I was born, and grew up, here in New Hampshire about five miles from where we live now. For a little over 30 years I lived a short drive away over the border in Massachusetts, but when Sarah and I were looking for a place to settle together it made perfect sense to return to NH. In 2021 we found this property with a small house and capacious (we loved these random words that showed up in real estate listings) barn and knew it was the right spot. This is my fifth summer back home.

"Five Summers" is both a settling into the peace of this beautiful spot where we find ourselves, and also a deliberately "peaceful" creation as a much-needed antidote to the many elements of the world that lie beyond my personal capacity to understand. Sometimes I drift into the dark spaces, but this month I went towards the light-- because I needed it.

While I was working on this one I was listening to it outside on a warm Sunday, with the birds and the breeze joining in, and I ended up loving their contributions so I added them in alongside the music. I hope it creates a little window into my world here and brings you some comfort.