A West Virginia hoe-down and a little nepotism....

We know how to have a good time in Appalachia. I was caught on tape recently flat-footing at the Cd Release party for my friends, The Fox Hunt. If you love traditional music, you'll love their new album. It can be ordered here.

I miss all of you and hope to be posting again soon!

With Love.... Blue

Saturday night and the moon is out

I wanna head on over to the Twist and Shout

Find a two-step Partner and a cajun beat

When it lifts me up, I'm gonna find my feet

Out in the middle of a big dance floor

When I hear that fiddle wanna beg for more..

-Mary Chapin Carpenter

Fiddlegirl asked me to help play for a square dance a couple of weeks ago at the local Senior Center. As there's not a whole lot going on most Saturdays and I enjoy playing (and dancing), I obliged her. I'm telling you, those retirees know how to have a good time.... they had more energy than me! When I would take a break from playing to dance, they wouldn't let me sit any dances out, even when I was exhausted. I'd get grabbed back up on the dance floor.

And since our hubbies wouldn't dance, Fiddlegirl and I waltzed together. I made her be the guy. :) It was a fun night.... a perfect remedy for winter blahs, which I think we all had.

Things that make me smile....

Small town parades....

Fall Fun .....

A taste of what's to come...


Forward Thinker...

Over-achievers...

End of season slump...

Trend Setter...

For some more Fall Fun, head to my new blogging friend, Brandy's, site for a fun fall give-away. And spend some time reading her delightful posts...she lives simply and is very creative and inspiring!

Jammin' at the DQ........

Our local Dairy Queen is the place to be on Tuesday nights. Old country and traditional Appalachian music can be heard floating out the windows and door as you walk up.

Whoever says that America doesn't have any culture just needs to find a small town in Appalachia. On any given night of the week, you are guaranteed to find a group of old-time musicians sitting around picking and singing..... carrying on the traditions and old songs that their mountain ancestors sang hundreds of years ago.

Our town has two gatherings..... One at the Dairy Queen and one on the sidewalk of Main Street every Monday and Friday night. Some musicians play at both, but some refuse to play at the DQ because they play those drinkin' and cheatin' songs....and the good Baptists they are, they just can't participate in that type of debauchery! :)

Dave, the fiddle player, is a little more open-minded. He plays at both. He doesn't talk much and is pretty serious about his fiddle playing. I like to tease him when I play with the group on Main Street, and occasionally I can get him to crack a smile......

Hazel, pictured dancing here, is 89 years old and comes every Tuesday and dances when they play the fast songs. She's been coming to the jams ever since they started. She has lived in this county her entire life and her daughter brings her so she can enjoy her favorite music. Maybe Hazel knows the key to a long, healthy life...... you reckon? Old-time music and dancing?

A Little Local Flavor.........

One philosophy I subscribe to in life, for many reasons, is buying local. It is not only more environmentally friendly, as so much gas and diesel fuel is used shipping food and other products in from the outside....but it supports small businesses and farmers and puts money back into the community. We buy our eggs, meat, and grains from a local mennonite grocery that carries these products from local farmers who don't use hormones and whos animals are free-range....not raised on a factory farm. We also try to purchase most of our fruits and vegetables from our farmer's markets and roadside stands during the summer months. Living in a rural, farming community, we have an abundance of resources for fresh, whole foods.

We have a little mom and pop toy store that carries high-quality, albeit a little more expensive, toys that engage the imagination and don't require batteries. I always go there instead of Wal-mart when I need to buy a gift for a child.

And one of my favorite specialty shops is a converted train depot that sells handicrafts and food that is all made by local artisans and craftsmen. It is a treat indeed to look around this shop......from gourmet coffees to handmade rugs to handblown glass. This is also a place I frequent when I need a gift for someone. I like to get gifts that are meaningful...so it's fun to be able to send a gift and let the person know it was handmade by a local artisan.....

Two good websites about buying local are Sustainable Table

and Local Harvest . These two are mainly about buying your food locally. But, if you look around, usually there are a lot more products that are made locally and are available to purchase. Yes, sometimes it is a little more expensive than going to a big box store, but I think the service done to the environment and your community outweighs the extra expense.

I'll probably feature all these "favorite" stores of mine at different intervals. The photos on this post are all from the Depot gift shop that I mentioned.

Anybody up for a little shopping? :)

Recently Seen.......

I've Seen Better Days......

The Static Cling Scene.......

The Seldom Scene.....

(As a sidenote....This last photo was taken after a long day of fighting pirates, jousting, and defending castles at the Maryland Rennaissance Festival . Being Sir Laughsalot can be a very tiring job!)

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Pray for...

Pray for "Kevin"-waiting
Father, set the lonely in families. Specifically I pray for Kevin, that a loving family will adopt him and provide for his education.

Songwriter's Circle.......... There's a quote by Anne Morrow

Lindbergh that says, "Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after."

I think I would add good music, too.

My lovely friend Patti hosted a songwriter's circle at her downtown restaurant Wednesday night. It was a great opportunity for local singer/songwriter's to showcase their talent...in a cozy, laid-back, and supportive environment.

I arrived just as the evening got under way, and walked into a standing-room only crowd. Fortunately, a fellow musician friend already had a table and offered me the extra seat he had. We sat back, sipped coffee, and soaked up the good music and "creative vibes" that events like this put forth.

For a rural Appalachian town, our area actually has quite the little music and art scene, which is a necessity for me. I thrive in creative environments and like to be in an area with a "pulse", as I call it. I was sad when the evening ended, and vowed to go home and practice so that I'd feel comfortable enough to participate in the next one. We'll see if those "good vibes" keep me motivated!

And, I wonder, was it the good music or coffee that kept me up that night.......

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go........ here's some photos I took during an evening stroll in a nearby downtown.... (they're not the greatest as I don't have a good camera for nightshots). It's a lovely "oldtown" area with brick streets for pedestrians only and quaint stores, restaurants and coffeeshops. I wanted to post these to get everyone in Christmas mode as I'm going to plug some friends and family who are musicians and artisans in the coming week :) . For those who like to stay away from all the big box stores and buy more personal gifts, tune in over the next several days......