I am a Moth: Ryan Darton.

This is my friend Ryan Darton.
























He sings. He plays guitar and piano and bass and  adds new instruments to his repertoire constantly. He writes music. And this summer, he released his first solo album.

My first encounter with the album was "Sing to me Baby." It was the beginning of the summer, and this song seemed to capture exactly how I felt about the coming season--happy, hopeful, and a little vulnerable. Like you are aware that you are reaching for a dream that might not come true. Summers in the northwest can be fleeting, short-lived creatures, and wishing for a beautiful one can lead to minor heartbreak. Like most things in life, really. Ryan Darton has a knack for capturing that feeling in its many incarnations. If Ryan Darton is anything with his songs on "I am a moth," he is true.

Ryan Darton seeks to translate the beauty in all of life's experiences into songs. His care for life is apparent from the intimate opening tune "Summer and Snow" to the the energetic "Living this way."

The result: an approachable album brimming with emotional and musical staying power.

Ryan Darton hooks you with thoughtful lyrics and a variety of catchy tunes. He wins you over with warm vocals and melodies in "Uptight" and "Living this Way." He keeps you close to the speakers with the quiet love song (aren't those the best kind?) "I am a moth" in what might be my favorite moment on the album.

At the end of the album or just the end of your day, if you're not convinced that life is beautiful, just listen to "I am a Moth"'s closing track, Ryan Darton's breathtaking cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love." His rendition begins reverently, but quickly grows into an epic declaration, complete with romantic strings.

I'm listening to "Uptight" yet again and I can hear my kids down the hall. They are singing along. Ryan Darton's album has that effect. The opening song is an invitation, after all. An invitation to listen, do some soul-searching, sing along, and if you feel so inclined, pick up a khim to play along on "Camel's Back."

You can find Ryan Darton's album here, and watch for upcoming live shows. He puts on a great one.
Now enjoy this music video for "Sing to me Baby." It features some of my favorite scenes in LA and feels like eternal summer.

afterthoughts: jane eyre(s).

*watching movies in a theater really is an engrossing experience. i was entranced by this film and kind of sad when it was over because i wanted to see more. i don't go to theaters much anymore, so it was fun to feel the magic of the experience again.

*when i grow old i want to be judi dench. (or helen mirren, but for the sake of this writing i'll go with judi dench.)

*the film has many beautiful sequences that made me think of an anthropologie catalog. i kind of hate to use a commercial comparison like that, but i thought of anthropologie several times as i watched jane walk through gardens and forest in gorgeously corsetted plaid and plain dresses. it turns out the director is also a cinematographer. this is one of his first feature films and i'm excited to see more from him. i love how he brought the visual elements from his cinematographical background to directing this film.

*there are at least 22 film/television adaptations of jane eyre, including versions made in china, india, and mexico.

*the script for the 2011 film was adapted by a woman. this is only the second film version i could find that was adapted solely by a woman. a 1997 version included one woman on the three-writer team. the 2006 bbc mini-series was also adapted solely by a woman.

*i loved the styles within the film. mia wasikowska's hairstyles were amazing, and for some reason i was struck by the look of the women's bare eyelashes. and mia wasikowska is simply striking.

*i like the name jane even more now. my previous experiences with jane eyre left me wanting. i saw the 1996 version with william hurt as an introduction to the story. when i finally tried to read the book years later, those were the actors my mind's eye conjured. gothic lit is hard for me to get into and i actually gave up on the book halfway through because i wasn't enjoying it.

*i think seeing the posters from some of the film adaptations was very interesting, especially after finding out which versions were adapted by women and which ones by men. it's also funny to think that these films all tell the same basic story--would you ever guess that from their posters?

i would choose the 2011 version (7) purely on poster aesthetics: the simple, elegant font; jane as the main image; rochester as a part of her dress, as an element she chooses to make a part of herself. i am a bit curious to see orson welles (2) as mr. rochester, and that poster is the most intense. i'm not keen on the male dominance in posters 3 & 5. i suppose the male stars (george c. scott & timothy dalton) were the main draw for those versions, but it still seems wrong to have the namesake of the film in miniature compared to her male counterpart. plus what's with the ugly font on poster 3? that said, it's interesting that the 1934 version (1) has the stars in equal places, as does the 1996 (4) version.

based on the posters, which version would you choose to see? do you have a favorite film/tv version of jane eyre?

the end of things: toy story 3 and knuffle bunny free.

this is my somewhat wordy review of the endings to two great trilogies: the knuffle bunny series by mo willems and the toy story series by pixar*. there are spoilers ahead.

is it the colors? the clearly written stories and relatable characters? i would like mo willems fine, but i like his work so much more than fine because my kids, especially g, adore his books. we had fun reading some elephant and piggy books from the library this year. g constantly wants to read knuffle bunny, the only book by willems that we own. after reading an interview with willems, i was especially interested to see how the series would come to an end. i read it in the bookstore, trying not to cry in public. it was so sweet and beautiful, and it reminded me of the end of another beloved series that drew to a close this year. apparently i wasn't the only one to see the comparison. more on that in a moment.

toy story 3 was a funny one for us because we saw it on dvd, not in the theater, after hearing it lauded by everyone we knew. the first time was a bit disappointing, though i did tear up a bit. then i rented it again this week, about two months after the first viewing, and have seen it more clearly in subsequent (read: three more) screenings.

toy story 3 had many challenges. first, it had to draw us in with a fresh approach. as a sequel it had the opportunity to build on characters we have come to love over the years, but had to resist overplaying certain quirks so that those characters don't feel overplayed or tired. and finally, because it's the last in the series, it had to give the audience some type of closure without negating the meaning from the previous two films. initially i was skeptical--it felt like a prison break movie, not wholly unlike chicken run. i also couldn't decide how i felt at the end. i cried, inevitably, but wondered at andy's ability to let everyone--including woody--go.
am i so materialistic?

this is what i thought was so interesting about both knuffle bunny free and toy story 3. in the end, both trixie and andy examine their attachment to their cherished toys, then let them go. both stories have other themes too, but the theme to hold dear to memories then pass on objects is very strong. i know i'm sentimental, perhaps overly so, but i was interested that both tales end with such unselfish gestures. these actions probably stood out to me more because at the moment i'm struggling with letting go of my children's baby clothes--and my oldest is just over five years old! what kind of mess will i be in thirteen years? the more i think about it, though, the more i see that this is a wonderful message to teach our kids--to hold onto memories, then pass on beloved things. i have always believed in donating rather than trashing, but i still hold on to my fair share of material possessions. i hope to teach my kids to let material things go easier than i do.

i could go on about the materialism themes in toy story 3--how lotso is a perfect foil for woody ("we're made to be thrown away!" lotso yells at the heirloom 1950s toy woody). and how horrific the scenes at the dump are. how could we not think twice about throwing things away after that? the film shows on many levels the ways that we should--and shouldn't do things. We see the toys--their themes of sticking together no matter what, never leaving each other behind, risking yourself to help a friend, sacrificing your own needs for the happiness of others--are among the good examples we see. on the flip-side, we see how a lack of respect (lotso's perspective that toys are disposible) and what following a selfish leader can lead to. in the people, we see that giving is good, even when it's hard, and that caring for things--showing respect--is a form of love. i'm definitely thinking about the latter as i look at the toys strewn about my house and think, are we taking care enough? it's an important value i want to teach my kids.

i also love how toy story 3 (along with the first two films) shows a special respect for childhood, especially the magic of play. i remember holding my toys and feeling that they could come to life. that's something i want my children to have, too. sometimes it's hard to give kids quiet space and free time to play, especially as the world grows more competitive and electronic. it was gratifying to see the way Bonnie took care of her toys, and how she played--all out, full on imagining, no television or video games played. it was also gratifying to see that the kind, imaginative andy grew up to be kind and imaginative. being in the phase i am now, it's always encouraging to see other kids go through the growing up process and remain relatively their same sweet selves.

both willems and pixar do a fine job of addressing children and adults. i cried at both because i'm understanding more and more what other parents say about how fast childhood goes, and i think pixar and willems illustrate this all too well. willems writes the loveliest message to his real-life trixie at the end of knuffle bunny free--more than her unselfish action at the end, it's these pages that made me cry. in toy story 3 i cried during the home-movie montage that shows andy growing up, and the scene near the end when andy's mom sees andy's room packed up and is suddenly struck that her son is grown up. parenthood is crazy that way--one moment you're humming along, lost in the daily routine of things, and the next moment you notice something that triggers the realization that your children are growing up.

as a writer and a parent i love seeing how closely these works parallel the lives of the creators. these stories are based in truth, and sincerely reflect their true emotional experiences with great characters and quality production. in the fifteen years since the original toy story came out, i'm sure pixar has seen its fair share of high school graduations.

finally, i wonder what it's like for younger adults/teens to watch toy story 3. i keep thinking of my cousins, for instance. when toy story first came out, they were three years old. six months ago they were the ones graduating high school, then preparing for college and post-high school life in the summer. i think about my aunts, and wonder how it felt to watch this film through their eyes--these kids grew up playing with toy story toys and games and watching the films excitedly in the theaters. now, the series winds up just as childhood does for their kids. it's quite poetic, really. knuffle bunny free and toy story 3 offer riveting stories for children along with entertainment and guidance for us grownups who are on the other side of the process. they are both poignant tales with themes of unselfishness and caring for others. i'm inspired as a parent and a writer.

*i'm using pixar as a collective for simplicity's sake since the film was a collaborative piece--including more than one writer.

favorite things from 2010.

somehow there are two days left of this entire year--did it sneak up on anyone else? before 2010 is completely over, i wanted to note some of my favorites from this year of wonder. it was full and lovely and i look forward to 2011, whatever it holds.
note: some of my favorites did not come out this year, but they're my favorite things from this past year.

album: broken bells by broken bells.

i listened to this over and over when it came out in the spring. james mercer (the shins) has such a great voice, and this pairing with danger mouse is pure greatness.

album: the suburbs by arcade fire.

musically there's a lot going on, and lyrically too. plus the songs will always remind me of wandering the streets of nyc with b--we traded off humming "the suburbs" and other arcade fire riffs while we waited for the subway or looked for cool buildings.

album: abbey road by the beatles.

i have to admit i always respected and admired the beatles, but i didn't really get it until this year. i didn't grow up listening to them, and hadn't listened much at all until we started introducing some beatles songs to the kids--fun early stuff like "twist and shout" (which g calls "shake it up baby now") plus later fun stuff like yellow submarine" and "octopus's garden"--b made some beatles cds for our road trip to utah, and that was it. the medley on abbey road is incredible. "golden slumbers" is probably my very favorite, but it's really hard to choose just one favorite beatles song.

children's book: knuffle bunny free by mo willems,

& film: toy story 3 by pixar. for more in depth reflections on both, see here.

film: inception.

i love movies, but find very few that i am willing to pay full movie theater price times 2 + cost of a babysitter for three kids, so i rarely see movies at the theater. the only movie i saw in the theater this year. we saw it on an imax screen, and it was well worth it. the visuals were stunning, the plot and characters were intriguing, and one of our favorite buildings made a cameo appearance.

film: 500 days of summer.

we finally saw it on dvd this past summer, and i loved it. something about it just stayed with me. i especially loved the dual-screen scene that showed how tom wanted the party to go and the reality of how the party went. i've always wanted to do a scene/short film like that, and they did it so wonderfully. it was also fun to see a film appreciate the architecture of downtown los angeles, because b and i share that appreciation.

film: scott pilgrim vs. the universe.

fun fun fun. that's what this film was. fun on so every level.

live concert: neko case.

she is incredible live. it was amazing to hear her in person.

sewing project: christmas tree advent.

inspiration from here (some of it very direct). i finally finished our advent. i'm pretty proud of myself because it was a big undertaking.

cookbook: cook 1.0 by heidi swanson.

swanson is the writer/photographer behind 101 cookbooks. this vegetarian cookbook is so wonderfully simple. i've really been inspired the recipes this week--we're due for a major detox around here after all this holiday bliss.

book: silas marner by george eliot.

it's a simple story, but so beautifully written it really left an impression on me. it took a bit for me to get into eliot's 19th century writing style, but once i was in i was spellbound. i recommend it to anyone.

children's book: iggy peck architect by andrea beaty.

the illustrations are fantastic, and the rhyming tale of the young architect is refreshingly tight and charming. i need to find more rhyming children's books that have the same respect for meter.

website: fabricworm.com.

i love looking at their wide selection of fabrics, from heather ross to japanese imports, and their prices are pretty reasonable. right now i'm loving this.

literary discovery: the new yorker.

two of my favorite authors are new yorker writers, and i finally started reading it online more this year. i'm very excited to start getting it in the mail (thanks, whit!)

treat: homemade strawberry ice cream (made with organic strawberries) and ginger snaps.

a friend gave us some organic strawberries, and using this recipe. if you haven't had organic strawberries you should. the difference is incredible. i'm afraid i can't go back to overgrown grocery store strawberries. i was also excited to adapt my great grandma's ginger snap recipe to make them gluten-free.

restaurant meal: curry dosa at hampton chutney company in new york.

it was so good we went back with friends. mmm.

in the kitchen: heavy aluminum round cake pans with removable bottom.

perfect for cheesecake, and great for regular cake, too. this was a favorite purchase this year.

from the market: arugula.

i hadn't tried arugula before this year. it's delicious in salad and on pizza.

first with lulu: evergreen city ballet's production of the nutcracker.

it was just my lu and me. she sat on my lap for a lot of it. we were both mesmerized. she loved the music/dancing/costumes/everything. i loved sharing a favorite (ballet) with her.

one of my favorite memories with g: jane's first day of school.

we went to get donuts at a nearby shop. we both missed jane terribly. he's my special little guy.

first with flora: trip to utah to introduce her to family and give her a name and a blessing.

it's fun to see the effect our calm, sweet girl has on everyone we love. she belongs.

memory with b:

i can't choose just one because b gave me a lot this year. he won a trip to new york so we could go together, and our time there was amazing. for our anniversary he surprised me with tickets to bumbershoot, which was awesome.

favorite colors this year: yellow, pink, and gray or light blue.

what are some of your favorites from 2010?

mr. krueger's christmas.

one of my favorite holiday traditions is watching mr. krueger's christmas with the kids. the film is such a classic and it always makes me cry. i've been trying to figure out exactly why i cry every time.

*james stewart gives a beautiful, sincere performance as a man who is overlooked, but never feels sorry for himself.

*trivia: when the mormon tabernacle choir starts clapping and eventually gives mr. krueger a standing ovation. this was unscripted and the true reaction of the choir to james stewart. in turn the expressions on stewart's face were also genuine, and bring so much depth to the character.

*stewart's prayer at the manger of the savior is so tender. apparently he told the director beforehand that he would do it on the first take.

*i am overwhelmingly inspired when talented people come together and collaborate. in this case, james stewart, a masterful actor, and the mormon tabernacle choir with their beautiful music. i just have this belief that when you put together a group of super-talent, you will produce some form of greatness.

here is mr. krueger's christmas on youtube. you can also buy the dvd here.

the art of family.

i read this article a few years back, and have since had it in my head to have a creative space--a studio of sorts--where brad can make art, and i can write or whatever, and the kids can do anything and everything in between. i never expect we will have a large house, but i know that we will carve out whatever space we can for our family studio.

if you've seen any of the "i'm a mormon" spots, you'll recognize cassandra barney. i appreciate her perspective--see her video here.

words

hopefully you've seen this by now, but it's been a while since i posted a movie. this is one of the best films i've ever seen. ever. and it's about one of my favorite things: words.

you can see more radio lab films here. i also hear the podcast is amazing, lifechanging even. i'm embarrassed i haven't checked it out yet, but if you feel like changing your life today, here.

the palette project

i saw sofia coppola's marie antoinette a couple years ago and was really struck by it. i was especially interested when i heard coppola talk about the colors for the film. she worked closely with the art director and cinematographer on a color palette that they kept consistently through the film's design and filming. coppola collected pictures and small objects that stayed within the candy-colored palette she envisioned for the film, and greatly minimized the blacks and browns on screen. i had a greater appreciation as i watched the film a second time, and felt that their use of color was a powerful part of that film.
i am a list maker and collector, so to me, the thought of collecting objects or pictures based on color makes sense. it also sounds really fun and inspiring. i have been further inspired to start my own palette project after reading this article (which also provided the love images in today's post) from martha stewart living. the article talks about a few different ways to find color inspiration--and how to find your own color palette for anything, from your wardrobe to a room to a brunch menu or bouquet.
















i have started to pay more attention to colors i love, and have started to collect them. i have a file folder and folder on my computer dedicated purely to color. i'm excited to see how paying more attention to the colors i love--and hopefully finding some trends--might affect the design of our home and my life as a whole. for instance, is it a coincidence that both of the images on today's post feature some variation of a primary color palette? right now i find i am very drawn to dark yellow, light blue, and red or dark pink (sometimes light pink, too). gray is still one of my favorites, too, especially paired with more lively colors like yellow or shades of pink.
how do you find colors you love? do you consciously try to create color palettes for projects, your wardrobe, or your home, or does color just happen? what is your favorite color or color combination this spring?

Film of the Week: The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge)

Keeping with our March theme of flights of fancy, our next film flies in from France. It is the classic beauty The Red Balloon.

The Red Balloon follows the friendship that develops between a young boy and a magical red balloon. Little is said, and the film gives a glimpse into an old French neighborhood in the 1960s. Lulu enjoys this film as a 4-year-old, though she does find part of the ending a bit concerning. Overall, The Red Balloon has everything I love about French films--a quiet soundtrack, visual beauty, and a touch of whimsy.

Film of the Week: Mary Poppins

Let's go Fly a kite/up to the highest height/let's go fly a kite/and send it soaring...
Mary Poppins is one of the films from my childhood that I remember very clearly. So I was very excited to share the musical adventure of two rascally children and their proper nanny with my dear Lulu.
Watching Mary Poppins again was surprising. It has become one of my all-time favorite family films. I feel like it has such important messages for children and for parents. I could probably write a book about parenting based on the rules of the regal nanny, and the lessons that Jane, Michael, and their parents learn in their brief time with Mary Poppins. And better yet, it's a musical! With the dazzling music of the Sherman brothers (I could probably write a book about them, too) and real, show-stopping dance numbers.
The music is great, the effects hold up well, Julie Andrews is superb, and Dick Van Dyke speaks with a cockney accent. Mary Poppins is a fantastic film indeed. Lulu likes it at the age of 4, though she doesn't quite make it through. But that's the beauty of watching movies at home.

Film of the Week: My Neighbor Totoro

For our next film of the week, I am going to stick with this Japanese theme and talk about another one of our favorites. This one is an anime, by the Japanese film master Hayao Miyazaki. It is My Neighbor Totoro. My Neighbor Totoro is the story of two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who move to the country with their professor father to be closer to the hospital where their mother is recovering from an illness. It does not take long before the girls discover that their new house and surroundings are filled with magical creatures. The creatures are friendly, and seem to be there as protectors and friends for the children. When their mother has recovered, the creatures watch happily as Satsuki and Mei play with other children.
You can find this film dubbed into English--probably a good idea since there is a fair amount of dialogue. If you are feeling adventurous or watching with a child who can read, I highly recommend the original Japanese version with subtitles.
This film is best for children at least 4, and probably better for kids at least 6 or 7.

Film of the Week: Komaneko (A True Friend)

I am always on the lookout for beautiful, simple films that children and adults can enjoy together. These tend to be quiet films, with a strong story and strong characters, and plenty of visual interest. My adoration of film comes partly from my upbringing and partly from my college studies.
I stumbled on this delightful stop-motion film by Tsuneo Goda when I was investigating the origins of Domo. (the original Domo Japanese ads, also stop-motions by Goda, are also worth seeking.) A True Friend is broken into parts on Youtube. I watched it in these parts with Lulu for bedtime a while back, and we both found it highly enjoyable. There is little dialogue and the soundtrack is sparse--it's a quiet film, which helps to draw the viewer into the magical world Goda has created.
I have posted all four parts here. I recommend showing it in parts and discussing each part with your child as you watch. Watching films at home with children is ideal--you're in a familiar, controlled setting, and you have control over the film. Stopping for discussion or to take breaks during a long film should be part of the process for a young viewer.
This film is suitable for ages 3 up. If you watch tv/films with your two-year-old, this one should be fine once you get past the first Yeti sightings. Of course, I recommend you preview it and any film first since you know your child best.