A Winter's Walk (Preview)

It snow last night and in the morning we had about 6 inches on the ground. So being borderline ADD in my behavior, I set out on foot to wander about in the woods behind our house.

For those who have never been to our home, let me just say that having a nature preserve behind one's house can do wonders for the soul.

I will post more pics and the tunes I selected for my iPod soundtrack later but since I took an hour and half wander I am now running late for a board event. Duty calls even when the snow falls.

(Photo: The view out my home office window.)

Winter's Walk + iTunes Soundtrack

Saturday's walk was amazing and once again proved why our house location in the city of Grand Rapids is one of the best kept secrets. You have the city right outside your front door but where our backyard ends if the Huff Park Nature Preserve.

I have found the iPod to be a fun little gadget to take along with me as I wander in my own little movie moment. But I am very careful not to have it up too loud and get spooked when a passerby startles me out of my wandering slumber or miss the sound of the many birds that guide you along the path. Yesterday a flock of cardinals followed me through the park.

This is as close to my Winter's Walk soundtrack that iTunes will allow one to get. Missing from this list is Bjork's Overture and New World from Selma Songs and the powerfully moving The Great Work Begins & Tropopause from Thomas Newman's score to Angels in America.

I hope you enjoy this iMix as much as I did while walking through the forest after it was covered in a heavy blanket of fresh snow. - Tommy

iTunes Soundtrack Link: Winter's Walk iMix
Link: City of Grand Rapids' Huff Park

Winter Blues Chaser

A year ago the design mecca catalog Design WIthin Reach offered a set of song birds. This simple act of inclusion in the collection immediately catapulted these winged creatures into a stratosphere parking reserved normally for names like Eames, Starck and Le Corbusier.

These Japanese plastic battery operated birds complete with motion sensors chirp the bird's actual recorded voice whenever one entered it's space. Their heads turn back and forth just like yours is doing right now.

I can remember the first time I surprised Michael with these creatures. We were just walking in the house and off went the four of them I had placed around the kitchen. He nearly fell over as he jumped out of his winter coat. (I laughed my ass off.)

So it was a nice treat today to read in the New York Times a little piece on these song birds and there ascent into our culture. For those who are feeling a bit down this winter I suggest placing a few of these sweet tweets around you home. For only a few bucks you can kick start spring...or at least the sounds of it.

Article: New York Times' Strange Song by Rob Walker
To purchase a bird, visit the Takara website

Portrait 2006

Artist Self Portrait, 2006
Tommy Allen