Tonight is the night of September’s full moon, which if you are into astrology you may know as a time of new beginnings; a new moon is a perfect time to start a new project, develop new ideas, or bring something you’ve been mulling over to life. Tonight’s new moon is in Libra, which means it is an especially good time to assess the relationships in your life or begin new ones. That means that tonight is a great opportunity to start writing that memoir, call up an old friend that you’d like to see more of, or take a risk by trying to make plans with that acquaintance you’d like to get to know better. While you’re building up your courage, skim through this list of five things I’m digging this week, and see if you can find some inspiration.
Not into astrology? Then ignore the introduction and enjoy these five thing I’m digging this week!
Playing for Change Carries “The Weight” Around the World
Playing for Change is a group with a mission to spread peace, love, and understanding through music. Sounds idyllic, right? It’s also a feat of coordination and musicianship that uses technology to record multiple musicians in far-flung places all across the globe and seamlessly meld the tracks into one giant collaboration. The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson approached them about recording his mega-hit “The Weight” in this way, and they jumped at the opportunity.
You can see all of Playing for Change’s recordings on their YouTube channel, and read more about this recording on Rolling Stone.
Celebrating the ’60s at the Huntsville Museum of Art
The Huntsville Museum of Art is wrapping up the runs of a trio of exhibits examining the 1960s in America through three of the often contradictory experiences of the time.
Vietnam: The Real War|Photographs from the AP shows the horrors of life and death in the midst of war, while Peace, Love, Rock & Roll: Elliott Landy’s Woodstock Vision takes the viewer instead to the world of music, culminating in 1969’s Woodstock festival, which was for many the embodiment of the hippie movement. Looking at the Collection: Celebrating the 1960s showcases items from the museum’s permanent collection that embody the Pop, Minimalism, and Photorealist movements that arose in the ’60s to challenge Abstract Expressionism with fun, accessible, and unpretentious works of art.
These exhibits will only be in Huntsville for a few more days, so plan to make a trip very soon if you want to see them!
Fall Flowers at this House in Stockbridge, Edinburgh
I would like to take advantage of this friendship-building new moon to become friends with whoever lives in this house. Shall we make plans for next time I find myself in Edinburgh?
Bertie! Yes, This Is My Cat
We have known each other for a couple of months now, and we are getting along famously. He did get skunked last weekend, but it was a glancing blow that I was able to wash off.
Pro tip: immediately wash a skunked pet in Dawn (yes, the dishwashing soap). This is by far the most effective way to get off skunk spray.
Spiced Red Lentils
This Spiced Red Lentil Stew with Spinach and Lemon from Laura Calder’s book Dinner Chez Moi is a fantastic (almost) one pot meal (you do have to wilt the spinach separately) that is good for any occasion. It’s an easy thing to make for yourself and save leftovers for another day, and it’s good for a crowd, as it is easy, inexpensive, and vegan, avoiding most food allergies, sensitivities, and aversions.
You can follow Laura Calder on Instagram: @laura_calder
