We’ve been waiting soooo long (to blog).

Posted by Beki Hemingway on Feb 25, 2018

How is it that some habits are so hard to break, while others are just so easy to fall out of? I have fallen out of the habit of blogging. Apologies for the long absence. I hope you are still here…

Truth is, I’ve been exhausted the last several months!! That’s what I get for leaving on a 2 month tour a mere 3 days after 19 rounds of radiation. I came home and hit the couch and stayed there a LOT!

Photo: Kenny Rutledge

Still, what a fantastic time we had seeing and singing to so many of you. We did about 34 shows in 60 days. Thank you for the care and comfort you gave to us, and for embracing Whins and Weather in such a big way!

Side note: If you haven’t yet got your copy of W&W, use the link below to check it out and get it today!

NEWS

Studying hard.

As soon as we got back from tour last year, Randy enrolled in school and is currently commuting to Dublin to work on a Bachelors in Theology. This will take 3 years, and he’s nearly done with Year 1 and getting good grades. This has put a damper on how much touring we can do, but it is exciting stuff, and I’m so proud of him.

Look! No hands!

One big hurdle to our transition to life in Ireland was passing our drivers’ license tests on the first try! Apparently, this is not as easy as it sounds, and a lot of Americans fail the first (and second) time. Oh, and we bought a car to go with our new licenses. Cars in Ireland tend to be newer due to road regulations and insurance rates, so our 1999 is practically an antique. So far, I have seen only 3 cars older than ours in all the land!

TOUR PLANS (TRAVEL)

This summer we plan to be in the USA again – at least the Midwest, Heartland, and East Coast. We can’t get everywhere all at once, but we will cover as much ground as possible. Dates are filling up quickly. If you are interested in hosting a house concert or have other ideas for a concert, please get in touch with us asap.

Before we head over the ocean, we’ll head across the sea for a UK tour in May. Check out our Tour page for those dates.

We’ll also be in Belfast for the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival on March 8, which we are very excited about, and thrilled to have Melanie Aronhalt along from Denver to yell “Woo” after every song.

SERVICE

Christmastime found us in Romania once again volunteering at Vis de Copil day center, organizing Christmas parties for Roma children and their moms, as well as for Arad’s homeless. It was a privilege to be there, and more fun the second time as we knew our way around and recognized some of the people from last year. This guy came up to us on the street and said “You’re the singer!” making me feel internationally famous.

Randy reunited with Matty – one of or favorite kids from last year.

Kids at a Christmas party

Shoebox gifts make the kids and parents happy!

I’ve begun volunteering  at a church  in a nearby town which provides free meals on Tuesdays to members of the community. I am the new girl, but enjoying it quite a bit so far, as long as no one takes a picture of me in my hairnet!

MUSIC

20 years goes by fast!

It occurred to us recently that it has been 20 years since we started recording together! How time flies! Randy and I have, in light of this realization, been enjoying revisiting some of our older material during practice times. Who knows how this may affect future setlists?

I am thrilled to have a songwriting credit on Sammy Horner’s forthcoming project entitled Worship Like a Celt. More on that in future blogs as details become available.

With Sammy & Kylie Horner
at Peg’s Bar recently.

We have also been writing new songs for the next project and hope to spend some of 2019 in the studio for the next project – that seems a long way off, but I am sure it will sneak up on us. You can bet that the next project will have more of Randy’s harmony vocals on it!

FUTURE

In the months following the summer tour, we will have some big decisions to make about the future and the feasibility of continuing this life of music, travel, service but we are sure the answers will come in due time. One step at a time… Thanks for coming alongside!

Beki