‘Neath the Maple Trees

A happy ukulele song from a perfect summer day

Since I wrote to you on the last full moon, Brian and I have had some health issues. I came down with pneumonia and he got an infection that sent him to the ER.  It’s been rough.

Neither of us are completely out of the (sick) woods but we are delighted to share this song we wrote together deep in the forest two years ago on my 63^rd birthday, sitting round a campfire ‘neath the maple trees next to the river, not a soul around, just the two of us. It was my birthday backpacking trip along the Skokomish River on the Olympic Peninsula. We played music, took photos, ate fistfuls of huckleberries. We walked barefoot on the forest path, watched a snake slither by, jumped in the sunlit cold river. A day full of magic and golden-green leafy sunshine.

This video is made from our photos and short clips taken in this beautiful part of the world, many of them during that trip. We are so lucky to be able to visit “the Skoke” (or sometimes referred to as “the woods”) so often. July 8, 2021 was a perfect day. We don’t get many of those. Precious.

We had initially recorded the ukulele and vocals a few months after writing it (fortunately, as I can’t sing at the moment!). When I started the project, I had a fever and a relentless cough, but it cheered me up enormously to work with the music again and to make the video. I tracked the guitar just a few days ago, after not touching any guitar for nearly a month. My fingers were sore, but I could still play, whew! And as usual, my partner in love and music did an awesome job on the engineering as well as adding some tasty percussion. His ears are still working great!

We all totally love Liz Krause’s gorgeous harmony and think you will too. Her singing has a little smile in it and is perfect for the song. And thanks again to Jordan Hughes for his excellent production advice and his help with final touches.

This song will also be on the streaming services in the next few weeks.

Thank you to friends and family who have been supportive to us both through this rough patch. I also know that life has been even harder for some of you. Serious illness and injuries. Some of you are grieving, having lost loved ones unexpectedly. Being human is rough, and it gets even harder as we age.

“‘Neath the Maple Trees” reminds me that while I can’t deny death and aging and all the pain in my little life and in the world, I can still be happy. I can still find joy.

And even when things are challenging, it’s good to remember I almost certainly WILL have more days stepping barefoot on the path singing “ain’t no clouds on my mind!” That line especially speaks to me—when I listen.

I hope this song feels like a gift for you as it is for Brian and me. I would love to know how it makes you feel, so please share in the comments.

In these last moments of summer, sending love to you all. ❤️❤️❤️❤️