September 2012
It seems that last time we updated this section we were just heading into Spooktacular 2011 at Fort Edmonton Park, where we took on a new role as the ‘Lost Souls Blues Band’. Anyone was welcome to join the band, but they were warned that the gig would NEVER finish. Amazingly, we still had a couple of applicants in their early teens, who obviously had not thought through the ramifications of this!
November and December were busy as usual, with events as diversified as a ladies’ tea (swimming pool fundraiser in Two Hills), a children’s show commemorating the Haj, and a seniors’ fair, before we had our first meeting with Santa in Southgate. This year we did a children’s show followed by a parade, for which we augmented with trumpet, clarinet and trombone, and the atmosphere was great. Many more events for both children and adults before year end, which was finished with a medieval night at Muttart Conservatory on N.Y.E.
Jan. 6th saw us heading south again to the U.S., with a stop in Las Vegas en route (where we saw ‘Love’ by Cirque du Soleil – amazing!) This year we had planned to book the2013 tour, but give ourselves some space after the hectic season prior to Christmas. This we did and the three of us (including Meggie the dog) had some great times together, especially when we camped in San Diego for a little over a week, and we had an elderly, but very happy, dog in the ocean every day.
Back home at the end of March with good weather all the way, only to find the following morning that we had to get up early and winterize the trailer an hour before 4 inches of snow fell. Truly an April Fools’ joke after a 3,000 km. drive!
Spring as always eases in gradually, with events at the Zoo, Nagels’ travel show, schools for Earth Day – plus the Festival itself (which we organized for so many years, but now occasionally appear as performers or guest speakers,) beautiful weather this year, which always helps. The 4 days of ‘Day Out With Thomas’ were fun as always – with weather ranging from snow to +26 degrees C. More schools in the Calgary area, then special Jubilee nights for 2 different venues in Edmonton – where there was suitable food, decoration, drinks, sing-along, and much merriment!
The month of June included Children’s Festivals in Fort McMurray and Bow Island, plus a special day in Coutts, on the U.S. border. Also a couple of seniors’ performances and schools’ shows in the Ukrainian Village. Variety is truly the spice of life!
July started with Canada Day in Muttart Conservatory, plus various events for Fort Edmonton, one of which, the Celtic Festival, featured Mary interacting with all and sundry together with her Scottish figure ‘Martha Mc Haggis’ – who is loved by everyone. Plus a great ‘Family Day’ at Northlands race track, and shows in Saskatchewan in August, including ‘Live it up’ day in Livelong, and a return to Northwest Territorial Days’ in North Battleford where we had both good weather and audiences.
Back to Alberta in time for the Fort Edmonton harvest celebration, called this year ‘Field to Table’ plus the Storytelling Festival – where we do songs, but with a story to them, or a story about them. Great attendance, especially on the second day.
Then there was busy time for Mary preparing to direct and host a bus tour through British Columbia, up the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, train down to Prince George, and bus back through the Rockies to Edmonton and Calgary. An incredibly busy 8 day tour, with 45 guests on the bus, and perfect weather all the way.
This weekend is ‘Free Access Day’ for the City of Edmonton, and we shall be spending part of it performing at the Zoo, where we also appear at Easter, making our annual Zoo dates “bookends” for the season.
To our friends out there in the ether – we hope life is being kind to you, and we’ll be in touch again before too long!