Magic on the Square

I heard her voice as I crossed south at Sixth and Vine. As I reached the square the guitar started to carry. Bounding up the steps I grabbed a seat near the sound board and said hello to Claudia, Anna's mother. Booking Anna & Milovan was one of my best accomplishments for Acoustic Thursday on Fountain Square. All of the musicians who I bring in are capable and worthy. However, over the three years I have been booking this event, no other artist has literally stopped traffic. Yes, it was foot traffic but people stopped in their tracks to listen to this amazing girl, accompanied by her father, Milovan. Anna sang her classics, her blues and a few of her originals. Folks flocked to Claudia's table to purchase the newest CD. I was among them.

Neil Jacob was the logical artist to book for the same day as Anna & Milovan. An awarding winning classical 12-string guitarist, he too held the crowd's attention. Listening to his version of Bolero, enormous in its presentation and filling up the square, folks were mesmerized.

Today was one of the few times I saw the lunch crowd turn their chairs to the stage and stop their conversations. In my three years of booking Acoustic Thursday on Fountain Square... today I definitely got it right.

Summer Love

Jim has developed a green thumb. Last year he experimented with tomatoes and this year he has quadrupled his efforts. He spends hours working on these lovely plants and now they are on the deck, in the driveway, in the back yard and hanging in pots. We're actually going to have someone "tomato sit" while we go on vacation!

I certainly don't mind...I love him and his tomatoes.

A Day of Rest

Rest is an interesting term. How do we rest? Do we do absolutely nothing or do we take our rest by doing something that calms our soul and gives us joy? I believe its the latter.

We have had a very busy summer and its been a lot of fun but also a lot of stress. Just this week I helped host a house concert, checked on artists performing on Fountain Square, took photos at Edensong, attended a day of the Dayton Irish Festival besides a busy work week at the law office. Jim and I have decided to TRY to make Sunday our day of rest. We made no specific plans for today and just did things we enjoyed. Jim re-potted and worked on his tomato plants. I practiced for my set next Saturday and worked on my granddaughter's quilt. I took my quilting with me to the house concert and to Edensong. So many of my friends are knitters and quilters so we enjoy working on our projects while visiting or listening to music. Jo and I exchanged fabric swatches and Karen showed us the sweater she has almost completed. It soothed my soul.

I have loved quilts since I was a small child sitting under my grandmother's frame and she and her friends and family stretched their pieces and bound them with thread.

In 1976 I submitted a photo of one of my quilts, just a plain block quilt, to Summerfair and was accepted. I can remember the day I received the acceptance letter. The quilt wasn't much to look at but it was art. I improved over the years and actually made it into five Summerfairs. Summerfair was more of a local art fair in the 70's and the fact that my quilts were entirely sewn by hand helped with my acceptance.

I seem to forget how much I love to make things, especially quilts until I get started. Going into a fabric store, looking at all the colors and patterns, gives me almost as much joy as going into the acoustic room at Guitar Center. It is all art and I love it.

Working on Kalee's quilt also reminded me of those days sitting with my cousins under that frame. It also brought this poem:

I Lie and Watch the Needles Dance

In cool grass beneath the colors
I lie and watch the needles dance
the women talk of recipes
and family news and circumstance

As I lie and watch the needles dance
the sun peaks through the lightest square
as hands come underneath to pull
each trail and line is stitched with care

As the sun peaks through the lightest square
I point at pieces that I know
that pink is a dress that’s grown too short
that blue a blouse without its bow

I point at pieces that I know
not a scrap will go to waste

my brother’s pants of corduroy
a shirt and pants and pillow case

Not a piece will go to waste
these nimble hands have stitched them all
cool blue and earthy brown
red and orange likes leaves in fall

These nimble hands have stitched them all
calicoes and stripes and plaids
white lines bind them side to side
on a frame built by my grandpa’s hands

Calicoes and stripes and plaids
all joined by hands to make a quilt
as I lie and watch the needles dance
beneath the frame my grandpa built

As soon as Kalee's quilt is finished, I'll take a photo to post. The theme is bees since her name is Buswell (buzzzzwell)

Jim took this photo of me, my daughter Star and my cousin Barb at my spot at Summerfair in 1978. He was running sound nearby so we enjoyed a busy weekend at Coney Island

Haircut

I went to see Rosanne on Tuesday and she gave me a new "do". I love my new haircut and just about danced out the door.
I had very long hair for many years and Jim would trim the ends for me when I needed it. Going in to have someone actually study my face and cut my hair to suit me was a treat. Thanks, Rosanne!

Why I Wear a Hat

Isn't it wonderful that your friends look at you and for the most part, see the best of you. I guess that's why they don't notice when your hair is sticking up in the air and could totally use a thorough brushing. This must be why as a child, I was required to have my hair in neat plaits down my back. It doesn't help that I have an unfriendly face. It's not that I'm unfriendly, I hope people think I am friendly, but I just don't usually look that way. I have a mouth that curls down instead of up, putting an ever present frown on my face. My forehead has just enough furrows to look like I'm having a bitter thought most of the time. So add the messy hair and I have a face that just doesn't seem at all welcoming.

When I emceed at Edensong last Friday Phil took a photo or two of me. Its always a nice gesture when folks return the favor of preserving your life in film. I've been known to take a few million photos of friends myself. Unfortunately I am not at all photogenic and I noticed that this recent batch of photos only shows my grumpy old woman side. I wasn't at all grumpy on Friday night. I was having a wonderful time introducing the five fabulous acts of Edensong. To top it off, on the way home my husband told me I sounded nervous. I wasn't nervous, except when he yelled from the soundboard that I said Norwood was in Kentucky, not Ohio. I checked with my friend Carol and she agreed that I sounded a bit nervous. Hmmm, so I looked bitter and sounded scared.

Well, what is there to say. I can't have a do-over on the nerves or the grumpy expression. I do, however, want to set the record straight. I was not nervous on Friday and I definitely wasn't grumpy. I had a great time.

I am going to start staring in the mirror and practicing a happy face. Those smile muscles need some exercise. If you see me and I'm not looking happy, tell me to smile, brush my hair and unfurrow my brow. I would so like to look my best and I'm terrible at remembering to do so.

I am a happy person, I promise! Photos lie!!!

Busy Bee Hat

Wow! It has been a busy, busy summer and so far its been a very enjoyable one. Nick's baseball team had their last game on Tuesday so that frees us up just a bit. Last weekend was one of great music! We went to Edensong on Friday night then spent Saturday at the Citifolk Festival in Dayton. Carol & Bunny came along and we sat near Carl & Deb & Lilly Claire Colon during the concerts.

I am working on a couple of writing projects and looking forward to this fall's Gathering at Kentucky Lake.

Jim, Nick and I are anxious to drive to New Mexico to see Lizzie and her family in August.

For now, I just need to find more time to write, and that includes this blog.

4th of July

I am excited about the Fourth of July this year. It will be the first we celebrate with our new President and with new hope.

We will miss the fireworks this year in exchange for a "Get Outta Here". Our little village always enjoys the display that streams up and off the hill at Ault Park, lighting up the sky with distant, quiet "booms". For the past 16 years we have walked the few blocks up to the bank parking lot where we unfold our lawn chairs and join our family and friends, chatting until the night is dark enough for the display from the park. We appreciate them sharing their celebration with us.

This year we will celebrate freedom of expression - one of the most important freedoms that we enjoy in our country. Citifolk in Dayton is presenting their annual World Music Festival and Jim and I and our friend, Carol, are taking the new GOH van up to enjoy music and food and celebration. Besides the Duhks and Bela Fleck, there will be musicians from around the world sharing their culture and art.

Our constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression is one we enjoy without much thought. It isn't until we hear of the restrictions in other countries that we pay attention to how fortunate we are. China, Iran and many other countries control what their citizens can hear and say or even learn. Our politicians may preach and sometimes lie but we have abundant resources to receive news and information, not just the government telling us what they want us to believe.

There are many people who say a lot of things that I don't agree with or even like in the least but I am thankful that they have the right to say what they think and feel, just as I do. Music is my favorite way to hear what is in someone's heart and mind so I will celebrate this freedom at a music festival! Happy Birthday, America.