May 17, 2019 - Washington, MA - The Farm

After a couple of fantastic nights in Boston, with Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops I got back to the dirt roads of forests and fields which is what we call The Farm. We've been here a long time. It's been raining most of the day but looks to be clearing up for a good weekend. Lilacs are late this year and maybe it'll take another week to bloom. Guess it depends on weather. Either way, it's good to be home. I haven't been here since early last December. We do a lot of moving around. Time to decompress and enjoy Spring. I'll check in here from time to time, but mostly I'll do what I do best - Not much.

For the last few days we've been moving steadily eastward across the northern tier. Eventually, in less than a week, I'll be back on the farm in The Berkshires (western Massachusetts). I haven't been home there since last November (2018). We still tend to keep moving a lot of the year. It's been like this for decades, so nothing new. But, I do miss the days back about 30 years ago when I could stay in one place long enough to get used to the seasons coming and going.

The old farm house is going through some needed renovations. And we're hoping it'll all be done sometime this coming summer. I love the smell of sawdust in the morning. Meanwhile, we've got a little more wandering to do. One coming up in Wyoming, and a couple in Colorado. These are coming up quickly, so they may be done by the time you find yourself reading this.

There's some really fun gigs coming up with The Boston Pops, at Symphony Hall in Boston. And a few more in the New England area this summer. But, mostly, I'll be back on the farm, trying to enjoy the comforts of home - seeing my kitty, getting some summer sun, lounging around, and taking pix of places near and dear. Marti and I will be back on the mountain planting flowers, enjoying the occasional visitors, and heading to our favorite hang-outs on my bike.

That's my plan, and I'm sticking to it. See you somewhere...

It's pretty funny when you leave somewhere at night and get to where you're going that same morning. But, that's what is about to happen. From here on we'll be back in the same basic day as everyone in the USA. And we'll get back to being in tour buses for weeks at a time. But, it won't be for long.

After a short couple of weeks we'll be back in the Berkshires - Back on the farm for the Spring, Summer, and even most of the Fall. Although, having said that, it appears we'll be doing some traveling too. So, we'll get a little taste of the mountains of New England.

Being half a world away has been great fun, and insightful. Always interesting to go somewhere where our news is nowhere near as important as it often appears to us. Still I look forward to returning and catching up with everyone on everything we missed. It's a pretty big world out there after all, Disney's attraction notwithstanding.

Mostly I just miss having a few cameras, most all of which I left behind, using my iPhone instead for the usual pix of venues and places. They've come a long way, although still not capable of capturing what I like. I've posted a few pix of the venues, and anyone can tell the difference between an iPhone (any one of 'em), and a real camera (almost any one of them too).

So, here we come ready or not. Back to the left coast for a little bit, before we begin our trek to the east side. So long Australia - Hello America!

I've been playing in the sun, beneath the water and on the land for about 2 weeks. It's been a great break from the world of being on the road. We're packing up now for adventures farther west - coming right up. We're going about as far west as you can without beginning to come back the other way. They don't call it 'Down Under' for nothing.

I also get to spend some time back in Mokuleia, and Haleiwa Town on the north shore of Oahu. In fact, we're even playing in Honolulu on the return trip. I haven't had a chance to do that for years. Should be a good time!

Anyway, there's still a couple/few days here on the Indian River on the east coast of Florida. And I'm heading outside to grab another few moments of sun before it starts sinking over the horizon. This morning was a beautiful start to the day. Pix to follow...

For the last few days we’ve been trying to figure out all the stuff it takes to leave The CrabHouse and get ourselves to the west coast, Hawaii and Australia. Then creep through the Northwest before finally returning home in New England sometime in May. It’s more thinking than I’d normally want to be doing. But, here we go and come, ready spaghetti or not. At least there’s a few more days before it all starts up.