My Woodland Animal Themed Baby Shower Endeavor

tynajoymetzner

I Hosted A Woodland Animal Themed Baby Shower

I hosted a “Woodland Animal” themed baby shower on Sunday. Daughters Britt, Zoe and I put together this collaborative effort. My daughter Delcee and her fiancé Andrew, are expecting a baby boy. They have named him Kole and he is due on Christmas Day!

Anyway, I used the occasion to motivate my yard clean up project that took me several weeks to accomplish. Front yard, backyard and side yard clean up. So much of the year is spent with extreme heat here in Phoenix. Who wants to do yard work when it’s 110 outside?

The weather has been amazing! I have spent a lot of time outdoors lately. Here are a few random pics of the party planning process. I was in charge of the food. I wanted a few handcrafted theme based eats there. This is what I came up with for Woodland Animal.

Acorn cookies- easy and fun! Together with pre-made Maple Leaf cookies from Trader Joe’s. These made a cute delicious 3-tiered dessert accompaniment.

The second very charming handcraft is this Hedgehog cheeseball. It was surprisingly easy to make! 
Sliced Almonds and a few black olives made this a sweet addition to the party. I cheated and bought a pre-made green onion cheeseball from the grocery store in the deli section. It was absolutely delicious and soft enough to shape easily!

Berries!

Daughter Zoe made a dip for the fruit. Beautiful berries added a nice pop of color to the party.

My daughter Britt handcrafted all of the paper decor with her CriCut. Perfect for this display of desserts.

Britt also put centerpieces together for the tables outside…

I made a citrus and cranberry punch that was so delicious I’ll make it again sometime. Ice Tea and Infused Water. 

The weather couldn’t have been better. Here are a few random pics… Daughter Delcee and Andrew, The expectant parents! 

Zoe and her besties… 

With my old pup, CocoRose

Daughter Britt and I. 

Amelia 

Grandsons Nate and Korbin 

Granddaughter Elizabeth 

Granddaughter Kadee who wasn’t happy about pictures lol.

I made a popcorn trail mix for favors… we had games and prizes…

Delcee seemed to really enjoy and appreciate her baby shower. She had many friends there but I’m only posting pics of the G-kids…

Monday I spent all day cleaning up after the party lol. I had to get my house and yard pulled together for Halloween. I told my 17 year old that she could have a get together for Halloween if she and her friends wanted to get together… 

Oh geez… 
On to the next get together!

Living In My Own Musical Twilight Zone

This is my latest upload/ cover of Nights In White Satin. I have rewritten the intro that I wrote for it lol. I also used a quieter string/piano voice in which to play it in. I kind of laugh when I think how the  inference changes when sung from a female perspective.

I had a ton of fun playing this in full symphony as well. It was grand, large and filled my room with  grandeur. I lost myself in the sound for a day. When I visit the Covers I do, each have a special place in my heart. A few months back I was with my 17 year old daughter in the car. We were listening to her stream and this Original came to mind. We had been talking about 70’s music and how some of them included symphonic accompaniment. The Rain Song Written by Led Zeppelin came to mind as well. Anyway, I asked her to stream the symphonic version of Nights In White Satin. My daughter politely listened but didn’t get excited. I had not heard it in years and it dazzled me! Beautiful!!!! So I thought wow, I need to revisit this song and I’d like to try to cover it, so, I did.

My daughter has interesting teenage taste. Presently, she is so into Hobo Johnson. It grows on you. Even as an adult when I listen to his stories I think awww that’s so sad. Or gee, that’s so clever! I can see why that type of music is what she can relate to. Both she and her friends seem to really enjoy Lizzo as well. As an adult I can look past the persona and see an extremely talented and lovely gal! I saw a recently interview with this woman. She is an amazing gal with so much talent. Promoting positive body image and self love... Her songs are relatable and cute as heck! I Love Lizzo!

It’s unfortunate that nobody in my family likes my music. My husband can’t tell me enough the disdain he has for it! He tells me he doesn’t get my music and he doesn’t like my Cover choices.
I think he’s embarrassed by it. So, he doesn’t listen to any of it. Not my Covers and not my Originals.
I don’t even try to get him to anymore. We don’t talk about that side of me. I never play when he’s around. Sometimes, I wish like hell I was good enough to get somewhere with it so I could stick it to him. That’s how hurt I am by his out right dislike. Maybe he’s trying to protect me because everyone but me sees how bad it is??? I hate being a joke. I’d hate it more though if I didn’t try...

The musician that wants to come out and play... This is a Trilogy if My Originals!

It’s been so difficult living with a whole family of people who don’t seem to understand me! They think it’s weird that I have this ability to play and write music without knowing how to read music. 

Since I am self taught, I almost feel as if my friends and family don’t feel that I have a right to claim/ identify as a musician. 

Anyway, I shall push forward with whatever I’ve got or whatever I’m lacking. Cup half full or empty depending on perspective. It truly is between me and my maker. I only wish I could feel understood.

The Iconic Roger Hodgson Covers Update

tynajoymetzner

My Covers Of The Icon Co-Creator of Supertramp Roger Hodgson Update

This is a Cover Trilogy of some of the songs Roger Hodgson has written. These, are some of my favorite songs that Roger created while he was in the band Supertramp. I loved these songs as a teen and I love them still in my mid 50’s!

I hope you enjoy my interpretation. I play by ear and have learned to play these songs with what I hear. My female perspective is probably obvious here but hopefully still relatable.

Please check out my YouTube Channel and subscribe! If you like my music, please share it!

Instead of the cover trilogy I had here-

Here is the link to my YouTube Channel!

My YouTube Channel Link

*Update: I had to delete all of my Roger Hodgson Covers as I received a Copyright/ Take Down Notice from Evergreen Social Media a hired Social Media Company. I guess Roger Hodgson didn’t want my Covers of his music on my tiny YouTube channel! This made me so sad- Some of my best work was in my Covers his songs… I have loved his music since I was a teen. My Covers were all about the adoration I have for his music. My heart is broken and I’m truly disappointed that my efforts weren’t appreciated. I guess Roger really didn’t like my Cover attempts . Maybe I can quit with my foolish notion of meeting him one day. I wrote to his management company to ask them to remove the copyright strike against my YouTube account, over a month ago. I heard nothing back! I guess some dreams can reach out and bite you in the ass rather than come to fruition… ugh! What a huge let down this has been.

Party Planning A Career I Would Love To Own

tynajoymetzner

Party Planning A Career I’d Love To Own

It’s finally cool enough, at least in the early morning hours for hot cocoa. We call it , “kid coffee”. I made this for a certain 8 year old this morning. 

I absolutely love to decorate for all of the holidays and seasons! I have yet to decorate for Halloween in the front yard…

My daughter Delcee is expecting a baby boy on Christmas! I am hosting a baby shower with help from her sisters. It is the “Woodland Animal”, theme. Daughter Britt owns a CriCut machine and she makes the most lovely decor and invitations! So very nice! 

Below is an example. She made 25 invitations complete with thank you cards and envelopes and diaper raffle cards. Essentially a whole set of stationary for her sister! I was so impressed and Delcee loved the beautiful surprise! 
I’m in charge of the food… I’m looking forward to making some fun appetizers. 
Pinwheels, a homemade cheese ball in the shape of and decorated with slivered almonds to look like a hedgehog with assorted crackers. 
Donut holes decorated in chocolate sprinkles to resemble hedgehogs lol. 
Assorted berries on long toothpicks and a fruit dip. A tri colored pasta salad… 
A pretty fruit infused punch and a simple but delicious marble flavored Bundt cake from our local “Nothing Bundt Cake” bakery. 
The shower is about 3 Sunday’s from now. I’ll post more pics as it comes together…
I swear my daughters and I should have a party planning business… nothing is more fun than planning a pretty party! Hire me lol… 

I hope that mine will resemble these…

This looks so cute! I think I can, I think I can!

Pregnant Delcee lol…

CriCut designer Britt lol and grandson Thomas. 

Zoe was put in charge of the creative design concept of the shower. The consultant lol… 

Let’s hope that the grass fills in and the weather is nice and cool for the shower… 
Praying for cooler temps!

Nights In White Satin Cover

tynajoymetzner

Nights In White Satin Symphonic Cover

I created this yesterday for my YouTube ChannelSoundCloud Link. I posted it on SoundCloud and it got a lot of play yesterday! It seemed well received! Not so much as a video on Facebook and YouTube… darn. 

Nights In White Satin Cover  YouTube Video Link 

SoundCloud (Audio Only) Link

Thanks for taking the time to listen and subscribe to my channels! I really appreciate your support !

tynajoymetzner

Eye On The Prize Turned Into My Halloween Escape

Anyone who knows me well knows that this is so me! 
I just found this precious cookie jar at a nearby World Market store. It was the last one they had so I snatched it up! I collect cookie jars. I have another Halloween cookie jar that I absolutely love!!!

I found this cookie jar at a Goodwill! What a fun find this was a few years ago! 
The likeness of the witch and I is uncanny lol. I totally see me here!

This is a recent selfie I took with my “Cat Dude” Edward. I love this kitty so much! 

Such a handsome cat! 

Anyway, I thought in ushering in October I would repost a few of my musical Halloween endeavors lol… I actually wrote my original Escape in a Halloween theme rich in macabre chords lol. 

Halloween Reprise and, another version… 

Escape (My Original) 

 These were fun to create! 

Less than 10 days ago this was the backyard. I had to rake all of the mesquite pods up and get this ready to reseed. Amelia helped this year! 
The front and backyard are now reseeded and filling in well!