Blue sky, pink house, not a cloud in sight...

In the new moon of December, as the days grow short and cold, and the nights long and dark here in Iowa, I dream of Silver City, New Mexico. This photo is the pink house of which I sing, in "Missin' Your Kissin'. From the porch you could see the Kneeling Nun, copper mines and the Mimbres Range. Now, in my brick cottage on Ralston Creek -- a Baba Yaga house on chicken legs -- I am teaching my grandchildren how to holler "wha-hoo," on the upbeat when the fiddle comes in. It's an important job, and someone's gotta do it.

Oh, yes, this is no dress rehearsal, this is my blog.

The first snow is flying in Iowa, and I am trying NOT to fly by the photo enforced speed cameras at the H Avenue exit in Cedar Rapids as I return to my brick cottage in Iowa City, from Hiawatha Elementary School.

Tonight I am listening to regional artists Scott Cochran and Marty Cramer (unreleased recordings) and to Iris DeMent (My Life). What a gift it is to be friends of Scott and Marty, and to be a neighbor of Iris. Each has inspired me in unique ways. Iris's songs have inspired me to write candidly about myself and my family. Listening to Scotty is a tuition-free course in alt-country, americana songwriting. And Marty has written what I believe to be one of the most beautiful love-gone-wrong songs of this decade, "Dream Spirit."

My daughter, Genevieve, in South Korea, set up this website and blog, and I'm just

blogging because she told m e to and because I am so grateful to her and to my musical friends

and my family. I love you all and hope I inspire some of you, as well.

Welcome to Gwendolyn Countryman's Website!