Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival September 2025

 69 degrees at Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival Campground at 10:15 am Friday with high to be 85 degrees -- with no rain today.  Yesterday we had no rain..............until the music started at 6;00 pm and almost through the first group's first song with it starting to rain a very large lightning strike near us stopped everything.  We hiked the about 100 yards to the trailer - first half uphill -- and just as we got inside it started to pour.  When you are in a trailer with the roof only about 6.5 feet above your head you hear every raindrop!  Local TV said this was the first rain in 60 days!  Reported just under an inch in several places.

A trio had done a terrific job of the Star Spangled Banner about 5 minutes before six; the Dixie group was introduced and did one song before things were suspended.

Dixie Union was only scheduled for one hour yesteday, so they had short engagement.  The Little Roy & Lizzy Show was missed but they perform twice today.  By 8 pm the rain let up some and there was no lightning in the area so they started back up.  We went down to our chairs -- with the slight drizzle for another 20 minutes and then quite a bit for the 50 to 65 foot old-growth trees around/above us to have the leaves gave up their moisture for another 15 or 20 minutes.

Ralph Stanley II is the son of Ralph Stanley who was popular in the 1950's with his brother Carter Stanley - the Stanley Brothers.  He brought up a lot of history and did songs of his father and uncle's era.

We got back to the trailer about 10:45 pm.

Sun is now out, I have the various plastic sheets we used to cover the chairs drying out in the back of the pickup and we will head down afterbit to the stage area.

Later, Lynn

David show in Branson, MO

86º here in Starvy Creek Bluegrass Campground near Conway, MO at 1:30 pm Thursday.  Bright sunshine and rain predicted to move through starting about 6 pm through 9 pm.  The Bluegrass Festival starts at 6 pm and runs through 10 tonight so might be a bit damp.

 Yesterday, Wednesday, we drove to Branson, did some shopping, ate lunch then went to the Sight & Sound Theater for the 3:00 pm show of David

We arrived at the theater early and were able to make our way to the 3rd floor to get to our seats in the balcony before the crowd gathered.  Since no photos are allowed of the actual production, there are none here.

We were about 2/3rds way up the balcany portion in line with the right-side aisleway of the three that actors and animals used to go to and from the stage, as you can see in photo above.

Theater was full, though I did have an empty seat beside me.

At left, looking down at the entryway from our way across from elevator to door for our entrance.

At right, just as the show ended about 6:10 pm.  Many sheep came in and out throughout the performance.  Also on stage, coming up through the three aisles mostly, were a camel, llama, dog, and several horses.  White doves flew from the stage up to high point at back of audience twice.

With an "all-beef tube steak" from Costco in Springfield for supper, we were back to our trailer just before 8 pm.

Later, Lynn

A relaxing day before Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival starts Thursday

 91º here in Starvy Creek Bluegrass Campground near Conway, MO (northeast of Springfield) at 12:30 pm on Tuesday.

We returned to our trailer yesterday afternoon
from Cape Girardeau and set up the awning
to help keep late afternoon sun off the trailer.

After getting everything transferred from PU to trailer and
ate supper we walked a bit around the many RVs here and listened
about an hour to this group jamming.

Sunday evening we spent visiting and playing Dominos with brother Don & wife Vicki.  Was difficult keeping attention span with them.  Vicki was quite tearful when we departed, hoping we would stop to see them on way to Texas first of November.

On the nearly 300 mile drive back from Cape Girardeau we stopped at Uranus Fudge Factory And General Store in Uranus Missouri 

Candy of every sort, especially chocolate, were for sale.  And, all the help made emphasis on the name Uranus. 

Planning on driving to Branson (about 70 miles) and take in the show "David" at the Sights & Sound Theater tomorrow.

Weather forecast is for spotty rain tomorrow evening with small chances Thursday and Friday.  With the Festival being held at an outdoor stage, hope the rain holds off, though this area desperately needs the moisture.

More later, Lynn

Hot, Hot in Missouri

 94º with a "feel like" of 103º here in Cape Girardeau, MO at 3:00 pm on Sunday.

We are at an apartment in facility that my brother Don & his wife Vicki live in. Arrived here Friday afternoon, after driving to Starvy Creek Bluegrass Campground near Conway, MO on Thursday.

Friday evening we went with Don & Vicki and Mike & Mary Jo Diamond to eat.  The Diamonds just returned from their summering in Gunnison, CO and look after Don & Vicki's affairs.

Don is so weak he is unable to stand unassisted and the Diamonds used their car to transport Don & Vicki that night and to church today.  He can no longer get into our pickup, with the raised elevation.  

Played a bit of bingo with Don & Vicki Saturday morning before we took Vicki shopping at her Walmart store in Jackson, MO

Don was asleep waiting to be picked up to go to church this morning.  Mike had to be at the church by 9:30 for a group he is involved with.  We helped Mary Jo load Don & Vicki in her car and then followed them to La Croix Church and helped get the wheel chairs out of the back of the car, load them and push them into the church.

At left is photo of screen after pastor delivered the sermon and was preparing for Communion.

We plan to head back the 280 miles to Starvy Creek tomorrow.  Photo at right shows where we laid our chairs to reserve a spot near the stage.  Note the brown grass -- they are in a terrible drought in that area.  Wonder if they had any rain since our last Festival there in early July.

Later, Lynn

Cool, fall-like weather in Clarinda, ia

67 degrees here in Clarinda, IA at 2:15 pm Saturday.  Been in the 40's at night and only in 60's last few days and predicted for next couple of days.

I have been cutting down trees at the farm nearly every day.

 

We hadn't used the trailer since 2012, so

I stripped off the box that we used to

make that trip to our South Texas

home in 2012.

And sold it.  One of the doctors at the hospital, and his wife who is a Physical Therapist, bought it and picked it up yesterday.

Here are a few photos on how all the work at the Junior-Senior High School here in Clarinda finished up.  Completely new face to the building.

Made a medical/grocery shopping trip to Council Bluffs on Wednesday.

More later, LCM

Rainy Labor Day in SW Iowa

 63º and raining at 1:55 pm Monday in Clarinda.  Little over 2 hours ago we had 1.6".

Rain last couple days has kept me from doing any more tree and brush clearing.

Here are some photos of our 9-year old Great Granddaughter Jessica on a climbing wall at a celebration in eastern Iowa this weekend.

While this program is working, at least for now, I will add the photos from our visit last week in Kansas:

Visited a bit with dear friends Leland & Bonnie Brown Sunday afternoon here in Clarinda.

First day of school for our
4th grader GGD Jessica Long

Saw this picture of stacking hay similar to when I
was young.  We only used one horse, though, and
we had a back-board on the back side and stack
was not nearly that long - more square.

Is this a sales pitch, or what?

Will post more later, Lynn