Happy Holidays!

Walt Whitman

"Love the earth and sun and animals, Despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, Stand up for the stupid and crazy, Devote your income and labor to others . . . And your very flesh shall be a great poem."
Walt Whitman

My friend Matisse had this quote on her blog and when I read it I felt new breath in me, my heart was happy and kissed with goodness. I love it.

we got a new camera

We're still figuring out all the fancy pants things it can do and it makes great films which was exactly what we wanted. Now I just need to learn how to post them.

"Purple hair, purple rain". . . to the music of Prince

So, it isn't really purple anymore but it was and I was so busy I didn't fix it for a week. Warning: if you have blond highlights and want to go brown you may get violet stripes where the light blond was. Luckily, if I wore it in two little buns it wasn't that noticeable and I actually liked it. Don't tell my mom! Shh. (Now it's the color of what you see in the photos-- Jason says it is still purple).

Soren got a haircut too (compliments of me and Jason). We like it longer but I trimmed it and it ended up like a cute little mushroom so we decided to go short for a change. I just love his little round face.

And. . .Ta Dah! The other night one of Soren's friend came over and so we put together our gingerbread house. Second warning: this is probably not the best activity for 2 year olds if you don't like your little one to eat sweeties a lot. We still had a grand old time and Jason did a fabulous job of finishing it but at one point there was the distinct sound of little happy teeth grinding candy that was placed before them for decorating and I panicked. I survived. . . and isn't the house wonderful!

Master Cash and Gold Digger

Soren comes up with the funniest sayings and if our camera was working I'd show you photos of his latest installations. He made my new favorite today (he hung a little bouncy ball from the fridge with a rubber band and it was so perfect just cradled inside). Anyway, the other day he came up with the perfect nickname for Jason-- "Master Cash". What do you think? He has an affection for the word master and when he prays he'll say "thank you for the Master. . ." (I know, it's precious) and we think he learned that from the song "Bah Bah Black Sheep" with the line "one for the master. . ."

He also loves the song "Gold Digger" by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx and if I ask him if he likes a certain song that's playing he'll say "no I like the Gold Digger song." Jason had no idea what he was starting by putting that song on our playlist.

Creative Lab

My boys on Ashton Lane!

Above are two of my favorite places in Glasgow-- The Botanic Gardens and Ashton Lane. They're also the inspiration for a creative lab I'm working on for Dance House. I decided to create a dance about response to environment and how structure and surroundings can be tools for choreography. I started working on it this Monday and the choreography has developed into something. . . That's all I'll say for now. It's a work in progress. My friend and installation artist Jeannie Richardson is developing an instillation as a response to the two areas as well and during the piece there will be movement in and out of the art she creates. Her work is so wonderful and delicate (and time consuming) and I'm really excited that we are working together. I'll post some photos of her work soon. The creative lab is an informal sharing of work among other artists/dancers in the community (and those who want to come and see). I think I'd like this to develop into a film where it's shot in the studio space and then also in the actual locations of inspiration. What do you think Charla?

That window above is on Ashton Lane and is really MacKintosh style. When Jason and I have our own home we're going to try to fashion it with Mackintosh-ish furniture bits here and there that Jason has volunteered to make. We took the tour of his home and it's amazing and so dreamy.

This is one of the busiest weeks that I have ever had. I just need to make it to Friday evening and all will be well.