in my kitchen..........

"Oh it takes a worried man, sing a worried song
Takes a worried man, come sing a little worried song
Well it takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now, won't be worried long"
Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber
Skiffle Sessions, 1998

This morning, as I cooked a Sunday breakfast in my kitchen, Van Morrison and his friends joined me for a jam session........all the way from Belfast. It was lovely to spend some time with him, to catch up after a short repreive. A little bit of blues, a little bit of sass.........and a whole lot of toe tapping fun while I whipped up a batch of pancakes.

They stayed awhile to sing a few more Skifflely songs while I planted seeds, and putted around in my kitchen and then left as quickly as they arrived. Sometimes Van comes alone and takes me on a Tupelo Honey trip into the mystic...........he's a unique crusty troubadour who feels more than he EVER wants to talk about, but shows his true colours when he gets lost in song. I love it when he sings me a ballad. He warms up my kitchen like no other guest singer can...........and I have many guests show up out of the blue.........

If you were to take a peak at my kitchen, you'd think it was a typical place.........but OHHHH, it's so much more than it's appearance because you just never know who will pop in for a cup of tea in the morning, or a Friday night jazz fest. Just before dinnertime, my kitchen has been known to host Frank Sinatra all the way from Vegas heaven, or Mick and the boys rocking it out for little ol' me!! Nora Jones made her debut, as did a handful of Canadian bands and a few Fiddlers from Cape Breton.........in my kitchen.

Yeah, even when I look around I am comforted by the familiarity of the photos and watercolours which adorn my walls......of the pottery and blue glass within hands reach on the shelf all of which have been given to me over the years and used lovingly when guests join in......of the whimsical touches that always produce sunny smiles when noticed.......and of the CD player nestled in the corner which is where the music magic emanates from.

That's what Maritime kitchens are all about......full of eclectic magic interspersed with the familiar..........and always full of interaction. It is my perfect place to generate creativity, whether it's a simmering pot filled with blackberry aromas, a roast in the oven, a pan of brownies cooling on the counter.......my Maritime kitchen is where I do my best creative writing.

In my head,
as I doooobeeeedooooo...

Sundays are the perfect days in my kitchen, because the pace is so different than the rest of the week. When I have a open-ended Sunday to putter, I always feel more ready for the busy week ahead. I always feel more relaxed. With the window wide open to the neighbourhood so that the sounds of the kids playing basketball and road hockey breeze in, and with my musical friends to help me clear away the previous week cobwebs, I can process new ideas while doing......

It is where you find me at my best.

Just this afternoon while making dinner for example, I was listening to............(oh, and harmonizing ...... :) )

"One day I walk in flowers.
One day I walk on stones.
Today I walk in hours.
One I shall be home...... "
Bruce Cockburn........

And I got to thinking..........hmmmmmmmmm.............in my kitchen, I walk on flowers. In my kitchen, I have found my home. I think I'll write about it..........and send an invite to anyone who would like to join me for a jam session and a hot cup of whatever your heart desires. You just never know who may fill the room with beautiful sound.

Thanks once again for Sunday Scribblings and their prompt this week, In the Kitchen. It was fun, as always............