Coffee House & Peacock Trio

This last weekend our friends from church invited us to a local coffee house cafe to fellowship and see their son's 30's~40's group called Peacock Trio play. So glad we went. If you are a regular reader of mine , you would have learned our love for 30's~40's music...It was right up our alley. We got all dressed up to go.

(This picture courtesy of Richard Neff)

Their set was two hours. We enjoyed a little bit of mingling and enjoying the band play while drinking tea. Yeah I'm not a big coffee fan, but tea...Yes! What a delight time and a delightful group of guy's, so talented...Their music was excellent and they sang together beautifully!

 We definitely enjoyed our evening out together.

And I would definitely go to see them play again!

The young man in the middle playing the big bass is our friends son.

 What talent. A little tid bit about him is that he plays many other instruments.

 I just adore that. 

A Girl and Her Guitar...

Freckles decided she wanted to learn guitar this Summer. So her Daddy gave her his first guitar that he started using years ago. It is perfect for her. A sweet student size Fender. She was so excited. We can't afford to have her take lessons right now so Mr. Darling has been teaching her. Starting with the chords etc. He also found her a video which she has been gleaning from. She really wants to learn, but will have to overcome the pain in the fingers from strumming and holding down her finger positions on the strings. I am just giddy that her daddy and her have a special little music bond that they can share together. (Grin)
  
And...she's even practicing while singing. She is growing up so fast. I am just looking at these pictures wondering where my little girl is going...she is turning into a little lady. Hard to believe her birthday is fast approaching in August, making her 12. I have seen so many changes in her this last year. The dolls are actually being played with less. (Sigh) She is interested in clothes/fashion, hairstyles, music, and reading blogs...Kinda cute too...she has favorited a few vintage style blogs on my computer for herself to read and she has been dreaming up her future Wedding details. I found a folder full of drawings of Wedding dresses, Wedding cakes, Wedding Decor and she's into looking through Wedding mags. Not that she is getting married anytime soon...That's for sure. But, sweet to see...I remember being her age and dreaming up my to be Wedding and thinking/wondering who my Knight and Shining Armor would be. It's just wild, seeing her changing and blooming. My baby girl is becoming a young woman.
     
I can say...I have truly enjoyed every stage of my children growing up. Every day I am in awe of them. I am a proud Mama....And so thrilled that both my blessings have been gifted with musical talents. Thanks be to God. Because I am certainly not musical. So, let the music play.

Summer So Far....

Hey there, just checkin' in to say a little hello. Hope your Summer is going well. Not too much going on here since we just found out Mr. Darling has Bronchial pneumonia/pneumonia in his right lung and asma. Poor dear got worse this last week though he has never felt completely well since Winter when we were all hit with bronchitus really bad. The doctor was concerned if he should be hospitalized or not, will find out if he has improved on Friday. Prayfully he will not have to have a hospital stay. Please pray he will get better. Still no news on our move...We are completly waiting on the Lord. Though I have started packing several boxes of stuff I won't need. Might as well get a head start on hard work ahead of us, just to make it a bit easier and prepared. Well anyways....Last week we got to hang with Lee Koch for a few after church. Him and his wife are the sweetest people. If you don't know who he is a part from being our brother in Christ. He is a talented musician who was recently on that Voice show.

 

Check him out here.

 He is blessed with a voice that is for sure.

   

Our family also spent a time in the wine country and watched a band while eating dinner.

 It was well...alright. But still fun to go on a little adventure with my fam.

   

No huge plans as of now for the rest of the weekend. Probably will be laying low since my dear Mr. Darling is ill. That's all I care for, I just pray to God he will get better.

Hope you are all having a good Summer.

 Any plans?

Haiti Concert Fundraiser...

    

My son had a wonderful opportunity last Summer on a 3 week missions trip to The Czech Republic...It was such a wonderful opportunity for him to serve. Before the trip our church held a concert fundraiser, which was a huge success. This year they did the concert fundraiser again, this time for Haiti. My son will not be going on the trip this time since there is so much going on right now and possibly making a move this Summer, but he did participate in the concert. First let me share who these beautiful photographs were taken by. My son has a really close friend back home in Washington who was blessed to take a missions trip to Haiti a few months ago. Todd Kaumans is a very talented 19 year old film maker and photographer. He has used my sons music in a couple of his film projects as well as acting in a couple films he did. My son has also made some graphics for his entrepreneur business as well as designing his business card. They really have made a great team. Todd will be going back to Haiti in the Fall. I just had to share these shots from his trip. They are so captivating.

    

The concert was delightful through and through. Our church really has some talented people in it. Of course I am a proud Mama who adores her sons music. I am his number one fan. I pray he will go far in his composing his own music. After these sets of pictures make sure you click the video links I left below.

    

The first one is a lovely slide show of pictures taken by Todd as the music in the video was composed and played by my son. It is absolutely breathtaking.
P.S Please press pause on my music playlist on the sidebar to hear the music in the videos.

          

The next song was composed and played by my son....

He calls it Valzer Italiano which is sort of like a waltz.

                     

The last one above was also composed by my son and played as

a funky duet with our very talented friend Matt.

 If you check out my YouTube channel after the videos

 you can also watch a couple more videos I took from a couple other talented peeps.

What a wonderful fundraiser for Haiti. Enjoy,

An Artful Day...

Our sweet son bought us tickets to see a pianist over the weekend for my birthday. It was a delightful time despite the migraine I had, which left me sick to my stomach. I made the best of it. The concert took place at a preforming arts center which I have been to before several years ago with Freckles when we saw The Nutcracker. It reminded me of the days when we lived in Washington.
 We would take the kids to the symphonies held at Benaroya Hall. 

Over the years we have found it to be very important to expose our children to the arts. We intend to make more efforts in the near future when we get settled somewhere. God has gifted so many with such talent....It is such inspiration to see the world around us, especially when life may seem so mundane at times. It is such a treat to hear beautiful music and see art through the eyes of others. I hope for my kids, to be well rounded in a sense. To enjoy good music and good art and appreciate all that God has given us to enjoy. 

The Preforming Arts Center had a few interesting sculptural pieces
around the courtyard as well. Mosaic pieces done by Niki De Saint Phalle...Just like
 The Mosaic Garden ( Queen Califia's magical Circle )
 we visited several years back. Quite interesting to see that someone
 did all those sculptures with rocks and bits and pieces of tiles.    

The day was quite enjoyable.
 I just love those kind of days spent with my favorite people in the whole world
. Hope you all had a nice weekend. Now back to grind.
Have a good week ahead.

Let The Christmas Week Begin...

 

We are making merry this week....I decorated another tree in my house.

 I got a little white tree for 8 bucks and set it up in the kitchen....

So glad I did...It looks so cheery.

 

Right now....We are lovin'

 She & Him's Christmas album....

We have been playing it over and over while baking and making merry memories.

 

We made Christmas Root beer Floats in some fun tall Christmasy Glasses from The Dollar Tree.

Whip cream, sprinkles and yes, a cherry on top.

 

A wonderful Santa gift came in the mail all the way from

New York City, for little ole' me.

  

This little guy was sent to me by

 My sweet bloggy buddy Viv.....

Oh man...this little reindeer is the sweetest thing I have seen in a while.

I am so excited she sent me one. He is so stinkin' cute and so tiny, he fits in the palm of my hand.

 He will be cherished for many Christmas' to come.

  

Okay, so we have been having some fun family game nights too....

We played Cranium the other night. It was loads of fun and laughs together. The boy's lost won....

There will be a re~match though...so, they better watch out.

  

Okay, so I couldn't resit.....

I had to show you this little guy one more time. Just adorable....Absolutely

 A~D~O ~R~ A~ B~ L~ E...

I love him.

Hope you have a fun filled week with your family.

We are counting down.