The above link is to a song we sang last November, standing truth to power to stop the war machine and stand up for a brighter day. Andrea and Rob Zucker hosted our rehearsal and had hoped to sing with us, but she was not well enough that day.  Her spirit was certainly with us and is still with us today.

Andrea slipped away from this earthly realm early Sunday morning. Her race was run. But her loving family and friends can see her vibrancy, twinkling eyes, and beaming smile right here and right now!

Many of you have wondered what I did with myself during my three months away this winter.  My next few blogs will share some of the stories and learning of this inward time of year. Hmm, going inward while going out to new places--one of life's paradoxes!

My desire was to rest, yes, but also to focus my calling(s).  I put the 's' because there were/are so many!  Do you feel the appeal of so many possibilities? That has been my M.O. Astrologers might say it's because I was born in February and am a Pisces.

Well, it has been a few weeks since the largest march in the world, The January 21st, 2017 Women’s March, drew women and children (and the men and boys who love them) out into the streets. In every corner of the world, in large cities where thousands marched, to tiny villages on every continent, women carried signs professing our belief in a kinder world.  I happened to wake up in Florida that day. As I sipped my morning tea, this marching song came singing itself in my head:

I am excited to announce the new name for our organization's website that covers projects offered by a trio of singer/songwriters based in western Massachusetts. Dorothy Cresswell, Helen Fortier, and Katie Tolles have made music together and individually for many years and have much to offer.  Some of our projects are The Curious Giraffe Show, Nana's Bananas,  the Happy Valley Children's Chorus, the Healing Circle Singers, and Bridges Coffeehouse and Open Mic (the last two are sponsored and hosted by the

Well, it has been a day of realizing our limits. We do not live forever.  At a talk by Terry Tempest Williams and  Lauret Savoy at Mount Holyoke College on Saturday night, we were reminded that our lives are like the blink of a shutter on a camera.  What will we do in our shutter moment?  We were reminded that we are not the only ones who live and love on the planet. All of creation lives and loves and eventually lets go.  

Today we visited with a beloved elder who has led the way on so many radical actions, and today needed assistance with her grocery shopping, grateful to get about with her walker.

Last Saturday, while having a good time offering some great sing-along kids music at the Amherst Winter Farmer's Market, this giant came walking up to me.  Who......? As a retired kindergarten teacher of 27 years, plus five other years teaching preschool locally, occasionally I find myself in this situation. But I don't usually have to look up quite so high. But the big smile, and the twinkling eyes waiting for that moment of recognition, sang loudly and clearly into my brain: kindergarten graduate!

The time has rolled around  for another Happy Valley Children's Chorus Concert!  

December 6th, at 1:30 at the First Congregational Church of Amherst (165 Main Street, Amherst, MA)

Don't these kids just make you smile?  They have been meeting every Monday afternoon for ten weeks, laughing and singing and widening their friendships.   Sunday they will be performing a set ofFunny Friendly Songsloaded with surprises and many solos, small groups, and whole group songs.

The Happy Valley Children's Chorushas their next concert December 6th, at 1:30, at the First congregational Church of Amherst. The title of the concert is "Funny Friendly Songs." 

Sometimes we have a large group of kids, 15 or more. Sometimes we have fewer than 10. Children's lives are just so full these days, or parents cannot get them to the practices, and so participation varies. But whether many or few, every voice that sings is a light on this planet and I am happy to encourage this in our area.

Bridges Coffee House and Open Mic was once again a fun, heart-opening time with new friends: Tulip, Amy, Ken, Ruby, Kafelte, Marcie, Lewis---all of whom I would not know except by coming to Bridges.  There were other longtime friends too: Dusty, Lydia, Ivy, Charron, Carol...The setting is relaxed, the conversation and performing is interactive, and you just come away feeling closer and glad you were there. Moments of faith and doubt, hardest moments, best moments, favorite oldies and sing-alongs, original songs, poetry, story-telling, what we're reading---all enrich our lives for the coming month.  You missed it this time, but maybe you'll come next time, or the next.  Be part of it. Be surprised!  Every Second Saturday, 3:00-5:00, First Congregational Church of Amherst Dining Room. Next one is October 10th.