August Music Notes

Soo....this update is a bit behind for the month of August.  This month seemed like it was especially busy with a lot of out of town travel for music and BBQ as we were setting up for events in Wisconsin and here in Minnesota out of town.  Yet, here's a recap of some of the things from this month and some from last month I didn't have the chance to share about.

PERSONALLY:
Warren had to have eye surgery.  During umpiring a baseball game 3 weeks or so earlier, he had gotten a ball smack into the mask on that side of his face. He has had "floaters" since then and when we were in Deerwood at our BBQ event, he couldn't see out of the corner of his eye.  3 days later he had retina surgery as it was detaching.  He wasn't allowed to lift or do much work these last couple of weeks and is still on restriction until "the bubble" (a gas inflation put in his eye to keep some pressure on his retina to heal) is gone.  His follow up appointment two days after the surgery showed successful surgery and today at his appointment all is well and looking good and the retina is attached and healing!  The wonders of today's medicine.  Years ago he would have been blind!

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EVENTS:
July was the TNT Fireworks Tent sales and following Tent Revival at the end of the Fireworks sales which included The BURN Central MN prayer/praise day on Saturday from 9-9 during the 3 day tent revival.

At the beginning of August we were at Rock on the Rock, a Christian Music Festival put on by The Overflowing Cup & Total Life Center in Beloit, WI.  We played music, Warren sold BBQ and I had a booth with my jewelry.
We met a lot of cool folks, spent time in fellowship, gnawed on the best sweet corn ever, enjoyed each other's music as many bands and singer/songwriters played throughout the two day festival. On Sunday Warren and I got to lead worship for the church service held in the park, as the original scheduled musicians cancelled.
We got to chat with Billy Saint John from Southern Exposure.... who might have us come down to one of his events in Indiana some time.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Date:  8/25/18
Time:  10-4:30
Event:  Art from the Heart Crafts & Car Show
Place:  Downtown Paynesville
Town:  Paynesville, MN

Date:  9/13/18
Time:  11 am
Place:  The Steeple Coffee House
102 E. Lafayette
Town:  Monticello, IL

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Date:  9/25/18
Time:  12:00 noon
Event:  Young At Heart at First Christian Church
1699 N. State Street
Town:  Monticello, IL


Date:  9/29/18
Time: 11-4
Event:  Monticellobration FestiFall   (NotesNBling)
Downtown on the Square
Town:  Monticello, IL

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NOTES-N-BLING:
Most of you are familiar with my jewelry designs by now, so I'm excited to say that I've attended a couple classes this month to learn more how to make stuff....new cool stuff.
So in one class I learned how to rivet and work with leather and how to rivet stuff together for some cool items.  So there will be some new earrings and other cool riveted jewelry added soon.
Next month (September) update I'll show you what I learned to make with sterling silver wire!!!

IN ENDING:

As busy as August was and in a way I'm glad all the events are done, there is a part of me that always misses that time, as we meet so many people and Warren is making new culinary friends with his food which is so cool.   
Setting up the BBQ events is a lot of hard work, many don't realize how much there is involved with that.  If you ever would like to know, contact us and you can tag along and learn all there is to learn about setting up a food stand!  But be prepared to lend a hand! 
It starts with getting electricity to the freezer/fridge in the trailer, on to setting up tents, the tables, getting the fryer out and positioned and the tiny refrigerator/freezer for the fried foods ready.  Then the brisket gets put under fire/smoke to smoke for 12 hours minimum....  we may sell the first day, so there's food preps to be done, grilling chicken, hot dogs, brats and Warren will be making his BBQ sauce.  If we sell Giros, there's chopping tomatoes, lettuce and onions to be done.....
Once the event is over, the cleanup begins.....everything sorted back into the trailer with the tents being last to be taken down and put away.....   and if there's a Thunderstorm looming and coming in faster than we can put things away (hopefully at the END of an event)....we are always grateful for every hand that someone can lend us so we can put things away safely and securely in a much faster and timely manner than the two of us could ever do!  Yes it's an experience for sure!!

So a HUGE THANK YOU goes out to all the folks who helped us in Beloit on the last day of Rock on the Rock when the thunderstorm came sooner than expected and came in on us as we were loading up the last items!  Thank you to those who wiped tables, folded them up, brought items to Warren so he could sort them into the trailer before it got bad!    Thank you to the three men who braved it till the end helping Warren hook up his trailer to his truck as the rain poured down and lightning all around us.....  WE ARE SO GRATEFUL to you all who helped!