UP the HILL in OTLEY

Hey! I am in Otley, England, in Yorkshire, right outside of Leeds. My friend, Ben, came home tonight and we hiked up a massive hill. I found out that I am out of shape, and he seemed patient with my whining :0) It was a stunning view at the top of the hill.

In the morning we will head into the studio and start recording. First, we have to stop and get some fruit, cheese and snacks for the studio. Gotta have the snacks!

I will be get some video footage from the studio to put up so you can see how it's going. Goodnight and thanks for reading!


LoVe,

Tammy*

Taking Candy from Strangers & National Express Trip

Greetings from Leeds, England (close to it, that is)! JJ & the family took me to Canterbury this morning. Then I took a National Express Bus Trip from Canterbury to London to Leeds and then out to Otley. I'll be doing some recordings with my friend Ben Mosely up here.

It was a long drive-6 hours. On the last bus an elderly lady named "Brenda" started talking with me. That was great! She noticed my guitar and my semi-big suitcase and she said, "My, you are heavy laiden". All I could think of was a Bible verse about "All ye who are heavy laided, come unto me and I will give you rest" However, she didn't go into that, hehe. She was in her 70s and a very classy looking women.

Then, she did the unthinkable!!! She handed me candy..not just any candy..but a licorice/menthol hard candy and she said "sweets?" Now, I know that you aren't supposed to take candy from strangers (hehe) but I was conflicted because she was SO kind (attention *children, do not follow this example and take candy from strangers please. Thanks). So, I said "thank you very much". (extra information-*although, I appreciated the gesture, I do not necessarily recommend any candy that is a combo of licorice and menthol) :0)

Then 10 minutes later she gave me another one and told me to keep it for later. I felt weird, so I pulled out the Rhubard/Custard Hard Candies that I bought and gave her one. "Oh dear, you didn't have to do that" and then she smiled and said "Cheers!" and took one. On her way out of the bus I smiled, gave her a bag that she almost left behind, and then watched her pause and give a licorice candy to the bus driver. She waved to me from outside the bus.


I finally made it to my awaited bus stop. I had the printed out walking directions from my friend to the house. So, I was lugging my suitcase and guitar up the hill and through a supermarket parking lot. People were staring at me..some scratching their head and some like "what in the samhill?"...it's was a funny journey. Mission accomplished. I am hear. Let the recordings being!

Love,

Tammy*

Nudist Colony? I am naive.

Greetings to you from Whistable, England! I am still enjoy this lovely seaside town.  It reminds me a lot of Emerald Isle, North Carolina.  Today, my new friend Dixie (see photo :o), took me for a tour of the Whistable art shops/galleries, handmade jewelry shops & took me by the Whitstable Playhouse Theatre.  We went through a tiny ally-way called "squeeze gut alley" where you literally have to suck in to pass people in it.  Dixie and I talked about life, relationships, music and traveling over a coffee, and then at her house over a cup of tea.  I let her pick out a pair of earrings from my "jewelry collection" (that sounds formal) and she gave me a whole bag of fixings to make more earrings with! Glorious! Plus, she let me have this wonderful folk music magazine that tells the info for all of the folk festivals & music happenings in England! Thank you Dixie! You are the best!

So, Dixie was the one who invited me to the Faversham Folk Club this week.  We were sitting next to some very lovely people.  They were a couple perhaps in their 50-60s.  We started chatting and then went to go and get a drink in the intermission.  The husband of the couple was telling me about this fabulous place that they went to in West Virginia to camp.  He said that they were naturists.  Great, I thought! They love nature.  So, I ask "so, do you study nature or do you just like to camp out in the woods?" He responded, "Well, do you know what a naturist is?" I said, "not really".  He said, "In the US you call them "nudists".   We like to hang out in the nude".  "That's great", I said with a face a little blushed.  Yea, awkward moment.  I felt just a little NAIVE.  He was great fun.  I love learning new terminology & walking into awkward conversations! --makes life interesting!

Well, I am catching a bus early in the morning heading north to Leeds, England to get ready to record the new album!! Thanks for reading!

Love,

Tammy*

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Europe Tour Dates-Got Your Tickets?

Greetings to you! 

Here is a look at the upcoming shows for this European Tour.  

More will be added soon, too :0) Congrats to Sara & Josh who

won will be getting a postcard from England (from previous blog)

Upcoming Shows

Jun 15 2009 6:00P Recording the New Album in Leeds, England for the week! Leeds, England Jun 16-19 2009 8:00P Studios-recording new album Leeds, England Jun 21 2009 7:00P Cavendish Arms London, England, London and South East Jun 26 2009 8:15P Cambridge Studios (BBC Radio interview) Burwell, England Jun 27 2009 8:30P Acoustic Routes Burwell, England Jul 5 2009 4:00P Gernsbach Gernsbach, Germany Jul 9 2009 7:30P Provisorium Nuertingen, Germany Jul 24 2009 7:00P Lausanne-TBA Lausanne, Switzerland Jul 25 2009 8:00P Grub Cafe East Grinstead, West Sussex, England Jul 28-29 2009 7:00P SOZO Festival Snitterfield, Stratford upon Avon, England

Saturday I am heading up to Leeds (up north in England) to

begin recording the new Album! I will put up photos & videos of

the studio time for you to see.  Thanks for reading.

Love,

Tammy*

Do you want a postcard from England?

Greetings! I hope that you are well.  I just got back from the "Faversham Folk Club"  It was a nice quaint club with about 75 people ready to hear some folk music from the Irish, Andy Irvine.  He played gentle & flowing melodies & some originals & some traditional folk songs.  My new friend, Dixie, picked me up.  The host for the evening sang 2 songs & then I sang 3.  It was really cool! The people here are getting the music and it's awesome to get their smiles & encouragement.  The folks there told me to come back anytime...so I said, "well, I would like to play a full show here.  It's a great club".  I will contact them and see how it works out.

So, I would like to send a postcard to you from England.  Would you like a postcard? Well, the first person to comment on this blog is going to get a cool Canterbury Postcard.  So, make sure that you leave your name and email address so that I can get your mailing details.  Thanks! 

Love,

Tammy*

So, I spent the better half of the day HIGH...

Just to clarify.....uh-hmm...I do not take drugs & I am not condoning them-disclaimer

Well, it wasn't my fault! I was sleeping in my room with the window opened.  I awoke to my room filled with smoke and the smell of marijuana.  I at first thought the house was on fire, but alas, it was just the guy next door enjoying natural substances. The neighbor must have been having a great morning! So, I shut the window and was greeted by a headache, feeling weird all day, and eating 3 meals all within an hour! No kidding! Very exciting...not really.  It wasn't until the effects wore off that I realized why I felt loopy all day.  Crazy story...just thought that I would share.  

The day got much better, though because I went with my friends, the Leddy's, out to dinner at "Captain Digby's" Restaurant in Kingsgate, England...right on the very east coast.  It was beautiful (see photos above).  Pirates used to come up to this coast and dock.  It made me want to go and search for a treasure.  Also, I tried the traditional Yorkshire Pudding for dinner with a Guinness.  It was like a soft/spongy biscuit bowl with chicken, mushrooms, corn and cream sauce in it.  You have to try it sometime, if you haven't already! It was delicious!

Thanks for reading! Goodnight!

Blessings!

Tam*

"I just love you!"

When someone just comes up and says, "I just love you" and gives you a massive hug, there's nothing better.  Today, I was playing guitar in the kitchen, recording some new tunes on GarageBand and the kids came home from school (my friends 3 children).  Seven year old Justin walks in and says, "Tammy, I just love you" and came and hugged me. MAN! That is just the sweetest thing.  He said it so sincerely and just wanted to let me know.  It's SO good to be reminded that you are loved :0) My heart melted completely. Yea! 

Well, it got me thinking...I am God's child.   I want to melt His heart and let Him know how I feel about Him.  When I am talking with God I feel like I discuss lots of things...ask lots of questions and wonder about the outcome of this or that.  I am glad that God has lots of patience with me.  So, I just said, "God, I just love you!" I hope that I made Him smile.  He amazes me everyday.  I don't want to take Him for granted.  Somehow I know that God is looking at us, His children, and saying, "I just love you". 

Goodnight, Tam*