Blue Ridge blog

Melange

I left my card reader at my new work thus, I have no way to show you the cool Sun Dog I shot this evening. Instead, all you get is leftovers--a lovely autumnal hornest's nest. Only thing missing from this shot are the backlit varmints prepped to sting my whatever is close.

My new work is good. Gnumoon and I sit next to each other. So far we are too busy to talk like we do on the sidelines...
I'm learning Canon-speak and if'n you don't watch out, I'm going to Gary Fong the pudding out of you with one of his whale tails. I'm learning the ins and outs of Adobe's Lightroom and generally am challenged--which is a good way for me to be.

Here's something you might not know: Appalachian Alum Michael Gregory audtioned for American Idol Season 7. He's the first dude on this clip. My opinion? He is oh-so-much-better than Clay Aiken. And the last guy, well....go see for yourself:

Gregory is a recent Appalachian grad who is most known for his creation of the Jimmy Smith Park viral video. He graduated with a degree in music industry recording and production and with a degree in business. He currently lives in NYC composing and ditty writing.

Here's his Tupac/Twista.
I say it is great, to be, a Mountaineer...

I'm cool, but only by association...

Heh. Check out the MySpace page of Bad News Girl.
Recognize the default image? Maybe you saw it here. Both my youngest daughter and I enjoy the tonal quality of band's lead singer . And apparently, the band likes the image of me as a youngin' out by the rubbish bin. What a delightful Manchester, UK/Valle Crucis, USA connection.

**I Have to ask something**
Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, don't you think you oughta be running to the rescue of this West Va. woman? Or is rape, kidnap and torture of a black woman by 6 white males somehow less of a hate crime offense than danglin' nooses from a tree?
Just wonderin'....

Music Fest in Sugar Grove

Doc Watson is a self-professed 'musician of the people' who tries to stay away from pedestals, yet I can't help but place him up there in my mind. Any day I get to listen to him sing is a treat. Today I listened to him play to the press for an upcoming performance at the Music Fest in Sugar Grove this weekend.
Next on my day's agenda: Sit with dragonflies.
Oh, I love my job today...

P.S. This is the 10th annual MusicFest and I'd like to note that all the bands are from North Carolina. O.k., so the Kruger Brothers are originally Swiss, but they like North Carolina mountains the best.

P.S.S. Oh how in the world am I gonna cover both the MusicFest and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games? Hope the parking press pass gods are smiling upon me;) Really--this is work.

P.S.S.S. Welcome all of y'all from the Delphi Forum. Yep, Doc is 84 years old, but I assure you from what I heard yesterday, the man has his mind and music all together. He is a wonder!

Bloggers at Appalachian Roots Revival

While waiting in line to enter the Appalachian Roots Revivial I saw my first butterfly of the season. I noticed the butterfly first then saw the car in front of me had a license plate which read 'Ashvegas.' What are the odds it would be the blogger Ashvegas ? All it takes is checking out the dude as he talks to the parking attendant and then walk up to him in the Will Call line and ask if he Ashvegas. He was way cool with the encounter. Wish I had not been working because I really would have loved to set down a blanket, pull out a beer and talk. Such is my working life...snippets here, snippets there.

Ditto with these folks...
Meet Delane's cousin Mark and his lovely wife Susan. As I walked by their blanket today cute Susan was so polite in approaching me. "Excuse me. Are you..umm, do you have a blog called "Blue Ridge?" I talked to them for a few minutes and again, I hated having to move on.

So instead of spending time with these bloggers on a Saturday evening, I am editing hundreds of photos...
I so hope y'all enjoyed the concert. Hope it happens again next year. It is on my must-do-again list. The music was fantastic.

What is my favorite radio station? It is WNCW and you too can listen to your Appalachian roots online anytime you want.

P.S. Gnumoon was there as well. I'm sure she'll have photos as well...

Ttv Mast Store and Ttv Harley..

I have grass stained knees and that's a good thing. It means I've been outside shooting and the weather is warm enough for me to exchange my wintertime uniform of jeans and hoodie for that of my springtime extravagant white t-shirt and running shorts. Last week sometime, Kathleen Connally of Durham township posted a photo on her blog of a daffodil shot through the viewfinder(Ttv) of an old camera. At first I thought it was just Kathleen creating her usual groovy photos and I didn't want to copy her style. But then as I was looking over the works of another fantastic photographer, Bonnie, I saw she had a whole flickr set of Ttv photos. It was then I thought to myself, whoa, I can finally make use of some of the old cameras I have in my collection. I certainly don't have the process down pat, but am thrilled to be using my Spartus Full-Vue and Brownie Reflex cameras. Ttv is a well known craze and even though I am late, I'm still jumping on board...
Now y'all 'scuse me. I need to go scrub my knees and dress for my daughter's final performance with the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra. They are playing Stravinsky's 'Firebird.'

**Update**
The Spartus Full-Vue camera was my dad's a VERY LONG TIME AGO. And Dad, Harley sends her love.
**Update#2**
Oh LOOK! photographer Ron of Dujour does Ttv as well. I'm late to the party.

Watching me watching you...

These guys would barely gave me a second look. After securing several 'safe' shots from my Jeep, I had to get out of the car, walk closer towards them, wave my hand above my head and yell, " Hey y'all, look at me dammit." Finally they did. Snap. This shot.

Lots going on this weekend and next, but there are a couple of happenings that are near and dear to my heart so thought I'd share 'em with you:

1- Scott's newest book 'They Hunger' is on the bookshelves. It's like Deliverance meets Eric Rudolph meets Vampire bats. Read on...

2- Mark Smith is Valle Crucis' Hollywood connection. Smith is a screenwriter and director and his newest film is 'Vacancy' starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale. The movie opens on April 20th. Watch the trailer. On a personal note, Mark's wife is my friend and birthday buddy. We were both born on April 9, 1963. Our daughters also share the same birthday as well as being spin class fanatics.

3- The Appalachian Roots Revival is next weekend. My paper is sponsoring the event. I will be there.

4- The Boone Music Reunion is next weekend as well. It is a get together of Boone bands from the late 70's-90's. The organizers have worked hard to collect and archive mp3's from 28 Boone, North Carolina bands. Wish I could be at the Gamekeeper. On a personal note, my college roomate, Ruth B. married Opposition guitarist Dave Hubner. Last I heard, Dave had achieved the rank of Lt. Col and was the TF-1-77 Commander based out of Germany. He had served at least one tour in Iraq. Ruth and David have two boys and are living who know where? I bet Dave still plays the guitar and Ruth is right there swooning. She better still have my pink sweater I gave her...

Found Treasure

Oh my. I have so much to do and then I stumble upon the Music: Digital Library of Appalachia  chocked full of mp3s.

DLA music entries are derived from non-commercial sound recordings that document much of Appalachian music's geographic, ethnic, vocal, and instrumental diversity. The several thousand presently available provide an unprecedented resource for study of repertoire, technique, lore, and the musical interchanges among the region's traditional musicians, many of who are no longer living.

There is some mighty digital goodness to listen to if'n ya like the genre. Hat tip to Codewolf .

The pond at Valle Crucis Park

I've been taking walks with my husband each evening at Valle Crucis Park. Save a few other wanderers, we are alone.

I received a package from My Strange Little Frenchman today. It has been awhile since he and I have corresponded. He sent me the cd Blow: An ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell. According to the Wiki site on Purcell :

"Purcell is among the Baroque composers who has had a direct influence on modern rock and roll; according to Pete Townshend of The Who, Purcell was among his influences, particularly evident in the opening bars of The Who's "Pinball Wizard." The title song from the sound track of the film "A Clockwork Orange" is from Purcell's "Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary."

Cool!

My beloved Strange Little Frenchman does not have internet access, that I know of, so I thought about sending him a photo or two from my blog especially because his note to me asked:

"Vous faites de tres belles photos. Si jamais vous sortez un livre, avec ces derniers, prevenez moi."

But which ones?