April 5, 2005
Victoria, BC

Back from a supremely fun weekend in Vancouver. Played a show with my good pal Sam Masich and his trio FFM at Sam's Tai Chi studio in Kitsilano. Besides being a brilliant songwriter and great performer Sam is also one of North America's premier Tai Chi Masters! I love playing gigs in all kinds of strange places but I must say, a Tai Chi studio was a new one for me. I also spent a good amount of time kickin' it up at Vancouver's Kino Cafe -a Flamenco bar on Cambie St. I LOVE the Kino Cafe. Not only do they have seriously yummy Sangria there's also live Flamenco nightly with great players and oh-so beautiful dancers (with make-you-drool gorgeous outfits on.) Hmmmm... perhaps I'll have to go to Spain next winter... Until then, I'm just going to seriously enjoy my last week in Victoria and all the adventures soon to come. I'll be heading back across Canada and then to Europe for a bit of a birthday extravaganza. T'will be sad to leave this sacred place (I've gotten attached) but Alas- the wide world calls once more.

Will update soon.

xo
your faithful
me

In the back of Ruby the Van

February 26, 2005
Victoria, BC

Greetings again from my bright sunny kitchen in the glorious Victoria morning... Not a drop of rain has fallen since before Valentine's Day and Vancouver Island has been positively drenched in golden sunlight. This is indeed strange weather behaviour for the Pacific Northwest in winter- but I complain not! I guess the desert down in the Southwest US has just been getting pounded with our rain... not to mention LA. And I heard around Death Valley the desert has started turning green! Seeds that have been dormant for thousands of years are suddenly growing... oh my. (Like, climate change anyone?) Yet I suppose climate change tends to happen on planets sometimes- think Ice Age.

In other more artistically-centric news, how do you like my new wedding photo? I've started working on a new self-portrait series in the vein of the one I did (now) years ago... See here. Hopefully I'll be able to use some of the images for new-album booklet design and other such endeavours. And who did I marry you ask? I'm thinking it's probably my guitar as we seem to be the only ones there....

adieu for now- and more photos soon! 

xo ks

The beginnings of my new self-portrait series...
 

February 16, 2005
Victoria, BC

Hey folks... It's been a great day. Yet again with the incredibly beautiful sunshine! Spent the afternoon frolicking about Goldstream Provincial Park, one of my very most favourite places in the world. No matter what crazy business is going on in my life that forest always manages to set me absolutely right again. Thank the Universe for that.

Today I've also been working on creating a new Mailing List sign-up form for the website. So please sign up! I'll keep you abreast of the important Sweetland goings on and let you know when I'm coming to your area on tour...

Sign up now!

 

And I will so not even slightly spam you. Cross my heart. 

Hope all is fabulously well with you all out there,

and nighty-night, xx kristin

With the ancient Douglas Firs at Goldstream Provincial Park

February 14, 2005
Victoria, BC 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Being the true daughter of Venus that I am I cannot help but enjoy this day immensely. But really, any good excuse to buy myself some fine wine and roses is so ok with me... Was going to take myself on a fabulously nerdy Valentine's Day date to the Dominion Observatory here in Victoria, but they strangely seem to close before sunset. What possible good could that be I ask? I oh-so require dark skies for my glowing orb viewing. In other affairs, all is going magnificently well. Have been working hard on new-album writing, website fixing and conspiring my fine and illustrious future... Stay tuned for extreme yumminess coming soon!

kisses, xo K

January 25, 2005
Victoria, BC

All is well in beautiful Victoria. It's a mild and lovely January (at the moment...) and the crocuses are already poking out their wee heads! Wow. Have been spending much time outside being good exercise girl as well as lotsa time at the computer trying to be good working girl... Getting into busy planning season for spring and summer touring (not to mention all the practicing and writing for the new gestating album!) There's lots on the go and hopefully you'll all be able to see the fruits of my winter labours soon enough... Hallelujah.

And that's all she wrote.

December 31, 2004
La Victoria, Colombie Britannique

My New Years Resolutions
by Kristin Sweetland

1. I WILL learn how to play Rock and Roll guitar.
2. I will not procrastinate taking out the compost.
3. I will stay eternally true to Operation Buns of Steel.
4. I will write everyday.
5. I will eat more chocolate.

Baby on the Sheepskin
For more new photos of my world click here!

December 24, 2004
Victoria, BC

A very merry Ho to you all.
I'm now happily settled into my beautiful new little apartment (at least for a while...) and am getting ready to seriously enjoy the festive merriment encroaching! Making cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes and there'll likely be a Tofurkey involved too.... Mmmm fake meat. And my personal very favourite addition to the festive libation department this season is Flaming Glogg. It's a Swedish hot mulled spicy wine that must certainly have magical curing properties, I know it. Try it yourselves:

Flaming Glogg

1 bottle red wine
Aquavitae of choice (brandy, whisky, yada ya)
Snert of fresh lemon juice
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Allspice
Orange Peel
1 cup raisins
inf1 cup almonds
Sweetener of choice (I like honey.)

Put wine, spices, orange peel, raisins and almonds in pot. Simmer 'till almost boiling. Serve warm. Strain if ye like. Don't forget to drop some raisins and almonds into each glass. Mmmm.

Adieu adieu, and happy drinking...