Thank you all for your kind words. Duane, David, & I had a wonderful time & were very pleased to share our home w/ you. More importantly, Bill had a great time & it put him in a very relaxed, mellow mood for his trip home. He *loved* this trip to the states! It focused on music & Mudcatters & he really had wonderful experiences & was so delighted to meet you all! Animaterra, Rick & Duckboots, & annap--you opened your homes & your hearts to him & that means more than words can say. Sandy & Caroline, if you hadn't provided the Folk Legacy stand at Old Songs as our gathering place, much of this would not have happened. I wouldn't have had Bill as a houseguest or held this gathering, if Animaterra hadn't, unexpectedly, been unable to take Bill home from Old Songs w/ her. (We were so sorry you got sick & couldn't be w/ us this weekend!) My life would have been the poorer.

Some expressed concern that annap & I were acting unsafely in opening our homes to strangers. It is true that the world is not a safe place. I can't speak for anyone else on the matter. For myself, I tend to go w/ my instincts. So far, I've had some wonderful experiences & met some incredible people I wouldn't have, if I'd played it safe.

We had 24 at our gathering, 14 of whom were Mudcatters: bbc, Duane D., davidmc24 (snapping digital pictures all weekend! Look for new photos on the Mudcat Resources site soon!!!), bill\sables, Sandy & Caroline Paton & friend Covie, karen k, dick greenhaus, Susan of DT, annap, Jeri, Vixen & husband Tim, Liam's Brother & wife Bonnie, Easy Rider & wife Remi, & a few local friends of mine. We ate, drank, talked, & sang from noonish on Saturday till well after midnight (BTW, we were a mellow group & had no problems w/ the neighbors!). BTW, dick greenhaus &, indirectly, Max--I hold you responsible that David now wants one of those miniature disk recorders!!! Five people stayed overnight & we did more eating, talking, & singing till we finally parted at, I think, about 4:30 pm! I had the pleasure of Bill's company till I left him on a train to Grand Central Station at 2:15 pm today (Monday). Godspeed home, Bill! It was delightful & we're looking forward to seeing you again soon! Thanks to all who came for being gracious guests & enriching my life.

love,

Barbara