Oh yes! The fall tour...
Happy New Year to you all by the way and may it be a superb year in your lives.
*********************************
There we were driving north from the Low Country on our way to Little Switzerland via Black Mountain for a concert with
Barbara Lamb and
Julia Weatherford, two multi-talented womenfolk. Twas a great show and a beautiful venue, The Iron Horse. A bonus was meeting up with our longtime pals, The Higgins and also seeing our dear fairy god-daughter and her beau, Vergil. All in all a most special evening, then off to Little Switzerland.
A charming town and the home of our host, Dan Downs. See those clouds? Snow clouds. Yes, it snowed on us a bit during the concert but we were incredibly well cared for by a team of snow pros and the concert went off without a hitch. Dan and Theresa and company could not have been sweeter nor more fun. Tim Higgins was a fiddle marvel in what seemed like subzero temperatures and an opportunity to play with him is always a treat. Thanks everyone for a beautiful time!
The morning of our departure... a mama bear and two cubs.
*********************
On to Sparta and the home of dear friends, Robin and Donna deep in the mountains of northernmost North Carolina, on the top of Turkey Knob, a remarkable landmark where you can see three states and a plethora of counties for 360 degrees.
Here is the lovely fire that they had laid for us and the incredible cabin for us to lay our heads.
How enchanting can you get?
We were here with Donna and Robin for a couple of days and it was just heaven. The home of
Mangum Pottery where master potter Robin and his trusty assistant, Ms. Donna and company, create some extraordinary world class pottery of every description. I mean really... check this out.
The concert that they hosted for us was delightful and we met a boatload of interesting folks. Great jam afterwards as well. It was a most special evening in every way. We had a wonderful time cruising around the area...
until once again, time to bid a fond farewell to our pals and hit the road, on to Floyd, Virginia and the home of our beloved Christina.
Here's our final shot of the view from The Knob.
************************
Tina is a medicine woman, a healer, a priestess and mentor to many in our home community of St. Augustine. She is much beloved far and wide and weaves magic wherever she goes.
It's hard to believe it was snowing just a couple of days before this down in North Carolina! She has a lovely home full of warmth, charm and amazing foods that she had been putting up all summer.
Mon Dieu.
Here is she and Lon working on a fine lunch.
We just loved seeing her grandchildren and her daughter, Shannon, whom we had not seen in years.
Talk about an amazing cook. It runs in the family. Shannon creates cakes, pies, pastries, cookies and savory treats as well for the Floyd Country Store, a musical and otherwise hot spot in town.
We all took naps and then we were off to the gig in Floyd. Here's the room where we played, Oddfellas.
That's not us up there, but I really wanted you to see this lovely stage. It was so sweet. A bunch of Tina's friends came down and it was a sweet evening. Home to our little camper heaven.
We slept like babies.
The next day, off we went. Hated to leave our girl and her family. Next stop, Philly
********************************
Just a slightly different scene! Longtime friends that we once again hadn't seen in quite a while... the
Landrys. Coolest cats, as ever and both incredibly talented artists. They live right in the downtown area in a super swank little house that they have decorated in the most posh way.
Three stories of elegance and art deco delight.
Martinis were in order.
Right around the corner, a really good local tap room with micro brews and IPA's and the like. Hard ciders and more. We had a great brewsky or two, some fine food and back to the hacienda for a little catching up and a fine night's sleep in the big city. Hospitality to the third power.
An all too brief visit and then on to our northernmost destination, New Hampshire.
********************************
An incredible drive up through Connecticut. What a beautiful state. We finally made it to the home of our pals, the Bascoms. An incredible place there on their land and in their farmhouse. So dear. Angie had made every kind of healthy snack and beverage until we were
healed of all road weariness and cares.
Here was our journey to visit The Old Man of the Mountains. Poor guy. He fell off a few years back. No one seems to care though, the place was packed.
Beautiful.
The White Mountains rock.
Our show there was also really fun and was attended by a great group of folks. A beautiful venue, The Stone Gardens, were offered by the Bascoms sweet and generous friends and twas another wing-dinger of an evening. Great food along with several home brewed wines and beers were on the menu and were most special. I tried the apple wine. Wow, it was good.
These are some wonderful people.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
***************************
On to the Big Apple!
At the suggestion of our friend, John, we took the ferry over to Orient Point on Long Island from Connecticut. What a good idea. It drops you at the tip of the island and then you can drive down through the vineyards and it was right at sunset. Stunning scenery.
We made our first stop in the charming town of Islip to visit
John Monteleone in his workshop. John is Lon's mentor and teacher in instrument building and we were
tickled to get to stop by for an all too brief visit.
Most inspiring in every way.
**************************
Then Brooklyn!
What a change of scenery from the rolling hills of New Hampshire. Wow. We stayed in Cobble Hill with our friends, Fran and Leigh and Little Ben, all of whom we adore.
That was a blast. We also met our pals, Jamie and Susan there from St. Augustine as if it could have gotten any better.
The show was so much fun. The Jalopy Theatre. Delightful venue, great sound man, the sweetest audience, most of which were musicians themselves. We split the night with Fran's band, the Y'all Stars and they were amazing.
I love this place.
We walked a lot while we were there taking in the sights, sounds and scenes. We sure hated to leave.
All too soon.. time to ride on. One more stop before our return to the Lower South.
We headed for the green rolling hills of Virginia.
***************************
Once again, Lon and I were rained down upon with good fortune and were hosted here at this beautiful place by our hostess, Caroline Randolph Stalnaker, and her god-daughter and our friend, Carrie.
A heart shaped mud puddle.
The concert was wonderful and very well attended by a dear bunch of people. Caroline, Carrie and her mother made an incredible dessert buffet. Our music went over well and I think a good time was had by all. It was a most delightful evening in a magical home. A highlight for us was when Carrie sat in on a few numbers, singing and playing the mandolin and guitar. A multi-talented gal!
Here they are.
Next morning, once again we were on our way, and this time ... home.
**************************
All in all a truly amazing journey. Wonderful for Lon and I to be out on the road playing our music for folks who like that sort of thing and seeing our dear old friends and making new ones all along the way. Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.
We are most grateful to all of our hosts and friends and family who made this journey possible.
Wishing you all the best in the new year.
Love,
Lis and Lon
****************************
