Monday, July 16, 2007

July Update...

I'm sitting in the western suburbs of Chicago, listening to the soothing sounds of a jackhammer operator tearing up the driveway across the street. We have a blessed day off, early in our first summer tour, that will take us from Chicago to Brooklyn, and all the way to Maine by the end of the month. I thought I would pass the time, by giving everyone an update of our recent travels, as well as some new Wilder developments.

Europe:
Our first tour of Europe was a complete success. We spent the entire month of May in a whirlwind of a tour, playing 24 shows in 27 days by crisscrossing Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Audiences in Europe were very kind and enthusiastic, and we will most definitely return. There were so many stories I could tell from our experience. I realize, however, that even if I gave up the band and went to blog-writing full-time, it would take me months to get them into readable shape. Although my previous entry, detailing our last night in Germany, was by no means a "normal" gig for Europe, I felt that the uniqueness of the night warranted the extrapolation. Maybe, if I get writer's block in the future, I'll try to go back to our first European tour, and expand on the story.

North of 60:
Within a few days of returning home to KC, we were back in the air for a 7-day return visit to the Yukon and Alaska. We spent 2 days north of the 60th parallel in Haines Junction, Yukon for a repeat performance at the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival. It was another great year, with fantastic weather and stellar performances by The James King Band, and 2006 IBMA "emerging artist" winners, The Steep Canyon Rangers. But personally, the "high" point of the weekend happened well after the festival was over. The Kluane folks had arranged for one member from each of the three bands to take a half hour helicopter ride into the adjacent mountains. I was joined by James King's bassist, John Wade, and Steep Canyon band-leader, Woody Platt. The experience was indescribable. If it weren't for the cost, I would travel only by helicopter from now on... Thanks to the Kluane folks for a ride of a lifetime.

After the helicopter ride, we were driven to Haines, Alaska for a performance at their exceptional performance space, The Chilkat Center. Somehow, before we left Haines Junction, my fancy cowboy boots were loaded mistakenly into a car headed to Whitehorse. So, for the Haines show, I faced an obvious wardrobe dilemma. Mark Battion, (one of our friends in Haines) suggested that I borrow a pair of "Extra Toughs" (durable red rubber boots that are the year-round footwear of choice amongst the locals). So, I slapped a pair on over my slacks, and walked out for the beginning of the show to the roar of the crowd. I don't know what got into me, but I kept altering my wardrobe throughout the performance, and by the last song, I was wearing my Extra Toughs over suit slacks, a Carhartt duck jacket, no shirt, and my mexican wrestling mask. Although it was weird thing to do, we were running on all cylinders all night, and the performance was one of our best in months.

The tour ended the next night with a return performance in Juneau at Centennial Hall. I think we must have made an impact last year, because about 15 minutes before we took the stage, the promoter scrambled for more chairs to seat the overflowing crowd.

Northeast Tour:
As I wrote before, we are 4 days into a three-week tour of the Northeast. We will be playing in Brooklyn and Rosendale, NY before heading out for two days at the Grey Fox Festival in Ancramdale. Then, after a show in Northhampton, MA, we are planning to find a nice state park to camp for a couple of days to save money (unleaded gas is $3.69 here in Chicago! I can only imagine how high it will be in the east). Our tour will continue on to Narragansett, RI, followed by a final performance at the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival in Cornish, Maine. If any highlights happen over the next few weeks, you can be sure to hear about them here first...

Vinyl? Who buys vinyl anymore?
The recording session we did with Dirk Powell down in Louisiana back in November is still in the works. The release date is pending, but it will most likely be finished by the end of the year. Expect it to appear early in 2008. For those who can't wait, we will be releasing a limited edition 10" vinyl EP in September. The A-side will consist of three good old Wilders tunes- a bluegrassy version of Flatt and Scruggs' "Georgia Mail", a rocking version of the Hank Williams classic, "Long Gone Daddy" and a rollicking version of the old time fiddle tune, "Brown's Dream". The entire B-side is an original tune I wrote after my experience of sitting on the jury of a murder trial back in 2005. All of the music on the EP was recorded in Louisiana during the sessions for the upcoming full-length cd. The A-side tunes are gems from the cutting room floor. The B-side is something else entirely. I believe that this EP accurately represents the Wilders in a state of transition. It will be a fun listen for old Wilders fans, and a sneak peak at what we are now becoming. We are very, very proud of how it turned out. For those who no longer have the ability to play a vinyl record, the tracks will be available on several websites for digital download. Look for more info on this and future releases on our website.

Finally, a word about the comments section of this blog. Since Google bought out Blogspot, you people wanting to comment on our blogs have had a tough time logging in. I love to read what y'all have to say, but this "anonymous" thing is really annoying. I'm trying to decide whether to move the blog to another site. I'd like to hear your comments on what problems you are experiencing. Maybe I can help get it figured out.

Well, that's all the poop that's fit to poop right now. Hope all of you have a safe and relaxing July.

92 comments:

  1. Hey, Phil, us worker bees don't get much time to relax. Do sneak in a story when you can find the time. We are looking forward to the Vinyl.See ya

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  2. "Thanks" for the last blog BroPhil. We do enjoy your stories of the Wilder's travels.

    I haven't had any trouble signing into the blog with a new user name and password, but it does seem to be bothering some.

    I have enjoyed reading the new German bloggers. Also the "oldies but goodies" bloggers.

    Have a safe and successful tour Wilder's.

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  3. Testing..............1.2.3.

    If I go in as "other" and put in my name, I skip the web page addy this is what I get.. Will this work for everyone?

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  4. Vieta,
    I just gave your idea a try.

    It worked for me and probably easier than trying to get a new user name and password.

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  5. I for one am looking forward to a "new" album. I have 4000 old ones already.

    Dana

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  6. I'm trying the new technique...

    Thanks for the new post, Phil!

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  7. I'm also looking forward to the vinyl, that's a great idea!

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  8. Forgot to ask... were there any photos taken of the Chilkat Center performance???

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  9. Hey,
    where is everybody?
    Have a nice sunday!
    Lots of greetings from Germany.

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  10. I was just wondering the same thing, Christina--where IS everyone?!?

    I've had a nice Sunday. Watered the garden, picked tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, then stripped wallpaper. Time to do some computer rest...

    It's always so great to hear from Phil! Maybe all the bloggers are still "digesting" his blog.

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  11. I'm here...it is a lazy Sunday for me though.

    Peggy where do you get your energy!! I wish you could send some of it to me.

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  12. Yes, it's really great to hear from Phil! I'm anxious to every new report.
    I've had a lazy sunday, too. I think I'm ready for holiday!
    Are you all going on a trip at your vacation? I think I stay at home..

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  13. I like remodeling. What better way to spend your time off. But I will have another bathroom done in a couple of weeks and will drag my heels until next room. Phill always writes a good blog, I'm looking forward to the next.

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  14. Hey guys, here is a nice Wilders read!

    http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=85666

    I can't seem to find words to say...am I alright? Oh well, I'll just throw in a quote.

    "To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."

    Wishing you well dear Wilders, be safe.

    v

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  15. Oh... and down at the bottom of the page click on

    "The Wilders Radio-Free
    Listen to The Wilders-Free Free Unlimited Listening!"

    v

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  16. Great article and great comments! Thanks, Vieta!

    Couldn't get the "listen" stuff at the end, though--what am I doing wrong?

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  17. Peggy the link to the Wilders radio isn't there now, I couldn't get it either. Maybe it comes and goes, I'll check back later.

    v

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  18. It's so quiet since Phil wrote the last report...hey folks, where are you?
    Lots of greetings from Germany!

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  19. I'm still kicking a bit. My life trajectory has not intersected much with that of the Wilder's lately, so haven't said much here. I did finally write a bit of a tickfest summary on the farm blog. I'm heading to Clifftop, Missouri Valley, and Winfield this year, all within the next 7 weeks so Yee-Haw and all that rot. I only hope to remain financially solvent through all that.

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  20. Enjoyed the tickfest blog, tickmeister! Can't wait for Winfield!

    Greetings again to the German fans. How about some comments from the new Wilders fans from the Yukon?!?

    We're off again for five days--this time to babysit with our adorable just-turned-three-year-old grandson, Oscar. We'll try not to spoil him too badly... ;^)

    Hope to have lots to read here when I get back to the computer next week...

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  21. As promised to Vieta, I am providing the following review of The Wilders show at The Towers, Narragansett, Rhode Island. I had not experienced a Wilders show since their January 20th performance at the Sellersville Theater in Pennsylvania. I know, how sad. So, this experience was way over due. I feel revitalized (and grateful)... Plus, it is nice to have the opportunity to go goo goo over my dearest Ike. Still amazes me.

    The Towers was constructed in the 1880’s as a social hot spot and remains today in its lovely spot overlooking the ocean– a beautiful building and setting. For this show, The Wilders’ backdrop was a deck over looking the breaking waves; quite a treat for the audience as they would get hot while dancing and then head to the deck to prepare (cool off) for the next jig, waltz, etc. Since The Towers host dances and dance lessons on its super hardwood floors, this show consisted of carefully selected songs that would provide the audience diverse dance experiences. Bravo, Wilders! Although less of the Wilders new songs were presented, the classic old timey songs were well executed. Dancers of all ages, shapes, sizes, interests,…filled the floor. Three hours later and three sets later, The Wilders ended the show with an encore where they came to the middle of the dance floor with no microphones engaged everyone in a sing along. People dug the intimacy. The Wilders were well loved.

    I met some wonderful people at the show, telling them all that I wanted to move to Rhode Island where a nice mix of country folk and city folk collide on the dance floor. Seth, an incredible dancer and a Towers regular, was kind enough to try to convince me that I have some rhythm and could learn to dance. His approach to the Waltz is pretty cool. Since he saved the last dance for me, I think I will seek out dance lessons now. I hope Seth knows how he helps people feel. You go, Towers’ dancers!

    Ted, a vocalist/musician, attended the show because his brother from New Hampshire clued him in. He walked into the show just based on this recommendation. Isn’t it fantastic how The Wilders get talked up!?! The last thing I heard on that night in Narragansett was “We’ll have these Wilders back!”. So, I highly recommend the special mix of The Towers and The Wilders in your future.

    P.S. While the Wilders were performing, the New York Times was taking pictures for a story about The Towers. If anyone sees any pics, let us know.

    Sweetpea

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  22. Sweetpea,

    "THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU" that was a wonderful review. It sounded fantastic and glad you got to go.

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  23. Thanks so much sweetpea, so glad you got to have some time with Ike and get a Wilders fix as a bonus! Great review there.

    Christina, Jutta and all you new poster stick with us, sometimes our blog stalls for a bit, seem like we stray off then one by one we wander back in like we have never even been gone. :^}

    Hey take care each and everyone of you..

    v

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  24. Sweatpea, good to hear from you. V, I never wander far. I just finished a bathroom, I think I will put a new floor in the dining room. No way, I'm taking a break. Hey V, Connie turned 50 today. Great fun. She's 18 with 32 years of experience. Or so she says. Hey Peggy, we put up 35 quarts of kraut yesterday. Too much fun.

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  25. Happy BD dear Connie. happy BD to yooouuu.

    and many more.

    love to ya

    LV, thats a lot of kraut.

    v

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  26. Sweetpea, it's so great to read your report! I'm really anxious to the next blog from Phil.
    I hope that I haven't scared off Jutta to write... I think I hyperventilated over her comment to me...and it's still embarrassing for me...!
    Greetings from Krautland

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  27. Great to hear from you, Sweetpea! What a nice surprise!

    Having trouble leaving a comment again today. Tried being "other" and "anonymous," then decided to just sign up for a new account--AGAIN. Hope this goes through.

    Please come back, Jutta!

    --Peggy

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  28. Hey Christina don't be embarrassed, Jutta come back...please, we miss you. We just get goofy very often and have a good time so lets keep on, ok?

    Peggy did you see about LV's kraut?

    take care everyone....
    v

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  29. I'll try "other" again and see if it works...

    Yes, I'm excited about LVJ's kraut--and also excited that Winfield is NEXT MONTH!!!

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  30. I've no problems to leave comments until now...
    Well, I have vacation since monday...the weather is bad and it's so boring...that sucks! But now I have enough time to watch the DVD of the Wilders that I made for the umpteenth time. What's on in the USA?

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  31. Hey, Hey!
    Pain on my heart and soul …. but please don´t talk about it, time make it better and better……….. Living without music? Absolut not possible – also not possible without the great music from The Wilders!

    I´m quite because:
    Normal I never speak in a blog. Sometimes per mail, only for to chance informations, not for communication. I prefer to speak direct with the person. BUT when I had read in the blog from The Wilders, I noticed that you all speak with true heart and you all are so lovely people with a good sense for goofy – I like it! And to this time (July) I had vacation and more time than normal. So I had must write to you all.
    When I haven´t vacation I work the whole day. In the evening I haven´t enough time for all the things, which I have must to do and other things, which interested to me. So it was only possible to read sometimes on the blog.

    Now I must come back, I would like tell you some things:
    You touch me deap (I mean it well) with your wishes to me for coming back.

    I stick with you all – o.k. maybe only sometimes by writing, but ever in my heart, you will not lose me.
    Thanks a lot to you all, for your nice comments about your life and the infos about The Wilders.
    Vieta, thank you for your nice lines and your explain.
    Christina, don´t worry, I´m not scared.
    Peggy, you touch me very deep – uff – thank you.
    Also Vieta with her special comment to me. I embrace you all!!!

    Now a little bit about me:
    So, you know already, that I love the music: The Wilders …. but not only, I have a wide choise taste, so also for example … but you can have a look:
    http://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/-/id=233366/1abvyu0/index.html
    And I love among other things, like:
    the nature, moving in the nature (per foot, bike, swim, horse, … or lie in the grass, sit with my back at a tree, …. Interested for foreign cultures, because it´s interesting and I can learn from them …. Reading books about different thinks from life …. And I love the life – sometimes very hard, sometimes very nice …. Keep on the sunny side of life…

    Today I have got a postcard from a friend. I know him just the half of my life. It´s a very beautiful card: It pictured an Indian with a whistle, a little Indianboy and an eagle and behind of them a mount. The ambiance from this picture is mystic.
    Maybe the Indian is Hunting Wolf, because on the back from the card is the following text (I try to translate, because it´s in German) with the headline “Hunting Wolf”:
    “You never must despair, if you lose something: An human, a delight or a luck. It comes all still more glorious back to you.
    What must fall, falls from. What heard to us, stays.”
    I like it. I think it´s not allways right, but in the most of the time.

    Till the next time - Have a good time!
    Jutta

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  32. Welcome back, Jutta! You make my heart soar with your comments!

    I think being a fan of the Wilders puts us all in a wonderful, amiable group, don't you!?

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  33. Peggy, gros bisous from me to you!

    PS: "gros bisous" is French. I can't speak French, but this words is an easy explain for a nice gesture. I haven´t found a same short expression in English. "gros bisous" means big Kisses on your cheek.

    Gros bisous to you all!

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  34. I've known a gross bison or two. Same to you. You shouldn't talk to strangers, because I'm stranger than most.

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  35. Hey Wilders (and fans),

    I thought you would be interested in knowing that my brother has downloaded every Wilders tune (album) off itunes. He will ONLY play the Wilders when he has his 7-8 hour ride home from business trips. He knows the rock-a-billy chugging sound will keep him safe, wake, and positively jigging towards home. Doesn't that make you feel good, Wilders?!?

    Swtpea

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  36. I've always known that the Wilders' music is therapeutic--good for whatever ails you!

    We used "Throw Down" and "Spring a Leak" as background music this weekend for our painting project, because it's so cheery and makes the time fly! And we can sing along!

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  37. Hey LVJ, or I should say, hey stranger homie (smile, smile),
    I hope the meeting with the bison was a good one, so that you was the winner (but also with hope, that the bison feel good) ………. I have must laughing! You have such a nice humour – in only two sentences so much fun!
    And Sweetpea and Peggy, likeable stories. You both bring it exact on the point.

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  38. Just went to wvfest.com and found a picture of tickmeister playing banjo with The Wilders! Look quick, because they change the pictures frequently!

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  39. There's also one of Betse and Ike. You get a different picture every time you refresh the page.

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  40. great! And under
    "Performers", "2007 performers", "The Wilders" - there are also pictures.

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  41. Hey, I heard the Wilders CD "spring a leek" and looked in at the CD cover. Under "special thanks" there are the names Vieta Sheldon and Betty Wade. Is it you? :)

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  42. Good to see everybody back!! Christina you know I had never saw that...Yes Betty is brophils mom, Carrie aka sweetpea is Ikes wife and I'm Ikes mom.

    We don't get to see the band so often now as their tours take them far away so we keep up to date by blog.....because the Wilders have the very nicest fans. We would have a group hug if our arms were long enough!

    Ike was home for a few days, we had a wonderful happy time. He left Monday as the band was heading west. Hope they can stay cool it is so hot here.

    Hey krautman!

    takecare and be safe everyone of you.

    v

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  43. Oh and Jutta you made my heart soar too!
    :^}

    Thank you for the beautiful "Hunting Wolves" and telling us a little about yourself.We always have a nice soft safe nest here for all of us. Course its probably filled with kraut at the moment.

    I can't keep from thinking about the kraut.

    My grandma told me a kraut story about this family that had a house full of kids. She was at the grocery store when the father came to get supplies. He ordered 10 1gallon cans of kraut. The grocer said "boy your family sure must like kraut". No the old man said "no, no one likes it but it sure does go a long way"

    I always thought it was funny.

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  44. That reminds me of the people who were complaining about the new restaurant they'd just eaten at. They agreed that the food tasted terrible, and the woman added, "yes, and the portions were so small!"

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  45. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*

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  46. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*

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  47. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*
    --Christina

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  48. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*
    --Christina

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  49. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*
    --Christina

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  50. Hey, I wrote a comment but it doesn't work...
    And now I can see it 5 times at the site where you can write comments but not on the other one. Can you see it?

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  51. Hey Vieta and Peggy, your Kraut storys are great! They made me laugh.
    It's also great to have some members of the Wilders families here at the blog. I would love to have this sunny weather here, too. It rains since days and for august it's freezing cold (only 17 degrees Celsius...) We are renovating the upper floor of our house since the last coulpe of days, painting the walls in all colors to "brighten the corners"! *smile*

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  52. This stupid blog! I'm sure you didn't mean to leave so many messages--but no problem, I enjoyed them all!

    Wonder if it will let me post today...?

    We just "brightened the corners" of our dining room and kitchen with a cheery melon-colored paint! It does make us feel happier!

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  53. Good grief, what have I done?! I'm so sorry...I don't wanted to send so many comments! I thougt it hasn't worked...but now I can be sure that you have read it *lol*
    Today we have finished our parlor. Now it's shining in a warm yellow color, so we can feel like it would be warmer. It's still raining...
    Christina

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  54. Wish we had some of your rain here in Missouri--everything's burning up in the 100 degree heat!

    Is everyone staying cool enough?

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  55. Aaahh Christina, if only we could share some of our hot and dry with your rainy and cool weather. Wouldn't that just be swell?

    Hey if you all want to see a picture of brophil in his "Extra Toughs over suit slacks, a Carhartt duck jacket, no shirt, and my mexican wrestling mask" it is on the Wilders "MySpace",
    Betse too, about half way down the page.

    http://www.myspace.com/wilderscountry

    We can thank Carrie Cahill Mulligan for that...

    Having trouble with the blog.

    vieta

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  56. Hey Vieta, yes, it would be great to share the weather! I saw the picture at Myspace and I wondered who the person with the wrestling mask is...now I know it *smile*
    Have a nice weekend everybody.
    Christina

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  57. Thanks for the picture tip Vieta.

    We will gladly exchange some hot, dry, sunny days for your cool and rain, Christina.

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  58. Vieta, thank you for your explained who is who. It´s fine to know that.
    And it´s good to know plus, that such lovely families stand by the wilders. That gives power to each other.
    Your expression “We would have a group hug if our arms were long enough” and “the soft nest” gives a very good feeling – like your comment to me about your heart soar.
    Yes, and the kraut – it´s delicious and healthy – mmmhh I like it and your comic comments. But I understand your thinking about the kraut very well.
    I hope, that your wishes from you all about the weather will be nearly true.
    Otherwise no news from here.
    Have fun and take care of yourself everybody!

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  59. Have you all checked out the Wilders' My Space site? It's really fun! I just spent about an hour there, looking at their "friends" and listening to the music. Lots of comments from Betse, too--now I know why she doesn't have time to come here to the blog!

    Go, Wilders!!!

    Less that a month till Winfield!!! Yippeeeee!!! Hope to see some of you there!

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  60. Hey everyone!
    I've been gone for a while and just returned to read the July update. Our son has had some health problems and we haven't had time to catch up with all of you. It's nice to see new bloggers! I hope to get to Germany some day. It is where my grandparents on both sides are from, (Peters / Mosers). The Wilders will be here Friday! We won't be able to attend all of Larryfest this year due to our son getting out of the hospital yesterday however we hope to see the Saturday performances and if we are fortunate enough to make it we will let you know how it goes.
    (Speaking of rain, LVJ since you like to remodel, do you do out of state jobs? Our recent storms have csused our roof to leak.)I love to paint too. It's so relaxing, especially with a Wilders CD playing in the background!
    Always love catching up with all of you! I'm not canning kraut but I would love to make some tomato jam like my grandma use to make. Anyone have a good tomato jam receipe?
    Take care all,
    DD

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  61. DD, I hope that your son will be OK. I have done a lot with maters, but jam doesn't ring a bell, I will check with my sister. Do let us know how the Wilders are, and what they sound like, and how they look.

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  62. Nice to hear from you, DD! Hope you do get to see the Wilders on Saturday, and we'll look forward to a review!

    I have a recipe somewhere for tomato aspic--is that the same thing as tomato jelly?

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  63. Hey, LVJ! Love your drawing on the Wilders MySpace page! Looks just like you!

    Winfield's so close, I can almost smell the kraut...

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  64. Thanks LVJ and Peggy. Our son is recooping fast so it looks like we will be heading to Larry Fest! (I'll just be making a lot of check in phone calls.) *We haven't seen you Wilders since the blizzard in February and we are sure looking forward to seeing you again!
    I'm not sure what tomato aspic is Peggy but I do know that I loved my grandma's tomato jam and no one has a receipe for it any longer. It's a shame, it sure was delicious. (Christina or Jutta do you know of a receipe for tomato jam? I think my grandmother's receipe started out in Germany.) Have a good weekend everyone and I will send a review on Sunday.
    Safe trip Wilders!
    DDMAC

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  65. Hey, DD! Try tomatojam.com--there are several recipes there.

    Have a great weekend, you lucky ones! Hug the Wilders for us!

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  66. Hey DD,
    I hope your son will mend soon!
    I've got a recipe of tomato sauce. It's from my great-grandma, but I don't know if it is want you're searchig. Maybe I've mistaken the word "jam".
    I'm looking forward to a report from Winfield!
    Have a nice weekend everyone!

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  67. O Vieta, I was gonna write a song for you
    But O Vieta, all my rhymes were poo
    Nothing rhymes with Vieta, so my song ends,
    With my apologies to Vieta, hope we can still be friends.

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  68. Vieta! Vieta!
    There's nobody sweetah!

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  69. LV, you didn't try very hard now did you? See Peggy did it fast.........at least you didn't throw a piece of fruitcake at me. :^}

    DD I hope your son gets along well, and I'm sure looking forward to hearing your report on Larryfest. I wonder where Deb and Timmer are, DD did you see them at Larryfest?

    We may have to send out the hounds to find those two. what do you think? or send in the clowns. There LV make a song with hounds and clowns.............

    Well everyone take care and be safe.

    v

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  70. Oh I forgot to mention this. Tomorrow is the day to wear a little something "red for Patsy" in memory of eyeRy's mom.

    v

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  71. Where's/how's EyeRytStuf been lately, anyway? Anyone heard from him?

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  72. Just realized The Wilders are on their way to Scotland! Bon Voyage! We'll look forward to a run-down of that in a couple of weeks or so.

    DD, did you guys make it to LarryFest? Was it wonderful?

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  73. Greetings Gang!! I was unable to go to Larry Fest this year as I was staying with my Mom. I got back early, so I was going to head over on Sat. afternoon. Well, if you watch the news we had 12 inches of rain Saturday. Im flooded in and maybe will be able to get out Wed. Not to worry as I live on a hill and have plenty of supplies! Talked to Jon and Jody and they said the rain was so bad they pulled out early Sat. am and spent 2 hours stuck in the mud. DD Im looking for your phone# so I can call and find out how your son is doing? I will call Larry today and find out about the fest. Time to get out the crock and get cutting!! Take care everyone!! Timmer

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  74. Are you doing kraut, too, Timmer???

    Hope Larryfest didn't get flooded--hope we hear about it soon. Our area of the country got storms, too, but they were really spotty. Oklahoma City got nine inches of rain; we got about 1/2 inch, which is about what Rick's folks got in Tulsa. How much did you finally get, Vieta?

    Did our Wilders make it off to Scotland O.K.?

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  75. I'm finally on for a review on Larry Fest. I was cleaning up after the flood here at home and helping family too. 6 people lost their lives near our area here due to the flash flooding. All our family were OK with some house flooding only.
    1st: Friday night was beautiful at Larryfest! After a slightly late arrival by the Wilders, (it's easy to get lost in our back hill country), the Wilders upped the tempo of the fest. As they stepped out onto the front porch of the cabin to play the crowd moved in! What was once an area for dancing was no more. Shoulder to shoulder we stood in anticipation of the first song. Song after song the energy soared. Betse's fiddle tune was great, Nate and Phil awesome as ever and Ike on the piano! We finally got to hear the piano version of Ike and it was well worth the wait! I've grouped the two performances we saw together here. One was Friday night and one was Saturday afternoon in the pouring rain. They both were great! I was able to give Ike and Phil a hug and hello but with having to leave early due to the weather we didn't get to talk with the Wilders this time. They looked and sounded great! Rumor has it that the show did go on with the Wilders late Saturday night in the back of the cabin for the few festers who remained during the storm. We left around 5:30 PM Saturday and our vehicle already was stuck once and had to be pushed out through the water and mud. Hope all the Larry Festers made it home safe and sound and that you Wilders made it out safely too!
    That's my review.
    Take care everyone!
    DDMac

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  76. I forgot to say hi to Timmer and and that we missed you at the fest! Also, thanks for your reply Christina. Tomato jam is a sweetened tomato spread for on toast or bisquits. Thanks for all your concern regarding our son. He is recovering from the procedure however they were not able to fix his heart arrhythmia as they thought they could. He will be looking at another procedure in the future. For now he is stable and doing well.
    Take care bloggers!
    DDmac

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  77. 11:45 Monday..Norm just left to drive the Wilder's to the airport heading out for Scotland. They all look GREAT and rested.
    They nearly didn't make it out of Larry Fest because the road was washed out!!! I'm sure BroPhil will write about this harrowing experience in time.
    Betse said to be thinking of them tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. central time. This is their first show.

    Thanks DDMac for the great review of Larry Fest. Hope everyone got home safely.

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  78. OOPS!! I made a boo boo...
    I titled my last blog about the Wilder's leaving as
    11:45...Monday
    It should have been
    11:45...Tuesday.
    What can I say...I'm OLD!!
    In my defense Norm and I were gone from Friday until yesterday. My days are mixed up.
    We were in Minnesota, and the rains were terrible there too. We weren't where it was flooding, but the tractor show we went to was completely rained out.

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  79. Thanks for the update, Betty! Glad The Wilders are on their way.

    I guess a tractor show would be a good place to get stuck in the mud, wouldn't it? ;^)

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  80. You know the tractors were even having trouble. There were ruts knee deep where they were parked. The big ol' steam engines, etc. were sinking deeper into the mud because of their weight. ;o(

    Everyone be thinking of the Wilder's tomorrow (Wed.) at 1:00 central time their first show.

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  81. Wish I could have been at the tractor show. In a perverse sort of way, I like to see things just go catastrophically wrong, long as everybody survives. At Avoca, IA about 15 years ago, the entire campground flooded to a depth of 1 to 4 feet. RV's with water coming in, tents, coolers, all sorts of things floating around over about 4 acres. Winfield flooded this summer up to a level where the water was about 6 feet deep inside the vendor area of the grandstand. Someday that is going to happen during the festival and a whole bunch of hippies are going to wash down to the gulf of Mexico.

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  82. Thanks for all the updates, glad to hear Timmer and the DDmacs' are safe and dry. DD sending good thoughts and prayers your way.

    Are those Wilders not super troopers? Never a dull moment. "The Show will go on". Can't wait till Phil gives us the hair raising low down. :}

    Hey Betse I'll light a candle for you all tomorrow at 1. Good luck and happy travels.

    Yeah Timmer, whats with the crock thingie????

    Thank Norm for all your shuttle service, what would they do without you?

    Take care and be safe everyone.

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  83. BroPhil called at 5:30 to say their flight was cancelled due to weather so they are still in K.C. They are to try again tomorrow at 1:00.

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  84. So, we'll STILL be thinking of them tomorrow at 1:00, but for a different reason... Too bad they'll have to miss their first show, but there will be lots of others!

    Tick, I, too, thought of the possibility of flooding during the festival--wouldn't that be exciting?! We've actually had some pretty impressive storms there over the years, so it's not inconceivable.

    Are you and Lynn going to Winfield this year, Vieta?

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  85. I've been to the gulf of mexico. More hippies are needed. Hippies are cool. I've known a couple. We need some rain here. But no more there. Hey, how many of you have been to a monster truck show and snuck in liquor?

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  86. I've never done that, but I have been a hippie. Still am a little, I guess...

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  87. Hey, we are approaching the Barry Bonds of Comments, the 100 level. I think we should all put on some silly stuff so Phil has to scroll down a long ways.

    Nette kleine deutshe madchen?

    That is pretty silly, we all have to scroll down a long ways.

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  88. Did you say you were as mad as a little German wet hen??

    (Is that silly enough?)

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  89. We got about 7" of rain over 2 days, it took out some roads and bridges, there have been 2 deaths in this area. Like Timmer we are not in any danger of flooding. We have a berm home built in the side of a hill.

    Peggy, don't think we will make Winfield this year, instead will do Silver Dollar City. The Wilders will be there the next week. Sure wish they were doing a Rock House concert while they were in that area.

    Christina and Jutta find DD a good tomato jam receipt. Then we can have kraut and jam!!

    LV I would rather be drunk when I went in to a monster truck thingie...To heck with snucking it in.

    Good luck on getting a plane out tomorrow Wilders! Be safe everyone.

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  90. Reminds me of a long ago conversation when I was a high school geek. 5 or 6 guys hanging out on a Saturday night, all the girls were with guys who had actual lives, we were bored and trying to decide what to do.
    First loser: Whatta' you want to do.
    Second loser: Let's try to get some beer and get drunk.
    First loser: Aw, I wanna' do something thats fun.
    Second loser: Hell, everything's fun when you're drunk.
    That would definitely apply to monster truck shows.

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  91. Hey now wait a minute, just cause I ain't never been to one of them monstrous trucker thingies and snuck in some peach schnopps and wanna go don't mean I'm a geek. I always wanted to go to a goat roping too. How did you know I was a loser in high school? Little German Wet Hen? What in the wide wide world of sports is a going on here?

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  92. Ho boy LV snuck schnopps, no tellin what the heck else he has done.
    v

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