Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie has been nearly deaf since she was 12 years old, but somehow that hasn’t stopped her from becoming an excellent percussionist and making music with orchestras all over the world. Last year, she gave the TED talk, above, about listening with your whole body – a lesson I think most of us could stand to listen to over and over again when we can’t figure out why we connect with music.

I’ve always been a rhythm sort of girl (I think the double-bass gave that away), so I’m really quite excited that Evelyn Glennie is playing in Ottawa this week. Conveniently, it’s at the NAC, so it’s mere steps from my desk (can you say quick commute?). You can buy tickets over here for Wednesday or Thursday’s show.

I *know* you all think the orchestra is (a) boring, (b) not for people under 40 or (c) meh. But it is more often than not a delightful surprise.

blurry, originally uploaded by mintyfresh.

every day, these days, is blurry. With a new job, winding up some last bits of contract work, prepping for Christmas deliveries of products to Canadian shops, getting ready for craft shows, and OH – the fact that it’s cold here and I had to spend hours sticking those stupid plastic covers over half of our windows, my days are a delightful blur of “what do I need to get accomplished before I fall into bed for a few hours and get up and do it all over again”. Luckily, I am well versed in “I don’t sleep much.”

This little guy is Hector, the brother of that cat who, well, died. For a while he wasn’t doing so hot, but then he got some meds and now he races around our house like nobody’s business and will eat three bowls of food in an hour if we let him. We mostly do.

More soon – as soon as I wade through the giant pile of NEW THINGS I’ve been working on in the middle of my studio floor. Happy Tuesday!

less, originally uploaded by mintyfresh.

sadly, we had to say an unexpected goodbye to one of our wee little kitties today who just didn’t make it through the night.

We are, of course, very sad, but happy that our remaining kitty (who still has no name, but we’re working on it) is thriving, healthy and happy.

Sometimes it’s the little things, like knowing that we’ve given them both a loving warm house to live in for the last few days, that helps.