final stop: Moose Jaw

The Minus 40 Tour is over, but this blog is not done. We've learned so much and have more stories to share. Pray for Dara as she drives home (probably Tuesday) and gets back into life in Pelican Narrows. Pray for Colleen, too, as she gets back into life in the Duval/Strasbourg area, working at the newspaper, helping Jeffrey with his pottery business, and pursuing other writing projects.



We look a little tired! And we cried a little when it was all done. But we had such a great time and definitely want to work together more in projects and performances.



Watch for our live albums based on the Minus 40 Tour coming sometime in the spring.


Dara
Colleen

Caronport

We sang to a small but (mostly) attentive audience (except for the group playing Outburst!) at The Pilgrim Centre in Caronport. It was a cold night and there were a lot of other things going on in town, but it was nice to be there and we were glad for the chance to perform (and practice) one more time before recording.

We especially had fun with volunteer participation on "I Google Your Name."

the moose

These are the moose we saw on the way to Eyebrow. Sorry the quality isn't very high, but it's a documentation of our experience!

in praise of moms and dads

Dara and I have had a strong sense of being cared for by God and by the people he used to accomplish care for us on this tour.

A particularly touching experience happened this weekend. I was driving to meet Dara in Southey, planning to park in front of a business I know. Well, I had just turned off the Strasbourg grid onto highway 6, when it felt like driving on really rough road. A flat tire. Shredded, in fact.

A few days ago, driving to Regina, I had suspected the tire was weakening and added air. Now I was stranded on the side of the highway, about 10 km north of our rendez-vous point. I flagged down the first vehicle to come along and hitched a ride with the chief from Daystar First Nation.

I met Dara at our rendez-vous point, we drove back to get my stuff from the van, left it on the side of the road, and dropped the keys at a car dealership 'just in case'. We didn't need the van for the weekend and, worst case scenario, I could take care of it on Monday.

After some pondering, we thought to call our friend Heather's parents, Dale and Pat. Her father, Dale, said he was going to be in and out throughout the weekend but he would have a look.

Dale called my cell phone on Saturday evening to say that he had taken care of everything: bought a used tire and put it on the van and parked it in their garage.

On Sunday we were surprised to see Dale and Pat in the audience in Moose Jaw, along with a couple of friends from Southey. We also learned that they had been wondering what they could do to support our tour and this gave them the opportunity they had been looking for

When Dara and I arrived at their farmyard just after 9:00 p.m. it was so comforting to feel so taken care of like that by a mom and dad. Not only did they donate a 'new' used tire and park it inside, Dale checked and topped up engine fluids, replaced wiring for the battery and block heaters.

We couldn't have done this tour without the support of our own parents, especially Dara's mom and dad who provided childcare throughout the two and a half weeks. These two small sentences don't do justice to the immense value of their giving!

And it was so good to see my parents briefly as they passed through Regina last week, to get their opinion on some CD covers and have a little visit with them over wonderful food at Melrose Place restaurant.

Mothers of Preschoolers

Two of Dara`s boys came with us to a concert at Rosewood Park Alliance Church in Regina on Wednesday morning. It was the perfect setting for them: we entertained the MOPs group (Mothers of Preschoolers) and the boys played with the other children in another room.

It felt like a nice number of women to sing to -- not too many, not too few; cosy; all women, so there`s a different level of sharing than in a mixed group. As a single person without kids of my own, it`s always a privilege to bless those who a parenting young kids. I know it`s rarely easy, but it`s such a critical role that I want to encourage and energize parents of all kinds. I feel the same way about marriages, a strong desire to bless them, encourage them to hang in there (unless it`s downright dangerous), to be faithful and kind and to cherish one another.

This is why I love to sing a song my mom wrote about her parents who were married for 68 years. Here`s the chorus:

Mama and Daddy loved each other through the good and bad
When they started out together, love was all they had
It wasn`t always easy, this melding of two lives
But because of their commitment love survives

Dara could hardly sleep one night, this song was repeating inside her. She says her own marriage started out much the same way. But that is her story to tell.

Speaking of Dara, she won`t have internet access for several days -- likely not before Tuesday night, when she expects to get home to Pelican Narrows. Even though we`ve been traveling together so much and talking almost non-stop, I still look forward to reading her posts. Last concert tomorrow. There is a good chance we might cry ...

nourishing

We're staying with a fan in Moose Jaw tonight: Dara's Aunt Brenda. She served us muffins and cheese in reference to our blog post about Raymore.

Literature teacher gives close reading to text, interprets with humour.

I love how Brenda fed us when we arrived after our second-last concert. (My friend Michelle fed us a light, healthy supper before our Caronport concert.) The physical nourishment makes me think of a word my cousin Marilou used of our Friday night concert in Weyburn: nourishing.

To know that we have fed people`s souls well, even as so many of our hosts have fed our bodies with just the right foods ... To share our bread with friends and strangers, this has also been nourishing for us.


p.s. Aunt Brenda a fan of the Minus 40 Tour, but she's an even bigger fan of Jane Austen! I'm sleeping in the Jane Austen room tonight. In addition to books and movies, there are two Jane Austen dolls: one from Little Thinker Dolls (basically a beanie baby!) and one an action figure complete with writing desk. Who knew?

Strasbourg Alliance Church

That's my grandmother's quilt on the rocking chair beside me.

Y2Y

Throughout our tour, Dara and I have been raising money for a youth group in Pelican Narrows.

I’ve been learning lots about the second largest First Nation in Saskatchewan. It's a challenging place to live with high rates of addiction and unemployment. At the same time, it is a geographically beautiful place to live and there is so much potential among the people.

One hopeful thing is a youth group, started by a young girl who wants to make a difference in her community. There are about 5 regulars in this youth group now, holding regular activities and trying to be a light. The group is called Y2Y: Youth 2 Youth.

Dara and I are donating $4 from each CD sold for Y2Y.

Y2Y has a dream of attending a youth retreat. They have never done anything like this. Please pray for us and for Y2Y as we raise money and as we network to find just the right retreat for these young people to attend.

Saturday: grandparents & Glasgow

Our big Saturday event was cancelled about a week ago. It was to be a late Christmas party for Silva Care Nursing homes, but there were not enough RSVPs to justify using the Connexus Arts Centre. So we offered to do unplugged private performances at their two homes. Then Dara found out that her husband's parents were coming from Calgary on the weekend and really wanted to see the grandsons. Our new plans meant Dara was free to take the boys to Moose Jaw all day Saturday (where she found a few minutes update the blog about Eyebrow).

I spent Saturday morning with the Four-Door Arts Forum. After several gatherings to do art, get to know one another, dream and pray, our group was ready to focus on developing mission and mandate statements. After lunch I borrowed my brother's vehicle to go sing for Silva Care, and rejoined the arts forum for the conclusion of the brainstorming and a scrumptious supper at Viet Thai (13th & Albert). We ordered waaay too much food and sent it with Steve and Leanne to bless their teenage daughter who had opted to stay home.

Silva Care was delightful. The homes, owned and operated by David and Heidi D'Silva. Each home has seven beds and they really are homes, with lovely decor and a very personal feel. All of the residents seemed so contented or even happy with their situations. And who couldn't be with 3 and a half year old Rosario to entertain and attend to them? Rosario is David and Heidi's daughter who clearly loves all of these grandparents living next door. She wanted to sing with me, which I found delightful. There's nothing like a sing-a-long with children and elders.

I also performed some of my own songs. In the first home, after "Prairie Soul," Katherine said, "I'm so glad someone else feels the same way as me." She had spent 2 years in Geneva, Switzerland and was so relieved to return home to the prairies. (Last night driving past Duval at sunset, Dara had a similar experience of wonder and relief - Saskatchewan may be the land of the living skies, but in our forested northern region, the sunsets can be truncated by trees.)

In the second home, we had to wait for Angus, because he really wanted to sing. Ella was humming a tune and informed me, "I always have a song in my head." I hope I'm that pleasant and tuneful at 92! Little Rosario was thirsty and served dixie cups of water to everyone. Again, she joined me for some sing-along songs and I did a few of my own plus a couple of oldies and hymns. About 20 minutes in there was a pause as I pondered my list for the next song. Suddenly Reggie (a lady) said, "Sing us a song, Angus." I suggested that we all do "Amazing Grace together."

After the living room concert in each home we moved to the dining room for tea and cake. In the second home, Rosario could hardly wait to be told where she could sit. "I want to eat with the residents!" She sat next to Angus, who surprised me several minutes in when he muttered, "Sing a song," then broke into an old Scottish folk tune in his heavy Scottish accent. I urged him to sing another for us. He chuckled, muttered, "sing a song," and regaled us with "I Belong to Glasgow" - a rousing drinking song. Reggie, still in the living room, belted it out with him (listen; lyrics). After a long, animated story from Rosario, Reggie initiated another song for all of us to sing: "The Old Rugged Cross." Quite a contrast: from pints in Glasgow to the foot of the Old Rugged Cross!

Dara and I have been staying with her very generous mother for touring days. We arrived "home" within half an hour of each other to put the boys to bed and plan for the next day.

a long and beautiful Sunday

Little Luke didn't want to let go of his mama this morning. Yesterday, Dara and I packed the truck box at dawn and left Regina by 8:35 a.m., slightly ahead of schedule. Dara got back to the city just before midnight (I went home to Duval after the concert) and still had to unpack the equipment. It was a long, exhausting day for everyone, including Dara's kids. Oh, but so satisfying. Dara will have two full days with the boys now. I pray that it's restful and rejuvenating for all of them.

The first thing we did in Raymore was a pitstop at the Esso. I ran in first to used the facilities and left Dara eating a muffin and chees in the truck. I came back hungry and looking forward to my muffin ... but Dara had eaten both muffins and all the cheese!!! She thought they were all for her! Laughing (we do this a lot), she volunteered to buy me breakfast, so we went back into the Esso for granola bars and a bottle of Starbucks mocha.

It's quite astounding to see yourself on posters around town, so we took a couple of pictures.





We had to Silver Heights Nursing Home so Dara could visit her grandma, but on Saturday the activities director had called to see if we would do a set for the residents. Definitely! Why didn't we think of that ourselves? Maybe because we already had two concerts planned for that day, but we both love encouraging seniors and we needed to practice a couple of songs before being videoed in the afternoon.

Around 11:00 we arrived at Friends restaurant to meet documentary producer Ray Lacusta, who interviewed us and followed us for the day, filming our two concerts in Raymore (2:30 p.m.) and Strasbourg (7:00 p.m.). He intends to make a documentary and pitch it for the Saskatchewan Community Network's show "15 Minutes of Fame"! Both towns were like homecomings for Dara. She grew up in Raymore were people knew her by her maiden name, Schindelka. Dara became a little emotional seeing people arrive who had played such important formative roles in her life and she pulled me into a back room to sing a bit and pray and compose ourselves before the concert. We opened with a 'new' song. The night before, Dara had taught me the chords for "My Heart Calls Home," a song she wrote about the Raymore area. It's upbeat, with great harmonies on the chorus, and is a perfect way to open our concerts from now on.

In "My Heart Calls Home," Dara mentions the Alphabet Rail Line ("somewhere between the Q and the R there's a homestead..."), which got me thinking that I grew up near, Parkman, one of a number of Saskatchewan places named for poets (e.g. Lampman, Carlyle, Kipling). Not everyone from those areas is poetic, but it is a lovely correlation to the life I am living.

Before the tour, I had a concept for decorating our stage like a grandmother's house. Dara and I both sing a lot about family, particularly grandparents, so I thought this would be an appropriate way to dress up our stage a little.

Until Raymore, I hadn't been able to try this concept, but the Raymore Baptist Church stage had been completely cleared off, so I decorated! With three guys and one woman hunting all over the church for the right pieces, the end result was beyond my wildest hopes and looked quite like a drama set, with a living room corner and a tea corner and appropriately aged furniture pieces. In the second picture you can't really see it, but my grandmother's quilt is draped over the couch.





The microphone standing in front of the stage belongs to Ray Lacusta. His two video cameras were on either side in front of the stage.

In Strasbourg, the stage was bigger, but our decoration was much simpler (more in line with my original idea): a rocking chair draped with my grandmother's quilt, a side table covered with a coloured table cloth and a large crocheted doily, vase of roses, dark teapot, china teacup, and an old Bible. No pictures available yet.


Technologically, the Strasbourg concert was a dream.

Ray Lacusta and Don Schindelka (Dara's dad) had followed us to Strasbourg where Ray again set up his video cameras. My brother Jeffrey brought his two video cameras and his SLR camera and ran his Zoom digital recorder through the system for an audio recording of the whole concert.

Alvin Lofgren did sound system for us using the Alliance Church's system. We love the little Bose system we're renting (below), but we're almost illiterate when it comes mixing sound (in spite of my experience with a Juno 60 keyboard in my teens and early 20s), so having Alvin behind the controls was a relief and a comfort for us.



The lighting in Strasbourg created a really intimate atmosphere, with flood lights on the stage and dim lights in the main sanctuary. Dara and I felt so comfortable with each other and our set. Oh but we were tired by the end! It was all we could do to push out the triumphant notes and words of "Come Down" at the end.

We were stunned to receive a standing ovation at the end. Dara stood, reached for my hand, and we bowed together. This is my current hometown and church and Dara's former church and hometown crowd. We had been excited to perform for them and knew they would be warm, but never could have expected this. We left the stage and heard more clapping. Was it an encore? We weren't sure. And we were so tired that we couldn't think of another song to do. In hindsight, we both have two or three that we could have done, especially my song "The Wonder in it All" about being thankful for the ordinary things in life.

There was a lunch in the fellowship hall afterwards and Margie was there for us again (she had come with her husband) to take care of the CD table. She is always a Godsend.

Dara and I hugged each other at the end of the evening and confessed that we will likely cry when this tour is done next weekend ...

adventures, detours, and homing instincts

Well, what can I say? Adventures are often unplanned!

After a special night at the Aegean Coast (our audience was AMAZING!!!) we headed out to Eyebrow the following afternoon.

Colleen and I started driving down Highway #1 and soon realized that it would be a long road ahead. The road conditions were bad - icy, slippery, wind blowing snow across the road, drifting and so on and so forth. We drove slowly though and made it to Moose Jaw for a little break at Timmy's before the next half of the journey.

We had a great time laughing at each other and swapping songs and stories. (I told Colleen that I need her in my back pocket because she laughs at my jokes and sense of humour ; )

When we got to the Tuxford turn off we took a little, okay, more like a BIG detour that led us through mile after mile of gravel roads and unfamiliar territory. I was a little suspicious but Colleen assured me she knew where we were and so we forged on through the drifts as the dusk settled in.

Just as we decided we were officially lost, and after a couple of phone calls to Amy and Caylen's place, we landed on the highway 11 km outside of Eyebrow!

In the end, the detour was worth it. We saw two Moose in a farm yard and they just stared back at us while we took pictures and gawked at their immense size and beauty. I decided to try my hand at calling to them and that was when Colleen got more than a little anxious so we started the motor and took off.

It was also great because it was the perfect story for the road - bad weather, getting lost, and then finding our way in the end!!!

But, by far, the best part was arriving and doing the show for the little group that gathered for our concert. They were so generous and attentive and it was a delight to sing and play for them. We stayed after to eat some goodies and talk with people and then it was off into the dark and blustery night to get back to Regina. We were graciously invited to stay with people but I was determined to kiss my boys good night so we chose the road and it got us home safe and sound.

Today is Saturday - Colleen is sharing her music with the people at Silva Care and I am with my boys having a "family day" minus Josh ) : with the Hallett clan in Moose Jaw.

Tomorrow we will be back on the road heading to Raymore (my hometown) and Strasbourg (Coleen's hometown for now and another one of my hometowns!) so we have lots to look forward to.

If and when Colleen reads this I hope she posts some of the pictures of the Moose so you believe me!

Aegean Coast - 3 pictures

We sang at the Aegean Coast tonight. Gorgeous venue, fantastic crowd, superb supper, great staff serving up delectable offerings. A few people came to see us again after being at seeing us at other concerts. So many thanks to Kate Fisher who organized this venue and Morning Star.






This is Margie - one of our favourite roadies! She shows up exactly when we need her, prays powerfully for us, helps with the CD table and gives helpful feedback after the show. A God-send. She pushes paper for Sasktel, but her real calling is promotions manager! Oh - and she took the 2 pictures above.

Dara's inspirations

I am one of those composers that need to be inspired before I can write a song. There is so much in this world to be inspired or infuriated by though so I have no shortage of material!

The songs I have written in the last year are mostly to do with living life among the people of Pelican Narrows. My heart has been touched by the tragedy and beauty that shows itself within this place.

"Come Down" is a song that I have found many people can relate to. That is wonderful because it was a collaboration between Josh and I. He had the music for a number of months knocking around in his guitar and I had the words set to a very cheezy piece of piano music. Once I scrapped the original melody and put Josh's southern gospel guitar style into the words it became something very catchy. It has a message of hope in spite of problems and I love to sing it after I share about the difficulties that many people face.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel!

One song I wrote that many people have been touched by is "Marie". If I had a recording of it this would be the appropriate time to do a link but I'll leave that for now ( :

"Marie" is a song I wrote about and for a beautiful young girl that spends time with me and my family. She has a sister and brother who also come around on a regular basis and it has been a humbling experience to view my problems in light of hers.

It was heartwarming this weekend when a fellow gave me a ring that lights up to pass on to my dear little friend I sang about. He said to share with her that there is always light in a dark place. I will be sure to do just that.

Shining

Matthew 5:14-16 (New International Version) says...
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

As we drove up to Morning Star Ministries this verse echoed in my mind and continued throughout our time with the people of this special place.
I kept thinking to myself that this is what church was meant to be – a place where people from all walks of life intermingle, fellowship, and join together to learn, to pray, to sing, and to share a meal.

It was an honor to be there.

Just before sharing a song that Josh and I wrote called “Come Down”, I read the following Psalm aloud. Interestingly, a member of the church also shared it later in the service before people prayed for him as he left for a mission’s work overseas.

This Psalm has always been special and inspirational to me and to countless others, ever since the King David penned them thousands of years ago. So often I get down about circumstances I see or situations I face, yet these words remind me to look up rather than to look to myself for strength.


Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills --where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip --He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you --the LORD is your shade at your right hand;the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night.The LORD will keep you from all harm --He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more."

Off and Singing!

Well, the Minus 40 Tour has begun and the weather has been much warmer then the name of our tour…YAY!!!!

Colleen has shared about our kick off at the Second Cup, as well as our trip to sing out at Fort Qu’Appelle and since she is excellent at reporting and details I will leave that in her capable hands.

I was just thinking about the actual delivery of our music and how much it is changing since our first time on Friday.

Originally, we intended to do two separate concerts with an intermission between. It quickly became apparent though, that it would be great to intermingle and collaborate throughout our shows.

Both Colleen and I touch on similar themes in our writing including: the importance of place, family roots and the legacies they give, love and relationships, and faith and how that translates into social justice. Even though our styles of writing and voices differ, the themes tie our music together in such a way that it fits to sing back and forth for our future tour dates.

I look forward to seeing and hearing how our tour will continue to evolve!

my Morning Star dream

Dara and I were so blessed with singing at Morning Star this morning. She will fill you in on many of the details, but she's spending time with her 3 little boys right now (they're out tobogganing with a cousin), so in the meantime I'll just say that we love that church so much. They said they appreciated us and were so warm and responsive, but it absolutely went both ways! Many thanks to Pastor Glen and Julie Povey for helping make this happen.

I was pretty tired after getting home from Fort Qu'Appelle last night and doing a bit more prep for Morning Star. So when my alarm went off at 8:00 I hit snooze, but it didn't go off again and I didn't wake up until Dara knocked on my door at 8:45! When she knocked I was deep in the middle of a detailed dream about singing with a band at a First Nations church. Dara and I were leading in this chorus:

Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore
Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive.
Sing hallelujah! Sing hallelujah!
My Jesus is alive forevermore.
Sing hallelujah! Sing hallelujah!
My Jesus is alive.

It was an interesting dream and Dara and I chuckled about it, but then during the prayer time before the service I was quite impressed that we should sing it to start the service. Dara and I had done up a set list, but nearly half of it went out the window this morning as we responded to the Spirit of God moving in the congregation. It was powerful.

Dara talked a lot about her life in Pelican Narrows and some people even put up their hands to ask questions! Afterward, there was a soup and sandwich lunch, and I talked for quite awhile with Stu, who seems like a cornerstone in the congregation. After lunch, Stu suddenly had an idea, so he left the room and came back with two copies of a book about Canadian First Nations ministries by a man named Norman Taylor. What a blessing for us to have these.

When I showed the book to Julie Povey she got excited. "Oh, Norman Taylor! He's an older man, and is quite sick in the hospital now. But that first song you sang, 'Alive,' that was his favourite. I though of that as soon as you started singing."

Wow. Sometimes it pays to listen to dreams!

Dara will tell you so much more ...

Fort Qu'Appelle photo gallery

We had a lovely evening with the folks at Fort Qu'Appelle Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 10th. Dara's Aunt Fay and Uncle Walter organized the evening with about 30 guests. Dara's father, Don, met us beforehand to help us unload and set up, then he took us for a quick supper at Dairy Queen before the concert. Dara's cousin Michael and his wife Elizabeth were also at the concert. We had yummy dainties afterwards.













Thanks to Dara's cousin Michael for grabbing her camera and catching this shot ... before the batteries died! :)



Dara has written a song for each of her three little boys. Here's a clip of "God Bless You My Dear," the song she wrote for the middle boy, Josiah.



I'm going home to Duval this afternoon for a few days to teach guitar, work at the newspaper, and do some things at home. Back again on Thursday for another weekend of touring, starting with coffeehouse at Aegean Coast in Regina that evening.

Dara will write more reflections sometime in the next day or so.

Regina: Second Cup

We had a great evening at Second Cup in Regina's Cornwall Centre this evening. The staff were great and were so excited to host their first concert. We had a nice turnout, mostly people we had invited, though two young women were lured in by the music, stayed for the whole concert, and are thinking of coming to see us at Aegean Coast next Thursday evening.

It was so nice to get the first concert done! Slept lightly last night. Will sleep better tonight.

Dara's Mom and her Mom's fiance came with cameras, so we've got two pictures and one little video clip to share.

last date confirmed ... or second last?

Today we confirmed a final booking: Thursday, January 15 at Aegean Coast coffeehouse in downtown Regina. Details are here.

We have one more possibility to pursue and then our schedule will be FULL! Well - might be open to something else midweek.

Our friends the Last Mountain Boys will be recording in Regina next week, so we hope to stop in at Touchwood Studios for a visit - a field trip!

I drive to Regina tomorrow morning. Dara and I will have lunch, pick up our equipment from Long & McQuade, try it out at her Mom's place, have a bit of supper, and head to the Cornwall Centre to set up around 5:30. Here we go!!! Saturday evening we're in Fort Qu'Appelle and Sunday morning we're at Morning Star Ministries in Regina.

These plans are "Lord willing," of course, as in if the weather holds! I'm praying that our title, "Minus 40 Tour," doesn't turn out to be prophetic. I've had just about enough of the cold and am eager for the predicted reprieve of zero degrees Celcius on Saturday!

I hope to be home in time for my friend's foster son's birthday party on Sunday afternoon. Nothing like DQ ice cream cake on a winter's day!

Inspired by Dara

Is our tour really starting on Friday?!?! Dara and I have been planning for months – emailing each other and our hosts, talking on the phone, filling our schedule, planning promo materials, stage décor and set lists. Tomorrow Dara will pack up her extended cab truck with three boys and a keyboard and everything they’ll need for the next two and a half weeks in Regina. Dara’s mom will take care of the boys on the first two weekends, her dad will keep them on the last weekend, and we intend to be home most every night after our concerts. I’m in awe of Dara that she’s even willing to try this!

I think “in awe” is a good way to describe my general feelings about Dara. She is tall and graceful, immensely talented. Yet she’s earthy, homespun, and approachable. She sings about ordinary themes of family history, marital love, and interpersonal healing.

Dara’s husband Josh is one of my brother Jeffrey’s best friends. They try to go on a North Saskatchewan canoeing trip every summer. Josh is an RCMP officer stationed in Pelican Narrows, SK for the past year and Dara is homeschooling the oldest of their three small boys. She has been really entering into the community and culture – even learning worship songs in Cree! Even before moving to Pelican Narrows, Dara had a real heart for First Nations people, which you can hear in her song “Legacy.” Proceeds from her “Live at Hudson Bay” CD are going to two Pelican Narrows girls who are taking helpful initiaives in their community.

Last summer I led some songwriting workshops for teens at Arlington Beach Camp. The small group met in my cabin, next door to the Hallett cabin. For one exercise I had the teens write new words to familiar tunes. Then we ran next door and had Dara write new music for the new words without knowing the original tune. The results shocked and delighted the teens. Dara took the first set of lyrics and said, “Oh this looks like a slow worshipful song,” and as she played the girls giggled behind her because the original tune was “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”! Here’s the final result: You’re My Best Friend Jesus Christ. The next set of lyrics were for the original slow, worshipful tune of “How Great is Our God” but we ended up with a cheerful little song for kids: Muddy Shoes! So that gives you some idea of Dara’s creativity.

When OptionS Pregnancy Centre asked me to sing at their November banquet, I immediately felt that I should write a song. But my ideas didn’t flow and I felt the need for a co-writer, but wondered who to approach. The very next Sunday, Dara and Josh were in church in Strasbourg (a very rare occurrence considering their geography). They were going to be in the area for a couple of weeks, so we made plans to get together at Arlington Beach, were serendipitously joined by my cousin’s wife Lisa Cornish, and we made a good start on “Child of My Heart”, which Lisa and I later finished then sang at the banquet.

That was late September (I think) and Dara asked if I would be interested in doing a tour together in the new year. Weather-wise, we might have preferred March (maybe!), but it’s not a good time to get away from the newspaper, so we settled on January and the name "Minus 40 Tour." Hopefully the name is not prophetic!!!

Our schedule is as full as we want it to be, but I have a feeling we might be wanting just a bit more when it’s done. But there’s a rule, “quit while it’s still fun,” so I guess we’ll reluctantly say so long at the end of January. But on Thursday we will say “hello!”