Me and my dad on my wedding day In honor of my dad's birthday today, I thought I'd post the song, "A Builder." I wrote this song for my dad back in 2009, and it will be on my upcoming album,  Silk in the Sky  releasing in April of this year. But you can hear the finished product right now! He is, as you may have guessed, a builder. He founded his own construction business and worked tirelessly for years while I was growing up to make it a success. He no longer builds for a living, but it still remains one of his passions. Try passing a building without him critiquing the structural engineering of it! Happy birthday, dad! Love you!

My parents made the trek across country to visit Eddie and I. We were thrilled to have them and I was ecstatic when they were able to come see and hear me play at the Bernards Inn.  It was a fairly slow night, so I just played all my favorites (and my parents favorites). One of them, was this rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia." No, there are no Pips to back me up (and I botched the beginning), but if you listen at 3:06, you'll hear a lively guest in the audience give me a, "Woo woo!" Enjoy! Ps: I'm headed to the Great White North today! I'm so excited for my first trip EVER to Canada. I'll be a bit out of the loop until next week as I attend a Ballet Accompanist Mentorship Program with  Canada's National Ballet School .

"Corky" There was more black than white in his black and white view. And more scents to smell than he ever knew. His paws on the floor made a light pitter-pat. While the high-heels around him went "clackity-clack." He wandered through the strangers than filled his home, And though many pet him, he still felt alone. At last he made his way to his chair. Familiar and safe, his master would be there. But when he jumped up, he was met with surprise By a red-headed girl with tears in her eyes. There's not much English that he understands, "Sit," "Stay," and a few other commands. But he knew when she said, so warm in her tone, "I'm sorry, boy. He's not coming home." ~~~ Eddie's Granddaddy,  Jackie Howell  (right) January 24, 1937 - January 1, 2012 Eddie, our nephew Jack, and Granddaddy's dog, Corky.

I was born and raised in Lincoln, NE...as were both my parents...as were my grandparents. For the record, I love my hometown, but there are times when a Lincolnite wonders, "Will I ever get out of here?" My dad is one of those Lincolnites. My dad kind of reminds me of George Bailey in the movie  It's a Wonderful Life , whose ambition is too big for his city, but whose circumstances won't let him leave. A while ago, I read a post at  Gary's Third Pottery Blog  about some novelty mugs he created for a city in New York called Groton with the words "Rotten Groton" on them. I thought it was hilarious because my dad for as long as I can remember has referred to Lincoln as "Stinkin Lincoln." Gary was kind enough to create a special mug just for my dad. And to top it all off....Gary is originally from Lincoln, NE! It was a mug meant to be!  My dad called me today to say he was enjoying a cup of coffee out of his new mug. He's been working non sto...

Skype is one way to cope with the long distance that makes me long for my nieces and nephews. Eddie and I made a "Skype date" with my 2 nephews, Ethan and Zach. Eddie just came home from work and I insisted that he stay in his Park Ranger uniform because I was sure the boys would get a kick out of it. Little Zach was joyful as ever, flying off the couch in his Spiderman pajamas and Super Man cape. He giggled when we put our dog Joy in front of the camera, and showed us how he can shoot web out of his wrist. But Ethan, a few years older, was not in such a happy mood. He sat glumly in front of the computer wearing a blue firefighter's jacket, bottom lip out.  "What's wrong Ethan?" I asked. "I'm having a bad day." He replied.  Eddie and I tried our best to cheer him up. We made funny faces, sang goofy songs, I even hit Eddie with a pillow (which did get him to smile a little). Then suddenly I noticed something on his jacket. "Ethan," ...

While I was growing up, my dad began his own  construction company . It really started to flourish when I was in elementary school, and I truly believed my dad was famous. After all, we had hats, jackets, even beer coozies with the Daugherty Construction logo on it. And I still remember hearing the catchy jingle from the TV commercial that had me convinced we were celebrities, "Daugherty construction...builders you can depend on." At one point, he developed and built homes for practically an entire neighborhood in Lincoln, Nebraska. And because several new streets were constructed, my dad got to name them. Three of the streets were named after his 3 daughters: Regina, Mary, and Erica (my first name is Mary, though I go by my middle, and 'Elizabeth Street' was already taken). I've always been pretty proud of having my own street name and proud of my dad's company. It's been years since I've driven by "my" street, but my mom took pictures rece...

Just like music or a specific location, certain smells can bring a flood of memories to mind. I never told anyone but Eddie this, because I was afraid it was too weird (which Eddie assured me that it in fact  is  too weird), but my favorite smell from childhood is...cigarette smoke. I was born in Lincoln, NE in 1983, where the middle class smoked. If you asked someone in a restaurant or bar to put out their cigarette, you'd probably get punched in the face. Everyone knew smoking was generally bad for you, but the reality of just  how  bad hadn't quite set in yet.  My family lived in my grandparent's house for a few years when I was little, where their home was the hub of all extended family gatherings. My dad smoked, both grandparents, and so did all the uncles. (I am proud to say that my dad and grandma haven't smoked for a good decade and a half or more, and most of the family has quit since as well). But, unarguably, the smell was always around.  To t...

Today, I am posting a beautiful piece written by my older sister Regina. She recently discovered since going back to school, that she has quite an interest and talent for writing. She also found that it's an effective outlet for some of the pain she's felt the last few years. I wrote a song based on her words  here . And she guest posted once before  here . You can also visit her blog, She Lives in the Light . "Legos" by Regina Teague Boys and I are bored today. No motivation. Blah. I remember up high on a shelf in the boys' closet, is a blue tub full of Legos. I hid them away, thinking I'd get them out when the boys were older, and when Zach wouldn't think it was fun to dump them out and spread them alllllll over. Now, my areas of expertise in child playtime is not Legos. I only had sisters, one two years younger and one nine years younger. Barbies, house, dolls, tea parties, dress up--nope, no blocks mixed in there. Well, they are obsessed with Matchb...

My dad comes up quite a bit in this blog. In fact, he was in the  very first  of these 500 (wow, time flies) consecutive posts. I suppose it's a testament to the good father he's been throughout my life, supporting every crazy thing I've done from jumping out of airplanes to moving to New York. As much as he may  hate  that I've been away from home for so long chasing my ambitions, he knows that he has only himself to blame. For he taught me to always follow my passion. And I learned that by his example. I always remember my grandpa today as well. We lost him when I was 16, but thankfully have a lifetime of memories to carry with me. I remember him standing at the grill as the family gathered outside, enjoying a summer afternoon. I remember his collection of Energizer Bunnies, and the way he sat side by side with my grandma in their rockers with his dog, Sam on his lap. When I  think of him , I think of a man who survived more obstacles in his life than probabl...

A few years ago, I took my nephew, Ethan, to a beach in North Carolina. He was only 3 at the time and it was his first visit to the shore. He was  terrified  in awe of the ocean, and the endless sand was new and fascinating. But above all, he was  most  amazed at the seagulls.  They were  everywhere , and so close too! Why, he could almost reach out and grab one! Well, this became a novel idea and it's exactly what he tried to do. Over and over. It didn't take long for him to learn that they fly away awfully fast, and so he had to be ready to run. He would get close, they would get ready for take off, and then just like that, Ethan would be toddling down the shore at full speed trying to catch that tricky bird. When it flew away, another was right there,  so  near his grasp. He ran up and down the beach all day long and it never occurred to him that he might not catch a seagull after all. And I never told him that it was unlikely. I ho...

During my quick trip home to Nebraska, we spent an afternoon at Pioneer's Park for a family picnic. Unfortunately, the record high heat, made it a  short  afternoon. The kids got overheated and the playground equipment scorched their little legs and feet. But before we packed up the fried chicken and headed home, we made a few mandatory stops. Pioneer's park staples if you will... The perfect picture of Nebraska. Open prairie, muddy little pond, wildlife. We love the elk. Though, the boys lovingly call them "reindeer." Regina (sister), Ethan, Beth, Zach, Mary (mom), Erica (sister) Another family had a day out as well. Glad they enjoy stale hot dog buns.  See those pillars waaaay over there? That's where I got married. Sorry Eddie. Too hot to walk over. Zoom will have to due for today. Here's a close up of them from nearly 4 years ago. *photo by  Frank Ekeler Normally, there are buffalo out here, but they must have been hiding from the sun. I never re...

Lilacs are my favorite flower. Last week when I was home, we drove past a blooming bush in someone's yard and I swooned to my dad in the driver's seat, "Oooooooo. Lilacs!"  I haven't seen many this season and since they only bloom for a few, short weeks out of the year, every one is precious to me.  Later that evening, I heard my dad come in the back door. I peeked my head around the corner to see him coming upstairs with something in his hand. I immediately knew I wasn't supposed to see it yet. When he came into the living room, he handed me a freshly clipped bouquet of fragrant lilacs from a near by bush. "These are for you." He said. I pretended to be surprised, but I didn't have to pretend that I felt as special and precious to my dad, as a beautiful, rare flower.

We sat in the living room when all of the sudden, 2-year old Zach, decided to get tough with his Papaw. Out of the blue, we hear his squeaky, little kid voice say, "You wanna piece a me?!" And then charge at his grandpa with all his might. It was so hilarious, we spent the next few minutes coaxing him into saying it again, which he did and I got on tape.  Zach  actually is the sweetest little boy in the world, which makes this clip all the more hilarious. And after all Zach's macho, tough-guy display, he screeches, "OUCH!" when he gets a little pinch in the ribs. Enjoy.

I was able to spend a few glorious days with my 2 nephews, Ethan and Zach. Each visit is just like we've never been apart, but every goodbye seems so sad. And after only a few days together, I have more "magical moments" stored up than I can count! This one made me laugh. Ethan (4 years old) asked me to draw him a family of hamsters. And since the boys know that whenever Aunt Beth visits, she'll do whatever they want, I got the crayons out. I wasn't sure how to begin drawing a family of hamsters, but I gave it my best shot. After a few minutes, there was a mommy hamster, a daddy hamster, and a baby hamster. I thought we were finished until he asked me to draw the grandpa and grandma hamster. Of course! His Granny and Papaw are such a big part of his little life, he couldn't imagine a world without them. So, off I drew. I held up my final masterpiece for Ethan's approval, when he made it clear that something was horribly wrong.  "The grandpa hamster ...