I have been in the studio recording my new CD five days a week since October, breaking only for a 25 day Manitoba/Saskatchewan Home Routes tour in February and a month producing a CD for my friend Patrick Le Moal from the south-west of France. The Home Routes tour was filled with wonderful people, cozy venues and an overall uplifting experience. I hope to do it again in the near future. Bravo to to the staff of Home Routes, who made this all possible! I am also quite thrilled with the results of my friend Patrick's CD.

     Today is somewhat like being in a perfect snow globe here in the land of Santa Claus Village. I've had some touring this autumn in The Maritimes, Ontario, Kamouraska and North Hatley, QC. Mostly what I've been up to is working on new songs and developing arrangements in the studio with my friend, Richard Belanger, engineer, musician and producer extraordinaire. I am also working in conjunction with my son, Eli and my daughter, Hannah, who, they themselves, are becoming quite accomplished as musicians, singers and composers.

      After several days of temperatures in the 30's (Celsius), it certainly feels like summer is in full swing. I've been touring extensively since April, and now have a bit of a break to spend time with my family, work on music for my upcoming new CD and book some autumn tours. June was a very busy month with The Orangeville Blues & Jazz festival, some schools, various house concerts (including the wonderful traditional AL Rankin in Inverary,ON) and a special appearance in Washington, DC with my son, ELI, at an internet security conference.

     Winter is on the way out, or seemed to be last week when it went up to 25 Celcius, but......now it's back to 8 below. Crazy springtime weather, even crazier than usual, doesn't surprise me here in "The Great White North" of Val David, QC. The snow has really diminished and, in Montreal, one hour south of here, the crocuses are popping out. Along with the crocuses, I also have new songs and the beginnings of a new CD popping out. This is a project that I plan to do hand-in-hand with my daughter, Hannah, sharing vocals and my son, Eli, on guitar.

Today I woke up to -20 degrees Celcius and realized that winter is definitely alive and well in "The Great White North" of Val David. Now is the time for snow removal, keeping our slow-burning stove well-stoked, long strolls in the woods and preparations for the coming year. I will be doing a few shows close to home, some more of my school workshop/concert appearances, a mini-tour in Abitabi,QC, another small tour in the Yucatan Peninsula and organizing shows for the spring/summer/fall of 2012.