Loose Leaf Notes

1. This is Not a Wall

2. Climbing the Wall Here. 

3. The plan was for Joe and I to spend the weekend visiting my Asheville Potter Son Josh and his fiancé Emily and to help them get “The Land” ready for their wedding in September.  The Land is in Marshall, 20 minutes outside of Asheville, where Josh and Emily live.  It’s a complex of kilns, gardens, a labyrinth and even a party plaza, all made by Josh with mostly salvaged materials.  Josh does his woodfiring there. I’ve recently been calling it “The Clay Farm,” a destination farm. – More from The Marshall Plan HERE. 

4. Joe and Josh worked on a bridge where the wedding procession will cross over a creek to the stone stairs that lead to the wedding platform.

5. Hotter than I look HERE.

6. I used to have a crush on Jeff Bridges.

7. So it looks like I won’t be wearing hot pink taffeta / or a French twist like Grace Kelly’s / I won’t be dying my hair red to match the cabernet / or breaking up Jeff Bridges’ 33 year-old marriage … More from After the Golden Globes and in Honor of Valentine’s Day HERE.

8. I just noticed that bridge has the word bride in it.

9. V is for View HERE. 

10. ‘Are You Going to Ask for a ‘Selfie’? – Arnold Schwarzenegger to Trump at Helsinki with Putin

11. Or as my grandsons like to say “Poo-tin.”

12. I searched this blog for poetry with the word “bridge” in it.  Here’s one: For at least 100 days / I’ve been drowning in a swamp / a snake oil con of billionaires / burning bridges and rattling sabers / while trying to convince me / the world is flat… More from The First 100 Days HERE. 

13. ‘Treason’ was the top searched for word after the recent Trump-Putin press conference.

_________Thirteen Thursday

___________Wordless Wednesday

_______Wordless Wednesday

The plan was for Joe and I to spend the weekend visiting my Asheville Potter Son Josh and his fiancé Emily and to help them get “The Land” ready for their wedding in September.  The Land is in Marshall, 20 minutes outside of Asheville, where Josh and Emily live.  It’s a complex of kilns, gardens, a labyrinth and even a party plaza, all made by Josh with mostly salvaged materials.  Josh does his woodfiring there. I’ve recently been calling it “The Clay Farm,” a destination farm.

Joe and Josh worked on a bridge where the wedding procession will cross over a creek to the stone stairs that lead to the wedding platform.

A man’s best friend.

Weeding the labyrinth garden.  I’m glad I know the difference between a flower and a weed.

Emily’s mom was also visiting. That’s her (in the background) watering the raised flower beds with Emily.

“Nature’s bricks.” That’s what Josh calls the stones in the hand built stone walls he makes. These ones are under the wedding deck.

This is the view from where I soaked my feet in the creek when I got to hot too work.

One of my favorite pots? Can you see Josh?

Josh showed me how to flame torch the wood for the bridge, an old school method of protecting and water proofing that is trending today. My grandsons would be proud.

We had a gourmet dinner at the Star Diner in downtown Marshall. It used to be a gas station store.

This is Joe hailing a cab to take us to Asheville.

Emily is a flower farmer and we went to see her booth at the Asheville Farmers Market.

Joe bought me some cherry tarts at the market!

In the evening we listened to the creek and the frogs and watched the fireflies from the wedding deck.

More to come …  Our World Tuesday

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on July 12, 2018

Sheriff Brian Craig mingled with attendees and passed at glow sticks at the annual 4th of July Fireworks celebration, held at the Floyd County High School on July 6 and sponsored by Floyd County Merchants’ and Businessmen’s Association.  The festivities began at 6 p.m. with a firework display scheduled rain or shine for 9 p.m.

Children create at the Sand Art Table.

An impromptu soccer game was played in the grass.

Attendees set up lawn chairs front-and-center in the parking lot in preparation for fireworks viewing.

The Connor Family was one of the musical groups that entertained the crowd.

There was a lot of activity at the Bounce Jousting attraction.

Members of The Lighthouse Ministries Church from Hillsville served up hungry attendees.  The menu included chicken, burgers, hot dogs and slaw, BBQ, fries and more.

Event coordinator Susan Leonard stopped to pose with her husband Richie and was photo bombed by their daughter McKinley.

Pyrotechnicians of the Pyrotecnico fireworks display company, visited the food booth before their work of setting off the display began.

A rainstorm dampened the scene just after 8 p.m.  Some attendees used umbrellas before the downpour reached full force. Others left the grounds.

By 9:00 the rain subsided enough for the fireworks display to go on.

Attendees watched from their vehicles or took shelter under tents and umbrellas.

A line of attendees leave the wet parking lot at the end of the fireworks display. – Colleen Redman

1. Flower, Universe or Kramer?

2. My 10-year-old grandson Bryce has his own Youtube channel and is a talent in the making.  Check it out HERE. 

3. The birds are like children / that wake me too early / and I’m a neglectful parent/ who closes all the windows… -More from They Wake the Neighborhood HERE.

4. Stalking the Wood Thrush Song HERE. 

5. World renowned musician/guitar maker Wayne Henderson recently played at a Small Town Summer event in Floyd. The subject of the book, “Clapton’s Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument,” Henderson started making guitars 50 years ago. Since then, “he’s crafted guitars for musicians such as Doc Watson, Tommy Emmanuel and Gillian Welch. He typically turns out 30 instruments a year.  Brad Paisley has asked for one, but he hasn’t gotten it yet.  Vince Gill got one by agreeing to play Wayne Henderson’s music festival, held every June,” so reported The Richmond Times.   More about Henderson in Floyd HERE and HERE.

6. Meet the Blue Ridge Parkway Natives HERE. 

7. Cosmos:  Middle English: from Greek kosmos ‘order or world.’

8. We put stars in poems / like we sprinkle salt on summer corn / but in the winter we eat it out cans / We punch holes in black paper / hold it up to the light /  We turn thermostats on to make imaginary fire … More from this 2008 poem **** HERE. 

9. I love science fiction.  I enjoy a good thriller but hate horror.

10. A stuffed animal comes to life, and it’s not the Velveteen Rabbit HERE.

11. “Patriarchy has stolen our cosmos and returned it in the form of ‘Cosmopolitan’ magazine and cosmetics.” – Mary Daly

12. “I talk about the gods, I am an atheist. But I am an artist too, and therefore a liar. Distrust everything I say. I am telling the truth.” Ursula Le Guin

13. “The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.”  ― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

_______Thirteen Thursday

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on July 2, 2018.

It was a banner crowd that gathered for the second installment of Floyd Small Town Summer, a free family event held on alternating Thursday evenings throughout the summer at the Warren Lineberry Park.

Attendees gave a warm welcome to Helen White and Wayne Henderson, and the Jeff Little Trio. Henderson, a top-notch finger picking guitar player, renowned instrument maker and namesake of the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition in Grayson County, told stories that got the crowd laughing.   He complimented the great setting “with young’uns and dogs running around.”

“I think Dylan (Locke, the organizer) paid off the weatherman,” White joked during the opening performance, referring to showers in the forecast.   “Let’s hope he paid him enough,” Henderson answered.

The pair played old time favorites by Mabel Carter, Doc Watson and others. White played an original wedding song on her fiddle, one of four made by Henderson, who said he’s been busy in his instrument making shop and was working on a #744 guitar.

It started to rain while the Jeff Little Trio was playing, but they managed to finish their set before the downpour became relentless, causing the cancellation of the children’s movie showing that was planned.

The July 5th Small Town Summer featured Darrell Scott Bluegrass Band and Five Mile Mountain Road.  July 19th’s event will be a FloydFest Warm-Up with Los Chupacabras & South Hill Banks. The end of summer celebration will take place on  August 2nd, featuring Kari Kovick & Her Big Kid Band, the Floyd Theatre Guild’s a Night on Broadway and the movie Coco. Coverage of this year’s first Floyd Small Town Summer can be found HERE. 

______________ Our World Tuesday

The birds are like children
that wake me too early
and I’m a neglectful parent
who closes all the windows

Their playful songs call
but I don’t answer
They remind me of everything
I’ve left undone

I love them all
but not like this
It’s too early to chirp
sunny side up
on the bright side of morning

__________Colleen Redman / Poets United

_______Shadow Shot Sunday / Wordless Wednesday

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on July 5, 2018

A Rundango 5K racer approaches the finish line at the 6th annual Fandango. With an “Old-Skool Vibe for its regional tribe,” the little sister to Floydfest took place the weekend of June 22 – 24 and featured free-camping, craft libations, the best in food truck eats, live music and outdoor biking, running and relay races for prizes.

Each runner’s time was marked at the Start/Finish line in front of the Floydfest Administration Building.

The Dharma Bombs from Richmond entertained the crowd with Appalachian Dixie Land songs on the Beer Garden’s Pink Floyd stage. Listen HERE.

Floyd Countians enjoy libations and live music in the Beer and Wine Garden, the center of weekend festival activities.

Floyd County Girl Scouts Madeline Wall, Lily Anderson and Sarah Hall sold homemade baked goods to raise money for a buddy bunch at their school.  Anyone who feels lonely or needs a friend can sit on the bench and a friend will come sit with them, explained Anderson.

The Mountain Cross 5K Bike Race on Floydfest’s Moonstomper trail included obstacle race stunts.

Father and son Steven and Cole Howard ride into the finish line together.

An enthusiastic fan interacts with South Hill Banks, a progressive bluegrass band from Richmond. Listen HERE.

The Hill Holler Stage was transformed for the festival’s signature Farm-to-Table meal prepared by Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grille.

Roanoke-based Blue Mule, which includes Floydfest CFO John McBroom (center in blue), played for diners at the Farm-to-Table meal. Listen HERE. 

There were also good eats from food trucks set up on the main drag.

Rundango Relay racers high-five in the spirit of teamsmanship.

Disc Golf tournament winners ham it up for the cameras.

Ben Hoyt (left) was crowned King of the Mountain and Sarah Lawrence (not pictured) took the prize for Queen. The King and Queen titles are awarded to athletes who participate in both foot and bike races and have the fastest combined time of both races.  The youngest athlete, Cole Howard, was crowned Prince for participating in both races.

Sol Searchers take to the Pink Floyd Stage. The Roanoke-based band plays southern rock, classic jams, blues and jazz and includes Floydfest founder Kris Hodges on drums. Listen HERE.

A dancer moves to the grooves of Erin and the Wildfire.

A power-packed performance by The Broadcast drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience. Based out of Asheville, NC, the band plays soulful roots blues originals and covers. Listen HERE and HERE. 

A crowd enjoys a nighttime performance.

1. Last week I wrote, ‘What a life I lead. One day I played Scrabble with a friend, the next I swam at the pool, and the next I got an acupuncture treatment.  Even when I go to work, it’s to cover a concert.’

2. But this week my favorite cup broke, the birds stripped our blueberries clean and Justice Kennedy retired from the Supreme Court.

3. “What do you think your neighbor would say if he saw us walking on his driveway collecting rocks with sock puppets on our hands?” – My grandson Bryce

4. “I tell jokes, but I’m not kidding.” – W. Kamau Bell, a socio-political comedian

5. Joe telling a friend the story of how we first met, “She’s not a fan girl,” meaning I’m not an easy sell.

6. I don’t like a lot of poetry, even though I started writing it in my bedroom as a teenager, and even though when I do enjoy it, it can take my breath away. For the most part, poetry has been an acquired taste that I am still acquiring. So much of it, even now, either doesn’t engage me or goes over my head, which is why when I find poetry I like, I am thrilled.

7. Which is why I was happy when I discovered Billy Collins’ poems, which have been described as having wit, whimsy, and charm. But mostly it’s referred to as accessible; a word that Collins takes issue with because it makes him think of ramps for “poetically challenged people.”  – More from Poetic Heretic HERE.

8. Punctuated poetry / with arbitrary line breaks / is like prose poured into / a little black dress / Every period that stops / where a line already has / is a button waiting to pop … More of Half Starved Poems HERE.

9. By the end of June the Parkway rhododendrons are weeping petals and roadside lilies are looking sassy. ‘Fireworks For Sale’ signs have become evident and everyone seems to be having a yard sale.  – More from Gone to Soon June HERE.

10. Transform: to change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmute, mutate, revolutionize, overhaul, remodel, reshape, redo, reconstruct, rebuild, reorganize, rearrange, rework, renew, revamp, remake, retool.

11. Change armory into harmony / Change artillery into art / War into worship / and nuclear into new clear / Change invasion into vision / Conquer into concur / Change bombs into bonds / Change end into mend.

12.  Becky Belcher Osborn was so distressed about young children being separated at the border from their asylum-seeking families that she found herself crying in public. “I saw a picture of a mother nursing her young child and I’m a mother of a nursing child,” said Belcher, who also spoke of the long-term damaging effects of separating babies and young children from their parents. Breaking down in public made Osborn realize that she had to act.  After learning that Congressman Morgan Griffith’s staff members would be holding “traveling office hours” at Town of Floyd Office building on Thursday, she decided she would go and say something. – From a story I wrote for the local paper, “Floyd Residents Rally to Keep Families Together” HERE.

13. I really do care. Do u?

________Thirteen Thursday

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on June 28, 2018

“We’ve probably gotten the most “Best Of” awards this year than we’ve ever received,” said Floydfest Founder/Co-Owner Kris Hodges.

Sam Calhoun, the festival’s Chief Operating Officer, explained that 2018 reader’s polls in Blue Ridge Country Magazine named Floydfest the “Best festival” and Blue Ridge Outdoors readers chose Floydfest as “The Best Kid-friendly Outdoor Destination.”

The family-friendly boutique festival is getting positive feedback.  Hodges reported that industry insiders have told him that larger outdoor festivals are down this year, but Floydfest is up, which means that tickets are selling faster than they have in the past and that the festival is expected to sell out.  “We’ve had ticket buyers from 46 states and 3 countries, Ecuador, Britain and Norway,” Calhoun noted.

Hodges and Calhoun spoke from the festival site at Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 170.5, where the first site workday was taking place. Volunteers were working on the grounds in preparation for Floyd Fandango (June 22 – 24) –  which Hodges calls “the pre-game to Floydfest” –  followed by the five-day Floydfest (July 25-29).

Reviewing changes for Floydfest 18-Wild, Hodges cited the festival’s “Holy trinity” of focus: music, craft libations and outdoor adventure. “We’ve gotten an awesome response to this year’s line-up,” Calhoun said.  Hodges added that the music line-up includes two Grammy winners, Jason Isbell and The Infamous Stringdusters.  Luke Nelson (Willie’s son) and Old Crow Medicine Show are other popular headliners. Keller Williams will be performing “PettyGrass” in tribute to the late Tom Petty.

“Probably the greatest pick this year is Greta Van Fleet, who recently had a #1 hit on Billboard.  They are internationally famous now and to have them here is unbelievably special,” said Calhoun. Both Calhoun and Hodges mentioned Foster the People, a band on a trajectory to fame and acclaim, something Hodges is good at recognizing and choosing for the festival, Calhoun said.

This year, the Outdoor Adventure Tent is being moved front and center to better engage festival goers in the offered adventures, which include bike trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, guided hikes, Little River kayaking and a 5K run for prizes.  The Global Village, where the Outdoor Adventure Tent used to be, has been transformed further into an off-the-beaten-path full camping area.

Onsite RV Camping was missed by patrons and that has been brought back.  “People feel they are coming home,” Calhoun said, and Hodges added, “We’ve been listening to what our patrons want.”   The Dance Tent, which later became the Speakeasy, is being repurposed into the “Throwdown Tent.”  One of the bands scheduled to play on the Throwdown stage is Floyd hometown girl Morgan Wade, backed up by The Stepbrothers.

Other festival changes include the addition of John McBroom as Chief Financial Officer and a festival co-owner.  “We met as musicians. There’s a kindred spirit between fellow musicians,” said Hodges, a drummer who is currently in the band Sol Searchers.  McBroom, administrative director and teacher at Roanoke’s Community High School, is in several bands that play at Floydfest and Fandango. He’s been a stage manager and full site production manager at Floydfest over the years.

McBroom’s new role came in the wake of the break-up of Floydfest co-founders, Hodges and Erika Johnson.  Johnson is no longer a co-owner of the festival, but she will be onsite serving up fresh smoothies at her Revolution Juice yurt, Hodges said.

There were also some noteworthy changes to Fandango 6, and more to come as organizers build on the yearly event.  The band line-up was suggestive of a step up for Floydfest’s sister festival and included Kung Fu, The Broadcast and Erin and the Wildfire, Hodges said.

Billed as the best of Floydfest that “delivers an ‘old-skool’ festival vibe for its regional tribe,” Fandango is geared to be a down-home event. This year, everything at Fandango was held in the Beer Garden, home of the Pink Floyd stage, for a more intimate experience, and because “that’s where everyone likes to go,” all the favorites – camping, live music and beer and wine – are all right there, said Calhoun. The Farm-to-Table Meal was a returning feature. Outdoor adventure competitions included a Mountain X Cross Bike Race, Rundango 5K Relay, and a Disc Golf Tournament.

Calhoun and Hodges believe that festivals like Floydfest and Fandango are more important than ever.  Calhoun refers to Floydfest as a “a sanctuary gathering of like-minds together,” and Hodges believes inspiring others is his main job.  “If you inspire hearts and minds, people will think more clearly, and they’ll make better moral decisions,” he said.   – Colleen Redman

Post Notes: Visit floydfest.com for more information on band line-up and ticket purchasing. Photos: 1. Kris and Sam 2. John and Karen Busher from Botetourt County have been attending Floydfest for about 8 years. They came to volunteer and found out that their work would be traded for free tickets. 3. Longtime Floydfest builder Bob Forman points to where he is working to repurpose the Speakeasy into the Throwdown stage. 4. Volunteer Tim Rhyne (left), hails from North Carolina and has been coming to Floydfest for many years. “I’ve been going to music festivals all my life. This one is just special. There’s a positive vibe that I don’t get at other events,” he said. Rhyne is pictured with other work day volunteers, Tyler McChesney (from Danville), and Bill Irving who has only ever been to the Floydfest festival and will be going on his 5th year attending.  5. A volunteer from Blacksburg. 6.  A Floyfest staffer directs a group of work day volunteers.

Punctuated poetry
with arbitrary line breaks
is like prose poured into
a little black dress

Every period that stops
where a line already has
is a button waiting to pop

Every comma that dangles
at the edge of empty space
is a thread that could lead
to unraveling

Every new line capitalized
in the middle of a sentence
is a zipper that won’t go up

With every start and stall
I become hungry for prose
I want a full page to read
without a stutter

___________Colleen Redman / Poets United

– Read “Please Don’t Punctuate This” HERE.

_______Shadow Shot Sunday / Our World Tuesday

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on June 28, 2018

Becky Belcher Osborn was so distressed about young children being separated at the border from their asylum-seeking families that she found herself crying in public. “I saw a picture of a mother nursing her young child and I’m a mother of a nursing child,” said Belcher, who also spoke of the long-term damaging effects of separating babies and young children from their parents.

Breaking down in public made Osborn realize that she had to act.  After learning that Congressman Morgan Griffith’s staff members would be holding “traveling office hours” at Town of Floyd Office building on Thursday, she decided she would go and say something.  She enlisted the help of her friend Maggie Hessinger (also a mother of young children), thinking “maybe we could we could get a few other people to stand in line with us.”   Together they posted an event page on Facebook titled Floyd to Congressman Griffith: Keep Families Together, and the word spread.

The mood of the group of Floyd Countians gathered around the Floyd Office building on the morning of Griffith’s Traveling Office Hours was upbeat. “I really like the politics of interaction and engagement. I see this as an opportunity to do that with people who have the power to move into human action and responsibility,” said Amy Slate.

Toni Lamberti spoke with more urgency when asked what brought her out. “I’m in pain over the children,” she said, adding “We’ve been given too many balls to juggle…but this is the most important issue at this point.”  Lamberti said she attended to advocate for more humane policies for people.

“I was looking forward to my voice being heard because I feel so unheard right now,” said Penny Lane when she realized that the Traveling Office was not a speaking forum.  Griffith’s staff, Angie Hall and Barbara Stafford, instructed citizens to write down their concerns, which would be delivered to the Congressman.  Attendees were also told they could speak one-on-one to the staff representing Griffith and that the traveling office convenes in Floyd every third Thursday from 9:30 to 11:00.

More than 20 people attended and most wrote out their concerns on paper.  One man who stated he didn’t write well, spoke, saying, “Who is taking responsibility for putting the families back together so there can be an accountability for family reunification?  Others spoke about their concerns amongst themselves.

It was the day after President Trump signed an executive order intending to end families being separated. Several attendees were quick to point out that the executive order could make things worse because it would make crossing the border to seek asylum a criminal offense rather than a civil one. “They’ll be incarcerated together indefinitely and then they’ll take the children (when the parents are sentenced),” suggested Kamala Bauers, who said she read that housing the separated children in tent cities cost three times more than keeping families together. Bauers also voiced her frustration that Congressman Griffith rarely come to Floyd, as Congressman Boucher did in the past.

Bill Ellis, who volunteers teaching job and life skills to refugees in Roanoke, said he planned to attend the traveling office before he learned about the Keep Families Together group. “I meet people from all over the world that have been through horrific things and have seen how tough they are,” Ellis said.  He spoke of being the great grandson of an immigrant from Lebanon, a peddler who ended up building houses in Roanoke.  Speaking of Trump’s merit-based legal immigration proposal, Ellis commented from his faith-based belief, “I’m called to see every person as having merit.”

1. What a life I lead. One day I played Scrabble with a friend, the next I swam at the pool, and the next I got an acupuncture treatment.  Even when I go to work, it’s to cover a concert. See HERE.

2. If we can be discombobulated, can we be combobulated?

3. Bob or Pete Seeger?

4. Daytime readings were accompanied by birdsong, while night time readings were punctuated with the sound of crickets. More from Everybody’s in Love with Words at the Little River Poetry Festival HERE. 

5. My poet friend in India / heard the wind confessing / but here in America / I heard it complain / It stirred like a conscience / warning of consequences / when winners against losers / are the rule of law … More from my newest poem The Last Word HERE.

6. I feel like I just saw THE WHO smash their guitars HERE.

7. I’m really serious about my Dogtown pizza HERE.

8. Funny how I have the best nails of all my sisters but also the dirtiest because I’m the only one that gardens (in my bare hands) to the degree that I do.

9. “Private VS Secret – Privacy is the state of being unobserved; changing clothes for example — that which I keep private, I am merely withholding from public view. Private matters are those traits, truths, beliefs, and ideas about ourselves that we keep to ourselves. They might include our fantasies and daydreams, feelings about the way the world works, and spiritual beliefs. Private matters, when revealed either accidentally or purposefully, give another person some insight into the revealer.”

10. “Secrecy is the act of keeping things hidden — that which is secret goes beyond merely private into hidden. While secrecy spills into privacy, not all privacy is secrecy. Secrecy stems from deliberately keeping something from others out of a fear. Secrets consist of information that has potentially negative impact on someone else-emotionally, physically, or financially. The keeper of secrets believes that if they are revealed either accidentally or purposefully, the revelation may cause harm to the secret-keeper and those around him or her.” – From Jung at Heart -More HERE. 

11. “There is no evidence of the soul except in its sudden absence. A nothingness enters, taking the place of where something was before. A night without stars falls and for a moment covers everything.”  – Bruce Springsteen on Clarence Clemons death

12. The older Bruce gets the more he looks like Robert De Niro.

13. “In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.” – Carl Jung

_________Thirteen Thursday

_______Wordless Wednesday