Keeping Your Noggin Warm

As we await the approaching frigid weather tonight I find myself thinking about a discussion we had recently about the name of the head covering depicted in this photo.  The somewhat reluctant "model" calls it a toboggan as I do. 

But I have encountered rude salespeople who looked at me as if I had 3 heads (which would make their job even more challenging to find a "toboggan" to fit me) when I asked where to find them in their store.   So, it occurred to me that perhaps this is one of those regional words that is used in our neck of the woods.  What do you call it if not a toboggan?   I know that a toboggan is also a wooden sled with a curved front.  But how did this word make the transition to a hat?  And where can I go shopping for one without being stared or sneered at when asking for one.   I asked for one in a ski shop in Denver and the clerk thought I was nuts (that's debatable).  Perhaps my accent might have been her clue that I wasn't from around there and maybe spoke a different language. 
I suppose the recent discussion we had with some friends on this topic reminded me of some of those words/phrases we use here in East Tennessee that folks in other regions don't use in the same fashion.  I had not given the matter much thought since the night of the "big debate" until I was watching the news & weather a couple of nights ago and heard the meteorologist say "toboggan" when referring to covering her head.  And then tonight at supper (or is it dinner at your house)  I overheard a lady saying that there were no "buggies" at the grocery store due to the impending snowstorm.  So that made me think about the buggy vs. cart thing. Oh, well....................
Anyway, we would love to hear your version of this debate..............what do you call it and where are you from?   If you can't figure out how to leave a comment here, leave it on our facebook page.
Thanks a bunch!
Oh, my! There's only a little over an hour left until the season 4 premier of Downton Abbey.  This has been the longest wait for a new episode since somebody shot J.R.    That's the reason we ate early tonight.  I wasn't going to take a chance on missing it.  Joe just laughed at me as he doesn't watch it and will most likely be in bed by the time it comes on.   Don't know what it is about that show but I'm addicted to it. I resisted watching it but found myself channel-surfing one evening and was hooked when I actually stopped long enough to watch it.   Not sure if it is the magnificent cinematography,the beautiful scenery, the storyline, the outstanding attention to detail in the costumes or all of the above, but it is quite a program and I am anxious to get on with this season's story.  Nice way to start the new year on a cold night.     Think I'll run and put another log on the fire and await one of PBS' best shows ever!        m

HELLO 2014

No excuse.  That's all I can say for not posting/blogging in 2013.  When I started to put this post up I was shocked to see that it had been so long since I last took time to update.  Gee, I've got to do a better job.  I think I put most of my information on our facebook page and just neglected this one.  Don't let me do that again.  If you notice me slacking off again, send me a message and I'll get on it!

 2014 got here way too fast.  I don't know where the time went.  We didn't do much traveling last year but did manage to get to a few bluegrass shows nearby.   Our 14th annual festival was a great time with a record crowd in attendance.  The farm was also the setting for some weddings & receptions in addition to a few other events.  We kept quite busy with all the activities going on around here. 

We have a great lineup for 2014 and are anxious to present the bands for your enjoyment.  Here's a sneak preview of the schedule:

9/18: The Little Roy & Lizzy Show

Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice

Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier

Adkins & Loudermilk

Cordle, Jackson & Salley

9/19: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Balsam Range

James King

Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys

Volume Five

9/20: Lonesome River Band

Sideline

The Spinney Brothers

Darin & Brooke Aldridge

The Bankesters

This will be the first time Dumplin Valley has presented Adkins & Loudermilk, Volume Five, Sideline and also The Bankesters.   The other bands will be familiar to our festivarians.  We hope you will start making plans to join us September 18-20.   If you are planning to camp, you will need reservations and those need to be made soon as we are fast approaching the "full" level.  You can call us at 865-397-7942 to make your reservations.

Also, we will be once again be having a camping & picking weekend May 16 & 17.    This is a weekend of hanging out with picking friends, camping, jamming & visiting.  No shows or vendors will be scheduled that weekend.  We've done this the past 2 years and it has been lots of fun.  Joe and I are able to relax and join in the jams, etc. that we miss out on during festival week.   This is also the same weekend as the Annual Bloomin Barbeque & Bluegrass event held in Sevierville so it offers our pickers an alternative or a break in the evening to attend the free shows offered by the city of Sevierville.  That event usually ends early enough to allow time for some late evening picking here.  The only charge that weekend is your camping fee (which is our regular overnight rate). 

We hope you will plan to join us for both May and September.    Check out our Facebook page @ Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival and also our website: www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com  The info on the website should be updated soon.  In the meantime, keep on supporting bluegrass and we'll be looking for you on the bluegrass trail. m

2013 Lineup Complete

 With the addition of the up and coming band, Flatt Lonesome, the 2013 lineup is now complete.  If you read the previous blog entry you saw the full list of bands with this one exception.  You can find more information about them at www.flattlonesome.com/ where you will also be able to hear 3 of the cuts from their new cd.
   We are excited about this year's show which is full of your favorites and some new to Dumplin Valley bands for some variety and exciting entertainment.   Flatt Lonesome has a new cd out which is getting a lot of airplay on WDVX, Sirius and WNCW.   I'll get my "web wrangler" to update our website with photos and a complete lineup very soon.
I know this is a short blog entry but I wanted to keep you updated regarding the lineup and will have more info soon.     
See You in September!! m

Bluegrass On The Move

What a great weekend of music.  It began with fine performances by The Dismembered Tennesseans, Brand New Strings and also Balsam Range at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville on Saturday night.  All three bands provided a much needed break for us as it had been a long dry spell without attending any shows.  It was so good to see lots of our Dumplin Valley friends there, too.  The show was the first in a series of shows to be presented by WDVX.  
The next stop on our "weekend tour" was a "special" blueplate special at the WDVX studio on Sunday afternoon.  That show featured Balsam Range with their very special guest, John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band).  What a show that was!   All those guys have a new project just released and it is called "Daylight".    If you're looking for some great music, check it out.  Here is a link for more info on the project: http://bluegrasstoday.com/daylight-john-driskell-hopkins-balsam-range/
After the blueplate both bands headed over to Thompson Boling Arena for a show with the Zac Brown Band.  I wish we would have had tickets for that.  Would love to have seen our friends from Canton on stage with ZBB in front of 1,000's of fans.   I heard that Balsam Range made all of us bluegrass fans proud with their fine performance.   And I bet they gained a few fans last night.  Hopefully, some of those folks will come to Dumplin Valley to see them in September.  Wouldn't that be great?!
We should have the lineup finished this week.  In the meantime, here's a list of the bands we are proud to present for your enjoyment this year:
Thursday, 9/19/13:  Paul Williams & The Victory Trio; Donna Ulisse; Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier; Cordle, Jackson & Salley  Friday, 9/20/13:  Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; Little Roy & Lizzy Show; Balsam Range; The Dismembered Tennesseans; The Spinney Brothers  Saturday, 9/21/13: Lonesome River Band; The Crowe Brothers; The Roys; Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice + TBA

Balsam Range and John Driskell Hopkins

 

Ringing in 2013

 

Wishing You A Happy and Healthy 2013

 

My first thought as I begin my 2013 blogs is that I'm glad we didn't fall off the cliff.  Maybe that's because the news is on and it seems that's all they're

talking about. 

Wouldn't it be great if there were a Good News channel?!?  We could hear about all the people who survived cancer and other devastating disease last year, people who finally got back to work in 2012 and maybe even some stories about children's accomplishments in the classroom.   But I've been told that those kinds of stories don't "sell".  Well, I'm not buying that.  I know lots of people who love good news and I bet you do, too.   It would be a nice place to go when all that other news gets too heavy.  At least the election is over and we don't have to watch/hear those negative commercials for a while.  Yes, yes, I know.............there is power button on the tv and I can & do use it! ha

This year we are once again planning for the upcoming FESTIVAL SEASON with as much fervor as we can muster.  I'll be posting the rest of the bands pretty soon so jump over to our www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com site to see them.   Hard to believe that this will be our 14th year of sharing music with some of the greatest music lovers I've ever seen.   Our festival families come from all over the world in search of a place to kick back, relax and enjoy some of the best picking and singing to be found anywhere.  If the walls of our old barn could talk...............................

We're also planning another camp out and jam weekend - May 17 & 18.  It will be held the same weekend as the annual Bloomin' Bar-be-que and Bluegrass event in Sevierville.  Since we won't be having any scheduled shows, you'll have plenty of time to head over to Sevierville and catch some of those shows and come back here and pick 'til your fingers can't take it anymore.   If you're planning to camp with us (at either event), you'll need reservations.  Just call us to set that up (865-397-7942).

By the way.................................about those New Years Resolutions people make every year...................well, I'm not making any.  Last year I resolved to do more blogging.   uh.....didn't work, did it?  Nope!  So this year I'm skipping all that and just letting nature take its course.  If I blog, then fine.  If I don't, you can read Ted Lehmann's blog.  It's a fine one filled with photos, videos and much commentary on all things bluegrass plus a few other thoughts wedged in here and there.  Check him out if you haven't already.

Oh, I want to thank Ashley Brown Photography, Sevierville for the family photo.  She did a great job the day we got our family together for photos. 

I hope you will check back to catch up on our news and we hope you'll make plans to join us this year.

m

 

 



Linus Monologue - A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas Is In The Air

The holidays are upon us and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of our bluegrass friends a very Merry Christmas.   We are thankful for the friendships we have gained through our association with bluegrass events.  These friendships are blessings that we treasure.  Our bluegrass family has grown each year and we thank you for that.   We're looking forward to seeing many of you in 2013 here at our annual festival in September and also in May for a camping and jamming weekend.  Those dates are Sept. 19-21 and May 17-18.   And hopefully we will see you along the bluegrass trail at other fine events.
We are working on the 2013 lineup and will be revealing it soon. So check back often for that information here and on our website and Facebook page.  * Thanks to Ashley Brown for the photo.