Updates

Lately our weekends have been more filled than normal with the recent RBC Build.  It's coming together beautifully.  Yesterday the ginormous food tent was set up along with the delivery of the kitchen trailer for the big 3 weekends coming up for the actual building of the structure.  Our purchasing trailer is right smack in the middle of it all and it's amazing that you can look out one minute and then the next suddenly everything is different.

 At first I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that we aren't actually doing the physical labor.  Our family has always been eager to help out and learn anything and it's been a joy getting to experience the cleaning crews, the electrical, the lightening, the hvac, and other departments first hand over the years.  Now though being behind the scenes yet in the middle of the chaos I have gained a whole new perspective.  The amount of time and money the brothers spend working on these projects voluntarily is amazing.  The society is keeping up with new information constantly to keep things going smoothly and the cooperation of the brothers adjusting to these new requirements  has been phenomenal.

Today we are taking a bit of time off though to head up to New Mexico to see our favorite Irish Step Dancing show, "Lord of the Dance".  It's something I would be willing to see over and over again.  Something about literally feeling the tapping of their feet through the floor that sends my heart soaring every time!  I can't wait to see how our friends from here enjoy it.  It is amazing how much Irish influence there is here in El Paso.  In subtle ways, such as the rock walls that are everywhere.  But according to our brothers and sisters during the boom of everyone exploring the West many Irish helping to build the railroads headed out this way.  There are still a few descendants here but the influence has been ongoing.  Just love it!  Not sure where else in the world you can have dry, sunny, breezy, clear skies, with palm trees and rosemary growing side by side.  Rock walls, and Rod-Iron gates, adobe homes, and alpine lodges all within a block from each other.

Well I best get going we have a big day ahead.  Love to all!

IN DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY

If you get a chance to visit Ireland be sure to have this song memorized before you go....as you'll hear it guaranteed...and of course in Ireland it is a necessity to sing along!  I'll never forget the little elderly gentleman turning to me and asking what I would sing and when I told him I didn't sing he simply stated, "Ter's no such ting as a person who can't sing. Ye either doo ore ye down't."

Here's some History on Molly Malone from Wikipedia:

The song tells the fictional tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plied her trade on the streets of Dublin, but who died young, of a fever. The name "Molly" originated as a familiar version of the names Mary and Margaret. While many such "Molly" Malones were born in Dublin over the centuries, no evidence connects any of them to the events in the song.[1][2] Nevertheless, in 1988 the Dublin Millennium Commission endorsed claims concerning a Molly Malone who died on 13 June 1699, and proclaimed 13 June to be "Molly Malone day".[1]

 

This song always brings a tear to my eyes though thinking of our dear little Abigail and her lovely rendition of this song which she spent loads of time trying to teach me.  Love you sweet girl give all your family a huge squeeze for me!

Heartstoppers

Little taste of Lord of the Dance which is coming to Las Cruces, New Mexico this weekend!

Gypsies and Flamenco

I love the music of the Gipsy Kings only thing is I can't keep my feet still when I listen to it.   Interestingly though they are from France.  Notice the biography from Wikipedia below.  Will have to have our dear sister from Spain to teach us some Flamenco moves.

The Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, France who perform in Spanish with accent from Andalucía. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War, with the exception of Chico Bouchikhi who is of Moroccan and Algerian descent. They are known for bringing Rumba Catalana, a pop-oriented music distantly derived from traditional flamenco music, to worldwide audiences. Their music has a particular Rumba Flamenca style, with pop influences; many songs of the Gipsy Kings fit social dances, such as Salsa and Rumba. Their music has been described as a place where "Spanish flamenco and Romani rhapsody meet salsa funk".[1]

Pic Link

For photos of the Build check out my Mum's Site
http://www.floursandfleurs.wordpress.com/

Building More Than Just A Kingdom Hall

And so we have moved into the second weekend of the preliminary stages of the newest Kingdom Hall build here in El Paso. There are so many in cue as soon as this one is finished as well.  So much growth here in the congregations it is hard to keep up!  I'm starting to wonder if the Kingdom Halls should adopt the ideas that the local schools have, adding portable classrooms (basically very nice trailers) to the yards to take in the overflow. 

RBC isn't just about building Kingdom Halls it is about building the brotherhood. I love that here during the builds you never know what language the prayer or daily text will be in.  Yesterday the morning prayer was in Spanish the afternoon prayer in English.  The buzz of spoken languages and sign language in the air is such a beautiful sight to behold.  Our purchasing crew is chugging along everyone working so hard to keep up and learn.  Although it doesn't allow us to be involved as much physically with the project it is an amazing crew to be a part of as you are there from the beginning stages through to the very end and after; learning what supplies must be purchased, how they are used, when they are needed, etc.  We get the opportunity to meet so many older brothers who are heading these projects and who have been doing so for years.  Their experience and patience is amazing!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to work along side my parents and two of my brothers in the close quarters of our trailer which we share with Accounting.  Sometimes I look at my family and just can't believe we are all here together.  I am cherishing these moments as I know it won't always be this way but for the times it is, what a joy!

I must get to work but please send me an email or leave a comment, I'd love to hear how everyone is doing :)

Extra Yarn Lying Around?

Here's a nifty idea that came up on http://www.shopruche.com/ (which by the way has some very cute Anthropologie/Forever 21 type items)  If you are looking for a quick and easy and cheap decoration why not try this out :)

1. Blow up balloons to different sizes, and try to mold them into spheres as you blow them up. We used regular party balloons that you can find at the store, but you can search online for larger balloons as well. Tie the balloons instead of knotting them.

2. Mix Elmers Glue (the basic white glue) with water in a bowl. We recommend adding a little bit of water at a time so prevent the mixture from becoming too thin. The end result should be similar to the consistency of paint.



3. This next step is just like paper mache. Pick out any yarn of your choice and dip the yarn into the glue mixture. Wrap the yarn around the balloons until you've reached your desired look.



4. Hang the wrapped balloons from the knot to dry. It may take a day or two for them to dry completely. Once dry, the balloons will fill stiff.



5. Try to separate the balloon from the yarn by pushing the balloon. Slowly let the air out of the balloons by untying the tie (rather than popping them) and continue to gently separate the yarn from the balloon's surface.

Mature Voices from Young Artists

Paolo Nutini- London

Bebe- Espana

Ceu- Brazil

Carla Bruni- France

Lovely, just lovely!

I believe this is a remake of Temper Trap (sorry mum not trying to steal your remake idea but couldn't pass up this song)  So lovely! Enjoy!

Exotic Flavors

I've always been a fan of unique sounds and music from all over the world.  This is one of my favorite Arabic bands the lead singer came out with a solo album, "Azim Ali" But here is an example of the slightly eerie yet soothing sounds of the Middle East that we here in the West aren't exposed to as often. This song is an old song in Uri and Persian about going on a hunt in the old days.  Enjoy!

This by the way would go well with some amazing food from Al-Zaituna in El Paso, or Tazo in Cleveland, or Aladdin's in Youngstown, or a good healthy exercise of Belly Dancing which you can check out more of that on former posts from my mum's blog http://www.floursandfleurs.wordpress.com/

And for some Indian Spice heading over to Chutney in West El Paso, or Indian Garden near University Hospital in Pittsburgh might do the trick.  Or youcan listen to the sounds of Anoushka Shankar, the half sister of perhaps a better known musician, Norah Jones.  And for those of you with a hidden love of the Sitar yes she is Ravi Shankar's daughter.

When In Rome- "The Promise"

There were no good videos to go along with this....Some of you may recognize the song from one of my all time favorite movies Napoleon Dynamite but it has such beautiful lyrics!

Interesting Places & People

My family and I have always found Cemetaries beautiful.  Especially when you've learned the Truth about death from the Bible, cemetaries take on a whole different meaning.  Often people speak of the History that can be found as you wander looking through the different engravings and I've stumbled upon a few interesting ones. 



For example did you know that here in El Paso's Concordia Cemetary the legendary outlaw, John Wesley Hardin is buried. 

Or that in the Allegheny Cemetary in Pittsburgh, PA the famous composer Stephen C. Foster is buried.

So as you're battling the winter cold and snow, or the desert wind perhaps you can take time out to wander through one of these little gems.  After all, we should probably familiarize ourselves with those we will hopefully have the opportunity to meet one day :)

I also came across a few famous people from here in the Wild Wild West of El Paso:
Billy the Kid
Calamity Jane
Pancho Villa

Tidbits from Yahoo

Saw some of the top photos of the week featured on yahoo today.  If any of you missed them I thought I'd share it below.  Just thought it was too unique to not share.

Mornings

Stefan wrote us all this morning at a lovely 4:30am (don't think he realized the time difference, he was so pumped I'm sure with adrenaline) to say he was on his way to Morning Worship.  So excited for him!  What a beautiful privilege to have this opportunity to serve Jehovah.  Jehovah's organization holds out so many unique opportunities and facets of service.  Like Belinda's brief teaser summary of the 2011 yearbook she sent the other day, it reminds us that our worldwide brotherhood is such a beautiful thing to be a part of. 



Pablo Picasso

I've always found it fascinating to witness the evolution of an artist's work as they progress through new and exciting medias.  One of the most interesting I've found is the work of Pablo Picasso.  His work has elements of both the late Impressionism period and the Modern era.  I find all of his work fascinating but came across some of his works that are less familiar and I thought I would share these with you.  Such discoveries I can not keep to myself.