Still Hanging Out In NC

Well I have to say, I'm shocked that we have been here a month already. I'm so not ready to go home yet. Thank goodness we extended our stay. Friday Steve Smith stopped by to play with our dulcimer group again. Everyone was so happy to have him join us again. He was very gracious with his time. He practiced with us and taught us a new song or two. It was a great time, then he played Hector The Hero for us. The man is just so wonderful on the dulcimer, hammered or mountain. 

Steve (my Steve) has decided he is going to learn to play the ban-jammer. The ban-jammer is a combination dulcimer and banjo. We went to a shop in Tennessee to talk to the man that makes the ban-jammer. We fell in love with the shop and the instrument, so we placed an order. Mike Clemmer has a backlog of 12 ban-jammers ahead of us. Our anticipated delivery timetable is mid November. Can you believe that? We even searched Craig's List and eBay for someone selling one and talked to the people in the dulcimer group to see if anybody knew of one for sale and no luck, so we placed our order. We can wait till November. After all of the options were selected we had something to eat then went back to the shop for a free Saturday night performance on the "Pickin' Porch". The Clemmer's have a spot out back where they put on free performances in the summer. Mike Clemmer and his wife played a few songs and demonstrated a few different instruments then Stephen Seifert played for about a half hour. There were probably three dozen people in a back yard sitting on lawn chairs listening to music while the frogs sang along. It was a great experience.  

Today at summer camp was craft day again. We made crafts out of corks. Gosh we are having a good time here. I lined a tray bottom with corks and I think it turned out great. Tomorrow night is another Happy Hour and Nickel BINGO. I can't wait!!

Just An Update From Up North (a little bit)

Well things are great at summer camp!! We are having the times of our lives. I have been spending a lot of time practicing my dulcimer, the girls are working on Steve to play his, but you know how stubborn he can be, so that's going no where fast. I was playing Pegs & Jokers on Thursday night again. We were able to get two games in while the debates were in intermission. Everyone one was really excited to see the republican debates. 

Sunday Steve and I went to the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I'd been told there was a really good mountain and hammered dulcimer player there that did group sessions on the second Sunday of each month. Well how could we know that we were going to find a real treat. It wasn't really a group session that we found, it was the monthly meeting of the Western North Carolina Dulcimer Club. The man that was in charge is Steve Smith, and he is a two time world champion hammered and mountain dulcimer player. To say that this man plays well is the understatement of a lifetime. This man is so very gifted. His playing is inspired by angels and the Folk Art Center makes the perfect backdrop for this group. We stayed for the group playing and got a chance to speak with Steve. I mentioned to him that our group practiced twice a week and he'd be more then welcome to join. Since he still has a Monday through Friday job he said he wasn't available typically unless it was this week. Well don't you know our group was going to be playing on Tuesday for the coffee and doughnuts meeting. Well the rest as they say is history. He said he might stop by, on Monday while we had our last practice I mentioned that we'd gone to see him and he might be able to stop by and the entire group was so excited. I didn't realize what a big local celebrity he and his wife are. Tuesday morning we were graced with the attendance and participation of Steve and Jean Smith. They played along with our group and then did several songs for us. Oh these two people are very good. It was just so exciting. 

Wednesday night we had our Happy Hour and Nickel BINGO again. This time the lodge was full we had more in the other room as overflow. Our table played two great games. Steve and I had fun even though we didn't win anything tonight. So anyway things go on pretty much the same. FUN, FUN,FUN!!!!! We miss everyone at home, we are making great friends here that will be missed when we return. I'll be sure to give you another update soon. . . 

P.S. Our dulcimer group was a huge success and Steve videoed the performance, but the files are way too large to post on the blog so you'll just have to take my word on it.   

Adult Summer Camp

Well I have finally figured out what we are doing here, we are at an adult summer camp. We have been so busy here at Lakewood that we haven't even done too many things outside the campground. 

Steve wanted to celebrate his birthday by grilling a steak and having mashed potatoes for dinner. He is so darn easy to please. He was a happy and well fed man yesterday. 

Today was Craft Day. This Craft Group gets together in the beginning of June. They display different crafts, decide which ones they want to make and decide who will teach which week. For a $1 donation we were able to make a note pad, recipe holder, and matching pen. Oh Happy Zone ladies we will be making these when I get home. They are adorable and easy to make. I can't wait to show you. I took some photos of the process and some of the finished projects.