Open MIc Night and Mom's Blue Heels

We have a place in Pitman called the Bus Stop Music Cafe.  It's about become our community center - lots of music and good food.  A lot of the friends in our world have been made through connections that began on Open Mike night and went on...and on...and on!!  One such friend - no better could a person ask for...is Wendy Betz.  The first time I met her, I Photoschmoozer was attracted to the blue high heels Wendy was wearing.  Right away she had a story to tell me about them - they were her mom's and now they are Wendy's and they fit perfectly!!  From open mic nights, Wendy continued on with collecting her guys in a band - amazing all of them - Ian writes, sings and plays the piano and keyboard; Jim totally gets lost in the sounds from his drums - a lively addition to the beat; Rob - a newer member of the band is an incredible guitar player and Steve - well, he played guitar and has now switched to bass - quite talented - last night extended the group's entertainment opportunities - and here they all are in their special moments!!  Watch for them at Uptown Pitman Farm Market and other venues on both sides of the river.  You won't be disappointed - and our friendships continue to grow.  Through the Bus Stop...and Wendy - we now have 22 weeks of music bookings at the Farm market too!!  It's all so awesome - and for me/Photoschmoozer it began with the blue shoes!  Someone asked if I had a shoe fetish and I said NO, I am just fascinated by how people express their individuality by what they choose to wear on their feet!! 

Harmonica Pete and BLUE! Perfect Together!

So many of life's synchronicities lead us down a road we might never have expected!  When our son Jon was 10 and some months, we took a trip to Galax, Virginia in a truck camper.  We set out to explore and one of our destinations was the Galax Fiddler's Convention.  Bill wanted to buy a banjo and off we went!!  We explored along the way and in Galax, Bill bought a $50 banjo from Roger Sprung.  So what does this have to do with a picture of a guy and a blue Toyota Rav4?  Lots - remember I am talking about synchronicities.  Shortly after we bought the banjo, Jon had a skateboard accident and bruised himself pretty badly.  It was tough for him to walk for a bit so he stayed in the camper and picked up the banjo.  That's actually an understatement because he (though I am his Mom) is an incredible banjo player - even David Bromberg said so when we went to a jam at World Cafe Live Wilmington.  Jon got better and better and he and his friend Greg played a lot.  They met Jim Six, 'just like the number' and played with him.  One of Jim's friends is Harmonica Pete Cogan - also a Toyota salesman at Price in New Castle.  2 1/2 years ago we leased a car from Pete and last week, he called to say that we could end our lease early and get a 2012 model!  No long story here anymore because you can see from the picture that the new Toyota sits proudly in our backyard. Now you can see the connections!!  One banjo bought more than 25 years ago has led us to a new 2012 Toyota RAV 4 - and as an aside, to music at the Bellefonte Cafe in Wilmington where Pete plays on Sundays with Betty and the Bullet!!  I could go on with the connections, but maybe another time!!  Just get out there and LIVE!!

Spring Fling: Off to Adventure!!

Complexities of Teamwork!!

Goldie, Madeleine and Friends - Healing Happens!!

Healing happens...it just does!!  We can facilitate, look for the synchronicities and invite others to participate, but in the final event, it is those who are meant to be there who come!  Last night was no exception.  Madeleine Doherty has become more than a person playing the harp at a concert - that was three years ago.  Now, she is just a gentle spirit, a compassionate and giving person, and an inspiration and friend to many.  Last weekend was 'full of Madeleine' yet I knew it was not over - I wanted to visit more and invite her energy, along with Goldie the harp to our home.  That I did.  Someone asked how I pulled it off?  Didn't- just did and guess that is how I do things.  I want something to happen, put it out to the Universe and it manifests!!  I invited many people - so many were full of obligations, but seven needed to be together and we were!

Meet the group:  Sonja, Megan, Jane, June, Conni~Joi, Toni, Martie and Madeleine - there is light in this picture - yes from the lamps but also from the inner glow that was showing so naturally from everyone!  After everyone left, I turned off the lights and sat in meditation for about 20 minutes with the energy from the evening that has remained in the house.  So we have started something new - House Parties with Madeleine!!

http://www.madeleinedoherty.ie/index.html

Please visit and know more about Madeleine

Murals in the Frankford neighborhood...WOW!!

 La la la la la - fa la la!!  Today I was on my own and what makes Photoschmoozer happier than to be able to wander neighborhoods and see what I can see!  I had finished acupuncture, it was still lilght and off I went!!  
This was in the neighborhood of 2033 Frankford - Say AHHHH for Acupuncture - individual but group session with Caroline and our hostess Jessica.  Totally right for my healing and stage of life.  This mural expressed the music I was feeling in my heart - the fairies had been dancing and playing with me and the music was all around!!!  Tra la la - sunshine - fairies and the light of day to play on the walls and with the trees!!  All alone to discover the synchronicities of what was always about me!!

Tried my bestest to get in the whole shebang but couldn't quite get the plate and fork on the left - but the rest of the dinner was waiting.  I just stood for a long time feeling whimsical and wondering first of all how someone comes up with the idea and then how long it takes them to implement it.  As my friend Richie would say , "Awesome dude!"

Now this one is a total contradiction to the bright and colorful and whimsical but totally suiting my peaceful mood after I left 2033 - Say Aaaahhhhh -
a calla lily - another lily - a bird - maybe a cockateil - maybe something else but defintiely a big white bird and put together so well.  The fascinating part is how Mother Nature plays her part and adds in the trees and sky and stuff of real life to augment the work.  Maybe society could have left out the light post but hey it's modern times right!!

If I were kind and generous, I would call this one a mural as well, but truthfully it and several other walls were simply some of the most amazing graffitti I have ever seen.  It's all over the city and as I drove my GPS totally crazy by getting 'her' to recalculate almost constantly, I found all of these little streets that she never would have gotten me to!!  So, thanks Samantha - you are there in a pinch when I feel totally lost -but otherwise, you are going to have to work overtime to do your job and keep
striving to figure out where I am because more often than not, I know!!
 I wonder if this work is even on the list of the more than 3000 murals in the City of Philadelphia - I have to search for a comprehensive list and begin to check them off!!

City Sights!!!

Madeleine, Goldie and Healing Harp Music

It's not everyday that an Irish harpist comes to present a concert in a Yoga Studio in P:itman, NJ but yesterday was the exception.  Meet Madeleine Doherty.  When she comes to the states, she borrows "Goldie" from a music professor at West Chester University and they travel around the area - playing and healing.  Saturday afternoon more than 20 individuals gathered inat Yoga Inspired studio in Pitman, NJ for just this experience.  Madeleine offered us the stories of her life, her amazing harp playing and singing and a healing workshop as well!  We know so much about colors - or should I say colours?? and their significance in healing our lives.  so many of us have been blessed to experience Madeleine's beauty - within and without.

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Meet Denise Ashcraft, the owner of Yoga Inspired studio on Broadway in Pitman, NJ.  It was here that Madeleine and a few 'able helpers' , carried Goldie to the second floor to entertain in the peaceful environment.  Denise was celebrating the first anniversary of the studio.  I remembered saying that I wanted to do yoga and I wanted it to be in Pitman.  Now remember synchronicities - I was walking downtown a few hours later, and for the first time noticed the Coming Soon sign for Yoga Inspired.  Now it is a year later - and Congratulations to Denise for bringing so much to the Pitman community!!

In the audience was Anna  - a fourteen year old - learning to play the harp and blessed with an aunt who brought her to the concert.  My joy was watching Anna watching Madeleine and just taking in so much information.  While we listened to Madeleine and learned so much of her life's adventures  - the joys and the struggles - I talked to Anna - and took in this lesson myself - we are always on the Journey of self discovery and everything and everyone we encounter along the way has lessons for us as we are also their teachers. For this we must always be grateful!!

Putting Myself Out in the World

The Adventuresome Nature of Youth

Schmoozing Companions!!

Today the smile is a glow and as my friend, Judy Dingler from NJ Spirituality wrote, I am letting my light shine!!  When Jim called me the other day about interviewing "Photoschmoozer extraordinaire", I was thrilled and without a moment's hesitation said SURE!!  It's come past the point where I would say "Why me" and believe that it is totally cool!!  Today the article appeared in the Gloucester County Times and on Gloucester County Times on line.  As I read it to Bill this morning, he laughed out loud - several times - and I asked WHY?  His comment, "It is like you wrote it!!"    Yes, Jim picked up on my words but it wasn't until just a few minutes ago that I truly realized why?!?  See, Jim is a fellow Schmoozer and it takes one to recognize the other and value what is happening!!  He does - I do - WE do!!  His closing point about me in the article was about SYNCHRONICITIES and isn't that what I often write about in this blog?  Life is one giant synchronicity - just keep your eyes and ears open, be still and recognize them!!  YEAH!!!  YAY!!! or however else you might want to spell it - it's said the same!!!

 

So for those of you who don't know him...yet...meet Jim Six - he's a writer - to me, he is best with the human interest stories and he's been doing it for years.  For that same amount of tiime, he has been a singer/songwriter - songs about vultures for the Vulture Festival, songs about bull riding at the Rodeo - though you will not have the complete expreience until you hear the loooooooooooong story about what happened before and after the bullriding - have to go to one of his performances.  Last week, he played at the New Dodge Market in Elmer.  He's been at the Bus Stop Music Cafe, Coffee Works in Voorhees, Bogarts Books in Milville and the Barrinigton Coffeehouse.  Probably more, but that is a good indication of where you might look for him.  When he plays with my son, Jon and Greg Potter, they often tease about "Jim Six, just like the number!!"

No matter folks - it takes one to know one and I am honored and pleased to be a Jim Six friend, buddy and groupie too!!

Watch for his appearance at the Uptown Pitman Farm Market this summer - catch us on Facebook     Uptown Pitman Farm Market