BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...

Subject: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 05:52 PM

... the letters on the keyboard can be almost or totally worn off...!

... it is likely there will be pets, livestock, plants, or other signs of life...

... a certain amount of creative untidiness is not only normal, it's desirable, being indicative of excessive amounts of time devoted to having a life, and having musician pals to fool around with in said life....

... it's not unusual to fins that "normal" social activities have been temporarily suspended in favor of a quick rehearsal for a suddenly-acquired gig and creating a good set-list...

... it's likely the cookin' will be mighty fine....

... almost certainly there will be beer on the premises, or a place in the fridge waiting for same...

... being barefoot is considered the height of social acceptability...

... no one gets weird if a pee bucket is mentioned (or brought out), but one empties one's own, of course, and in an appropriate area....

... there will tend to be a good number of squishy hugs involved....

... interesting people tend to drop by...

... there will be quilts and/or afghans lying around....

... the aroma of woodsmoke is more likely to be lingering, than not...

... the computer is probably on and probably already on the Mudcat Forum page...


What's YOUR experience?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Amos
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:06 PM

LOL! Great Fred, Susan!


A

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:07 PM

HAHAHAHAHA!!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: pdq
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:21 PM

...sign on wall says:

             Play an Accordian - Go to Prison

                               It's the Law!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:35 PM

I resemble a lot of those remarks !!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: pdq
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:37 PM

...sign taped to back of bodhran player sprawled across floor:


                                        No, I'm just drunk!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:59 PM

Apart from the "squishy hugs", not bad. I think that's maybe more an American thing.

You didn't mention the instruments and the books.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:02 PM

Books, yeah. I was gonna say....

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 08:30 PM

Books? They can READ????

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:01 PM

You must not have been in very many homes of Mudcatters, pdq, or you would have noticed the accordions.

SUBVERT THE DOMINENT PARADIGM... PLAY ACCORDION

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Gypsy
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:04 PM

Ever thing but the beer/alcohol.........too many instruments, dogs, food, books, and yep, the woodstove is how we heat and cook. Pretty astute of you!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:17 PM

Pee bucket?

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: annamill
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:23 PM

Gypsy!! What no Guiness??? I truely miss the "Mudcat hanging around my house" days.

Love, Annamill

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:34 PM

Well, there certainly are accordions hanging around this house! Yes, sirree bob tail there are! You take 'em out to the shootin' range and they give such a wonderful groan sound when ya blast 'em! Then ya take 'em home and hang 'em up as a warnin' to others.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:57 PM

If I ever come to your house Rapaire, will you shoot my accordion?

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:44 PM

... there is often only one bathroom and it can be far away (in decrepitude) from the guestflop space... so the really experienced (female) Mudvisitor is advised: always carry a pee bucket in the van just in case! A PPP (personal porta potty) WITH LID....

I mean, since you asked. Geeze I thought EVERYBODY knew what is a pee bucket. They come squat or conveniently tall. You can get the prettiest knobs too, at Home Depot, to adorn the lid... lil flowered porcelain thingie...

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:56 PM

Well, I reckon that my poor ol' boney hillbilly butt falls somewhere in the middle of the Cat-norm as about half of WYSusan's observsations could have been found during her visit here...

Sorry about the last minute rehersal, especially since the gig got cancelled at the last minute... It really cut into our visitin' time...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:57 PM

WYSIWYG, we got 3.5 bathrooms. Hell, we got 2.5 kitchens. And I got three usable shovels.

CarolC, not if it's housebroken and well-trained and its shots are up to date. I'm very liberal and open-minded. Besides, my Uncle Neddy used to play accordion. Of course, he did die in the madhouse of the screaming DTs and tertiary syphilis. I don't think that was caused by the accordion, no matter what the rest of the family thinks.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:05 PM

Aw Boberz, I loved just watching/listening as you worked up that mojo. It was a great lead-in to the talks that followed. You 'n' me, we don't need no talkin', we kin jes' sit, you know, do that quiet thing.

I do have to say Mary in Kentucky wins the prize for nearby guestroom/terlet, and I had the whole top floor to myself, too, so acourse if I wanted I could run up and down the hall nekkid. (Are nekkid Catters on the list awready? No? Well they still ain't!)

:~)

Rap, where you at? Next time I'll come yore way! :~)

The pee bucket was also on board in case the trip involved some WalMart camping. It's a LONG way from the far end of the lot to their potties! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:15 PM

Southeastern Idaho. We also have 'lectricity and runnin' water, at least most of the times.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:31 PM

Missed by 145 degrees - you only got three right:
beer
piss
cockroachs, ants, ferel cats feeding on squirrels and rats.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Your description is more like a Saturday night drunk tank in the city.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:32 PM

The musical instruments in the house are worth more than the house itself.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:44 PM

Lots of instruments, books, quilts, kids, and cats around this house. There's a good garden out back and a compost pile, and there are lots of seeds, both in packets and in little hand-labeled envelopes for next year. There's a big lawn and a lawnmower (this is the Mudcatter fitness program--mow the big lawn without putting the mower in its self-propelled mode).

There are several places where guests can sleep, none are far from a bathroom because the house isn't that big. Two bathrooms. Workmen have been known to pee in the back yard, though they were always invited to use the indoor facilities.

Fireplace smokes some. I don't use it much, except to put big candles in there to burn--it keeps the chill from the room by heating the cavity behind the glass doors, and it looks good, even if it isn't a "real" fire.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:12 AM

Susan, I feel like you would be quite at home, in my home.

I have this sqeeze box thing hanging on a wall in my music room- It has these words on it- MeineleHerold and Hlingenthal. That's about all I know about that except it squeezes together to make some kind of funky accordian sound without a keyboard.
My pee bucket in my van has a lid, and well noted, if there is no electricity at a certain time, 5 gallon pails are always at hand with a fitted toilet seat if you desire.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: JennieG
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:48 AM

There us a sign on my sewing/music room door that says:

I'm creative....

you can't expect me to be neat too......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: freda underhill
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:34 AM

... yes, many letters on the keyboard ARE almost or totally worn off...! ... there is one resident cat, one visiting cat, and one feral.

I have two bookshelves full of books, and several boxes upstairs full of old ones waiting for me to pass them on. there are Cds, and tapes from people from around the country and around the world, no old records.

... there is a big wooden table under the window cover with three sets of drawing pencils (76, 36 and a third random collection). There are white cartridge drawing pads, black paper drawing pads, and yellowish old looking watercolour drawing paper. Plus books and things that are waiting for me to read them (tax forms etc).

... It's part of a creative community, so on Monday nights I hear a choir (Ecopella) rehearsing in the studio out the back. My neighbour plays blues piano next door, and we have several artists here...

... there is a lot of cheap food in decadent walking distance down the road, two Thai, three pubs, two cafes and a restaurant.... and neighbours drop in for coffee/chinwags. There is a wooden dolls house and wooden blocks in the corner, so that visiting children can play with them, and some beautiful children's books on hand as well.

There are two beautiful aboriginal paintings and others by friends. There is an old tapestry couch and another dusty pink one, and the old wood n leather chair that was my father's. Ther are huge windows with lots of light.

... while i dont drink much, there is always beer for sessions, which happen at my place regularly, and sometimes ingredients for sangria....

... pink fluffy slippers for inside, brown leather sandals for outside..

... folkies here arent squishy hugger types, too dry n reserved. but lots of good singing and some magical moments.

... yes, interesting people tend to drop by, there are home made quilts and there is a lovely old persian rug. yes, the computer is on and is already on the Mudcat Forum page. there are spare rooms, but not for long as we're renovating next year, to separate the large house into two, a one bedroom downstairs and a two bedroom upstairs.

... outside the back door is a beautiful Japanese maple tree, which helps me feel renewed every spring when its green leaves sprout again. it leads into a shared garden out the back, with lots of australian native trees including a huge jacaranda tree with lovely blueish purple blossoms during summer.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Davetnova
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:07 AM

Hey I've got a Japanese Maple Tree, and also lots of dust, sheet music on most available flat surfaces and capos at strategic locations so I can also find. (See I told the doctor I WAS normal).

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:21 AM

Being a boat dweller (no prizes for guessing the name) no one has far to go to take a leak, whoever fills the loo gets to empty it. It's called democracy. Mind you there's only space for 5 to sit on board so it can be a cosy crush. You must also like diesel, and bilges, and watching herons and kingfishers, ducks and parakeets, and geese and foxes, the sound of the rain inches above your head and the wind blowing through the branches of the sycamore.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:20 AM

We get the occassional tumbleweed. Does that count for anything?

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: CarolC
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:46 AM

Our house is a little bit like a boat, only it's got wheels and it moves about on dry land. Guest quarters consist of a place to park your trailer or camper right next to ours. Allan C's trailer is parked there right now.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:57 AM

The hugs thing is not American...loads of those around here, though I'm not sure about the 'squishy' bit. However the pee bucket must be 'cos I've certainly not come across one of those!

Our house is fairly similar to that, especially the creative untidyness bit!! Unfortunately we seldom have lovely musical folk dropping in, because for some reason, nearly all the ones we know live great distances away.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 11:26 AM

I like creative untidiness. I know exactly where nothing is.

I trust, Lynne, that what you meant re pee buckets was that you had not encountered one of those!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:37 PM

I don't think pee buckets have ever been mentioned in MY house, and I think I WOULD get wierd if someone "brought one out" (or in, as it would have to be).

Jeez, that might be OK out in the country, but I live in a city that has had indoor plumbing for a hundred years or so.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:10 PM

We have a toilet now...we didn't use to. Used to do it bear style...£$£& in the woods:0)

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: GUEST,Cheeky
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:28 PM

Rap says he will have a big party at his house catered by him he's paying for the booze and everything....and he will entertain everyone all night. no not that way you dirty minded louts!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Wesley S
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 05:52 PM

Everything else may be a mess but the CD's records and songbooks are in alphabetical order.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Big Mick
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:06 PM

I am sitting here chuckling at how similar these Mudcat houses are. Susan WYSI gets the prize though. All the things she say about others holds true for her, and she has a dorm built in upstairs just waiting for folks to come. I would say that Alaska Mike Campbell and I fit right in, along with Dick and Susan. Wonderful warm place.

You come to this Mudcatters house and you get a house that is a work in progress, and great deck to sit and noodle on, bathrooms on both floors, and cat named Esmerelda that will not stop talking to you, instruments of every stripe, books of every kind of music, a 12 year old champion step dancer that has been singing her whole life, and as much hospitality as you want to enjoy. And a lake right out the front. And if you are lucky, a trip to the hill to play a few tunes to Orion at night.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:08 PM

well, the operative term is "lotsa stuff"...all that books and records and instruments stuff --in addition to gadgets and memoribilia of often eccentric sorts. 'Usually' animals...mostly cats..(though we have been without one for a couple of years)

and color & light & movement....and things which look like they are gonna be moved soon, but maybe not...

and for some of us, the appliance is pee bottle (having a screw on lid is convenient), mostly for long car trips, but also for cold nights in spare beds when a trip down the hall is inconvenient.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: jacqui.c
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:48 PM

Well, we've got the dog and the instruments, the music and the books, with more to follow when my stuff gets here. The couch, now covered by a patchwork quilt, will double as a spare bed if necessary, although for the summer we will have the motor home outside as guest quarters. Plants - no, we will hopefully be spending too much time travelling to take care of plants properly.

Lots of big hugs for visitors though - even from the dog!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 07:07 PM

Hmmmmmmmmmm...one of these days I'll have Pene Azul take down the House! House! pictures and I'll put up some of the inside.

As for the deck -- we have one, and looking off to the NW in the evening the mountains get closer and closer as the sun goes down. Straight ahead, the best show in town during the Spring, Summer, and early Autumn are the golfers. One of these days the city is going to charge us an entertainment fee for that!

Fireplaces...yeah, two, one up and one down. A 26 x 26 foot room downstairs, among other things, with a repro of a Lascaux painting above the fireplace. Cable Internet access, too, for the two computers, with speed of a T-1 line or better.

Only instruments at the moment are my trumpet, Pat's guitar, and a couple kazoos. That, however, is subject to momentary change.

There are just a few books, though.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 07:19 PM

The couch, now covered by a patchwork quilt, will double as a spare bed if necessary, although for the summer we will have the motor home outside as guest quarters.

You may regret saying that, jacqui...

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 10:34 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 10:38 AM

Oh, yeah. Quilts.

We got some.

The oldest one that I'm aware of dates from the 1840s. The newest dates from 2004 and we sleep under it. The oldest one is being slowly and carefully restored.

My wife is, among other things, involved with quilts.


"The fabric! The horror! The horror!"

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:06 PM

In Alaska's north, the pee bucket has a different name: the honey bucket. Wonder where that came from?

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: *Laura*
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:44 PM

Not forgetting the thousands and thousands of CDs (and LPS and tapes) spilling out of every available bookshelf (that isn't taken up by books) and piling up higher and higher next to the CD player!

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: PoppaGator
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:56 PM

A "honey" bucket is for more than pee. Users of a bucket reserved exclusively for urine have to exercise just a little restraint, and take the long walk to an actual commode if and when necessary.

I was surprised to read so many references to woodstoves, an item I associate with the most rural settings. Have most Mudcatters really gone "back to the land" to live? I'm not criticizing at all -- actually, I'm a little envious -- but I'm surprised that more than an isolated few seem to have successfully resisted the lure of our ever-enlarging urban "civilization."

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: *Laura*
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:00 PM

We've got an Aga and an open fire.

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:15 PM

Hmm...let's see how we stack up...

CD's piled up--check.
Books spilling off bookshelves--check.
Guitars and other instruments scattered 'round--check.
Lean, mean shedding machine (i.e., cat)--check.
Beer in the fridge--check.
Barefoot--well I'm wearing socks, but no shoes, close enough. Afghans--check...before you sit down in case the cat's curled up under it.

OK, not doing too badly...need to work on the interesting folks, the cooking, and the social activities (since we usually go **out** for our musical adventures.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Joybell
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 10:55 PM

In this room - Tame possum, several baby magpies, possibility of a snake or two, frogs, books, instruments, pictures of performers from the past, tacky pictures of angels saving little kids, picture of George Bush as Alfred E Newman wearing a "Worry!" sign, a dozen pictures of different Billy Barlows, little stuffed penguin sent by Sandra of Sydney, a kangaroo skull, fake stuffed owl... More possibilities in other rooms. No interesting friends at the moment but several visits threatening - we hope. Joy

Subject: RE: BS: At Mudcatters' Houses...
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 12:26 AM

Weird Alice says she's coming in the Spring, but she wants to spend January and most of February on St. Thomas. Gee, I wonder why?

Our fireplaces both have inserts, one a very good insert and the other a not-so-good one.

I like a house which has an "ark" function -- someplace where you can stay warm and cook when the electricity goes out. I might never use it, but it's a comfort to know that it's there. Besides, a fire in a fireplace is really very nice. Watching the flames, curled up in a quilt either alone or with someone (the latter is best), sipping some good brandy or tea or chocolate, good music playing, maybe reading a good book, while big flakes of snow drift from the sky...does life get better than that?