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Monday With the Myers

~~ Labor Day ~~

We had three beautiful days to enjoy the bluegrass festival, then woke up to a rainy morning on Monday.

The festival promoters must have felt blessed that the rain held off until Monday.

Rain often ceates some pretty scenery

It was fun to spend 30 to 40 minutes visiting with Michelle, my Facebook, photographer friend who lives near Mark and Diane. (I forgot to take a picture.)

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After the sunshine came out, I walked around and took a few pictures.

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They have a creative chicken pen that gets moved to a new section of their yard every day. Diane told me it is a “chicken tractor” because it is a chicken pen that can be moved.  It must be covered each night.

Potatoes and onions – products of their garden.

Diane still has a very nice stand of mint tea.

Heze picking cherry tomatoes for lunch.

Pretty flowers

We spent most of the day playing “Scum” a really fun game where your placement around the table for the next hand is determined by how well you play the current hand. 

The winner sits in the king’s (or queen’s) seat, and the looser is “scum.”

The winner gets an upper hand after each deal by giving their worst two cards to scum, and scum has to give their two best cards to the queen/king.

It was a fun day!

Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.

Psalm 143:8 (Contemporary English Version) 

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It’s me again Lord, I’ve got a prayer that needs an answer
It’s me again Lord, I’ve got a problem I can’t solve
Well I don’t mean to worry you but here I am facing something new
And I need help that only comes from You, it’s me again Lord.

Dottie Rambo

Last Day of the Bluegrass Festival

(and today’s flooding)

After church on Sunday, we and the Myers went back to Thomas Point Beach for another enjoyable afternoon and evening of relaxation and music.

Diane packed ingredients for delicious sandwiches, also pretzels, cheese, and blueberry cake.

I caught Elizabeth enjoying a drink.

Lydia looks like she is contemplating her next bite of sandwich.

Many of the afternoon groups were the same as Saturday.

Two fancy washboards

The audience

This little girl was playing with a hula hoop that was one of many that were available for guests to use – or buy.

The Del McCoury Band was the last group on the main stage for the festival.

I was disappointed that the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band was not on the main stage, but they only began at 10:30 p.m., so I expect they had to be on the trailer stage due to the campground sound ordinance. I enjoy their hillbilly antics and songs.

Everyone stood to watch them, so we only stayed for a few songs.

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It seems strange to be entering a pleasant post from Sunday, when the last twenty-four hours have been so dramatic in our area of Pennsylvania due to flooding last night and today.

Travis Miller (one of the young guys who hangs out in our “man cave” with our grandsons) pulling a Chevy Duramax out of the flood waters near his house.

We were not personally affected by any of the flood waters – even though we had close to fourteen inches of rain in the last few days – as our sump pumps kept our basement dry.

However, there was serious damage and two drownings within a few miles of our house. We were encouraged by authorities to not go anywhere today, so we have not personally seen any damage.

A woman in our area posted some good photos of the flooding in Manheim, a town near us. I have included the link to her Facebook pictures. I think you should be able to access them – if you have a Facebook page: here

We live near the headwaters of one of the streams that flow into Manheim, so usually see only temporary flooding on our road.

Pray for the many who are dealing with flooded basements and homes – and especially for those whose family members drowned because of quickly rising waters. 

I just found another set of pictures on Facebook here taken near us. (Ferrellgas is where Cerwin worked for 40 years, and the buckled road on the bridge is at White Oak – a small village very near us.)

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I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (New Living Translation)

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Pray especially for many in our area whose basements, homes, and businesses are being flooded today.

Saturday At Thomas Point Beach

~~Bluegrass Festival~~

September 3

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We hung out with the Myers’ before going to the festival.

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Elizabeth scrapbooking

Hezekiah showing grandpa something on Elizabeth’s phone.

The pickin’ and singin’ began promptly at noon with Karl Shiflett and Big Country

Playing a washboard

Manic Mountain Boys

It was fun to have Diane & Mark join us on Saturday.

Jerks of Grass

(checked online, but couldn’t find out why they chose that name)

JD Crowe and New South

JD on the banjo

Dobro

Mandolin

Danny Paisley and Southern Grass

Danny’s eleven-year-old son is amazing on the mandolin.

The Seldom Scene

 (love their music)

Several people called this a night lantern when we noticed it gently floating overhead.

It looked like the Thai Sky Lantern we saw the other summer when visiting Minnesota.

Steep Canyon Rangers were the closing act on Saturday evening – 9:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

It was a delightful day with great music.

Excel in showing respect for each other.

Romans 12:10 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

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It is easy to show respect to those who are respectful, but it takes the Lord’s help and grace to respect disrespectful, ungodly people.

Thomas Point Beach

Bluegrass Festival, Brunswick, Maine

Friday, September 2

Everyone waiting for the stroke of noon to place chairs on the lawn in front of the stage.

This was me most of Friday – listening to music and reading a book.

Following our busy summer – this was a welcome, do-nothing-vacation.

The stage

Our friends Betty (left) and Wayne (center) and their daughters have a very nicely designed vegetable/bake/craft wagon.

Our granddaughter, Lydia (blue shirt on left) was one of their helpers. Notice the blueberry loaves on the middle rack. These were baked by our daughter, Diane.

Diane made 104 loaves, which made the house smell wonderful each morning.

There are ten large mill stones located throughout the grounds.

The tide is in at this inlet area.

The four-faced Westminster Chime Clock chimes every 1/4 hour when the chimes are on. Very few of these clocks remain in the country.

The beach area

The large tent that provides shade for those who do not want to sit on the lawn in the sun.

The Loose Caboose sells hot dogs, drink, ice cream, ice, wood, and is a source for information.

A view from our seats.

There is plenty to eat – including the main snack shop.

Rhonda Vincent was on the grounds for her evening concert, and opened the weekend of bluegrass music by singing The Star Spangled Banner.

That happened at 3:00 p.m. on Friday.

Al Hawkes and Band were the first performers.

I like mountain music, and these two were the ones who most satisfied my love of that sound.

JoeSings and The Band

Rhonda Vincent’s bus.

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are always a favorite at this festival.

This was an early night – as their set was from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Friday and Saturday night’s concerts lasted until 10:30 p.m.)

Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me.

John 14:6 (The Message)

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No one

Hezekiah’s First Day at Vo-Tech

To Study Auto Mechanics

Friday, September 2

Diane & Hezekiah waiting for the high school bus – plus several neighbors.

Up to this point Heze has been homeschooled, so this was his first day to ride a school bus – except once when he went with a cousin in elementary school.

Students come from from Brunswick, Topsham, Freeport, and surrounding areas.

He will be going here Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

He will continue to be homeschooled for the rest of his subjects – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Shop area – with the classroom through the open door.

Ready to learn about auto mechanics. One of these tool boxes will be Hezekiah’s for the year.

Try your best to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work hard.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 (Contemporary English Version)

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Wouldn’t that solve a lot of problems – if everyone lived quietly, minded their own business, and worked hard?