November 30, 2006
A Word From Katryna
William turned 2 on Monday. I think it will always be a hard time of year to have a birthday. The ads start up about two weeks before attempting to convince me that if I do not redecorate my entire house in white for the holidays then surely I am scrooge. Also if I don't spend gobs of money on shiny plastic toys for my kids then I am depriving them of some inalienable right. This made me want to give William a present cobbled together from scraps I found in the woods. I took a step back and realized I was being unfair. Surely there is a middle ground between indulging the holiday excesses and boycotting toys altogether. For William that middle ground was found in a cake I made for him shaped like a truck.
Just when I am done with that and just when I am home from the Thanksgiving driving peppered with a few nice family visits, the planning begins. We do not go to church as a family for too many reasons to describe here. And there – for good reason – is no longer much holiday celebration in school. So I need to create anything holidayish for my kids. If I don't then Christmas is owned by the malls and the television ads. The way I know to do that is with music. We are not doing "holiday" shows this year, but music can bring a family together. Music can make you feel like there is something bigger out there and for me, music can make me feel less like a scrooge.
So go caroling, sit around your kitchen and sing with your kids, come see a show of ours- we are very excited about the shows this December- some of our favorite places, go see some other holiday music events. 'Tis the season to be JOLLY. If you don't want that jolliness to come in the form of a shiny plastic toy or a shiny electronic gadget as the case may be, then let it come from music.
THIS FRIDAY, December 1 we are playing at our beloved PASSIM. I always enjoy our shows here. I can't wait to be back in this room. It feels like home to us and I think that makes it feel like home to the audience too.
Saturday December 2, Hooker Dunham Theater in Brattleboro, VT. This is a cool miniature theater. It has a warm feeling a great sound. It's only a half hour from my house!
Saturday December 9 ....... in Phoenixville, PA. We have never been here, but it is the closest we are getting to Philly. I am so excited to get to Pennsylvania to congratulate you all on your excellent voting in the Senate race.
Sunday December 10 AFTERNOON SHOW!!!!! FAMILY SHOW
We are playing at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. This is a family show. Bring the kids. We will be playing songs from All Together Singing in the Kitchen. Our Dad will join us. Our Mom might even join us. There will be lots of interaction with the audience and participation by the kids will be encouraged. Good for ALL AGES!
Sunday December 31 AFTERNOON SHOWS FAMILY SHOWS
We will be part of First Night Northampton. We are playing in the afternoon and we are doing show more geared toward the younger crowd. So bring your kids. Ring in the New Year with this amazing community that we get to be a part of.
See you at the shows!
Katryna
A Word From Nerissa
Hello, dear readers,
Happy Holiday Season! Whether you greet advent with devotion to an ancient story or mince pies, or with dread and trepidation, the season has come, and merry merry to all! For me, the holidays began last week with Thanksgiving, and I must say it whet my appetite for even more time with my dear family--the time was sweet and too short and encouraging. I spent a good portion of Thanksgiving counting my blessings, and you filled my list. I continue to be amazed at the life we have been given to live, full of interesting, thoughtful, engaged people, many of whom we have never met, some who have come to see a Nields show, responded to a blog entry, written beautiful evocative, provocative stories and poems, plays and essays in my living room; joined Katryna and me and our children to sing John the Rabbit on Thursday mornings; trusted me to be their life coach and done incredibly brave, creative work. How did we get so lucky?
We are still putting finishing touches on Sister Holler and getting very excited about the songs as they unfurl in the studio. Also, Katryna has been doing illustrations for my Day Planners (which now include the paintings from last year's wall calendar) and those will be available as of Dec. 9. We are only making 100, so order soon! You can get them at Patty's store, or at a show, or a soon-to-be-announced web page.
May your holidays be full of music and laughter and good food and thoughtful gifts. And may your family enrich you rather than impoverish you.
Nerissa
A Word From Patty
Happy Holidays Nields fans. If you are like me, all your holiday shopping is done and you dont need to read further :-) If you are like Nerissa and Katryna and the rest of the world, you have not begun yet and might need a little direction and a special offer. Don't forget to check out the Nields store. The new family cd "All Together Singing in the Kitchen" is a great gift for that special little someone in your life. Until Dec 15, 2006, I will gift wrap the "All Together Singing in the Kitchen" CD at no additional charge!! Please do not choose the gift wrap option..... just put in the comments section "Nields special giftwrap offer." Hope everyone has a great holiday season!
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