night owl

Another RIVETING vlog for you. I believe my next post will be a blog.

Happy weekend.

Night Owl from Jenni Simmons on Vimeo.

major miscellany

Y'all will be happy to know that I don't have any more Vimeo space until Saturday. But I dare you to start vlogging, face to face.

However, vlogging will not take the place of regular blogging here for me, I promise. I will write soon - I took notes and everything. The blog entry was inspired by Jeremy Casella, remember?

Major miscellany from Jenni Simmons on Vimeo.

talk much?

I don't know what the hell happened, but in this video blog recorded last night, I rambled on for 15 min. If you actually watch the whole thang, I will answer any question you want on a forthcoming video blog. The quality is not super great, but Johnny and I are working on the settings in iMovie. Stay tuned.

And enjoy?

My day in 15 min. from Jenni Simmons on Vimeo.

hi

No, I had not been drinking. from Jenni Simmons on Vimeo.

unfolding our imaginations one thread at a time

I have a new article up on The Curator today:

"Unfolding Our Imaginations One Thread at a Time: An Interview with Jeffrey Overstreet"

Raven's Ladder, the third book in The Auralia Thread series, releases on February 16th. If you haven't read any of these books, I'd buy the first book, Auralia's Colors, and get started on this beautiful series straightaway.

Which brings me to a little disclaimer about my recent love of swapping & loaning books. I love art with all my heart and soul. If I can support an artist monetarily, I love to do it. But there are times in all of our lives where we just can't afford this or that book, CD*, movie, what have you. However, we can check 'em out at the library. Borrow a friend's copy. And you know what? Some books/CDs/movies are so good that you will buy your very own copy ASAP. Or a musician's entire discography. Or every single book by that author. That's happened to me countless times.

So loaning art is still a great way to support art. Get the word out. Spread the news: Have you read this book? You HAVE to! My humble hope for my interview with Jeffrey Overstreet is that you will borrow mine** or a friend's copies, then rush to your favorite shopping source and buy his books. Or just buy all three books on blind faith. Trust me, you'll end up reading these timeless fantasy classics again and again.


* - Since I'm married to a musician, I implore you: if you borrow a CD, please do not copy it unless the artist gives you permission to do so. In most cases, listen, enjoy, then buy your own record. Thank you kindly.

** - First come, first serve.

kitchen trinity

["The day after" by Lisa Steinbrueck]

I'm really getting into swapping & loaning books via snail mail.* Perhaps a way to afford my insatiable literary appetite since I just found out I'll soon be having laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis? That ain't cheap. But I'm actually ready for the surgery. It'll help me feel better, and make my womb hospitable for babies. It's my first surgery ever, so I do have a little apprehension, but all in all, I feel peaceful. The Lord is healing me through a trinity of some of the best doctors in Houston.

Anyway, I loaned Real Love for Real Life: the Art and Work of Caring (scroll down) to my blog-friend, Lindsay, not too long ago. The book arrived in our mailbox today with a sweet handwritten note + an amazing poem by Kathleen Norris, which Lindsay also took the time to write by hand.

I read the poem from Little Girls in Church over and over again and thought to myself, I must share this on my blog. And I own this book, glory be! I can read it for Fifty Two Fifty Two.

So, here's that poem:

Kitchen Trinity
by Kathleen Norris

Three women
at a table
hold the world.

One gets up
to stir the stars,
one makes the fire,
another blows on it
to keep it going;
and still they have time for play,

three women
hunched over a cup,
hands open in invitation
as the table tilts
in Rublev's icon,

three angels
with the same face.

My mother is the tree trunk I climb,
my grandmother's hands
kneading bread
make the table shake.

Tell me the story
of three hungry angels
who appeared one day at Abraham's tent,
to make Sarah work
and laugh.


* - Send me an e-mail if you're interested in snail mail book swaps & loans (see my profile).