Kidnapped!

I've been missing in action lately and slow visiting and replying to comments but I am trying hard to catch up! I think summer does that to blog world! And besides, I've been having a little bit of fun!

Most recently, it was birthday weekend. It started out enjoying several really good acts at the terrific Great Lakes Folk Festival. We enjoyed the first night with our friend Mark, listening to klezmer while we ate -- then some blues as the sun went down!

 
We heard Canadian fiddle (my favorite), Celtic, Mariachi, Klezmer and more!

This event is funded largely by donations and corporate sponsors and is free to patrons who donate to the creatively dressed bucket brigade. Chicken Man is a fixture!

Then, the day before my birthday, Rick kidnapped me! He took me to a picnic at a mysterious location. Imagine when we drove in and I saw this summer stock theatre! I was thrilled!

We had a lovely picnic in a shady spot on the theatre grounds.

He was a perfect host! And it was fun to be in this lovely spot, knowing even more fun was to come!

After, we did the obligatory selfie!

Someone else came by for this one -- this theatre has a long history in southeastern Michigan. It was great fun to see something here (and I wondered why we had waited!).

Our selection was "Hair" -- definitely a period piece and well done.

After, the "Rehearsal Shed" bar was open with a fun three-act floor show. The theatre company did lots of musical numbers and keeping with the program, many were from the 60s and 70s.


It couldn't be better -- and that was the day before! On the "real" day, it was quiet -- a good time to hang home and gather basil and tomatoes! Rick made dinner, presents and we watched a movie. And then I've been celebrating all week! Indeed -- life is fun.

Mostly, I am so very, very grateful. Last year at this time I was still working and it had been an excruciating year, extremely stressed, in medical limbo. I had no idea if the year to come would be the same or worse. I never imagined it would be so much better. I am truly blessed.

 Many of you have been with the Gypsy since it started in 2008. Now it's more than a thousand posts later. (I'm hoping to have a celebratory drawing once my feet get back on the ground this fall!)

 But if you joined in later or are just happening by and want to know a little more about this blog or its back story, please visit Susan at Must Love Junk! She is featuring me as her "Saturday Spotlight" beginning Saturday, August 16. I'm just delighted because Susan has one of those decorating blogs that makes me swoon! The has an antique shop in Ohio (and was recently featured in Vintage Style magazine!). So, even if you don't look at her spotlight, do check out her blog!

Fun at the Folk Festival

One of mid-Michigan's greatest treasures is the Great Lakes Folk Festival. Held every August (on my birthday weekend, I might add -- a party for me!), this event combines music and traditions from not only all over the U.S. but the world.

You'll hear Cajun, Quebecois, Celtic, string bands, polka, blues, gospel and much more.And along the way, you'll see traditional crafts and skills. Boat building, fishing, farming -- the heritage is covered as well. It's a big enough event that WKAR was broadcasting live, interviewing mid-Michigan folk guru Bob Blackman.

I wasn't at my best for the festival this year -- having your wisdom teeth pulled does that to a person! But we really enjoyed Michigan favorite Joel Mabus, who tells a story as well as he sings!

I was less fond of this year's Cajun group, Les Bassettes, but others enjoyed them.

However, I very much liked the bluegrass group Clear Fork from Chardon, Ohio. They were lively -- strong singers, great musicians!

It was fun to watch caller Bob Stein try to arrange close to 200 people into contra and square dances.

It got a little unruly, and yet everyone was having so much fun dancing, I don't think anyone cared!

There were two Quebecois groups --Les Poules a Colin, which opened the festival .and Dentelion. (Members of "Les Poules" included some of the younger members of the Dentelion band.) Dentelion, made up of musicians from two families, rocked the crowd with wonderful music.

We went to see them twice and the second time had a better seat so you could really see their fingers move across the strings! Claude was the leader on fiddle and vocals...

Dana took accordion and sometimes guitar...

And had a mean pair of feet! They moved faster in one place than mine can go walking!

After the first performance, Rick and I met three of the band members in the street. There was Denise (who knew of Torch Lake!)...

...Beatrix...

...and Colin.

They were warm, friendly and so nice! Rick and I plan to visit their town next summer when Rick rides his bike to Newfoundland. (Don't ask... that's a whole future post!)

Another performer we loved was Cathie Ryan, an Irish American singer, originally from Detroit.

She was a wonderful storyteller and pretty amazing musician, too.

Her fiddler had been with the original NYC company of Riverdance. Together, with the guitarist who was only doing his second gig with them, they had the audience enchanted and often singing along.

We saw Cathie Ryan twice also and each time was different, each time terrific.

I really wish I'd posted about past festivals earlier so those in Michigan could make it a point to get here. This isn't your Peter, Paul and Mary folk festival -- it's music from around the world -- and so much more!

So, thanks, MSU Museum, for bringing this festival to mid-Michigan! A round of applause for you!

Good Things In Life

It's been a pins and needles summer for me, even when I try to hide it. Unseasonably cool weather, oral surgery, waiting for results from my medical re-testing and wrapping up things at WKAR as I anticipate retirement last month. Life in retirement will be easier with social security! 

 

I'm 62! Better discounts, more flexibility, looser schedule on the horizon.

I'm also scared to death!

But, amidst all that, there are plenty of good things in life. I've been thinking about a few things for which I'm very grateful. Like Lizzie Cosette.

She'll be adopted a full year a bit after Labor Day and she's mellowed (most of the time) into a pretty delightful cat.

She's even a good traveler, though you wouldn't know it from this photo!

There's Rick's garden, giving off its harvest in spurts to spread the joy.

And his delicious homemade bread. He improves with every loaf!

There is an abundance of beauty and I'm loving this summer's flowers.

Lovely summer dinners on the patio -- good wine, good food.

And good music. I loved spending my birthday weekend at the Great Lakes Folk Festival. This is Irish-American singer Cathie Ryan. I'll post more about this event soon.

Rick used flowers instead of tissue-paper frou-frou in my birthday bag and I felt lucky that he would care enough to take the time to be extra creative!

I have wonderful friends and family, great blog buddies and no matter what happens later this month, I know I will be all right. Because really, I have enough of the good things in life to make even the challenges a little easier. 

Even a purr therapist!

Thank you.