[singlepic id=200 w=320 h=240 float=left]I’ve been waking and sleeping, singing and walking under some of the most beautiful skies on earth. . . Centuries ago, I’m certain that the heavens and the sea in this corner of the world made a pact to generate some of the most mysterious and mystical skies . . . Probably to keep people from migrating due to the climate’s general tendency toward cold and wet weather year-round . . Today we’ve seen sunshine, freezing rain and cool breezes. . . But always, the sky mesmerizes. . .

I under-packed for this month abroad. I have far too many spring dresses and not nearly enough heavy scarves or closed-toed shoes. . . One pair of pajama pants, about eight pairs of feather earrings. . . It’s been cold here, yet spring persists. The fruit trees are blossoming, the grass is the brightest shade of green i’ve ever seen in nature and so soft you want to walk in it barefoot until you can’t feel your toes anymore. . . I haven’t been barefoot enough during this month. . . Sometimes I wonder why I hide from the simple and splendid beauty this world has to offer on a momentary basis. . .  (making mental note)

When I left the US, I had been touring and traveling for about 6 straight weeks. This wouldn’t be so challenging if I was just touring, but of late, I’ve been managing and booking the band and doing all the promo & admin as well. For two weeks we had a beautiful tour in the US with the band I play with when I’m here in Belgium, The Lazybones. It was splendid and I showed them everything I could cram between gigs between Fort Worth & Lafayette. . . We were embraced by the open arms of my loving fans and accompanied at times by my Austin band-mates. . . After I dropped them at the airport, I went directly to Louisiana for a beautiful hometown show, then back to Austin to perform and then flew to Tulsa for a private event before departing for Belgium. It’s a wonder I packed anything properly after such a whirlwind of travel.

[singlepic id=205 w=200 h=100 float=left]One of the things I have enjoyed most about being here is not having a cel phone or time-piece on me at all times. I sleep most days till I wake and my body has been ever-so grateful for the gift I’ve given it with both rest and some really wonderful swims and walks. . .  I often forget that although my mind is sometimes deceived, my body is no longer in its early 20‘s and requires much more than it did then in terms of love, nurture and time to assimilate all the intense travel. . .

The band and my wonderful Belgian family, the Muelenaere’s always take such good care of me when I’m in Belgium. It’s special to experience touring like this. . . no phone, no text, not having to feel wholly responsible for each moment and piece of equipment and event coordination. . . Being able to reserve my energy for shows and music, rekindling a sense of inspiration . .  I’m so blessed and honored to have such nurturing company.

[singlepic id=245 w=240 h=120 float=right]We have had some incredibly lovely shows here in Belgium since we’ve been reunited under the North Sea Skies. . . We have had the pleasure of hearing Kimberly Clayes’ (Little Kim & The Ally Apple 3) sweet nectar make you soft all over backing vocals and having special guests, Bruno Deneckre, Luis Marquez & Ries de Vuyst (spare bone) on stage with us for some of the shows. . . Wheras during my last tour here, we worked nonstop, we’ve spent some time enjoying one another’s company over sparkling water, wine, bubbles, belgian beer and whiskey beautiful stews and soups cooked by our promoter and crazybone general manager, Conrad de Muelenaere.

[singlepic id=213 w=320 h=240 float=left]I even had a few days to sneak away to visit my old haunts in Holland.  Sanne de Muelenaere came with me and we visited my dear friend Martine in Den Haag. . .  I haven’t seen Nijmegen (where I lived a year in college) or Amsterdam in 10 years. . . We had the good fortune of low hanging clouds lined with silver sunlight for most of the trip to Holland and spent most days just walking for as many hours as our legs would allow through the streets and flowering fields of Holland in the spring. We even climbed to the top of the Dom in Delft, one of Holland’s lovliest little cities. . . Nijmegen made me pretty silent. My mind remained in hazy reveries most of the time that we walked as I drew in the sights and smells familiar to the 19 & 20 year old Wendy  who had just arrived in a new world. . . A time when travel was something so new and exotic  . . . A time when utter loneliness and euphoric exhilaration lived in my heart side-by-side for months on end. . .

[singlepic id=207 w=240 h=120 float=right]I’m so grateful for the time here across the Atlantic and for the travel mercies that have been showered upon me all my life . . . So grateful to my Lazybone band, Jeffrey Thielens, Tom de Poorter, Eddy de Smul & Kimberly  Clayes. . .but  . . .

I’m looking forward to a long hot southern summer . . .Watching last year’s compost turn into this year’s garden, afternoon Louisiana thunderstorms, New Mexico Monsoons and Texas’ spring-fed watering holes . . .

More photos of the tour and travel can be found here in my site’s galleries. . .
Until next time. . . Namaste.