Flatbranch Pickin Parlor: Newsletters

Hello!

Nope, this isn't THE letter letting you know that the Pickin Parlor is opening. Sorry. So many people have been asking. We are aiming for the second weekend in June. Joe is working hard on that "honey do" list and the Pickin Parlor is just about next. ha ha

If you are having music withdrawl, just thought I would let you know where you can find Jeff, Joe, Jacob, Dave Causey, and possibly some of the other Parlor Pickers. This weekend we are going back to the 1800's and can be found camping just a bit east of Findlay in a small place called Bruce. This is our rendezvous club: Prairieland Frontiersman.

Come visit us in our 1800 camp. I call it our "canvas condo". There will most likely be about 100 camps set up. All participants will be dressed in period correct clothing. There will be blackpowder shooting, tomahawk throwing, blanket traders, and vendors of all sorts of period correct items. Many years there are food vendors also but you just never know for sure. This event is open to the public from Friday until Sunday around 4 pm (April 25, 26, & 27). Best of all it is FREE!

This is a great time to bring the kids or grandkids and give them an idea what it was like way back then. Lots of cool things for the kids to see. Of course, you will hear music music music! Our campsite won't be hard to find because you will only have to listen for a minute and there we are! Or just ask where the piper is camped. I always feel sorry for the unsuspecting people that camp near us. I keep wanting to get a sign made that says "Beware of the Piper" and hang it outside our tent.

The first weekend in June (6th-8th) we will be doing the same thing at the rendezvous at Fort DeChartres in Redbud Illinois. This is a MUCH larger gathering with hundreds of camps, dozens and dozens of vendors and lots of activities all weekend. Again, this is a great family activity and is a wonderful history lesson.

Oh, I almost forgot, of course you need directions to Prairieland. Since MYworld revolves around Moweaqua and that is where I will give you directions from. (and I am directionally challenged so if you take me away from Route 51 I am lost!) From Moweaqua on Route 51 south to Assumption Findlay blacktop. Turn east, go through Findlay, cross the big Findlay Bridge, keep on going east, cross the highway (you will see Howies gas station on your left. It's a great place for breakfast!) keep going east on the same blacktop. About 5 miles from Howies it is likely you will start to see the smoke from the campfires above the treeline. There will be a sign up that says Praireland. Ta Da! You have arrived. We are on the north side of the road and there is no way you won't realize you are where you want to be.

Sure hope to see you there!

And, don't give up, Flatbranch Friday will happen soon.

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR UPDATE


March 7,2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Hope this finds everyone happy and well. I know lots of you have been wondering when the Pickin Parlor is going to open. I know back in December we planned on opening in March but it does not look like we will be ready just yet.

The cold weather and the snow has kept Joe from getting finished with the work at the Parlor. We are currently putting in a kitchen area in the back room and redoing that whole area. Right now there is NO floor back there,just a big hole. Humm guess we could fill it with water and call it the Pickin Parlor Public Pool. This is just a regular kitchen area, not for a restaurant.

It will most likely be the end April or first of May before we start the music again. Jeff and Joe are busy right now getting ready for St. Patrick's Day. Saturday, March 15th they will be playing in Decatur at Doherty's Pub and Pins for their St. Patrick's Day party. They will be playing from 5-7 p.m. If you haven't been to Doherty's yet, you are missing a real treat! It is located in downtown Decatur where the old Shaffer's Bowling Alley used to be. It has been thoroughly remodeled into an Irish themed restaurant/pub. The guys played there last St. Patrick's Day as well. If you aren't busy, come on up to Doherty's and enjoy a great meal and some even better music! On St. Patrick's Day Joe and Jeff and Jacob will be playing all day at several different places in the area. The first stop of morning will be Gregory Elementary in Moweaqua, then on to Moweaqua Nursing Home, Hickory Estates in Taylorville, and Christian County Mental Health in Taylorville. By this time it is nearly 2 p.m. and we are heading to Shelbyville to play for a group at the hospital and then to the Shelbyville retirement center. Makes me tired just thinking about it! But it is fun and it has been a tradition for Joe to play at these places on St. Patrick's Day for the last 6-7 years. We look forward to it each year.

Jeff's wife Jan has been through some serious health issues the past 6 weeks. She and Jeff were both sick with upper respiratory stuff the beginning of January. The last week in January, Jan made a trip to ER and underwent an appendectomy. It ended up that the appendix was very infected and spread infection throughout her body. Not only did she suffer from this but it was discovered she had pneumonia at the same time. After a few days in the hospital she was sent home to recoup. However, after a week at home, she kept feeling worse. Ultimately, Jan ended up in the hospital for another week as the infection from the appendix worsened. She was a very sick person for quite a while and gave us a scare. Just this week she says she is feeling a bit better and got out of the house. We hope she will be feeling well enough to do the St. Paddy's Day "run" with us.

Jacob has "converted" to playing the Celtic music with Joe and Jeff. He is very happy with his new Martin Guitar and is anxious to be back pickin' on the porch. This will be his first year doing the St. Patrick's Day event with his dad and Jeff. I still say some day he will be the next Moweaqua piper!

Gerald is anxiously waiting for his set of small pipes (bagpipes) to arrive. He and his son continue to practice weekly (when the weather allows!) with Joe on the bagpipes. His son's Highland Pipes arrived and he is now an official piper. I am sure you will be seeing the pipers on the porch very soon.

If you are on line and would like to see some of the current videos of our music, check out www.youtube.com . If you type piperswife in the search area, you will see all of the Pickin Parlor videos I have put on there as well as some of Joe's bagpipe playing and more.

Again, I hope this finds all of you healthy and well. We hope to see you back at the Pickin Parlor very soon. I will put the newsletter in the paper as well as send out an e-mail to everyone to let you know when we will be turning the Porch Light on again!

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR PORCHLIGHT

December 14, 2007

Yeee Haaawww! The weather finally cooperated and the A Band of Jolly Cowboys (minus one) were able to saddle up and gallop on over to The Flatbranch Pickin Parlor with no trouble! For a while there, they thought they were going to have to hitch up Strawberry to guide them. Who is Strawberry? Why, he's Rudolph's cousin twice removed . . . the one the Rudolph's family doesn't like to talk about . . . you know, Strawberry, the Red Nosed Roan. Now why he is twice removed, and why he is red nosed. . . well, go figure. Maybe that is why they don't like to talk about him!

Anyway, they made it in and it was a fantastic night in all ways. We had so many excellent musicians and the mix all evening of Christmas, country, cowboy, and Celtic was perfect.

Tim Runyon and Andy Wiesenhofer of A Band of Jolly Cowboys delighted us with poetry, mesmerized with singing, and made us laugh with funny tales. When the cowboys dismounted from the stage, Tim Runyon and his brother, our very on Jeff Runyon, then kept up the entertainment pace with even more Christmas music as well as tunes they have played together throughout the years. Outstanding job guys!!!!! Thank you!

We also had two delightful special guests sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for us. Alaina and Cassie London (ages about 7 & 5 I think) braved the crowd and sang in the wonderful way only sweet innocent children can. Joe and Jeff backed them up with the instrumental part and they were a hit! Thank you girls you did a great job. Alaina and Cassie have visited the Pickin Parlor often with their parents and grandparent. I always say it is heart warming to have the kids attend and partake in the Pickin Parlor. Alaina and Cassie can be added to the young talented list (along with Jade and Lisa) that have graced our porch.

Gerald brought his banjo this week and he and Jeff and Joe kept the place toe tapping with lots of lively music. Hopefully, when we come back in the spring, Gerald will be playing bagpipes! A man of many talents.

And the great music kept going: Steve Clark, Curtis Fuess, and Harley Cravens. I have been calling them the Clark family all this time but I found out they are called "The Just for Fun String Band". No matter the name, the music is the same. . . outstanding! Rob Gordon filled in as the upright bass player for them and Steve DeVore did some harmonica playing. I don't want to sound redundant but, wow, fantastic.

Scott Major was next and he talked about his new CD that he released. I just love to hear Scott sing and play. I have said before that he has the "Elvis" sort of style and he does. But more than that I think, Scott just makes you feel "peaceful", yes, that is what I want to say. Something about his playing is soothing. He started out on the piano before playing the guitar for us and the piano is certainly lucky to have Scott at it's keys.

Delmar and Al were up next and were joined by Rob, Jeff, Joe, and Steve on some of the tunes. These guys have such a good time and they play some really good old tunes. It is great to have Delmar and Al as Porch Pickers!

Well, this will most likely be the last newsletter I will write until March. We will still be at the Pickin Parlor on Friday, December 21st and Friday, December 28th unless the weather gets to be really really bad like this past weekend.

It has been an absolutely fantastic music year and Joe and I appreciate each and every one of you that have played music, came to listen, read the newsletters, or shown interest in our "Pickin Parlor Adventure". We are especially thankful for Jeff and Jan who have been our partners and so helpful and supportive of the Pickin Parlor. We couldn't have done it without them. The four of us look forward to seeing you back at the Pickin Parlor in March so we can do it all again!

Keep checking our web site for updates, where Joe and Jeff may be playing, and new pictures.

Hopefully we will see you this Friday night December 21st (6-9pm).

And from Joe, Jeff, Jan, and myself, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and may God bless you and send you a Happy New Year!

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR PORCH LIGHT

December 7, 2007

Hopefully I won't ever again have to start a newsletter out with "Wow what a FROZEN FLATBRANCH FRIDAY it was!" But frozen it was. Wasn't that a beautiful wintry display that was sent to us? It was easier to appreciate the beauty of the ice this year than last since we didn't have to go without power or have massive amounts of trees down. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. . . so lets turn the ice machine off okay?

Well Frozen Flatbranch Friday played havoc on helping out with the Moweaqua Children's Toy Depot. We did manage to collect a few toys and $70.00 to donate. Thank you to everyone that was able to brave the ice and rain to make it to the Pickin Parlor. If you purchased a toy for last Friday and were not able to make it there, please bring it this week in lieu of admission and I will pass it on to the Toy Depot.

Our musicians were great as usual. Jeff and Joe did a few more Christmas tunes this week and put us in the holiday spirit. Steve DeVore joined in on the music with his harmonicas. Now there was some great music.

Sharon and her guitar/vocal accompanist Max, slid in from Mattoon, braving the icy weather. She very appropriately opened her porch time by singing the Christmas song that starts out "Oh the weather outside is frightful. . . " Can you believe I have heard that song probably fifty-thousand times but I am not sure what the title of it is! I think it is called "Let it Snow." Anyway, she "Rocked Around the Christmas Tree" and warmed us up with lots of fantastic music.

Lisa Parker was back this week and it was good to hear her voice again. She did some of her favorite tunes but we decided to rename "Catfish John" "Frozen Catfish Fillets"!

Rich Tague went solo on the porch this week. He did an outstanding job on "Folsom Prison Blues" as well as a few more tunes including "Turn the Page".

Linda Dust sang a few cowboy songs one which included yodeling. She is such an awesome singer. Most Fridays after the show is over, lots of the musicians stay and jam. Jeff, Joe, Steve, and Linda really really sound good together. Who knows, after our winter break they may come back as a group and "wow" you with a couple of songs.

Scott Major came back to the Pickin Parlor after a long absence. He has spent the last two months in Thailand I believe for job purposes. He had some interesting comments about his trip but seemed glad to be back home. Scott played his guitar and sang some great songs. He has a lot of "Elvis" influence in his music. He is soothing to listen to and it was wonderful to have him back.

Jeff and Steve took time to do some really great guitar and harmonica tunes. Jeff sang and played a fantastic jazz version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Steve's harmonica on this was outstanding.

This Friday Tim Runyon and Andy Wiesenhofer (part of the Band of Jolly Cowboys) have told Jeff they plan on being at the Pickin Parlor. At this point it looks like the weather will be cold but clear so hopefully we will have an easy time getting to the Parlor. This will be some entertainment you don't want to miss! This group performs often in surrounding areas. You can check out some of the places they have been and will be just by typing in A Band of Jolly Cowboys in the web search. Lots of cool stuff there to see. I am not sure if they have a web site or not.

Well, we are dwindling down to the last few weeks of this year's Flatbranch Fridays. It has been fantastic and we have truly enjoyed all the musicians and all the audience being a part of another one of what I have termed "Joe's BIG IDEAS!" (and I won't even go there ha ha!) I do have to eat humble pie though and say it has been one of his better ideas. Far above him trying to raise bees, fly airplanes, and be a wood carver. I will stop now before I get myself in trouble. Thankfully, Joe never reads these newsletters. Anyway, we hope to open in the spring with new ideas, some closed mic sessions as well as setting aside certain nights for the more "contemporary" music.

Hope to see you this week at the Flatbranch Pickin Parlor. You can always find us because we'll leave the Porch Light on for you!!

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR PORCH LIGHT

November 30, 2007

Burr! Feels like we have entered "the frozen zone" and we probably "ain't seen nothin'" yet! Fortunately it is warm under the tin roof of the Pickin Parlor Porch.

Last Friday we had a very small crowd as far as the audience goes but had lots of great musicians. They braved the cold and wind to trek to the Pickin parlor and delighted us all with lots of good music. Maybe the NEW WINTER HOURS OF 6-9 threw people off and also all the bustle and activity of getting ready for Christmas on Main. No matter what, we still had a good time on the porch.

Gerald came back all the way from Mattoon this week after a long absence. Gerald is a re-enactor and attends many rendezvous like Joe, Jeff, Jan and I do and has been busy with that. Gerald portrays a blacksmith. (well he really is a blacksmith too). He can most often be found at Lincoln's Log Cabin in Lerna on the weekends. His family also participates in this with him. It is a really cool thing to see. Anyway, Gerald played several old Celtic tunes on the whistle and banjo. He and Joe and Jeff also did some Christmas music with whistle, pipes, and guitar.

Sharon also drove in from Mattoon. She is so delightful to hear with all the old country tunes she knows. Sharon also brought a beautiful poinsettia with her to donate as a door prize. Door prize??!! You didn't know that we give out door prizes every Friday? Usually the door prize consists of gift certificates for Moweaqua businesses such as Papa Ronnie's, Moweaqua Foods, and Citgo (which I see is now Marathon). We also give coupons for free admission to the Pickin Parlor. See, we have music and more at the Pickin Parlor.

Steve DeVore, the awesome harmonica player from Decatur was with us also. He knows exactly when to join others on stage to play along with them. His harmonica additions certainly puts the "icing" on lots of songs.

Jacob helped keep the porch humming with several of his songs. He and his dad again played Seminole Wind. He says "but I play this every week" But, it is requested every week. Jacob is leaning toward becoming a bagpiper like his father before him. Well, if the kilt fits! Maybe Moweaqua will be the home of TWO pipers!

Delmar picked on the porch again this week also. He did some good old songs accompanied by Joe and Steve. Thanks Delmar!

Linda Dust from Assumption sang several old folk songs one of my favorite being a ballad named "Killkelly Ireland". She may be a storyteller but she also has a fantastic singing voice.

NOW FOR THE NEW STUFF: This Friday, December 7, Flatbranch Pickin Parlor is assisting the Moweaqua Toy Depot. We ask that you please bring an NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY as admission. Or if you really can't go buy a toy, ALL ADMISSION MONEY will be given to the Moweaqua Toy Depot so they can purchase toys for the local kids. This is a great thing that has been going on for years in Moweaqua. Timi Kaufman is the chairperson for this organization and has done a wonderful job over the years. Even if you can't make it to the Pickin Parlor to donate a toy, there are jars set up in various places around Moweaqua to collect money or you can probably call Timi to find out where to drop off a toy. We sure hope to have a good turnout for this!

Also, an "executive" (ha ha makes me feel important) decision was made the other evening regarding the Pickin Parlor. After discussing the pros and cons of being open every Friday night during the winter, the cons won and we have decided that December 28th will be the last Flatbranch Friday until mid March. With the weather being so unpredictable during these months, we don't want to endanger any of our musicians/guests by having them make the trip to the Pickin Parlor and have a storm come up. Even if you just live a few blocks from Downtown Moweaqua, it can be treacherous at times. AND this will give me time to nag Joe into doing some work around the Parlor (and home). We want to work on the lighting system at the Parlor (yep, the lights won't go off anymore in the main room when someone accidentally thinks they are turning on the bathroom light). And Joe and Jeff plan on working on a CD during this time too. We will miss everyone but it just seems to be the "wise" thing to do.

But we STILL have FOUR more Flatbranch Fridays to hear all the great music and have a good time. So remember to come see us at the NEW DECEMBER HOURS 6-9. You can find us because I'll leave the CHRISTMAS LIGHTS on for you!!!

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR PORCH LIGHT


November 2, 2007

A JOYFUL NOISE always rings from the Pickin Parlor but THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, there will be an officially named JOYFUL NOISE flowing over the crowd and spilling out of the doors when the Gospel group appropriately named "JOYFUL NOISE" takes it's place on the Pickin Parlor Porch! We always have fantastic music and this will be no exception to the rule. I can't even begin to do justice to the music from Joyful Noise with words, you have to hear it to believe it. Your chance will be this Saturday from 7-9 p.m. in the One and Only Downtown Moweaqua at the one and only Flatbranch Pickin Parlor. You can hear a sample of their music on our website: www.flatbranchpickinparlor.com in the music link section. Admission is only $5.00 per person. All profits of CD sales from this group go to The American Cancer Society via "Fishers for a Cure". What a perfect way to spend a Saturday evening! Hopefully this will just be the first of the Saturday specialty music the Pickin Parlor will have to offer. Hope to see you there!

Back to Flatbranch Friday: Well, seems we are getting into the busy holiday season already and lots of things are going on all around Moweaqua and the surrounding area. Our crowd was not as large as usual but it was still wonderful. Being that we had a smaller crowd, this left room for DANCERS! Yep, you could have seen it in person if you had been here. Pauline just couldn't keep her feet still when Joe and Jeff started playing a waltz. She and Delmar/Larry waltzed across the Pickin Parlor planks and made me wish I would have learned to waltz instead of do "The Swim" when I was a teenager. I think my generation lost something there. Well, at least Pauline waltzed, I am not sure if she or Delmar was leading. . . how would I know? I don't waltz! At least I know they weren't doing the Charleston! Good job guys! Maybe we can talk them into giving waltz lessons at the Pickin Parlor. Humm now I have started myself into thinking about that! I need to hit "pause" in my thoughts.

Jake was up next on the porch and he crooned out several songs: "No Excuses", "All I Can Do is Write About It", and "Don't Follow". Jacob also had requests from the audience to sing "Seminole Wind" and "Mrs. Sullivan" again this week. Mrs. Sullivan is a moving song in itself but Jacob really puts emotion in his songs and that combination can bring tears to your eyes even if you aren't aware of the story behind this song. Add Steve Devore and his harmonica, Joe and the fiddle, Jeff and the mandolin, Rob Gordon and the upright bass with this and you have some pretty awesome music. I keep telling Jacob, now that we have him pickin on the porch, I predict that he will also be playing bagpipes some day! . . . if the kilt fits! (and it will since he always borrows his dad's other clothes ha ha)

Our multi-talented Delmar Craft was up next. (I say multi-talented because we know he can dance too) He delighted us with songs: "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "I Still Miss Someone", and "Angel on My Mind", just to name a few. Joe backed him up on the fiddle on several songs and Rob on the upright bass. Great job Delmar.

Sharon Lee again made the trek from Mattoon to play on the porch. She was accompanied by Jeff and Joe on some of her songs. She started by doing an outstanding job singing and playing "Red River Valley". Wow can she sing! She then went straight into "Coal Miner's Daughter" then included other songs such as "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On" and When My Blue Moon Turns Gold". She is soooo good.

Harmonica master, Steve DeVore was next. He created a new sound for his harmonica by cutting out a slot in a small tin coffee can and inserting his harmonica through it to play. The point was to have a resonator for the harmonica. AND IT WORKED! Wow, just when you think a harmonica can't sound any better or different, Steve does something like this. He is such an awesome player. His tunes included "Shenandoah", What a Friend We Have In Jesus", "Road to Glory", and a tune about a fox in the hen house. Steve has a talent for being able to jump in at just the right time and play with others on the stage. He has really added a wonderful musical dimension to the parlor.

Next was Jade Neeley and this time she brought her cousin Courtney from Rochester to sing with her. Jade did her favorite tune "So Small" and then she and Courtney did a duo Jesus Take the Wheel". Now it is impressive anytime 10 year olds sing at a place like the Pickin Parlor when you consider the options a 10 year old has in music and Friday night activities. Friday was no exception in impressive, they did a marvelous job. BUT, Courtney then sang a solo of "God Bless the USA". What a voice, what a choice of song. . . .10 years old. . .how moving. Need I say more? Thank you girls, you were wonderful.

Linda Dust the storyteller from last week came back once again. She not only tells stories but she can sing! What a great voice. Linda sang "Sleepy Desert". She also told a story titled "The Tear". I enjoyed her story but of course, I am partial to music and I can't wait to hear more of her singing. Thanks Linda!

The last twenty minutes of the show was sort of audience request. Jeff, Joe, Jacob, Steve, and Rob entertained us with tunes like "Wildwood Flower", "Long Black Veil", "Life's a Dance" and "Golden Slippers" to name a few. And that was the end to another great night on the Pickin Parlor Porch!

Hope to see you Friday night for our usual open mic session AND Saturday to wittiness "JOYFUL NOISE" You can't miss us because I'll leave the porch light on!

FLATBRANCH PICKIN PARLOR PORCH LIGHT

October 26, 2007

BOO!

Sorry if I scared you but I felt I needed to get something Halloweenish in this news letter. Now that I have that little trick behind me, I can get on with the real newsletter.

Well, Friday night was what is becoming a typical Flatbranch Friday on Main Street in downtown Moweaqua: buzzin' with activity. It may have been cold and raining outside but it was warm and dry inside under the Pickin Parlor porch roof! I guess you could say it was raining inside, the fantastic music was pouring in by the buckets full.

Of course Jeff and Joe started out the evening with their music. They got the audience squawking and bobbin' their heads to an all time favorite "Cluck Old Hen". Joe can actually make that fiddle sound like an old hen clucking around the barn yard (and sometimes he can make the fiddle sound good too! ha ha). Jeff also ended the evening with several songs, one of them being "Bluegrass Blues". Sometimes I forget to give Jeff credit where it is due. He is an extremely musically talented man. Everyone reading this that comes to the Pickin Parlor knows exactly what I mean since you have heard him. But for those who have not, well, you are missing out. (you can hear some of his music if you visit our web site and check out the "links" section. Anyway, Jeff is fantastic and he gets many many requests to work his musical magic at the Pickin parlor.

Next up on the porch was Jake Readnour, he did a perfect playing the guitar and singing "Seminole Wind". His dad backed him up on the fiddle and it was terrific, especially considering it was only the third time they played that song together. Jacob also did an old bluegrass tune called "In the Pines", and a song by Buffalo Springfield: "What It's Worth". I have to say "He did his mama proud!" since he is my son.

Sharon Lee decided to brave the rainy weather and drove in from Mattoon. Sharon was accompanied by Richard Lockwood on some wonderful old country hits. These included "Four Walls", "Born to Lose", and "When Angels Sing" just to name a few. Sharon has been singing in Shelbyville and the surrounding area for many years and she is certainly easy on the ears. Thank you Sharon and Richard!

Our harmonica player Steve DeVore sure pleased everyone with his musical gift. Steve says that he usually doesn't play solo as harmonicas need a back up. Well, Jeff backed him up and those two together are unbelievable. They started out with "Amazing Grace" and went into a harmonica duo with Jeff also playing and singing "Road to Glory" Jeff appropriately dubbed Steve the "Master of Harmonicas". And that's about sums it up. There is also a short clip of Steve and Jeff on the web site. We are so happy that Steve makes it to the porch frequently.

Once again, the Steve Clark band popped into the Pickin Parlor. They seemed to have recovered well from all the hard work they did getting ready for the "In Plain Air" fair, because their music was outstanding as usual. Bluegrass at it's best. Steve, Curtis, Harley, and Mel started out with "Rockwood Deer Chase". Other tunes included "Clinch Mountain Backstep", "Ruben's Train", and "Dear Old Dixie". I have mentioned before that Steve taught Curtis and Harley how to play. Those two boys trade around instruments all evening, banjo, mandolin, guitar. And of course Steve is a wizard on the banjo. Steve announced that he is going to be giving banjo lessons November through April. Now here is an opportunity! If you have ever even THOUGHT of learning how to play banjo or wanted to have your child or grandchild take lessons, this is most likely the best teacher for miles and miles around. Just hearing them play and seeing the amazing playing, is proof. If there are enough people in the Moweaqua/Assumption/etc. area interested in lessons, Steve may be able to come to the Pickin parlor to give lessons as opposed to students having to travel to Herrick. If you are interested, you can contact Steve at 217-539-4571 or e-mail at theclarkfarm@msn.com Of course, they also can be seen on the Pickin Parlor web site. Who knows, maybe I will be playing the banjo on stage some day. (Oh, quit laughing!)

Back to the porch once again was that Tague family. Rich and his son Rich or was it Rich and his father Rich? Hummm? Father and son treated us with some great tunes that included "Folsom Prison", "California Blues", and "Hey Baby I Love You". An extra treat to this team was Michelle Tague. She joined them in singing along on several songs. One of which was "Guitar Pickin Man" and the other, "Outlaw Women". What a great set of songs the Tagues presented.

Next we had Lisa Parker on the porch. She sang her old faithfuls "Catfish John", "Delta Dawn", and "Bury Me 'Neath the Willow Tree". I never grow tired of hearing her sing. I just know that someday her parents will be moving out of Moweaqua and heading down to Nashville once she is "discovered". Let's not tell anyone about her okay? We want to keep her to ourselves for as long as we can.

This week we had something a bit new on the porch, we had a storyteller. Linda Dust from Assumption, belongs to a story telling guild. I don't know much about this but hope to in the near future. She told a few stories to the crowd. They all were sort of "spooky" for the season. One was about Jack O' Lantern and another was about a haunted fiddle that had a carved lion's head on it. Now that one didn't set too well with me as Joe's "Cluck Old Hen" fiddle has a carved lion's head!! I didn't want to take it home that night but he wouldn't listen to me. I'm still alive so I guess it isn't the haunted one. Anyway, Linda's stories were enjoyable. Maybe some time we can dedicate an evening to story telling.

As I said before, Jeff wrapped up the evening with his soothing beautiful music. Simply another perfect night on the porch.

What is coming up?

For anyone that is interested, there is a large "rendezvous" at Fort De Chartres in Southern Illinois this weekend November 3rd & 4th). It is near Chester Illinois and it is something to see! There will be about 300 camps set up portraying the 1700's and up. Lots of things for sale, old fashioned food, and music. It is open to the public Saturday and Sunday. Joe and Jeff will be there Saturday.

Saturday, November 10th, will be the Pickin Parlor's first Saturday music evening. From 7-9 p.m. Joyful Noise from Shelbyville will be playing wonderful gospel music. You can also hear a clip from their CD on our website in the "MUSIC" section. www.flatbranchpickinparlor.com
Admission for this is $5.00 per person. They will have CD's for sale and they donate 100 % of their profit to the American Cancer Society via "Fishers for a Cure". Sure hope to see you there! It will be fantastic!!! There are fliers posted around town and in the window of the Pickin Parlor. If this goes over well, we plan on having various types of music on Saturday starting in January.

THE FOOD PANTRY: Hopefully we will be teaming up with the Boy Scouts some Friday night very soon to help fill the Pantry. We will take canned goods for admission and donate it to the food pantry. I will let you know the date as soon as it is set. That will be fun.

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN!! Wow, that is just around the corner. Of course Flatbranch Pickin Parlor will be a part of that. We have some fun things planned for the day. Keep watching to see what we do.

See ya Friday at the Pickin Parlor, you can find us because we'll keep the porch light on!