movin' on

It's true, I am movin' on.

Bigger and better things are great and all, but it means making changes.

I'm starting small and moving my blog to wordpress.

I look most forward to having my own website put together.

Wordpress will help with this.

So, kindly go to your blog feed thing-a-ma-jig and add

http://agreenbanana.wordpress.com

It will be better for everyone.

you'll get to stay close and grow with me at the same time!

http://agreenbanana.wordpress.com

Stealin' Time

The natural beauty of the outdoors can be quite restorative. The peaceful flow of nature soothes and calms the mind.

We took a day trip to the forest this week.

Alabama is a beautiful state with so much wonder to discover.


This is the largest canyon east of the Mississippi River

Taking it all in.


Tiny Lizard King.


Passiflora, also known as Passion Flower, is probably my favourite type of wild flower, ever.



Bless up!

Dreaming in Water

We had a massive thunder storm roll through here last night. Our neighbourhood looses power just about every time for at least an hour.

In the midst of the monsoon, I was preparing to paint our bathroom. Just as I had finished taping the trims, the power went out.

What is a girl to do with no power!? No sewing or wall painting.

I busted out my lonesome water colours and painted a lil sumpin' by candle light.


It is a scene of a dream, my man and I have for each other. We want to own land deep in Appalachia and build a yurt homestead.

Some day.

It's all about projecting your dreams.

Crafting in my roots.

I can't believe summer has finally arrived. I have had my head to the ground in preparation of my upcoming wedding.

I have been most busy altering a vintage bridal pattern for myself. That's right, I am making my wedding dress. And because I am little bit crazy, I am going to make my bridesmaids dresses as well.

I have big crafty shoes to fill.

mama and her girls

My mom made her dress when she married my dad. She also made her bridesmaids skirts. Throughout my childhood my mother was always making something or renovating some part of the house. I like to say she is the perfect combination of Martha Stewart and Bob Villa. She is Nancy, the maker of all things awesome. I mean she made me, right?

bride and maid of honour

My sister, mom, and step mom threw the sweetest birdal shower for me. My sister and mom painted poenies on martini glasses with some enamal paint for our party favours. It was so easy paint, bake, and sip. They also made a super tastey lunch complete with mimosas.

If you are wondering about my pretty dress here is the scoop.

I finally made myself a dress from one of my favourite designs. My heart skipped a beat when I saw this lonely yellow vintage bed sheet at the local resale shop. Isn't is dreamy? See the green and white tier of the ruffle. I had it leftover from a skirt I sold a few years ago. Hoarding validation.

huggles!

Crescent City Chronicles.

A few weeks ago, I had an amazing trip to New Orleans with the love of my life. We partied down at Jazz Fest, celebrated my quarter century birthday, and fell in love with the city all over again.

We stayed at our favourite hotel, the historic French Market Inn. It has all of the Southern Charm and architecture you could ever want.


The one.


Here we are in front of the St.Louis Cathedral. We later had a magical meeting with a fellow artist for the first time in person. You can read all about it here.


Our first day of Jazz Fest started with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Be jealous, Dad!


Our good friend Josh went with us for the festivities.


Widespread Panic was so rockin!


Check out the sweet tribute flag to Mikey Houser.


Say Cheese JB!


One pound of powdered sugar per beignet and steaming cafe au lait. Repeat.


Late night Toubab Krewe to kick off my birthday. Who doesn't love a birthday show?!


We boogied down in a super intimate small show.

The three of us enjoyed a gourmet four course lunch to do my birthday up right!

Our buddy Josh, took us on an amazing home tour in Uptown. I didn't snap a single picture, but c'est la vie.

We went to the awesome and psychedelic premier of Phish in 3D in uptown. Check it out if it's showing in your area!


Savouring our last night in the Crescent City, we let her lead us. We ended up on lower Decatur at this super fun Russian themed bar named Pravda.

"...To get her in a conversation, Drink a little red wine...." - Paul Simon


The court yard was complete with classy music and turtles.


This is the skirt I made to wear on my birthday. This vintage fabric brings tears to my eyes it's so awesome.

Our second day of attending Jazz Fest ended with Pearl Jam. It was incredible.

~~~~~

I feel so recharged and inspired after a little R & R. It is way too easy to let work, family, and all the other details of life distract you from stopping and smelling the roses.

Even if you can't get away on a vacation, remember to make time for yourself.

huggles!

Whens Blogs Attack

I don't know about all of you, but I love to read. I read anything from non-fiction books, the newspaper, crafting magazines, to even old reference books. I really can't read enough. My last name (but not for long *teehee) is actually Read. Let me tell you that it is a great source for many an elementary school joke.


My new favorite place to read is on the computer. I may be a little behind, but I have really gotten into reading blogs for cooking and crafting inspiration. Checking in with all of these blogs can be a daunting task with opening multiple tabs on your internet browser. Insert blog lovin' ; the best blog reader ever! It's super easy to check in with all of your writers with bloglovin' stacking your favorites together like the pages of a magazine.

That's my two cents about all that. I have included a link to follow me with bloglovin if you feel so inclined.


Follow my blog with bloglovin

~hugs~

Standing Strong

Sometimes, I feel like my life is living me the same way a freighter rides the rails.

The feeling of vertigo bares it head while trying to balance a job and working from home

The creative juices flow, but have to be jarred for a later date

I have a sense of yearning to spin in circles until I am dizzy.

Focusing on bettering myself is hard when the outside world stretches you thin.

Drawing on my inner strength with patience for myself and others is no easy task.


All of these feelings remind me how important it is to take a few quiet moments of my day just for myself.


The big wheel is always turning. It will be ready for me to jump back on as soon as I've caught my breath.

Cheap Thrills

I went to an estate sale the other day. You never know what you are going to stumble upon at these things.

I wonder what the sale of my estate will consist of.....

Hopefully there won't be a bunch of unused craft supplies. I hate to leave things unfinished.....even though these are usually what I look for. Nothing makes me happier than an uncut pattern or unopened package of elastic. Nevertheless, I try to buy as few new supply items as possible.

Don't get me wrong I love all the fancy designer prints available in fabric shops, though most of the time the price deters me from purchases. Using eco friendly upcycled fabrics allows me to keep my prices low for my customers.

I try to find the style in textiles that are already made......my favorite finds include vintage (or just plain pretty) bed sheets, corduroy pants, table clothes, and anything made of knit fabric.

Back to my estate sale visit....I didn't find any craft supplies this time. I did find some awesome functional pottery.


I was pretty excited about the earthy brown tea pot. I scored a his and hers set of mugs that remind me of beehives. These mugs are huge and will be great for cold nights and chamomile tea.

The coolest score has to be the tiny "pitchers". I found out that they were made by a local potter and worth about alot more than what I paid for them. Antique Road Show here I come! Anyway, I think they may be nasal cleansing pots....or nettie pots. Mine will be used to refill my steam iron with water. Yay!


While bumming around my neighborhood I stopped at a farmer's little stand on the side of the road. I grabbed some of the prettiest yellow squash I've ever seen. I couldn't resist the peaches either. I will probably make a vegan potato salad with the tender red potatoes. The cucumber will be eaten raw. Miguel made a batch of garlic and dill pickles with our last local cucumbers.



estate sale fun $5 + home grown local produce $5 = summer time fun, priceless

Get outside and enjoy the warm season!

<3
Banana

Phamily Fun

Our town has free concerts in the park on Monday nights. We decided (more like Miguel tore me away from my sewing machines tee-hee) to take the dogs and soak up some tunes........


I've got several new items that need to be photographed and such.

In other news, I just go a new adjustable dress form. Yay!

Ramble On PaRt Two

So I've been busy sewing and neglecting the second post of my adventures.......but here it is as promised. Grab a cup of iced tea and bounce through my journey with me. :-*

Banana Bouncing through the forest

I think my favorite part of seeing live music is all the memories of of old friends and moments we shared over the same music that flood my mind{{{.....Does that makes sense?}}}

My friends near and far who have shared moments of time with me are forever etched in my mind. I am grateful to think of our time together and dance in their honor.

Anyways.....

Going on a three day leg of Phish was so amazingly fun. Miguel and I saw friends that we had not seen in years......not to mention gettin' down and dirty with the phamour phour.

When ever we have long distances to travel we try to break up the drive. We've found it makes for a much more enjoyable and restful trip.

On the way to Noblesville, Indiana we camped in a sweet State Forest in Southern Indiana to break up the drive up north. It was such peaceful way to begin out lil journey. We and enjoyed one of the trails and saw ToNs of wild mushrooms

trumpet-ly awesome-ness

This one reminded us of sea coral

Miggy fossil hunting

Before arriving at the Deer Creek venue we stopped at a few microbreweries within the town. Yum! We also had a chance to vend before the show on Shakedown....I really need to invest in a Canopy......it was flaming hot. Nevertheless, we took care of business and had a good pre-show time.

happy mama to be rockin the Jedi Mama dress

my lil spot

Anyways, the coolest part about hanging out was I saw a beautiful young lady who had purchased a dress I made and sold on ebay a few years ago. I did a double take when I first walked by her! We exchanged hugs and kisses. She continued to say that it was her favorite dress and she looks for my stuff on ebay. { Now that I am on etsy I forget to post something over there in ebay-land just for meare exposure purposes......**note to self :D }

The first set was really rockin with Moma Dance, Fluffhead, and Ocelot really tickling my pickle. In between the sets there was a CRAZY lightning storm. It was the gnarliest lightning I had ever seen, very ominous. It delayed the second set substantially and they actually let people go to their cars (we didn't go) for re-entry after the storm.

After much anticipation the show started up again. Drowned was a really exciting as well a Possum. 2001 was such a crowd pleaser. It felt good to soak up all that uplifting energy.

06/19/09 Verizon Wireless Music Center (formerly Deer Creek) - Noblesville, IN

1: Backwards Down the Number Line, AC/DC Bag, Limb By Limb, The Moma Dance, Water In The Sky, Split Open and Melt, Lawn Boy, The Wedge, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, The Connection*, Ocelot, Fluffhead

2**: A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing -> Drowned -> Twist, Let Me Lie, Tweezer -> 2001 > Suzy Greenberg > Possum

E: Sleeping Monkey > Tweezer Reprise

Somehow, like crazy people, after the show Miguel and I made how way to a suburb of Chicago. It was a challenging situation because getting out the parking lot took 2 hours. It almost broke me, for serious. I don't know what the deal was, but it seemed like every line we were in didn't move. AnYwAys, these things happen what everyone wants to leave at the same time.

Needless to say we made it safely to Chicago and set out for the sweetest lake house ever. It was right on the lake front, super spacious with beds galore, and very homey. A friend of mine said it would make a great "hippie fall out shelter" because of the seemingly unlimited amount of space..... :-D

All of our time in Wisconsin was SO cherished because we spent time with a very dear friend who we had not seet in four years......I realized that is way too freggin' long to be without each other........

Hanging out with old friends is such an amazing feeling because you pick up right where you left off.

It was SO uplifting and I promised myself never too let that much time come between us again.....

06/20/09 Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI

1: Punch You in the Eye, Runaway Jim, Stash, Ya Mar, Bathtub Gin, Kill Devil Falls, Train Song, Farmhouse, Sparkle, Run Like An Antelope

2: Waves > Sample In A Jar, Maze, Makisupa Policeman > Ghost -> The Lizards, You Enjoy Myself* -> NICU > Prince Caspian -> Waste > Fire

E: Character Zero

My fav's of the night incluses Ya Mar (shout outs and mad love Ashley and Too-La), Sample in a jar, Ghost (I love you Becca!), Lizards, Waste (my sweet Mig), and Prince Caspian.

we had to go for a dip in the cool WI lake to cool off, though the "hot" weather there was a far cry from the southern heat in full swing now

"Let's do dis!!!"

Miguel caught my off gaurd here making pretty eyes at him early in the morning

This pic was bitter sweet....the last night of our "tour".....but geez I love these people!

This night Miguel, our old friend Cliff, and I broke away from our crew to get nice and close to the stage.....well not that close, but closer! We had ample dancin' grass that was flat enough so that you didn't twist you ankle. haha!

The show started with the band's children coming on stage in tribute to Father's Day.....I happily sent my Papa a text messge wishin' him a happy day. It was truely touching. Wolfman's brother was really fun, but Avenu Malkenu was freakin awesome! Trey was so funny when he sang in "just called my probation officer". That's right buddy! Keep your nose clean! ;-)

The second set really did it for me.Down with Disease, Velvet Sea (more mad love to Becca!), Reggae Woman (hooolllaa!), and Slave to the Traffic light.

06/21/09 Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI

1: Brother*, Wolfman's Brother, Funky Bitch** > The Divided Sky, Joy, Back On The Train, Taste, Poor Heart, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday^^, Time Turns Elastic

2: Crosseyed and Painless*** > Down With Disease > Bug > Piper^ -> Wading In The Velvet Sea, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Slave To The Traffic Light

E: Grind, Frankenstein^&^

The encore got crazy! You could feel the happy sadness of the crowd wanting more.....The end of the first leg of summer tour was an amazing ride.......For Frankenstein Trey busted out a 5-neck guitar and Page's cute lil self busted out a vintage keytar he scored from a vintage instrument store in my hometown St.Louis.

here's a carppy pic from the screen, but yo uget the idea

Miguel and I capped off our trip with an evening in Carbondale, Illinois. We hit up a favorite Pizza Place (holla Quatros) and bar (Yeah Tres Homebres). We even walked around our old campus.....More memories flooded my mind.

Miguel in front of his first Dorm....awwwww

The young woman I was and who I have become. It was really humbling to get back to the woods where Mike and I first began our jourey together.

awww

deep in thought on Thompson Lake

All in all, I couldn't be any more grateful for my safe and gratifying vacation experience. My heart and soul needed the freedom of the open road, if only for a lil while. My creativty is bursting my mind as I type this........

Thanks for reading about my trips and I hope that you find yourself on a journey soon!

so much love,

B

Big Thanks to Phish.net for setlists.....