Greetings Friends!

Happy April!  It won’t be long now…a few days and I will be shoving off with some friends and listeners to the Green Isles!  It is hard to believe how fast time goes and that this trip is making its way here with such velocity.

For those who didn’t know, I scheduled a tour with Inishfree tour company last year for this April.  It’s been a long journey to get to here and I am happy that it has finally arrived.  My beautiful friend and drummer Meghan will be joining me and many other Boise friends and some folks who I don’t know.  I will be leading 26 folks around the southern part of Ireland to listen to local Irish music and play some of my own!  We will see the sights, sip some Guinness and hopefully have many laughs!

I returned from Arizona on the 11th of March.  I had a fantastic time.  I slept a lot, hung out in the sun, learned a few things about golf, meditated with my friend Rhea, and…scored a show!  It was one of the easiest gigs I ever scored.  I went to eat with some friends, saw that the place did music, asked if I could play and they MADE a date for me!  When does that ever happen?  Ummm, hardly ever that easy!  They hired me “Johnny on the Spot” and I was flabbergasted!  I guess I put out some good vibes and they had faith I was “worth my salt”.  Who knows?  The Universe aligned with me that day and the show went very well.  I missed my Bose sound system and of course my band mates, but I was proud of myself for holding my own. I had representation of many chapters of my life there.  Friends I had just met, friends from 20, 30 and even 40 years ago!  That part was wild!  Also, days before the show I met a sound man and he came to the show as well.  He adjusted my small little Fishman Amp and we cranked that sucker as loud as it could go without it getting to fuzzy (distorted)!  What a trip! 

Before leaving Boise, I wrapped my little Fishman Amp in bubble wrap and put it in a suitcase with another bag of cords and my pedals.  It was a little experiment to see if it would all be ok and it was great that I took a chance and brought everything because it worked like a charm. I can literally go anywhere with this little system and play.  It wasn’t the BEST for a loud environment but it would hold its own in a small more private setting.  I also took “little Blacky” that is my carbon fiber guitar.  This little guitar can muster the airplane and sing pretty well.  It will be the guitar I take to Ireland as well. 

I fell in LOVE with the desert this trip, even more so than I ever have.  I visited Ajo AZ with friends and went to see the music scene down there but quite honestly, I was more taken with the Organ Pipe Cactus than the music scene! Ha! The desert was gorgeous!  And what a small world, I ran into Terry and Dave Becker, the owners of Café’ Capri right in the little park while listening to music!  We have played for these folks for years and they are so near and dear to us!  I couldn’t believe we were hanging out and after tooling around in the park! Stopping by their campground site,  we all enjoyed a little guitar and song by the fire side! My favorite setting!  It was a magical night amongst the Saguaros and Pipe Cactus!

I had a 2 day turn around upon coming home.  I had to pack my stuff and zoom off to the Grand Targee Ski Resort where Mo and I played at the Trap Bar! We have been playing there since probably 2006 and it is ALWAYS a party!   We get to see our buddy Andrew who is our “Inferno Man” VIP member.  He scheduled his trip to ski with his friends for the weekend when we play and we had a blast with him.  We got to stay up on the hill (thanks to Andrew) and it made ALL the difference.  It was not nearly as stressful to park and we could part take in a hot soak in the hot tub as the Spring Sun shined upon us!  That part was heavenly!  We encountered snow all the way out to Driggs from Hagerman (many hours of driving in the snow, which was NOT in the forecast! So a hot soak was super needed!)  My tire gauge in my truck went off near Rexburg.  I kept watching the tire and would stop to check it and fill it on our way to the resort.  We forgot about it through the weekend and until we left. Yikes! I checked it and it had 19 lbs of pressure on the way down the mountain to the nearest gas station! I stopped to pump it up again!  Never a good feeling!  

I also took a good fall trying to ski in powder and my wiser self reminded my stupid self that I don’t know how to ski in powder! Yep.  I am glad I still know how to bounce! We saw a few bald eagles which was amazing AND a golden eagle too!  That must have been an angel signaling help with the tire dilemma because we had a party to play for in Sun Valley and not enough time to get the tire fixed. 

Our friends we stayed with in Sun Valley filled the tire the next day and we stopped at a Les Schwab only to be told it would be 2-2.5 hrs before they could fix it.  I hit the gas and got us home safely.  The next morning it was DEAD flat!  Holy smokes!  Fortunately, I have a little air compressor and filled it once again and got it into Les Schwab.  Turns out there was a NAIL in it!  Zoiks!  I thought it was just a slow leak near the valve or something. My God! 

Upon returning home, we have had some great local gigs and every now and then some good Sun!  It’s been pouring rain the last few days but I don’t really mind.  I got my yard fertilized and some flowers planted so, my outside focus can shift to inside things. 

I do look forward to motorcycle season and getting my bicycle out and getting more exercise.  I have been pretty recluse this winter. I suppose I am getting in touch with my introverted self perhaps and Mo is getting in touch with her extroverted self. The summer has many shows planned and we look forward to what lies before us in the music scene, together and individually! 

 

Much love to you all!

Niccole & Mo

“The Knower”

Greetings Friends,

July has been quite a month! I am feeling empowered, creative, un-stuck and this feels amazing!  I went on a journey July 4th to Taos, New Mexico to help facilitate an artist retreat called “Shine On”.  My good friend Uma and I put together a really cool experience combining art and music to retreat goers.  The whole experience was fabulous!

Uma is a phenomenal artist, working with the medium of paint and canvas and could probably go much more in-depth of what she does if she were explaining this.  She tackles mandalas and I swear she brings “spirit” right through most of her paintings.  She has a peaceful and pleasant way about herself that spreads and it was an absolute JOY to be around her, her family and the retreat goers.  I really loved how there was no hierarchy, it was friends sharing; their lives, their wisdom, their talent, themselves.  We laughed a lot, cried a bit, painted, we did yoga, TiChi, movement, and ate…oh yes, we ate and ate and ate!  Ha ha! 

I would kid about the 3 meals a day and I made up silly little songs comped from other hits, like, “Oh no we’re EATING again!”  sang to the tune of “Oh no it’s raining again!”.   Yiiieeee!  We star gazed, philosophized, pondered, wondered, hot tubbed, hot spring-ed, mud-bathed, stream hopped, hiked, skinny dipped, floated the Rio Grande, watched heat thunder storms from a distance (it was better than ANY fire-work show ever).  I met new people, I watched dear friendships re-kindle, I got to be a fly on the wall of a beautiful family that loves and respects each other…and, we even had a murder day!  Yikes!  The chickens hit their weight limit and started to die off so, the last 4 chickens were thoughtfully honored, killed and plucked and bagged!  That was quite a task.  Picture little Uma and I trying to stuff an almost 9 pound chicken into a small shrink wrap bag.  Wings had to be tucked and it’s plump SLICK dead body had to be wrestled into the bag!!!

I played pivotal songs during the retreat, held a small concert during the retreat and also played for Unity Church in Santa Fe.  We also strolled the art galleries in Santa Fe and had a fair amount of delicious ice cream!

It truly was such a rich experience!  I am honored that Uma asked me to join her and feel super blessed I was able to contribute my heart and art and also came away with a painting I am quite proud of!

This painting is called, “The Knower”!  The painting starts with a saying you create and wish to manifest.  Then you add significant colors of your past, present and future.  Then you create a face.  For me, it was like a self-portrait and it’s the one IN ME who “KNOWS”.  There is other symbology and things that are very significant.  A balanced heart, the Tetons, a voice that sings out, the cowboy moon, the stars, a hidden guitar, a tragedy line, my funny hair…and, an angel.   I love that the angel looked like a brown “blop” on a most colorful canvas.  I wondered when I did this, “who had their hand on my brush”?  It wasn’t me.  It literally looked strange.  

I pulled away from the painting and it looked like a dragon fly.  I remember when my father passed.  I walked to the back 40 down by the river and asked him, “how are you going to show up for me now dad?”  And 20-30 magnificent dragon fly’s landed on a log where I was sitting.  I smiled and thought, “Ok, pop has dragon fly energy”.  So when I see a dragon fly, I smile and know he’s with me.  Well, there on the canvas was a dragon fly.  My Papa.  My angel and all those who are up there with him including my mother, my God mother and friends.  I painted a small halo over the dragon fly.  Then I decided to put angel wings over the dragon fly so that on lookers of this painting KNOW that there is an angel off to the right of the painting by the face.  This “KNOWER” KNOWS what I need to do, be, become, hold, let-go of, create, invest, awaken to, trust, love, let be, and honor.  This “Knower” gives me grace, fortitude, clarity, honor, integrity, creativity, passion, wonder, awe and magic.

I have to say, I LOVE this painting and I cherish this new modality of creativity.  I hope you all enjoy the back story and the freshness of perception it brings me.  Thank you for reading these blogs and joining Mo and I in our journey of music.

We will be taking to the mountains playing Redfish, Sun Valley and Donnelly in Aug. Hopefully moving away from the triple digits that make us sweat way too much!

Be well and stay cool!!!

Nicc & Mo

Juno & Sobee

Welcome to June’s blog!

Greetings Friends!

And welcome to June’s blog!  It seems each month that goes by I say to myself, “Holy Crap it’s ______ already?!!”  Fill in the blank because I’m sure it will be this way come July, August and the rest of the year!  Wowsa!

Reflecting back on May brings beautiful things to mind.  The foliage for one has simply been gorgeous!  The greenery and everything blooming has filled this heart full and I am grateful!  Another big thing that has filled this heart is puppy love!  OMG!

Mo has been wanting “her own dog” and has let me know this for several years.  Although I believed Juno to be shared between Mo and I, seeing as Juno fusses over Mo much more than she does me, Mo still wanted a smaller dog.  After much discussion and thought she purchased a Mini-Goldendoodle.  Her name is Sobee (“So be it!”) and she is such a love.  This little tiger is full of energy and enthusiasm.  She is curious, playful, loving and loves to explore.  She is super fun, to play with, to snuggle and watch interact with Juno.

Juno has a whole different take on this “new addition” to the house hold.  She is not overly happy about it but, she is adapting.  I think Juno is doing remarkedly very well.  She has done the whole growl thing to the puppy and even bares her teeth which is horrifying to watch but I have done my best to quip Juno.  Now Sobee is drinking out of Juno’s water bowl, which no other dog gets to do.  The other day I saw Sobee walk right over Juno’s face and body and Juno just rolled her eyes.  It was hilarious!

So, Mo has a companion when I do more solo adventures and I have Juno.  Doggie love has a special place in my heart and I think life is more complete with this companionship. I am happy this puppy is such a sweet, smart good pup.  The way she nestles under my neck when I pick her up is simply precious!  Her sweet puppy breath is so comforting too!  What a waggy little wonder she is!

So be sure to check out the pictures of her that go with this blog. Each blog has designated pictures that coincide with what I write.  There are also movies some months for those who can access the movies. New mp3 downloads when something creativity comes along.  I hope you enjoy. 

More big news in May was that I received my Reiki 1 & 2 training!  I took a trip to Ft. Collins Colorado mid-month and teamed up with my friend Dana to play some music and got certified in Reiki with my instructor friend KK.  It was very empowering!  It felt like the right medicine and energy I needed at the right time leaving me very centered!

I walked about 4 miles a day while I was there.  I read a lot of books.  Studied, wrote, contemplated, drank a lot of coffee, played with the good ol’ boys, ouu…that’s a story!  I had some opportunities to play with Dana’s band mates and her and then there was a Wyoming jam party!

We traveled from Ft. Collins up to the state line where this Buffalo Ranch is.  It looks like the land/bar/tavern/restaurant is right out of the movie “Road House”! There were many men with acoustic guitars.  I had a friend Tim hand me his Eddie VanHalen knock off ELECTRIC GUITAR!  So get the full picture.  Here I am, a short-haired lesbian woman playing an ELECTRIC GUITAR in a barn with all these dudes and their acoustic guitars!  Ha!!!  The fact that I had an amp is a complete domination to anyone that wanted to be an egotist.  I however kept the volume very low as to not over power any of the music that was happening.  As the dozen or so men played I joined in with nice little leads and licks!  I had myself a good ol’ time, and I suppose they were impressed because the manager of the “barn” asked if I could play (for pay) that Sunday.  I was to leave the next night though!  Meow!

I had a great time and it was a lesson for ALL of us to never judge a “book” by it’s “cover”.  I might have been intimidated by the “redneck” look of those boys and they certainly could have thought many things about me, but everyone was super kind and super cool!  Another thing I love about music, it brings all kinds out and creates unity and a sense of community and sharing.

I decided to make electric be my focus for the next few months.  I bought myself a little spark amp that is merely for practice.  The cool part about this little amp is it comes chock full of sound pallets from the greats and from all sorts of creations if you would like to blend and mix these tones.  For example, I could blue tooth from my phone into the amp and it can sound like Prince’s Purple Rain guitar effects!  I could then take this and change it around if I would like.  I could also study what pedals Prince used and apply them to my amp that I use for shows.  It also has the ability to play back tracks and can connect straight into YouTube!  So, I will be sitting down to discover more and more sound qualities with this little bugger!  It’s so small it fits right on my desk!

Coming home after my Colorado stent was my introduction to Sobee.  We had a wonderful heartfelt show at the Local the first night back.  I don’t know what was in the air but it was like a quiet sit-down concert.  Those nights are like a big hug!  I welcomed it all and feel very blessed to have this gift of music in whatever capacity I choose to share.  Super grateful also for you folks taking the time to read these words!

I hope June treats you well and pretty soon we’ll be saying, “Holy Cow, it’s July already!”  We can’t “hold the hand of time” but I hope you hold those important things closely to your heart!

 

Much love,

Niccole

It was cold, until it was HOT!

Hey Friends,

Well April cruised on by and here we are in May!  It was cold, until it was HOT!  Typical Idaho fashion!  My big celebration this month was trimming my apple tree! Ha!  It was no easy task!  It required me going to buy a tall enough ladder and getting my limbers out and my pruning tools. 

I actually LOVE little chores like this because I can see what I’ve done when I look at it after.  I think we are wired to want results.  Satisfaction comes from SEEING what we’ve done.  You plant a garden; the vegetables are the “fruits” of your labor.  You mow a yard you can smell and see the lawn as if it has a new hair cut!  Instant satisfaction. 

Our “job”, if you call it a job…relies solely on our sensing what we’ve done.  In many aspects there is NO result unless someone throws a “bone” in the tip jar, an audience stands up to clap, you get the pay check even when you blew that chord or lyrics.  There is NO tangibility to our job.  This is NOT to say that it’s not satisfying, because it surely IS.  It just molds you as a person after 20 years of doing it.

You use all your inner ability to determine how you are doing.  It becomes a habit that you don’t even give thought to after a while.  You “read a table”.  You can see if they are into the music or into people talking at the table.  And really, after all this time, we’ve learned to let go of attaching ourselves to what other people’s experience of our music and performance has been. 

Sometimes people come up after the show with tears in their eyes, or smiles or congratulatory comments.  It can make you feel good for a second, make you feel special or powerful…but really…it isn’t about us, or the song I wrote.  It’s about them and how open they are to receive the song, or where they may be at presently.  How open is their heart to actually take it in the power of a particular song and what are somethings that are happening in a person interpersonal world.  We are privy to this and need not be.   

There is no tangibility in our business.  Perhaps if I were Taylor Swift and was on the Billboard charts this would be measurable and tangible, or selling millions of records therefore having millions of dollars could be measurable.   So, Mo and I have had to team together and be the back board for each other in performance.

We know when we’ve performed to our greatest level and we know when we’ve botched.  Often a crowd won’t notice, maybe some close friends would, but we certainly know when a song is rusty, or needs work on a part.  Humans and this culture LIKE and CRAVE something tangible. Something to measure and something to actually “hold” in their hand or their minds.  I’ve never had the words to describe the feelings of not having that.  It’s called TRUST!!!

Trust is a very important element to what we do.  We have to “trust” that “it’s” working; the song, the music, the voice, the magic.  We FEEL when it is, we feel when and audience is distracted or checked out (mainly on alcohol).  We have a knowingness of the mood, the temperament, the energy of a crowd.  We read people all the time.  It’s been our survival and our success. 

You probably don’t know all that goes all into it.  That’s what this VIP blog is all about.  To enlighten you in the journey of our inner world and what it means to make music from your soul and put it out there for others to listen, judge or whatever they wish to do with it. 

That is why I’ve created this page, this blog, this membership.  Along with all the intangibility that goes on…people get fascinated by the mystery of music.  Hell, I still get fascinated with the mystery of music.  Where’s it come from?  How do I write a song?  How does an idea just pop into my mind like that? 

I LOVE this mystery.  I can tell you my take on it.  My take is I am an observer and FEELER of the world and my own experience.  I see others experiences too and have my own assessments and interpretations.  That goes into my little brain like a washing machine.  The dial gets turned on and the agitator begins to churn these experiences. 

When time, grace, space and inspiration come together – boom a spark happens! If I am so inclined to sit the heck down and write about this inspiration, I become the sculptor.  Here’s this chunk of “mud”, clay if you will.  An idea has stricken me at just the right time.  I am in the head space to pen out a song, I have the time, nothing is pulling on me (which is my instant distraction and way out of sitting to face the “clay” – believe me, if I sat and faced EVERY clay, I MIGHT be Taylor Swift, but that’s another story). 

I pull out my tools, guitar, paper, pen, recorder…and if I haven’t lost the clay by doing those things, I begin to remove the chunks of “clay” and shape a song that hopefully folks can relate to.  I pull on my own heart strings.  I go to where it hurts sometimes.  I go to funny moments.  Then it’s me and God having a wonderful time together!  I love the feeling of KNOWING this is gonna be a good one!  I love the feeling when I KNOW I’m not going to quit on this one, Spirit has a message and it wants to come through.  I open.  I FEEL my way along.  Just like I have my whole life! 

I feel my way a long in everything.  It’s a unique life.  This culture likes to “be in the know”. They want to expect how much they will make in a weeks wages, we never know.  They want to know who they will interface with that day, we never know. They want to know where they are going to find a place to sleep, eat, take a shower…when we are on  the road, we don’t always know.  They want to know if they are doing a good job or suck, often times…we never really know because we are not living from the audiences experience and must use our own interpretation.

I am use to living among the creation of things as they happen, moment to moment, as it comes.  It’s not easy and I can buck against it too as I like to be in the KNOW because it FEELS safe there.  But, how many times did I think I KNEW and then things change…?  So, I go back to being in the moment with my life and loving what IS instead of what I want to expect.  That part is hard indeed.  Some days I am better at it than others. 

So, I take joy in trimming my apple tree.  Getting ready for the summer heat which just about knocked me out on Sat. at the Sandbar.  They did NOT supply fans and Meghan and I were in the direct sun. Whew…would have been nice to know, they weren’t going to have fans.  Yikes.  Sometimes it’s an adventure…other times you are wiped out!  You take the good with the bad and keep moving forward trying to uncover the best of who you are moment to moment.  That is all anyone can do!

What things are solid for you?  What things are intangible?  How do you do with those things that are intangible?  Do you need more spontaneity? Do you need more plans? Are you the type that can go with the flow or do you like to be in the know?  How much do you need control, how much can you let go of control? 

These are things to think about and I don’t expect a response, unless you feel the need to.  The “teacher” in me always likes to ask questions just to activate people’s minds.  These questions I ask myself and they go into my “agitator” and I pop out some songs from there! 

Much love and light to you all!  Drink your water, wear your sun screen, enjoy your yard work or just go take a bike ride and leave it!  You’ll be loved regardless of what you do or don’t do!  There is NO-THING you HAVE to do! 

 

Be well!

Nicci

Hello Friends

I hope you are all doing well.  It’s supposed to be Spring…however Boise has been hit with snow storms and cold weather so, it feels like the winter wants to hang on and give us all extra time to hibernate.  Ugh! 

The good news about this is, the ski season is longer.  I didn’t really get a chance to ski much early this winter as I was down in Arizona but due to the “extended winter” I have gotten up to Bogus a few times AND we returned home earlier last week from a great trip to Grand Targee Ski Resort.  This is located on the West side of the Tetons.  Driggs is where we stayed, East Idaho and the Trap Bar is where we played music for the patrons there.

Part of the fun of playing here is it brings people from all over.  It’s like an annual get together with people from Salt Lake City, South Carolina, Michigan, Sun Valley, Wyoming, and now and again California.  These folks who have enjoyed our shows over the years, make it a point to come the weekend that we are playing!  It’s super-duper great to see, ski and spend time with our friends Andrew, Bob, Joyce, Carol, John and others.  Bringing community together is always fun and even MORE fun to see them become friends!  I think this is probably one of the single greatest gifts we’ve gotten to bear witness too.  Music brings people together and friendships are created!  This is what I love about music!

The snow was beautiful and we had an epic blue-bird day!  We could see the Tetons from the top of the slope and carving our turns seemed pretty effortless.  I needed the exercise, the trees, the sunshine and letting my mind unfurl with the beauty of nature and the sound of my skis. 

I use to snow board and I miss it, but this body doesn’t really miss the after math of a boarding day.  The sensation of snow-boarding is a lot like surfing they say, I’ve never surfed so I don’t really know. Surfing down a mountain is a pretty epic feeling and I can snowboard most ANY terrain, powder, steeps, trees etc.  Skiing however, I need to really stick to the groomers.  My independent legs don’t have the skills required to maneuver in powder, but…I am ok with this.   I find the comfort of getting on and off the lift easily over rides all the struggle it takes to tack my snow-board down.  Also, cat tracks are not fun on a board and neither is bonking my head if/when I fall.  I’m sure I have symptoms of whiplash from years of boarding.

One thing I have been noticing is my body aging and the effort things take.  I don’t mean for this to sound like a complaint at all.  I love skiing and sports; I love playing music and thank GOD I have been an athlete all my life because music requires one to be in good shape.  I go in and out of being in decent shape.  This long ass winter gives way to a few extra pounds, like a bear I am hoping spring will eventually come along and I will shed my un-needed layer.  But I noticed just loading the equipment during this trip took a lot of air. 

We are up at 8000 feet of course, so there is the thinner air.  I was panting at the top of the steps with carrying equipment up 4 sets of stairs.  Also playing fast rocking songs with little air really gets the ol’ thumper going!   I just wonder, at 55…how many years do I have of this?

This is a question I have skimmed over time, in my mind.  How long do I have at this, am I making the most of it?  I am in appreciation always for being able to live from something I love to do. 

Sometimes we lay the ground-work of our lives out and LIFE has a completely different plan.  I find when I let go and “flow” with life’s plan instead of trying to “force” MY plan, life seems more harmonious.  I haven’t had the conventional…anything in my life.  Sometimes that causes misunderstandings, hardship and feelings of loss, but most times I feel very blessed.  Deeply blessed!  To be able to play music and watch people enjoy or be moved by it, this is a wonderful feeling!

Mo and I are going to clip at a slower pace this year.  We always seem to SET this as a goal, but always wind up grinding out by the time the season is over.  Up until this last Nov. the “season” for music really wasn’t over the last 10 years!  It rolled right on through the winter. 

We are trying to find that “work-life” balance for ourselves, individually and as a team.  It is crazy how much preparation it takes to pull off a good performance.  Many hours of practicing and studying that people don’t realize.  Thus, the life and life-style of a musician is 24/7, yet it doesn’t appear this way.  I am fortunate not to have to wake up to an alarm.  This is my idea of success!  Ha ha!  I’ve NEVER liked waking to an alarm!  I respect those who can and do this to put food on their table.  I feel quite spoiled about this indeed, but I also know flip side of our lives too!  There is hardly ever a weekend that is free!  “Everything is a trade,” some obscure song-writer wrote.  LOL!

So….I hope you enjoy the flash drive with 21 songs for your downloading pleasure!!! Yes!  This is the doozey you’ve been waiting for!  A live show at the Sapphire last March of 2022.  We just released this in March of 2023! 

The Sapphire Room flash drive is a recording of Mo and I with Meghan Kelly Watters on percussion and our first concert with the lovely Debbie Sager on backup vocals and percussive accents!  The show was a powerful one and even though the recording is not PERFECT, it’s a very wonderful take on a beautiful evening!  I hope you all enjoy this!

Be well sweet friends.  I hope peace is easy for you all and each breath of life feels like a true gift!

Much love,

Niccole, Mo & Juno

Hello beauties!

February rolled in quick and left me with a brand-new tattoo on my left fore-arm!  A little “ink” reminds me of my independent journey and journey with others.  Infinity represents our ever-lasting presence of Spirit, now and always.  There is no hurry, there is no rush, there is only right now.  Right now, is where the hummingbird of happiness and Joy sits.  The figure 8 marks where I begin and you end, where you end and I begin.  We can come together yet also be with ourselves in Joy.  Hummingbird has always been my mother’s totem and I would often see these magical energetic little birds in a flash and think of my little Mama!

A back story about this tattoo, I listen to instrumentals mostly.  There is an album on Spotify called “2002 Land of Forever”.  I have been listening to this music for the past 21 years (before Spotify)!  I first heard it in my friend Rhea’s office.  I nick-name my friend Rhea, “the Wizard”.  She has been friends with me since my 20’s.  She has seen me through divorce and disarray, to rising above, to creating my first album and she has been on this path of life with me as a friend, mentor and trusted confidant.

During my darkest hours Rhea has been someone who has never failed to reflect back to me, exactly what I’ve needed to see.  And let me tell you, that is sometimes a HARD truth!  She’s not a “mother figure”, not a “grandmother”, not a “sister”; she’s something, hard to explain…well, she’s my “wizard” friend!  Ha! And, she likes to “needle me”.  She was my acupuncturist from the 90’s until 2020 when she retired from her office in Sandpoint Idaho and then moved to Green Valley AZ.  She is the woman I stayed with for about a month this winter.  She is family.

During my divorce back in 2001, I remember being on her table while she poked me with needles, aiding in my healing always. I heard the first song come on and it always soothed me. I would hear this song JUST when I needed to and my feelings of hardness and being stuck would fade into more love and more light.

Rhea’s presence can do this for me as well, now without the needles…well, she still “needles” me with her words and insights ha ha, but not the pokey pins.  Her eyes typically pierce through any vail I am unaware of and she brings me to some  new awareness.  I don’t get to sit in denial around Rhea and I’m delighted to have that kind of friend illuminate me.  Sometimes hard but true and we enjoy each other’s company indeed!

During my stay in Green Valley AZ, we would talk and then be silent.  We would cook together.  Sit quietly in the Sun.  Meditate.  Drink coffee. Eat chocolate. Contemplate. Color mandalas. And I would play my shuffle and the album would come on and we would both smile.  Remembering how much growth we have seen each other through with this song being the “back track” of our lives.  

Last year when the album popped up on my meditative shuffle, playing the “Summer of 300 Years” from my TV ap, I went into my office and looked at the TV screen to find out what this song I’ve heard for the past 20 years was called.  Well…this hummingbird picture was on the Spotify screen!  I fell in love with it!  I was like, “Wow, that song!  That picture!  What were the odds?”

It was like part of Mom reaching out to me too!  I decided this was going to be my new tattoo someday (soon).  I loved the color, the meaning, the message and I wanted it on my left arm so I could reference it while playing guitar as well.

I absolutely LOVE it and I love the artist who did the ink, Ashly from Old Soul Tattoo.  She is a bad ass and so super sweet!  She has long dreads and a half-shaved head.  She had intricate tattoos everywhere and even one on her head (ouch!). She was a delight and honestly, it didn’t hurt a bit!  I have one other one from 2015 of my dog Osa, and the notation of music to “Life is Beautiful”.  But this hummingbird is the first ever in color!  This “rite of passage” tattoo reminds me to stand in my Joy and in my Power! We are infinitely connected and destiny is our divine right.

The end of February was a “sharpening of our axes” so to speak, to get ready for a SOLD-OUT show in Boise’s quintessential listening venue called, the Sapphire Room.  We haven’t played out together since Nov. 6th and we needed to practice.  I was surprised how most songs came super easily and effortlessly.  For me, I was needing to rehearse to handle all my emotions.

Coming together after this long break was and has been emotional for me.  There have been lots of changes and I relished in EVERY moment of rehearsal with Mo, Meghan and Deb.  I’ve written the songs so, I KNEW them yet, it’s been a while and songs have a way of piercing the heart unexpectedly.  Especially my songs it seems.  At least to me they do that…they do that “thing” and catch me off guard at times running down the corridor of my life they speak to me in such a way as I know the back story.

You can sit with a song that I’ve written and find a truth in it for you.  Maybe something that touches your heart as well. I’ve LIVED these songs.  They all come from a truth and a deeper part of me, and in some ways, they call to me to become better and they give me grace when I’m NOT at my best, like an affirmation.

Well…the show was a HIT and boy was it ever an affirmation!  Playing early this month of March the crowd was truly good and hungry for some music and we were most delighted!  I thank my lucky stars I am able to have this talent and platform.  I have lofty goals of writing more and creating workshops and branching away from our usual to dig deeper and create fabulous and touching musical experiences for fellow listeners!

The latest song, “Between the Bitter and the Sweet”, posted earlier with the lyrics is a testament of growth.  I’ve been digging in the well-spring of my life’s journey. Ever grateful and blessed for every part of it, even the uglies, even the child-hood wounds that can leave me spinning in some moments.  I am daring to put those parts to music as well.  I want NO THING or NO PERSON or NO BELIEF to stop me from creating.  And I’m quite fired up about this!

I hope you can appreciate this song and all it’s rawness.  I had to sing it at least 30 times before I stopped crying, so…it’s a personal one for me indeed!

May you “Spring clean” your own coffers!  May you find the beauty and peace that lies underneath the journey of self-discovery!  May you sing your own song in your heart and may that song sooth your soul.

We appreciate you all so very much! Thanks for taking the time to check in and thank you for being the audience that helps set the “bar” for my creations!!! What gift and blessing!   

Much love to you all!  - Niccole

Between the Bitter & the Sweet

By Niccole Blaze ©

2/2023

I am an old fashion girl

Never knew I would be

Sometimes like my Mama

Years ago

My two little fingers

To measure out her bourbon nice and slow

She liked it on the rocks but sometimes neat

Oh my heart gets lost

Between the Bitter and the Sweet

Late night Johnny Carson

And warm summer nights

Oh it’s alright she never tucked me in

I’d dream about the fire flies with dog by my feet

Oh my heart gets lost

Between the Bitter and the Sweet

I see you now, with a smile as wide as the ocean

Is there a way, how

I can let my weary heart rest in your tide?

Rock in a glass, some bourbon and some bitters

Salty tears now running down your cheeks

Oh my heart gets lost

Between the Bitter and the Sweet (repeat) 

Re-entry from our Sabbaticle!

Well howdy friends,

January brought Mo, Juno and I back to Boise but not till January mid-month.  I had some wonderful Sun time in Arizona.  I had put about 4500 miles on my car “Silvia” by the time I got home. I was reluctant to go from 70 degrees in sunny Arizona weather to 18 degrees of cold Boise Idaho weather…ugh!

The last of time spent with Rhea was enjoying sunsets and taking Juno to a dog park down in Green Valley where Rhea lives.  Juno made some puppy friends and found a wonderful puddle to “swim” in.  Boy, did she ever need a bath as she was super “ripe” for the ride home.  Phew!

I tried my hand at golf too with my friend Steve.  We did a par 3 course in the area. I have probably played golf maybe 4-5 times in my LIFE.  I am a total novice but can see the allure in it.  I think it’s just a fun thing to do while catching up with friends; a little exercise, something you both strive for and a nice walk.  Kind of like throwing a ball for a dog however, YOU retrieve your own ball and hit it again! Ha!

Anyway, I had beginners’ luck because I damn near shot a hole in one on the 9th hole.  My friend Steve thought it went in the hole (his eyes aren’t the greatest) but it just skimmed the hole and landed about 10 inches away.  So funny and complete beginners’ luck if it had!

I also taught a guitar lesson to a gal name Charlotte, just before leaving, who was “Nashville bound”.  She just turned 26 and has done some writing and is a good singer.  She saw me play at the Coyote Grill and wants to learn guitar.  I enjoyed the lesson and her eagerness to hit the music scene in Nashville, and “make it big”. A nostalgic dream I remember having yet I was completely intimidated by Nashville.  Hell, I still am! LOL!  (Maybe not as much though).

I look back and think when I was 26 years old.  I studied guitar for years but still wrestled with barre chords, rhythm patterns and theory.  I had grand aspirations and dreams also.  What a beautiful journey she was in for. Most of me was excited for her, and the wise side of me whispered, “hold on to your hat girl…keep facing the sun”.  The business of music is like getting on a wild bucking bull.   Stay on as long as you can, don’t get the “horn” and get jaded.  Remember WHY you’re doing it.  Keep your reasons close.  She’s a tiger of a personality so she just might make it big!  She said she felt like she was too old already.  Ha!  I remember feeling that way. I think I was 32 when I started to really take music more seriously (and played out) and I felt like I “missed the mark” and too old as well, yikes!  As if only the young can make it and 32 is old!  What did I know (I was young!)

I reminded her of Leonard Cohen and how at 67 years old he finally got recognized for his song “Halleluiah” so, there is HOPE at any age!  I like working with young people.  Words come out of their mouths and I listen. I laugh inside because it feels just like yesterday, I was in her shoes.  But she is taking herself seriously and going for it! Bravo!  It would be very difficult to be a youngster in this world.  When I was her age, it was around 1993!  So much has changed in the world, right?  CD’s were the big rave!  Record deals and hit songs were the direction of millions and at that time you could MAKE millions! There were no digital downloads.  Houses, rent and college tuition was also within financial reach.  I feel for our youth indeed and I found it refreshing to sit down with her and listen to her dreams and ideas.

I know this much; I like to be useful.  I have been deep in the trenches of self-exploration and discovery, which is so important.  Giving a lesson felt good. Coming home, I have kept up with a similar schedule I had in Arizona with my reading, writing, studying and taking in alone time.

To dig into self is hard but beautiful.  Not everyone is up for the task.  Though I annoy myself with the “no stone left unturned” personality, I feel that my happiness gets the chance to deepen with every tear I shed. It’s the letting go of emotions that clears us, heals us and brings us energy to expand.  I can feel this expansion when I sing now.  My voice and all the energy that goes into singing comes from a deeper place. This feeling is almost shocking and euphoric!

I am now in cold Boise town yet my heart is still warmed by the Arizona Sun!  This was such an invaluable trip and I feel super appreciative Mo and I both took our separate down time, learned a lot and nurtured our souls.

We are redefining everything!  Our music, our journey together, our relationship, our time and our lives.  Inertia can slip itself into our lives so easily.  Making us feel like we are doing the same things over and over again.  And for as much as I resist change (and boy let me tell you, I can be resistant) I know my Spirit needs it.

I hope you all have done well through the winter.  For those of you who are local and have missed the shows, we look forward to playing for you!  I know the Sapphire show will fill us all up!  For ALL of you, I hope you are reaching into yourselves and finding that “spark” that makes you get filled with wonder about this wild ride called life.  What sparks joy?  It can be hard to find in the dark, this I know…but the lightness always comes, even when we think it won’t.  Thank God and thank you for all your support!!!

 

Much love to you all!

Nicc

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