor

to catch a lover’s footprints

in the night

June and Logan

Thank you June, for sharing your words, for showing us a bit of your soul and for creating this wonderful collection of poetry, “The Thread Box”.

Melissa | people | 11 4th, 2015 | No Comments »

Where has the year gone?  It’s already November and I can hardly believe it!  Autumn is always my favorite time of year.  I love the food, the colors and the feeling of the season.  I haven’t had the opportunity to get out and explore but soon I will be out and about!  I found this lovely autumn video and piano music that I thought you might enjoy on this fine Sunday morning.  Wherever you are or whatever you are planning for the day, take some time to relax, breathe deeply…feel the love the surrounds you and say thank you!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 11 1st, 2015 | No Comments »