7 Quick Takes: shoe shopping meltdowns! disappointing Wendell Berry! our breakdancing priest and more!

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I've been listening shamelessly to this album on repeat all week.  Jesus said to be like a little child, right?

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I thought after our one year anniversary in Austin, I was all done breaking into sobs at the steering wheel -- lost and nearly killing myself in traffic.  I was wrong.  Who'd have guessed that the one of the worst sob and cuss-inducing experiences since moving here would be trying to find my way to Payless Shoes?  

I'm pretty sure someone called the cops on me after I cut across two lanes of traffic to make a (wrong) right turn.  A few minutes later, I noticed not one but TWO cops in the lane behind me and next to me.  I think what happened was -- before they pulled me over -- they saw me bawling at the wheel and felt sorry for me.  For a few minutes there it felt like I had my own police escorts.  

I did make it to the shoe store eventually.  Now if I could apply that same determination to fighting world hunger or some other life-and-death cause.  How sad if my obituary read "She was a woman who knew how to fight all manner of opposition to gain a new pair of shoes."  

Still, somehow, I'm pretty sure Jesus was glad about the shoes, too.

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Ironically, after confessing to all you the lengths I'll go for cheap footwear, I'd planned on mentioning Small Business Saturday in this week's Quick Takes.  

You've heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday?  Small Business Saturday falls smack dab between them, bringing -- in my opinion -- a little bit of dignity to our wacked-out consumer culture in a weekend otherwise designated for feasting on gratitude and contentment.  

I admit certain amounts of cynical suspicion that the shop local movement is sponsored by American Express.  If it were up to me the name of the day would be The Saturday You Make Wendell Berry Proud and Only Buy Stuff From People You Know On A First-Name Basis.

Not quite as catchy I guess.

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You may have noticed -- just to the right of my idealistic jabber about shopping local -- a flashing advertisement for chocolate cereal flakes or mind-numbing social media games.  This paradox is sponsored by the Murphy family's passion for paying our bills on time.  After  six and a half years -- and only God knows how many hours --  I caved to the allure of gaining financial benefit for doing what I love.

I doubt Wendell Berry's reading this blog anyway.

Also, according to Google's ability to know stuff, my ad demographic the 18-24 age group.  I'm going to take that as an affirmation on my youthful vitality and go friend them on facebook.  

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This weekend marks the Murphy family's second annual Parish Retreat with Christ Church.  You might remember me mentioning it here last year because it was a big weekend for us.  That same weekend our NY house sold, our son Alex was baptized and we discovered our priest's epic breakdancing skills.  

We also learned October is hot in Texas.  Not just warm, but surface of the sun sort of hot.  Imagine then the buzz among our congregation at this weekend's weather forecast.

A cold front's coming! (This would also explain why my sinuses feel like they're going to explode.)  

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Parish Retreat Talent Show 2011 highlight reel (actually only one of many entertaining performances):

The Rector Can {Break} Dance! from Tamara Murphy on Vimeo.

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pumpkin farm in Marble Falls, TX

Happy Fall, y'all!

Enjoy a beauty-filled weekend!

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For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Monday Mixtape: Rain for Roots, Lorenzo Duran's cut-away leaf prints, Iconagrapher Tatiana Niklova-Houston and an apple galette bonus track

There are few things in the world I get more excited about than imaginative, risk-taking, art makers sharing their work.

Each week, usually on Monday, I compile a metaphorical mixtape, a few "tracks" of art featuring the work of independent artists making good work.  (with an occasional pop artist thrown in for kicks)

Won't you consider this weekly post my little patched-together gift to you?  Hopefully, the post shares a little bit of happy with the featured artists, too.

Enjoy!

p.s., this mixtape is meant to be shared; help a starving artist and pass it on!

track 1:  Rain for Roots 

I've been waiting for the right moment to purchase this album and the right moment finally came yesterday we threw a baby shower for our Children's Pastor.  Rain for Roots is an album of songs telling big stories for little ones.  The collection of ten new folk songs includes music by Sandra McCracken, Ellie Holcomb, Flo Paris, Katy Bowser and their families with lyrics by best-selling children's author Sally Lloyd-Jones.  

Don't miss the adorable video of these female artists singing along with their adorable children.

Rain for Roots on Twitter

Rain for Roots on Facebook

Purchase Rain for Roots on iTunes

Purchase Rain for Roots at Amazon.com

track 2:  Lorenzo Duran, Cut-Away Leaf Prints

                                                                        Source: thisiscolossal.com via Tamara on Pinterest

This work blows my mind.  I can't imagine the time and dexterity required to carve the delicate images out of the organic material of dead leaves.  

via This is Colossal:

Artist Lorenzo Durán lives and works in Guadalajara, Spain where for the last four years he’s focused primarily on cutting intricate illustrations from dried leaves. He often depicts animals and insects as shown above, but has explored a wide variety of geometric patternsand also does custom work on request. (via fer1972)

track 3: Sacred Illuminations, solo exhibit by Tatiana Niklova-Houston

UPDATE: The artist asked me to share with you the gallery talk for her exhibit at VAM: November 1 at 7pm (see address below).  She also welcomes you to her facebook page, Sacred Illuminations.

photo credit

Tatiana Niklova-Houston hosted Christ Church guests in a private walk-through of her current exhibit in Austin.  I was disappointed to not be able to attend, hoping browsing her online gallery will make up for that disappointment in some small way. 

VAM Gallery presents "Sacred Illuminations": Celebrating light and the joy of the Spirit! Byzantine and South Slavic Iconography and manuscript illuminations inspired these 90 paintings. The symbolism and metaphorical imagery was executed in gold and metallic inks and acrylic paints, embellished by jewels. 

"Tatiana Nikolova-Houston's work beckons us to lay down our adult anxieties, pride, and prejudice and enter reverently into God's holy presence with humility and sincere delight of a little child," Prof. Tim High, UT Visual Art Faculty. 

The exhibition runs September 16 through November 17, 2012.  The artist will give a gallery talk on November 1 at 7:00 PM -- First Evangelical Free Church, 4220 Monterey Oaks Blvd, Austin TX 78748; Tel.  512/891-1600

bonus track:  The Apple Galette by Rachel Chew

the apple galette from rachelchew on Vimeo.

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Before I go, I should tell you that I love to hear what poems, pictures, 

songs and reasonable words you are enjoying.

  Please do stop by the comment box and share a bit with me.

7 Quick Takes: Bonnie Raitt is my hair muse! We are homesick for Autumn! My previous life as a kid's news TV reporter and more!

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We are so homesick in fall.  I suspect this is one of those realities that will stay true long past the long-awaited two-years-to-normalcy mark -- maybe even forever.  I can't even look at all those gorgeous pumpkin farm and fiery-hillside photos on facebook without feeling a little bit sick in my stomach.

Homesickness is physical.  Don't let anyone tell you different.

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You know how the news has to play equal parts Republican and Democrat viewpoints when they cover a speech or debate?  I sort of feel like that when I write about Binghamton or Austin.  Like someone somewhere is keeping track of how many times I comment -- positively or negatively -- about either one of the cities we've called home.  I'm guessing it's more likely due to that "over-developed sense of responsibility" I've cultivated since birth.

If I'm wrong, though, and someone out there is keeping track, don't tell me.  I don't really want to know.

--- 3 ---

We held a baby shower at our house yesterday.  Lovely opportunity to use the green depression glassware my mother-in-law shared with me.  Still a bit risky considering my recent experiences shattering fragile hand-me-down's.

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So, Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples performed Austin City Limits and, man, I wish I could have been there.  Watching it at the ACL website tonight.

Also, Bonnie Raitt is one of my hair muses.

See?

Now, if only I could add the guitar....

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Speaking of women who are rock stars, my sister Kaley's dreamed up more good stuff to help the rest of the world save money.  Set your own goals for a simple, joyous Christmas at The Merry Little Christmas Project through her blog, Cha-Ching on a Shoestring or at the The Merry Little Christmas Project facebook page.

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Other interesting tidbits from the blogging world this week:

Where the Internet Lives: The First-Ever Glimpse Inside Google's Data Centers at Collosal:  Wowie, wow, wow.  Someone's really into color-coding over there.

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Here's a little video explanation for all the pretty colors.

Looking at those rooms full of machines reminds me of the time in fifth grade when I was a news reporter for our local kids' news television program and got to fly to Disney World to cover the building of Epcot.  My pint-sized co-anchor and I got to walk into the underground tunnels beneath the Magic Kingdom to see where all the "brains" for the park were stored.  Boy, oh, boy I wish I could embed a video clip from that rousing expose here for you.

 If only....

Enjoy a beauty-filled week!

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For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

A Parenting Unrehearsed commercial interruption

 I'm taking a two-week hiatus from the Parenting Unrehearsed blog series because of back-to-back speaking commitments.  I've created a tab on the home page with all the posts in the series so far.

In the meantime, I felt like this little message summed up the entire series:

                                                                        Source: someecards.com via Tamara on Pinterest

Monday Mixtape: Kenyon Adams & American Restless, fontface from E+S studios, WeMakeStuff Volume 01 + an animation

There are few things in the world I get more excited about than imaginative, risk-taking, art makers sharing their work.

Each week, usually on Monday, I compile a metaphorical mixtape, a few "tracks" of art featuring the work of independent artists making good work.  (with an occasional pop artist thrown in for kicks)

Won't you consider this weekly post my little patched-together gift to you?  Hopefully, the post shares a little bit of happy with the featured artists, too.

Enjoy!

p.s., this mixtape is meant to be shared; help a starving artist and pass it on!

track 1: Kenyon Adams & American Restless

Yet another artist I've gotten to know at the Ministers to Artists Retreat at Laity Lodge each spring.  Just like most everyone I meet there, Kenyon's passions, talents, and work defy categorizing.  I met him first as the Arts Ministry Coordinator at the Center for Faith and Work, a ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC.  Then I watched him in the award-nominated indie film Lucky Life.  This past spring, he and Charlie Peacock teamed up on an inspired musical improv and I realized this man can sing!

Seems his band began kicking up dust this past year, recording and performing in New York.  Not sure why it took me so long to mention them here.  I promise you're going to love the sound!

From their Band Profile on Facebook:

"The blues is about a soul crying out before God..."

This statement captures our shared artistic vision to create progressive rythym and blues music which marries the southern soulful stylings of Kenyon Adams and the Chicago-based roots music of Noah Lekas (American Restless).

To this picture and in this scenario we wish to contribute our own "cries" out to God in solidarity with all who struggle to reconcile inner longings with the besieging cruelty of the mundane.

Band Instrumentation: Inspired by Muddy Waters Band, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Little Walter, Jimmy Hendrix, Elmore James, among others.

Kenyon Adams, lead vocals & amplified harmonica
"Restless" Noah Lekas, lead guitar
Shawn Best, Drums

Kenyon Adams & American Restless on Facebook

Kenyon Adams & American Restless on ReverbNation

 track 2:  fontface from E+S Studios

Speaking of that Laity Lodge tribe, Erik & Shannon Newby unveiled their newest venture, fontface on Etsy. E+S=fun and pretty every time!

About the shop (+ opportunity to be an arts patron x 2!):

We take pride in using 100% recycled, post-consumer and biodegradable papers and packaging. We also believe it’s important to invest in the arts, so we pledge to give 10% of our proceeds to supporting other creative initiatives and individual artists

fontface on Etsy

fontface on Facebook

Shannon Newby

the card I'm going to send Brian (don't tell him...)

track 3:  WeMakeStuff Volume 01

WeMakeStuff Volume 01 from WeMakeStuffVancouver on Vimeo.

I didn't know about this Vancouver-based indiegogo campaign until just a few days ago (thanks to DT for the hat tip).  How exciting to link there today and find out they've reached their goal already!  Still, if you'd like to contribute you have to the end of today to add your contribution (Monday, October 15).  Mostly, I love what they're doing and why they're doing it and thought you would, too.

The Artist-in-a-Tribe is a beautiful thing.

from the indiegogo page:

WeMakeStuff Volume 01 is a stunning book that will showcase one hundred artists and innovators from Vancouver exploring the collision of faith and creativity. It will be a historical document showcasing creative people expressing their process, intent and the tensions of their reality.

The one hundred are artists, innovators, inventors, engineers, architects, designers, film-makers, dancers, programmers, entrepreneurs, chefs and writers. For the first time, their collective voices are being recorded in one ground-breaking publication.

WeMakeStuff Volume 01 on Facebook

WeMakeStuff Volume 01 on Twitter

bonus track:  Homemade Portraits: Sophie Blackall

The Missed Connections of Sophie Blackall on Etsy blog

Watch more Etsy videos

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Before I go, I should tell you that I love to hear what poems, pictures, 

songs and reasonable words you are enjoying.

  Please do stop by the comment box and share a bit with me.

7 Quick Takes: Why Having Kids Shouldn't Make You Happy and other blog links, daughters making us proud, autumn in Texas and more!

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Last week I forgot to mention here my latest article published at Think Christian:  Why Having Kids Shouldn't Make You Happy.  Six hundred words were not nearly enough to address the subject; hopefully, I made a little bit a thought-provoking dent in the conversation.  

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Speaking of words on parenting, I'm taking a two-week hiatus from the Parenting Unrehearsed blog series because of back-to-back speaking commitments.  I've made a tab on my home page with all the posts in the series so far.

Want to hear the speaking topics I'm working on for a ministry group in our church?

1.  The four forms of abuse that children face (with a focus on sexual abuse)
2.  Narcissism and Relational Idolatry

You know, really light stuff....

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Other blog links I enjoyed from this week:

A new Wrinkle in Time at Think Christian: Madeleine L'Engle's children's classic is celebrating 50 years by welcoming new media adaptations.

Timeless: A Review of WaterSky - the album by Jeff Johnson and Phil Keaggy at Hieropraxis: Kevin Belmonte writes a thoughtful review of an album I posted in the last Monday Mixtape. 

The Life and Times of an Indie Filmmaker at Diary of an Arts Pastor:  Two Monday Mixtapes ago I encouraged you to get behind the indie film project Dragon Day.  This past week, the ever-inquisitive, always-affirming David Taylor interviews the filmmaker and producer Jeffrey Travis on his work and life as an artist, father, Christian.  It's a good interview.  I'm especially thankful to David and Jeffrey for giving us insight into ways we can support the work -- and the artist -- through prayer.  

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Last weekend marked Kendra's debut choir event at McCallum.  Her fan club gave her EIGHTEEEN THUMBS UP and assured ourselves she carried the night.  

Kendra's fan club at McCallum's Cabaret (super fan and father is taking the photo)

Seriously, we're proud of her and nothing makes me smile bigger than watching my kids doing what they love.

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A few days later, Natalie swam her first meet for McCallum's swim team.  In the pouring rain. Outdoors. In October.  Swim meets in November, December, January?  Outdoors.  #179 on the New York-to-Texas Culture Shock list.

We laugh around here at one of Brian's mantras, "We Murphys are a slow people."  Natalie laughed at that quote when she told us her overall standing; still, she beat her personal record by 4 seconds.  In Olympics numbers that's big news!

--- 6 ---

Brian and I enjoyed the gift of a little quiet retreat in Wimberley.  I'm not sure what it says about us that while the rest of Austin is crowd-surfing ACL festival venues, we're sitting on a riverbank staring at rain drops land on water.  All I know is that we loved every minute.

returning to the cottage (yes, NY friends, that's cactus right there. cacti?)

--- 7 ---

Wish I could have taken photos of every single patch of wildflowers we saw this weekend.  Who says autumn in Texas isn't pretty?

Enjoy a beauty-filled week!

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For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

p.s., if you've ever considered joining Jen's 7 Quick Takes blog community, this is a good week to start.  She's entering each participant in a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway. Deadline's Monday!