As I look through the most recent blog posts before this one, I see that I don't visit here often enough! To those very wise, sensible people who don't visit social media and rely on this page to stay updated on things with me, I'm sorry to you-- all 2 of you. Actually I owe a lot of gratitude to those of you who have stuck by during such a weird time, watching my live streams, connecting with me on social media, seeing me at a live event, and visiting me here.
Let me see if I can get you caught up. I'm only guessing but I think you may have heard of this little thing called Coronavirus. (Ha.) Since it first hit and wreaked havoc on all of our lives, I have actually done some things I'm quite proud of. In the beginning I sang a song a day and posted it, for 40 days in a row. Then I wrote a song a week for 63 weeks! I'm hoping I can share more of those with you soon. I started dipping my toe into recording and arranging a little at home. I still have a lot to learn, but it is fun to do.
The holidays are coming. Even after what a slow, somewhat dreary 2020 holiday show season it was last year, my heart is still conditioned after all these years to have a little leap of excitement as the leaves change, the air becomes crisp, and we all start planning how we will celebrate with those we love. Things aren't all the way back to normal yet. Some of the things I've loved to do in years past haven't come all the way back yet. But I do have a couple of fun things planned. I'll be playing the FM 100 mini concerts again, and I'm also planning my own little Christmas show in American Fork for December 21st! Stay tuned for more details on that. It will be a great night.
This past summer I played quite a few house concerts, and it is looking like I'll be doing more of those over the next several weeks. It's hard to choose which I love more; a summer backyard concert, or a holiday living room party. Both are so much fun! If you're trying to think of a way to make some unforgettable memories with family and friends during this season, a house concert is a great idea. And maybe easier than you think. Send me a note if you'd like to know more.
Has anyone else noticed what seems like an extra colorful autumn this year? On the gloomiest of days, the warm tones from all the changing leaves are so soothing and mood boosting to me. November is here. My daughter, Madeline loves Thanksgiving most out of all the holidays. I think I agree with her. I love to bake pies, and it is pie season! It is also the season to be thankful.
We should be thankful every day. It is the key to happiness. At the end of a year, particularly, this season of gratitude is a helpful way for me to take inventory of things. No year will be free of anything negative. But gratitude helps me focus on the things that were and are good. About a week ago I pulled all the rest of the vegetables (we only had carrots left) from our garden, and I pulled all the weeds I didn't do a good enough job of pulling throughout the summer. I threw the weeds away and I brought the carrots in to put them in the fridge and save them for soups and tasty snacks. Being thankful is like harvesting the garden. I leave behind the things that were not so great; ways I failed, or disappointments. I store the good memories and evidence of a happy life still in progress. I take little pieces of those good things and add them to my life to nourish my soul, like the slices of those garden carrots in a soup.
This has been a pretty random blog post! If you're still here, thank you! I mean that for those who made it to the end of this blog post, and also in a bigger sense, to all those who have been with me and supported me as friends and fans for all this time, all these years. In times like these, my heart feels a little more tender when I realize just what a sweet thing that is. I hope this upcoming holiday season is a warm and wonderful one for you all.
Oh, one more thing! You can now find all of my music on streaming sites like Spotify and Pandora! It took some miraculous work to make that happen and I'm so excited it worked out. I actually made a Spotify Christmas playlist that contains all of my Christmas songs, a lot of songs from The Lower Lights, and some other songs that have been big pieces of my Christmas memories throughout my life. Or just fun new things by artists I enjoy. Kind of random but fun. Check it out if you're a Spotify person. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Kx26vd6dVkbLUwPN5w124?si=64db095bb60f4883