During the summer my musical forays were sparse, but one highlight was a concert I did with Emily Cain, state representative from Orono and state House Minority Leader.  Also one heck of a singer.  She and her husband and I did a Democratic fund-raiser which was a joy for me, and I think the audience liked it too. 

I've been having a lovely summer, though.  It's kind of nice being here in Maine for the whole time.  We haven't done any traveling since last February and it's been fun to watch the whole summer play out before us.  And a beauty it was, too.  The garden flourished, the days were hot and gorgeous, and our lovely waterfall was a constant source of delight.  I have to admit Bill and I spent an awful lot of time just lounging around next to the pond.  Why leave home when you've got heaven right there?

We now have a trip planned to the Cayman Islands for scuba.  I can't wait to get back underwater.  It's a new destination for us and we're hoping it'll be great.  I'm also busy planning a trip to Indonesia, which will be rather adventurous.  We, and especially I, weren't ready for another really remote destination so soon after our Egyptian trip, so we've waited a year.  We're hoping to go next summer, though, to Bali and North Sulawesi, some of the most amazing diving on the planet. It'll be our 35th anniversary trip, only taken on our 36th anniversary.  That's what happened on our 25th, too.  We went to the southwest, Bryce Canyon, Zion and the Grand Canyon, but we didn't get there until our 26th.  That was a great trip, too.

Now I think I'll update the calendar for the Fiddle-icious concerts. 

Happy Fall!

Had a great 4th of July at Willowbrook.  We had a beautiful afternoon, not the thunderstorms that had been forecast, and lots of people, and I had fun singing every patriotic song I could think of.  I also discovered that I do, indeed, have red, white and blue clothing. 

I've taken a first look at the film Daniel Gaucher made for me of my 3rd Civil War concert, and although I think I look weird, being backwards from my usual view and all, the quality is excellent.  Eventually I'll post some clips on this website or youtube or somewhere. 

I'm going to start recording some more Singing History, too.  Just have to figure out what to do next.

We've got no travel plans at the moment and are just enjoying being here in Vacationland for a really stellar summer.

I have nothing of great import, so I'll let it rest there.  Happy Summer, everybody!

May was fabulous, busy and great.  I should have written in early May but it was MerleFest again, and I just let it slip away.  MerleFest was wonderful as usual.  Highlights:  the Red Mollies, Sam Bush on Saturday night, a fabulous set by Lyle Lovett, another fabulous set by Randy Travis, Scythian, and of course, seeing the great one himself, Doc.

Birding in NC was not as great as it has been in the past, but we didn't get out to the Smokies, either, staying around Boone and Wilkesboro for the first time.  Got a hooded warbler, though.

Ok, so that's enough about NC.  Here at home, the highlight was the 3 concerts I did at The Brick Store Museum here in Kennebunk, "We'll Rally 'Round the Flag."   All three concerts, telling "The emotional story of the Civil War" were very well-attended, and the response was extremely enthusiastic.  I was really grateful to hear so many kind words.  My gratitude to the Brick Store Museum for the opportunity is also immense; it is a delight to work with them.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do this series again somewhere, and some new people will be able to see it.  But thanks to all of you who did come. 

My Civil War CD, "We'll Rally 'Round the Flag," is now out for digital distribution on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, etc.  If you want a physical copy, please contact me and it can be arranged.  I've got a lot of the liner notes done, but not all, so that's soon to be updated.  All the lyrics are online, though.

Another fun project was "Tom Sawyer's Songbook," which I performed in Saco and the Dyer Library.  All the songs were from the period of Tom Sawyer, the 1840s, and again called for some serious research, but a lot of fun, too.  In conjunction with that concert, I also did a residency with the Burns School in Saco, during which I saw 10 fourth grade classes and we shared a program on the Industrial Revolution; that's what was happening here in New England at the time of Tom Sawyer.  The kids have been studying Saco's industrial history, which is significant, so I was tying right into the curriculum, as I always try to do.  The Burns School is actually an old friend, although it's been quite a while since I've been there.  The Saco Museum opened their arms to me when I first began Singing History, and were very helpful in my initial research into Maine's industrial history.  I last worked at the Burns School about 15 years ago, also doing Industrial Revolution, and some of the teachers remembered me from then. Very sweet.  Also, the students at Burns were terrific:  participating, asking great questions, singing with enthusiasm; it was really a pleasure working with them.

Right now I'm taking some much-needed rest from research and practice.  But soon I'll be getting started on rehearsing for July Fourth at Willowbrook in Newfield, Maine.  I'm singing there at their 4th of July celebration, which I'm really looking forward to.  I love singing there and am glad to be back.

I'll be starting on another CD this summer.  I have to decide what to do next.  My goal is to get all my Singing History material online for digital download.  It's coming.

Ok, enough for now.  I hope somebody's reading this!  If not, I like doing it anyway.

Happy Summer

singing off  - that was a mis-type, meant to write signing off, but I actually like the mistake better.

My good friend Dana Pearson is also recording again, down in my little studio.  I always love working with Dana, and we have a pretty good time with it.  He's a great writer, too.  You can check him out at CD Baby, where I think he has at least one CD posted. 

It's almost time to start planting seeds, but it's so snow-covered it's hard to feel inspired.  Gotta do it, though.  You never know when things will turn around, and you've gotta be ready.  I'm looking forward to the garden as always, although it's very much like the Red Sox.  You have to be hoping for great and wonderful things but willing to swallow any bitter pills the season dishes out.

Speaking of Red Sox, or sports, the Celtics are fun this year, as is B-ball in general.  It's gonna be a great post-season, I hope. 

Now to post this, before I lose another day.

Yesterday I sang at the Atria, the assisted living facility at which my mother resides.  Lovely people who are very enthusiastic.  They don't get banjo players very often.  Ever?  Only me, I think.  Anyway, it was fun to be there.

A concert will be coming up on Thursday, February 10th, as a fundraiser for Maine Rivers, a group whose mission is to "...protect, restore and enhance the ecological health of Maine's river systems."  What a good mission that is!  My husband, Bill, is on the board, and they asked if I'd be willing to do a concert for them.  I'm delighted to oblige.  No historical theme, no particular emphasis, just me, and whoever joins me, enjoying good times and good songs. 

I continue to research for my Civil War concerts this Spring.  So much reading, so many books!  Right now, I'm reading With Malice Toward None by Stephen Oates.  I've owned the book a long time, but I don't think I'd ever read the whole thing before.  It's excellent, and makes the story seem fresh and compelling.  A darn good read.  One thing reading about the era leading up to the Civil War does for me:  it makes me feel that, as bad as things are now, they're nothing like so horrible as that was.  I can't imagine what it must have felt like to live in a country which passed the Fugitive Slave Act, or whose Supreme Court handed down the Dred Scott Decision.  Of course, our Supreme Court uses the 14th Amendment, which made all former slaves citizens, to defend corporations as "persons" and make sure they have all the rights of those persons, like making unlimited campaign contributions.  But still, it's better than returning runaway slaves to their masters.

Also on the Civil War theme, the series in the New York Times "Disunion" is wonderful.  If you haven't checked it out, you should. 

On a happier note, although I still have issues with my hands and arms, I'm finding I can play again, as long as I keep up the stretches and don't overdo it.  That's a huge relief.  Pretty soon I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the basement studio laying down tracks and vocals for the Civil War CD.  It should be ready in April, and will be available through digital download, just like HerStory and Over Here and Over There. 

Hope you're all snugged in for winter and don't forget, we're on the upswing now.  Every day brings us closer to crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils. 

My hands are still troubling me, so I play every day, but only for 20 minute sessions, and am trying to get up to concert condition.  I think I'll be there soon.

A school presentation in January at my old host, Yarmouth Elementary, is something I'm looking forward to.  I love going there every year, and talking about the history of the great state of Maine, my adopted home.  Maybe it's adopted me, too, but I haven't asked.

Next year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and to honor that I'll be doing a series of concerts at the Brick Store Museum here in Kennebunk.  Dates are still tentative, but I want the series to start on April 12th, the anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter.  Three programs are planned, the first covering the state of the Union as Lincoln took office; the second, the onset of war to the Emancipation Proclamation; and the third, 1862 through the beginnings of reconstruction.  It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to really give the subject the detailed examination it deserves, and all Civil War buffs as well as those just curious, should find plenty to keep them satisfied.  Each program will stand on its own, so you can either join for all three, or any of them individually. 

I'm also working on a CD of songs from the era which will be available at the programs and online through CD baby, iTunes, and other digital distributors. 

And of course there's this month of holidays and, hopefully, snow.  I do love to see the flakes coming down.  Although I love going to sunny climes, especially for diving, I would never want to live away from the seasons.  There's something wonderful in knowing that next year's new life is just sleeping under all that cold earth.  Winter is our gateway to Spring, and how could one appreciate the warmth without having to shiver through the cold?

I hope everyone who might read this has a wonderful holiday season.  Many of us struggle at this time of year, due to trials and losses in our lives.  The holidays can be a time of sorrow, too.  I hope we can all take deep breaths, keep perspective, and rejoice in what we have, even if it's only life itself.  That's about as good as it gets anyway.

peace

We had an amazing time; we were not on a tour, booked all our own accommodations, and stayed in mostlly smaller places.  We got to really be in the country, walking around tiny little streets and back alleys to get to and from our hotels.  Egypt is very very safe.  We never felt the least bit of danger.  There were some people not particularly welcoming of Westerners, but this was the exception rather than the rule.  Most Egyptians were wonderfully warm and open, especially when we tried to make the first move.  As Americans were almost always greeted with a thumbs up and a cry of "Obama!!"  He's a hero over there.  I wish he was here!  Luckily, we're just as enthusiastic about our president, regardless of how difficult things have been, so we were able to respond in kind. 

Egyptian monuments are much, much more amazing than even I, a long-time Egypt nut, could have dreamed.  The carvings are so rich and 3-dimensional.  You just can't get the sense of how realistic they are until you see them up close.  We also made a point to visit some temples that are a little out of the way and known for having retained the colors that once decorated all Egyptian monuments, and were stunned by how beautiful they were. 

Going to the Egyptian museum, where I made a bee-line for the Tutankhamun exhibit, and seeing artifacts that I have drooled over in books since I was a child, was almost a religious experience.  As was standing in Tut's tomb, looking at his mummy and sarcophagus.  A young woman from Britain almost ruined it for me, as she stood looking at the mummy and saying:  "ew, disgusting!"  I just waited for her to leave and then took it all in. 

We were very fortunate in that most of the places we visited, for whatever reason, were not at all crowded.  It was amazing to stand in temples and tombs and be just about the only ones there.  When we went inside the next-to-the-greatest pyramid, we were the only ones in the burial chamber.  Bill took the opportunity to lie down in the sarcophagus.  To get the full effect of the true meaning of the place.  No cameras allowed in there; otherwise that would have been my favorite picture of the trip.

It was incredibly hot.  Over 100 degrees most of the time.  I also got pretty sick from traveler's flu, and from an asthmatic reaction to the terrible air in Cairo.  But even with all that, it was truly the trip of a lifetime.  Lots of lifetimes, for that matter.

Good to be home.  Starting to play music again, and getting ready to rock out with Fiddle-icous the next couple of weeks.  The concerts should be really excellent, so if you can make it to one, do it!  You won't be sorry. 

Happy fall, Happy Halloween, happy to be here.

Ok, I haven't said a word about music.  Why is that?  Because I still can't play a darn thing, that's why!  What a bummer.  I had decided to take this summer off from being a "musician."  Just give myself a little space to breathe.  But that doesn't mean I don't want to play!  Unfortunately, though, that's the situation I'm in, and I'm trying to be patient and relax. Issues with my hands and shoulder are hampering me, and I'll just have to hang in there.

I tried out learning to yodel, since singing is still something I can do just fine.  Workin' on it.  Got the general idea, and am very comfortable with using my break, but really getting good at it will take some time.  Patsy Montana is my yodeling queen.  This last year I used "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" with a class of 5th graders as we learned about the West, and it was a huge favorite.  The kids all yodeled away, loving every minute of it.  It was a revelation to me.

Next month I'll have news of a trip we're taking.  Should be interesting.

Enjoy the end of the season.