Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 02:27 PM

Thanks for stopping by, nick. Don't be a stranger. Thanks too for posting the song. I really enjoyed listening to it, and it opens up new possibilities for the kitchen table. I have a Zoom H4 recorder but haven't gotten around to getting it to download into the computer. It would be fun to post links to songs on here. That's still too mysterious for my addled brain to figure out, but maybe some day. I sent off the last of my book proposals today and am cleaning my office. I've almost found my desk. Maybe I can get back to the Zoom H4 and see if I can get it fired up.

We actually spend our music making time in what we call our Great Room. There's more space, as our kithcen isn't enormous. I recorded my gospel quartet in that room, and it's a great place to sing. The acoustic are similar to a tile-walled Men's room. (Some of you ladies can comment on whether or not the acoustics are good in Ladies Rooms, too. I've never heard a comment about that.)

Nice to see so many folks dropping by.

Yeah, our musical tastes seem to overlap a lot, Nick.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Nick
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 12:40 PM

Very late coming to this thread - nice idea.

We have three tables in the house that are focal points - the kitchen table, the dining table (which we have spent HOURS at with friends) and the coffee table in the living room.

A bit like you, Jerry, I like jazz, rock, reggae, folk, classical and all sorts of stuff which I count myself as lucky - I'll expand sometime but thought I'd just say hello first.

Second thoughts - my wife and I had a friend visit at the weekend and one of the things we do round the table when some friends come is sing and play so here's a little offering to share with you (we were practicing so thought I'd record it on my little Zoom recorder) - Song - I hope you enjoy it :)

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 11:17 AM

Hey, Jay and all:

My wife Ruth and I took our morning walk along the Housatonic River... a beautiful morning with a temperature in the 50's, and low humidity. The leaves are starting to turn color here, and there's a feeling of fall in the air.

Driving down to the river, we got caught in the first-day-of-school traffic. Just walking to our car in the driveway, we met a young couple with a baby in a stroller and two little girls with new, pink flowery backpacks, heading off to school. I remember those days well, when my sons first started out.

My first day of school was more dramatic than anyone should have to deal with. Besides having all that first-day-in-kindgeraten jitters, I had to deal with a tragic accident. We were having breakfast in the kitchen (aitting at our oil-cloth covered kitchen table) when we heard the screech of brakes and tires. We ran out in front of the house to see a car a couple of blocks away, driving as fast as it could, and lying dead in the street was my young dog puppy, Tipper. I'd always wanted a dog (all the five years of my life,) and Tipper was better than any friend I had. And there he was, dead in the street. We carried him up onto the front porch and then it was time to head off for my first day of kindergarten.

You never forget days like that.

Hopefull all the kids starting school have a lot happier time than I had, that morning.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jayto
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 10:39 AM

Hello Jerry just sitting here drinking my morning coffee. Actually about my 3rd cup of morning coffee lol. Busy day ahead but it is starting a little later. After I got my oldest son off to school me and my youngest son decided to sit in the swing and enjoy the morning. It is a beautiful morning here today cool and sunny. It is supposed to be up around 90 before the day is out but right now it is wonderful. Anyway, I just thought I would drop in and say hi. Hope you have a great day
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 10:19 PM

Good to see you too, Ron! Howz by you?

Hey, Jay: I remember the days... :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 10:04 PM

Great to see you back, Jerry!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jayto
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:58 PM

Hey Jerry just stopping in to say hey to everyone. I am holding my son (who is sound asleep) while I am typing this so excuse any mistakes. See ya'll the young un stirs hava to run lol oh well Hi lol

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 07:59 PM

That is an absolutely fantastic clip, Amos! Thanks for posting it. Soul/gospel. What do you know about the group? I don't know anymore than the Obama connection.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Amos
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 07:25 PM

HEre ya go, Jerry: Tap your foot to this.... :)

Amos

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 05:02 PM

Hey, Wee:

Good to see you (and Rapaire, too.) I'll put you on the short list of people who like more contemporary jazz. I too ceased to enjoy Miles when he moved into jazz funk and became an icon.

Whatever.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 04:34 PM

I started out playing in dixieland band also, when I was 15. Eddie Condon was my hero and I read and re-read his autobiography til it fell to pieces. I loved all those bits where he was touring all round America, and playing jazz for famous gangsters in Chicago - when he wasn't any older than I was at the time.

My favourite period nowadays though is Miles Davis - before he went into jazz funk and when all the instruments were acoustic. In truth I like most jazz. my favourite track of all time is Larry Adler and Django playing Lover Come Back to Me in Paris 1939. You can hear Django singing as he strums, waiting for his solo.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 04:09 PM

Hey, Jerry! Just thought I drop around and say "Hi!"

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 04:08 PM

Hey, jimmy:

Always good to hear from you. I know that you like traditional jazz, as does leadfingers (and me, too.) If folkies like jazz at all it is traditional jazz, it being so ... traditional. It's not much of a stretch, musically from blues. West Coast jazz is so ... NOT traditional. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 03:59 PM

Jazz is a rare bird! I cut my teeth playing in a dixieland group when I was but 13 years old. I have to say that the west coast jazz leaves me wondering what the idea is, though. Jerry, Jayne and I and Bil Sims a great jazz guitar player have just about got "Goodmorning Heartache," the great old Billie Holliday song worked up! It is a bear to get the chord progression but we pretty much got it last evening. I will try to burn it off for you! She sounds fantastic, although I may be a bit prejudiced!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 12:34 PM

These days, I'm sitting here at this computer putting together proposal packages for my book to submit to literary agencies. Man, this is time consuming. And not a lot of fun. This is new to me, but it's getting old mighty fast. :-) So far, I haven't had a single rejection. I've just gotten a few letters graciously declining my enquiry and wishing me well.

Thank God that no one is rejecting me!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 03:15 PM

When I was typing my last post, I inadvertently posted it, mid-sentence. I was rushing to head out the door, and didn't even realize it was posted until just now, when we got back home.

I guess my attitude in life has been that if I don't like something, I wonder what's wrong with me, not it. That attitude has stood me in a good stead, because I came to like a lot of foods, music, and literature that I might never have come to appreciate, if I'd rejected stuff out of hand.

I mean, I even came to like liverwurst. That was as hard too do as learning to like opera.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Amos
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 12:26 PM

Music, in one respect, is much like math. It comes in a wide variety of forms and languages, and its inherent fascination is never-ending. It unfolds perpetualy, like the ocean.


A

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 08:59 AM

Hey, Pete:

Exposure to a particular form of music is certainly part of the equation. Most people form their musical tastes, based on what was popular during their teenager to mid-twenties years. Music then becomes a permanent "oldies" program. Much of the music that I like wasn't popular at that stage in my life. I heard a little bit of jazz on the top 40 (Brubeck's Take Five, and Swinging Shepherd Blues by Johnny Tate being examples.) But that was two or three songs. I never heard reggae, and at the time mostly hated country music (which I like much more now... or at least did in the 70's and 80's, long after I was a teenager.)

Mostly, I've always had a curiosity for music, and my two closest friends shared my adventuresome nature. If there was music I didn't like, I didn't come to the conclusion that it was crap. I figured that there must be something there that I couldn't hear. And so I learned more about the music. In college, me and my buddies went to opera (which I never acq

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 07:32 AM

Hello,

We have some good walks by the rivers here too. Always very restful and plenty to see and enjoy.

Musical taste is a funny thing. To what extent does it depend on what has been handed down to us through our genes and how much does it depend on what we hear when we are growing up?

In the 50's and early 60's children in UK schools were steeped in folk music through the BBC Singing Programmes. Jazz was easily accessible on the TV. Nowadays there is encouragement to play "pop" and study Rap. IMHO it takes quite a strong musical personality to play "outside the box" and explore folk, blues, jazz and classical music.   

What do you reckon?

Any of that Key Lime pie left?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 06:40 PM

I always wanted to make it down to New Orleans, Dean. Now I'm not sure that it would be a good experience. I wonder if they provide a set of blinders for the tourists?

I've heard the Preservation Hall Jazz Band up here. I like the old traditional New Orleans jazz, but couldn't get too wound up about PHJB. They played all the safe, familiar stuff and din't take any chances. The audience ate them up, but they were pretty safe, too.

A night to take a walk on the mild side...

To each his zone.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST,frogprince
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 03:24 PM

To me, modern jazz tends to sound like people tuning up; sometimes like people tuning up while professing to be playing some established popular song. I like New Orleans jazz enough that we sat in for an enjoyable couple of sets at Preservation Hall, the February before Katrina. Some of the band were older than mud, but they hadn't lost their chops.
                              Dean

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 11:25 AM

Sounds like a great beach, Dan!

Most mornings, Ruth and I go for a 3 & 1/2 mile river walk here in Derby, Connecticut. It's a wonderful way to start the day. Even though the riverwalk is "downtown", that doesn't convey the reality of the walk. Derby is only 11,000 people, and the "downtown" is only four blocks long. We've seen everything from deer and fox to otter on our walk, and there are beaver too (we haven't seen them yet, but a friend of ours took some photos of them with a telephoto lense. Turkey Buzzards are an every day occurrence, along with hawks and a whole variety of birds. I guess the riverwalk is Derby's "beach."

Yesterday I picked up a used copy of Bird (speaking of birds,) the CLint Eastwood directed movie about Charlie Parker. It's been a long time since I watched it, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

Which brings up another subject. Other than Art Thieme (who loves what used to be called "Modern" jazz, Leadfingers (who loves New orleans traditional jazz,) and Elmer Fudd, I don't know any other mudcatters who like jazz. Most don't even tolerate it. I'd guess that the majority of Catters don't like rock and roll they claim that it killed folk music.) Not many are likely to enjoy reggae, either.
Here's my observation: Folk music is structured, not generally complex harmonically, and values tradition. In folk music, other than dance music, the story is more important than the rhythm or the beat. Jazz is improvisational, generally far more complex harmonically and other than New Orleans revivalist stuff, rejects tradition. Rhythm is very important in jazz, and can be very complex. In rock and roll, the backbeating rhythm drives the music
and "tradition" is left to Oldies acts. Not many people can enjoy such basically different forms of music. I happen to love it all, as well as reggae for its beat and message. Nobody ever told me that I shouldn't of.

Howz everybody else feel about this. (pass them bagels, will you?)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST,frogprince
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 08:53 AM

Got detoured there a bit when a batch of the sister-in-laws good french toast called urgently. Folks here are inclined to take us to the flea market this morn, and the local fair is on. Just so we get out to the nearby beach before too long. We're talking about the beach that the Travel Channel has anointed as the best strolling beach in the U.S. It really is a long, lovely expanse.      
                               Dean

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: GUEST,frogprince
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 08:07 AM

Hi, y'all; can you reach a cup of coffee over to this corner that's on Martha's Vineyard this week? We had some local blackberries with ice cream last evening

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 10:41 PM

You're right though about Alzheimer's, Geoff: It's hardest on the rest of the family. The wife of my closest friend Joe who sings bass for the Gospel Messengers has Alzheimers. It almost literally killed Joe. She's been in a home for the last couple of years, and Joe hasn't missed a day, going to see her. She rarely speaks now, and her eyes are closed 95% of the time. Her body is still here, but the essence of who she was is gone, or so deeply buried that she can't be reached anymore.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 08:06 PM

That's a sad story, Geoff:

The reverend we visited in the hospital has a wonderful sense of humor, and even though he was hard to understand at times, he had stretches where he was very funny, and had all of us laughing. One of the beautiful things that he said was "I'm not afriad of where I'm going." That was very comforting. In her final weeks, My Mother
was excited about going home. She knew where she was going too, and although she loved all of us dearly, she was ready to go.

For many years, my wife and I have visited terminally ill people, and we've had enough beautiful experiences that it has taken some of the mystery out of death. "Oh death, where is thy sting?"

We spent today with old man death, but it wasn't depressing. He must hate all the joyful singing...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Tootler
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 06:41 PM

That's sad Jerry.

My mother in her last days did not really recognise much of the family. She knew how to tweak my father's conscience which worried us greatly, but when we went to visit just before she died she sort of knew who I was, but did not really recognise my wife who she referred to as "that woman" (they never really got on) and she didn't know who my daughter was. From what my father says, she didn't really recognise the younger of my two sisters and her daughter when they went to visit.

On an earlier visit, we had gone out for a meal and while we were waiting to order, my mother had a moment of lucidity and said something like "I am being a dreadful trouble to you all". It was very upsetting and the rest of the evening was somewhat sombre.

When my mother died my wife really came up trumps. She drove practically the length of England home, organised some food for the funeral tea and came back with it two days later. She was a real star.

The actual funeral was a fairly low key affair and we just had a brief graveside ceremony. We had one hymn, "The Lord's my Shepherd" sung to Brother James's air accompanied by the vicar on flute and myself playing harmony on a tenor recorder. My Father organised a church service later, but I was not there as I had to go home as I was due back at work.

My Mother had Alzheimer's disease, which is the cruelest of diseases. I would not wish it on anyone. It takes away your personality and your dignity.

Geoff

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 05:15 PM

Ahh, it feels gooood to sit down with a mug of coffee and a piece of cinnamon toast... Been a home-going day today.

This morning, my wife Ruth, her daughter (and mine now, too, and I got all fancied up and drove down to Norwalk, to go to a wake and a funeral. More accurate, a wake and a home-going. I have never met the man who was being celebrated, but he had been my wife's friend of many years, before I met her, and our daughter new him and his family. It was a rousing celebration, with a lot of music. I mean, a lot. Forget hymnals. Folks know the songs, and everyone just sings. But, the most moving part of the celebration was when one of the deceased's sons got up to offer his reflections about his father.
He talked with great love, and humor, and then he read something. The funeral home has a website, where people can leave messages and memories. The son read one that had been posted by someone he didn't know. It was a long letter of loving praise for the father by someone who had known him since he (the someone) was three years old. As he recounted in the message he'd posted, his own father was rarely around and didn't like the little boy, but the man whos home-going it was has befriended the little three year old boy and had been a better father to him than most boys have. He'd come to all of his birthday parties, taught him sports, and was always there for him. The message was in praise of fatherhood, and the little boy, now grown up and a father, wanted to praise the man for teaching him how to be a good father. What was touching was that the deceased's son had no idea who the man was who'd posted the message. At first that seemed odd that he wouldn't have heard of that little boy, many years ago. When he reads the name at the end of the message, he asked if the man was there, to stand up. A young man, probably in his early twenties stood up, fileld with modesty. There was probably a thirty year difference between him and the man's son, which is why they had been unaware of each other. The whole congregation rose to their feet, and there was hardly a dry eye in the church. That moment defined a man's life.

After the home-going, we went to see a relative of my wife's, who is a baptist minister. He's been in a nursing home with his wife for the last year or so, but more recently he's been hospitalized. When we came in, he didn't recognize us at first. My daughter is a minister, so I thought that she'd be the first one he'd recognize. He's a relative of my wife's and even though she's seen him countless times, nothing registered until my wife and our daughter
told him who they were. I'd met him two or three times, and I think he's heard me sing with my group, but he drew a blank when I told him who I was. As we talked, his mind slipped in and out, but one thing he kept repeating. When my wife or daughter asked him when he was going home, he said, "I'm going home tomorrow." He is in no shape to be released, because he's on oxygen and intervenous feeding.
But he's in fine shape for going home.

I expect we'll be going to another home-going, one of these days.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:26 PM

Thanks so much Pete, I just spoke to Samantha and she could not believe that the riddle of the last verse had been solved! two little babies will have a much happier bathtime this evening!
wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:54 AM

Hello Jerry,

Perhaps there is some-one who can exlain how a drink at night time keeps you awake, whereas if one has a glass or two at lunch time its nap city for the rest of the afternoon?

It occurs to me that we are eating you out of house and home, Jerry. Perhaps we should invite Big Mick over... he might bring a casserole or two :0)(and I guess he needs the company of good folks just now.)

Yes, Wendy, the club is still going....give it a google! The song does have a happy ending by the way...

In came the Doctor, in came the nurse, in came the lady with the alligator purse.
"It's mumps!" said the Doctor, "Measles!" said the nurse, "Chicken Pox!" said the lady with the alligator purse.
Then out went the Doctor, out went the nurse and out went the lady with the alligator purse.
Then my little brother, he got up off the floor and said, "There's nothing wrong with me any more!"

Thanks for remembering!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Amos
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:46 AM

SOmetimes it appears that the darkest hour is when a long and beautiful summer afternoon falls into the wrong hands; but I'm just being grumpy. :D


A

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:42 AM

Hi Jerry,
yes how funny that Pete and I should meet up in your kitchen. It was in the 1970's and he ran a folk club in Croydon, I was taken there by someone I used to sing with, Dave Bryant( who introduced me to mudcat and, sadly ,is no longer with us.)It was a really great club, I do not know if it is till running? Pete used to entertain at childrens parties and he did my son's birthday one year with these fantastic shadow puppets.Christopher and Samantha loved the Tiny Tim Song;

I had a little brother
his name was Tiny Tim
We put him in the bath tub
to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water
and ate up all the soap
he died last night
with a bubble in his throat.

In came the Doctor
in came the nurse
In came the lady with the alligater purse ......

I hope it had a happy ending!!Anyway Christopher sings it to his son Reuben, and Samantha sings it to her daughter Scarlett.
Pete, Christopher is the manager of the Fisher Theatre in Bungay, Suffolk. Did I hear that you are living in East Anglia now? Billy and I are in Frinton on Sea, on the Essex coast.You must still be involved with folk music, what are you doing?
Just made some more coffee, nice and hot, and a key lime pie is in the fridge!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:17 AM

You're right there, Amos.

"And the darkest hour is just before dawn."

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Amos
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 11:06 AM

Zippidy-doo-dah, Jerry!!

Waking up may be an irritating process, but I believe it beats NOT waking up!!



A

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 09:59 AM

"Wake up, wake up you sleepy head
Get up, get up, get out of bed
Cheer up, cheer up, the sun is red
Live, love, laugh and be happy"

'Mornin, Jay. Nothing is more irritating than a cheerful voice when you have to drag yourself out of bed.

The sunshine does help, though.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jayto
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:55 AM

Just stopping by to say hey. I'm not sure what to say here besides BAD day ready to sleep but can't insomnia is battling the Woodford Reserve and I can't believe it is winning. Some of Ky's finest Woodford Reserve but it is no match for insomnia lol. Cya

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: SharonA
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:44 AM

Ahhhh, now I have a chance to pull up a chair and have a chat before trundling off to bed. Got any decaf? No? Okay, just a glass of milk then, thanks, and whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Oh man, I'm too late for that chocolate cake... but ooh, hey, I could finish off those last coupla chicken drumsticks. They didn't have any decent food at the coffeehouse where I just played, and I skipped dinner. Mmmm, that baked potato ought to reheat in the microwave just fine.

Yup, played at yet another nearly-empty coffeehouse for nothing but compliments. Sure it's gratifying to watch people smile at my performance, and their words are all very nice, but I can't eat words unless they're my own. The one -- one! -- friend who actually came out specifically to hear me wanted to hear my political songs, but I didn't think that was the place for 'em. I promised I'd sing 'em for him when I go to his gig next week in the city, where there's a circle afterward.

He told me he started drinking again, after years on the wagon, because he went on a cruise with his folks. Too much temptation there to resist. He said the drinking feels like coming home. *shiver* I'm worried about him; with his health problems and the meds he takes, he shouldn't be touching the stuff.

Oh well, at least he won't be tempted to drink at the big songwriters' club fest this Saturday; we organizers had a bit of a problem with a different club member at a recent song-critique meeting who had one or two too many, so we're getting serious about enforcing our no-alcohol policy for all our events. No smoking either, but no one seems to have a problem with that rule, thank goodness!

After that I'll be going to the seashore (or, as we say around here, "going down the shore") for a couple of days to visit my brother and his girlfriend again. They rent a house on Long Beach Island every summer, and they invite as many people down as they can. Problem is it's a tiny cabin that barely sleeps the hosts, much less the guests, so it becomes more of a depot as friends and family come and go on a tight arrival-and-departure schedule. I've already come and gone a couple of times this year. It's not a very relaxing arrangement but, hey, the price is right! Gotta tell ya, the first time I visited and had to stay in a room next to where my straight-as-an-arrow bro shared a bed with a woman he wasn't married to, I couldn't sleep a wink! :-D

Speaking of sleep, it's time to throw out my chicken bones, turn off the kitchen light, and go get ready for bed. Thanks for hanging out with me and listening to me babble on. Nice PJ's, by the way. Good night!

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Amos
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:18 PM

Hiya, Jerry. Got a bottle of GUnness around?

We're throwing an interstate party for BBW's sister's 60th. People coming into SoCal from all over--their Mom from Arizona, a surprise friend from Colorado, a childhood buddy from Ohio, and a neice from San Jose all gravitating to a big country house where some friends are throwing the do. It's making for a very hectic week with all these comings and goings. On top of it all, we rented out a bedroom lately to a nice gal from my company, and her husband just flew into ttown from Fort Bragg and they're throwing another little party Friday.

But I did get to write a song for my sis in law which should make her happy.

THere. It's a moosic thread. :D

A

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: SharonA
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:02 PM

Thanks for the welcome, Jerry. No time to sit at the table just now; I've got a gig to run off to! Maybe when I get back, I'll burn a bit of the midnight oil and raid the fridge with you. Save that last piece of chocolate cake for me! :-)

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:01 PM

Hey, Wendy:

Sounds like you and Billy Bob had a great 60th birthday celebration. That is a special one. It made me think of my Mother, who died a couple years ago (but not before she enjoyed her 99th birthday celebration.) She celebrated at least a whole week. She knew how to do things right.

Sorry, Pete: not enough yet to make jam. I'd probably be more tempted to make a gallon of black raspberry wine if I had enough. At the rate the bushes are growing, that may still be possible in the future if I want to sacrifice a whole corner of my house...

And what a hoot that you and Wendy could reminisce about crossing paths many years ago...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 11:08 AM

Hey, Sharon:

I guess the moderators thought that there was enough music in here to move it up. I had nothing to do with it. It really is BS (but not b.s.) but has the distinction of not being about politics, or religion (except very peripherally.)

Its good to see you. Make sure you drop in for a cuppa. I just ground a fresh pot of Kona coffee, grown in Hawaii. I like tea, too, and on these hot summer days, peach iced tea is the liquid of choice.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: SharonA
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 10:48 AM

When/how did this thread move above the line? It used to have a BS heading. Whahappind?

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 10:20 AM

Hello Jerry,

Glad the advice about the raspberries is coming thick and fast! Do you get enough to make jam? The blackberries are ripening in the hedges and it will soon be time to go blackberrying. Guaranteed to get a good haul and purple staining to the hands! Blackberry & apple pie...Mmmmm!

Wendy's post reminded me of the Shadow Puppets!...yes Wendy...it is indeed I. Good to hear from you. The Shadow Puppets were a great venture and we had some good times with them!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 07:59 AM

Hi Jerry,
how lovely to hear about your weekend, sounds like wonderful music.
We had a very busy weekend, Billy was 60 so I planned a suprise party. Had to keep him out of the house all day on Saturday while we put up a marquee in the garden, he came home to 26 family and a three course dinner. Wow was he speechless! Then on Sunday we had a bar b q for 75, luckily the weather held, we have had a dreadful summer in the UK this year! The whole weekend went off really well considering he told me he did not want a party or any fuss!It is a shame that his sisters are all in New Jersey and do not come to England but I think my large family made up for them not being here.
How I kept the secret I do not know, I had food and wine hidden all over the house and had to cook in the evenings while he was asleep in front of the television.
Pete are you the same Pete that was at the Waddon Folk Club in the 70's? If you are, I am the Wendy that lived in Maidstone and the little boy Christopher that you did a party with Shadow puppets for is now a daddy himself aged 35 and sings" I had a little brother, his name was Tiny Tim" to his little boy Reuben! Happy days!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 06:03 PM

Rumanci gave me the same advice, Pete. She said that I could the new growth back about one half, and cut the old, fruit-bearing branches away. Then, the raspberries will come on the cut-back new growths, next year.

I sure hope so. The raspberry bushes are taking over the corner of our house. We moved here six years ago, and I didn't even see the bush the first year or so, it was so small.

I remember one early Cape Cod morning, going out with a friend of my friend's, whom I had just met, to pick wild blueberris which he used to make blueberry pancakes for breakfast. You don't forget stuff like that...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 09:59 AM

Hello Jerry,

How lucky you are to have fresh raspberries right outside the door! We seem to be overrun by courgettes at the moment...and you can't put them on your museli....well I suppose you could....best in soup!

Here in the UK raspberries etc should be pruned in late summer, once they have finished fruiting. I guess it won't be much different in your part of the world. So you should be fine to go out with the snippers!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 02:24 PM

Jerry, I am going to put in Blueberries, black raspberries and red raspberries in a few weeks when the heat dies down a bit. I love berries and we have a pretty large patch of wild black raspberries in one corner of my farm. They are not Blackberries, much sweeter and different shaped berries and the canes are definately raspberries. I had hoped to put in an acre of wine grapes but I am not sure if my soil will sustain them. Having almost no experience whth this farming, everything I do is a grand adventure! Just built a 16 foot floating boat dock for my lake and so far it holds people walking on it. I appreciate everyone who can do things with their hands much more now that I am trying to do things for myself. I pretty much bow down and worship anyone who can run a back hoe as now that I have one, I can tell you it is a real skill!!!

ps, I also lived in Janesville in 1970. 204 South CHerry St.
jimmyt

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 12:15 PM

These alst few weeks, most mornings I go out and pick fresh black raspberries from the bushes in my backyard. The season is almost over now, and I'll miss the berries. There's something great about stepping out the back door and picking something that you can have on cereal. Anyone else have that luxury?

One thing I think I need to do. This year, I didn't cut back on the bushes, and they've grown like crazy, taking over the whole corner of the house. I seem to remember that it's important to prune the branches back so that all the energy of the bush doesn't go into new growth. Prune blackraspberries? That's the bananas, but I'm pretty sure that I should do it. Here's a question for you gardners (Farmer Jimmy.) When should I cut back the new growth? I'm planning on doing it soon, so if this is the wrong time of year, tell me to stop the snippers!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 03:11 PM

It's Sunday afternoon, and Ruth and I are taking it easy after a very busy, but enjoyable weekend. (Technically, I guess this is still part of it..) The Gospel concert Friday night went very well, although they didn't get the sell-out that they needed. The main group was Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's. I'd never heard them, and I have a pretty extensive collection of black gospel. The concert was a microcosm of black gospel. The Men's Chorus that I sing in opened the evening, doing three songs, with just a piano accompaniment. As we often do, we did part of one song a capella. That was the end of a reasonable level of sound. Every other group played from too loud to too Damned Loud! I had to leave the sanctuary while one group was playing because it hurt my ears too much, and my hearing isn't as good as it used to be. There was the usual, "Everybody clap your hands now!" exhortation, trying to whip the congregation into a frenzy, and several of the lead singers walked out into the congregation and into the aisles. A group of women singers even imitated flying by flapping their arms with their elbows stuck out. It looked more like they were imitating chickens.

When Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's came out, it was a different story. They came up from Tupelo, Mississippi, and they let their music get people moving. None of this "Everybody clap your hands, now" stuff. Lee Williams stands bolt upright when he sings. When he gets into the Spirit, he taps his foot. They shook the place, completely on the strength of their singing. They weren't the loudest group, but they had everyone up dancing.
When the Spirit is moving you don't have to do nuthin'. Just step back and let him work.

Last night, we had a birthday celebration for my son Pasha. He's my wife Ruth's oldest son. And mine, too. Who ever dreamt up the term Son-in-law? Love has nothing to do with the law, and I love him as if he was my biological son. "Son" is a loving relationship, not a legal matter. I gave him a large book on jazz and blues. He hasn't heard much country blues, but I'll take care of that. He loves all kinds of music from James Brown to classical, so I know he'll be excited hearing Skip James, Leadbelly, Mississippi John and the rest.

This morning we went to a large Baptist Church in New Haven, right next door to us. I love that chruch. They must have had 500 people there this morning, and the sermon was titled "Never Again." Every year, they set aside a Sunday to reflect upon the heritage of slavery that still effects their lives. It was a powerful, positive message, with music to match.

We couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 10:25 PM

Hey, Art:

One of the things I regret about this site is that we can't post photographs in our comments. Maybe I'll e-mail a couple to you... one of the brass propellor and the other of the wheel of the Silver Queen. You can still pick up a bag of Okee Doke cheese covered popcorn in the Midwest. Every time I come home, it's one of the first things I look for.

As for the Silver Queen, Roy Harris did a marvelous recording of the song on one of his early albums. Unfortunately, the track skips on my record, and I've never been able to get a replacement. He does it with a concertina and a very English, almost music hall arrangement with some twittery chickies singing along on the chorus.
It is very evocative of the second World War as felt by those who experienced it in Britain. I marvel at music. Someone can take a song that is specific to a small town in southern Wisconsin, and transform it into a song that evokes a completely different landscape and culture.

One of the verses in the song refers to a flag hanging in a front room window. Some folks that drop by here can remember when the living room was called the front room, because it was almost always at the front of the house. During the Second World War, there were three differently colored stars. They were small, mounted on a wooden stick with tassles on the bottom. Or, at least that's how I remember them. A blue star meant that your son or daughter was in the service, a silver star that they'd been wounded in action, and a Gold Star that they had been killed in the line of duty.

I was born in 1935, not knowing at the time that my home town of Janesville celebrated it's 100th anniversary in that year. I came home to visit in 1985, and they had a big parade down Milwaukee Street, celebrating Janesville's 150th anniversary. It was all small town stuff, but when I saw a flat bed truck coming down the street, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Sitting proudly erect in folding chairs on the truck bed, waving small American flags were several elderly women. The banners on the truck said it all: Gold Star Mothers. Forty years had passed since the end of the second World War, but the pain and loss was still fresh in the faces of the women. Unlike the other floats that were greeted with huzzaws and jokes, there was only scattered applause, with many people like myself too overcome by the poignancy of the moment to do anything but stand there in silence.

Thanks for dropping by, Singer's Knight... don't make a stranger of yourself.

Jerry