Reflections of Canada (Part One)

 Hello from a Lovely Summer's day, where, through my open windows,  I can hear the crickets chirping and the sheep's bells ringing! After a six week tour across Canada (In direction East this time around) I am back in the land of Chocolate & Cheese, writing to you from my home office, filled to the brim with fond memories which I thought I might share (a few) with you!

A_painted_face_celebrating_Canada_Day

Starting my journey in the beloved, special and sacred village of Wakefield, Quebec saw me sing our National Anthem (in both languages) to a sea of red and white.

Canada_Day_as_seen_from_a_Wakefield_stage

Wakefield, Quebec is a tremendously special place for me. It is where I started (primarily) focusing on my music career, and when I play for the people there, most of them have been on my musical journey, with me, since the beginning. It is always a pleasure to come back to the village, to it's people, it's food, it's energy and the Lovely (and refreshing) Gatineau River.

Along_the_shores_of_the_Gatineau

After a few rehearsals with some very talented musicians, we had the unique opportunity to play on the big stage, for an awesome crowd, as part of the Ottawa Bluesfest. You can read an epic review by clicking HERE. I have mentioned Brock Zeman to you all in the past. He is a great inspiration to me and a photo was captured that kind of says it all! 

Pre-Fall_Brock_swooped_in_and_picked_me_up_pretty_quick

During this exhilarating performance, I managed to lose my balance in mid-throw (Swiss Chocolates, no less!) causing me to fall, taking myself,  my guitar and my mic stand  down with me! As Brock put it "It could have been worse! I coulda gone down with ya!" Thankfully gravity did NOT do the same to him while he was helping me to my feet! Onwards and upwards....

Dylan_Myself_and_my_Auntie

Family is a HUGE part of my life. I am so happy to have some of the BEST people as MY family! Seeing them is always an asset to my trips back to Canada. Here are a few more shots of the ones I Love....

Myself_and_my_brother_Jeffrey

My_cousin_and_bass_player_Chris_Hopkins

My_Dad_and_his_favourite_ little_buddy_Fergie

My_Mum_my_best_friend

Family time is always too short (until it isn't HAHAHA) but I value our moments together. Thanks Ontario and Quebec for welcoming me home with Open arms... Next weeks' blog post will be focusing on "Direction Newfoundland" there are too many memories and photos to share from that fabulous tip that I think it needs it's own blog post!!! I will leave you with a sneak preview...

Singing_in_Seaforth_Nova_Scotia

Thanks for reading! See you next week with "Reflections of Canada (Part Two)"

A Green Christmas

Looking out the window I see beauty. There are green fields, miniature ponies grazing freely around the house, Christmas decorations and lights brighten up all the houses around and smokes puffs out from the chimneys. Strangely though, it feels like an early Autumn day. From what I have heard, there is warmer weather happening in Europe and Canada this season. It looks like we will have a green Christmas! Admittedly, it took awhile to find the Spirit of this festive season, but thankfully, I found it, or rather, MADE it! It does fall into place a little more naturally when the whole world around me is blanketed in snow. However, once the house was filled with a little Christmas music a la Boney M, and we found a pine tree (which we had to take down, it was strangled around one of our Beech trees in the forest) brought it home and decorated it (Macgyvered it a little to fix up the twisted branches!) schnapps in hand, the house finally feels like Christmas.

A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas_Tree

We were very fortunate to have been gifted a big box full of Christmas treasures a couple of years ago, when, sadly, friends of ours moved to Canada. What a treat though, to have box filled over the years with collected decorations! I haven't had to buy a thing, which is wonderful. I AM however, looking for more twinkly lights that are NOT LED. I find those are so cold, even the "warm" LED lights are not warm at all. So today, I will set out and try to find some to hang on the windows. Nothing like last minute, eh?? In two sleeps, Santa comes. In our family (my Canadian family) it was getting pretty over-whelming, shopping for presents, so we decided many years ago to pick names from a hat and do a "Secret Santa." Here in Switzerland we don't really exchange gifts at all, but we do fill stockings, which is always a fun task... filling it up with little sneaky, playful, artsy, jokey, sugary items... Again, today, is shopping day! I did get out to the market last week, thankfully... The shops will be closed for the next three days, so I better get to it!

A_Newfoundland_Christmas_House_Decoration

I do like to indulge in a personal Christmas gift each year! Not something that I need, but rather a little something that I want, how selfish, isn't it?? This year, I could NOT resist in buying two little magical Gnomes. It would give me great pleasure to find names for these little guys, they are just the cutest little things!! I actually teared up at the market stand, now what am I like?? Maybe we never really do grow up, and most certainly I would hope to hold tight to MAGIC, forever. 

Two_Beautiful_Gnameless_Gnomes

So, I will wish all of you a very happy holiday! I can only hope that everyone will get out there and find themselves a little "Holiday Spirit" green weather or white weather. Most importantly my wish for you is to find some wonderful family and friends to connect with, good times, good food and hopefully, some much needed rest.

Love, Lindsay xox