top 11 of 2011... in pictures

11. Gardening with my grandparents



10. Antiquing on a Saturday with Jan Lyden



9. Running the Cornfest 5k/workouts with Sarah every week


8. The Sixth Annual Laurborday



7. Road Trip to DC with Katie and Andrea



6. Celebrating my grandpa's 90th Birthday



5. My trip to Durham, North Carolina



4. The Hauge Wedding



3. The Davenport Wedding



2. Millie



1. Gresham David Joseph Fiske, my nephew

2011: A great year.

My year explained by some songs...

January: I remember getting onto Facebook one morning only to be greeted by a video posted by my good friend Andrew Whitaker... The Head and The Heart, I read outloud. The rest is history... I enjoyed them live with some close friends from college; we kind of made a reunion out of it.

I also cannot separate James Vincent McMorrow from my January... His album was the perfect compliment to snowy weather.

February: I had a sleepover at the Davis' house at the beginning of February. My friend, Elizabeth pointed out to me that the girl in The Civil Wars was Joy Williams... I will never forget how hard we laughed... or the bedtime story Paul read to us.

March: I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Steve Martin. He continues to amaze me with his banjo pickin', his stories of meeting Elvis Presley, and I couldn't explain the Winter thaw without Rare Bird Alert...

April: My dear old Paul Simon renewed the love in everyone's heart when he released So Beautiful or So What. I remember hearing The Afterlife on XRT on the way home from work and not being able to wipe the smile off my face. Although it will not happen this way, I love the groove he lays down in this tune... no need to mention his flawless performance of Rewrite on SNL. Check it out for yourself.

May: It was hard for me to choose between Fleet Foxes and Foster the People, so I didn't. I make the rules here anyway... right?! I remember the DJ on XRT playing Pumped Up Kicks and predicting it would be the "song of the summer." Then each time I would see another Pumped Up Kicks post on facebook, I would just say, "He was right!" At the same time, Helplessness Blues was one of my top 5 favorite albums of the entire year. It often played in the background all throughout my summer, during my drives to and from the 6 weddings I went to.

June: Gillian Welch has one of the most unique and admirable voices in the music business. I continue to love everything she does, and was nowhere short of excited when June 28th rolled around. I love how creative she got with this album cover, spending time on each one. It is such a beautiful album.

July: My friend, Dylan as become quite the DJ over this past year. I have yet to get out to hear him live and in action, but hope to soon. One of the draw backs of not living in the city anymore... Anyways, he introduced me to this band Washed Out, which satisfies my craving for synth and drum machines...

August: Bombay Bicycle Club... a great song for the close of the summer was Shuffle. It is just as fun as the name of the group.

September: Although some may disagree, Switchfoot remains my favorite band since Legend of Chin. I still catch myself whistling Ben Hur every now and again... Anyway, Vice Verses... they continue to make me proud.

October: Oh my Feist, how I love her. She couldn't have done any better on her new album. I can't get enough of it... and it was probably the best thing about my October. I may or may not still have this song set on repeat...

November: Florence + The Machine continues to be a fuel for my afternoon jogs. There is something about her delicate intensity that is so captivating. I can't get enough of this album. My coworker, Caitlin often tells me "I just need a little Florence."

December: The Black Keys back so soon? I did not mind one bit. Thanks boys for putting out this album. Although Brothers holds a very special place in my heart, El Camino is pretty great. Plus, this could not be a better video.

And there it is ... my year through music.

The Littlest Fiske

There is no way to tell you how this feels...

Meet Gresham David Joseph Fiske
Born December 18, 2011

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts...

Do yourself and check out NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts on YouTube: a few of my favorites below...

Saturday Soundtrack

Due to the fact that my mother has played the cello most of her life... Yo-Yo Ma was a staple in my childhood, so much so that his name became a nickname I use on my mom to this day. This seasonal album of his is wonderful. He collaborated with some of the best in the business (Alison Krauss, Chris Thile, James Taylor, Dave Brubeck, Chris Botti, Etc.) to put out

Songs of Joy & Peace

valley of vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Saturday Soundtrack

Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Proclaim The Bridegroom Near...

Some musicians from my church, along with others in the Chicago Metro Presbytery came together to record this cd for the Advent season. Buy it, bless someone else with it... enjoy! I think you will like what you hear.

it's a wonderful life...

Every night until Christmas, I fall asleep to this... it has been and will always be my favorite.

Saturday Soundtrack

Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas: Ella Fitzgerald

my hiding place...

¹ Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
²Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah

⁵I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah

⁶Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
⁷You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Psalm 32:1-7