© kimberly k. taylor-pestell, all rights reserved

iphone, vsco cam | a bryan birthday

 © kimberly k. taylor-pestell, all rights reserved

Dream come true seeing a live concert of

Her voice is even more incredible in person, her personality-

adorable and her expression- passionate. Thanks to Bryan,

for introducing me to her wonder long ago, surprising me with

tickets, and sharing such a delightful experience with me.

 The other artists included...

a whimsy with an edge,

and

 blue-grassy

 

iPhone 5, AltPhoto | a Wiltern evening
 © kimberly k. taylor pestell, all rights reserved

 
  19/29 | Twenty-Nine Days Challenge

Jason introduced me to Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn
of Pomplamoose and they are quite entertaining.

Their rendition of, La Vie en Rose, is one of my favorites songs.

The lyrics, slightly altered, from Jason's love-ly valentine:

inkling: happy notes | © kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved
 

moving me to light

14/29 | Twenty-Nine Days Challenge

Oh, Rosie.

I can't believe I have forgotten to remember
how lovely you are and how true your music is

{source}

meantime

In the days since Keech's death, I have ached to sit at a piano and compose.  Compose until there is a piece for Keech.  I feel a deep longing in my heart and fingers to express something beautiful in his memory, something that I could send to Yuka, Shuntaro, and Eitaro.

In the intermission before I can find an outlet for this, I found an unfinished piece from several years ago.  The errors are many and the pedal's screech at the end of the video is wrenching, but it feels like something for "the meantime" until I can compose again...

Untitled
composed by

© kimberly k taylor, all rights reserved

found again

 Allison Marie 
an original piano piece
composed years ago and dedicated to her

© Kimberly K Taylor

favourite song right now

I was introduced to these talents by beloved Bryan.  They are called Sigur Rós.  Have a listen.  I recommend closing your eyes so you can hear everything.

Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of:  http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/

today, it's music that makes my world steady and feeling:

1.    wild horses by charlotte martin 
2.    bird of a summer by a fine frenzy
3.    finding your feet again by denison witmer
4.    overboard by ingrid michaelson
5.    this side by nickel creek 
6.    pretty dress by rosie thomas
7.    breathe me by sia
8.    she paints me blue by something corporate
9.    new soul by yael naim
10.  a day without rain by enya
11.  agnus dei by libera
12.  night after sidewalk by kaki king
13.  hymn by bond
14.  i can't sleep by azure ray
15.  monoplain by susan enan
16.  truly, madly, deeply by patty carlson

 {cellular:  goodbye, home}

© kimberly k taylor

tonight, it's about the rain

it is raining outside. there's a consistent rhythm in a one-and-two-and-three-and pattern. it reminds me of music and clocks and safety. it's the sort of evening that would be perfect for finding old, lost love letters taped beneath an old floorboard. or the sort of evening you make hot cocoa, stir it with a silver spoon, and stay up late until your eyelids get heavy and then you fall asleep listening to denison witmer melodies.

i feel comfortable falling asleep to the sound of rain.

Over Again

I tend to listen to a new CD discovery over and over and over for quite some time. I don't need variation. I just want to get to know the music. And it takes me so long to memorize anything, which means that repetition is the only way I'll ever be able to sing along. And I listen and listen and start to sing parts of verses or choruses and eventually feel acquainted (for the most part). Then, I'll discover and new CD and the same pattern ensues.

Right now, every time I get into my car, I flip on A Fine Frenzy's album, Once Cell in the Sea. I'm particularly partial to Almost Lover and Rangers. A taste:

and the rangers stream out of their cabins
they are the hunters, we are the rabbits
but maybe we don’t want to be found
maybe we don’t want to be found

Now that's merely a tid-bit excerpt of the Rangers song, but I don't want to spoil the beauty of the song and you really should hear it anyways.

Pretty Much Perfect

Monday morning brings a wish to remain in bed until the sun is too bright to possibly sleep. Today seems to require accompaniment by A Fine Frenzy (introduced to me by Bryan). "You Picked Me" is particularly matching with this overcast, drizzling day (in which I have no umbrella).

I don't know if blogs are appropriate places to discuss diets. Yeah, maybe not.

Do you know what I find perfectly lovely? Well, let me ask you this: Do you have a place (such as a restaurant or coffee shop) where they know your name and you tell them random little daily tidbits that most people never hear? My place is Classic Coffee (and more specifically Jonathan, Casey, and Meg). They know me there and I don't know why, but it's quite perfectly delightful when you walk in the door and someone says, "Hey Kimberly!" And it's even more perfect you walk up and they ask, "Will it be your regular, today?" It's community, my friends, and it's something pure and simple and good. It makes me never want to leave Glendora.

And on, on, on to the rest of my day. Cherrio, dear ones...

Countdown: 9 Days Until I See My Love

Tisk (Happy) Tisk

Good morning.

And it is a good morning (especially because it is Friday morning and it is the last work day of the week). I have more energy than expected simply because I know it's Friday and I'm almost done with this 51 1/2-hour work week.

The pie is continuing to spread delight and joy. Brittany keeps dipping her pointer finger into the whipped cream and I expect it might just go faster than the pie itself.


I'm listening to a lovely song by Igrid Michaelson entitled "The Chain". Have a listen and tell me what you think. I do so enjoy her music. It is quite poetic and her voice is very isolated, which is lovely because her voice is so clear and peaceful and truly beautiful. Her songs are original, with words that are raw in a sweet sort of way, and an intimate feel as if the listener were a dear friend.

I'm working on my ideas. Of course, they're all in my head as of now. But, they are in there and sometimes they even swirl around and I know they're impatient to be acted upon. I hope they understand they'll have to wait for a while.

Countdown: 12 Days Until I See My Love.

Monday Morning Again

This morning, I found a leaf on the floor in my office. A pretty little thing, but quite out of place. And that was after my bowl of Life cereal, which did not wake me up as much as I'd hoped and thus- did not live up to it's name. In other news, this cold I've had since the beginning of March continues to cling onto me for all it's worth and has been deemed "ridiculous."

I tried Ben's church group, Exodus, last night and sat with BB and Joseph. It was different and I almost wished it were longer. It was good to be singing and thinking about Matthew 6:25-35, which - I think, not coincidentally - tells me "Do not worry." The man who speaks on Sunday nights, who's name I can't recall, said a sentence that really summarized what my fear is all about: "I'm loving this life too much."

I am afraid of not being able to do the things I dream of doing and being with the Someone I dream of being with for the rest of my life. I am afraid this world or my life will all end before I get to do and be. This is all selfishness, I know, but I am actually afraid of not having these things. I certainly am not waiting for the Lord with the hopes of witnessing His glorious return and being able to praise Him with all that I am. It's a matter of priorities and surrender. It must hurt His feelings. What I care to put in place number one instead, that is.

Doubting Thomas

by Nickel Creek

What will be left when I've drawn my last breath,

Besides the folks I've met and the folks who know me,

Will I discover a soul saving love,

Or just the dirt above and below me?

I'm a doubting thomas,

I took a promise,

But I do not feel safe,

Oh me of little faith.

Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face,

Then I beg to be spared 'cause I'm a coward,

If there's a master of deat,

I'll bet he's holding his breath,

As I show the blind and tell the deaf about his power,

I'm a doubting thomas,

I can't keep my promises,

'Cause i don't know what's safe,

Oh me of little faith.

Can I be used to help others find truth,

When I'm scared I'll find proof that its a lie,

Can I be lead down a trail dropping bread crumbs,

That prove I'm not ready to die,

Please give me time to decipher the signs,

Please forgive me for time that I've wasted.

I'm a doubting thomas,

I'll take your promise,

Though I know nothin's safe,

Oh me of little faith.

Something peaceful by Kim Coles

Sleep, Hunger, & Spirituals

Even harder to get out of bed this morning than last. Oh- and not in the depressed sort of way, mind you. Much more the tired sort of way.

It is only 11:15am and already, my stomach is telling me I should be eating lunch by now. And that is after a fine bowl of cereal for breakfast. A mug of Wu-Long tea and a snippet of peppermint bark will have to sustain me until 1:00pm. It's a spaghetti-for-lunch sort of day.

The Executive Board at the church where I work, used to have a collumn in the monthly newsletter entitled, Splinters from the Board. This title always rubbed me the wrong way as splinters often do, so I opted for a change suggesting, All on Board! I thought the lyrics used in many old gospel songs suggested positivity, unity, and hope. It was well received. The Reverend loved it and I must admit I felt quite proud of my little idea. Such things, however small, can make a day brighter.