Labor Day Weekend

I'm looking forward to the three day weekend and possibly planning a trip down to the fireworks. Cincinnati ends the summer with one of the most amazing fireworks shows in the country, hosted by a local radio station, WEBN and other sponsors. WEBN is now a large station but it started out many years ago as an "underground" station, playing rock and alternative music in the evenings in a program was known as "Jelly Pudding". To celebrate their 10th anniversary they presented a fireworks display on the riverfront which was so popular both sides of the Ohio River were crammed with ooh's and ahh's.

However for the past three years we have spent our Labor Day weekend at a farm in Indiana. The folks who own the farm invite family and friends to a four day camp out filled with arts, crafts and music. They charge no fee but do accept donations. Jim, Nick and his friend Cory and I look forward to this camping weekend as our favorite time of the year. The first year we camped back near the pond in a quiet wooded setting but for the past two years we have pitched our tent near the music. Both years we drifted off to sleep as the amazing Ric Hordinski serenaded us with his magical guitar and vocals. Mornings are broken by the clippity-clop of Amish families riding by in their wagons. Les from Rohs Street Cafe has coffee and pastries to start the morning and the arts and crafts begin when everyone is up and moving around. There is no hurry to the day, however, just the pleasant peace of being in the moment. Past the corn stalks at the pond you can cool off by swimming and or sit in the shade chatting or jamming with folks that you already know. Each year we have met new campers and made friends.

Each year art is created not only individually but as a collaboration of all the guests. One year a peace totem, another year each guest given a canvas with a theme for their painting. The kids have much to do as well with plenty of hands on arts and crafts. One year they created an entire Indian village and another year they painted the side of the barn. Each year there has been a large piece created over the four days and then ignited at the last day. Our favorite was the large paper mache dragon.

Music starts in late afternoon and the concerts host some of the best acoustic artists in the tri-state area. We were able to play an open mic on one of the Sundays and felt honored to sit on the same stage as the other great musicians. Our dear friend, Chris Haubner, shared the stage with Jim and I as we performed the song he wrote for me, Hope for Snow. Kind of a out-of-season song for such a gorgeous sunny day but one we love to perform together.

We will miss the 2008 festival as the family takes a well-deserved break.

We wrote a children's song about the festival with hints of the Amish families and the dragon as we sat outside our tent taking it all in. We had since edited the verses a bit because the original version had a lot of "you had to have been there to get it" references.

Bright Blue Day

Prudence & Jim Hunt - September 2006

The rhythm of the clippity clop, wakes me from my dreaming
Through the window of my tent the sun is finally streaming
I zip out of my bright cocoon and wave a fine good morning
As black and blue and black ride by, to their Sunday joining
It's a bright blue day as we say goodbye to summer
A bright blue day as camp beside our friends
A bright blue day making music with each other
There couldn't be a better way to let the summer end

It rained for days but we don't care it didn’t spoil our pleasure
We built a town of shells and clay and searched for buried treasure
We hiked the trail and saw some deer and even saw a dragon
One afternoon we took a ride in a farmer's wagon

It's a bright blue day as we say goodbye to summer
A bright blue day as camp beside our friends
A bright blue day making music with each other
There couldn't be a better way to let the summer end

It got real hot, but we were not, we cooled off in the river
We found some stick and made a bow and even made a quiver
We practiced shooting targets and then went swimming once again
Our folks thought we were pretty smart and splash, they jumped right in!
It's a bright blue day as we say goodbye to summer
A bright blue day as camp beside our friends
A bright blue day making music with each other
There couldn't be a better way to let the summer end

It was a lot less fun when the trip was done to pack our tents away
We had so many things to do we wished that we could stay
But we won’t be sad for very long and we won’t shed a tear
Cause my folks said that we are coming back to this same place next year!
It's a bright blue day as we say goodbye to summer
A bright blue day as camp beside our friends
A bright blue day making music with each other
There couldn't be a better way to let the summer end