Monday, September 8, 2014

From a Songwriting Challenge to a Raw / Living Vegan Foodie Challenge ... 21 Days worth for this singer / songwriter

This 21 Day Raw Foodie Challenge is something I have been wanting to do for  quite awhile.

As a singer / songwriter I lovingly create music everyday.  Music is my passion.  But like many,  I don't have to have just one passion.  I love to create with food .... living food.  This raw foodie challenge has my name written all over it.  I am so excited!!!  Check out RAWBYN ESSENTIALLY RAWED  A group created to share essentially raw and living food recipes and pictures.  Connecting like-minded foodies together to share in creating a fabulous kitchen resource.

I have enjoyed such a fantastic Northern Ontario summer!  My summer was filled with quality family time, music, growing local food, swimming, exploring and reflecting.  It is the reflecting piece that has convinced me to do this challenge.

Raw food / living food has been of interest to me for as long as I can remember.  For the next three weeks I will be eating raw / living, vegan food.   I will be celebrating a huge variety of  fruits / veggies / sprouts / nuts / juicing and salads.  No caffeine.  No dairy.  No white sugar.

I have been a vegetarian since our oldest daughter was two.  I used to be a big "meat eater".  As a kid, I was the one who would be chewing on the pork and steak bones.  After we had our first daughter, I started experiencing major pain.  Not fun!  This severe digestive issue back in 1997 motivated me to remove all forms of  white and red meat out of my diet.  I saw a health professional who suggested I consider removing meat from my diet to see how it made me feel.  After only a week of eating this way, my tummy and bowel felt a whole lot better.  The bloating was reduced and I felt I was on a new wellness path.   It was a bit of a learning curve for me to find new recipes while adding a variety of more interesting foods to my plate.  I felt like a bit of a pioneer in my family ... the "only" vegetarian.  lol Back then, (which wasn't very long ago) there were many people who had not even heard of the term vegetarian. We sure have come along long way baby!!!  I went to a Women's gathering just yesterday and the buffet served was 100% vegetarian.  not even bacon bits in the salad lol

In 2005,  I discovered raw / living  food.  I love this approach to healthy cuisine and I love how I feel when I eat this way.  I began watching a YouTube show created by  Matt and Angela Monarch -  The "Raw Food World - TV Show"  "We've got tips and recipes and healthy living ... so for fun and inspiration come and join us in ... the raw food world" became my obsession for discovering all I could about a new concept for me of healthy eating.  Shortly after, I  began to acquire a small library of every Raw food recipe book I could find. Since then, I have met a couple of Raw Foodies and have learnt a lot from them.  I am confident from the information that I have acquired over the past eight years of researching this way of eating ... I am going to thrive during the next three weeks.

I am happy to document my 21 Day Food Raw / Living Foodie challenge in this e-journal format.  I will share my recipes and what I experience as I journey through this challenge.

I am looking forward to sprouting little broccoli seeds and making delicious raw lasagna with spinach and nut "cheese". I am setting the intention that I have access to a bounty of organic, locally grown local food . Oh I am so happy!! and so in love with TODAY!!  Much love, Robyn xo







Saturday, March 29, 2014

Week 6 - Collaborating and Technology is totally AWESOME!!

Collaboration .... what a perfect way to wrap up six weeks of creative bliss.  The Songwriting Association of Canada (S.A.C.) - Six Songs in Six Weeks Song Writing and Blogging Challenge has come to an end with the writing and posting of our week 6 song.

Canadian Songwriter, Christopher Ward explained our final challenge this week and asked us to schedule our time and write a song with a fellow participant.  Lily Cheng is S.A.C 's Editor-in-Chief of Songwriters Magazine.  Lily gave us the heads up about the collaboration challenge at the beginning of week 5 and I certainly appreciated the extra time she gave us in teaming up with a writing partner.

I was excited about collaborating ... whoot whoa!  Excited about partnering with one of these creative masters!   I held the intention of letting the process flow.  My dear friend, Jody Lee Bigelow who has been supporting me with all of my weekly song challenge recordings, shared this very important message with me ...  "the universe has a way of working things out".  Wow!  Does it ever!  Thanks Jody!!

The universe connected me with the brilliantly gifted, Canadian Singer-Songwriter Kelly McQuillan. Right from the start, Kelly and I were synchronistic in our collaborating.  The entire song writing process was so much fun!  I am so happy to share details about our collaboration experience. 

Kelly resides in British Columbia .... and my home base is in Northern Ontario.  This could be a Canadian geographical challenge right?  How does a song get written when both writers live at opposite ends of the country.  Oh ...  this is where the magic happened! The wonder and power of technology! Social media built and linked our networks and the computer programs connected us!  Technology is truly AMAZING!!  Together, Kelly and I brainstormed and pooled our resources.  We sent emails back and forth and after just one song-writing session, Kelly and I had our song titled, melody framed and laid out.  It was great to bounce lyrical ideas around with such an experienced song writer.  The song writing process flowed easily and our skills complimented each other.  Kelly used her savvy computer skills and shared typed written lyrics with me as we were creating them.  She emailed me the outline of our song and I printed it out. We simultaneously worked from the same page as we were creating.  Even though Kelly was at one end of the country with a three hour time difference, this process totally worked for us.  Kelly scratched out a track for us to work from and then we shared one more song writing session to finalize the details before we recorded the song.  This was the COOLEST part ... Kelly and Jody have the same recording system.   Kelly recorded her parts and then sent the tracks to Jody.  Jody then shared them with me and we recorded the rest together.  And voila!   Borrowed Time was born.  Technology magic!
.

I posted the lyrics below for our song titled Borrowed Time.  You can have a listen to Kelly and I singing our tune via sound cloud.  https://soundcloud.com/robyndewar/borrowed-time-written-by-kelly 

Kelly also blogged about our song writing experience on her website ...  read all about it on Kelly's HAPPENINGS link here:   http://www.kellymcquillan.com/happenings.html


 

Thank you Kelly for a gem of an experience.  We sure teamed up well together!  Sharing my love for horses here in this picture.  What a team!!  Whoot whoa!  "A Honest Day's Work!" by artist Adeline Halvorson 




I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Six Songs in Six Weeks - Song writing Challenge.  Thank you Christopher Ward and Lily Cheng for sharing your time and talents with all of us!  I have been inspired, motivated and celebrate this productive experience.  I have appreciated all the networking opportunities provided to us as members of the Songwriters Association of Canada.  Cheers!! Well done everyone!  Keep on writing and sharing!!

So in love with TODAY!

much love, Robyn


Borrowed Time   
Written by Kelly McQuillan and Robyn Dewar

Hey mister, can you spare me some time?
Just need an hour or two

My cup’s overflowing and my pockets are bare

 Won’t you help me get through


 Trivial decisions and constant revisions
 Stealing my time away

 So many places to go, and information to know

 What flavour do I want my latte?

CHORUS

Tick tock tick tock borrowed time
 I wish that I could hit rewind

Stop living off this borrowed time
Borrowed time


There aren’t enough hours in my day
To meet all the demand

Pay, pay, pay the time man cries
As he throws out his hands

CHORUS

BRIDGE

My father always warned me
Not to squander it away

 Sow your seconds wisely
And time will be repaid

 
CHORUS
Give me a second
Could you give me a few

Give me a moment
How ‘bout two

Borrowed time

Borrowed time

Monday, March 24, 2014

Week 5 has been by far the COOLEST week of all!

 Week 5 of this S.A.C. (Songwriters Association of Canada) song-writing and blogging challenge has been by far the coolest WEEK EVER!

Six Songs in just Six Weeks - we are getting to the end of our weekly challenge.  For our assignment this week, Christopher Ward asked us to write by trusting our subconscious.  Just write, every day, as much as I can for five days.  No stopping / no judging or editing until I run outta ideas or my hands get tired.  At end the of week, review what I have written and look for ideas that could become songs.  Choose one idea and bring to life. 

I followed our assignment instructions and wrote every day, listening and trusting.  The following words are a snap shot of the result of five days worth of  "mumbo jumbo".   When I reviewed what I had written, I found some themes for each day.

Day 1 - The Worrying Box
Where, what, who, when why and how.  Daily questions driving her crazy.  I can see the worry in her eyes.  Scribed in the lines on her face, These are the words she choosing.  These are the thoughts she chooses.  These are her actions.  Love is the key,  Love is the only thing that matters.  Does she think she is stuck?  Does she think there isn't enough love to go around? Doesn't always have to be a plan. Breathe. Trust. Let go and see what happens.  Layer by layer layers. Growing from the inside out.  Loosing touch with the world - stop to smell the flowers.

Day  2 -   Permission Slips
Turbo Tax - paying the tax man.  What is the debt free plan?. Life happens ... snow happens.
Why do I have to get I all done?  When is enough going to be ok?  What is going on in their life that makes it work for them? Is the grass always greener on the other side ... wait a minute ... I don't see any grass ... all I see is a six foot wall of SNOW.  Control and existence. What do you need to prove anyway.  Prove it to yourself.  Why do you need all these permission slips anyway?

Day 3 -  Come Home to Me ... the nights are getting longer baby.  Snow day .... kids home. Early morning rise - pj day.  Getting the taxes outta the way Horray Horray
I can sing his blues t'ill I 'm blue in the face.  I'll end up in vegas up on stage wearing his blue face. 

Day 4 - Words Not Said.  Time to let it go ...  the gift that is not tangible.  Love is not something I can hold.  She chose me - I chose her. Desire to move on. Taking a trip. Trust.  Have faith that she is in every sparkle of sunshine.  She is always there to comfort you.  We really never know why we are here, except to love and be love.  Change the world ...  by not saying anything at all.  Find delight in the little things.  Nature speaks in  all of its beauty and memory.  Let that memory wrap you and comfort you.  Loving that moment in the sunshine.  That beam of light and honour her memory and her love.  Her wings took flight.

Day 5 - Bad Day on the Range
The person in the mirror and making the change.  Maintain a certain speed in life.  Moving forward or I might go back in time.  Love the saying "bad day on the range"  Cowboy metaphor
In the heat of the moment: door frame slam / smashed, old coin found, gold coin valued.  Hair day, cowgirl home on the range.  Chores, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping.  How bad could a bad day on the range really be.  lol

The theme "Words Not Said" really called to me this week.  Totally trusting my subconscious, I resurrected a song that has been developing for a long while.  Releasing the song and recording it and then magically seeing the notes appear on paper has been the highlight of my Week 5.

My dear friend Jody Lee Bigelow has been supporting  me each week and recording my song challenge tunes.  This week he totally surprised me and was able to create the musical score for my Week 5 song. Oh my goodness! I actually have sheet music of my song "Words Not Said".  This is a happy dance moment for sure! I was so excited that I had to take a couple of pictures.  lol  Thank you so much Jody!  This is just amazing and the coolest thing ever!




The lyrics are below and here is the sound cloud link to Words Not Said

Week 6 update:  Lily C. gave us the heads up about our Week 6 Song-writing Challenge.  For our final challenge .. we get to collaborate with one our fellow challenge song-writers!  I am honoured and thrilled to be collaborating with Canadian Singer/ Songwriter Kelly McQuillan.  Kelly lives in British Columbia and released her first solo EP, "Walking Tall," in April 2013.  You can check out her website here. http://www.kellymcquillan.com/ Oh happy day!!!

I'm so in love with Today!

much love, Robyn

https://soundcloud.com/robyndewar/words-not-said-by-robyn-dewar


 Words Not Said by Robyn Dewar

The rain is falling down, tears are all I taste

I know that in my heart, I‘ve come to the right place

With every piece of me, you sparkle in my soul

For what you’ve given me, is not for me to hold

CHORUS:

Let me wrap you up in the sunshine

Let me wipe away your tears

Let me fill your soul with gladness

And comfort your buried fears

 

It’s the fear of never knowing, just who we truly are

But a crystal clear reminder that’s gifted by a shooting star

This mystery that we’ve been solving, since words are never said

It’s the quilt that we’ve been weaving, connected by tiny threads

BRIDGE:

Oh I don’t know, where to go from here

If I raise my hands up high, will the world disappear

 

The rain is pouring down; tears are still all I can taste

And the salt that’s on my lips, takes me to another place

Where the waves come rolling in, the sand is always white

It’s where I think of you the most, your wings took flight

CHORUS x2

 


Monday, March 17, 2014

Week 4 Songwriting and Blogging Challenge ... Rockin' the Cliché

Week Four - Top of the morning and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

My morning began with a delicious green smoothie made by my hubby. What a glass of yumminess ... mmmmm and a great way to start my day:)   Thank you Shawn!!  Even though as I look outside my dining room window I still see six feet of snow ... I know that spring is just around the corner. The days are longer and the sun feels brighter.  At the end of our March Break, we had a change of scenery and travelled to where there was less snow and was ten degrees warmer.   Shawn, Rory and I did the five hour drive down south to the big city of Toronto.  We participated in Young Living Canada Anniversary Celebration at the  Mississauga Convention Center.  I strummed my guitar and sang a few tunes for the beautiful oilers at our  World Peace Caravan fundraiser table.  We had time to take in a show at the  Toronto Sketch Fest Saturday night.    Watching the group Falcon Powder  had me rolling in my seat.  After such a long winter, I needed a good 'jelly" belly laugh. 

The Songwriters Association of Canada Six Songs in Six Weeks "Song writing and Blogging Challenge" has certainly been keeping me on my toes.  I have gotten myself into a bit of a routine now.  I find that I anxiously wait for the week to week challenge and when it gets posted... it is as if I say in in my head ... "Ok Robyn, on you mark,  get set.... go!"  lol

Christopher Ward says that our Week 4 challenge is all about rockin' the cliché, and to go back into the song-writing box.  We were to watch the Neil Young video that Christopher presented, choose 10 clichés and then brainstorm ways each cliché could be interpreted. The choose one cliché and then expand it into a song.

Sometimes clichés are obvious. A cliché is an overused expression and something that is said a lot.  Clichés are often idioms which is a figurative phrase with a implied meaning and interpreted as a phrase not to be taken literally. I have chosen a few clichés I hear often.
Time is flying by –interpreted as loosing track of time.  How I stopped paying attention to time because I was so wrapped up in the details of a specific event.  

Fit as a fiddle –  interpreted that someone is healthy and in good shape.

A diamond in the rough – interpreted as though the person, object or location has value that will be seen or discovered in a timely manner.  It needs polishing.  It has potential to be valuable and solid. 
A lemon - interpreted that when life gives you lemon, make lemonade. An opportunity to see the positive through the negative experience. A lemon is sour... but I like to think of it as a sunny fruit that is a gift.  When I add lemon juice to my salad dressings it gives the salad a yummy, bright flavour.  We need the sour in our lives as much as we need the sweet in order to balance the taste of life.

What comes around goes around -  interpreted as karma and my perspective is that how I treat others, will eventually be how people treat me.  

Read between the lines – interpreted as that there is always a different story of what is not being said.
The calm before the storm – interpreted as a knowingness is that things are quiet now ... but be prepared the huge spiral of energy happening soon.

Only time will tell – interpreted as the result will be revealed in divine timing.
I have so much cash, it's coming outta my ass - interpreted as that fact that money is overflowing and I am  abundant.  What am I going to spent all of this money on. I am so wealthy the money is pouring outta me.  This is part of secret of the universe.  When I am in the mindset I have money .... I actually do have money.  The abundant song ... love this!
 
Bag of bones -  interpreted as a undernourished person or very thin person.

The cliché I chose to write about is "I have so much cash – it is coming outta my ass."  I called the song The Cash SongIt was tricky for me to write a song using the word ass.  Ass is another word for bottom or butt or even a donkey.  I do use this word but I had ask my two daughters if they were ok with their Mommy using the word "ass" in a song.  They said yes ... so I started writing.  To be honest ... I am really happy to see  week four ... out the door! Cliché or no cliché it has been challenging.  I am discovering who I am through the pressure of this challenge and has been an incredible experience.  I must have had twenty pages of lyrics all around me during the writing process.  I felt panicked that I story of the song would not evolve.  I literally surrendered during this process.  And within minutes ... the story was revealed.  And I am happy.
 
Thank you once again Jody Lee Bigelow for your patience and professionalism during this song recording process.  He had quite the busy week last week ... and I am so grateful for his friendship and support!!!!!  Looking forward to our Week 5 Challenge.  Whoot whoa  ... we are almost there :)

I hope you enjoy The Cash Song.  https://soundcloud.com/robyndewar/the-cash-song-by-robyn-dewar The lyrics are posted below. 

So in love with today!

much love, Robyn
 

Week 4
The Cash Song by Robyn Dewar

It is so amazing being here with y’all tonight
Gonna tell you about a story that might give you a fright
But take heed … maybe you will find the light
Well … whatever you find … be sure that whatever you wish for or ask for or pray for
You must really really want it … with all of your might


I had me a problem and I didn’t know what do
I spent some time drinking red wine thinking of the answers to
Needed a solution, it was a real strange problem for me
There was this money tree pouring down on me and it was soaking me to the bone


There was much cash, coming out my ass and more showed up every hour
I didn't mean to complain but I was going insane from all the financial power
It was no fantasy; but a real money tree and pouring out a fortune on me
And it soaked through my drawers and oh dear Lord … …I've got cash coming outta my ass


I read me that book by Napoleon Hill
And look what happened to me
I took a gratitude spin and boy did I win me a big problem that day
An abundance mess and I must confess I don’t know what else to say


I bought me up a few of them luxury items
Since the cash started pouring outta me
Like Dom Perrion, and caviar, and a really, really fast sports car
And I never ever heard of Sotheby’s


CASH CASH CASH – What to do with all this
CASH CASH CASH – What to spend on all this X2
I never had a problem like this before


So I placed a call up to heaven
And said Lord, what on earth did you do
A thunder filled voice said I made the choice and when I asked for a bigger territory
And it was my fault there was nothing that God could do


I surrender Lord
I surrender Lord
Could you clear a path through my back door


I surrendered to my God and gave him all of the glory
and he would help re-write my story


So I cleared my Karma and bought up big Pharma
And cured me a disease
So happy we have our health cuz I shared my wealth
And the cash coming is coming outta my ass


CASH CASH CASH – What to do with all this
CASH CASH CASH – What to spend on all this X2


An abundance mess and I must confess that the universe put me to the test
Well I've got the moral of this story and all of its glory
Yah good people can do good things with cash too

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, March 7, 2014

Week 3 Songwriting Challenge - Colouring Outside of the Lines

It's March 2014!   Whooot whoa!   Happy dance!



Celebrating Week 3 of our  Songwriters Association of Canada  Song writing and Blogging  Challenge.  I've been really been enjoying listening to our groups weekly song shares. 

 Our Week 3 assignment was revealed to our group by Christopher Ward and he asked us to think about song writing as if we were "colouring outside of the lines".  Christopher asked us to:

1 a) Identify our song writing ruts and why are our current song structures / forms are comfortable.

2. Write a song that breaks the rules.

3. Have fun writing outside the box.

Song writing ruts... what is a rut?  A rut is "a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change." Canadian Oxford Dictionary 

I believe that what others might call a "song writing rut", I like to think of it as a situation involving "stale water". Song writing for me is all about creating and planting seeds.  As long I am in the mindset to create,  I am writing with "living water".   When the water is stale, the song seeds are no longer receiving the nourishment or "encouragement" that they need for sprouting.  It is really important to tend to my song writing garden.  Participating in this six week challenge is a good example of  how I am giving my song writing a healthy, happy dose of living water.  I am very grateful.  Keeping my song seeds nourished will encourage song blooms. Thank you Stacey Hall for teaching me all about seeding, sprouting and blooming.  The SSB concept is wonderful way of expression in all aspects of my life and I apply this concept daily.


My song writing style has been influence by the folk / grassroots / country genres.  These song writing patterns tend to include a verse / chorus/ verse / chorus / verse.  When I wrote Home Grown  I added a bridge after the chorus and it shifted the mood of the song.  The words in the bridge painted the picture of the most beautiful place in the world to me.  The songs I have shared during this six challenge have been written in styles out of my comfort zone.  Styles that have been "out of the box" for me.  I like that I am seeding new ways of writing songs.  For Week 1, I shared my song called Lover Lover   This song was written with a two word chorus.  During Week 2, I shared my song called  Melting Away which style totally changed things up for me.  The song does not have a chorus.  Song writing is an art form of expression.  I love the fact that this S.A.C. Challenge offers the opportunity for growth and development.

The third piece of our Week 3 assignment ... Ah yes!  Have fun!  My black and white, fluffy kitty cat must be feeling a bit of  "spring fever".  He is going crazy these days.  lol He has literally been climbing  the walls. He meows and meows.  He jumps up on the piano keys when I'm playing.  He sits on my lyrics and won't leave my side.  They say that when a cat enters your space ... they are reminding you to have fun, live a little and enjoy TODAY!  Thank you Indigo for the daily reminder. Indigo is pictured here ... siting on my Week 3 lyrics.  How much fun is that!  lol



For my Week 3 "out of the box" piece I chose to write a ballad.  It is called "The Memory of Light".  It begins with a dialogue .  This song reminds me that when I am looking for answers ... I only need to listen to my heart and go searching within.  I carry the memory of my own light with me.  I recorded the song using my keyboard and with the support of my very talented, dear friend, Jody Lee Bigelow.  Thank you Jody for sharing your incredible gift.   Jody's voice really compliments the song and I am so thrilled he was able to add his vocal elements.  Many, many thanks! 
Here is pic of Jody and I have a hoot recording "The Memory of the Light".  It is not Ellen's Oscar "selfie" but I like it!  Lovin' my $5 reading glasses too ;) lol



I have posted "The Memory of the Light" lyrics below. 
Click here to listen to the recording via sound cloud https://soundcloud.com/robyndewar/with-jody-lee-bigelow   Enjoy!  Happy March!!!!

So in love with Today!

much love, Robyn

The Memory of the Light by Robyn Dewar

 

Dad, I’m scared.  I don’t know what to do.  How will I ever choose?

Do I follow him, he can lead the way.  He can take me to where I need to go.

I’m so afraid, I can’t see in the dark.  How will I ever choose, how will I know?

 
Darling girl – do you know how much I care?  Do you know I will always be there?

Where ever you go, whatever you choose, it will be the right choice for you.

You’ll find your answer, listen to your heart, live your dreams, and never fear the dark

 

If I starred at the sunset long enough, until all the colours disappeared

They’d sink behind the ocean’s wall and fade away                                                                

I’d begin to question why I’m here, 

There would there be nothing left but darkness and fear                                                     

And the shades of gray in the stillness of the night

 

The memory of light guides my way, a knowingness of who I am today

The memory of the light is the colour to my soul, it lifts my spirit

Through this darkness  I know … in the memory of the light ... in the memory of the light

 


Friday, February 28, 2014

Week 2 of Songwriting Challenge - My world is frozen as I walk along the way

Hello friends!

Brrr! Oh it's February and still cold up here in Haileybury, Ontario.  My hubby travels up to northern Saskatchewan for work and it is much colder there.   For some reason, he didn't bring his big, red Canada Goose coat with him this time so I've been wearing it. lol  It's deliciously warm and cozy. I think of him when I wear it ... so that's a wonderful thought.  Ahwwww!

We are well into Week 2 of the Songwriters Association of Canada - Songwriter and Blogging Six Songs in Six Weeks Challenge.  It is been a fantastic experience sharing this creative space with so many talented folks.  This week our coach and Canadian songwriter extraordinaire, Christopher Ward asked us to pay attention to life happening around us.  We are to put on our little antennas and be aware of  people, places and things.  I was excited to hear Christopher give us this task.  I do this already. My family and friends know that I often say "hey - that is a great song title" or " ooh that's a good line in a song". My challenge this week is to clear out the daily, verbal clutter floating around in my brain, find a quiet place,  get at those song-writing ideas and put them on paper.  Christopher talked about how he doesn't get writers block.  He just keeps the faith that good ideas will come.  I feel that too. 

I am so inspired by nature when I write.  I love to write outside.  It can be challenging in the winter as I do not go outside very often.  As much as I loved the winter time as a child, my body has now created quite the sensitivity to our cold, northern temperatures.  I am sure that I had facial frost bite as a kid and now this adult face of mine is way too sensitive and prefers not to be exposed to sub zero temperatures.  Nasty, red blotches appear on my face when I don't cover up.  So what I do on a daily basis, is visualize sitting and song writing on the deck of my ocean view home on the California coast  ... sometimes two or three times a day when it is minus forty outside. LOL  When I must venture outside my cozy residence and brave the minus 20 - 40 degree temperatures, I am so bundled up that I can barely see.  I look like the little dude from the classic movie " A Christmas Story".  He is so bundled up, he can barely move.

My Week 2 song idea is inspired by a wintery, walk outside.  I threw on my hat and bundled up.  I trudged up the Browning hill with our youngest daughter, Aurora to bring her to the school bus stop.  The sun was shinning bright but I was still so cold.  I saw the teenagers gathering at their bus stop, chatting and flirting.  I was inspired by their laughter and giddiness.  As they huddled, they weren't talking about the freezing temperatures.  I'm assumed that the cold was the last thing on their minds.  They were talking about who was doing what, and with whom.   I was so grateful for that moment and I reacted with a smile.  I grinned and smirked underneath my covered face and four layers of winter clothing.  Being out in the nature elements sure does clear my head space.  I begin to remember what is was like as a teenager. I remembered having a huge crush on that special someone and wondering if that "sneaky" kiss meant as much to them as it did to me.  My Week 2 song share is also inspired by the song 'Something To Talk About' written by Canadian singer-songwriter Shirley Eikhard .

A concern of mine for this S.A.C.  song writing challenge was finding the means to record the songs I am writing each week.  I believe that it is no coincidence that I still have not found my Zoom R8  portable recording device.  With no way of recording my songs from week to week, I messaged my dear friend Jody again.  This time I asked him if he had time to support me for the entire six week song writing  process.   When he said yes - wow! First - I did a crazy happy dance and then I breathed a sigh of relief.  Jody's support means that I can stay focused on the weekly song writing and creating.  Thank you Jody Lee Bigelow  !!  whoot whoa!!!!!

My Week 2 Song is called "Melting Away".  I've posted the lyrics below. Please click on the sound cloud link to hear my new tune. https://soundcloud.com/robyndewar   Enjoy!

Week 3's challenge is revealed to us soon!   
Have a awesome day!  Stay warm, stayed tuned - March is just around corner!!

So in love with today!

much love, Robyn

Melting Away written by Robyn Dewar       robyndewar.com

I go out walkn’ on a cold winters’ day

I go about thinkn’ of the things I might say

When I see you, see you again

My world is frozen as I walk along the way

The trees are glisten’ and the snow is here to stay

And I’m thinkn’, thinkn’ about you.

And what we’ve done … are we fooln’ anyone at all

A one night stand is really all that we had

Kissn’ in corners, we were so bad

We were sneakn’, sneakn’ around

Havn’ fun … we weren’t hurting anyone at all

I stop and to stare at the snowflakes falling down

Landing on my coat and on the ground

And they’re melting, melting away

That’s how I feel when I’m with you

That’s how I feel when you kiss me

Like … I’m melting away

BRIDGE:

It feels so right when I’m with you

I’ll hold you tight if you want me to

My heart is melting for you

I go ‘bout walkn’ on a cold winters’ day

I go ‘bout thinkn’ of the things you might say, when I see you

See you again

Thinkn’ ‘bout you … melting away
 
 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Week one - has been an AMAZING week of staying focused

Happy Sunday!

I am enjoying my steaming cup of coffee this morning.  I look outside and another blanket of snow has graced our "Winter wonderland" landscape here in Haileybury, Ontario.  The plow went by ... but that's okay ... spring is around the corner and trees will be budding life soon.  I lived in a cozy, northern community growing up.  My Mom would often share with me how she felt about our long, cold winters in northern Ontario.  Mom always got so excited when she saw her first robin bird in the spring.  Even though the winters felt long for my Mom, I loved playing outside as a kid.   Writing this blog has got me thinking about things I hadn't thought of in years.  I loved building ice forts with my sisters and brother.  I played outside until my cheeks were so frosty red.  Physical proof that I enjoyed our true Canadian winter for sure! 

Thank you Christopher Ward and Lily Cheng for your  warm welcome to the S.A.C. Songwriting & Blogging Challenge, your words of encouragement and "song start" coaching have supported me with this challenge.  I've been focusing on our Week 1 Song Challenge every day.  I've been thinking about the songs which have inspired me and what methods I use for song writing .  I typically like to write in "the moment". 

This Songwriting Challenge has taking me out of my comfort zone and lifted me from "my song writing box".  Right now, I am doing it my and any way I can.  That is the Chi-To-Be  Energy Surge #2.  Love that!!

Christopher shares that the most effective ways to focus when writing songs is choosing a title, a theme and an opening line.  Christopher explained that the title of a song tell us about what is to follow in the song.  I've chosen the following five songs that inspire me.

Song 1 - 'The Snakes Crawl At Night' (Mel Tillis)
Song 2  - 'Seasons In The Sun' (Terry Jacks written with permission by Jacques Brel with   an  English translation by Rod McKeuen),
Song 3 - 'Unchained Melody' (Alex North and Hy Zaret)
Song 4 - 'Over the Rainbow'  (Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg)
Song 5 - 'Lover of Mine' (Alannah Myles)

Christopher Ward also explained that "an opening line can give you the mood, set the story in motion or make a listener curious about what's next".  I've chosen a couple of opening liners that make me smile.
Opening line ... "Almost heaven, West Virginia... " 'Country Roads' (John Denver)
Opening line  "Sunday morning up with the lark"  'Beautiful Sunday'Daniel Boone and Rod McQueen)

To keep on us track, we were asked to come up with a list of 5 titles, 5 themes and 5 opening lines of our own.  Choose one and write a song with it.  Here is my list.

Title 1: The Train
Title 2: Memory of the Light
Title 3: Shannen's Dream
Title 4: Solid Ground
Title 5: Hudson

Theme 1: We are not victims in the north, we are masters of our own destiny
Theme 2: Purpose filled dreaming
Theme 3: Discovering who I am
Theme 4: What a super star feels when everyone is trying to pick off a piece of them
Theme 5: Grateful for the gifts and blessings in my life

Opening line 1: "I go out walkn' on a cold winter's day"
Opening line 2: "Clearing through the clutter, digging through the past"
Opening line 3: "I've got a problem"
Opening line 4: "Lover Lover, love, love a lover"
Opening line:5: "I know you won't appreciate, what I'm about to say"

Peering through this list,  I chose to focus on the opening line "Lover Lover, love, love and lover"
The song I came up with is called 'Lover, Lover'. Here are the lyrics and my Robyn Dewar soundcloud  link.


LOVER LOVER by Robyn Dewar

Lover lover, love love a lover
Lover lover, love love a lover
Lover lover, love love a lover Lover of mine (REPEAT)


Verse 1:
Will you be true to my heart
Whenever your fears set you apart
From the depths of my soul do you know
That you are mine until the end of time

Chorus:
Lover lover, love love a lover
Lover lover, love love a lover
Lover lover, love love a lover Lover of mine  (REPEAT)

Verse 2:

Who’s that girl calling out your name
When she whispers close it drives me insane
My hearts in pain, it’s blood stained
And every time she walks near
I pray that to God she'd disappear
Can you taste my tears  Chorus:


Ohhhh.... its a cold dark night will you hold me tight
Never leave me go 
Do you know
That you are mine until the end time  Chorus:


SPECIAL THANK YOU!!!

Thank you so much to my dear friend, Jody Bigelow, owner of Creative Data Solutions

When I was ready to record my Week 1 Song, I couldn't find my Zoom R8 recorder.  I began to panic so I messaged Jody at three p.m. Saturday afternoon and put in a big help request!  I was singing at a 4H Country fundraiser Saturday night at the Classic Theatre in Cobalt, so Jody was able to bring his equipment to the location and we ended up recording the song at the Theatre after the show.  It was late and my sister Tina and hubby Shawn were there also.   A couple of photos were taken ... so I am sharing those today in my blog as well.  What an incredible love-filled week! I am surrounded by such loving, supportive friends and family.  I am living my dream!! Wow! I am so grateful for my friend Jody and his kindness.   Hope you enjoy my Week 1 tune!  Week 2 Challenge is revealed to us tomorrow. 

So in love with today!  much love, Robyn