Up to her Waist in Lupins was commissioned by the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in memory of Randi Nelson, their departed former principal flutist who served in that position for over forty years. I did not know Randi personally but she knew my music from performances by the SSO including "Departures", my second flute concerto. Her reaction after that concert prompted Mark Turner, the CEO of the orchestra, to propose to me a ten-minute-long concerto-like composition dedicated to her. Mark's request came with the title, which in turn came with a story. Terry Sturge, Randi's husband, was a cellist with the orchestra. Terry's first encounter of Randi was in 1986 in her garden. She was "up to her waist in lupins". As it often happens with soulmates, he knew from the first moment that they were meant to be together.