Happy Halloween Near Far And In Between

This was Zoe’s first year of pumpkin carving with a knife all by herself. I love the cupid pumpkin that she did! She loves hearts and always has! Hearts seem to find her… Heart shaped rocks, leaves and misc. things. I have always thought this phenomenon interesting.
We had an enjoyable evening carving a few pumpkins last night. I love this tradition and always will. Something very calming about taking the time to carve a pumpkin. We watched The Great Pumpkin while we crafted. I’m happy to say that the LED strobe lights that I purchased from Dollar Tree are nice. Very pretty and a nice addition to the rest of my Halloween treasures.

I’m taking the day off from stress. I just intend to enjoy every spooky, amusing moment that Halloween conjures up. Zoe has a school dance right after school and then trick or treating. I have been doing her makeup for her for years. Somewhere in there I need to feed the kid, before sending her off with her friends. My friend Mel will be taking the kids out. I will be passing out candy.
I’m glad for all of the kids that Halloween falls on a Friday! Plenty of time to really enjoy this fun filled holiday!

Here is a recap of some of the images I have had fun with this holiday…

…

Have a terrific day and evening. Stay safe and sane!

OMG,The Things We Do To Ourselves!

Change is in the air here. The mornings are nice and cool. The afternoon heat is tolerable. I imagine in a few weeks it will be cold here lol. Cold to us anyway. When you live in extreme heat for so many months, cool feels cold to you!

Halloween is almost here and I’m ready. Like a lot of you, Zoe and I will carve a pumpkin tomorrow night. I bought a couple of LED strobe lights. Good ole Dollar Tree! I find more little things there!

Zoe is going as a blue crayon this year. Her BFF is going as a pink crayon.

I stole a few hours on Monday that I worked on and posted a few more songs. Here are the links…
Downstream written by Rick Davies
Oh Darlin written by Rick Davies
Lost In The Game my own original.
Something More Than Nothing my own original

I had really hoped that I would find that I’m talented enough to make money doing this. The reality is that I’m not. I find like a lot of other artist that the dream is all in my head. It stays with me but the appreciation is all mine. The challenge of learning a new song to the arrangement and production- the pleasure is all mine. Not a marketable skill… Awwww! I hate that my husband was right on this! He’s been telling me all along that I don’t have a sound that fits in with this market. He told me he doesn’t like my music and he doesn’t “get it.” He rolls his eyes whenever I try to tell him anything regarding my music. So, I gave up trying to include him in it. I just hate that he was right. Part of me so wanted to succeed and show him that I could! I wanted so much to make it.

I could envision a whole other life… One of my own design and happiness. Freedom from the barrage of negativity. Like so many other women, I find myself in increasingly difficult circumstances. I’m fighting overwhelming insurmountable feelings of oppression/ depression too. I’m realizing that at 52, I gave my life away to everyone. I took care of people. I gave all of my time and energy to helping others achieve. I own this, I chose to do this! Looking back though I see that I failed myself miserably. I take care of people all day- There’s no pension or 401K. I have looked after kids, my husband and this house and everything that our lives are about… My Mom for years…
So my reality is overwhelming to me. I find that I need to be employed so that I can move out of this daunting, bleak and uncertain future. I gave away all of my power… god knows my husband is constantly reminding me of this with his words and actions. OMG.
I simply must find a way up and out of this condition. I’m sure the magic cure for all of this is to make money. Then, I won’t feel so helpless and hopeless. If anyone has any sage words of advice or encouragment for displaced housewives they would be so welcomed! I don’t think my heart could bare another negative comment or more ridicule. I have lived a lifetime of that, trust me on this…

Perfecting The Art Of Doing The Dance Of Joy, In The Street

I just got back from my walk and it occurred to me that I always say to myself that when I get through a difficult period of time, I’m going to do the dance of joy in the street. Ask my kids, they have heard me say this many, many times… So today, I did exactly that. I had my headphones on and my iPod. I looked up and down the street to make sure that nobody was watching and, I danced. I was listening to Earth Wind and Fire so it was easy to bust a move right there, in the street… I urge you to do the same today… Go do the dance of joy in the street! It’s liberating, silly and so good for your soul!
My revised original, Something More Than Nothing.
http://youtu.be/hGYeeZvIOtk</

http://youtu.be/nN4lOSQVXI4
my newest cover. You Know Like I Know written by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Have a great day and don’t forget to do the dance of joy, somewhere, anywhere!

Chicken Soup And Bread, My Cure All

I have had a week full of domestic chores. Yard clean up and watching kids.

Even some that don’t personally belong to me. I have hit the pavement hard this week with trying to run as much as I walk. This week I have jog/walked 8 miles. So, I feel good about that!

I made chicken soup, a favorite around here…

The broth was sooo good. This Costco chicken stock is the best. Not too salty! The vietnamese egg noodles make this really special. Such an easy recipe. Slow simmer the chicken. Remove chicken from the water. Take the skin off and debone it. Add your chicken stock.
Season your broth and put your vegetables in. I added a teaspoon of sugar and a bit of granulated garlic. I also threw some diced shallots in.
Slow simmer and return chicken to the broth and there you go! We cook the noodles separately because they have a floury starch on them to keep them from sticking together. Rinse. Serve separately and add them to each bowl of soup as desired!

Here is the ” Bread ”
Guitar Man

Seasonal Shopping, Boy Do They Have Me Pegged…

Halloween is coming soon. I love fall and all that it promises…(cooler temps soon in Phoenix). I was just noticing how influenced I as a consumer am by the seasons. I want/ desire seasonal products. I am a gullible consumer! They have me pegged. Companies are so good at packaging and labeling. So much of what we buy is emotional and impulsive. Well, it appears that I have fallen for this a lot!

I look forward to this product every morning. It is scrumptious and it helps me start my day in a fun way.

Here is another fun product. This really is enjoyable on many treats lol…

This, I am planning to make this weekend for Kadee’s Bday celebration…

Who doesn’t have these laying around the house. They look great in a dish. I don’t actually eat them… Someone around here is eating them I see…

<img src="https://tynajoymetzner.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_

These also look great in a dish or in cookies…

These are just a few of the many products available to consumers. All of these products are desired and purchased from emotional spending. Be it impulse buying or planned purchasing, it’s emotional. Thats ok… I quite literally eat this type of buying up. I’m not likely to change in this area of spending. I like buying seasonal products! I did however become conscious of this while drinking my pumpkin spice coffee this am. Lol.

On that note, I leave you with these note click here➡️ .Remember These???

Oh My, What Will I Be? The Halloween Saga…

This is what I remember about growing up in Pennsylvania. The fall leaves were spectacular! I miss this scene so much! My Grandparents lived in the woods of Elmenton, PA. This was a very familiar landscape there. I loved to walk the woods when I would visit them. No matter the season, the area was postcard perfect! I don’t miss the gloom of winter in PA. As a child I’m sure that I suffered from season defective disorder. Big time depression!
The scenery and the feel of fall were always my favorite time of year. My Mom always sewed the most beautiful Halloween costumes for me. She would ask me every year in August, what I wanted to be. We would go shop at Woolworths for a pattern and fabric. I loved that about my Mom! She was so very talented in so many ways. Creative beyond words.

One of the best costumes she ever made for me was a bride costume. She made it from an old lace tablecloth we had. It was so beautiful! I wish that I had a pic of that one. I always wanted to be something pretty. Never scary. I was a southern belle, a spanish dancer to name just a few. These were the most elaborate costumes! Just beautiful.

When I performed in a talent show in high school, she made a beautiful jumpsuit with sequins and rhinestones. So flashy! I loved wearing that outfit so much. This was the 70’s and bling was the thing!

When my kids were young, I recall that she made these elaborate Hershey Kiss costumes for each of the girls. Made out of gold satiny material. Soooo cute!

She would outfit all of my school plays,the entire cast, not just me! School clothes, my sisters prom dress. My winter formal dress. Beautiful coats. Sometimes without even a pattern! The woman could sew! What a lost art.
I did not inherit that ability or desire. My sister sews. Very few people sew anymore.

So, as a result, I will pay the $30.00 dollars for a cute/ decent and presentable costume for Zoe to wear this Halloween. She and her friends have decided to go as different colored crayons. Zoe wants a blue crayon costume. Her best friends will be purple and pink crayons.

Daughter Britt always fashions her kids costumes and here is a pic she sent to me yesterday of what she came up with for Liz to wear… So cute huh?!

Good job Britt!

Lexie also shared a photo with me the other day of Alissa in her costume for this year…

This was Kadee’s costume last year

Zoe the flapper a few years ago…

So here it is a few weeks from Halloween and I have yet to get Zoe’s costume. This is the goal for today. A little sad that I’m not as creative as some Mom’s ! My mother took the cake on this so I’ll stick to what I can do… Decorate and bake the cake…

Have a great day all! I would love to hear from you and about you too!

Reaching Back In Time While Attempting To Move Forward?

The following is only audio although I posted this on YouTube. I posted it without video because of the way I had to record it. I played the piano piece first. I used a second iPad to record the piano and violin piece I composed to accompany the piano. The sound quality is not great. When I played it back, I imagine that it sounds as if it’s being played on an old victrola . Lol hence the photo that is featured here.

I do hope that you can get the jest of what I was striving for?

Today I composed. I recorded a a few songs on SoundCloud . Actually, I spent some time composing. I had fun with my original, Something More Than Nothing.

✳️You won’t see any video, only audio… This is in part due to how I had to record this.

Have a terrific day!

Oh Geez, Another Sneeze, Pass The Kleenex Please!

There are days when I feel as old as these dinos. Especially when I caught some really pesky, nasty cold somewhere. Miserable but still functioning! Kleenex… Gotta love it!

Since I can’t sing…voice is pretty much gone due to my cold… I worked on songs that I can just play. I recorded them on SoundCloud. Here are the links…
Don’t Leave Me Now- Written by Roger Hodgson
Here is a YouTube Link to Roger Hodgson performing this song live. This is such an awesome performance…just wow!
Don’t Leave Me Now
I wrote a prior blog post about this artist… Still, he is a genius and an incredible artist! I love the genuine emotion and depth of feeling he imparts to his lyrics. In my better daydreams, I long to meet this musical genius! I wonder what it would be like to sit and have a conversation with him. I’d love to understand better how he thinks and what inspires him to write. I would marvel at watching his creative process if, I was ever so fortunate to have the opportunity. For whatever reason, I totally ” get” his music. It speaks to my heart.

Remember These? Derrick and the Dominos, Thunderclap Newman, Pink Floyd

Us And Them
This was my Mom’s favorite song that I covered as a kid. She would ask me to play this for her. I have been thinking about/ missing my mother a lot lately… This is for you Mom!

I miss you Leatrice June Joy Phipps.

I Find I’m Lost In The Game

Lost In The Game

What do I have to do to get through here? I want so much to be heard. I have so much that I want to say now. The words are falling into place.
I’m reaching far beyond what’s comfortable. I’m hoping to catch my big break.

I don’t understand why it’s so difficult. To find my niche and stake my place. It’s harder than I thought to impress you. I find I’m lost in the game.

Maybe it’s too late for me. I missed my chance long ago, but I was busy, with life you know, please tell me how to play the game.

Lately, I’ve come to see, dreams must be realized, in your head. I want this so much, I need some help and luck to make it through this maze.

I want to play but I’m lost in the game…
Click ➡️Lost On The Game

I think this pertains to feeling lost in general… Sometimes we all just need to feel as if others can give us a helping hand up. I find myself in a scary, dark and alone place today… My world as I know it is crashing and burning around me today. I will have to regroup and re build…Few days have seemed as dark and unsure… I need some pluck and resolve to get through. Maybe a miracle too…Dark night of the soul…
.

Nostalgia Or Showing My Age, Take Your Pick.

Why is it that cars break down in twos when you have two… My car had issues a few days ago. My husband tried twice to replace the fan assembly unit only to find out it was a plug that goes to the fan that was broken. We finally took it to a shop. I just got it back this evening. Now, my husbands vehicle is over heating, we think it’s the water pump. So looks like a few more days of being car less… Thats what happens when you have old, old cars! Still beats having huge car payments I guess.

Today I was thinking nostalgic thoughts. So in keeping with this I’m posting my cover of a song from Chicago V called Alma Mater. It wasn’t a billboard topper or even released as a hit. It was just a Terry Kath song that I have always loved. Another song that I could just play, Although I think I picked this song up in my 30’s. I loved Terry Kath. His soulful voice and incredible talent as a guitarist made him a gifted artist. A troubled gifted artist…Unfortunately he met his end of life in such a tragic and thoughtless way. Awww! His music lives on in my heart and on my YouTube and SoundCloud channel. Here are two songs that featured Terry Kath that I play.

Till We Meet Again ⬅️click here
Alma Mater ⬅️click here

https://soundcloud.com/tyna-j-phipps/till-we-meet-again-written-by
https
://soundcloud.com/tyna-j-phipps/till-we-meet-again-written-byhttps://soundcloud.com/tyna-j-phipps/alma-mater-written-by-chicago

https://soundcloud.com/tyna-j-phipps/do-you-dream-of-me-written-by