My John Prine Fix

Ithaca. Its a long tobacco road to get to Ithaca from Sherburne. The winter roads were sticky, slimy and frost heaved every where.  But once your there. Its great! If only for one night.

Bill and I arrived about 2 pm and stayed in the La Tourelle on the mountain past Ithaca college. My friend Mitchel Drosin reserved us a lovely room with a lovely, wintery gray and white view. The whole place was clay tiled with persian rugs that reminded me of a miniature Hotel California. The ice machines were old antique trunks with plastic coolers of ice in them. Nice touch! We unpacked and headed back down the hill to shop the commons. I shopped the Shalimar House and splurged on two funky  jackets made in Nepal! Really cool stuff. We then had dinner at the Mahogany Grill. Getting there before the rush got us a cozy table in the front window. Great dinners and reasonable priced.

It's been 5 years or more since I've seen a John Prine show. No matter how many times I see him perform. It  brings me the simplest of  happiness. John's music is as essential as a kitchen sink, little gems of American Life whether sad or funny, serious or just plain unadulterated happy! I had the pleasure of working for John several years back when he was promoting his Lost Dogs Mixed Blessings album. That was when John was touring big! He had a tour bus and many musicians, props and sound technicians along. It was really exciting! Bill and I also picked John and his band up from the Syracuse airport several times and got him to his show at the Landmark. Bill and I transported John in a blizzard from Syracuse to Buffalo. I was also a food runner and helped with setting up small banquet tables after the shows. Because of Mitchel I've also met Chip Taylor the dude who wrote, Wild Thing and "Angel Of The Morning and B. B. King. I have many, many fond John Prine memories. My fondest is when I took Dad to see him. Dad really enjoyed John's music. I'm just so happy I got to see a John Prine show with my dad. We were on the same page musically. Another great gift my dad left me was playing his country music every Sunday. Sunday mornings and afternoons (I don't remember being much of a church goer) but anyway Dad would play Peter, Paul and Mary, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and many many more country artists. I guess thats where it all started for me. Oh and the subscription to National Georgraphic. Thanks to Uncle Milty. So anyway AGAIN! Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek played with John last night. Her voice and violin complimented John's music perfectly! She one very talented girl! It was an awesome sold out show! Tho the Ithaca bar crowd was obnoxious, loud and rowdy due to the bar being inside the performance area. Not a good idea.  They settled down after a while. Several people were ushered out and it was beginning to remind me of the show at the end of Oh Brother Where Art Thou! John signed autographs till 1:30 in the morning and me with my back stage pass, passed it up and went to bed...Its ok tho...been there, done it many times. It was a delight to just get away. And I've got two gigs myself to get ready for. Anniversary gig at Michaels and Georgetown Inn. What we musician's don't do...

The Swan-tini

My friend and manager, Mr. Duke at Michaels decided we needed a signature cocktail the night I played. So he came up with a martini (made with vodka of course) of Absolute Vanilla and a splash of black raspberry brandy, Shaken and strained in a lovely chilled up glass. It wasn't bad!

That Stupid Cupid

Another Valentines day has come and gone. That stupid cupid has returned to where ever stupid cupids go. Michaels and all us servers made out like bandits since this holiday came on a Sunday. Everyone celebrated all weekend long! I don't know the count yet but I'll bet Michael served over 500 dinners from Friday to Sunday. The place is a gold mine. I'm just so thankful to be part of such a great, loving crew. It's as tho I have a whole new family!
This year's Valentines Day has left me with some good money in my pocket serving up many tasty liquor love potions to keep cupid's targets in their dreamy love ga-ga state.  I worked 12 hours yesterday! Amazinly I feel  pretty darn good this morning! Slept in till nine and got up to a steaming hot pot of Sumatra coffee from the Chenango Coffee Roasters. I'm addicted to this coffee! It has a really mellow, even, low acid taste.
So the day is mine! Busy week ahead. I'm thinking I'll treat myself to a new smaller pocket digital camera to take to the John Prine concert this week. I love my Nikon D60 but it is cumbersome to carry around when you just want to get some quick shots. I'm also looking forward to playing at Michaels 5th anniversary party this Thursday night. Life is good! Winter is getting long tho. Elder Brown's pool and the Banana river dock are callling me. Guess I'll back up to the wood stove with my sumatra instead. And why is it that everything just tastes better in a Edie Walker bowl or cup anyway

The Other Rug

Pennies For Us

So, everywhere I go suddenly there are pennies. Dad used to pick up pennies where ever he went. I'm thinking he's leaving me a trail telling me I'm where I'm supposed to be. Now my sister's, Nancy and Lisa have been suddenly aware of pennies found in peculiar places on their travels. Every time I see a penny, I pick it up and say, Thanks Dad. I miss him so.
Anyway. Another wonderful thing has happened. NICK GOT A JOB! At Michaels AND HE LOVES IT!  I went out on a limb once again for Nick when I learned that Michael got stood up by a newly hired cook. Michael has taken Nick under his wing and told him he would teach him everything he knows about cooking. Nick is ONE excited young man and now with some purpose! Its like going to a private culinary school and getting paid for it. I've re-named my car the Sangerfield Express as I'm his private taxi. Its a small price to pay. Nick is happy, working and making money and I couldn't be happier for him. I swear Dad is responsible for many things. He taught me many, many lessons. Most important is to never give up on your kids. Its been a long rough road with Nick. He's coming around now tho thank GOD!

Here a few new rugs from Adrianna's Thoughts In Wool. Nannerbella in her garden with her pets past and present. Maggie and Petey Pie being of the past and her new and I say beloved long haired chihuahua, Tiko along with Charlie the orange cat in the corner. No, Mom didn't run out of orange wool while hooking Charlie. Charlie lost his tail much to his demise in a run in with a car on route 12. The other rug is a Saltbox and Turkeys. Notice the buck in the top corner. Dad!