Shake the Shadow's Big Night

As you all are probably very aware, Saturday night was Treehouse Sanctum's big night!

 

All of my obnoxious marketing and unashamed plugs finally paid off.

 

Oh, and their hard work, countless hours, crazy talent and blood, sweat and tears did too.

 

It was an amazing night!

 



 

It's not everyday you see your band's name on a sign. Nope.

And all those people you see? They were waiting in line for pizza because this past weekend just happened to be Denver's St. Patrick's Day weekend celebration. And these people had been partying hard since 9:00 am and nothing screams "I am already hungover and need my second wind" like pizza.

You guys, it was a constant stream of crazy outside. Men were running around like grown toddlers, doing anything for attention, and women were wobbling around in high heels looking like drunk giraffes who desperately needed a shower and the Bible.

And when you add the occasional fight, argument, tantrum, face-plant and overall lack of coordination, the night was ripe for entertainment and poor choices.

However, there was a lot happening inside!

\

 

 

For instance, these two: the heart, soul and drive behind Treehouse Sanctum. This was their big night!

 

 

 

 

And you can't forget the moms. Here is one of them with her firstborn. She sold t-shirts and handed out CDs like only a mom could do.

 

 

 

 

And here I am with half of the band. I admit, I was proud.

 



 

 

 My home girl Tara and I. We ate pizza and talked about selling t-shirts with the best of them.

Here is my favorite trumpet player. He was home just for the concert and layed down some sweet notes for a few of the songs. Double proud.

 

 

And here is 4/7 of our family.

 

 

 

 

After two great opening bands, Treehouse Sanctum hit the stage. And let me tell you, they were in it to win it. They played and sang their hearts out. And as the night went on, the crowds kept growing.

 

A blurry father/son shot.

 

 

Jam session.

 

 

 

 

Dancing crowds.

 

 

 

And this? Well, it could be one of my most favorite pictures ever. Play on, Daddio!

By 11:00, Treehouse Sanctum called it a night and the last band went on to close the show. Hundreds of people came, hundreds of dollars were raised for the Denver Rescue Mission and one very hard-working band got to usher in a new phase in their musical career.

It was music magic.

A huge special thanks to those who came far and wide to attend: Nadine, Mike, Bev, Mandy, Robyn, Gretchen, Chrystal, Tara, Alethea, Doug, Colleen, Ryan, Loren and Denise. You are pretty groovy.

And don't worry, I'll keep posting updates about Treehouse Sanctum. They deserve the shout-outs.

Besides, Treehouse Sanctum may need to open for me when I have my own cooking/talent/variety show. Hey, it could happen.

Freedom - It May or May Not Be My Favorite Song

Hello people of the Internet!

Here is one of Treehouse Sanctum's radically great songs from their album. It is called "Freedom" and is hot off the CD presses...or whatever they are called.

This could be my favorite. But don't hold me to it. I may change my mind. I don't know.





And speaking of albums, it is TOTALLY READY!

You should come and celebrate with them next week because you are still invited to their album release concert on March 15 at the Marquis Theater in downtown DENVER.

It will be epic!!

And super fun!!

And you can even buy a t-shirt!!

And I may even bring cupcakes.

What is not to love, people?

The Album Release Concert of Awesomeness

You guys. It is here. The big bash, the big night, the big concert to celebrate their album release: "Shake the Shadow."

And I could not be more excited for Treehouse Sanctum.

And can I tell you something? I have heard an early release copy of their album and it is freaking great.

FUH-REAKING GREAT.

I'm not making that up. You guys know that they pay me in high-fives to promote them. Their album is beautiful and soulful and fun and creative and amazing. There's even been some buzz:

“Shake the Shadow is Colorado proud . . . Steady guitar work and soulful lyrics dominate the music and leave a pleasant taste in the ear of the listener.” Tim Wenger, Colorado Music Buzz Magazine


“The art of the song is not lost on Treehouse Sanctum, who seem to explore new and interesting ways to harness the beautifully rich vocal palette of Rymer and Prado, with each subsequent track they produce.” Markus Greybeard, Literati Records


“That girls voice is kickin’.” Trevor O’Connor, Trevor Rocks Denver

I guess they are totally legit now.

And now here is the fun part: you are invited to the party!

YES YOU ARE! You are invited to the big, honking party that will rock downtown Denver for one glorious night on March 15. You do not want to miss this.

Details:
Who: Treehouse Sanctum with awesome guests
When: March 15
Where: Marquis Theater (2009 Larimer Street, Denver)
Time: 7:00 pm
Cover: $8
**All proceeds from the Shake the Shadow album will be donated to the Denver Rescue Mission.



I will be there. Treehouse Sanctum will be there. My dad will be there. Others will be there. You should totally be there.

Like Stretchy Pants

I spent this past weekend in Oklahoma, the land of my birth, the home of my soul, the source of my twang.

This trip was fast but filled to the brim of everything I love. We ate a lot, we talked even more and we sat around looking at each other, soaking up all that we had missed and everything we had experienced together.

Our discussions included (but were not limited to): pizza, nude beaches, Alamosa, cupcakes, OU football, the 4th of July, my grandpa, hair, gray hair, ping pong, cheating at board games, children, church, chips and queso, sleep apnea, Sonic milkshakes, colonoscopies, chickens and pregnant cows.

You know, typical.

Oh, and we also talked about my dating life, which is always awesome.

I may even say this was my favorite trip, and that's saying a lot, especially since we have had some epic talent shows, golf tournaments and Velveeta dips. This mini-reunion was like wearing your favorite pair of stretchy pants: comforting, familiar and forgiving.

Long live stretchy pants. And long live my family.

Ghee Buttersnaps and Others

Psych is on of my favorite TV shows. My sister and I write lines back and forth to each other all the time. In fact, quoting that show is one of the only things that will make me smile every time, even if I am having a hair day from Hades or I have recently fallen into a fountain.

The sis posted this on Facebook today. It made me giggle. And giggling at your desk in the middle of a Wednesday is one of the ways to survive the freaking frozen frigidity that is currently called "Colorado Weather."

Enjoy, peeps.





And you can call me Sasha Twinklepants.

The Recap You Didn't Know You Needed

My re-entry into the real world last week was a bit rough. My plane from the DR had to make an emergency landing in Miami. It had something to do with our landing gear not working properly and the pilots were 94% sure that we would land without a problem.

Ummm...

 

Awesome?

Needless to say, we landed perfectly and then proceeded through customs, immigration and then re-boarded with the same fearless pilots for our layover in Atlanta. But because of our small detour, both my aunt and I missed our connecting flights and instead arrived home much, much later.

HOWEVER. The trip was unbelievably amazing. Relaxation was the goal and it was accomplished in strides:

The weather was a perfect 80 degrees.

The food was so fresh and delicious that I actually ate shrimp.

There were long conversations into the night, both in Spanish and in English

There were new recipes to tackle in a fully-stocked kitchen.

There was dipping your toes into the ocean and swimming until you became pruny.

There was dancing. Oh, there was dancing.

 And there was time to soak up the glorious sun (with SPF 50, of course), while deepening old relationships and developing new ones.

It was dreamy in every possible way.

...

And then I came home and the Arctic Vortex arrived.

But my dad also came home for his 72 hour furlough and everything seemed right with the world, Vortex included. On top of that, I got to make cupcakes for a baby shower: coconut cream and double chocolate fudge.

They are my new best friends.

We also went out for my birthday. I wanted us all to be together to celebrate. Sadly, Claire was down with a migraine but the rest of us ate for her:

 

 

 

 

 

Carr looks like an undercover cop in this picture. Love it.

 

 

Spirit fingers at dinner? Of course.

Two of my most favorite boys.

And finally, if you didn't know, Denver is going to the Super Bowl this weekend. It's a big, freaking deal. And our downtown looks so fantastically cool. It's going to be a great game!

 

Time to Ride, boys!

A Few Days Away

In September, one of my favorite aunts called me to ask me a very lovely question: would I like to go with her to the Dominican Republic for a few days away.

Ummm...

I did not have to think to know my answer. The thought of warm water, white beaches and sun-filled days with someone I do not get to see very often was more than enough for me to agree. Besides, the words "beach house" and "80 degree temperatures" didn't hurt at all.

So tomorrow, in the depths of winter, with the brown, dirty snow lining the roadways and the cold air that flows over the mountains to land right on top of my house, I will rendezvous with my adventurous aunt and spend the next few glorious days soaking up as much sunshine as this pasty Irish girl can stand.

Everyone needs a few days away, preferably with a tiny umbrella in hand.

Dear Me at 33

Dear Me,
You survived 33.

You have more wrinkles. And your gray hairs now require more than just tweezers. You can't stay up late like you used to and the thought of having a night at home in your PJ's is almost equal to a night away dancing.

Almost.

You have battle scars from this year. It beat you up a little. It made you fight to be more of who you are. It made you grieve over things not yet happened, over too many things that went awry and it made you long for the the Home in which you were created.

You learned how to make the salted caramel sauce that has completely revolutionized your life.

You de-cluttered, simplified, and ate a lot of quinoa. You lost weight, gained weight and then lost it again (almost).

You had some unbelievably great cooking classes, completely void of food poisoning, house fires or blood. You realized that food is more than just something to eat, it a vehicle for friendship, comfort, culture and love.

You went on a few horrendous dates.  And then you had a few really good ones. They almost balance out except for the guy who looked like serial killer.

You now have to sleep with an oxygen machine. It is zero percent sexy.

You had to release a few of your dreams and plans. This was the hardest part of your year as you wrestled and waited and wrestled some more. God brought you to a place of heartache and then you (eventually) allowed Him to help you rebuild something new and better.

You have been blown away by high school students who know more about the Bible than you do.

Your car is still running. That will always be a highlight to any year.

You spent three days on the beach by yourself and it was exactly what you needed...especially when the Navy SEALS ran by.

Your friendships grew deeper, richer, became more valuable. You saw God work through people who then worked through you.

You cried over a boy. I hate when that happens, but you did. And he wasn't worth it.

You spent an entire day with your nephew and you found yourself completely in awe of who he is becoming: one part child, one part young man.

You became a bigger fan of your dad, more amazed at your mom, a more obnoxious cheerleader of your siblings and a better friend to yourself.

You survived year 33, but let's conquer 34. You are more than a conqueror in Him.


With great anticipation,
You

Shades of Blue - A Treehouse Video

Treehouse Sanctum is wrapping up their last song in the recording studio and are in the process of planning their big record launch!

Can I get a "Woot Woot?!"

Here is a glimpse behind the scenes of what it takes to make one of their songs, kids and all. It is totally a toe-tapping song.



Shades of Blue from Treehouse Sanctum on Vimeo.


Check them out on Facebook. I dig 'em.

Sugar Rush

Apparently Alabama lost last night.

 

 

Boomer Sooner.

Thanks

I love this week. I think I love the anticipation of Thanksgiving more than Christmas. I am pretty sure it has something to do with expectations and the lack-there-of for this upcoming holiday. You basically just have to show up and eat.

I can handle that.

As I think about this week, I am especially thankful for this guy:

He gets to come home this year. Noodles, Grandparents' Day, raking leaves, setting up a Christmas tree, pecan pie and his own bed are in his future. I cannot wait.

I am giving a big thanks for this kid, who although shot me in the forehead with a Nerf gun yesterday, is still young enough to cuddle and old enough to realize he has a very important place in our family.

I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that these two lovebirds are finally going on their long-awaited honeymoon. They deserve it, even if they do gross me out with their public displays of affection. It's out of control.

And of course there is Ferris Bueller my older brother, who is still thankful for all those who helped make his debut album dreams come true.

I am thankful for that too because now I won't have to sell a kidney for that to happen.

I am grateful beyond words for all those who have given me love and money for butter with Gourmet Girl to Go. I have had a blast with you in the kitchen!

 

I am thankful for more, like a car that is currently running and hot water in my shower. But for now, I'll just leave it at these. It is more than enough for this girl.

And the Goal Was Reached

Hey there internet readers: Guess what?! Treehouse Sanctum reached their funding goal for their new album!

That's right, you heard me. They needed $1600 to make it happen and 26 people came through and donated $2,285!

Wow. You guys are ridiculously nice.

They will finish up their album in the next month or two and then Shake the Shadow will be available for your listening pleasure.

Big thanks to all of you who made a gift towards their hard work. I admit, I am super proud of them. And I can't wait to read all the nice things they say about me in their album cover.

I am sure it will delightful.

And probably invisible.

Carr

I have the best brother-in-law in the world. He makes my sister oh-so happy, and for that, he makes the rest of us happy too.

Ten days after he married Claire, Carr stood before the judge and told him how much he admired my dad. He spoke with authority, never wavering in his conviction, about a man he barely knew but would defend with all his might. And as a navy chaplain whose heart and mind were created to both lead and serve, he has stepped into our family, often leading with words of compassion, wisdom and truth and serving with humility and patience.

Or in other words, he stepped into our freak show and has not looked back.

That is a rare man, indeed.

So, to honor this man who volunteered to join our family, we decided to celebrate his birthday in the only way we knew how: hurtling ourselves down a mountain.

My dad was home over the weekend so we took advantage of family togetherness and warm weather and headed up to Heritage Square to do a friendly race down the alpine slide.

Dad and I on the chair lift. Don't be fooled, I am really not that tan.

The course. It's intense.

 

We may look all nice and smiley but there was some serious smack-talk happening.

 

 

Mandy, Sam and Carr lined up and ready. They wouldn't let them go in tandem, something about mangled limbs and lawsuits, but they did try to catch up with each other.

(Between that picture and the next, 3 minutes of my life went by. It was exhilarating and only twice did I think I was going to fly off the side of the mountain and die.

I would call that a successful trip.)

At the end, I made in time to see Noah coming to a stop. He only rode on the fast track. Whatever. I was totally that brave when I was eight.

 

 

And here comes my dad, or as I like to call him, The Runaway Felon.

 

 

And here is the group shot. My dad is slightly hidden but that's okay, it was Carr's birthday and he can stand where he wants. A successful day in every way: no injuries and 3 minutes of awesome.

Happy, happy birthday, bro-in-law. I think we'll keep you.

 

Three More Songs!

I am knee-deep in orientation training at work so a profound, lengthy blog post from me is not in my immediate future (unless you want to come and teach a course or two on fundraising and then I would have ample time to talk about brownies and nail polish and what have you).

HOWEVER...

I just had to share this with you!  Treehouse Sanctum (the band belonging to my older brother and his amazing singing partner Danya, plus a few other crazy cool musicians) is only 3 songs away from completing their album. 3 WHOLE SONGS.

But, like any garage treehouse band, they need a little help from their friends.

So, they have put together a kick starter campaign to help them raise the last little bit to finish their debut album, an album that I am sure will go gold or platinum or some sort of precious metal.

Being the amazing, adoring, accommodating sister that I am, I wanted to let you see it! It's a pretty funny video, I totally giggled a few times.

And, of course, if you want to contribute, you totally can.

Otherwise, I may have to give up my inheritance for this to happen.

For the sake of my own future, feel free to join in.




GO HERE TO LEARN MORE!!

You guys rock my socks completely off.

The Airport

It is October! Somehow we have made it through 3/4 of this year and here we sit, with the holidays before us and the summer behind us. It amazes me that we are here already.

October also signifies the second anniversary of my dad being in Alamosa. He is still there, by the way.

Somehow we hit a routine this summer. For a girl who thrives on routine, this is a very welcome change. He comes home once a month for 72 hours and we go down there once a month for a day filled with chips, salsa and Walmart. It is in no way normal; it is bizarre down to its roots. But it has become familiar and there is a strange comfort in the familiar.

I realize that I rarely write about this journey, partly because of this new routine and partly because I do not always have the words. But, for the next month, I want to share the big and small ways God has kept us afloat, kept our noses barely above water, for the past 23 long months. These are His stories and His stories must be shared.

***

It is 460 miles round trip to Alamosa. That is seven hours on the road, any way you slice it. Thankfully, you have the Great Plains and one very long mountain pass to keep you entertained. Oh, and there is a Taco Bell.

However, there is an airport in Alamosa. AN AIRPORT. The chances of this town having an airport are slim to none, especially since they only have one Starbucks and zero Targets, all the things that point towards civilization and modernity. But yet, there it is, in the middle of a valley, exactly 100 yards from Camp Alamosa.

There just so happens to be direct flights in and out of Denver everyday, and one combination in particular allows for a 72-hour window. Exactly 72 hours.

When does that ever happen in your schedule? I'll tell you when: never. It never happens.

The drives down there and back (x2) would definitely cost more than a plane ticket. And it would inevitably mean that a person is taking a day off of work each month to drive down and pick him up. When you combine that with traffic, bad weather and the possibility of car trouble, his 72 hour furlough would become more like 50. And trust me when I say this: that his a huge difference!

Somehow, in some way, God placed my dad in a location that would allow for 72 hours of normalcy every month in the most cost-effective, time-maximizing way. And he allowed for this airport to be walking distance from his residence. He can literally walk to the airport and hop on a plane.

God took something mundane, like planes and cars and roads and airways, and made them miraculous to us. And this does not go unnoticed each and every month.

If I Had a Rain Day

For those of you who do not live in Colorado, we are experiencing a bit of rain. It has been raining almost non-stop since Tuesday and it should continue through at least Friday evening.

Snow? Piece of cake.

Rain? Mass chaos.

We don't really know what to do with all of this water because we live in a high desert climate.

(I almost wrote "dessert climate.")

(Of course I did.)

Rain always makes me want to stay home. I have hit the snooze button more in the last week than I have in a month. There is just something about the water running down your window pane to make you think, "Nope, not gonna happen today."

(If I lived in Seattle, I would be paralyzed with lack of motivation.)

So, if I had a Rain Day, and got to stay home with a totally free schedule, these are the things I would do:

1. Sleep. Yes ma'am. I would sleep until I couldn't possibly sleep anymore then I would move down to the couch where I would rest from all of the sleeping.

2. Bake. Oh, friends. The things I would bake! Some of them include my favorite Warm Apple Cake and Caramel Sauce. Perhaps the Pumpkin Cupcakes, and of course, Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. Then, I would tackle something new, like doughnuts. Oh, and I'd have a full pot of coffee available the entire time.

3. Read. I read the first two books in the "Divergent" series during my little beach getaway and I loved them. I can't wait for the next one to come out in October. So, if this rain day comes in October, that would be first on my list. I also need to catch up on some of my Joel C. Rosenberg, especially with all that is going on in Syria. And, I would probably read a cookbook because those feed my soul with inspiration.

4. Organize. It takes me a little while to get in the organizing mood, but it needs to happen. I have a year's worth of Bible study that needs to be sorted and filed, I have old clothes that need to be donated, budgets that need to be updated and ridiculous other things that are essential to me being able to function.

5. Invite a few friends/sisters/cousins over. They must wear stretchy pants. They must come hungry. And they must bring their favorite movie. Oh, and bring their own spoon for cookie dough.

(SIDE NOTE: The words "sweat," "exercise," or "muscle confusion" did not appear anywhere in my list. Let's just be clear.)

So, what would you do on a Rain Day?

How to Freeze Peaches

Today, let's talk about fruit.

You see, I love fruit. I eat it all the time, with almost every meal. And do you know who else loves fruit? Colorado. The entire state of Colorado loves fruit, and in particular, the peach.

Every August, Coloradans eagerly await, with reusable grocery bags and millions of dollars in hand, for the trucks to roll into town, loaded with the fuzzy-faced fruit of heavenly deliciousness. Once they hit the shelves, hoards of people race through the grocery stores to gaze upon their splendor. 

And we are not talking about any ordinary peach. Nope. We are talking about the PRIZED PEACHES OF THE WESTERN SLOPE OF COLORADO.

(I capitalize these things because of my respect for the peach madness.)

These peaches are only available for 3 to 4 weeks every year. During this time period, it is the only fruit people eat. And during the other 48-49 weeks during the year, it is the only fruit people talk about.




In an effort to prolong their shelf-life, my mom and I usually buy 20 pounds of peaches to freeze for
us to enjoy all winter. It's like we are pioneer women, except with actual freezers and cameras and Spanx.

Amen and Hallelujah.

So, if you have ever wanted to freeze your own peaches (or other fruit) this is how we roll:

First, grab your peaches, any amount you choose.

Now, grab your Fruit Fresh. This is a gem of a product that preserves the flavor and prevents browning of any fruit.

Fill a large bowl full of cold water and sprinkle in some Fruit Fresh. Then, start peeling...

And slicing...

 

And drop them into the cold water.

 

 



 

Once all the peaches have been peeled and sliced, drain the water from the bowl.

Now, add approximately 1/2 cup of sugar and a 1/4 cup of Fruit Fresh (for 20 lbs of peaches).

Stir them up.

And measure them into baggies.

We measure ours by our favorite recipes: deep dish peach cobbler, peach pie and then a few smaller baggies for times when you just want some cold peaches with breakfast.

These can last up to a year in your deep freeze.

And you'll have the AMAZING PEACHES OF HEAVENLY SPLENDOR to eat all year-round.

This really is so simple and you can do it almost every kind of fruit.

So go forth, fruit lovers, and freeze away! You'll feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder. Bonnets are totally optional.