Summer tunes: Samba de uma nota só / One Note Samba

Grandmère Mimi has given us the magnificent Ella Fitzgerald singing "One Note Samba" with scat to die for. A beautiful 1975 performance by the Queen herself.

I thought it would be fun to post the Bossa Nova original. So here it is, perfect for a summer night, Samba de uma nota só (One Note Samba) by Antonio Carlos Jobim, sung by the master of bossa nova, João Gilberto, in his soft Brazilian Portuguese. Live in Montreux, I am not sure when. Just voice and guitar.

And here's a little more swingin' version, with keyboard and percussion, and also flute, but still with the guitar and sung by Tom Jobim himself. Enjoy.

July 1: Catherine Winkworth and a month of fabulous holy women

Today is the feast of Catherine Winkworth. (1827-1878)

The Daily Office site (link above) has links to several of the hymns Catherine Winkworth translated from German to English. Even in "midi" music files they remind me of many times I have heard or sung them in community. Catherine Winkworth was also a worker for women's rights.

Last year I noticed that July brings us commemorations of many remarkable women. Stay tuned.

And remember Auntie Jane's ecclesial motto:

Never underestimate the church ladies.

Dinner with Elijah

I had dinner with one of my favorite people today. His name is Elijah and he is 19 months old. His Mama and Daddy cooked delicious Indian food. They are among my good friends too, in this still new North Carolina life. I am very happy that they have moved nearby. They have a new house with trees in the back. We ate outdoors. The weather was not hot! Birds sang in the trees. Elijah ate his peas one by one, delicately, with his fingers. He ate everything else with his fingers too. After the Indian food there was a light, fluffy key lime pie. Elijah's Mama gave him a spoonful. He took in the whole spoonful carefully and said "Uummm!" We think he's going to be a food critic.

This one's for you, Paul: FISA update, Olbermann on Obama and FISA

For Paul the Byzigenous Buddhapalian, FISA-watcher who is overly busy with work these days (a guy's gotta eat, give him a break), and anyone else interested in FISA, this update just in on Obama's second chance to have a go at FISA. Courtesey Keith Olbermann. Courtesy Truthout.

Here.

Quaker Dave flags Trader Joe's

Okay, foodies, here is a little social responsibility post. We loves us our Trader Joe's, but as Quaker Dave points out, isn't the life of a farm worker as important as the life of a chicken?

Read about it here, and do your thing.