Enjoy.

Photo: Skiing Holiday December 2011, Lark Lake, MN.

She loved and was loved fiercely by those that knew her.

Deep gratitude to all of you who have shown me and my family boundless support and comfort during this difficult time.

I am working on understanding how big and supportive love can be in difficulty, in grief, and in sadness. My heart aches with how I miss her, and how expansive love has been expressed to me and my family in these days.   Thank you thank you thank you thank you.   Here are just a few pictures of her in all of her exuberance.

Gram & Hazel

Hazel, Leo & Gram

The third of many installments to come, my annual articulation to sharing-honoring of what is on my mind and how profoundly grateful I am to be older, and hopefully wiser.
Deep deep gratitude for another year, many learnings and so much more.

lalalalove you.

1. You. Thank you to my lovely lovely lovely family friends and people who are in my tribe near and far. I am so so so grateful to you and your inspiration.

2. The return of this little lady Alejandro Larson. She went on a 1-month walk-about this November and returned 18 lbs lighter (serious) and a bit more wily. We love you.

3. Bill Murray. When my sister and I shared a room we had pictures of Bill around our room and when faced with a quandary, we would ask ourselves and eachother “What would Bill do?”.

4. Amazing local music. See Cloud Cult, Twilight Hours, Andrew Bird (adopted), Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Haley Bonar, Low, Cadillac Blindside (yep Tbird!), Dessa, Jeremy Messersmith, Heiruspecs, Fog and so many more.

5. This stately lion who is my first and second husband, my financial advisor, my chef, partner in crime and all around best friend. You. are. the. best. around.

6. Imaginations that transform the world.

7. Parents. Including mine, parents: you guys continue to inspire me.  Really.

8. Alicia Swenson O’Brien and Co. You are humbling in your crafty endeavors, spirit not to mention sense of humor.

9. Impossible Cool Project.

10. A kiddo soon to arrive in my world “Player to be named” McMillan Cross. I am so excited to meet you and tell you about our attorney, Nerdball.

11. These two clowns, Willie & Lucinda. You humble me with your appreciation, sweetness and all-around mischief (see pretzel-eating and brown-sugar devouring debacles of 2011).

12. Heavy Table. Thank you for articulating and structuring this lovely food community.

13. Rob Ryan.

14. Yogis near and far. Anusara Kula, I am humbled by what you offer and what I receive.

15. WashiTape.

16. Greg Brown. Musician. Activist. Gardener. Foodie. Fisherman. UP-er.

by Patty Larkin

17. babies in my world born this year. See Alia Grace, Hazel, Olive, Haakon Grinell our fairy godson and those players to be named.

18. 6am Yogis at YogaFresh. Your adhikara (studentship) is a-mah-zing.

19. People who raise chickens. Allen+Jessica and girlies in the ATL, Miss Amber in Bayfield—wow, I love your chicken schemes.

20. Fantasy Football-ers. Really. It’s on the list. I am fascinated and inspired by the depth of your curiousity and camraderie. (See Ricky Williams Fan Club members and Panda co-commissioners).

21. 3 wolves Comedy.

22. Keshi Zuni Connection. Amazing Zuni cooperative in Santa Fe. Bronwyn, you are a goddess.

23. Seeds and their gardeners. Seed Savers. Seed Banks. 

24.  Arcade Fire.

25.  Chefs who perpetually inspire.

Heidi.

Bea.

Deb.

26.  It’s gonna be a good year. 

27. Yeu & Selam. These two. You inspire me to NO end.

Selamawit, xo

Yeukai, xo

29.   Winter. I know, unpopular. I am grateful for you winter. really.

Willow River

30. Take-away shows. See all, including but not limited to:
Priscilla Ahn

Yeasayer.

Tapes n Tapes.

31. This lady. Gram. Speechless for your wisdom, heart and love. (PS: we split a beer on her bday. Surly for 97th.)

half-pint on her 97th

32. Water.

water. i'm serious.

33. Making this list.

For reals, it reminds me of the diversity and same-ness that makes me so so so grateful.  And so much more.

Namaste. xo

Gorgeous music by Jonsi.

Magical artisanal marshmallows.

Love the fonts and work of Jessica Hirsche

King via Impossible Cool

Allow yourself to just stare at that for awhile…take it all in. Then go on hiatus to the Impossible Cool for a few pages.

A few favorites:

I woke up this morning and Pete said, “When you’re ready for your surprise, let me know.”  I brushed my sleepy hair and head and sat up in bed, quite awake and  curious.
Some girls get coffee in bed. Some girls get breakfast.

This girl got Low’s Drums & Guns on vinyl.

Luckiest lady am I.

In related matters, we’ve been talking about how records are amazing and how there should probably be a jukebox in our future. If only to bring the  game we often play of “45′s we should have in our jukebox” to reality.

My love for records and music started with incredible parents. We had a jukebox in our basement that had brilliant records including these tunes:
1. I’m a Believer, the Monkees

2. The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the Tokens

3. 7 little girls kissing and hugging with Fred, the Avons

Perhaps the bestest:
the Good ol Boys, Waylon Jennings

And this for sure:
“Ugly Woman to Marry you” by Jimmy Soul

And, not to forget Eri’s favorite growing up:
Short People, by Randy Newman

I made a dream 45 playlist on grooveshark for the amazing record player…check it and weigh in your suggested additions.

Here are some jukebox options we like:

This was along the lines of what we had growing up, regrettably it was part of a flood and washed away any hopes of continued use. Even before it was much less fancy and more rough around the edges.  I need to track down a picture or two.

I kinda like this kind too, reminds me of what they had at Pizza Hut growing up.

Cheers to time capsules that are amazing tunes.
PS: bonus point, what song includes the lyrics from the title of this post? xo

blog it in

let me begin…

I am back. Missed you internet.

I took a fun-vacation last week with adventures…here’s the brief recap.

1. Yeukai’s play. Selam, Pete and I went to opening night for Yeukai’s starring role in Eclipsed, an amazing work by Danai Gurira.Check out Eclipsed at the Frank Theater if you happen to be in the Twin Cities. I am so so so so proud to know and celebrate this lovely and talented lady.

yeukai at the falls...a few weeks back

2. Arcade Fire.  I am still on a lofty, foggy and exuberant cloud from their show last week in St. Paul. Wow. For serious, in my short list of nights in consideration best night ever. Consider the charmed ingredients:

Arcade Fire (St. Paul was the first night of their tour +incredibly talent with a huge dose extraordinary creative intelligence+gifted performing talent+gracious exuberance=a.mah.zing.

We had a completely charmed night too…got off work and jetted to downtown St. Paul and met Abby and her friend Jake for drinks right before. Those who go to shows will appreciate the following:

-lack of serious traffic (esp. considering the Wild hockey game starting next door at the Xcel Center)

-parking for only $10 three blocks from the show in a surface lot

-having our friends pull into said parking lot 2 minutes behind us!

-walking to Pazzaluna and finding a table in the bar for four straightaway

-walking into the show and donating to Partners in Health and chat with a lovely volunteer who drove all the way from Milwaukee to help out. Inspiring.

-Seeing a grad school friend as we walked up the stairs to our seats!

-Waiting in line for drinks, walking to our seats only to have the lights dim immediately and watch the band take the stage….

While this won’t do it justice, consider a few of our photos…

Stachia Ann’s photography from the night are amazing…check out her shots for photographic excellence.

Walking out of the show, we were greeted with a chilly autumn night complete with rain that felt like a choreographed experience-a baptism.  We then bookended the truly spectacular night by meeting up with Abby and Jake in the rain and hung out at Great Waters.

Seriously, I know this is gushing, but it was the best show I’ve seen. With a bullet.

Pete’s seen Tom Waits a few times and even he marveled at this truly magical night.  Which makes me wonder, what’s the best show you’ve seen?

*****Oh and by the way, the day after the show we headed down to Illinois for…….

3. Granny’s 97th birthday.

You heard me right.

Gram turned 97 over the weekend.

We rang it in with a wonderful dinner made by Eri and yours truly, topped off with Sprinkles cupcakes.

Pete and I returned from our adventures in IL with dueling sneezes and coughing fits. We’re finally on the mend, with the coughing fits subsiding slowly.

A while back Pete’s dad passed down a beautiful old record player and some excellent vinyl.
For instance:

Sir Willie and Sir Waylon.

Beatles, Abbey Road

Michael Jackson, Thriller (yes this is the one with him cuddling the baby tigers on the inside panel).

Pete started collecting years before I knew him and he made the following wise acquisitions…

Far and away Petes favorite...Mr Tom Waits

Tom Waits, Rain Dogs

Tom Waits, Nighthawks at the Diner

Not to mention some of these…

Pavement, Terror Twilight

Since I came into the picture, we’ve enjoyed scouring for records recent years…and we’ve found some beauties on vinyl.
Highlights include:

Bob Dylan-Street Legal

Mos Def-True Magic

Bessie Smith, empty bed blues

And these… (I love when my favorite bands offer vinyl with e-downloads!)

Wilco, wilco the album

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

This would probably be Pete’s fave right now:

Steve Earle-Townes

Pete gave me this for a surprise and it is excellent:

Arcade Fire-The Suburbs

Pete used to spread all the records out on his parents floor and decide which records would be friends based on the artwork…like,

MF Doom, mmm food

AND:

Lyle Lovett, joshua judges ruth

There are so many amazing record stores in the Twin Cities, we’re bound to have a record date soon. Any records I should check out these days?

they're probably listening to Gwar

As my friend Dave + Trent say, records require active listening. Especially with our record player…it’s got endearing quirks these days. I’ve been used to turning on the ipod-and going all over the house but with records…staying close and really savoring them is difficult for this busybody, but so much richer.

i think they're listening to Nina Simone and then, everything changes.