...a note from Christine...

    Taxes are done, 2006 files closed up and 2007 files created.  That always feels like the real beginning of the new year to me.  It's interesting to look back on the year behind you.  We sure had an active one.  From tonight's full moon I will ask for continued creative inspiration that leads to all of this activity, and some help keeping it all together!  I'd love to be able to say "talk to my people" and remove one or two of the hats I wear.  But I'm content.  The older I get the more the ideas come flying in and I finally know how to actually manifest most of them. 
     The concept of a French Happy Hour was one of those that came together recently.  Lamberts has fabulous food and a cool new music room.  Unfortunately for me, since they opened, Thursday has become the day that downtown businesses bring in 40 or 50 people for a networking event for their company.  Music is not the focus, and it is extremely frustrating for me to try to compete with the volume in the room.  Delicate French songs and stories about Edith Piaf (click here for a wonderful youtube video) and Charles Trenet do not quite work in that environment!  When my fans come in, there is no place to sit and they can't hear the music or what I'm saying.  So, this week will be our last one for awhile.  Perhaps at another time we will try a quieter night or a dinner show.  I appreciate Lamberts and it's been cool to be a part of their birth in downtown Austin, but I have to stay true to my goals, my fans, the music and my integrity.  So, I'll find a place that is a little better fit for this chanteuse. 
     Merci tout le monde! (Thanks, y'all)   Christine         

Swan Songs News
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Swan Songs fulfills musical wishes by arranging private concerts for individuals facing the end of life, with a Texas artist or style of  music that they have requested.  Christine is co-founder and president of the newly formed
 501(c)(3).

Quote of the Month
"Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart."
Confucius

 

     The garden is in! Spring has sprung!  The Swiss chard and leeks I planted in the Fall waited till Spring to do their thing! I planted several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and am even going to try and grow a little sweet corn patch, just like they used to jump out of on Hee Haw. 
     This time of year is incredible in Austin, temperature wise especially.  The downside is that it's time for our 300 year old Live Oak trees to start dropping their little green alien plant-worms all over our driveway and our cars.  It's really like something out of Men In Black...the sky starts raining these inch and a half long oak pods....and it lasts the whole month of April usually.  It could be worse, at least they don't fall again in the summer when it's 110 degrees outside.
     When we moved in we planted a couple of things that would really grow and mark our time on this wonderful piece of earth.  One was a baby giant Agave plant.  Look at it now!  This is 6 years old.  And, we planted a tiny little pear tree that actually grew a disfigured pear the very first year, and yielded over a dozen perfect pears last season.  Ever tried grilled pears?  Delicious. 
     I'll leave you now and go shoot a couple photos to place in this little note.  Click any pic to see a web page with all four pictures.
     Thanks for reading, I'll see you at the gig. 
      Chris

Swiss chard

tomatoes

agave

pear tree

click once to see all four pics, if you want.  Really, you don't have to.