Caroline and I, along with our oldest grandchild, enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Julia Belle Swain after the Great River Folk Festival in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, last year. Swapped songs with Cap'n Bo and his mate up in the wheelhouse. Lord, how we love that vessel! Had our first trip aboard her when Art took us with him, even down to landing on an island in the Mississippi to switch over to the downriver run on the . I have a lovely print of a painting of her hanging on my office wall.

Cathy Barton and Dave Para do a fine "Bayou Sarah" on their most recent CD: Crazy Quilt. Folk-Legacy has it in stock. Right now they are putting together a full CD of riverboat songs which will be recorded soon. You should also enjoy "Jim Bludso of the " on their Folk-Legacy cassette titled On a Day Like Today. This is a setting by Dave Para of the poem written in 1871 by John Hay who had been one of Lincoln's secretaries and later became Secretary of State under McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Great story!
read all of 'em!). If you're ever coming through northwest Connecticut, give us a call and you'll be welcome to come over and browse for awhile. Coffee served at no additional charge (fancy smile emoticon).

Sandy