A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (James Taylor subsection)

The mini-bears are constantly bugging me to put more "new" stuff here - ah well, they're young and will get over it.
Anyway - here's a tribute to James Taylor. Carolina in my Mind done by Bluegrass masters Allison Krauss and Jerry Douglas.



And, congratulations to Mr Taylor for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Geography Div (Big Ditch subsection)

Yesterday, our ship passed through the Panama Canal. It's always been on the "hope to do" list, so I guess I can cross it off. Though it provides passage from east to west (or vice-versa) the Canal itself runs North-South.

Map by Clark Teagarden and John F. Herman circa 1940

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Liked this song from the first time I heard it. Dancin' Annie by Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie.



Sweet Dixie: Bill Emerson - Banjo, Wayne Lanham - Mandolin, Tom Adams - Guitar,
Teri Chism - Bass and Shelby Gold - fiddle.

Geography Div (Port of Call subsection)

Today, we arrive in Grenada. Famous for its spices (nutmeg) and the invasion sponsored by St Ronald Reagan in 1983 and immortalized by Clint Eastwood in the movie Heartbreak Ridge.
Hopefully, if the wait list clears, we'll be doing some kayaking before roaming around St George's.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Kind of a "Banjo Spectacular"from 2010 -- the old Earl Scruggs standard Groundspeed. 



Banjos (from left to right) - Alan Munde, Casey Henry, Ned Luberecki and Gary Davis.
Steve Kaufman - Guitar and Dick Daniels - Bass.

Geography Div (goin' on vacation subsection)

Time to escape the beautiful Black Hills and head for some warmth. My sweetie and her bear are on their way to Denver and thence to Miami and the ship taking them to Peru !!
Warmth, room service and lots to see and do. Bon Voyage !!

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

One of the original "Newgrass" bands from the '70s. All are what ya might call ", Alan Munde ."



Country Gazette: Byron Berline - Fiddle, Alan Munde - Banjo, Roger Bush - Bass, Roland White - Mandolin, Joe Carr  and Jim Fish - Guitars.

Geography Div (Historic subsection)

Today in 871 the Saxons (Brits) and Danes (Vikings) fought over the town of Reading in Berkshire.
The town then certainly didn't look like this representation by mapmaker John Speede from 1611.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A little something from the first Merlefest in 1988. Nine Pound Hammer performed by a gang of (much younger) All-Stars !
Oh yeah ....... Happy New Year



Tony Rice - guitar, Sam Bush - mandolin, Bela Fleck - banjo, Jerry Douglas - dobro, John Cowan - bass, Mark O'Connor - Fiddle

Happy Anniversary !! Happy New Year !!

                                                                     The Staff
                      
Four years ago (yesterday) I put up this blog. I've sure learned a lot about formatting and "how to" along the way.

So far I guess it's had its moments, as have I. It's seen the changes in my life and location, provided me with an outlet for my feelings and has increased my knowledge of useless facts -- oh well. Occasionally, I've said something that people actually looked at !!

650 posts, almost forty thousand "hits" or views. Certainly nothing to brag about, eh ? Thanks to everyone who's "clicked" to give it a view and the volunteer "mini-bears" that have suggested topics and those whose who have posted comments. Thanks to my unacknowledged "mentors,"   Comrade EB Misfit and Badtux, the Snarky Penguin and all those who have included me in their blogrolls.

Hopefully, 2016 being the meat of the National Silliness will provide plenty of fodder. The Bluegrass and Maps will, hopefully, continue to populate their usual time slots.

HAPPY 2016 !!