A Note From Michael

February 2026

Hi everyone,

Wishing all of you a peaceful, healthy 2026 from here in the frozen Northeast. We feel like extras in the movie Ice Station Zebra—howling winds and piles of snow, wearing micro cleats just to venture out to feed the hungry wildlife. We’ve got all the usual visitors: does and squirrels, rabbits and birds… even a wren that nests on the front porch. I’m reading up on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website to see how birds stay warm during these episodes of arctic whiplash. Hope this finds all of you safe and warm. Our west coast family sends us photos to remind us of warmer temps and sunshine. Spring is just around the corner… Isn’t it? (“I still am seen in LL Bean ‘cause spring ain’t here.”)

The podcast is now officially out after months (okay, years!) in the making. We’re looking forward to recording many more. Lots of ideas. “Fridays with Veronica.”

This fall we arranged a local neighborhood food drive and our neighbors dropped off canned goods in Rubbermaid bins we had by our mailbox. We took it all to our local food pantry. And thanks to your kindness, we donated all the proceeds of the sales of the poetry books at the three gigs last summer (thank you John, Sandy and Betsy) to buy dog and cat food for the local animal shelters. Two Subarus full! Our holiday season highlight was a “fill the pool” clothing drive for People’s Place, our local community organization. We donated hats, gloves, scarves, fleece blankets and baby clothes.

Claudia’s been cooking and baking up a vegan storm. Our daughter-in-law’s leek and potato soup is in heavy rotation—and carrot cashew cream soup with wild rice. She’s trying “garden art“ focaccia today to take our minds off the 25-below wind chills expected tonight.

I’m still writing tunes for the new project. Hoping to get into the studio sometime soon—but enjoying, as always, this part of the process too. Grateful for the flood of creativity. I’m thinking of going out on the road as a trio or maybe even accepting few solo gigs. Something different. Who knows?

Hope celebrated her 18th birthday, and Cookie and Peaches both had 7th “birthdays” too. We’re a smaller family now but deeply grateful for the 21 cats and dogs we’ve rescued over our almost 50 years of marriage. There was even a rabbit named Albert, found under a car in NYC.

Thanks for including my music in your lives. It’s pure joy to write it, record it, and share it with you. As I look back at over 50 years as a working musician, I am so very grateful. My thanks to all of you, always listening. Hope to see you out on the road somewhere… I’ll keep you posted!

Peace, Love and Kindness, SOJG *