a note from Christine...

     April is finally here.  A perfect month to release "Paris, Texafrance" and a great time to be driving around Texas - enjoying bluebonnets and buds (on the trees that is).
     I just spent a couple of hours out in the yard, raking and bagging oak leaves and pulling spring weeds.  My Virgo self loves getting dirty and scrounging around in the dirt.  This week I had the honor of singing at a gathering for people living with cancer in the garden of Tom Spencer, Central Texas gardening guru.  It was inspirational to be in the presence of Khen Rimpoche Tsetan, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who led the ceremony, and just being in Tom's garden was a blessing in itself.  Go to www.soulof thegarden.com and you'll see what I mean.
     We have been nurturing "Paris, Texafrance" for almost a year now - time to let it be born.  These songs are very special to me - especially Michael Austin's "When You're Away" that I translated in to French; "Prince en Avignon" that I learned from a Walter Hyatt recording; a couple of spirited Charles Trenet tunes and of course, Piaf.  You'll hear how beautifully our new Bechstein piano complemented this music.  Thank you Phil and Jeannie and Dale and Jacki for helping the stars line up to bring that instrument in to our life at the perfect time.
     Vive La France!  Vive La Texas!
     Christine

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.

Check out the recently updated Swan Songs Website and especially the KVUE story on the newsroom page!

Print out the flyer (designed by Julie Sckittone) on the front page of the Swan Songs  website to help us spread the word in the community!

Quote of the Month
"as my mind wanders, sleepless, I take the moon in my mouth; it tastes of silver..."
Tom Geddie

       Hey and howdy folks.  Spring is upon us here in Austin, meaning the old Live Oak trees that hang over our driveway have dropped all their hard leaves, and it's time for the green powder to waft down and coat our cars.  For the next three weeks I'll be tip-toeing in from the truck because the green oak powder is one of the few things that can get my nose running.  Most Texans complain of "Cedar Fever", but cedar hasn't proven to be as much of my nemesis as oak. 
     I've managed to get tomatoes, onions, carrots, jalapeņos, cucumbers and bell peppers into the ground, but the weather has been mild so our lettuce garden is still flourishing, and I can't use that space till it gets a little hotter.  I don't mind, it's a sad day when it gets too hot for the lettuce.  Here's a picture of the garden as of today, and some photos from last year.

     Enjoy your spring, see you at the gig.
Chris