Training

Training

Look who I saw on my way to town yesterday...

Running the Rock and Roll Marathon in Tucson means that a live band will be playing at every mile post of the 26. Mary did this marathon two years ago and is going to repeat the fun soon. Chris was riding with her today. Somedays Elwin is on the bike. Boy do I want to film the day the cowboy rides...........

Buckwheat Bonanza

We hear that Madelyn will have her Third Birthday celebration tomorrow. We were lucky enough to be invited to today's party. Bacon, scrambled eggs, and homemade salsa were on the menu as well as the bodacious buckwheat cakes.
Billie and Elwin made it a Two Can Event!

This chef weilds a spatula with the best of them.
Madelyn has now had her SECOND birthday celebration for this year. Elwin very kindly made buckwheat cakes for us all this morning at 8 AM. His friend Billie, a fine fiddler from Texas originally, helped him with the wing ding and then entertained us royally. Mary, always such a gracious hostess, used her most dramatic china: square red plates. Equisite red/purple roses from the garden graced the table also. The food and the company were splendid.



As soon as the dishes were done, Billie kicked off the music with this barn raiser.





Dancing before noon assures the celebrant a long and happy life.

Trash Dog Tribute

Els does believe that "IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM." We have seen her stop and pick up garbage--if needed-- on almost every walk we have been on for years. Thank you Els. You remind us that we are able to make a difference in the world we will hand to our children ..... and their children.

A recent letter to the editor suggested that a drop off site in town would help keep people from going up into the hills with unwanted items and pushing them over a cliff. Part of the $30,000 grant money, could be used to set up a dumpster in town where people could drop off unwanted items for free or for a small fee. There also needs to be a serious education effort on recycling the excess of our grossly consuming lifestyles.

Ed Gross is a retired forest service person. He and Jerry Darbeyshire, also a retired USFS person, know the back roads of the area like their back yard. Harve Timeous completes the original group. Ed uses the computer to keep track of sites needing attention, and inform the "can do clean up crew," of important news. This is a rare version of the gentian and a lovely perk for those on this particular trip.

Can you imagine rounding a corner in our pristine watersheds......and seeing such an abomination?

Celebration of Accordians

What's better than one accordian?? Two accordians!

Five Butterfly Species....

Came to the Accordian Festival held at the East Fork Swimmin' Hole on the Illinois today. Some of the other locals arrived too -- to cement the folklore of what happens on the "Road to Pluto."

Kite Man

I saw him on the beach flying a stunt kite. Such kites are manipulated by two hand controls and take very little wind to operate. They appear to have a spirit life all their own.

As he was animatedly describing details of the kite, I noticed his hands. His fingers were permanently folded into his palms. The skin on his face was stretched tight looking like some burn scars I have seen. His passion for his work was delightful.

His story unfolded with him telling me that he had a disease called scleroderma. The doctors told him it had about run it's course, and there was nothing they could do for him. He decided he would do what he always wanted to do.....go to the Oregon coast and fly kites. He is still alive, and still flying kites, well beyond the time anyone thought he would have.

On the "sail" of this kite, he has put the Celtic symbol for Eternal Life. He calls what he does -- "Tai Chi of the Wind."

I wanted to give him something for the "gift" he had given me. Oh yes, he would love to have tomatoes. As I tried, fumblingly, to secure them into his hands, we just looked at each other. Calmly smiling, time stopped, and it was all OK. I learned all I needed to know, at that moment, about acceptance.

Another Jumpin' Flea Convert

Casting it's spell, my little concert ukulele, ropes in another unsuspecting soul. Our House Luthiers, Carole and Forrest are now getting up an order for plans and purfling to make some of these instruments.

"The uke is a noble little instrument. Anyone serious

about music will eventually come to play one."

Bob Brozman

Once Upon A Time.......

there was a lovely little mountain valley with a stream running through it. Blackberries grew luscious in August. The apple trees were hung with fruit most years, and the meadow rang with the sound of fiddles, guitars, and voices for two weeks late in the summer. It all started in 1971 with a woman named Martha. She had a liking for old time music. She and her husband, Red, invited all comers to join them in their little paradise for a bit.

Those who came, played with and for each other, and whoever showed up for the nightly 6PM potluck. From six folks standing around a campfire, it grew to a stage, "Martha's Opry," and some years up to fifty RV's camped there together.

Martha passed away, and Red chose to stay in town for the tirst time this year instead of coming out to the homestead for Camp. Karen and Willie continue the tradition started by their mother.

All sorts of music can be heard in Camp, Bluegrass, Classical, Old Time, Appalachian, Rock, and Blues. The Fish and Game man showed up to count fish in the creek. He had an African Mbira--thumb piano--with him. Now "World" music has also graced the stage at the Warwick Camp Out.

As the years roll on, the faces on the campers change. The campers keep coming. The meadow still rings with music.

This was undoubtedly the cushiest camping ever! The Goddess Gazebo was the hosptality area. The tent was deep within the Black Walnut Glade. A cot with a fine mattress was the ultimate in comfort, AND-- a hot shower was only moments away!!!

DJ came out to play her harmonica on stage. Her son used to play in a band with Willie when it was known as the "Herman Berman Band." Not bad to be approaching 90 yrs. old, and making your musical debut backed by 5 professionals on stage with a complete sound system. Go Girl!And in her OWN words......."Hi Sylvia, I sure had a good time Friday. How more special could it have been?...from scrabble with COMPETITIVE people out to win...to MY last hooraw under a half-full moon in an indescribable woodsy Eden. Maybe that was not my last hooraw. I’m waiting for the public to come seeking my talent. After all how many ninety (almost) year-olds get to draw what could have been their last breath, blowing into a used-to-be $1.00 musical (?) instrument.HONER ..backed by a fiddle, a keyboard, and four or five guitars...on a stage lit and amplified by professionals!"

Karen graced the event by wearing the "royal" hat she carried all the way home from England.

Some of the hours in camp were devoted to the Literary Guild initiated by Connie...formerly a college professor of literature. Her animated selections from Joyce Carole Oates new book were quite riveting.

Nora and Karen declare Monday night Accordian Night.

This was certainly the first time that a Mbira was heard near the East Fork of Williams' Creek. Josh says it will not be the last. He is making plans to return for Camp 2008. He also plays folk blues on his guitar.

Mark sang one of the tunes he particularly favors......"Jesus Talks To Me When I'm Drunk." Dale came down from the Seattle area. He fixes up old violins and gives them away to kids who cannot afford an instrument. He let me play his favorite fiddle. It has something to say about every one of the two hundred years that it has been singing. He is a generous man who easily shares his pleasures.

Bluegrass was on the docket for Saturday night. Some fine close harmony vocals were an added treat to the impeccable instrumental offerings.

Carl and Greg and John were as much fun to watch as they were wonderful to listen to.

Ben has been voted "Mr. Personality" in Camp.

Unique ensembles formed and dispersed on a regular basis.

Even non-musicians find that they can play while at Camp! Miracles are expected and are therefore common. The ukulele is truly the "Instrument of Innocent Merriment."

Karen crafts another memorable Birthday Cake. Els had just returned from a backpack trip in northern California. Looks like the tent was not quite big enough for her AND the bear!

Spike, a bona fide patron of the arts, made the largest contribution to Camp of the year!

"Music will always be with us, from the dawn of time til the end. We draw in the breath of our ancestors, and play the notes that have been sounded millions of times before. The eternal music never stops: it flows through us from generation to generation and connects all people at our most primal level."

Barry Hall ...... from Mud to Music