New Project / Free Download: "Everything" + Lullabies

In 2012, upon hearing that my friend's sister and her husband suffered a miscarriage, words began pouring into my mind and within an hour, "Everything" was written. A year later, they asked if they could share the song with other families who have lost a child. I re-recorded "Everything" along with two other lullabies I had previously arranged, and am now releasing that as a free download. Please feel free to share it, as that is it's purpose-- to hopefully bring comfort to families who are grieving.

I, Allison Barnes, arranged and recorded "All the Pretty Little Horses" and "Hush Little Baby." I also wrote an additional ending to "Hush Little Baby."

"Everything" was written and sung by me, Allison Barnes, with guitar by David Rose.

Download the album here.

Mother's Day Gift for YOU

In 2010, the We Are Women Project began as a compilation of photographs and essays from 40 women around the country, put into a book, and sold with all proceeds going to the Campaign to End Fistula. This weekend only, you can download the ebook for free here.

The physical book is still available for purchase here.

Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. Have a happy weekend!

The End

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your dedication to this project over the last couple years. We have loved writing here, sharing with you, connecting with you, and we are just so grateful. We have decided, however, that we have done all we can to maintain the We Are Women Project. It has been a wonderful couple of years, and we may still post every once in a while, but for the most part, the We Are Women Project is done.

The initial proceeds from the We Are Women book covered the cost of at least one surgery for a woman suffering from an obstetric fistula. This couldn't have been done without you. Thank you so much! The book is still on sale on lulu.com, and proceeds will always go straight to the Campaign to End Fistula.

On the right sidebar you can find a list of topics that have been covered on the blog. The blog is still here, the posts are still here. You are always welcome to come look around, and we hope that the work we've done will continue to inspire and educate you. We hope you will continue to feel the community that has been built through this project.

Thank you again for your support.

Allison Barnes & Alicia Fish

gardening, part 2

A couple days ago, Alicia shared her love of gardening. Today I want to share my love of gardening. Except when I say "love of gardening," I really mean "I try, but everything I put into the ground dies." But I did plant a fig tree a few weeks ago, and so far, she is doing alright, despite the fact that I forgot to water her as the summertime heat arrived.

Look past the cat, past the planters, to a black bucket. Then that tiny stick poking up beside/behind it. That's my fig tree! (The rest of the garden belongs to my father. And behind me is my brother's garden. I think the green thumb only extends to the men of the family).

This is "figgy" a couple weeks ago, looking fresh and well with a handful of leaves. When I purchased her from a nursery, she was just a stick!

I may not be a master gardener, but I love nature. I love the bursts of green in the backyard of my childhood home. I love the fruit trees that grow there, the ground covering that eats everything up, the planters that my dad built himself, and the newest garden that my brother has so faithfully built from nothing. I love the crisp springtime air, and the warmth of the summertime sunshine on my arms.

And here's hoping that figgy makes it through the season alive.