Aug 23
Of the photographs I just posted from last weekend’s festival at Leslie, Michigan, I really like one of me, and that’s pretty unusual. It helps that I was sitting on my largest feature, so it didn’t show.
Notice the cute people with me in the picture.
And this is the other one, I sure would like the bottle the moment it was taken:
Funny how certain times and places seem so important these days.
I hope you find an important time or place sometime soon.
Aug 22
According to my complete, 30 second, quick and dirty, Internet search an album with the title, Some Things I Want to Sing About, by the Osborne Brothers came out on Sugar Hill in 1984. That song was later recorded by THE Grascals on their album, The Grascals in 2005. Bobby Osborne guested on that effort, giving it, at least for me, an authenticity that is hard to beat. This is because the version of the Osborne Brothers I heard saw the most was the good old group with E, and Mr. Smiff, current Grascals. I woke up thinking of the important things in my life, and the lyrics of the refrain came quickly to me:
These are just some things I want to sing about
Memories I can’t live without
Diamonds buried deep down in my mind
Lord thoughts I can’t quit thinking
A fountain I’ll keep drinking from
And a taste that’s gettin’ sweeter all the time
Now, in the song, the things are of a different time and place that that in which we live:
I remember thinking town was where grandmothers lived
Where brothers went to catch the bus and train
A treasured thought was Daddy grinning ear to ear
Every time we’d hear the old Chuckwagon Gang …
This morning I woke up thinking of:
So, I guess my things mostly reflect the last 38 years. Based on my happy thoughts, I can’t wait to see what the next 38 years bring.
Aug 21
We spent most of last week at the Wheel Inn Campground, for the Leslie Bluegrass Festival. We had a good time, and saw some good music. I didn’t even go to town to get e-mail, and the phones don’t work too well out there, so it was almost a real vacation.
D2 brought her children Wednesday, after a stop in a local emergency room. GD2 dove off a bench head first and put her teeth through her lip. She healed fast, and was diving off coolers by Saturday. That girl is always at the center of some problem.
Wednesday evening, when no one wanted to go to sleep, I took the GD’s walking around in search of a jam. GD1 said, “We’ll walk till we see someone playing, then we’ll put down our chairs.” I walked directly toward an area where I know some friends would be, and sure enough, there they were. GD2 said, “A BANJO!,” in a slightly reverent tone of voice. It was loud enough that Jimmy, who was playing the bass with his back to us, heard her. GD2 likes banjos for some reason. She had Papa hold her hand, and she walked to the front of the stage to watch Greg Cahill for a minute during the Special C show. I’m in the market for a size 4 “Got Banjo?” T-shirt.
We had a good week, and lots of fun at the festival. I saw a little more Saturday, because D2 and the kids headed home Friday night after supper. Now, I’m trying to get something done around here!
Aug 13
We’re home, but we don’t get a bit of rest. Papa left for work a while ago, and I’m making a list — again. Finish laundry. Wash and sort cucumbers, sort and can tomatoes (5 big buckets – like laundry soap comes in). Pack clothes. Make a couple of dishes to take. Pack food. Buy Coke. Clean house. Water flowers. Pay bills — well we really don’t pay bills these days, do we? I just note in the computer program that the withdrawals have been made, and then check the balance.
We had a great time at the Milan Bluegrass Festival, Milan Michigan, and made a quick stop at the Kentuckians of Michigan annual Picnic yesterday on our way home. (back to list) Photos will be posted later today. We’re headed out to the Leslie (Michigan) Festival at the Wheel Inn Campground tonight. The show is Thursday through Saturday, but I have some idea I can get some rest out there. There is no Internet, so you’ll hear from me next Sunday or Monday! Well, there is Internet at a MacDonald’s close by, and I’ll have my bike…….
We got GS1’s address over the weekend, he’s in Cuba now. He called his mother, D1, yesterday. She said he seemed a little down, but overall OK. He loves the beach–I’m not suprised. I sure loved the ocean the first time I saw it, and I love it each time. We have lots of water in Michigan, but nothing is like the ocean.
D3 is 5 today! I can’t imagine how that happened. She was born just a few day ago, wasn’t she? Funny how time flies when you’re having fun.
OK, now back to the list!
Aug 11
Day three of the Milan Bluegrass Festival is beginning. Papa and I are among the lucky ones who had a pretty good night’s sleep. I’m feeling spiffy, for sure. The sun is out, the humidity is down, the buses are rolling in, and there is fun to be had. Come on out if you’re not already here!
Yesterday, it was good to see some of our favorites, David Parmley and Continental Divide, IIId Tyme Out and Dan Paisley were among them. Papa already edited his pictures, so they will be ready to post Sunday night or Monday.
We’ve had quite a few inquiries regarding next week’s festival at Leslie. If you have questions after today, please call the numbers listed on the flyer, we’ll be out at the festival site a lot through the week, and there is no internet there! The flyer is posted on the festival site: Jerry Yates Bluegrass.
See you here or there!
Aug 10
A great, but wet day was enjoyed by all here at the Milan Bluegrass Festival, Milan Michigan Yesterday. Papa’s pictures will be posted Monday, since I don’t have a great connection. But, I do have one, so that is nice.
Dave Parmley’s new, very yellow bus pulled in a few minutes ago, so the day will be starting soon. Today’s line-up includes S&S Express, The Bluegrass Thoroughbreds, Pine Mountain Railroad, The Carolina Road Band, Parmley, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Dan Paisley & Southern Grass.
Pete Goble was here for a short time yesterday, to see Counterpoint, a band from Georgia. Several other musicians enjoyed visiting with him.
Come if you can!
Aug 07
M-in-L’s family reunion was last Sunday. To be as specific as she is, “My mother’s family was the one that got together”. M-in-L was thrilled as more and more people drove in. We think there were about 110 or so, but we didn’t have everyone sign in. I guess that’s new for next year. We do know that it was the largest crowd at M-in-L’s house for this event–the place looked like a parking lot out front.
Papa had a wonderful time, scooping ice cream for the kids, and visiting with cousins. I had a lot of fun, too. It is great to see everyone; all of you who didn’t make it missed some great fun, visiting and food.
In the small world department, a second cousin once removed (I’ll call her “C”) of Papa attended with her husband and sons. C would be a third cousin of our children. It turned out that our S-in-L, D2’s husband, knew C’s husband from high school and football. Additionally, D2’s school recently hired a new principal — who is leaving the school that C teaches in to take the job.
So, have a reunion, and find out all kinds of things you didn’t know.
Aug 02
Updated the CACC website, volunteer for the Wheatland fundraiser.
Updated Jerry Yates’ site for the Leslie, changed a band name on their page and in the schedule.
Fixed some errors in the CF research benefit site, hope we’ll see you there in the fall.
Updated the calendar on Papa’s pictures. Fall concerts, football, there’s more we don’t list. If you are there, introduce yourself.
Posted Papa’s pictures from the Marshall Bluegrass Festival. Contacted artists who might like a copy of their likeness. If I didn’t contact you, use my contact form to send me your information, or just register on the site, I’ll be notified that you registered and I’ll contact you.
“Captured” several video tapes from our mini DV’s to the computer. Priceless video among it, Melvin Goins and his late brother Ray at Mountaintop last year. Christmas 2003 when grandchildren were much smaller. Where does the time go?
Helped Papa pack the van. We’re off the M-in-L’s for the family reunion this weekend. I remembered the ice cream scoop, a must when Papa gets ready to treat the kids. Tables, table covers, shelters in case it rains (ha, ha).
Lunch (or late breakfast) with Step Dad. He’s having some hard days. Last week, he said, was terrible. I reminded him to call the doctor if he was too down and out. I also told him to call us. Resolution to self, call him every few days.
Invited him to sleep in the camper Saturday night of the Milan festival. Better than him driving home. Hope he’ll come, but he may not.
Told him he was welcome at the Leslie festival. He can stay in our camper then, too. He’s not sure about anything right now. Resolved to send an e-mail to his children.
Cleaned the floors, they were black.
Be sure to come to the rest of this year’s festivals, summer is short in Michigan!
Jul 31
I left this morning in a pretty good mood to take GS2 to football. Everything was fine for 500 feet, then someone driving a tank-like vehicle passed me. He used the left turn lane to do so. I was going 40, the speed limit. I did not do the what the tank drivers around here do, speed up to 70, or whatever takes to get the within an inch of the rear bumper of the car in front of them. My guess is that the guy was frustrated. The only piece of missing information — is it his wife, his job, his kids, or what ever else that causes him to have to show what a man he is and be a pushy SOB on the road?
Don’t take me seriously, I think they guy needs a shrink. I always want to transport those pushy drivers to Tennessee or somewhere like that where most people drive the speed limit, leave space between cars, and are otherwise polite. I think they would die of frustration, and end mine!
Jul 30
We spent the weekend with friends at the Marshall Bluegrass Festival. Burke and Tina Cole put on this Michigan festival annually, and bill it as “The Peoples festival”. True to form, many great Michigan pickers populated the campgrounds. In fact, I believe Burke had the largest crowd I’ve seen there since they moved the festival to the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall. The line-up included Michigan and Ohio musicians; NewFound Road, a national touring band, also appeared. We couldn’t get there until Friday morning, so we missed Thursday evenings performances.
I visited just for a few minutes with Tim Shelton, who gave no hint that Rob Baker was leaving NFR. An interesting replacement was announced on the NFR website, and I read it last night. Rob’s replacement? Joe Booher, who we’ve seen playing with his parents and brothers for the past few years. While I’m guessing that the Boohers are very proud of their children, I’m betting they’ll be missing them in the family band. Their other son, Jamey recently joined Grasstowne. Do you know any other parents with two children in nationally touring bluegrass bands? (Sandy and Jere Cherryholmes don’t count on this question). I’m guessing that if I lived in East Tennessee around Johnson City, and wanted to learn how to play bluegrass music, I head over to the Booher’s house.
Sometime on Saturday Mike Kegley, who plays mandolin with the Spanky Moore band, announced that it was our anniversary and that our friends the Yates’s anniversary is next Wednesday. Then they played a nice song for us. I’m told that Vernon McIntyre’s band also did one, but I think I was holding someone’s cute baby at the time. (Sorry guys, I usually pay better attention.) We seem to be hitting the song jackpot this year, how nice of the bands. On August first, say happy anniversary to Jerry and Ada Yates, and their daughter and her husband, Jeff and Lorena Tuttle.
Back to the festival, which we really enjoyed, especially the band scramble. Jamming was everywhere. Jeremy Cole was playing with Harbourtown, on the banjo. I added him to my list. List, you say? Yes, somewhere around here is a short list of banjo players who can sing, and continue to play while doing so. Not a chord or a lick at the end of each phrase, but continue playing. There aren’t many, and he’s one.
Tim Ellis came to the festival with his band, reformed after Freddie Harris moved on. It includes Joe Smith on guitar, Matt Thacker on bass, Mitch Manns on mandolin, Dave Moore, Jr. on fiddle and Tim on banjo. Individually and collectively, these guys can pick and sing. They are playing under the name of Bandurra Bridge.
Jesse Manns joined the band for a song or two. He also played in the band scramble; his group took second place.
I’ll post Papa’s photos later today, if all goes well, watch for them!
We finished up Saturday listening to some friends pick and sing. On the way home Sunday morning, Papa said, “Do you know what we’re doing today?” All I could think about was wash, cleaning Lex, editing photographs, getting ready for next weekend, but Papa said, “Starting on the next thirty-eight years.” So, that must be what we’re doing.
