There is a charming farmers market and petting zoo in Wyckoff, NJ. You can stock up on fresh vegetables and scrumptious desserts. You can experiment with the local recipes for salad dressing and homemade salsa, canned in quaint, glass jars. And when you’re done, you can pet and feed the livestock with dry crackers and leafy greens. Today we saw rabbits, goats, pigs, sheep, ponies, turkeys, and even baby chicks. Though the farm is only 15 minutes from our apartment, I felt like we were in a completely different world. It was as though we stepped through a wormhole from the crowded, over populated streets of our New Jersey town and suddenly found ourselves in the open heartland of, well, Texas. The first time I visited Eddie’s family at his grandparents’ farm in Texas, I knew it was something special - relaxed, happy, warm (not just the temperature, although wow Texas gets hot), and maintained with love. Somehow his grandpa knew I would be happy tending to the baby chicks. Of course t...

I recently posted this video on facebook but hesitated posting it on my blog because it's...well, kind of a depressing song. And while I like depressing songs because of the emotional depth, honesty, and uniqueness that they require to write, record, and share, others just find them, well, depressing. But it's my blog so I can post whatever I want! I wrote this song the day after my dog of 14 1/2 years, Duchess, passed away. In addition, I had just moved to the New York City area about a month or two before and I was thoroughly disappointed with lack of music gigs I was getting...or wasn't getting. So, that, combined with Duchess's passing made for one heck of a sad song. Plus I think Eddie was at drill or something, so I was alone that day. It's a style of country and blues and as my mother said, "It worked for Tammy (Wynette), it can work for you!" I guess we'll see. Enjoy. “Throw Some More Dirt” Words and music by Elizabeth Grimes Copyright 2009...

Well this one is easy! Today the magical moment was when my wonderful husband, Eddie, graduated his final phase of BNCOC. Though it was not the most difficult training he's been through in the military by a long shot, each unit presents different challenges and he certainly had his share to deal with over the last few weeks. Eddie's personality in uniform is vastly different than when he's at home in shorts and flip flops. He is all business and both obeys and enforces every regulation (with the exception of fraternizing with an officer, HA!). Many of his peers and subordinates find this difficult to deal with. Often these are the ones lacking discipline and pride in what they do, inevitably creating personality conflicts. He often grows weary, feeling as though he's fighting a losing battle of enforcing standards to those who don't seem to care. As we talked by phone the last few weeks, he often said how everyone hates him. They roll their eyes when he makes...

It started one day when my little nephew, Zach, and I were playing trains on the living room floor. I was so overcome by his chubby cheeks and dimples that I had to scoop him up in my arms and give him a big hug. As I squeezed the little blonde butterball, I said, “Squish!” The next day I watched the 1½ year old toddle around Granny’s kitchen, looking for something to entertain him. I went to the toy box. “Come on Zach, let’s play trains.” Trains were old news. He ignored me and suddenly became fascinated with the garbage can lid. “Zach,” I mock-scolded him and put my hands on my hips. “Come over here right now so I can give you a squish.” Suddenly his bored expression broke into a wide, sparse-toothed smile as he let out a nervous giggle. I coaxed him again. He took a few small steps toward me and raised his two arms shoulder level. “You have to come closer for me to squish you.” I persuaded. His anxious laugh came out in spurts now as he tried to hold it in. I planted firmly, forci...

Okay, so if I could go to the pet store and buy a little baby squirrel, I would have done it a long time ago. Maybe it’s the way my grandpa used to hand feed his backyard squirrels bread crumbs and dried corn cobs on the deck, or maybe it was the little family of them that had babies every spring until the tree was cut down, but I’ve always loved those little critters. Joy loves them too. Loves to chase them. Each morning, when the neighborhood squirrels are at their most active, Joy is chomping at the bit to chase them down and herd them into a corner. Of course she wouldn’t know what to do with one if she ever caught it. My neighbor and I sometimes leave bread for the squirrels, she even named one Harry. Today I saw Harry trotting through the grass to his tree home with not a light slice of bread in his mouth, but an enormous slice of pizza. I’m not sure, but I think it was the leftover Pa Pa Johns that Eddie and I ate last week and just got around to throwing the box in the dumps...

Today I walked aimlessly through the streets of New York City. I had an appointment and the other party forgot, or just stood me up, who knows which. Since the bus fare was recently raised to $8.50 for a round trip into the city, I thought what a waste it would be to just go right back home. I wandered to Macy’s to see if the swimsuit I wanted was on sale yet. Nope. I wandered past Tiffany’s, I don’t know why, it’s just so pretty and sparkly. I sat on a park bench and pulled out my laminated map of the city streets and subways (I never leave home without it), looking for someplace I might want to go. Unfortunately nothing really struck me. So I wandered back to the bus station. I took my time, avoiding the crowded stuffy subways, and walked up town towards Port Authority, when I heard a drum roll from only a few feet away. I turned my head and saw the beginning of a parade, when it suddenly dawned on me...it’s Flag Day! And what luck, I ended up at the very beginning of the procession...

Life is full of ups and downs. Weeks, even days have high moments followed by unexpected low ones. And sometimes they occur simultaneously so you’re not sure which one to feel. Happy and thankful for certain things, yet sad and confused by others. A song can’t be written with only one note. A song can’t even remain in one register. It requires use of the whole keyboard, beautiful harmonization, and even ugly clashes. - those usually last only for a second however before they’re resolved. I suppose if you look at life like you look at a musical piece, it all makes sense in the end. I look at a sheet of music and am terrified and intimidated by its complexities. I wonder how I will ever work through the 16 th notes, precise rhythms, and unusual key. But I always get through it the same way, one note at a time, one measure at a time, one page at a time. There are sections I don’t understand, that confuse, anger, and frustrate me, and those take longer to work through. The composer sure...