your merry christmas card and newsletter
Happy solstice today!
As I sit here typing, Bug is curled up on my lap, tea is in my cup, and night has already fallen. I don’t pretend to know the future, but I do have a hot bath planned on this longest night of the year.
I didn’t know I was old enough to want to do this, but here we are.
Here are some things that happened in 2025.
jan/feb
On January 20, I moved to Lille, France from Berlin. Ten days later, my boyfriend and I played a set in town as our duo Sage and Zaza. But in French, I said 10 years (they could tell I hadn’t lived here that long ;))
Also, dang! I live in France! Can you believe that?
Remco (Zaza) lives just an hour away, so this is our first non-long-distance year.
In February, we played in Hamm, Germany. I taught my Songwriting workshop there and I took detailed notes afterward on how I wanted to refine my approach to presenting it.
Started spending a lot of time at the Jardin des Plantes in Lille with Bug …
march
I began teaching “Swing Your Uke and Shine Onstage,” a course on jazz uke, singing, and stage presence. We spent six months together. I love this group so much! <3
april
My first album turned 13! I made a bunch of posts looking at my recorded music. Because of these posts, my friend offered me a Jyotish astrology reading which continues to impact me every day.
I started a podcast. I opened an account with a new-to-me email service, and started emailing my list regularly. (You can sign up for my weekly ukulele updates here.)
may
I released my song Candy Shop, recorded a little video for it at the Jardin des Plantes in Lille, and in the video editing process included a bird song I found on Wikimedia Commons that was recorded in Lille around 20 years earlier. Cuuuuute!
I recorded a little video for the Uke à la Mer project on a Mélopée ukulele.
I gave a house concert in Lille, in French 😉
june
Sage and Zaza played again in Lille. We also traveled to Galway! I loved playing this festival so much. It was so great to spend time with with so many lovely foks, see the Irish countryside, and share our set, which went really well, and teach every single workshop I have on offer. It was so much fun.
Took my first Iyengar yoga class since … 2018? Did a standing forward bend and cried, did savasana and cried about my yoga teacher who passed this year, did paschimottanasana and cried. ❤️
july
Was quoted in a piece in Ukulele Magazine! (But didn’t know it was actually published until today, haha!)
I got to see and catch up with my friend Brennen Leigh at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Fest. I watched folks line up for a whole hour after her set to buy vinyl and get pictures with her. What a star. Love you, Brennen. <3
I attended Impro Manouches in the Cevennes, led by my jazz violin teacher Eva Slongo. It was so amazing to meet the people who I had only ever seen on Zoom calls for lessons! Was lovely to spend so many days making music, learning so much, and enjoying everyone’s company.
august
I played fiddle on a stage with my boyfriend’s other band. It was terrifying and exhilarating!
I entered my 37th year of life! Oh wait I guess I mean the 38th …
I shifted to a membership model for classes at Ukulele Swing School, after almost a year of offering 3 or 6 month courses. Now I teach Chord Melody and Sing, Swing and Solo classes twice a month, which are just, dang, so good.
Gave a sweet house concert at a friend’s house, won over the skeptical husband. 😉
Played at the Planetarium in Jena for a ukulele festival and got to see so many of my German ukulele friends. Realized that I have become a part of a community. “You’ve really made a name for yourself in the European uke scene,” Elisabeth told me. ❤️
september
I played and taught at the Dock Street Uke Camp, on my first trip to Shelburne in Nova Scotia, Canada. I was charmed, disarmed. It’s just so pretty, and the friendliness, you’re not even prepared for it.
I taught my favorite iteration of my songwriting workshop yet. I gave “the sea” as a topic for idea-generation, and we came up with something so compelling, so beautiful. I just wanted more time with them and with the subject. Their knowlege was so deep! The imagery so clear!
I’m so inspired by them and energized to continue teaching songwriting!
I also got to visit my sister in Chicago for her birthday!
Bug found me 7 years ago!
lol also I moved again! This time to a much quieter, calmer, nicer apartment and I HAVE A BATHTUB!
october
Learned I am behind in French taxes, ahh dommage !
Had a cold but very much enjoyed my time at the Toulouse ukulele festival anyway. Taught my first ukulele workshop in French. Gave a solo set, talked in French. My friend Aël lent me an old-timey microphone for my set, which was a game changer. Felt magical!
Wrapped up private sessions with a songwriting student who brought me much delight in our sessions.
Played at the Laboratorium in Stuttgart with Zaza, our funniest and sparkliest banter, imo, and Bug made a dramatic entrance. Sold out my this-side-of-the-Atlantic CD supply!
november
Played in Rodgau; taught a workshop to 50+ people. Met Marcella! <3 Got very inspired by my friend Elisabeth Pfeiffer’s work creating the Ukulele Technique Compendium (which you can now check out over here), wondered hmmm could I do something like that??
Submitted my French visa renewal application!
Started meeting with my friend Alex regularly for a ukulele project we will continue into next year …
A multiple-episode second-hand couch saga began, ending with two couches (one for humans and Bug, the other for Bug)! After four full years in Europe, it finally feels like I’ve landed in a cozy space that’s really home.
Received my French health card (Carte Vitale)!
december
The Swing Ukulele Academy returns! I initially selected this name for ongoing classes at Ukulele Swing School when the site first launched in August 2023. I’m glad it’s back!
The podcast is revived! Sheet Music Strum Along is no longer just a fantasy of dusty sheets, antique artwork, and ukulele chord diagrams, but is now a real video series for uke players who want to see antique sheets for jazz standards!
Continued working, gathering, settling. Tweaking, refining. Attempts to expand my ukulele and songwriting work online and in my neighborhood…
in conclusion
The tea is cold, the thermos empty. Bug is asking for attention. What a lovely way to spend a solstice evening! ❤️
Sending you lots of love and warmth and well wishes and a merry christmas and happy holidays and good slide into the new year (as they would say in German) ❤️
biz !!!
xoxo
-s