On this Christmas Eve EVE, it’s a perfect time for some Leon Russell trivia…
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Record producer Phil Spector spent several sessions recording a collection of songs with his Wrecking Crew for a Christmas album called A Christmas Gift for You. One of the greatest moments during those sessions was when “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” was recorded by Darlene Love.
Leon Russell was one of three piano players and Darlene said that Leon got into the song so much “he played a like a man possessed; it was almost like a concerto. He played himself right off the bench and onto the floor and kept playing.” It’s undeniably Leon; he was about twenty-one years old at the time.
At the same recording session, Cher did some background vocals and Sonny Bono was on percussion!
Enjoy these holiday songs from the one and only Master of Space and Time, Leon Russell. For you Grateful Dead fans (not me), this was recorded with Jerry Garcia at the Armadillo World Headquarters November 1972.
Leon Russell’s music is now owned by George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records. Here’s “The First Noel” from Leon Russell Hymns Of Christmas:
Mother’s Night (Mōdraniht) is an ancient Germanic/Anglo-Saxon tradition, celebrated on the eve of the Winter Solstice, marking the first night of Yule to honor ancestral mothers, female deities like Frigg, and the divine feminine, to focus on nurturing, protection, and rebirth. It’s a solemn yet festive night for remembrance, offerings, and connecting with life’s cycles, often involving candles, feasts, and rituals for the “Disir” (mother spirits).
The first thing that comes to my mind is to honor my very own Mother Spirit with some yummy chocolate, so I will!
Winter solstice — the farthest touch of dark. The sun’s been arching back, breathing behind the clouds, taking its time, waiting for you, too. –Tanya Markul
❄
Here are a few positive affirmations to greet this winter solstice:
❄ Embrace the Darkness – I welcome the darkness, for within it lies the seeds of new beginnings. ❄ Find Inner Light – I am a beacon of light, radiating warmth and positivity even in the coldest of times. ❄ Release and Renew – I release what no longer serves me, making space for growth and transformation. ❄ Connect with Nature – I am attuned to the rhythms of the Earth, finding harmony in its cycles. ❄ Cultivate Gratitude – I am grateful for the lessons of the past and the opportunities of the future.
Now that 2025 is almost over and we’re looking for inspiration to start a new year, how about this one? It’s said that Buddha repeated it when he taught mindfulness…
Atapi sampajano satima
It’s in the Pali language, an ancient language central to Theravada Buddhism.
Atapi sampajano satima is from Buddhist texts and means “ardent effort, clear comprehension, and constant mindfulness,” a core formula for the path to liberation.
It emphasizes diligent, wise, and continuous awareness of reality (impermanence) to see phenomena as they truly are, dissolving self-illusion.
This is a call to practice intensely (Atapi), understand deeply (Sampajano), and stay present (Satima) by observing the arising and passing of sensations and mental states without reaction, which leads to wisdom and freedom.
We’re entering that dreaded holiday limbo zone between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when time seems to almost stop moving in a sort of frenzied yet slightly depressed way.
If ever there was a time for meditation, calm, reflection, self care, and serenity, this is IT.
That’s what we call him because we don’t know his real name. All we know is that one day there were a whole lot of bananas perched on a picnic table at the beach.
I asked the gentleman who was sitting nearby if he knew who they belonged to and if we could have one. He said he had brought them and he had an organic farm nearby where bananas grew like weeds so he always brought them to share. He also grew cherries and peaches and loads of other yummy things, but we were fascinated by the bananas.
They looked exactly like this photo. They were the BEST bananas we had ever eaten. As we were packing up the car to go home, Banana Man (never got his name) told us to take some with us, so we thanked him and did just that.
Here at Casa de Enchanted Seashells, I have two banana plants that have never borne any fruit since they were planted, so I wish I knew what he was doing right..
I’ve been learning a lot about bananas. They’re an amazing creation by Mother Nature.
Bananas grow in a formation called a “bunch.” Each bunch contains multiple “hands,” and each hand consists of a line of bananas referred to as “fingers.”
The cluster of bananas we buy at the store is technically a “hand”. A full bunch—what grows on a single stem in banana plantations—can weigh more than a hundred pounds and contains several hands.
Most people have a total aversion to the white stringy things on a banana and meticulously pick them off, but not me, mostly because I’m too lazy to remove them.
They’re called phloem bundles, the plant’s internal plumbing system that transports nutrients (sugars, water, minerals) from the leaves to the developing fruit as it grows, acting like tiny veins. They’re completely edible, nutritious, packed with fiber, and safe to eat, often containing more complex fibers than the rest of the fruit, making them a bonus source of goodness, not to be discarded.
Can you eat banana peels? You shouldn’t eat a raw banana peel because it’s tough, bitter, and often coated in pesticides; however, it’s actually edible and nutritious (high in fiber/potassium) if thoroughly washed, preferably organic, and cooked to be blended in smoothies, baked into breads, or used in curries.
If totally organic, try boiling banana peels to drink as a nutritious tea.
Another use for banana peels is as a fertilizer, which I’ve done. Sometimes I save a bunch of banana peels, soak them in a gallon of water for a few days, strain, and use on the plants in the veggie garden.
Is there anyone who does NOT like bananas? I don’t think so, or at least I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t. It’s one of the universal first foods for babies; mashed and smashed.
Bananas are packed with essential nutrients: potassium, vitamins B6 and C, fiber, and magnesium, providing quick energy from natural sugars, low in fat and protein.
We all know what to do with overly ripe bananas, right? Banana bread never gets old. Check out my Recipes Category for several recipe ideas that incorporate ripe bananas.
Hanukkah started last night at sundown and ends on December 22, so don’t forget to light your menorah and remember to honor the Bondi and Brown victims.
May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all of us.
This photo was taken from the top of my street where I’m able to see the setting sun AND a hint of the Pacific ocean. It’s one of my favorite spots.
Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare
After last night’s horrific anti-Semitic massacre at Bondi Beach in Australia during a Hanukkah celebration and the violence at Brown University in Rhode Island, at least right now, this world we inhabit is not a warm and loving place.
I spent quite a bit of time in Providence while DIL was there getting her doctorate and Angel Boy was at Yale doing the same thing. I walked around the campus and the neighborhood, even Governor Drive where there was a report of another incident which proved to be false.
When AB endured his serious medical scare, he was at the same Rhode Island hospital where the shooting victims were taken because it’s the closest trauma center. These poor kids were simply taking their mid-term exams when they were attacked.
It looks like they have a suspect in custody, but the damage is done. I read that at least two of the students had already witnessed other school shootings.
Did you know that Leon Russell wrote “Lost Inside of You” with the one and only Barbra Streisand? The hit song was recorded for the movie, A Star is Born, and that’s Leon on the soundtrack. He will forever be the one and only Master of Space and Time, a musical, visionary genius.
Barbra Streisand took on the lead female role of Esther Hoffman in the 1976 remake of the 1954 film A Star Is Born, opposite Kris Kristofferson as John Norman Howard, an aging singer engulfed by excesses and demons.
Howard’s road manager was portrayed by Gary Busey, a friend of and drummer for (as Teddy Jack Eddy) Leon Russell. Busey introduced Barbra to Leon, and while at her Malibu ranch, Barbra and Leon wrote “Lost Inside of You”.
It was included in the film, on the soundtrack, and as a B-side to Barbra’s single “Comin’ In And Out Of Your Life” from her 1981 hits album Memories. The soundtrack album has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, and Memories did well with over 10,000,000 in sales worldwide, earning Russell loads of money in royalties as a songwriter. From Leon Russell Superstar in a Masquerade
I love knowing that Barbra Streisand collaborated with Leon and I love hearing him play the piano. I wish I had a photo of the two of them. One day, it would be my dream to chat with her about it.
A small anecdote about my six degrees connection to Barbra Streisand is that I once met and had lunch on set with her husband, James Brolin, when he did some filming locally. He was SUPER nice and welcoming. It was a special day and if you’re wondering, he’s even more handsome up close.
P.S. And did you know that Streisand’s co-star in A Star is Born, Kris Kristofferson, was married to Rita Coolidge, who was once upon a time Leon Russell’s girlfriend? Leon’s song, Delta Lady, was written about her. Cool info, huh?
“…nothing haunts us like the things we didn’t buy.” Quote from Becky Bloomwood/Confessions
There’s sad news to report from the literary world.
Author Sophie Kinsella died yesterday. I didn’t know that she had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2022, which is one of the deadliest and most aggressive types of brain cancer.
I loved all of her books and probably have read everything she’s ever written. The first two novels in the Shopaholic series were adapted for the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher. It’s one of my all-time favorites.
“That moment. That instant when your fingers curl round the handles of a shiny, uncreased bag–and all the gorgeous new things inside it becomes yours. What’s it like? It’s like going hungry for days, then cramming your mouth full of warm buttered toast.” Becky Bloomwood/Confessions
Those who dismiss her books as merely frivolous rom-com or chick lit don’t take into consideration the amount of work and talent it takes to write great dialogue and create characters that come to life.
RIP Sopie Kinsella. She’s survived by her husband and their five children.
And me? I’m still searching for that perfect green scarf. IYKYK
“You speak…PRADA?” Becky Bloomwood/Confessions
Here’s a trailer for the film, Confessions of a Shopaholic. I’m going to watch it again this weekend.
This photo was taken at the beach on a spectacularly warm December afternoon. The sky was blue and the Pacific Ocean was full of sparkles; a magnificent day.
Photo by Enchanted Seashells
Ode To Our Ocean
The sea sings out to its many saviors: Teenagers with fists thrust into the air at climate strikes, Scientists converging around their data, A child who stoops to scoop up a piece of trash.
The sea sings out for its singular subjects: Arching whales that wave from their waves, Turtles that teeter down their shining shores, Coral reefs shining brightly as cities.
The sea sings out its suffering, Knowing too much of waste, screeching sounds And pernicious poison, its depths bruised by Atrocities in the Atlantic, Misery in the Mediterranean, Its tides the preservers of time past.
The story of the ocean and the story of humanity Are one and the same, a Great River that Knows no borders and notes no lines, Only ripples. While we might call it the Seven Seas, Today we sing out your true name: The one ocean. For no matter how we try to separate your waters, You are the colossus that connects us.
Water makes up 70% of Earth, 70% of the human heart, And 70% of the human being, All of us, bodies of water, For we, too are oceans, Or at least beings bobbing in the same boat. To stand up for for our ocean Is to stand up for our own ship The sea is a restless, strong collective of many pieces. So are we. The ocean can recover. And so will we. Let us not divide the tides, But discover all they have to teach us– Green meadows of sea grass that survive pathogens, Blue-bloodied marine snails that can fight off viruses. There are more lessons to learn, Still more work to be done. So we lift our faces to the sun. May the seas help us see healing and hope, May we sing out the ocean’s survival and revival. Being the people of this blue planet is our most Profound privilege and power, For if we be the ocean’s saviors, Then it is surely ours.
Written by Amanda Gorman for World Oceans Day. Harvard graduate Gorman is an American poet, activist, and model. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate.
I had a dream that seemed to last forever and here are some snippets that I can actually recall.
Leon Russell
For no apparent rhyme or reason, Leon Russell (yes, I know) was showing me a ballet move called développé à la seconde, which I thought was even more remarkable because he was slightly paralyzed from a birth injury on the side that was attempting the move.
I can’t even begin to explain how or why my mind connected the Master of Space and Time to a difficult dance position, but that’s the beauty of the subconscious, I guess. It doesn’t have to make sense.
When I was involved in ballet, this particular move was a struggle for me to master. I often uttered a silent groan when Madame Kaliskis said it was time for développé because I knew she’d eventually make her way over to me at the barre and watch me until I felt my leg was going to fall off. She’d say “encore” which meant I had to do it again and again, and then she’d hold my leg up where it SHOULD be, and my task was to hold it there, but I never could.
Here’s a vid of how it ought to look; sadly, my extensions were never this perfect no matter how much I practiced.
Anyway…
As soon as Leon finished with his (quite nice, better than mine ever were) développé, the dream became all about me.
I was driving from my house to Catalina Island which is not at all possible as it’s about seventy-five nautical miles from my area and can only be reached by boat or air, but there I was, driving along a very narrow path with water on both sides of me, sometimes lapping up ever so slightly over the road, which totally freaked me out. This wasn’t a fun part of the dream as I was in a constant state of anxiety and vigilance so I wouldn’t miss the road and end up in the ocean.
I remember taking the ferry back from Catalina Island but not sure what happened to the car that I drove along the non-existent road to get there. On Catalina, visitors can’t bring their own cars; most people use golf carts or bicycles. Only a very limited number of residents and businesses have vehicle permits and there’s a years-long waiting list for them.
Since I used to work for the (now defunct) company that used to go to Catalina Island from San Diego, it’s not too unusual to dream about it, but the more than four hour-long one way trip was often referred to as the “vomit comet” because, well, you can probably figure out WHY, haha.
I didn’t often accompany passengers over there for that reason, and because I generally get seasick. Ick.
After I was safely back on terra firma, my subconscious decided to go on another exploration of past memories and my often dreamed about kitty, Bandit, returned to snuggle with me in bed. She loved freshly washed flannel sheets as much as I do and we kept each other warm. The dream ended far too soon, along with the feeling of being safe and loved by a purring machine. That morning I had changed the sheets to soft, fragrant flannel ones, so THAT part of the dream fused with reality.
Strange dream, right? I can’t even begin to figure out what it all means, but it really wasn’t embarrassing at all because I’m fascinated with the human mind during different sleep states.
Back To The Island is playing in my head, so here’s the Leon connection, and to reiterate, this song was written and composed by Leon Russell, NOTNOTNOT Jimmy Buffet, and of course, Leon does it better.
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 