John Prine 2016 - Fish & Whistle Tour

Holy Smucksville - is not this Prine delightful!

Fish & Whistle artwork - thank you Charlene Stevenson.

Prine Smucksville, hopefully Vancouver, B.C. July - I will be there!

Ben/John Prine and I

From October 2009.  It was such a fun time, I am remembering it today.

...In August 2005 I attended a John Prine concert in Vancouver, British Columbia.  As I strolled outside at intermission I noticed a gentleman standing among the Prine folk.  I did not know the man, but later that evening I saw him again, standing outside the venue after the show, waiting for John Prine.

This was the concert where that fine gentleman strolled me on in to meet John Prine.  Holy Smucksville!

Two months later, I was walking out on the dirt road on the mountain side and noticed a van...these folks looked lost.  I walked on up to the van and asked if they required some assistance.  There was an elderly couple and what looked to be their son.  We chatted and I asked if they would like to come on down and see the creek.  The father replied sure.  When we got to our home, the Mom said, she would stayed up by our home with Noisemaker.  The Dad, the son, and I walked to the creek.

When we got to the creek, the Dad said - this is Paradise.  I said just like the song Paradise written by one of my favorite musicians.  The son look at me and said, John Prine...you are the lady in the black vest, I remember you.

In 2009 I am back in Vancouver to see John Prine ...again.  This time with Charlene.  After the show we went to the back alley to wait for John Prine.  Who is out there but, Ben.  I yelled on over - it was a Prine moment, it was golden.

John Prine - a very special place

Set List - a beautiful place in Colorado, thank you - Charlene.

We had to travel to the city yesterday...coming down the mountain, I took this photo - who is looking down on me...I am wondering...

When we arrived in the city I had to pay a visit to the ladies room.  I when to slipped off my jean jacket it, I lost control of it and it dropped on to the floor.  The fall broke my John Prine pendant, I was so mad.  I can fix it with glue.  It was a gift to me from my Prine friend Charlene Stevenson.  It is a treasure.

It was a very busy time in the city.  I am glad to have returned home safe and of sound mind.  I know in my heart I do want to return to live in a city again.  It will take some adjusting to do, but I am 5' up to it!

John Prine - Madison, Wisconsin

Thank you - Charlene.  The set list - John Prine - Madison, Wisconsin ~ 2014.03.15

Many thanks for making the fine John Prine pendants.  Much appreciated by all John Prine folks.

John Prine - Madison, WI

               The Mountain Side does too - Enjoy - Madison Welcomes                                                John Prine!

John Prine - Nashville

Photo - Thank you - Charlene

 

John Prine - Nashville (ah, don't you wish).  I certainly do.  It is on my bucket list to see John Prine in Nashville ~ I hope for the best.  Well, eh the best would be the mountain side.  Good grief - as I laugh out loud!

 

Could you imagine, some rather heavy set fellow walking down the drive ~ I would be out there in a flash - asking the question - can I help you?  You need help, are you lost...

 

{Major laughing} ~ to be continued. . .

Happy Birthday John Prine

Photo - Reeda Buresh

Truly a dedicated Prinette.

Photo - Charlene Stevenson

Sockmonkeys dig Prine.  Created by Naj.

Photo - Janis Ferguson

Oh, on the monkey with the checkered scarf, check out the arm band.  Mom?

Love Abounds.

 

 

 

The Black Vest

Thank you Charlene for taking the picture.

 

Jason Wilber, yours truly, and David Jacques.

 

The first christmas Noisemaker and I spent together (some 30 plus years ago) the gift he purchased for me was the black vest in this photo.  I love this vest, I wore it every chance I could.  The vest was near in shreds so I laid it to rest last week.  My word, my eyes started to leak.  I have such fond memories of the time I spent with my vest.  I wore it to Prine, Springsteen, Young, ah, the list of events is endless.  So long ~ you will be miss.

John Prine - Silhouette

John Prine - Silhouette

See more at:  www.crabbycharscharms.com

 

As mentioned in previous post, we were in town yesterday - Noisemaker had a doctors' appointment.  He attended and was sent to the hospital for tests.  It is nothing of a serious nature only; but does have to be dealt with.  We arrived at the hospital to find it will be approximately a 2 1/2 hour wait.  My word, my Noisemaker is not a happy camper.  I sat with him for awhile then said, I am going to take a walk.  It is beautiful fall weather here.  I wandered around the grounds of the hospital; then to the van, I was set to have a cigarette.  There was a fellow two vehicles down from me; he was having a cigarette also, I thought to myself - ah, lip flappin' time.

 

I went over and said hello; talked about the weather.  He mentioned he was waiting for his wife, who like Noisemaker was in for tests.  My lip flappin' was going very well with my hospital ground acquaintance, a gentleman about 73 or so.  As we were chatting he asked me - what is that pin you are wearing, what does that mean?  (The pin I have attached to my jean jacket is pictured above - The Silhouette made by Charlene Stevenson).  Well, I tell you the lip flappin' went into overdrive.  I said, well this is a pin all the way from Wisconsin, my girlfriend makes these.  This is a silhouette of a folk/country singer named John Prine.  Have you heard of him?  He replies no, I have not but maybe I could asked my grandkids or kids if they have.  I went on to say, John Prine is much a storyteller and his words/music are enjoyed by many a Prine folk.  I remembered I am wearing my Prine t-shirt - my I heart Johnny.  I whip my jacket opened and say oh eh, look at my t-shirt.  He man started to laugh, he says, you must really appreciate this mans music.  I do, I do - I replied.  We laughed.  A few minutes later, I said I best go check in on my husband.  I told him, I will return and thank you so much for chatting with me.

 

I get back to the hospital, there is my Noisemaker sitting there but not looking as miserable as what he did when I left.  He is next on the list - oh happy days.  I told Noisemaker, I will sit with you until you have to go in, then I will meet you back at the van.  oh teehee, there is a gentleman out there, I am telling him all about John Prine!  Noisemaker shook his head, I laughed and off I went.

 

I see my gentleman lip flapper waiting by his car, I walk over and start lip flappin' with him.  I told him, you know you quite made my day, passing time waiting for our spouses to finish up in the hospital - it was so nice to talk with you.  He agreed.  I looked up and thought I saw the Noisemaker coming, I said - oh the first is my husband...he looked at me strange.  I looked again, I said, oh no, it is the second husband.  He looked at me and said, how many husbands do you have?  I near laughed myself silly.  Neither of the men were the Noisemaker. 

 

It took me a bit to regain and regroup - lip flap somemore.  ah, then strolls the real Noisemaker.  Oh, I said - here comes my husband.  giggle, giggled my first husband, my only husband.

 

I thanked the gentleman once again for making my day brighter.  He thanked me and we departed.

 

It was enjoyable to have some good giggling lip flappin' time with a gentleman, a perfect stranger and of course, to peddle Prine.

 

 

John Prine - Milwaukee

Great concert - one of the best - from my friend Charlene who attended the Milwaukee concert last night.  Charlene says John had a twinkle in his eye; and I think she said a skip in his step.  May not have been a skip but he had something in his step.  I wonder if he maybe would like to jump rope - skipping rope, I know lots of songs and can adapt them very well to any John Prine song.  What do you think, John - care to do a skipping rope song with me on some street in Vancouver?  (mega major giggle).

As luck rides with Charlene, she was in the lobby of a hotel - who do you think wanders in through the revolving door - yeppers...John Prine.  ah, wearing his fine leather jacket and a scarf - but she did not mention any footwear.  I was still struck by the telephone call but I should have been thinking the boots, the boots - footwear. 

Note to self - footwear, boots, skipping rope, skipping rope songs.  Oh my, now my mind is going; perhaps John takes a fancy to the tap dancing way.  I can do that - I can do three at one time - toe tappin', head noddin', john prinein and I will cover all of that in Vancouver.  teehee, hopefully with a partner.  But, if no partner, I am well acquainted with dancing on my own.  I do it all the time. 

Try to focus now - can you imagine skipping rope on Robson Street in Vancouver singing a Prine song, having Naj and Brett holding the rope, then who arrives but John Prine (oh my stomach is hurting from laughter).  Maybe John would jump in and we could do doubles.  Wild thought - double dutch with John Prine.   

Note to Naj - must find a polka shirt!  Bring comfortable shoes, an umbrella, and your fine sense of humor.  Lord, do not forget Brett!

WhooooooBaby, I gotta go now.....

Let Is Snow - Let It Snow

NOT - CEASE AND DESIST - PLEASE.  I am near drowning in the white flakes.  What a blizzard we have had.  I went down to see the beaver activity and was near taken skyward by the wind, holy smucksville.  Sometimes, I do wish the wind would lift me skyward, perhaps, take me to Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi - only because those are some of the states I have not visited.

Only 69 more wake ups until John Prine in Vancouver.  Good grief.  You would think that I was seeing John Prine, March 5 to all that rambles up in my brain.  My greatest fear is that I will forget something - i.e. like a bus ticket.  Holy Smucksville that would not be a Martha Stewart thing (a good thing).  However, should that situation arise there is another bus I can take but that would knock some hours off of visiting and Prineing in the streets of Vancouver with Janis and Brett Ferguson.

Oh, I just never dreamed I would be able to meet up with the Fergusons'.  I was pleased to meet with Charlene Stevenson to Prine - Vancouver, 2009.  And, now 2012 - May 4th - the skunk.  It's holy smucksville mega.

John Prine - Icing Cheers!

Icing Cheers!

Photo Credit - The Ferguson Family

Celebration - Another Birthday For Janis

What a great picture doing icing cheers, I had never heard of icing cheers before this picture.  Only Prine Cheers!  The look on Noah's face (Janis's grandson), is priceless.  The cake looks delicious.  What a special birthday Janis had - she received Prine tickets to both Winnipeg and Vancouver.  In Winnipeg she will Prine with her fine husband, Brett; and her brother.  In Vancouver, they will be Prineing with me!  74 more days and we will be sitting in The Centre toe tappin', head noddin', John Prinein'. 

I will be scouting out the territory prior to the concert.  hmm...I know it well, I went to the Centre to see John Prine in October 2009 with Charlene Stevenson - another Prine friend.

Tomorrow, I purchase my bus ticket.  Holy Smucksville - what they fail to tell you on line...  I am thankful I telephoned the depot.  Fuel tax?  Not that I can purchase a ticket on line, but if you opt for that, there is a charge.  Every corporation/company out there has a charge for this, charge for that.

However, to this I must proceed.  I am not sure how many more Canadian concerts John Prine will - in a healthy way , be a toe tappin' (wear those find boots John) - able to do.  My word, he was born the same year as my Noisemaker - 1946.  I must say, Mr. Prine sings much better than my Noisemaker.  Maybe Mr. Prine should sing with me in Vancouver.  I could be wildly out on the street of Robson or Homer - viola - see John Prine.  Trust me, I do not run wild - but eh, I will be on Homer or Robson singing.  I will certainly be at the entrance of the concert hall when they are loading in the equipment.  I am hunting down a certain guitar player that rounds out the John Prine concert, and it is not Jason Wilber (he is the ones that plays everything else), it is David Jacques.  I need his autograph to complete my Hatch Prine Print.  I lost him last time. 

Counting the dots......74 more days :)

eh, Neil

Photo Credit:  Chris Young - Canadian Press

Juno Awards - Toronto, Ontario

I do not know if Chris Young is related to Neil; could be Neil's nephew.  This photo is pure Canadian.  You have Neil and the red coated RCMP!  eh, how Neil can some folks get.

I wish I could get a good close up of this picture because it appears to me Neil is wearing something around his neck that clearly resembles John Prine pendants made by Charlene Stevenson.  Or perhaps, Neil received the Order of Canada Medal - hell - who knows - but  "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (Neil Young).

Baking, My Heart Out

Our community holds an annual bake sale - third weekend in May - long weekend in Canada. This is what I have baked to take.

7 dozen assorted cookies - chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter. They are in the cute little heart bags and leaf bags. 18 Butter Pecan cupcakes - 6 Vanilla cupcakes.

Tomorrow is set up day, for the Sunday bake sale. Weather is anticpated to be good; and good it should be. We need all the folks to come on out and support our auxiliary/fire department.

Don't you wish you were here?

Bags and Sprinkles - thank you SkunkeyeJan and Charlene Stevenson

Smucksville

The moon is changing. The mood of folks is changing. Honestly, folks - I do not want to join up with Linda on Mars, but I think my noisemaker should. He went into such a rage this morning.

Living rural, you have to do much via the telephone. Certainly, you can email. I am making reference to purchases. We cannot do this on line - we are on dial up. Everything that could have went wrong, went wrong this morning. Oh, I feel for those folks that are fighting wars that should not be. However, I feel I went through a war this morning. It is peaceful now.

I will relay to you, just one of my problems this morning ~ as many of you know Charlene Stevenson is an acquaintance of mine - oh alas - we went to see John Prine in October 2009.

Today, I received an informant card, - a parcel is at the Post Office. The card I received is addressed to:

C. Stevenson
**** Boulanger Road
*******, BC, ******
Canada

I called to Canada Post, only because I had checked the telephone book to fine that C. Stevenson does resides in a village 100 miles north of where I reside. Furthermore, there is a **** Boulanger Road, located 10 miles away. Now, I have a card, a number. I explain to Canada Post, give what is address on the card. I give my name, my address - and ask one simple question - is the parcel address to (say my name, my address) and is from (say) Madison, Wisconsin.

Bonus, all is correct! To confirm, I must relay 3 digits from the card I receive.

I was so frustrated by the events of the morning and obviously so was the postal clerk - I let well enough alone.

We will attend to the pick up of the parcels - oh, eh - we had two. Smucksville, thank god - the other was correctly addressed to the noisemaker.

SLUAPO!

Luckenbach, Texas

ah, Waylon. Today, I woke up with that song stuck in my brain. I wondered if people in Luckenbach, Texas were feeling any pain. I felt no pain today; although I have a terrible head cold, no pain. Simple happiness.

Such a beautiful day on the mountain side. A beautiful day, indeed.

I received a very nice parcel today, I picked it up at the post office. Thank you Charlene. Holy Smucksville!

I may have already posted the picture, however, I lost it due to computer malfunction. In todays' mail I received this picture, autographed by Jason Wilber. How sweet is that. The photo was taken in the back alley near The Centre (Vancouver) to where John Prine played last year - October 16th to be exact. Did I tell you folks how it was the second time that I met John Prine and Jason Wilber...oh I must have told you. I tell everyone!

If only I could snag David Jacques. That gentleman eludes me. I have missed him two times.
Next time, I am coming after you Mr. Jacques! ;)

Photo - Charlene Stevenson

A Celebration, Indeed

Smucksville, I have so much to write today, I should be wearing my John Prine hat - Old Prine Fans Never Die - they just go to Paradise (where Tom Reynolds is now). I need the hat to keep all my thoughts in my brain.

A Celebration weekend is near upon us. In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving and I do have much to be thankful for. Thankful for the friends I have, thankful for a body, a soul and a heart that still beats. Sometimes, it goes to flutter stage but that is only when I meet John Prine, see photos of Bruce Springsteen and a few other minor situations.

We have lots of seasonal folks coming to the mountain side to celebrate Thanksgiving. That constitutes a big baking day tomorrow. I have Honey Pecan Breakfasts loaves to make and 24 cupcakes. The cupcakes, I have fancy, decorative sugars to put on the icing. (Thank you, Naj).

The big celebration is the birthday of John Prine. October 10, 2010. 10-10-10. Hopefully, all will toast (big time) to Mr. Prine. On special Prine days, I wear my John Prine t-shirt. On really special days like Sunday, I will wear my new socks. I love new socks. When I went to see John Prine in Vancouver last October - yep - I had new socks. I wore my Prine t-shirt, my Prine pendant (Thank you, Charlene). Good grief, I even had black panties on that had a little 'J' label on them. Oh lord, I must focus or go and get my hat!

Oh yes, Naj - that is Janis Ferguson (skunkeyejan). I experienced some difficulty with email and got her and Jason Wilber mixed up. Her name got changed to Naj (Jan backwards).

We went to the village yesterday, we bought lots of groceries to fill up the deep freeze and the pantry. I should never let Noisemaker loose in a grocery store, alone. He comes back with two turkeys - oh, the good lad was just thinking ahead. One of the turkeys he purchased comes not far from where Naj lives. I bet you that will be the finest - best tasting turkey!

I am looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and John Prine's 64th birthday - such happy events. Heck I was porch side this morning singing Happy Birthday. That was my dog's favorite song. He'd sing along with me. That brings such a smile to my face; such warm, loving thoughts of my four legged friend.

My lips will be flappin' this weekend and I did not want to miss the celebration blog for our Johnny. So ~ Cheers, John Prine, Cheers! Reminds me of the labels from Crown Royal that I had made up. Cheers - John Prine (that is what I put on the label). I think Chad thought the world of the labels as he is a whiskey drinker. I sent a label to Naj - it came back to me in the form of a flask - John Prine stickered! I placed it in my John Prine treasure box; *she does the paradise wave* at the Prine boxes - that sit atop the desk.

John Prine - he is a treasure. As are all my John Prine friends. I am so thankful for them, I so very much appreciate each and every one of them. They all have gold inside of them - they have hearts of gold!

Happy Birthday John Prine
Happy Birthday to you
I'm laughing like hell
Because I'm younger than you

Cheers!

Photo Credit - Reeda Buresh
from the John Prine Tribute - Madison, Wisconsin

Last Day Of September

ah, the last day of September; it is beautiful here. The leaves are changing color, the fish are near finishing their life cycle, the birds are filling their bellies, and I am here to enjoy all.

I was washing my locks today and a light bulb went off in my brain because while in the shower I could not read the sample bottles ... whether it is shampoo or conditioner. I shut off the water, went and got my reading glasses and found out that shampoo is white capped and conditioner is black capped. Then, I wonder - heck - what if you are colored blind...then what do you do?

I got back in the shower and proceeded to wash up my locks. I think tomorrow I will be doing the same thing but with a different shampoo and conditioner. These samples, I would not be purchasing. My head is itching like I have some love bug up there biting me.

After I finished up with my trial of washing my locks, I decided to do some glass work. Last year, I received some broken grass/glass from Charlene. I got the bowling balls and now I have started to cut up the glass. Enjoyable it is. I have safety gloves, safety glasses, and I sang Safety Joe by John Prine - just to keep on the 'safe' side.

My wrists are not quite accomodating to the project; but a lil bit each day will be fine.

Off to the creek, I am; to see the last days of the spawn - to watch the eagles and the rest of the birds. Watch Mother Nature at her finest.

J Spruce

eh, you will all have to go on the side of focus to see this. Today, I was out snapping photos and came across a spruce tree sprouting a J. John Prine is on the mountain side!

I hope you can see it.

Special days to note ~
Happy Birthday Charlene
Happy Birthday Bill
Happy Anniversary Charlene and Bill
Cheers!