Raige Creations

It is never a bad way to end the weekend, watching The Big Lebowski . That we did, for the I don't know how many-eth time. We have seen it a lot. (Plus a little Monty Python , always a good time for that really.) But now back to work from my completely do nothing vacation, well staycation really. Honestly, I did a little more than nothing, but not much. I hardly cooked, didn't go anywhere but the grocery store, did minimal laundry (that still needs to be folded). I sat on the couch most of the time. I successfully lounged and read several kindle fun books. So this is a nice way to ease in to tackeling my work emails, a nice tune from Bob Dylan . (website here if you want to get lost in Bob ) Besides hubby requested it, and it is kinda nice to hear him sing along, even if he is immitating Bob, he is a bit better than Bob. But, if I have to play it again, and read him the lyrics, having heard him say one too many times 'What is that he said there?' , I may ...

Yup. Hooked on this song apparently. I heard it on the radio driving in to town the other day. I cranked up the volume, and sang along as loud as I could. And then over the weekend it came up in conversation...can't remember that conversation now but I got to hear it again. And there it has been in my head, stuck. Every time I hear it, I want to sing it, and sing it loud. I like sing along songs, particularly since singing is good for you . Plus, both sing and dance are on this great list of advice for living. What a GREAT feeling that was in the car, though! There is something so liberating about singing alone in the car while your driving. I hadn't let loose like that since, well at least since before the lockdown . And honestly, I didn't let loose much before that because traffic was so bad people sitting in cars right next to me would have seen me blaring out the song and doing a little dance sitting behind the steering wheel and that would have just been we...

Boy, did I jam. For the past week I have knocked out gobs of jam. I have even had days where I made 2 batches in one day! (which is a lot harder than it sounds, especially when you are making at least a batch a day.) With still plenty of mangoes to do more. It is why I haven't blogged much lately. I have been too busy cutting mangoes and measuring sugar and squeezing limes and mixing, and mixing, and, mixing, and mixing. Jam. And plenty more to make more. And of course I made some juice too, so jamming and juicing. So it should be no surprise if asked what I have been up to, well, JAMMING mon. Thus, there is no other song that has been going through my head. I found this video that also has the Spanish lyrics, which  me encanta ! (Have I mentioned I want to learn Spanish? I do. But that is another story. ) Cupboard Full of Jam.  Ooh, yeah! All right! We're jammin' I wanna jam it with you We're jammin', jammin' And I ...

I asked for suggestions, and a great cousin of hubby's said she was listening to  Led Zeppelin  yesterday. This request led to an evening of the band for me and hubby last night, and nearly all day streaming the band at work, until I found one that spoke to me, that fit. This one does, more or less . But seriously, so many good songs to choose from. So many! So many that brought back memories of my brother . He was the one who first introduced me to this band. Through his closed bedroom door. He was a musician, a true connoisseur of good rock music. So many hubby had stories about. He knows stories of the band members, and he introduced me to The Song Remains The Same movie . If you have a couple hours, check it out! It is worth it, I believe. The concert was at Madison Square Gardens, this video a part of it. They put on a great show, excellent musicians. And, story from hubby, Robert Plant didn't even realize he was rubbing his fingers through most of the concer...

My Bro - he never stopped ROCKIN' You can't mention the band Rush without me thinking of my older brother. I would have never heard Rush if it hadn't been for my brother. I didn't listen to that type of music usually. But at home, it was all we heard from behind his closed door. " The musicians band ", as I was told it was, I learned through my brother, and I learned to really enjoy actually. Well that, and Led Zeppelin , Yes , Deep Purple , Boston , Black Sabbath etc. A far cry from the pop music a young tween girl normally listens to.  I think of hearing music blasting from his bedroom when we were younger, door always closed, stereo always very loud. So loud it was like the door wasn't closed at all. It was the 80's, so all played on an old fashioned turn table and massive speakers that nearly took up his entire room. And I certainly didn't appreciate it then, but honestly, I did learn a lot about music from my brother. Even if he ...

This song brings back memories of Easter and church for me. It was played many Easters at our church when I was growing up. My father was the organ player, and I loved to hear him play this in practice at home, and then again at church. When I heard it playing Cat Sevens version on the radio, I loved it. A church song playing on the radio - how cool. I was then, and still am, a Cat Stevens fan . I was a kid then, I thought AM radio was cool. I still do actually - it WAS cool back in the 70's. Whatever it takes to bring the idea to the masses that we should give thanks. It was said by the editor of the hymnal it was first published in (In 1931) that:  " there was need for a hymn to give thanks for each day ." There IS a need to give thanks each day. A habit I have been trying to keep up with. So give thanks, even though it is Monday. Give thanks that we have..... beautiful music , sunshine , rainfall , wind , chocolate (I am sure you all have...

We skipped the light fandango Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor What a mood Whiter Shade of Pale creates! Hubby was searching for this song the other day. That organ haunting his mind. He just had to find it, and we must have listened to it 6 times that day. But who doesn't love the imagery of skipping the light fandango ? The poetic nature of Procol Harum songs is wonderful. I never knew any other songs they did, so I searched, and found it is not just their popular hit that is like reading a great poetic story. And though I hoped for something to find I could see no maze to unwind I feel it is safe to say, most people don't remember the unusual name of the band of that enduring classic song - one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies . And probably most are like me, and never heard  Conquistador , their second hit. I still get a kick out of their name, certainly not one that sticks with you, named after a cat . It never hurts ...

Thanks to M.L. Gardner , my chocolates source: Raige Creations Yes, I will be talking about chocolate, again. I so enjoyed the Godiva chocolates I won , not just because they were SO delish, but because it made me stop, relax, and enjoy the company I was with. It also brought back memories of when I was young. My father used to buy Whitman's Samplers every holiday, no doubt bought from the pharmacy on the corner.  It was his special treat for the family, probably one he continued from his childhood. His young years were during the Great Depression (the era of Author M.L. Gardner's 1929 series which are my latest favorite books), and I am sure chocolates were a fine treat indeed. His family was from Philadelphia, where the chocolates originated so no doubt this tradition came from his father, my grandfather. A true family tradition. source: Whitmans.com Not the fanciest, and certainly not expensive, the Whitman Sampler chocolates were all his family could ...

Yesterday I just couldn't find a song I related to. Well, I did while running, but couldn't remember what those songs were by the time I was done. So instead I randomly searched for inspiration. I spent a long time looking for a song. Somehow, Born Slippy got on my 'suggestions'. I forgot how much I liked this song! And wouldn't this be great for a running playlist? YES! I just hope I am not on my way to a new tension headache..... Why Born Slippy ? The title of the song comes from a greyhound the band bet on and won . Then the 'suggested list' showed Iggy Pop , Lust For Life . (If you hadn't noticed the Trainspotting theme, yes these are on the soundtrack . Great movie !)  Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.  ( My new favorite lyric.) Nothing is better than Iggy's endless energy, never a shirt, dancing around like a crazy person. I might add this to my running playlist too..... If these songs don't get your day going,...

A while back it was one of my goals, along with writing , to take more pictures with a real camera, not my phone. But I find myself not wanting to carry the heavier camera around, and worry about having the card in there. (yes, digital...I can hardly remember the last time we actually used film!)  It was 1973 when Paul Simon sang the pleas: 'Mama don't take my  Kodachrome away' . But alas, his pleas went unheard. Today is a world of digital photos, camera phones, and online storage of our life in pictures. So I carry my phone with me nearly everywhere, and snap pictures when the mood strikes. It is difficult to take them when I am running, which happens to be one of the few times I actually have time to take pictures. But today, it was a more difficult run day, so I walked more. And I took some pictures.  Half-way to full on Fall photo courtesy of Raige Creations Sadly, I was shocked to see these trees. Isn't it early to have the trees changing? Fall Pa...

It is WEDDING SEASON! In honor of all the brides and grooms getting down on the dancefloor, I say to you..... Young Man.....There's no need to feel down.... You can get yourself clean.....You can have a good meal......... It's fun to stay at the...... Y....M...C...A.... Yes, I am doing the arm motions!!  Oh boy I forgot how fun this song IS! Turn up your speakers and join in!!! Everywhere I turn, talk is of weddings. I even have been a mini part of planning one (which I am thrilled about) (insert shameless plug here....)  I got to make Toekini's for a wedding party! They turned out beautiful, which I am so happy about. I only wish I could be there to see them on the bride and her party.  If you are like me, and won't be attending any weddings this year, join me in playing this classic wedding reception favorite. Re-play it, and enjoy the real live Village People singing right along, dancing, and looking, well, like they are village peop...

Then we would cook corn meal porridge Of which I'll share with you....... On the radio today, it is Marley Monday, where they share Bob Marley songs throughout the day. On the way to school, dropping the kids off, we heard this song. My ears picked up the 'corn meal porridge' lyric and instantly I craved it. It was a common breakfast when we lived in the Caribbean, and I haven't had any since we moved from there. Suddenly I was homesick for my old home, and fond memories of our time there flooded my head. We had tough times then, we struggled plenty in our newly married lives, with a young family and stresses much the same as we are faced with now. We plowed on, we figured it out. We had fun still, we had each other. Everything turned out alright. And it will again. 'Nah Cry, we push h'on trew.' Meaning...'Don't cry we always make it through.' Sometimes we forget, we forget we are strong, and we need to be reminded 'Everything's g...

After a long 5 days of work, I sometimes come up blank when it comes time for Music Monday. So I asked hubby what song he would like to hear for today's post, and he, without hesitation, said 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. I asked 'Why?' and he said 'What do you mean why?' .  'I need to write about it, say something about it, it has to fit in my blog, that's why.' To this he responded with the conclusive, 'I don't know' . And that was all he had to say about that. So here I am this morning, procrastinating washing the pots and pans from last night, before my run, before I have to open for the last day of my work week, before my much anticipated day off tomorrow, and my mind is not focusing on a song. My mind is not focusing on anything actually.  And I think, 'Why DO I have to write about it? Why does there have to be a commentary on each song?'  To that I say 'I don't know' . No, there doesn't always ne...

I am a fan of Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Jokes . They have seeped in to our culture, and we find ourselves referencing them when the slightest opportunity arises. I even uttered the phrase yesterday, on our road trip to pick up our son from college, when the conversation ended up discussing hubby's dream truck after passing a beefed up pickup truck. He spoke with that dreamy longing. "I wanna get the biggest diesel truck, raise it up on the biggest tires, get those KC lights and a bar to put them on...."  Hello.... KC headlights , totally cheesy 80's hun. Wait a minute. 80's. That is over 30 years ago. ugh. This screams redneck to me. I married a redneck wannabe. I should have realized this when I kept buying him flannel shirts, but I rationalized the grunge fashion sense was really what was going on here . But alas, the phrase that kept running through my head was, You might be a redneck if.....you want a pickup truck with KC headlights on it and dream ...

Yesterday I mentioned fondue and my first attempt at creating a great fondue. Well, chocolate is seldom bad, so it turned out good. But somehow I forgot to add water to the bottom pot (duh me) , so I had to rescue my hardened chocolate fondue. Luckily, some chocolate milk saved the day and finally people started eating it. If nothing else, it looked beautiful on it's dedicated table and smelled GREAT.  I am definitely going to try it again for Thanksgiving, when my oldest will be home from college and we will be all together again as a family. Besides, he is the one that will probably dip anything in chocolate and eat it. ** Side Note: When I was pregnant with him I had big Ho-Ho cravings and ate a lot of them, and strangely he is the one who loves chocolate the most. I had bologna cravings when pregnant with my daughter and she is the only one who like bologna. With my youngest, I ate everything, no particular cravings like the other two, and strangely he likes just about ...

"Do you Fondue?" I eagerly asked the deli manager at Ingles. No it is not 1977, it is 2012 and I was excited to be bringing a touch of retro into our Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting reception. We wanted chocolate covered strawberries, but the cost and time it would take to achieve this was much more than I could handle. But Fondue...hey that could be a fun interactive way to enjoy the same thing. The deli manager and I brainstormed this idea and I panicked a little having never 'fondued' before. So I asked her if she had. She, being of the right generation to have enjoyed it back in 1977, got this gleam in her eye and knowingly smiled saying "Yes, I do" , reassuring me it really is quite easy.  Over to the chocolate melting chips we went and she hooked me up with all I would need, save the actual fondue pot.  "Oh, I have the perfect one" , I thought. It is a beautiful copper one that we picked up at an auction. But I had some shining up t...

Today I am going with an impromptu chorus at dinner last night.  (In order to keep up with NaBloWriMo and the gazillion other things I gotta do I will go with my gut on blogs from now on and not over think. I think.) Hubby began 'I want you to.....' and POP! This song was right on my tongue and out it came. When I stumbled on some of the words, he was right there filling them in. We surrendered to silly singing at the dinner table. (But Surrender is a different Cheap Trick song ) It turns out he wanted me to help him with unpleasant financial chores stuff, but this made it a little more bearable.  Yes, singing at the table is frowned upon. But sometimes you just gotta...well... Surrender .  Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?  Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'? Now try to get that out of your head. And yes, you may see me cryin' as I try to fit everything that has to be done today into one day. Now....

For missing Music Monday!, Two for Tuesday!! (what you normally get when I miss Music Monday!), and then Walking on Wednesday sneaking past, I had to do something unusual, entertaining, and quick! So, in honor of our movie night over last weekend, despite the hectic schedule and tons of stuff to do, here is a double feature plus TWO   for you. (for the Two for Tuesday - what you get when I miss Music Monday, plus a bonus of TWO for missing Walking on Wednesday)  We try to maintain movie night in our family, though it is tough. It is one thing we all look forward to as a family.   This particular piece of history we have watched this with the kids ever since they were young, believing that exposure with guidance, and humor mixed in, is the best way to deal with raising curious children. Now that they are older, they love the audience participation aspect and entertainment value of this cult classic. It has great music - the kind that gets stuck in your head. Many s...

These words were mumbled one morning over coffee by hubby. Once you hear these words, Clouds in my Coffee , well you just can't get them out of your head.  They are in your head, of course, in music, followed by You're So Vain, you probably think this song is about you......   What does it all mean??   "Clouds in my coffee" are the confusing aspects of life and love. That which you can't see through, and yet seems alluring...until. Like a mirage that turns into a dry patch. Perhaps there is something in the bottom of the coffee cup that you could read if you could (like tea leaves or coffee grinds). ~~Carly Simon 5/17/01   So here you go - perfect for a Monday actually. We are all cloudy on Mondays, right? If reading the words don't get it stuck, and the song on top still doesn't get it stuck right in your head, enjoy this collection of clouds, coffee, and creamy cloudy goodness. Clouds In My Coffee   Curated By: RaigeCreations ArtFir...

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill I can see the city lights Wind was blowing Time stood still Streetlight Shrouded in Fog View from my driveway this morning It is a song of new beginnings and new challenges , and New Years and Mondays always bring new beginnings and new challenges. For me, the challenge will be gearing up for Toekini season and finding shows and festivals to apply for this year.  The challenge is  putting to motion plans Raige has had since last fall,  to think Summer in the middle of winter, and really push Raige to productivity! What challenges will you face this week, and this year? Hazed Path View of my driveway this morning