Sunday, Nov. 16

We awoke to a sunny, but cold day. I usually skip the treadmill on Sundays, but since I missed a session last Thursday, I made up for it this morning. While I was on the treadmill, Mother put a beef roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions in the slow cooker. We added mashed potatoes, and gravy made from low-fat, low sodium beef broth, to the meal. There's enough beef left for a couple of more meals this week.





Our choice of music today was a pop and rock selection from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. We spent part of our afternoon in the usual manner for Sunday...reading the newspaper, programming the DVR for our favorite shows this week, and relaxing.



Then at 3 p.m., we went to a free folk concert at one of the local colleges. The concert, performed by three artists-in-education, was unique in that the three (one woman and two men), write much of their own story-telling music. They call their music "folkgrass," which is based on real-life stories about people they meet around the state, one of whom lives in our town.



One story, for instance, is about an older man who, in the throes of a heart attack, envisions himself crossing a river as a turtle, with his children on his back. He prays to reach the other side of the river safely, and if he is delivered safely, he'll spend the rest of his life making musical instruments for children. He delivered on his promise, and several of his unusual creations, made from whatever he could put his hands on, were on display tonight.




Each of the folks who are featured in a song, is also featured in a photo/quilt block, which is pinned to a clothesline onstage. The barefoot female artist performed in overalls, with pants legs cut short and patched in bright patterned materials. She played a fiddle, while one man played guitar or banjo, and the other man played upright bass and a washboard.




It was a shame that only a handful of us showed up for this very entertaining performance.
The group is touring the state, in an effort to help keep alive the folk/bluegrass genre. They have been awarded a grant to publish a book and CD of their music for sale, the proceeds of which goes to buy instruments for disadvantaged children.



They sold books and CDs to nearly everyone in attendance, but unfortunately, we had no cash with us tonight, so we are hoping the CD will be available for sale at our art gallery, where I can pick one up this week.