Lara Kimmerer | photographer

Monday Morning Music | After the Silence

Sometimes I drive alone in my car without the radio on…just silence. Silence gives me the space to think - to process - to clear my head. In the three days following my mom's death there was no music to be heard in my house - just silence. We spoke of course, but in between those moments there was silence. On the third day the silence seemed to take over - where it was once needed it was now way too loud (if that makes any sense).

That morning I awoke before anyone else and felt a strong desire to hear The Band. Their music and their voices were the only ones that seemed right. They had always been a big part of our family's musical life, but had recently been played quite a bit. Two months before my mom had given everyone a copy of The Band's new 5-disc set The Band: A Musical History for Christmas.

I put the speakers on low and took in the first sounds I had heard in a few days, and was incredibly comforted. The Band was practically the only music we listened to for the next month.

Last week Levon Helm, drummer of The Band died. I'm sad to see him go, but so grateful for all of the music he left behind.

 

The Weight | The Band

 

Monday Morning Music | Waking Up

Good Morning - on this lovely Monday morning! My achy body didn't want me to get out of bed this morning. Yesterday I ran the Super Sunday 5. A couple of years ago I ran this with Graham and it was a 5k - with a 10K option if you wanted to run the course twice. The run took place down by the water and the already below freezing temperatures plummeted to negative degrees with the wind chill.  I couldn't believe my brother talked me into doing that run with him. When it was over I felt ill, but accomplished.

Over the last couple of years I've become more of a runner, but I haven't been running recently at all really. I did a 5k in Harvard Square in December with Graham and ran the entire time - something I hadn't done before. I'd always come close, but would break down and walk for a minute or two. So, it felt great knowing I kept going the whole time.

When I signed up for the Super Sunday 5 - I figured I would take the 5k bailout (a bus back to the start where free food and beer were waiting), but when I got to that point and saw the bus I decided I could do it! I continued to run the next 2 miles - and yesterday, for the first time ever, I ran 5 miles without stopping. This may seem easy to some, but for those of you who find 1 mile difficult - I can tell you that I've been there and it's quite wonderful what your body and brain can do when you decide to push them...just a little bit at a time. I feel even more accomplished this time and I look forward to seeing where this running thing will go. My best friend Jen and I are already talking about a half marathon next February in SC.

Anyway...this post was going to be about how I recently bought an iPod alarm clock. I used to wake up to my phone alarm, which lent itself to me immediately checking my email and social media...a horrible way to wake up! Instead, I wanted to focus on me and truly 'waking' up to the day. The solution was an iPod alarm clock. I get to wake up to great music and move along with my morning without distractions.

The last few mornings I've been waking up to the Acid House Kings. They're from Sweden and they make me feel so light and happy - something needed in the mornings, I think.

 

Acid House Kings | Do What You Wanna Do

 

 

Wishing you a great Monday!

 

Monday Morning Music | With a Warm Coffee

After I graduated from photography school I moved home to figure out what the next step would be. Being home gave me the space to decide without the pressures of a monthly rent being due. I interned in NYC for a while, but didn't find that to be the right fit. While figuring everything out I took a manager position at a small cafe in Andover, NJ. I loved it there.

Every morning I'd wake up fairly early. Drive to the cafe with the fog hovering over the back roads I drove down. As I made the coffee before the doors were offically open I would choose a sound track to my morning. More often than not it was Got Nothin But Song - a compilation CD with various artists. I'm positive I saw a few eye rolls when customers walked in to grab a coffee before work - hearing the same songs they heard the morning before, but I didn't care because it made my morning feel perfect and warm.

This morning I decided to wake up to those songs. In particular, "Just Squeeze Me" performed by Chris Connor. Jazz music makes for the best morning music in my book.

Happy Monday Morning!

 

Chris Connor | Just Squeeze Me

  The shots above are from a shoot that will be on the blog a little later this week.

 

Monday Morning Music | Whiskeytown

When I told Peter that I was going to have a new series on my blog about music I listen to he immediately jumped to say, "It can't always be a Ryan Adams song." It's true. I do have a slight thing for his music - his voice especially. It's also true that I could fill everyone of these Monday mornings with his music. Today however, I'm feeling this song very much - this whole album really.

"Don't Wanna Know Why" from Pneumonia

Whiskeytown | Don't Wanna Know Why

Years ago, before Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, before his solo albums, he was in a band called Whiskeytown. I enjoy listening to all their albums, but Pneumonia is by far my favorite. The best listen of this album I ever had was while camping among evergreen trees overlooking a pond in NY state. The acoustics fit incredibly well. I also put this album on repeat while I was getting ready the morning of my wedding. I don't believe anyone minded that we listened to it 5 or 6 times in a row. The music created the exact mood and feeling that I wanted. Music-created atmosphere is incredibly important, I think.

Peter & I would listen to this album quite a bit 10-ish years ago - especially while driving around the backroads of northern NJ. This weekend we found ourselves on those same backroads. We went home somewhat last minute and ended up at my Dad's house without electricity and heat because of all the downed powerlines from the snow. We even had a line snap in back of the house. There was fire and buzzing - quite the excitement for little ole Hopatcong.

Before all of that though...there was an enjoyable drive up north on rolling roads just begining to be covered in snow. There was even a stop at the Sussex Queen Diner for Taylor Ham.

And, because it is Halloween. Here is a bonus track for you from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals' album Cardinology called "Magick". The mention of "zombies running all around" makes it Halloween worthy in my book.

 

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals | Magick

 

 

Enjoy!

The sounds surrounding

There are sounds to seasons.

There are sounds to places,

and there are sounds to every

time in one's life.

~ Alison Wyrley Birch

 

Random thoughts...

My thoughts have been floating around the notion of sounds lately.  Earlier today I was photographing outside and began to hear something faint - something like rain drops.  Seeds were falling from all the trees around me and landing on the leaves lying on the ground from last fall.  I smiled and took in the sound of so many bird songs floating in the air around me as well.  It's easier to ignore all that is happening around you sometimes.  I've been choosing to pay attention lately.

•••

Last weekend I awoke to the sound of a boat speeding by my house at the lake.  Again, I smiled - a new season has just begun - and that is a sound that makes me feel home the more I am away from that place being my everyday home.

•••

On our drive home last weekend Graham and I listened to songs that have the ability to bring me back in time.  My whole body feels the place and time that I listened to the music most.  I LOVE how music can do that...make you feel a time.  

Peter and I have many years together behind us (and many together before us) - and there are so many songs that bring me to different points in our relationship.  I'm sure this year will be filled with songs that will feel like being engaged later in life.

This song is in the running for Summer 2011.  Strangely enough - all of these thoughts are laced with a bit of nostalgia, but the title of this song is "No Nostalgia" - by Ages and Ages.

I'm working on a few engagement shoots - so stay tuned!

The above image was taken at a beautiful golden rod filled field in NJ - playing around with my Holga.