March 21, 2013
Farm Heaven, ON

Springtime salutations from sparkling Snowland. I am once again in Farm Heaven visiting my dear Captain Dirt at her famous farmhouse. It blizzarded with a passion on the day I arrived, but I rocked the long drive like an Ice Road Truckers superstar. Today I'm safe and warm by the fire, and quite focused on all my artistic endeavours.

The Captain and I are working out the final arrangements for our last two new album tunes (to be recorded next week) and they sound so good. I'm madly in love with the gorgeous 1978 Larrivée classical guitar my dad gave to me recently. He bought it on a trip out to Victoria, back in the days when Jean Larrivée still worked out of his tiny shop in Market Square. It has brought me new songs. And I am grateful.

Today I've been working on the lead guitar part for my newest instrumental piece "Soul Captain." It was inspired by the William E. Henley poem Invictus - the subject of my latest experiment in the Aristotelian art of mnemotechnics. Piece of cake. And so worthy. I shall repeat it over and over again ... And remember.

I've also been busy with my magical camera in the name of my eternal self-portrait series. From the Great Northern Railroad to the Lake of the Bloody Ice Hole, you'll find photographic evidence of all my recent Adventures in Sweetland here. My latest photography project is my daily Instagram photo, courtesy of my brand new iPhone. I'll be uploading one photo each day with a wee Sweetlandish vignette. Photos will be posted on my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. So stay tuned.

And although the land around me is still in deep freeze, I can feel the melt beginning on the inside. It is magical and torturous - but we must incinerate the old to make way for the new. My friends and I have a tradition of making corn dolls on Autumn Equinox. We lovingly call them "The Hag" after the Cailleach, mythological Irish creatrix and Queen of Winter. We care for our Hags though the dark half of the year, and they are said to protect us from winter's wrath. We burn them come Spring - a sometimes bittersweet moment, as one often gets attached. My hag has thoroughly gone up in smoke and I am rising from her ashes. Ready for the next magnificent chapter.

Now it's time to strap on some snowshoes and make a journey into the deep dark woods. There is a cedar forest, a snowy churchyard, and a shimmering snow field with my name on it.

xo

Snow Woods

Perhaps the deep dark woods aren't so dark after all...

More photos here

January 19, 2012 
Dalkeith, ON

Well it sure is winter here in Farm Heaven. The winter we, in the big city, thought might never come... I found it. It was at the end of a long road, down a dirt road, all along. And I was pleased to find it quite happy to see me. With that particular brand of bitter cold that freezes your nosehairs, seizes your lungs, and illuminates a sky bursting with stars. Crystal clear. Like no other time of year.

That being said, I have not strayed far from the wood stove. Just perhaps to turn on my amp and put the kettle on. Cup of tea, and kitten on loan from Captain Dirt complete the picture. All with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack. Like seriously. The Captain and I have have been plugging in, and turning way up. Good thing we have no neighbours here in Farm Heaven.

It's actually good it's been far too cold to frolic out of doors for long. Or I'd go out on Operation Snowshoe, taking strange photos, and chasing strange animals, all the livelong day. This way I stay home and focused on all the things I want to create before I leave. There are new tunes and grand plans in spades! And not just musical, also photographic. I've been playing with my brand new studio lights. I know, très fancy. For Ms. camera in the back pocket climbing a tree, it's a whole new world, baby.  Give me a little time to figure it out, then call me if you want your Sweetlandish portrait taken...

Time to throw another log on the fire!

xo
Svetlana Ice Princess

P.S. I saw a wolf.

More wintry wonderland... here.

August 17, 2011 
Toronto, ON

It's been ages, I know, since I spun a Sweetlandish yarn and told you all my secrets. A lot has happened. Many miles driven, photos taken, lobsters trapped, trees climbed, walls scaled, gigs played, postcards mailed, beasts tamed and feasts eaten. Not to mention the message in a bottle I was forced to throw overboard. Do keep an eye on your closest waterway. It may just make it your way soon...

I've been home for more than a fortnight now, with my hands full of Australians and house guests. I've been enjoying the relaxed nature of my schedule lately, taking many naps, having dinner parties, lounging around on my beautiful patio, and thinking long and hard about my life. It's all going well. Plans are in full swing for the new album and I promise to give you all more info very soon!

Played a fantastic house concert last weekend up in the land I call "Farm Heaven." Captain Dirt/Lyndell Montgomery, brilliant Aussie pals Jess McAvoy, Aurora Jane and I rocked the countryside, pool party high heel bikini-core. But I was the only one wearing high heels... And the only one not wearing a bikini. The next day, Jane, Jess and I adventured into Montréal on a serious mission. This involved a clock tower, a very important meeting, an orange guitar, a polka-dot dress and a fresh, hot bagel melting in my mouth. 

And a Toto sing-along!

A thousand adventures later, here I am at my writing desk in a beam of sunlight gazing out at the churchyard across the street. Like I'd never left. Summer is a sweet time in my neighbourhood, not to mention high season for gettin' hitched. Good thing I love the sound of church bells. Three days a weekend, and sometimes on Thursdays I get to sit here at my perch and watch one bride after another leave the chapel with her dress, her bouquet, her bridesmaids and her groom, en route to her limo. I confess, I always get a bit romantic about it. But not quite as romantic as I felt after watching the new Jane Eyre movie last night. Mr. Rochester does it to me every time. I so need a new type.

Yesterday there were no weddings to speak of, but I peeked out from my writing perch to see a film crew busily preparing to shoot an episode of Covert Affairs. They're always in my hood. I love that show! Which reminds me to tell you to watch for a Sweetlandish cameo on the new season of Being Erica coming in the fall... I love that show too.

Today is about cooking, cleaning and doing my hair in preparation for my incoming BFF later today! I'd make a fantastic 1950's housewife. And you haven't even seen me in my polka-dot apron yet. I've been busy fortifying my kitchen against the army of mice that seem to think mi casa es su casa.  I've decided to play nice first, with some well-placed steel wool and lavender oil. We'll see... I started suspecting I had nocturnal roommates when one by one the bowl of mini cinnamon hearts leftover from my Valentine's party began disappearing off the top of the stove. After pulling out said appliance yesterday, I discovered the one last-remaining lonely cinnamon heart lying in a pile of dust.  I'm not exactly sure what that's a metaphor for. But it's a metaphor for something.

Aurevoir for now my pretties, I promise to write again soon! For all y'all in Southern Ontario come see me play this weekend at the fabulous Back to the Garden Roots Music Festival on Sunday. It's gonna be a blast!

Love love,

x

K

Nothing says trouble like a pair of hot Aussies...
More summer photos here!

May 10, 2011 

Toronto, ON

Happy birthday to me! I'm home at quite a reasonable hour for a birthday girl after a fantastic day and night of celebrating. My ladies and I went out for an amazing dinner at my favourite Toronto restaurant, Julie's Cuban! It's romantic and delicious, and the corn fritters are simply to die for. Afterwards we headed over to the TRANZAC for brilliant pal Jonathan Byrd's CD release show. Incredible performance. Beautiful people. Two subways and a streetcar later, I'm home on my magnificent couch snuggling up with tonight's new episode of Glee. And just for the record, Jesse St. James is a babe. I know I always like the bad boys ... but I think Rachel should really give him another chance.

And sadly, no new birthday photos from my eternal Adventures in Sweetland to share with you! My camera fell to its tragic death from a spiral squash tower in Captain Dirt's Dirty Garden. However, we did plant carrots, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, squash and calendula! And I got very familiar with a shovel, a rake and a hoe. It's a long row to hoe, baby. But somebody's gotta do it.

Two more days back in the big city and then I'm outta here! America, I hope you're ready. Because here I come...

xo

Sweetypie

May 5, 2011 

Dalkeith, ON

Bonsoir from drizzly fireside Farm Heaven. I've been up here in the wood smoke and rain for the last few days, enjoying the country quiet and working with Lyndell Montgomery a.k.a. Captain Dirt on a new studio project! We've been recording with the amazing Terry Gillespie in his beautiful countryside studio. Amongst the dairy cows and spring lambs, we rock. Put some Sweetlandish guitar on 6 tracks, mostly Lyndell's tunes, and recorded a couple sweet new instrumentals!

This evening I've just returned home from a Cinco de Mayo celebration at local, delicious Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. Enjoyed some fantastic agave beer prepared specially for the occasion, but had to leave before they smashed the poor piñata. Mmmm. Candy.

While not recording I've been very busy relaxing beside the wood stove. It's been cooold here. That kind of damp cold that gets inside you and no amount of warm, fashionable clothing can cure. The only answer seems to be extreme proximity to fire, whiskey and a warm snuggly kitten (in this case, I'm borrowing Lyndell's.)

Tomorrow I may venture into Montréal in search of adventure and a good manicure. Or I may just take the day to wander aimlessly through the wet woods. As come Saturday, it's back to the big city again.  I had exciting plans to go see Jordi Savall on Sunday afternoon, possibly my favourite classical musician of all time! However, just got word that the concert has been rescheduled due to injury. Hope he's healing well, but nooo! I was so looking forward to the show. I guess I'll be looking forward to it in March, 2012 as well ... Can you believe it's really almost 2012?

So I shall keep you posted on my coming, goings and grandes aventures. This time home will only last for three days, a birthday, a dentist appointment and some epic van cleaning. Then it's back out into the world again. This time, I point Southward! By this time next week I'll be kickin' it in Carolina. Yeah, baby.

x

K

My boots, teaching the rhubarb how to be red.

More spring photos here.

January 30, 2010 

Dalkeith, ON

Mmmm back in Farm Heaven at last! When I close my eyes I can still tell I'm here ... The heat of the wood stove, the mew of the kitten, the waft of bourbon hot chocolate, and the sniff of something delicious Captain Dirt is cooking up in the kitchen! This weekend I decided to escape my urban enclave for a much-needed reprieve, and get my country on.  Four days, three jam sessions, two epic snowshoe missions and a bottle of Gentleman Jack later, I am a new woman. 

And it goes without saying, it's so great to be back with my Capitano. Learning new tunes and remembering the old ones ... Stay tuned for news of coming Captain Dirt & The Skirt exploits soon! 

Woodsmoke and whiskey,

x
K

Epic snowshoe mission #1. With Captain Dirt.
More winter photos here

July 18, 2010 

London, ON

Just fresh from a brilliant weekend in London playing at the Home County Folk Festival! We said aurevoir this evening in true folky style with a rousing version of Goodnight Irene in the rain ... Rocked the mainstage Saturday night w/Captain Dirt on bass, and sported the brand new polka-dot apron I bought at one of the craft vendors! Um ... hot. Other weekend highlights included: A sweet instrumental workshop with Don Ross  and the Foggy Hogtown Boys, a band photo shoot on top of the Holy Roller, Victoria Park's famous tank and a craft booth of candles that looked exactly like desserts. I mean, cherry pies, chocolate sundaes and the whole world of cupcakes ... dude, it was impressive.

Not to mention, this weekend marked my first gig as embedded reporter for Roots Music Canada! I'll be putting together video blogs of all the festivals I attend this summer ... From a Sweetlandish perspective, of course. Took lots of footage and interviewed a whole host of characters. Can't wait to edit! The polished video will surface soon on www.rootsmusic.ca. Stay tuned.

Captain Dirt & The Skirt go for a ride.
More summer festival photos here!

July 1st , 2010 
Tillsonburg, ON

Happy Canada Day!

This afternoon we rocked Tillsonburg's Festival of Music. I mean really, how can you go wrong when you go on after the travelling reptile show? My co-pilot/bassist Lyndell Montgomery/Captain Dirt and I had a blast and are now dreaming of a hot delicious dinner at the end of the rainbow ... Had to stop by the side of the road for a photo shoot when we came upon the most massive guitar we have ever seen! Not quite as big as the world's largest sausage, but large nonetheless. Evidence below.

Petticoats & Patriotism,

xo

La K

Tillsonburg Moth@f*&#a!
More summer festival photos here