Summer re-cap/Colorado Shows!

Some people say that summer ends with Labor Day. My summer ended with the return of the kids to school on August 11th (even though it was about 90 degrees for the rest of the month). It really is very uncool to be starting school so early. When I was a kid, growing up in Minnesota, the first day back was after Labor Day, after the Minnesota State Fair had ended; like civilized folks do. This early August start is for the birds. It’s definitely not for kids, that’s for sure. Kids need to be running around in the last days of summer. They need to be swimming not studying. I know we feel like we have to cram their heads full of “knowledge” but maybe we can think about their mental health and not state test scores. Okay…rant over.

My summer at camp was AMAZING. I taught songwriting, per usual, AND I had the privilege to lead 3 canoe trips into the Canadian wilderness. We had some rainy days where we got windbound for a while and had to wait it out knowing that we were at the mercy of Mother Nature but we had rain jackets, food, tents and tarps, a Martin Backpacker guitar, songs and each other. We experienced headwinds with whitecaps and rollers most days so we worked around this by getting on the water by 5:30am for smooth as glass, fog-on-the-lake sunrise paddles. There were mosquitos and black flies and long portages overgrown with trees and brush that had to be cleared with our handy dandy axe and saw but we were resourceful and strong. We sang as we paddled to keep our minds occupied and our spirits up and saw undescribable natural beauty. I read The Hunger Games to the girls on one on my trips and we felt a kinship to Katniss as we embraced our strong spirited warrior selves. I had a blast! Rarely in my life have I felt so capable, so in touch with nature, than I have on these canoe trips. I am trying to hold on to that feeling and seeking out that connection with the natural world whenever I can.

On that subject, I am lucky enough to be playing two shows out in Colorado later this month. On September 22nd I’ll be near Telluride at the historic Sherbino Theater in Ridgway, CO. The next night I’ll be playing a private show in Durango. I love this part of the state and I will be soaking up it’s beauty for sure.

I’m slowly getting my basement music room/studio set up again and starting to play and write. I have written many, many camp songs this summer (about camp dogs, epic floods, the Northern Lights etc.) but getting back to my own music is a treat and a balm for my soul. I’m curious and excited about what will come to me!

I hope to get more shows on the books soon; I will certainly keep you posted when I do!

Until then, seek the joy of being alive!

Cheers,

Alice