I’d like to talk a bit about my new musical partnership with Socorro Chinnick.

We met briefly a few years ago, but didn’t keep in touch. Then, this year, at the eclipse viewing on April 8, we sang together at a campfire gathering for the big event. I found out that she has written songs and  was interested in forming a duo. Plus she has a great voice.

A few weeks later I contacted her and asked if she would like to get together and see how we meshed musically. Very well, as a matter of fact.
By June 12 we had organized a candle lit concert of our original songs at a local church. It went well. People loved her voice and said we sounded good together. In August we played at a friend’s outdoor party with similar results. We had added some cover songs by then.

And this Friday 27 we again hit the stage at a local restaurant playing a combo of originals and covers.

Socorro and her husband, Gordon, run an organic farm. They go to markets and shows. This means they are extremely busy, but she still makes time for music. 
This is amazing for me because I’ve been searching for a music partner for a long time. Someone who puts in the effort to learn new material and wants to take it to the stage.

Now we need to expand the number of stages. Promotion is the next level of commitment. I see a bright future ahead.

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.

     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.

This is a sneak preview of a song from my new album being produced by Tommy Parham at Bandana Records. If you like contemporary folk music or the songs from my last EP, Night Roads, I think you'll like this CD.

Impromptu performance with my great-nephew Tyler Craig on mandolin. He doesn't have the price tag off yet but is already a virtuoso!