In the fall of 2018, my grandmother passed away at the incredible age of 101. A few months later, I told my family I was moving home from New Jersey. To my surprise, my aunt urged me to move into the farmhouse to look after it while the family prepared to put it on the market. In early 2019, I made the house that held my best childhood memories home once again. She held me in a season of hard transition and grief over my grandmother. Tending to her was healing to my soul. Every morning, I made my tea and walked out the back door to the brick path that led to the pasture. There I would stand barefoot, taking in the morning sun as I looked out on the rolling hills, full of gratitude to God for the gift it was to have a little more time in that sacred place.  

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My roots ran deep there -.all the way back to the 1890's when Great Great Aunt Bexie build the house - and I had never before felt more connected to my family history. Living there also gave me a chance to love and serve my elderly maternal grandparents who were near by. Fresh grief coupled with the challenges of caring for declining family members led me to reflect on what "the good life" really is, which came out in songs about family stories. The Dogwood Tree project was born as I strummed my guitar and put words to my feelings in just about every room of that old farmhouse.  It was fittingly named after the state tree and flower of Virginia and a nod to my deep family roots there.

 

I started recording in 2019, but the timing never felt right for a release. After moving back to Nashville, now I understand why. CGS Records is the perfect label to release these Sentimental Americana songs with deep feelings and family roots. These story songs will be released one by one in 2024.  Stay tuned!

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