tomorrow, i’m about to do something i haven’t done, in what feels like, quite a while…  pack up for a proper Canadian tour.  yesterday things around the house were tidied up, gardens tilled over (and a new one started), rain barrels turned upside down, squash picked and summer chairs packed to the back of the garage.  thanksgiving day couldn’t have been more benevolent in warmth, sun and the last glimpses of rich colour.  which gets me thinking about thanks.  when i think about packing up the band, a gathering of friends, some of who have been with me on the road since i started in the late 90s.  i’m thankful for their wit, compassion and brilliance.  and when i think about 16 years on the road, i think about the eyes and ears that have been in those audiences over the years, and thanks is just the beginning.  i’m grateful for the years of keen interest and passion for my music.  for the gentle hearts singing every word along with me.  for the patience while i splash around, genre-bending and exploring.  for taking the words to heart and for, just generally, giving me and my music, a place to belong.  i am indeed, forever thankful.  i look forward to crossing this gloriously wild country during these last hints of autumn, while we wait, together,  for the inevitable arrival of winter.  so, let’s make some soup…  and i’ll see you soon!  h.