http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO1jXKKT-tc

Check out the Back Porch Jams! Love this sweet tune...

I am sending out an email blast to various friends and residents of my community to encourage them to come to next weekend's Pig Roast at Old Lantern "LIVE!" I was appalled at the low turnout at last Thursday's show... sad... You'd think people in the community would be more interested in having a great venue where their kids can hang out... they can come and enjoy great local music! so... let's hope it doesn't all die back down... like the weeds in winter!! The Old Lantern is a cool place to have music events so... I hope we can keep doing it!!

Would you like to DIRECTLY SUPPORT OVER HALF A DOZEN LOCAL Agricultural entities and have fun doing it???

I am writing to some of you about the Labor Day event at the Old Lantern...
yeah... a traditional Pig Roast... with corn and veggies... great music and brew, etc. To learn more abut the farms you will support by coming, please read on...

Roger Parker, Sr. who raises the poor little piggies...
Don Jacques, who cooks them to perfection... (thank you little piggies, we love you.)
BOTH are venerable gents who work hard in our rural community... they have been around for years! These guys won't last forever so... enjoy the "fruits" of their labors while you can.
A handful of local veggie growers (Stony Loam Farm, Bloomfield Farm, Bud Shriner and possibly others) will provide potatoes, carrots and salad makings...
The Mack Family Farm... growing crops and tending to a sizable herd of dairy cattle in Charlotte... will provide the sweet corn.
Cabot butter will be used...
Carol Jones, the musical opening act, owns an organic dairy farm in Georgia, Vermont with her husband Marc.

Old Lantern "LIVE!" is sponsored by Old Lantern owners Roland and Lisa Gaujac who have offered the use of this fabulous country facility to provide for these musical community events. They invited me, Robin Reid, their immediate neighbor to the south, to organize shows when the Old Lantern is not booked for private events.

Most of you know that I am part of the Mack Farm entity, editor/publisher of Rural Route Today (a small, indie newspaper many of you are familiar with, that advocates for the rural Vermont culture in Addison and Chittenden Counties) and, also, the organizer of Old Lantern "LIVE!" I cannot over-emphasize the value of your participation. Your ticket purchase will contribute directly to the above-mentioned farmsteads. Additionally, it will ensure the future of Old Lantern "LIVE!" music offerings.

All-you-can-eat TICKETS for Monday, September 1 cost $20 each. Entertainment is provided!!
A family plan is available... For an additional $10 along with the purchase of two adult tickets you may bring up to three kids 16 and under (they don't have to be your kids but can be your kids' friends...) Purchase your tickets in advance and just show up with the kids to get this deal.
Tickets for twelve and under will be available at the door for $5.
Music only tickets for $10 will also be available at the door.

My goal is to offer family friendly events... support mostly local musicians and provide good, locally procured food! This is a special opportunity to support local agriculture and help get a local music series off the ground. I hope you will join us!

You can order tickets directly through me or purchase them at Spear's Corner Store. The sooner you buy your ticket, the better for the whole production. Be proud of our rural community! Your support means everything.

peace,
Robin

p.s. my buddy Rocky Frisco, long time friend of and piano player for my favorite guitar player JJ Cale... suggests I tell everyone that the pig may be Dick Cheney... don't know how tasty that would be, tho...
p.p.s. I firmly believe that Barack Obama would want everyone who supported him last weekend at the Old Lantern to support their own community events!! NO EXCUSES!

12/16/07

We are having a BIG SNOW STORM! It's great... of course, I've been lazy and stayed in all day. I didn't even wipe the snow off my car yet... that will be tomorrow... actually, I may go outside in a little while to play in the snow and scrape off my car and just catch some nice frisky snowy air...
I'm not sure if I'm blogging right... I don't really know what you're supposed to do... I'm going to type up more of my songs later on this "holiday" and try to spend some time figuring out my recording set up. I'm getting impatient...


12/12/07
I decided to post new entries at the top. Below is like deer kill central... that's farm life. or part of it. I live more on the fringe... with the "village" "growing" just "below" me in the "valley"... well... whatever. I am IN the valley. The Champlain Valley that is.
The typing is making too much noise and it's too late. my boys are sleeping... well, one man and one soon to be a man, by the looks of it!
good night.


BELOW first few entries... around 12/6/07

general blog... i'm still trying to figure out the blog stuff... life is sweet though... in the snow and cold. with my dog scratching to get in every five minutes after she has asked to go out five minutes after being let in! sheesh... and i'm working on my Rural Route paper but... egad a mighty... this myspace is addicting but so much fun! I'm loving the music contact. It's such a genius idea... gee, thanks tom.. i wonder how many hours of people's lives you've racked up with this one... you could live forever if you could collect on 'em.
love people... whoever is reading... come back at me!
rr


OK.... so sometime you get a new song that flashes in your head while you're doing laundry or dishes... there's so much to do in a day! but... if you don't run for that scrap of paper on the table and start to jot out the lines with a crayon, you will lose that tune... and you might anyway because you may not get to sit down with it and the guitar soon enough... and then, you might practice a little and think it's a great song! and get to play it a bit and even think you've really done a good one... then days go by and you try that song again and it sounds stupid to you... what happens? well, it's hard to say. I like having my songwriters' group because they're fun to hang around with... but i didn't go yesterday. and now i have too much work and playing the guitar is distracting... but...

and then it's time to cook dinner... and my son tells me he's going to the butcher's with my husband... pete shot an eight point buck. i should stick the poor sucker in my slideshow... that's his fourth deer... last year he shot two three-pointers just across the local town lines from one another. strange. in Vermont there's youth hunting... regular rifle and bow seasons... and then this follow up muzzleloader season. some of the hunters have a doe tag. well, it's time to throw some more wood on the fire. adios.


so, i am also making CHEESE... when I figure out how to put photos in, I will show you a photo of my cheesemaking...

so it's Saturday... no social plans... my cousin hit a deer today or the deer hit her car, rather... dead. my son doesn't feel well and now I have to fix him a hot water bottle... just when I came in for the update. The deer was a doe. nice size... hanging in the tree at the farm just now with a homemade tag that shows the state police issued tag number for road kill. Tomorrow is the last day of muzzleloader season. We got the V for venison going now.. actually, now we just don't have to share as much with my cousins. They don't have hunters in their family. This cousin has had a rough week with wildlife (as she put it...) A coyote living in her neighborhood that she'd been somewhat familiar with in a good way, was shot. She saw it get shot through her binoculars but she never saw the shooter. Then she discovered the coyote near her house... under her heating vents... we figure maybe that coyote had stayed there off and on over previous winters. He died there. I'm not sure what they did with the body.


AUGUST 12, 2008

Cows out back today pushing at the fence to nip at the grass on this side. There has been so much rain lately. The hay is uncut... in some fields first cut is still standing. In others, it lies where it was cut. The fields are very wet. The corn is enormous! but some of it was flattened along the New Haven River. My garden is full of weeds and I must spend some time tending to it. This whole house is surrounded by weeds. I need to get it cleared out! And inside, it's a mess, too. I have to get organized... and get a real web site organized... and get recording a few things. I have these two gigs coming up... little ones but... two songs with the songwriters' group at the Heineberg Center. and then another on Sept. 9 at the Monkey Bar in Winooski with Carol Abair and Carol Jones... in Nashville Rounds... or acoustic night... whatever. It should be fun but i really MUST practice some.
I'm also hoping to go to Farm Aid 2008 in Marlborough, Mass on Sept. 20. I am sending in media credentials tomorrow after I get the August Rural Route paper in.
signing off for today.
yours truly...

This is not about a restaurant... but it is about food. And how I want/need to lose some weight. So, my friend recommends the "Fit for LIfe" diet. Basically, you eat only fruit in the morning... you are advised to take "pro-biotics" (which I do not...). Coffee should be eliminated in favor of a tea... there are some good caffeinated teas available that are better for you. Apparently, coffee is an appetite stimulator. I have not given up coffee but my appetite feels more under control since starting this diet. OK... so, fruit in the a.m. WATER at all times, whenever... especially when you're feeling hungry in between meals. Then... when you eat... try to ALWAYS have a leafy green.. salad... cooked greens... other veggies OK but it's best to eat salad, for me... AND... do not mix your carbohydrate with your protein but eat them separately. This is hard sometimes when you really want MEANT and POTATOES... but... if you are really sick of your FAT and you want to lose some without starving yourself, I've found this diet is the way to go. In other words, you fix a big salad with a nice potatoe (you may have a small bit of cheese if you crave it. otherwise, don't bother...) and lots of good olive oil... i also like red pepper. cukes, tomatoes, any other salad stuff is also good. chow down. make sure there is plenty of potato, your carbo, because you're allowed to eat as much as you want. in the evening, have some meat (chicken, beef, pork... or other protein) and more greens and veggies... it can be a little restrictive but if you fix good, fresh vegetables dressed with some good oil and vinegar, it's very satisfying. Just make sure your portions are enough to fill you up! You can eat rice, pasta... i've even had a little bread. better if whole wheat, tho.
It's working for me pretty well. I've lost some weight in the beginning of starting this and it really made me feel better. Now I feel like I should be getting more exercise. It would be good to step away from the computer! I cheated a little on my diet the last few days when I was finishing my paper... I ate some chocolate... and some pretzels. and i also polished off the ButterFinger that was left over from one of the boys' Wal-Mart bags with a fishing lure in it, too. At least I didn't eat all the chocolate. or much of the PayDay peanut bar... before I started this diet, I probly would have polished off all of it! There's one unopened bar of chocolate (Hershey's... i've been craving the black chocolate of Daily Chocolate... but haven't had time to make the trip to Vergennes to stop in for some...). I haven't been drinking beer either, but I could go for some wine here in the next few days.
Well, that's it for now. I have to practice for my two upcoming "gigs" and get some exercise, yes???

August 24, 2008
Diet is going OK... but I still haven't clicked in to a good exercise routine!!
It's our 17th anniversary today! Both of us much heavier than when we wed... bummer. At least I'm on a diet... he's NOT! and he's definitely put on more than I have... oh well. I'm sticking to it! Need to lose at least 15 more... maybe I'm about half way there... yay!!!

ok... so i'm on deadline but listening to tunes and watching email...
The Sky About to Rain is worth listening to.
Had a great evening with Lowell Thompson Band fronting the Coal Men... whooo. good show! Lowell solo acoustic for a bit now... wish I could play with him sometimes... he has inspired me, somehow! good I guess...
so, deadline. gotta go.

DEADLINE ON SUNDAY
sort of preoccupied with this music of The Sky About to Rain... he's cool... I wrote a poem today...
ha ha... my son just called out in his sleep... darling adolescent boy voice... "How many points do you have???" and it's late... and I'm working... slowly, but surely, on putting the pages of the January Rural Route Today together... here is the poem I put out today... skinny... not like me.

I don't want to scare
You because I care
Oh awkward child
I love you so
Don't worry
I don't want you
Down I don't
Want to
drown you
Tho affection
Is affliction
I hear your voice
Pull me through
And you are you
Ok? Can I help
What can I do
For you you…
Anything-- if anything
Is what you want
Nothing, no…
You pour words
Pure words
To my soul
I feel whole
You know
How do
You know
What I mean
Don't be
Mean.
Send me
Send me out
Send me seeking
All I have
Is what I want
No need
To fear
Me here
For you
For us
For them
And on
It goes
It goes
Time goes
And we
go


AUGUST 12, 2008

Just finished the August issue of Rural Route Today. It's at the printers... in New York State... I should have it back tomorrow morning... 3,000 copies to deliver... via the postal service in Charlotte and around outlying towns. I've had good feedback in general but I'm not really making enough money. Money is a bit of a problem for me. I need to have more, that's for sure. What a drag.

I am always so last minute when deadlines are concerned. it's such a pain in the ass.
well, signing off for now. get me OFF THIS COMPUTER!!

December 20, 2007

A few "holiday" thoughts... as the snow accumulates... YUMMY!!!

Is HUMAN NATURE... a "simple" part of NATURE? This is a continuously resurfacing debate... some of the stuff that humans come up with often seems UNnatural... or at least the results appear to be CONTRARY to the ORDINARY progress of NATURE... is this true? Aren't all the devices of man (woman?) a product of nature? or are they? I mean, why are WILD ANIMALS equipped to meet their own needs without accessories? In other words, they don't need clothes--that they make for themselves anyway--and although they do build shelters for themselves, they haven't invented any "artificial" means of transportation... they don't COOK their food. There are no musical INSTRUMENTS or visible results of FINE ART in WILD HABITAT... There is no evidence of TECHNOLOGY in the animal kingdom, other than what MAN has placed upon them (in the form of ID bands or GPS collars, etc.) There is no need for the manufacture of ENERGY to sustain WILDLIFE... rather, these creatures appear to need PROTECTION from HUMAN ADVANCES.
Seems like GOD is meant to explain this difference... does it? Then why so many different options? I mean... between choosing from one of the organized religions or opting for some sort of atheist or agnostic view... it all seems to be a matter of choice... the result largely serving to quell the need for an explanation (and, I would like to HOPE, to set moral values in place... hopefully to BENEFIT our existence... COLLECTIVE EXISTENCE on EARTH, I should like to think) It's OK with me... on a day to day basis... to accept all this diversity... but, on the whole, it's not very satisfying to have this big question mark constantly looming over man"kind..." I assume that Christians BELIEVE that JESUS answered that question... This is the religion I am, by virtue of my background and upbringing, the most familiar with. I confess that I do NOT PRACTICE the rituals of this religion... or any other for that matter. That said, I do appreciate the TRUE Christmas SPIRIT of PEACE and GIVING.
I can accept that delivering kindness at every opportunity and treating others how you would like to be treated would NATURALLY make you feel better... about YOURSELF, especially... You have to believe that somehow it MATTERS in the big picture.
In the end, I can only deduce that evolution as we know it must be all about the BRAIN.
brilliant...
Apologies for any bad sentence structure... or confusing sentiment.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!

so, i thought I wrote a blog... and I had printed this song... or these lyrics. luckily, I cut and pasted them into a word file... so... i can try again without retyping them from my handwritten index card.

12/05/07

I will tell you... my love is not reserved
there's no telling... where it will light
or if it's deserved
you can put your eyes on me
but baby oh my heart is free....
and you can't touch it
'til i'm lying on the table - - in front of you
I am not even able to take - - a breath or two
the respirator hums - - the pace isn't slowing down
My heart is in your hands
oh doctor man
Let the witches take me away
I might die today...

and when my hot head hits the pillow
and I can now rest in peace
I know another day is waiting
my life... it hasn't ceased
I rise up in the morning
and I am ready to go
and you can put your eyes upon me
oh baby... but my my heart is free.
and you can't touch it
(instrumental)
so, I'm walking down the street
the danger is everywhere
I wanna be in your arms
and safe from every scare
but we can't touch it...
there is no PEACE
no... we can't touch it
is this war going to cease?

war is life
who are you kidding
and now i have to go...
don't put that tear in your eye...
just because you can't watch me no mo'



Dec. 9, 2007

well, sometimes you get working hard enough that you can't practice music. that doesn't seem right to me. but i usually try to do a little bit somehow every day. the problem is that what i really want to do is just play all day and maybe cook and do some laundry or other housework. Not that I mind writing and producing the paper in a way... but... it seems like i should be practicing. all this by way of venting that i have no self-discipline but a lot of love! I'm usually pretty happy, despite it all... it would have been fun to have gone cross country skiing today, too.
well... if anyone is reading. this is kind of an interesting medium. I'm still not too familiar with "bloggin" per se... this girl i know who still hasn't "friended" me has an interesting blog... her space is /marieclairemusic worth checking into... she's just getting back from a trip to INDIA! I've never been there before... I really do want to go to Italia though... I lived there for a while and I want to spend time there again... I was in the Dolomites... and I want to spend more time there, for sure.
well, i need to get back to working on this december rural route today. I'll have to figure out my website so I can post back issues, etc. more techhie stuff to attend to. but the recording equipment really must come FIRST... NEXT... or whatever!

AUGUST 12, 2008

I figure this is a good way to practice some lyrics... i will write the lyrics of a newer song... i think i wrote it in june? not exactly sure what to call it... maybe "understand..."

I wish I could take you by the hand
understand
it would be so grand if we planned
on loving and...
this ain't no hijack
this ain't no kidnap
we're all spinning out of time
and i've got enough to do
with my daily chores
to always be searching for a rhyme.
I get to wondering every day
is love
part of the flow
or in the way... ay ay... ooo ooo
why must we question
simple true fact
i thought love
went on forever
but my heart cracked.
this ain't no kidnap
this ain't no hijack
i just want you to be mine
and my love for you
may be out of place
but i know
it's not a crime
i'm bound for heaven
on a dime...


AND... here's the other along similar lines....

I would run away
You would stay
I'd put you by my side
But you
would run and hide
(then there's this little riff that's supposed to go here...)
I
would go so far...
you
stay where you are
I'd have you
under my roof
but you remain aloof.
do you ever think how fast
time goes past?
the piles of changing leaves
make eternity
hard to conceive
(that riff again...)
ahhhhh, life has many forms
there's no such thing
as idential storms
your spirit and your soul
don't have remote control...
anh ah ah...
who knows how or why we roll
oh, rock me now
rock me now.

so... that's it for the moment... there's also this one... a little older...

but i don't feel like writing it out now...
ciao ciao

blog blog blog... i never tried it before. It's Dec. 4, 2007
it's snowing... i need to work on my december 12 issue of Rural Route Today. and there's LOTS going on... trying to stem the suburbs from changing the culture... don't know if it's possible... anyway, just trying to figure out this myspace stuff but it's pretty cool so far. I'm really proud of my first friends. They are really GREAT musicians and incredibly lovely people... it's cool... in more ways than one, of course!
now i see that i have to figure out how to insert an image here... well, can't concentrate any more on this right now... gotta get to work.


DECEMBER 13, 2007
It's snowing again. but not too much... I am sad because Lowell played tonight at the Blue Star in Winooski and I couldn't go. My son has an awful cough and my husband had not come home yet. The snow wasn't bad enough to have kept me away but... I couldn't leave my son by himself with that awful gaggy cough. so... Robert got back around 9:30... and I could have possible gone up there .... but... then if it had started at 9, that would've been OK... oh well... it takes a good half an hour to get up there. and there IS snow on the roads. Still, it pains me! I was so in the mood to hear him sing acoustic. oh well! so, Leaves tomorrow... and maybe chrome cowboys! and then blues and laser on dec. 20... and the new year's shebang!
but Lowell's message said that the Blue Star was closing forever... but that is AWFUL! I wish I had informed my husband that I wanted to go out tonight. my luck had it that his cell phone battery crapped out. guess I just wasn't meant to hear mr. LT tonight. boo hoo. you can check out some of his new songs by going to lowellthompson.com and clicking on the online press kit... then on audio. He has some rough mixes posted there. as for me, i'm practicing some christmas carols on the mandolin... and listening to new music on myspace. still loving alessandro raina... giuliano dottori and amor fou... OK. well, to bed.