Kalona bluegrass Festival

Well no pictures this time unless someone else sends me some. Too busy. Dan wanted me to go to the workshop on Friday day. Last year there had been 3 or 4 bases so I said I would. But wouldn't you know it I was the only one!!! Didn't mind the workshop its self so much but in the afternoon we broke up into three different bands and wouldn't you know it I got stuck with the loser group. Or maybe it was me that made it the loser group. Could very well be. The little girl wouldn't listen to anyone talked nonstop and her stage mom picked the songs we were to do. Poor choices. One of the guitar players had only been playing 3 months ( he was only 12), the banjo player 's timing wasn't the best and he couldn't sing in the key I was used to playing the song in. The other guitar player was OK and the dulcimer player chickened out. Wish I had. Being on stage was not the highlight of the week end. It had rained most of the day and was very humid. It had stopped raining by the time the show was to start but there was no breeze and 120% humidity. I was sweating like I had been running a marathon. Of course my group had the most teeth so we had to go first. I did not know the base would be miked. so the whole campground could hear how badly I did. Also had to go up steps to get to the stage. Carrying a base up steps when I can barely get up them myself was a real challenge. Sometimes someone was there to help, sometimes not. Then Janeen's group went on and did well and Katlin's group was last and of course she was awesome. Then we had to go back as the whole Workshop Band. By that time my glasses were so fogged up I could barely see. I was never so glad for something to be over in my life.

Cindy, Shane and Kyann came on Saturday to visit but Miss Kyann would not nap so they had to leave early. Still she was cute and running everywhere. Mary and Donnie had to go to a wedding on Saturday afternoon and we thought she could sleep in their camper while they were gone but she wanted no part of that. I spent a lot of the day cooking supper and they didn't even get to stay to eat. I felt bad for them all.

All in all it was an OK weekend minus the stage show.

Mar mar time

Got to go spend a couple of days with Cindy, Shane and Kyann. Got in some good Mar mar time. She is always on the go but once in a while she will stop and smell the flowers. She is a real Mama's girl. Though Daddy is not far behind.

Can't believe all the hair! My Kids only had some peach fuzz at this age.

One of her favorite games is peak a boo. She never gets tired of it and will usually bring a smile. Some times she doesn't realize you can still see her behind things. Soo cute. She is cutting several teeth. Felt sorry for her, those molars can be brutal.

Farmer's Market

The Coal Train Steel Band playing at the Farmer's Market June 27th. the week had been very hot and humid, typical Iowa weather, but was really nice that morning. Good breeze, lots of shade and good music. Joey, Dan, Katlin, Jenny and Andy.

Bill Riley Talent Show

Katlin waiting her turn to perform.

Part of her performance. She didn't win but she had a really good time and she did a fantastic job!!

Fiddle Camp

Ok this is my side of the story. It started out with no cell phone service in Bethel. So no communication with the outside world. Sunday night or early Monday morning it started to rain,(something it did every day but one) the rain beat on the air conditioner which was 3 inches from my head. It was a slow Chinese water torture . When I finally got up and took a bath (not a shower) which I had not done for years, got dressed and went out to get in my car to go to the restaurant for breakfast. Not having much to eat at Mabel's. When I started my car it said to check the tire pressure, so I checked on the info button and it said the pressure in the right rear tire was 1. Not believing everything I read I got out and looked and sure enough it was flat. Still raining! Still no phone!. Then I remembered the car phone. So I called Onstar and sure enough they take care of that. But it took a long time to find someone to come in rural Missouri. But about 10:30 he came put the donut on and took my tire to be fixed saying I could pick it up in the afternoon. By that time it was to late for breakfast so I decided to wait and go for lunch. Which wasn't too bad. When I went to pick up my tire in the afternoon they had not been able to find anything wrong with it. I found out later that night that there had been some trouble in the town with kids and I was just caught in the cross fire. End of day one.
Day two started out the same way with the slow Chinese water torture. Decided to go to Edina (30 miles away) to pick up some groceries, as Shelbyville (5miles away) did not have a grocery store. Also got a watch for Katlin so I could have mine back. She needed one to know what time to go to her lessons. Tried to let Katlin be on her own so did not go and watch square dancing that night. So my days after that consisted of doing my Bible study, reading for a while, knitting for a while, practicing guitar for a while and then I would watch a movie. Then start all over again. In between I would eat a bologna sandwich.

Mabel my hostess. She was a very nice lady but could talk the leg off a wooden table. She came Monday night for a while and talked for 1 hr and 45 minutes non stop. I had a headache after she left. She also can not see or doesn't want to clean. There were cobwebs everywhere. I had to clean the bathroom before I would use it.

This is the communal Kitchen. Lots of nick nack stuff every where

This was the living room. I sat here to knit (because there were no comfortable chairs in my room.)and visit with Mary, the other mother staying at Mabel's.

This was my very very dark bathroom. It was decorated with Christmas stuff because Mable's maiden name was Claus.

This was my bed. It was comfortable. I believe it was clean. It also came apart Wednesday nite. I was sitting reading and all of a sudden kerbang. The side rail came loose. The comforter weighed 22 pounds. I got all the bedding taken off and finally the mattress but could not raise the springs and put the rail back in by myself
Believe me I tried. It was 11 o clock at night and too late to call Mabel so I played Goldilocks and went upstairs and pick out another bed to sleep in. But of course it was 96 degrees and the air had not been turned on. I turned the air on in the first room and it sounded like a jet plane taking off. So I tried the next room and it was ok. When I lay down the sweat just dripped off of me and when I would turn over and feel the spot where I had been laying I am surprised it did not spontaneously combust. Eventually I fell asleep and called Mabel in the morning. She came and I helped her put the bed back together. But from then on I was afraid to move much on it for fear it would break again.

This is the outside of Mable's house. It looks nice doesn't it. I shared it with Mary (Ben's mom), wasps and spiders.

That is about the end of my story. It was a long long week. It was fun to watch the kids dancing and one night Katlin came to my house to take a hot bath cause the water was cold by the time she got to the showers at the dorm. One night I fed her all kinds of snacks cause she didn't eat much supper.

Then came the ride home. We left about 8:15 and should have been at the campgrunds by 9:30 at the latest but thanks to Onstar in was almost 11. Onstar took us on gravel roads and sometimes the gravel was missing. We were on a cow path when we saw some tail lights up ahead. In retrospect it probably was not too smart to stop and ask directions but I was pretty desperate at the time. The guy was nice and got us back to a paved road pretty quickly. Then we ran into fog and both Katlin and I thought the ride would never end. But we made is safely to the campgrounds and had a nice time for the week end. Katlin can't wait to go back. Me not so much.

Fiddle Camp

This is Katlin's side of the story. She had her picture taken by a professional and it turned out really good.

Katlin had a wonderful time at fiddle camp and would go back next year if she gets the chance

This was Katlin's room. She had the bottom bunk on the right side. She shared her room with Cybil age 13 and Bergita age 15.

This is the outside of the girls dorm. They were lucky. The boys had a metal pole barn for their dorm and it was all one big room. The girls had several rooms upstairs. The down stairs had a living room, kitchen and dining room.

Every nite they students learned to dance. This is the Virginia Reel, Katlin's fav. They also had movie night and went swimming a couple of nights.One night they had water balloon fights. Had a wiener roast and s'mores on night.

On Friday afternoon they preformed their dances for the Senior citizens from around Shelbyville. Friday night they did the group performance with each student showcased during a song. Then they could get up and play a solo if they wanted. Ben asked Katlin , Carlie, and Barron to play Flop Eared Mule with him.

Connor John's Birthday

Kids playing after the party. They all get along so well.

Connor getting ready to blow out the candles

Angie made his cake. It turned out really really good.

Grandma Pat, Connor and Grandpa John
Grandma Pat makes really good cheesecake!

Connor, Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Connie

Mom, Connor and Dad. Great birthday party! You're only twelve once.