Fun For Me ... Music For You

Well, I have to tell you that I am so tired of practicing wedding music that I could scream!!!!!

My brother's wedding is this Saturday. We have rehearsal on Friday at 6:00 and then the Wedding Saturday at 3:00.

I'm finally going to get to meet that new grandbaby of mine!!! I can't wait!!!!

Pray for my sanity until the wedding is over!!! I think I'm going to need it.

Ava

Dang it! I'm having trouble right now making time to actually get to the blog!

I have a very busy week and weekend, but I WILL be back to blogging regularly next week!!!! I have to move my office and get things set up.

Please keep coming back!!

Ava

Last night in Ely was a lot fun. On the way there, at 9:00pm, I hit so many June Bugs that you can barely see out of my windshield. They sounded like rocks hitting it. It scared me at first until I figured out what it was. I'm definitely going to have to wash the windshield this afternoon!!!!

The crowd wasn't as large as usual, but that doesn't stop us from having fun.

After a three week delay and finally a pinky promise ... I delivered a copy of Red Wing to Doug. We played through it for a little bit. I didn't even think to make a copy for anyone else. That was embarrassing. I'll have to remember that in the future.

William and I went over "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and I think we'll be ready to sing it next week. It's such a pretty song and it's going to be fun to sing it together.

I always have fun when I'm there whether it's a large crowd or a small one. When it's a small crowd, it tends to break up early and that gives us time to look at some new tunes and practice together. That's what Doug and I did last night after everyone left. We went through one of my books. One of the songs that I need to memorize is cotton Eyed Joe. I'm working on Orange Blossom Special, but not near ready to play it in front of anyone yet!!!!!

Jeff was there again! He is so fun!!

Well we'll be playing together again on Monday, Memorial Day at a picnic here in Quincy. Then they'll either go home or we can hang out a my house and either play music or watch a movie. Then we can head on over to Hannibal for supper and then some more music at the Hannibal Session. That should work.

Well, until then ...

Well, it was a rather "warm" session this evening. We're at a time of the year when the air conditioners aren't on yet, but it's beginning to get toasty.

The players this evening were Sondra on mandolin and banjo ... Ava on fiddle, guitar and banjo ... Larry on fiddle and guitar ... Lisa on fiddle ... Joann on whistle and tambourine ... Tony on whistle and fiddle ... and Rose on flute.

Tony played three tunes with us on his fiddle. He's just learning and doing great. Go Tony!!!!!!

The Black's and their friends (I'm sorry I don't remember your names) were there to listen. Chip came with some friends to join us for the evening and listen.

This was the first time Rose had come to join us. She brought her guitar and flute. I was told by my husband that she's also a music teacher, teaching piano, guitar and flute. It was the first time that I had met her. Our husbands work together. She was very nice, played very well and we sure do hope that she comes again!!!!

Thanks to all who came to play and listen and helped make the evening fun.

Ava

Well, I stayed out way to late and now I'm paying for it. I don't drink alcoholic drinks ... so it isn't that kind of hang over. I just stayed out and didn't get home until 2:00am playing music ... I'm just plain tired.

How tired?

Well, I just sat down, turned the computer on and was sitting here waiting ... wondering what was taking so long ... when I realized I hadn't turned the monitor on.

Genious!

I'm heading out to mow lawn. Hope I have better luck with the mower!!!!

I just went out to get the mail and there's a little baby robin sitting in the cherry tree. He's got little spots all over his chest and still has a few wild baby feathers sticking straight up on the top of his head. He's so cute!!!! We just looked at each other for the longest time. He's probably sitting there waiting for his dinner.

So cute!!

Well, it's Thursday and that means celtic music session at La Gondola and then off for bluegrass in Ely. I have a copy of Red Wing ready for Doug ... I pinky promised last time, so had to make sure that I got it done!!! I haven't practiced a darn thing today. I did get a lot of cleaning done though. That's always good.

Ta ta!

I'm off to play music!

I saw this quote on North's bog (see links on my side bar) and I enjoyed it so much that I thought I would also post it here for you all to read.
Have a great day!

Do not go

where the path may lead,

Go instead

where there is no path

And leave a trail.

Emerson

Well, I just watched the weather to see how the weekend was going to be.
I'm throwing a huge music party on Saturday ...
And so far ...
It's looking good!!
We're supposed to get some rain tomorrow ... possibly severe ...
But then sunshine until Monday.
Horray!
I've been praying for good weather on Saturday and Sunday.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

Well, I got half of my porch cleaned off today. I still have a little bit to do tomorrow and then it will be all finished. I'll be glad to have that finished.

Now it's time to attach the upstairs bathroom!!!

Joy!

"The gift of resurrection is the Lord’s consummate act of healing.

Thanks to Him, each body will be restored to its proper and perfect frame.

Thanks to Him, no condition is hopeless.

Thanks to Him, brighter days are ahead, both here and hereafter.

Real joy awaits each of us—on the other side of sorrow."

I hold on to that promise.
No lupus
No asthma
No tumors
No heart problems
No arthritis
No stiffness
No aches
No pains
No sorrow
Joy is waiting here and now

Wonderful!

Here's a poem written by my friend Joan ...

Congrats! a new Grandbaby boy!

We know he’ll bring you lots of joy.

Although there were a few false starts

When birthing came he had more smarts

And saved his mom a lot of grief

Making her labor time real brief.

It’s nice he popped right out so fast

But here is where I have to ask

Why now has it become your fate

To have a two weeks viewing wait?

Hope they send pictures of CJ

Cause that would be another way

For Ava J. to get a view

Plus show him to her web friends too.

Thank you Joan!!!

Well, it was yet another Hannibal Music Session! I had a lot of fun. I was experiencing some stress today ... just about stressed out ... and the work out of playing the music and listening to it destressed me to the max. I'm all mellow now!!!!

The players tonight were Chris on banjo... Melanie on percussion ... Ava on fiddle and banjo ... Sondra on mandolin and banjo ... Joann on whistle and tambourine ... Beverly on whistle and mandolin ... Dwain on banjo ... Andrew on fiddle and banjo ... Larry on fiddle and guitar ... Betsy on whistle ... Dale H (he was there ... but did he play tonight?)... Don on bass ... Kevin on percussion ... Rob on percussion ... Tony on whistle ... Lisa on fiddle ... Robert on fiddle ... Dave S on guitar ... Sarah on whistle and bass ... Ian on guitar... Doug on mandolin ... Ned on guitar ... Wade on percussion ... Terry on guitar and LA came to listen.

In the audience were Bill, Evelyn H, Evelyn D and Bob, George who just got back from his trip, Harry and Ellen, Noel and Mary Jo, Suzie and many others who I met for the first time while circulating around the room. I met a couple of guitar players who I invited to come play with us next time. They thought they might give it a try.

We missed Clayton, Phillip, Dale M, Elizabeth, Fred, Aaron, Paul, Alicia and Charlie. As well as anyone else who didn't make it tonight.

It was a great night and I enjoyed it tremendously!!!

As always ... please forgive me if I left anyone out.

I talked to Chris and Heather today and they and the baby are doing just fine!!! She said that she doesn't want to put him down. She also said that he looks just like Chris ... ears and all!!!

Mom and baby are doing just fine. She said it only took twenty minutes for him to "pop out". I'll get to meet him in two weeks and I can hardly stand the wait!!!!

Ship At Sea

Ava Jackson

1984

Old John Henson went to sea.

He took his old dog, his wife and me.

I had never been on the sea before …

I went straight to my cabin and shut the door.

I thought I would be fine, but I was wrong.

Boy, did that night ever seem long!

I felt all green and sick inside …

I thought I’d feel better if I just went to hide!

But soon I was well and back out in the sun.

That’s when I really started having some fun.

I saw a mean shark and also a whale …

And Old John Henson even offered me some ale!

The breeze felt good and the sun did too.

The whole time I was there, I didn’t wear a shoe!

We sat around the fire, watching the soup brew …

Me, John, his wife, the dog and the whole ship crew.

We all worked hard cleaning the deck …

Then we had to wait for John Henson to check.

We all worked hard and at great length …

And that’s how I got to gain all of my strength.

Then it got fierce and we ran into a storm.

Oh, how we wished that it would get warm!

We fished over the side, waiting for a catch …

And then we all went down inside of the hatch.

I got up the next morning and the storm had gone by.

I looked up and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

Then I turned around and I saw land …

I ran over and grabbed Old Johns’ hand.

He looked at me with a smile on his face.

He said that we had found Gods’ grace.

He smiled again and said, “We’re home.”

“Home,” I said, “Home sweet home.”