Happy New Year 2012

New Years Day...so I opted for "wired with coffee" & yes my eyes were open at 9am mass...lots of fun last night at Williamsburg First Night...thank you Ron Fetner for the use of his equipment...& thank you Cat for cookies :)

Thanks to all the volunteers & staff that pull that event together every year & make it happen... #19! some great artists...got some coffee time with Rich Follett, his wife Mary Ruth & guests, Kim Person & Lana Puckett...we all go WAY back (but who's counting??) & of course the good folks at I-Hop! Always wonderful to sing in Williamsburg & see so many friends & meet new ones...thank you Williamsburg!

New Years Eve I will be...

singing in Williamsburg VA at First Night - a non-alcoholic, family event with lots of entertainment vendors & venues...check out the web site www.firstnightwilliamsburg.org for more info. I'm in the Campus Center Little Theater with 45 minute sets at 6pm, 8pm, 10pm and will have CDs including my newest release: The Early Years (audio clips found on this site)...& will then be joining friends at I-Hop to bring in the new year with pancakes!

I'll be at 9am mass at Holy Redeemer on Sunday (because I'm in Williamsburg Sat night so the choir graciously agreed to switch with me - thanks John & Choir!)

Thanks to all for your friendship & support in 2011. Here's to a bigger & better year in 2012!!

Christmas can't be very far away...

I can breath! It has been a busy last very weeks...thankfully! I had some wonderful time in Florida: first of all and most importantly, I had family time with Mom, Dad & my sisters....and I got to eat Italian food EVERY DAY!!

Mom made a large pot of ravioli, meatballs and sausage that lasted all week including the trip back to OBX...but the container was empty when I pulled in the driveway. I'll be making my Italian sauce for Christmas dinner-yum :)

All of my programs for Florida were fun, well attended and received: Lifestyle Center at Marion Landing Community - always good to sing for these folks, Auburndale Rotary Club Christmas dinner - good to be with these movers & shakers again as well, First Christian Church of Wildwood had a potluck and show - they always have great food and an appreciative turnout and Auburndale First Presbyterian Church - lots of fun, great turnout and good cookies! So as you can see I had lots of fun, food and sunshine! I need to do that more often!! Thank you Florida!

This week at home I sang for the League of Women Voters Christmas luncheon - these ladies do ALOT for our community. As a silent auction item , I gave a Living Room Concert and the winner has already called and scheduled the date for her friends and family! Yesterday I sang for the Outer Banks Hospital staff Christmas luncheon where even Santa walked away stuffed (catered by Good Life)...beautiful day, lots of fun!

New Years Eve has been booked in Williamsburg VA at the First Night program...looking forward to being there!

I am still available for holiday parties...my cd/dessert recipe book makes a great stocking stuffer and of course all my CDs fit the wide mouth stockings :)

Merry Christmas to all - see you on the road!

down time

Someone kindly emailed me today to remind me that I hadn't blogged since August 19th...well I have been FaceBooking but I guess that doesn't help if you're reading this...sorry for the delay...Hurricane Irene did end the season a bit earlier than expected...people are still cleaning up from the destruction...Mother Nature is amazing.

I have done some gigs since then: living room concerts, weddings, Wags and Whiskers Benefit, Dare County & 99.1 The Sound songwriter night for the Outer Banks Sounds CD Sampler, Whalehead Club Wine Festival, Ocassion for the Arts in Williamsburg VA, Kitty Dunes open house and wine tasting. Coming up in December, I'll be in FL Dec 4-9 check out my calendar for dates/info.

I do still have some dates available for holiday parties and living room concerts.

I also have New Years Eve available...

My new CD, The Early Years, is available on the web and at performances

and in the theme of the season, I am thankful for so much in my life, especially you who affirm my gift of music.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jake needs a home

For those of you who don't know me well, I am a dog advocate & have several of my own so picking up a stray is not uncommon for me...this dog Jake was found on my way to a meeting w/ Fr Dorgan at Good Life Eatery on a back road in Kitty Hawk on one of the hottest days in July. Jake had no collar, no micro chip and was in awful condition...in fact I called animal control to pick him up but they were not available & I was running late for my meeting so I dropped him at the vet's. He was dehydrated, missing 3/4s of his coat, ears & eyes very infected and way underweight and very wobbly...he did manage to get into my truck...didn't want to get out when we got to the vet's. Three weeks later he is looking great, starting to make eye contact, still a little wobbly, but much more confident, eating well and loves going on walks.

He cannot however stay at the vet's indefinitely so I need your help to place him with a special big hearted person. Abandon animals sometimes come with issues we know nothing about so it may take a little extra time to bond.

This guy is about 7-8 years old, neutered, heart worm & intestinal parasite negative and his blood work looks good. We do not know how he is with children or other animals. Please contact me if you are interested or know someone who might benefit from the love of a canine companion. Thank you for your assistance

summer time....

It's already August & I still haven't worked on my tan...dang! I have some schedule changes (see the calendar posting) and have some open dates end of August...if you're in the area & would like to schedule a living room concert, call me at 252-441-2555. And since we're talking about living room concerts, these are my favorites...have some family or friends over, add a little food (cheese & wine or desserts or a full dinner) and you have a great memorable evening! Since the economy is what it is, I have a special offer for the rest of the year starting in September, Monday through Friday: cover my travel expense (gas for my truck) and I'm there with guitar and CDs!

Beyond that I found a very dehydrated, hot, unweight dog on Tbursday wondering the back road I live off of...he is still at the vet's...all tests came back negative and he is fixable. He does need a forever home so if you are interested or know anyone who might be, please contact me. He looks like a small shepherd mix (45-50lb range)

and age guess per the vet is 9-10 years. Seems very sweet but we don't know how he is with other animals yet.

We will get him up to par medically before putting him in a home.

hope to see you at an upcoming gig!

Duck songwriter series concert

had a great time in Duck on Tuesday at the new amphitheater! Beautiful stage & surroundings...there's lots going on in Duck so do check it out if you have time to attend something there...my guys really did well considering that was our first time playing together with NO REHEARSAL! Nashville players..gotta love 'em...and turned out that Bob Reames, my steel petal player, knows my good friend & co-writer Debi Champion...small world! I am not your typical country player, nor is my music typical country so for musicians to be able to keep up with chord changes , stops & start...well I was impressed...thank you Greg Jones (drums)...and thank you to Chris our sound man for making us sound GREAt! I've met some folks through out the week who attended and expressed their support and compliments. Thank you Kathy M-Testa for your continued support and the Town of Duck for all they do for local artists!

Mother Nature rained me out at Tale of the Whale last night, but tonight I'm inside at the Dockside Restaurant in Pirate's Cove in Manteo tonight Friday 7:30-10pm...the food is getting rave reviews and the view over the water is beautiful...they have a full bar...and of course great music!

Christian Music Night resumes Monday with Jarvisburg Church of Christ Praise & Worship band...7pm at Good Life Eatery MP 4.5 on the bypass. This group has been with us every year & we always have a great evening with them.

Also on Monday I'm at the South Beach Grill in Nags Head from 3-6pm on their new covered deck...great place to relax.

Don't forget to check out my new CD audio clips of The Early Years and order your copy!

See ya soon!