What a harvest!!

The last 3 months have been a whirlwind of challenge, projects, and gratitude. I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to post, but it’s been quite a ride.

Back in Late July/early august, we started the IndieGoGo crowd funding for the second album. We wanted to try and get it done before the kidlets started school. Right around the time of MuseCon, the first weekend in August, we were barely 1/3 of the way to our goal. With only about 10 days left, we realized that we likely wouldn’t make our goal, so we booked a half dozen or so shows for the month of September (when we originally wanted to record the album).

That’s when the magic happened. In the next 10 days, not only did we make our goal, thanks to the brilliant help of amazing friends and family, we actually exceeded our goal! But in so doing, that meant that we would have to perform at these shows along with recording the album by October 1^st if we wanted to get it off to print in time.

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We got together the song list, and each song had a list of needed parts to be done. We got together with the always amazing Donna Miller, and got this wagon rolling. 2 pagan prides, 1 long night of recording bass and drum tracks, 1 Water Dragon Festival, several nights of vocal and overdub acrobatics, 1 night at Stam, 1 frantic weekend of recording a fiddler, and two small shows later, we managed to get the album done JUST in time. All the while, I’m pumping out Daleks faster than I ever have before! I almost have the pattern memorized at this point.

Then along came the CRITTERS! Matt Hawk did such an amazing job putting our Critters on paper. We cannot thank him enough.

Then in flew Shawna Jaquez with her perfect interpretation of us in album art form. She’s roomed with us at a couple cons, seen us in action several times, and captured the madcap perfectly. All together, it made the perfect package for our music, and we are so grateful.

The first weekend of October brought Archon, and it was amazing. Between the incredible costuming, the amazing music and seeing so many faces that we’ve missed, it was stellar. Also a special thanks to Matthew for recording our show! He does amazing work, by the way. The new music was incredible, too1 Between the Unusual Suspects, Three Fifths, Toyboat, and Mark and Valerie’s new duo, it was fantastic. And congratulations to Mike Nixon and Cathy McManomon for winning the Songwriting contest! Both your songs still bounce through my head now and then.

After that, it was a mad dash to get everything recorded for the Bonus disc. We ended up cutting one song, much to my disappointment. But we’re still going to do that song, and it’ll go up on Bandcamp as the B-side to the version of Disenchanted that we recorded with the always effervescent Amy McNally. Once we get them both done, that track will be up on Bandcamp, and all proceeds for that will go to InterFilk.

Speaking of Interfilk! We got the bonus disc finished just in time for OVFF! All the hugs!! All the amazing music!! Congratulations to Cat Faber for writing the most amazing piece of music I have heard in a long while. The Tricky Pixie Concert was full of zombie conga lines, waltzing, tango, and of course the slaying of an alligator. Please tell me someone has pictures…

Betsy Tinney brought a roomful of people on a journey of musical watercolor bliss. Alexander James Adams, as always, was a Green Man with a fiddle on fire. I got to harmonize with the beautiful SJ Tucker on Cheshire Kitten, and then managed not to SOUND like I was shaking during the Songwriting contest. Once again, GO, CAT FABER!!!

We stayed for the Dead Dog, filled with Cello and until we were in fact dead. We headed home to find 2 boxes full of OUR NEW CD!! We spent the next 2 nights burning the Bonus discs, stuffing and addressing packages, and laughing at my inability keep the cats off the table (it’s a chronic condition. I would seek help, but this is so much more fun!). The first round of packages headed out the door, followed only a couple days later by round 2. Daleks were packaged with Critters, and soon everything was on its way, except was going to be delivered at WindyCon.

Then off to Windy we went! WindyCon holds a very special place in my heart. It was the con where I first sang in a filk circle, and it was the first time Eric heard me sing. And with the exception of a serious moment of drama, this weekend was amazing. Our CD release party featured some of my favorite faces, everyone got their packages, and thanks to a last-minute change in my office, we got to stay an extra day! Another wondrous Dead Dog, especially when we got to come together for “By My Side” from the musical Godspell. Thank you, Becca Leathers. You’re my favoritest Becca Leathers EVERS!!!

And congratulations to Heather and Raven! Seeing that goofy grin on Raven's face is one of the best things ever. May you always be as happy as you are right now.

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And now we are home for almost 2 months. I’m making my last Dalek for a Yule present, then I’m done for a while. The second and third harvests have gone, and now we settle in for the winter months, filled with evergreen boughs, spiced cider, and chosen family. Thank you all so much for your laughter, your smiles, and your unending support. Enjoy the holy days! Or even just the snow!