musical family

I am often asked if I grew up in a musical family.

I found this photo yesterday in an old banana box
full of photos that belonged to my grandma.

I think it you have your answer.

I am in the case. Kate is the big sis by the piano.
I want that piano again.

xo
s

ps: Did you grow up in a musical family? If so, what was it like? Early piano lessons? Did your mom make you learn a harmony part for a christmas song? Did you have a family band, please tell me you had a family band! Were you encouraged to write songs? Fill me in.

summer festivals!

This may have been one of the craziest weeks of my life.

The last seven days have included:
(june decorating the uhaul)

-MOVING to Salt Lake City, and all the
packing-cleaning-heavy lifting-and sticker
removal that goes with it. We will be here for
three years for my husband's job.

-DRIVING from:
Boise ---->SLC (unpack truck)
SLC--->Boise (Play Alive After 5)
Boise--->SLC (back to house o boxes)
SLC--->Cedar City (rocking Groovefest)
Cedar City---> SLC (back to house o boxes)


-MUSIC MAKING
The best part of the week was making music.
I got to play the Alive After 5 summer concert series in
Boise with The Brothers Comotose. Thank you GO*LISTEN*BOISE

(photo by Jess Haskell Norton)
Next was the Utah Arts Fest with the full band. I have wanted to play
the Arts Fest for years and it was so lovely. We had a full crowd,
and playing music with Dylan, Ryan, & Pat always
boosts my happiness level to new heights. Thank you
Arts Fest for having us, and thanks to
Dan Nailen at City Weekly for the including us in your write up!

I saw my friend Paul Jacobsen open for Sheryl Crow
at Red Butte Gardens. He killed and the scenery up there is stunning.

(photo by James McDonald)
And I got to finish my weekend off by playing Groovefest down in Cedar City.
What a cool festival, the feeling there is really welcoming and relaxed. Big Thanks to Tim and Lisa for having me. I loved it!

NEXT UP:
ROOFTOP CONCERT SERIES ON FRIDAY JULY 1ST at 8pm!
FREE IN PROVO! An incredible band has been pieced together to faithfully re-create the Beatles "Abbey Road" album. I will be starting the night off.

My inspiration tip this week: Listen to Tift Merritt interview Josh Ritter on The Spark.

xo
sarah

30 Years. Let's Play a Game!

(baby sarah with grandma. nice hair grandma.)

Today I turn 30 years old.

In celebration I feel like playing a game.
The game is: 5 truths and 1 lie about my life so far.
( I may or may not love games and gambling.)

Ready? Ok, you guess the lie.

1. I have escaped a forest fire.

2. I once broke two bones in one day. Separately.

3. I hate eggs.

4. I've attended 4 rainbow gatherings. You may or
may not want to know more depending on how
comfortable you feel with nudity, camping, and trade circles.

5. I was the fastest girl in my grade school class.
Even won the 'annual turkey trot.'

6. Had a guinea pig once that ran away.
Came back a month later missing an eye.

Your guess is......

Anyone who leaves the right guess in the comments
gets a free download of any of my albums seen here.

xoxoxo
sarah

finding a bit of joy

I had a moment of clarity on Sunday.
The thought came to me that I needed to
LET GO.
Surrender something over
to let something else in.

I am choosing to surrender worry right now.
I am choosing to let a quiet joy enter my heart.

I realized quiet clearly that I spend
a generous amount of time thinking about me
and what I want and what I don't have.
Not that I think I shouldn't be clear on what
I want. But I think that worrying about what I
want is a waste of space and time. Especially
when so much of the life I want is in front of me daily.

Frankly, there are so many other people and events
that deserve a spot of 'generous thinking' in my mind and heart.

Now it is only tuesday...BUT I have eaten good food.
I have been playing the piano and writing a new song.
We had some of our favorite friends over for Sunday dinner.
I have gone on a hike with my daughter and
bowling with my husband.
I have my family.


(family photo attempt while in Kerrville TX)

I have enough and I am enough.
I am happy.

xo
s

what are a few ways that you practice feeling gratitude and letting go?

Happy Birthday June!

Three years ago today I endured a long hard labor
ending in a c-section to birth my beautiful daughter
June!
I had crossed the divide from one life to the next.
I no longer was responsible just for myself. I had
created life and my life would never look the same.

I remember feeling fearful about changes that would come with
bringing a baby into the world. And what is interesting
is that most of those fears never saw the surface. And those
things I feared that did show up, paled in comparison
to the bounteous love that was overflowing for the little
peapod named June.

I remember one night on my birthday, June was just
a month and a half old. I had felt left behind all day,
the celebratory dinner was a bust, I was an emotional wreck
from sleeping 2.3 hours a night since she was born. I felt
like all the people and places that I normally found comfort
in were a wash. Instead, I remember turning to June in my arms
for comfort. In fact, she was the only one who could
give it that night. Maybe it was because the love
I had for her was so pure and untainted that
she echoed that in every breath and glance? Or
perhaps her sweet small spirit radiated something
way beyond her 10 pound frame could contain?
Regardless, in my sorrow I found love---a pure love from my child.
It was a great lesson to me. June has continually taught me
truths in the last 3 years. She is my lucky star.
I have often found myself spontaneously laughing
or smiling while watching June live her life.
I will be forever grateful that this sweet girl
calls me "mom."

Happy Birthday June. May all your princess and fairy wishes come true!

ps. I remember my friend Dom a few years ago asked if June had entered the "princess" phase. I replied no, and remember thinking, "I don't think she will go through that"- WRONG.

pss. Me- June, what do you want for your birthday?
June- CAKE CAKE CAKE!
life. is. good.

xo
s

TRUE FANS

How is it possible I haven't posted in a MONTH!?

Sorry.

So I've been thinking of late about the concept of "audience" and "fans."
I remember once as a kid watching a Michael Jackson concert on TV.
The screen revealed women crying and basically going into seizures at the
chance to touch his gloved hand.
I've watched the dedication of jamband followers, who literally
drive from concert to concert making each new venue a home.

I've been in crowds of Josh Ritter fans or Swells Season fans who
sing every word and are an integral part of the show.
I've watched a town pick a band to stand behind and every
show becomes the hip scene that you would be drastically
insane to miss.

So my question today....How does that happen?
What separates, in your opinion, music that you find enjoyable
from music that you would tell your friends about, or make sure
you waited in line to see the show?
Is it the songs? Is there something about the live show? Is it because
someone you trust told you, you must check out their tunes? Do your
favorite performers give back to their audiences?

Being around music as much as I am, I still feel at a loss sometimes
of pinpointing what is working and what is not. I know of many talented
musicians who I believe are deserving of a larger fan base, but how does
that connection happen?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Who are your
favorite bands? What about them makes you want to be
involved?

xo
sarah

PS. HAPPY RECORD STORE DAY! Especially to my own Boise Record Exchange and SLC Slowtrain Records. I was in SLC this weekend for shows and I saw some mighty fine bands play this afternoon. Worthy in my mind of your listening ears :)

12 years old

can we all agree this picture is pure awesomeness?

I just found it and laughed out loud.
a few things to notice...

a. my sweet yamaha guitar passed down from
my mom's high school drama years

b. my sweet tie dye. if you didn't know me in
grade school--I will fill you in. There were many
tie dyes, batiks, fimo bead necklaces, leather
peace sign necklaces, troll earrings,
and the occasional taco bell fanny pack.

c. don't worry, the phone is the size of my head.
dear technology...you have come a long way.

d. the sweet previa van. this is also the van in which
i once ran over my brother. it's cool. don't worry, he is fine.

e. I love this photo, because starting very early in my life
I had a love for music and a desire to learn
how to write songs. I think I could learn a few things
from the 12 year old version of myself
about having the right intention and heart about life.

xo
s