TC Cabaret Artists Network

I have taken a leap back into the performing world that I am very excited about!

There is a grassroots movement here in the Twin Cities to re-ignite the world of cabaret - assuming that it was ever here in the first place. Cabaret is its own mix of musical theater, storytelling and jazz gigging. It is definitely about song, but also aims to make an intimate connection with an audience in a small setting.

The group has been around for 5 years now and is building momentum with some very strong goals. It is a mix of jazz vets, radio personalities, musical geeks and educators. They share in salons every two months, promote their own showcases, mentor each other in workshops, and give a support platform for individual performances.

I am very excited about the collaboration and finding a new outlet that is of my own voice - literally and figuratively. Come to the Cabaret.

Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network

Just Jammin'

Last night - with the slightly cooler temps, Jeff & I brewed a batch of red raspberry jam. The berries were a crop from my own side garden and a neighbor's.

Now I am not the type that is a Dolly Homemaker! But I am not above cooking a good meal and everyone knows that I love to bake. (I also threw together a great chocolate mousse cake.) Last year I was turned onto this great book of making preserves in small batches. This appeals to me since I have very limited kitchen space, and no need to can 20 jars of pickles, much less store them somewhere in the basement.

The recipes are both standard and inventive. So far I have made a plum ginger jam, strawberry fig preserves, apple butter, both dill and bread/ butter pickles, and a pineapple rosemary sauce (that was a difficult one with the addition of pectin) Stay tuned for further adventures and maybe a ribbon at the state fair...

Does Practice Make Perfect?

With this down time between "careers" I am spending a lot of time and mental energy deciding what it is that I will do next in my long life journey... I am now both old & wise enough to hopefully not just move on to the next job. But I am examining my skills, interests and intuition to lead me closer to my calling. This following quote presented itself to me over the weekend and it really resounds with me. Part goes back to my teen-age drum corps training which defines my work ethic to this day. Also, my theater craft of keeping it both honest and practiced speaks to me as well. I am fine tuning what this is that I must create.

    What we practice, we get good at. In fact, research now tells us very clearly what distinguishes amateurs from the pros, or the experts. It’s the amount of time that people practice what they do. In order to become exceptional at what you do, you have to do two things. 

    First, you have to practice with intention. That means that you have to put in your time with the intention of becoming very good at it. If your intent is just to know how to do something or do it “good enough”, that is what you’ll get. To become expert, you have to envision yourself being an authority of your craft.
    Second, you have to practice a lot and consistently. Studies show that amateurs practice about 3 times a week for about an hour per sitting. Those who go on to be experts put in 3 hours a day almost 7 days a week. They become consumed with their craft.
    Finally, there is a magic number. Everyone wants to know the magic formula. How do we open Pandora’s Box? Becoming an expert demands about 10k hours of practice! That’s about 20 hours a week every week for about 10 years.

Rev Xolani Kacela

Fix You

This was a clip shared on Facebook today friend to friend. And another reason why So You Think You Can Dance defies the odds of reality television and raises the bar to a true art form at times. Season after season these performances amaze me from dancers to choreographers. I wish they would release the dance clips as solo outings on their own. Please enjoy and share.

Bummer in San Diego

I was looking at my morning news and saw that poor San Diego had a fireworks malfunction and the computer set off their entire display in one detonation. Looks like a finale from a Jerry Bruckheimer action adventure. LOL

Ours in Minneapolis were modest but enjoyed from a nice balcony on the riverfront.

Myth America

In honor of our Independence Day, I found this list of tidbits last week and was saving it to publish.

Did you know that the 4th of July is not our actual birthday? The Declaration was never completely signed and enacted until Aug 2nd. Did you know that there were really only 12 original colonies? Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until a year later. Check them out for some useful American trivia:

Early American History Myths 

My Heirloom Garden

As always, I enjoy the garden, the time put into it and the changing landscape from week to week. The colors and shapes are constantly in flux which I love. I get many comments from people passing by and am eager to trade a plant or hand off a seedling to any kindred soul.

But I think most don't realize that it is much more than a collection of blooms bought from the local nurseries. Yesterday I got a small envelope with small root samples of yellow moonflowers from my mom's garden that were carefully wrapped in plastic. They are just the latest addition of heirlooms that have been either handed down to me or collected from my travels. Half the stuff in the yard is from places I have been or a memory of family and friends. So when they bloom and come to life each year, they bring a story with them just as a photo or a scrapbook would. Here are just a few shared.

Peonies from my great-grandfather's old farm in Western PA

Coreopsis from my mom's garden

Trilium from the woods at Linda's cabin

Giliea seeds smuggled back in a glove from Prague

Naturalized daffodils from the Pretak farms in the mountains of the Allegheny

Fireweed from Jesse's national forests in WA

Sunflowers from Corona Italy

Real California poppies

Gorgeous red iris from Albert Lea