Very little idea what these youngsters The Game and his friend Dre are on about, but what a groove. Download for free, repeat endlessly. Continue reading

Ah, January: month of new leaves, fresh starts and regret. Should you find yourself up in the wee hours seeking a no-longer-there warmth from the hot water bottle, listening for cars outside the window and thinking of bygones, may I... Continue reading

I've never been there, not yet, but this is one of my most favorite Christmas songs. I love the way it radiates warmth while remaining completely cool, big and easy indeed. Louis Armstrong - Christmas In New Orleans May your... Continue reading

The Gate by Marie Howe I had no idea that the gate I would step through to finally enter this world would be the space my brother's body made. He was a little taller than me: a young man but... Continue reading

The Christmas shopping is not going as smoothly as it could. My younger son's list includes (but is not limited to): - A penny that rolls by itself - A 'magnetic' (?) heliocopter with a monster inside - A dragon... Continue reading

I'm so grateful for my bloggy friends and our small little corner of the Internet. Let's dance- and then have a feast. Louis Jordan - Beans and Cornbread Continue reading

I loved this. It is exactly what it says, essays about how she became the poet she is. But of course in a larger sense it is about one person finding her way, partially, through books, through reading the carefully... Continue reading

We haven't had too many Contrast Podcasts this year, but James and Tim are putting together our annual Festive Fifty episodes as I write this. Here is the info from James if you want to take part. I can't wait... Continue reading

I tried to do this yesterday but my Internet connection had other ideas. This playlist is made from one of my brother's old radio shows. He was playing a string of hip hop classics one day in December 1998 and... Continue reading

1. Bottega Veneta Fall 2012 ad which reminded me of the first picture last time I did this (Breakout Session: "Is Fashion Art? Re/Imagining the Body" 3:30PM, Lido Deck, BYOB) 2. From a book of Henri Cartier-Bresson's photography 3. A... Continue reading

Autumn: Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and also post-season baseball (GO GIANTS!), spookily-decorated treats and, in my corner of the world, some of the loveliest weather we get all year. This past weekend the Blue Angels swooped into town... Continue reading

I made a little mix. We Go Home by Asweetunrest on Mixcloud Continue reading

I remember very clearly as a young librarian my supervisor, a senior children's librarian who was also in management and therefore involved in budgetary and purchasing decisions, being questioned by some other administrative types about the library's purchase of art... Continue reading

And here's one from my summer playlist. Mark K. may not mind us crashing in his basement but he seems a little crotchety about file sharing. I'd love to know what others think of the album, this song is by... Continue reading

<a href="http://markspence.bandcamp.com/album/hold-on-heaven-single" _mce_href="http://markspence.bandcamp.com/album/hold-on-heaven-single">Hold On Heaven (single) by Mark Spence</a> Things that have brought me happiness so far this summer. This song is free, just click to download, but I like the cover art so much I decided to do it... Continue reading

A slightly hurt hip followed by a nasty cold left me unable to practice, rehearse, perform or do many of the dance related things I usually do once the little ones are asleep and so all the sudden I found... Continue reading

Sick children so something from a favorite book this week, read at a late hour before getting up again. Just This by W.S. Merwin When I think of the patience I have had back in the dark before I remember... Continue reading

Image by Alice Myers via the Best Scottish Poems website At the risk of sounding like a wide-eyed American I will confess that I did not know what 'dogging' meant, in the UK sense, but I could tell I was... Continue reading

I love this song. That is all x <a href="http://japandroids.bandcamp.com/album/the-house-that-heaven-built" _mce_href="http://japandroids.bandcamp.com/album/the-house-that-heaven-built">The House That Heaven Built by Japandroids</a> Edit: The track is available for free here- link courtesy of Jeremy from the great (and completely legit) Fingertips blog! Continue reading

I loved this book so much I'm having trouble writing anything about it. It was one of those lucky secondhand finds, I'd never heard of it and had no idea who Gregory Orr was. Published in 2002, it looked pristine,... Continue reading

April 26th is Poem In Your Pocket Day here in the US. I've always liked the idea of it, of people carrying around a few cherished, crumpled lines maybe to share but truthfully just because they're needed. To borrow a... Continue reading

A little pressed for time this week but very pleased to report that marvelous Tim made a podcast for us. I was so happy when I saw it start to download. Enjoy x. Continue reading

Recovering from last week's festivities and shaking my head over the inner workings of my three year old who, through the round of bunny sightings, egg dyeing and hunting plus spring-themed baking, parties and days out, kept demanding to see... Continue reading

Happy Easter xx Julie London - Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most Continue reading

I've found a lot to like on this one. I don't know much about them but wonder if they their parents had a Sundays record or two kicking around- is it just me? It's hard to pick a track to... Continue reading