This is Memphis as a pup with her pal Jacques.
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Time for a Hurtin’ Country Tune
I first heard this tune on David Bromberg’s superb CD, Slightly Mad. Here’s Mr. Bromberg performing it live….
I don’t know who wrote this one, but I believe Conway Twitty had a hit with it…here he is…(even if you hate hurtin’ country tunes, check this out just to see his amazing hair and equally amazing outfit! Also the performance is great).
Jack Darling Park with the Rangers
Today’s plan was to get the Rangers groomed, but unfortunately our awesome groomer had to reschedule. With the morning free, I decided to take them to the leash free park at Jack Darling in Mississauga, one of our favourite places to have fun with other dogs.
Conditions were a bit icy after a melt followed by a freeze with some areas that were best avoided. 
The photo shows the worst of the trails – the whole length of it (left side of the photo) is very slippery ice today. There were some other icy patches as well, but the dogs handled them well. 
You can see how this one short section of trail melted then refroze. The ice here was quite solid. I’d rather have the ice than melting slush, though.
The dogs played with many other dogs. George just couldn’t get enough. When we got back to the gate and Memphis and I were ready to go, George scheduled one more wrestling match, this time with a 10 month old great Dane (sorry I don’t have a photo…at this point my hands were getting cold and there was no way I was taking my gloves off unless I had to).
This trip must have tuckered both Rangers out. Georgie is sound asleep at the front door, and 
Memphis is passed out on the dog bed a few feet from me. Come to think of it, I might just have a little nap too.
The Log Jam Song
I like log driving songs almost as much as I like train songs. Here’s legendary Canadian songwriter Wade Hemsworth.
Here’s my favourite of Mr. Hemsworth’s tunes, The Land of the Muskeg
Of course he also wrote the Log Driver’s Waltz and the Blackfly Song, both tunes I’ve known as long as I can remember.
Vollis Simpson’s whirligigs
Note to self…stop in Wilson next trip to NC…
Mr. Simpson passed in June of last year at age 94, but he left behind plenty of joy in his intricate creations.
Sail Away Ladies
Here’s the Coal Porters performing Sail Away Ladies
And now The Last Chance Stringband with a different take on it…
A Beautiful January Day
I was out walking the Rangers this evening – we were walking down the middle of the road because it was a little easier there than along the mostly un-cleared sidewalks. We were ambling along at a good pace until Memphis figured out I had some dog cookies in my coat pocket. She started nudging my pocket with her nose, as if to say, “hey Bud, I know you’re holding cookies….dish some out!”. So I gave Memphis and Georgie a cookie and as they were crunching them down, I noticed a fellow shoveling snow from his very large drive.
“Beautiful January day!”, I said.
He looked up from his shoveling, grunted, and said, “Winter! Like it was 40 years ago….”
“Yeah”, I said, “it just won’t stop.”
He moved a couple shovels full of snow then looked up again.
“Your forgetting about the big ice storm. In April, 2002.”
“Oh, was it in April? I forgot about that.”
He went back to his shoveling. I gave the Rangers one more dog cookie each and we continue on down the road.
Some evening relaxation….
Morning walk with the Rangers
I took these shots this morning at Jack Darling Park in Mississauga. What a beautiful crisp, sunny morning to be out goofing around with the Rangers (our nickname for our two Newfs, Memphis and Georgie). The dogs had a blast playing with all kinds of dogs at this fantastic leash-free dog park.
Banjo Camp
I’m planning to attend a banjo camp this year in June. In fact it’s the Mid-west Banjo Camp, held annually in Olivet Michigan (not far from Lansing). I’m going to attend both the “pre-camp” activities and the weekend camp, meaning I’m going to be immersed in all things banjo from the Thursday evening of that week through to lunch on Sunday, packed with demonstrations, classes, jam sessions and staff concerts.
This camp teaches both Old-Time and Bluegrass banjo styles. Although I like listening to Bluegrass, I don’t have any interest in playing Scruggs-style or bluegrass style banjo. I like playing Old-Time and I like playing clawhammer. Clawhammer, or frailing, describes the way you strike the strings, hand forming a claw shape, down-picking with the fingernail of your index or middle finger and your thumb. All the classes I plan to attend will focus on playing Old-time and playing clawhammer. There are classes on other picking styles for Old-Time music, but for now I’ll stick to one approach.
Instructors on the Old-Time side include Cathy Barton Para, Riley Baugus, Bob Carlin, Adam Hurt, Chuck Levy, Bruce Molsky, Joe Newberry and Ken Perlman – some of the best players around.
There is a full schedule of classes that covers everything from specific techniques to certain songs or styles. There are many scheduled jams as well as time for un-scheduled jams late evenings plus there are two staff concerts. The pre-camp activities are more demonstration oriented, with opportunities for questions and answers.
The camp is on a college campus with basic accommodation and all meals included. It’s about a 5.5 hour drive from Toronto. I’m really looking forward to this. For me, the jams are a huge resource because I want to develop some experience playing with others. And the opportunity to meet and learn from so many top-rate players all in one place at one time should be tremendously helpful, not to mention loads of fun.
27th Street 