If you do  Anything At All  today, have a listen to Tom's new song on You Tube. Watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3m9Ay8WwyQ

Peace, DEW

Shadows. They are always with us but not always noticed. I’ve been taking photos of them for years. To me, they represent a parallel world. Sort of like the world of the Little People - the elves and fairies.

Someone once said that the space between notes in a composition are as important as the notes themselves. Shadows are like that.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse of the under-world.

Before autumn gets too far behind us I’d like to share some pictures I took this year which I’m happy with.
Fall seems to go on and on, and it’s probably my favourite season, at least for colour. It’s not just the changing leaves, it’s the so-called weeds - goldenrod, milkweed, and many other dying plants, that don’t get their due, but add to the incredible autumn palette.

And just to show dead plants can make great displays…

Hello Everyone, 

I hope all is going well for you. I love the feeling of a new year dawning. The possibilities seem endless when looking out from the heights of January.

I want to start this year by sharing a new tune with you. It’s called appropriately enough Happy New Year. Just a little ditty to get the ball rolling. 

Peace, 
DEW

Today started out sunny, warm and pleasant for the most part, then about 3 or 4 pm the heavens opening up with a deluge. Why do I mention this?  Well, this was the day I would have played an open air concert at the museum in Tillsonburg, if it hadn’t been already cancelled in May because they weren’t sure about if restrictions would be lifted. 
    I was also scheduled for August 1st. Same scenario. I’m beginning to think I have some kind of a jinx when it comes to rained out concerts. Oh, did I mention that they were also rained out last year and the year before? In fact I’ve never yet played at the museum. Is this some kind of a sign? 
    I’m beginning to think my name shouldn’t be on the program, just TBA beside my time. That might break the circle of doom. 
    On the bright side, I have a gig in September. First one in almost two years. Oh, yes, it’s outside and dependent on the weather. Wish me luck.

A live version of Lullaby of Inner Bay is now up on You Tube.

To get to it go HERE!

On a calm morning in 1907 four girls, the oldest 15. took to the Lake Erie shoreline in a punt boat. Soon the water created a maelstrom. Have a listen to find out what happened to them next. This is one of a series of songs I have written about people and events in Norfolk County Ontario history.

To hear this song go HERE

Pioneers of the Sand. That's what the local people called the men who took on the challenge to bring the Norfolk desert to usable land. To hear their story go HERE

The first of my video series of Norfolk History songs, Ballad of Christian Shoup is now on You Tube.

To watch it go HERE

If you would like to read the newspaper account of the 1915 murder and trial

go HERE

     Remember when what you got out of cereal boxes seemed important. A Captain Kid treasure map was a real find. That fueled my imagination for a long time. I made a sort of Captain's log in scrawled handwriting which I thought made it look authentic. My Dad asked me why I did that because in reality people often had very beautiful hand writing. I don't know if I agreed but, of course, he was right. It was even taught in school. What a loss that is. 

     I collected hockey cards and also hockey coins which came from boxes of Jello powder. Each team fit on a plastic shield. We ate so much jello in those days. Eventually I only needed one coin to complete the set and a friend had it. My brother, George, went out and bought it from him for something like $5 so he wouldn't have to eat any more jello. 

     I just had to look up what Google has on the subject. 

During the 60s Sugar Crisp offered a full fidelity record from The Archies.
In Honeycombs you could score a ring with a piece of 24 carat genuine gold. 
Sugar Pops fought back with an authentic Colt six-shooter. 
Sugar Smacks drew you in with an Underwater USS NAUTILUS Atomic Submarine model. 
Kellogg’s, not to be outdone came up with a Superman Krypton Hydro Jet ROCKET with launcher. 
In another Kellogg’s box was a US Navy Frogman, free. 
And in yet another - for mailing in 25 cents you could become a Space Cadet and form a Space Cadet Squadron. You would get diplomas, certificates, wallet ID cards, and badges. 

Looks like Kellogg’s led the pack. They probably threw in more sugar too to keep you hooked.

        There was always some little trinket to help sell cereal and I’m sure I used to choose the cereal based on what was inside. It's probably the same today. I'll have to go down the cereal aisle sometime and see what progress has been made.