This Morning

Yep, this is the greeting I received this morning from the god of snow.
I guess someone forgot to tell him it is September 30th not October 30th. We received four inches of snow during the night. The willow trees all fell over because they could not take the weight of the wet snow. Rather a dark photo, but it was early morning when I strolled on up the driveway.

Much has melted now and I do not need any snow around until sometime around November 1st (god of snow, are you listening?). I have to safely get off the mountain and then return.

14 days until Vancouver
16 days until Prine

Ian Tyson

I woke up this morning with Summer Wages going through my brain. Summer Wages is a song written by Ian Tyson. Born in 1933 in Victoria, British Columbia, Ian has won several awards and wrote the song Four Strong Winds, which was recorded by Neil Young and several other singers.

Summer Wages

Never hit 17 when you play against the dealer
You know that the odds won't ride with you
Never leave your woman alone when your friends are there to steal her
She'll be gambled and gone like summer wages

And we'll roll on til we get to Vancouver
And the lady that I love she's living there
Its been six long months and more since I've seen her
Maybe she's gambled and gone like summer wages

Chorus
In all the beer parlors
All down along main street
The dreams of the season are spilled down on the floor
All the big stands of timber wait there just for fallin'
The hookers stand watchfully waitin' by the door

I'm going to work on them towboats with my slippery city shoes
Lord I swore I would never do again
Through the great fog bound straight
Where the cedars stand waitin
I'll be lost and gone like summer wages

Chorus

...and the years are gambled and lost like summer wages

It Is Round Up Time, Finally

Good Grief, when I woke up this morning there must have been 59 cows out back. They are moooooin', there are calves, mothers' that are not a sleep, babies that are not rockin' to a gentle beat.

It is round up time. The cows are going home via my roadway. I have chase so many today, I feel like I should be paid for rounding up them cows. My word, some of them are so big, it is a fright for me. I have tried to reason with these beasts, to no avail. While I am chasing them - with my five foot walking stick, I yell at them big time, you big (curse words and many of them) black heathen, your tail could kill me. One swipe I would be gone. Dead. Go, go, be on your way. What part of what I am saying do not you understand? You cows are dense, do you have a brain - get the hell out of here.

With all the commotion, my fine neighbor strolls on down. Yep, this is exactly what I need. I took one look at him and said, get the hell out of here, these cows I am dealing with are enough for me, waved my stick and said go. He left. I must have been quite the site with my stick in hand, raving hair, and a big voice hollering.

I have only 18 more days to go until I get off the mountain side to camp out with Charlene in some fine hotel in Vancouver. Fine Prine it is going to be. No cows.

The Mountain Side

My days of peace and solitude are coming to an end, the noisemaker comes home tomorrow. I have quite enjoyed my time alone, I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I did not clean up like I generally do. I listened to cds endlessly. I did not have to shovel snow like the last time noisemaker departed. I only had one incident with the bathtub drain, it plugged. However, with the experience I have in the field of plumbing, I was able to clear the drain. Naturally, after I did that I thought ...hmm...what is this thing? I unscrewed the panel and saw that it was a drain pipe, like coming from the kitchen. Lord have mercy was that thing filthy. Yikers. I cleaned it all up, screwed the panel plate thing back on, all is well in the field of drains/plumbing.

I had one night where the ghosts came to visit, I could hear them 500 miles away in every direction. I turned the television on. The next night at 1:30 a.m. I heard the roar of harleys thundering down the road. I got up and peeked out the window and they are congregated up there looking at the map of our area. Not that I could see them, but I could see the area and the lights shining. I figured they must be lost and have stopped to try to find their way. Then, I thought to myself - if it was daytime, I would run on up there and tell them 'you are on my bucket list - here's the deal'...... One day, I will ride a harley, one day.

Some days I quite enjoy living on the mountain side, it is very peaceful and a very different life style. Even though I have never been a shopper, there are days I would love to go to a Walmart. I would love to go to McDonalds and have a quarter pounder with cheese (no onions) and french fries. I yearn to go to a craft shop. Living on the mountain side, well, you tend to invent things, simple things. Talking to the animals, I love doing that. I sing to them too - they seem to enjoy it. There are lots of rocks, I hunt for rock hearts, agates. I must try to see about purchasing a rock polisher, I have lots of rocks in glass jars and baskets. They are just a picture of love and it warms my heart everytime I look at them. I have my wood project - I was varnishing them up the other day and a big gust of wind came and blew my locks right into the freshly varnished piece of wood. Good lord - I ripped my hair from the wood piece and thought that is enough for today (next time braid the locks).

Of course, with the upcoming John Prine concert in Vancouver - well, smucksville not a day (or should I say a hour) goes by where I do not thing about going down the mountain to attend the concert and to meet Charlene. As my brother put it; this is your event of the year, enjoy it! 21 more days from tomorrow, there we'll be, Prine-ing. I'll be doing the Paradise Wave, Charlene will be swinging here pendants, (see special sites) note taking. It is all very exciting for me.

Certainly, I have missed the noisemaker - but just not that much. The four walls we call a home will be a flurry of activity when they arrive tomorrow. My stepson and grandson will leave for their home soon thereafter. My noisemaker will turn on the television, he will curse as he always does. I will sit down here, as I always do and life will go on as it does, on the mountain side.

Here's The Cake!

1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
1 tub ready-to-spread chocolate frosting

Bake cake as directed on box using two round pans. Cool completely.

Fill layers and frost sides of cake with frosting. Carefully pour ganache onto top center of cake, spread to edge, allowing some to drizzled down side. Garnish top center with chopped pecans or walnuts. Refrigerate until chocolate is set. Store covered in refrigerator. Serves 12 to 16.

Chocolate Ganache
1/3 cup whipping cream
3 ounces semisweet baking chocolate (chocolate chips)

Heat whipping cream over low heat until hot but not boiling. Remove and stir in chocolate until melted. Let stand a few minutes, it will be ready to use when it mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon. It will become firmer, the longer it cools. Please note, if you like chocolate I would double the recipe using 2/3 whipping cream and 6 ounces of chocolate. That way you have enough for your cake and enough to eat while you wait for your cake to come out of the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Bruce

September 23rd, Bruce Springsteen turns 60! Happy Birthday, Bruce. Not sure Bruce looks this way tomorrow, but it'll be close - he is a very attractive man and serves justice well for the being of man.

September 23rd is also the fourth year I celebrate living on the mountain side. Sometimes, I cannot believe I have mountain sided four years. However, when winter rolls on it, I believe it.

September 23rd, on a sadder note is also when we lost a good dog friend, Jasper, the big hound dog.

September 23rd, 21 days to Vancouver, 23 days to Prine!

I like to see my blog posts covering the photo, so I will have to babble/ramble on.

We almost have it. Is it just me or do the female followers see some kind of cute lil rounded object, that is not a crop circle! hahaha!

And, the boots!

Birthday Greetings

Happy Birthday, Rumble

oops, I could be a day out -

May this bud fly off the mountain

May a cold one always be in your hand

and may the gate of our friendship never grow rusty.

Cheers and Beers!

Lil Black Dress

A photo some of you folks have already viewed. For those who have not, yep - that is me - July 19th, 2008. The famous little black velvet dress!

Boz

Such a beautiful love song - Look What You've Done To Me
David Foster/Boz Scaggs

Hope they never end this song, this could take us all night long
I looked at the moon and I felt blue, then I looked again and I saw you
Eyes like fire in the night, bridges burning with their light
Now I'll have spend the whole night through and honey, yes I'll have to spend it all on you . . .

Love, look what you've done to me
I never thought I'd fall again so easily
Oh love, you wouldn't lie to me
Leaving me to feel this way ...

They might fade and turn to stone, let's get crazy all alone
Hold me closer than you'd ever dare, close your eyes and I'll be there
After all is said and done, after all, you are the one
Take me up your stairs and through the door
Take me where we don't care anymore

Love, look what you've done to me
I never thought I'd fall again so easily
Oh love, you wouldn't lie to me, would you
Leaving me to feel this way ...

Chimney Inversions

It was a tad on the side of cool this morning, I knew I would have to build a fire in the woodstove. I opened the door of the stove and noted immediately the temperature inside was cold. From the vast knowledge I have of wood burning, I knew not to start a fire because I would have an inversion. I hate those inversions. Smoke comes billowing out and you panic. Noisemaker he told me what to do when you think you are going to have an inversion, but rightly or lefty speaking, it must have been one of those moments I was not paying heed to. I went on line and found this wonderful website ~all you need to know about wood burning stoves but were afraid to ask~ teehee. Website is http://www.chimneysweeponline.com. I followed the instructions given for my problem and now I have a nice, toasty lil bit of a fire going. I am proud of myself, very proud.

Prine - Vancouver

Centre For The Performing Arts - Vancouver, B.C.

Here is where I'll be doing the Paradise Wave on October 16th.

The Paradise Wave is a wave done just below the shoulder so as you do not intrude on the dude or dudette behind you. It is not like a Queen Liz wave, it is not done slowly. It is done with passion. Sometimes, I get so excited I get both hands going. Too funny, I should put a trademark on
The Paradise Wave.

Spectacle - Elvis Costello

Schedule to appear this season on Spectacle - Elvis Costello
September 23rd, 2009
John Prine, Ray LaMontagne, Lyle Lovett
September 25th, 2009
Bruce Springsteen

Check your local listings.

Photo courtesty of Reeda Buresh

Jason Wilber

A gentleman, he is. I hope to meet him, once again in Vancouver October 16th when he accompanies John Prine.
Photo courtesy of Reeda Buresh

Let The Fun Begin!

My noisemaker has left me for a week to spend time with his sons/grandsons on a (as my stepson calls it) tri-generational camping trip. Geez, I have a stack of cds to play and I have been playing since about 4:30 a.m. this morning. I feel like I am in Paradise. Currently, I am listening to Standard Songs For Average People - John Prine/Mac Wiseman. My Mom would have love it; one of her favorite songs was Old Rugged Cross. I can see her and my Dad dancing to Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine. {or as John Prine says, Wah-der-melon Wine}.

I have a the t-shirt that goes with the cd, Standard Songs For Average People - it is the best fitting Prine shirt I have. Most of them are rather large for my small frame, but no matter, I wear them anyway. I wade in them.

It is always so quiet in these four walls when the noisemaker is not here, he does make a lot of noise. My fine neighbor will be around to check on me everyday at 10:00 a.m. That is my fine neighbor, Chris. Further down the road from where we live, I have a reliable neighbor to which I can call on for any problems that should arise or just to talk, that is nice, and I am thankful for that.

...I'll cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown...
From the cd - Standard Songs For Average People ~ John Prine and Mac Wiseman

Photo courtesy of http://www.jpshrine.org/
Reeda Buresh

I Prine, I Pantene

This morning I Prined, I Pantened. Unfortunately, the Pantene to what I was Prinein' to did not have the same tune.

Some months ago we were at a big box store and I needed conditioner for my locks. I did not have my glasses but could make out the word moisturizer. I thought, well, that would be good and placed it in the basket.

Upon using the product twice, I have suds more than any pulp or paper mill in operation that currently is polluting the earth. From two shampoos of my locks, I will give Marilyn Monroe a run for the suds in her bubble bath scene.

Today, I finally looked at the product with my magnifiers - it is shampoo - not conditioner. I have been double duty Pantene-ing.

...geez I'm getting old...

These Boots Are Made For Prinein'

These boots are made for Prinein'
And that is what they'll do
One of these days my boots will
Toe tap to Johnny too!

On October 16th, a month from today, can you believe it!

As you see my Dingos have weathered up well, I have had them for over 30 years.

Now will I wear them to the John Prine Vancouver concert ~ only time will tell.

They are kind of dirty and they are more of a working boot (move the fn cattle out of here boot). But we'll see.

Lordy, if I wear them, and go stage front, John would see me and autograph them with my fancy new pens. Skunkeye knows of these pens to which will autograph shirts, Hatch Prints - everything. She is sending me some for Vancouver.

I have to stop and do the Paradise Wave, it happens several moments in a given day now. Geez, I do hope I do not Paradise Wave down the mountain or the air will uplift the bus, then we are really screwed! :)

Prine - Kansas

Photo courtesy of www.jpshrine.org

My apologies, I only know two people in the photo. The short, my relating to person with the blue shirt is Reeda. *she breaks/brakes for the Paradise Wave*

The gentleman in the white shirt is Rumbleshorts.

A great time was had by all, to this, I am Prine certain of.

Prine Boots

It has been years of speaking about the footwear of John Prine. This photo of Prine footwear attire is courtesy of Reeda Buresh, - http://www.jpshrine.org/

The following will introduce you to a standard of how men and boots should get a long. May it be your standard ~

May the hem of your blue jeans
Never reach the heel of your boot.

One Month From Today

Yes, one month from today, if all goes according to plan, I should be flocking off the mountain side and making my way to Vancouver to meet up with Charlene. We have some lil incidental concert we are attending on Friday, October 16th, 2009. That would be JOHN PRINE!

I pick up my bus ticket this Wednesday - smucksville, I will be so excited!

Today, I leaped on into the van to travel down to the general store. I turned on the radio only to hear the voice of Neil Young (Downtown). Next song was Bruce Springsteen (The Rising). I thought to myself could possibly this radio station get it right and play me a John Prine for the third song. I find it monumental to have the three of them together. Ah, but my wish was not granted. Not that the next song was bad, but it was not John Prine. I would have thought I hit the mother lode if I heard all three together one after another...songs, I mean. Do you know, I have never heard John Prine on any radio station. I must be the only Prine fan out there who has yet to hear him on the radio.

As always, John Prine was a big hit in Kansas City. My friends enjoyed the new friendships they made and the concert, of course, was icing on the cake. BBB had a front row seat and believes John Prine winked at her. I should check out the Pampers aisle because if I get a front row seat in Vancouver and believe to see John Prine a-winkin' at me - smucksville - I'd pee myself!

John Prine/Toronto with Charlene and Crusher

This was just too good not to publish - Charlene and Crusher in front of Massey Hall ~ Toronto, Ontario August 14th, 2009.

Photo credits to Norm.

Geez, I hope they have something like this in Vancouver at the Centre For Performing Arts and it will be placed at street level; so we can take a picture. Charlene, bring the t-shirt ~ Crusher is travelling around the world in t-shirt form, we should sign it. I'll bring the waterproof pens.

Sara Watkins

Sara Watkins will be appearing with John Prine in Vancouver, October 16, 2009. Also in Victoria (which is now sold out), Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.

See more at www.sarawatkins.com

Photos courtesy of her website.

They're Going To Kansas City

My Prine friends are on their way to Kansas City to see John Prine. Rumbleshorts and Reeda. I truly should have had my wits about me and sent them both coupons for 'depends' because with all the excitement of meeting everyone and then the John Prine concert - I am quite certain some leakage may occur.

I am so excited for them, to meet each other - to have the rib dinner at Winslows and then to Prine.

33 more days until Charlene and I meet in Vancouver.
35 more days until we Prine and Prine we will!

What Do You Hold Dear - Your Collections

I collect several items. I love to walk roadside and look for rock hearts. Rocks hearts are very special, special for everyone who recieves and everyone who gives. I also collect feathers, I have flickers, jays, a a good rooster feather. All are very special to me, I love them.

I have heard it said when a person collects, it is meaningful to them.

It is meaningful to me, I hope same for you.

oh yes, I do Prine, so I have this small white box that Charlene Stevenson sent for me, I keep my Prine treasures there. I have stuff from Crusher, postcards, it is all Prine.

35 more days to Prine - Vancouver!
2 days until Prine - Kansas - oh lucky, RS, Reeda, and for all who goes, the bbq, yep - I can taste it!

Paul Lavon Davis

Paul Davis - a great artist, singer of beautiful love songs. "I Go Crazy", an all time favorite of mine. It satisfies my mind, my soul, my heart.

Born, in Mississippi - Meridan - also died there. I know where that is and one day when I win the lotto I will visit there.

Paul Davis had great back up singers.
I could have been one of them.

In the time that permits, perhaps, I could join up with Reeda, CC, SE, NTD, Rumbleshorts, and all those other Prine flockers - yep, we'd Prinestorm, the venue may never be the same.

In the meantime, I will go crazy with the hunk - Paul Lavon Davis.

Ouch, you SOB!

Yesterday, our seasonal neighbors and I were trotting through the woods. Naturally, I was yapping at the lips and did not notice to where I was walking. There on the forest ground was a fine looking tree branch (a big one) and because I was yapping, not looking, I stepped at the right angle to have the branch break and it strike me just above my eyeball, just below the brow. I cursed out, you S.O.B. Yikers, the blood was spewing everywhere and of course, no one had any kleenex. I grabbed some leaves from a poplar tree, slapped them on the wound and raced on back to the abode.

Noisemaker, he sees me near launch mode and realizes - Houston - we have a problem. It is the blood factor - there is a lot of blood rolling down my face with bug infested poplar leaves on my cheek. A nature beauty queen to say the least.

After cleaning the wound, it is only a small quarter inch dot. I cannot place a band-aid on it because I appear to have allergy to the glue on band-aids. It bled during the hours of darkness, but this morning after a clean up, it is still a dot with only some limited bruising. Kind of looks like a beauty mark, a nature beauty mark.

Another day in Paradise - cooking, cleaning, baking and getting whacked by a tree branch!

Singing

Do any of you folks get two songs stuck in your brain and sing them together? This happens to me all the time. For two days now I have had a Bruce Springsteen song and a Diana Ross and the Supremes song rumbling around - it turns out this way . . .

I can't believe what you say
No I can't believe what you say
Oh babe
Oh the pain, the pain

The Bruce Springsteen song is Fade Away or I Don't Want To Fade Away (something like that - if I was not so lazy, I would check) - but I think you are receiving the wave length. The Diana Ross and the Supremes song is Reflections. I can have five songs rolling at one time in my brain from Hank Williams to Hendrix. Sometimes it is only one song but I sing it three different ways. Take City of New Orleans written by Steve Goodman. I like to sing that song - doing Sammi Smith, Steve Goodman, and Arlo Guthrie.

Then, comes the American National Anthem. I like the melody to the song, it is a hard song to sing. I think at one time it was a believable song, but not so much today. Our Canadian Anthem is much easier to sing - well, not in french though. I only and will always sing the English version.

I enjoy to sing. I even put words to songs that have no words. For instance, the theme song from The Waltons (I love that show). Some songs to which I have no clue what the words are, well I make them up.

When I turned six years old (I started school when I was five), my Mom received a telephone call from my teacher, Miss Ongman. She greeted my Mom, said she had a question about your daughter. Mom became quite alarmed (of course, I did not know this until several years later) and inquired what is the problem? Miss Ongman replied - no problem - I would like your daughter to sing a christmas carol at the christmas concert, solo - would that be ok for you? My Mom laughed and said, of course it would be fine.

We had a trial run. Miss Ongman played the piano. All went well. The day of the christmas concert, I was introduced as was the song I was to sing - Away In A Manger. I walked up to my masking tape 'X' , with my hands together, bowed to the audience and started to sing. I wanted to see my Mom and Dad and spotted them, I did not break in the song, I simply raised my left hand up and waved to them. My Dad waved back. I bowed after my song and left the stage. My introduction to stardom came and left within five minutes.

I continued to sing in several christmas concerts, I loved doing that. Here, on the mountain side well, I sing to the animals. We have regulars that come, they know my voice. I think they are beginning to understand some of my favorite songs. Who would have thought!

Photo - Courtesy of Mr. Skunkeye. He took that for the benefit of I, John Prine was singing Paradise. Photo is taken at Redrocks. The Skunk was busy doing the Paradise Wave.

Can you believe it in less than 40 days, I will be seeing John Prine! I am so excited. I read posts on the http://www.jpshrine.org/. Two of the followers here will be attending the John Prine concert in Kansas City, Rumbleshorts and Reeda. Reeda from Iowa and Rumbleshort from Minnesota.

I have to start packing up my gifts for folks. I have horseshoes, rodeo candles - Greyhound with the downsizing will probably charge me extra because I will have more baggage weight than my own weight. Do I care - no! I do not. I am going off the mountain, I am going to meet Charlene, we will Prine - eat at the golden arch place, find a good bakery (that should not be hard), be tourists.

I planned to take CC to Granville Island, it is art filled and free! Also lunch or supper maybe even breakfast at Sears Tower but will dedicate Friday for John Prine. We'll go to the venue and perhaps I will bring some baking to give to the set up folks. Those Unturtled Bars, I know they would love. I could packed them up here because they will not melt, the weather will be cool, everything will be. I am so excited about that 'get your ticket at the window thing' - it is my first presale! I can imagine all these folks Prine-ing big time, yappin' away. *she does the Paradise Wave*.

Tomorrow, I am going on a vitamin speil because I know in the city of Vancouver, the bus ride, germs will be floating I will be floating on the mindset I get to Prine with Prine and CC. I do not want to be broken, out of gas, spent. I only want to meet CC and see - maybe get my picture taken with John Prine, Jason Wilber, and David Jacques.

Happy Working Class Heros Day Weekend, Folks

I hope it is a good weekend for all folks because I know all folks work.

From the person laying in some hospital bed trying to stay alive to the lil bit of a wife at home whose husband is in some union job whose benefits are slipping away along with his pension. Happy Labor Day.

For the homeless person trying to collect bottles just to get a cigarette - Happy Labor Day.

I always think of my Dad on Labor Day (and no, do not tell me I have to add the 'u' because I am Canadian - that is strictly the UK - those folks across the pond and I have never been in favor of a queen that lives so far away from the mountain side).

My Dad was a very strong individual. He worked, strived for - the working class. I will always be proud of him.

I tried, several times, to link you to a page of a newspaper to where he struck his own union because he claimed 'unfair'. The linky link did not work for me. Then, I tried to find the UA Local 170 sticker I received just after he died. To no avail. I am not battin' good, here and I doubt I will even get to first base. But, I plod on. That is what workers have to do. Unfortnately, that does not seem to come to bare any sort of fruit. Geez, do you ever wonder why.

Oh, sit a spell - and say to yourself - Power, Control, and Greed.

Gee - what comes to your mind?

'A Working Class Hero Is Something To Be' ~ John Lennon

A Wild Couple Of Days, The Moon is Coming To Full

Smucksville, it has been wild here with major thunderstorms, major lightening, and circumstances well beyond my control. Oh no, not that I can control the weather system - lord, I am not of the governmental nature. I had other issues/circumstances to deal with.

We have had over 200 lightening strikes here just over night. There is not chance in hell the Forest Service is ever going to have these fires under control. As I have mentioned, before, I think - they will not permit a open fire ban until 2010 Opening Ceremonies. They need the damn flame and it will be an open flame.

My best news is my oldest brother and his wife paid us a visit. It was a very nice time; I served a luncheon of ham, salads, buns and of course - those Unturtled Bars (god, I love them).

44 days until John Prine - geez, I must get packing!