When I was 24 I went to Salt Lake City Utah with my 3 small children, Jennifer was almost 5, Tricia 2 1/2 and Mike 6 months. While visiting there I left the girls with friends and took the baby with me to Ogden and to the University there. I attended a concert and the music was something I had never heard before. It was called Bluegrass and from that day on I was hooked, I really liked that music, it was hoppen. Hillbillies!!!!
In 1997 I met a man that was a great fan of Bluegrass, heck he even played a banjo! I liked him so much I even married him! Yes that would be Don. Since living in the sticks of Clearwater we have attended the Sorento Bluegrass Festival every August.
In March of this year Don attended a Bluegrass workshop at 108 Mile, me I went along for the ride and to hear the music. What a time we had. We met some big time Bluegrass musicians that were the instructors there. Don learned mega things on the banjo, I thought he played it well but according to him he doesn't, hence the reason for the workshop, and he learned once again the basics of the banjo and bluegrass music.
Thursday was the first day of class and so the fun began. He went to class at 9 am, had a 2 hour lunch then back at it until 5 for a 2 hour dinner then back at it at 7. That 1st night was called a band scramble, they gave each person a number from 1 to 6, then when they called that number you'd go to a designated spot and practice 2 songs, you had 15 minutes to do this with people you had never met before. Then when the number was called you and your little band would come up and play those two songs, one had to be with vocals. It was amazing really, how well everyone did. I was impressed! Not that that says a lot!!
Friday was more of the same except this time in the evening was the Instructors Concert, I can't even begin to tell you how incredible that was. The last group to play was the band "Foggy Hogtown Boys" (they have a website) awesome, fantastic, absolutely great musicians. The fiddle player was so energetic I thought that fiddle would catch on fire.
Saturday, again more of the same, this time in the evening was the Student Mentor Bands. What? Let's step back a bit, on Thursday, each person was assigned a mentor (one of the instructors, Don's was John Showman of the Foggy Hogtown Boys, that fantastic fiddle player) so each band would have a vocalist, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, dobro and mandelin player, well some didn't have all of that as there weren't enough of some instruments to go around, as there were 17 mentor bands. Each day they practiced with their band (this was sqeezed in with everything else that was going on). So Saturday night each band came up and played a song then after that was a free for all, anybody who wanted to could sign up and go on stage and play. It was a great night of music, with lots of cheering and oh wow's, laughing and clapping. We never have had such a great time as those 3 days at 108 Mile. We're ready to go back again and this time I'm going to join them. I'm hoping to do the stand up bass.
An instrument that stands about 6' with me, 5'3"!!!
Watch this posting for more pictures, they haven't got the 2009 pics done yet.
Every Sunday afternoon Don gets together with Jack (white bearded guy) and others for an open jam at our friends Jack and Esther's burger stand. They offer a great afternoon of tunes, musicians pop in and play throughout the afternoon. Some times it's standing room only for people listening.
As you can see by these photos, life on the farm is rough. We have nephew Tom's horses crazing the fields and our mule Monty gets to be with the horses instead of the chickens! 
An instrument that stands about 6' with me, 5'3"!!!
When taking a walk I noticed these fellows
Once again I am in the land of sunshine, warm air, friendly people and relaxation.
