Sunday, March 25, 2007

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............




15 comments:

kenju said...

That was fun to read! You like blue glass? I have it in my windows all over the house, but a few other colors too. I once posted a photo of my kitchen window, but I don't know if you were reading my blog then. I'll see if I can find it for you.

kenju said...

Back again........go here:


http://justaskjudy.blogspot.com/2006/06/frogs-galore.html

Anna said...

I love that you have us a window into your kitchen! Very pretty.

Anna said...

I meant "gave" us....sorry. :)

Unknown said...

Wonderful photos and a beautiful read!
I too love having music on when I am in the kitchen.
Sunday mornings are my favorite time in the kitchen...abundant coffee and homemade pancakes!

daringtowrite said...

Thanks for the invite. Sounds like and looks like the kind of kitchen I'll be coming back to for more treats.

Rainbow dreams said...

Thanks for the invite, I'd love to visit. Your kitchen sounds wonderful. Some of the best parties I've ever been to have ended up in the kitchen, it has to be my favourite room :)

awareness said...

Hi Judy. I do like blue glass....and I LOVED yours AND the frogs. thank you for the link. My son's school, Garden Creek, has a frog for it's mascot!! I find that kind of funny. The school is full of froggie paraphenalia, most of which I'm sure were prezzies over the years from well meaning kiddies.... most teachers have collections in their homes too. :)

Hi Anna......I took a bunch of photos of a variety of things, but once I started writing (it kind of wrote itself) the pics didn't seem to fit the piece. I have others that I may integrate later with other posts if they fit there.

Hey Tori...I most often have the CBC on Sunday mornings. They have a great program, hosted by Michael Enright who is a terrific interviewer.....he covers a few in depth news stories and often has on some very interesting authors or musicians etc. Are you familiar with the CBC? It's our national radio station.....kind of like NPR.
I like to intersperse music with the radio.....depending on my frame of mind :)

Wenda.......welcome anytime....the bugs bunny cookie jar is always full of surprises.....good dipping treats to go with hot drinks.

Hi Katie.....it was fun to write this piece, because it allowed me to stop and think about the many gatherings over the years in my kitchen.....most often while I'm trying to pull something out of the oven!! Personally, I prefer to be the host in my own kitchen than to go out. Probably because I work full-time and it's just nice to be home entertaining. One day, I'd like to own a Bed and Breakfast.....

St. Kevin & the Blackbird said...

Love that post. Yours is one of my favourite kitchens on earth. Just learned "one day i walk" on guitar. You should hear holly sing it!

awareness said...

Robin, that is the nicest compliment I could ever receive..thank you. Nothing warms me up than having a whole gaggle of people over for a party and looking around to see that everyone is engaged and relaxed in my home. I love that feeling.

Just before Christmas, we had an open house.........people of all ages, mingling with one another....many had just met. I was swinging in and out of conversations in and out of my kitchen with goodies....feeling blessed to see that everyone was so comfortable.

All of a sudden, the guitar gets pulled out, and a friend starts playing carols. In no time, everyone was singing in my livingroom.......ages 4-74! Together!! Even some of the teenies!! All self-conciousness slipped away.......I slipped onto the couch between a bunch and sang along with them.

We have to get you and Holly back to Freddy Town.......to join in. I want to hear you play that Cockburn song and I want to hear Holly sing it!!

How serendipitous that you have just learned that song, Robin. I mean, of all the Cockburn songs out there........that one's an oldie.

Here's another.........

All the diamonds in the world.....

JP (mom) said...

I have a CD player in my kitchen too and love the mixture of music and food! Wonderful take on the prompt, JP

Regina said...

Oh, this was lovely- and it makes me sorry that I have not been around more often. You write so beautifully.
I look forward to re-visiting you again...

Kamsin said...

I love all the shades of blue in your kitchen, (and on this post). Calm and chilled out and a great place to hang out with some musical buddies from the sound of things!

awareness said...

DEb, RMC, and Kasmin.....you are always welcome in my kitchen. I'll even let you lick the beaters......

thanks for visiting.

awareness said...

Regina Clare Jane.......I'm sorry!! I was typing too fast and wrote down the wrong initials. Thank you for your kind words.