Growing up folks had a difficult time with my last name so they opted for groundhog. Well, as a child growing up this wasn’t very complimentary. I realize now that they do tell us if spring is coming fast or slow which seems to me to be a helpful skill. And here we are in Saskatchewan in the middle of a not so nice winter, extreme cold, rain and ice. This is a rare combination for us. We usually deal with extreme cold but don’t have it mixed in with ice or rain. I have been very grumpy about continue reading…
creativity
Putting the Pieces Together
The New Year has begun and I have been slow in getting back to my music. My work as a Home Care Nurse has kept me busier then usual. However, I find that when I do get back to my music, I am happy no matter what I have to do, whether sending out Cds to radio stations or practicing for my next piano lesson. I am surprised to find that I enjoy the every day tasks of both the business and the creative side. I am finding this time quiet after the hoopla of 2017. I am finishing some continue reading…
Where are you Going?
In the plane going to Montreal last month I started to seriously think about 2018 plans. Now for those of you who know me on a personal level you know that I love to plan. I think it helps me to feel more secure. Even when the plans might change. I noticed that I had a lot I wanted to accomplish in 2018 and it helped me think about the realism of my plans. Balance these past six months has been a challenge. Family, nursing work, music biz. I hope next year to be a bit more balanced, however as continue reading…
Mountains, Churches and Galleries
Five days after my CD release party I headed out for a ten day trip/short tour. I had no idea how it would really go but I was counting on friends and family to help as I moved through a couple provinces. I had a second CD release party in Shaunavon at a local gallery. A group of twenty fit into the small gallery and it was lovely. I felt grounded in this space and I could feel my songs being absorbed by the audience. One person said she felt like she had heard an evening of poetry put to continue reading…
CD Release Party My 58th Birthday
I am back from my mini-tour and trip to Montreal. There has been a couple days of rest, some much needed rest. There was so much to do up to the CD release day of October 13, which was also my 58th Birthday! When the day arrived I wondered if I had taken on too much but it all went well! The day started off with a bang. They played my song Where Are You Going? From the Shifting Sands album on the CBC Regina,SK. Morning Edition. I sat and cried while I listened! How cool was that and a continue reading…
Shifting Sands CD Launch
I have experienced so many different emotions in this last month, from elation to depression and everything in between. This last week especially has been one of uncertainty and vulnerability. I have been doing things, like sending out a Press Release, that is a whole new experience for me. I do think I have something to offer with my music but still self-promotion ( which is necessary if anyone is to know about the music) can be exhausting and there has been a never ending list of things to do as I move closer to the CD launch. As I continue reading…
It is really Happening
Today I was reflecting on the fact that it has been one year since I met Brad Prosko at Break Out West. Well eleven months actually. I had been planning my second CD and trying to decide who I would work with. Then Brad and I had a chat in January and I knew that we could work well together. He was open and receptive and I felt I could trust him with my project. I had set time aside for writing and I wrote two songs that are on this new album in March while I was in the continue reading…
Creativity Continues
This creative road is an interesting one. I spent some time at our cabin off and on over the last few weeks and found that business concerns really disappeared and art and songs wanted to reign supreme. I had no real desire to write any new songs but a couple wanted to be born so I now have a song about one of my first boyfriends and one about an ex-girlfriend. Then I did a few water colors for myself that expressed some of what I was feeling about the songs on the CD. Creativity is so often surprising and continue reading…
Songs Masters and Beyond
Song Masters and Beyond. I received the masters of my songs for my upcoming CD by email two days ago. It scared me a bit. What was I supposed to do with them? I figured I better download them. It was a whole different process then three years ago when I received the masters from the music producer and he kept a copy on a hard drive that cost me a couple hundred dollars.This time I think it is more up to me to decide the order of the songs on the CD, make sure they have all they need continue reading…
The Journey of the Recorded Music
Last fall I began thinking about who I might like to work with for this album. I knew that it was time to record more music and that I had enough potential material. The journey began in October when I met Brad Prosko at Break Out West and had a lovely conversation with him and thought that he would be a great person to work with, open, authentic, talented. Then I began planning 2017. Each month and what could be accomplished from writing potential songs to the CD release party and tour. So far, I’m glad to report I am continue reading…
