Party Time on Lake Barcroft

The Newcomer's Club held its first "Happy Hour" Mixer Barge Party on Saturday evening, the 20th of July, after a weather cancellation in May, and this time, the weather more than cooperated. With a backdrop of the clear late afternoon sky fading to sunset, the beer was flowing, the friendships were growing, and another new tradition was sowing (;-)).

Boat captains gathered up their crews and shipmates and readied their passengers and refreshments for the evening's event, a "What's My Line?" competition with mystery fun facts supplied by all for the guessing.

Who knew that among us was a Navy strike fighter pilot who defied the odds of survival (75% of these pilots died in crashes), or that another participant listed a house for sale formerly owned by a serial killer who preyed on realtors, or that your blogger drove a horse and carriage in Georgetown in the 70's, or that someone else had a New Zealand race horse named after her, or that another partier dated a rock star in high school (George Thorogood, of the Destroyers)? 

The winning boat garnered 22 correct answers out of 55, with a prize awarded. Here are the winners:

Boat Captain Dave Schnedar, Sarah and Matt Mattingly, and guest Olivia Gonzalez (not pictured: Dawn Donald).

And here are some memories of the evening, captured by your blogger and local photographer, me.

Party attendees gather

From left: Wendy Diliberti, aaa,bbb, Connie Lawn and Charles Schneiderman

Real newcomers Karen and Ken Ackerman, with Sharon aaa.

Boat captain  , Sarah Mattingly, Matt Mattingly, Dawn Donald, and guest Olivia Gonzalez

Paul and Winnifred Mullian relax on Pat Patrick's wysteria boat.

Marilyn Dipaulo looking festive

Jeff Michael and Jodi

Newcomers Club President and Co-Captain Nomi Taslitt (facing)

Boat captain Lark Lovering

Aboard the wisteria barge: Winnifred and Paul Mulligan, Boat Captain Pat Patrick, aa, Mike aaa and guest Amy.

Barges tied together for fun

 The sky on Saturday produced some dramatic cloud formations: 

Palm tree boat captain Chris Buehler

Your blogger and photographer (Photo by Chris Buhler)

For those of you who are pictured but not named, send me your names and I'll include them in an update.

Otherwise, enjoy the photos, and enter a comment below or email me. Follow the blog with your email address above right to get automatic alerts of new postings.

Larry

Party Time on Lake Barcroft

The Newcomer's Club held its first "Happy Hour" Mixer Barge Party on Saturday evening, the 20th of July, after a weather cancellation in May, and this time, the weather more than cooperated. With a backdrop of the clear late afternoon sky fading to sunset, the beer was flowing, the friendships were growing, and another new tradition was sowing (;-)).

Boat captains gathered up their crews and shipmates and readied their passengers and refreshments for the evening's event, a "What's My Line?" competition with mystery fun facts supplied by all for the guessing.

Who knew that among us was a Navy strike fighter pilot who defied the odds of survival (75% of these pilots died in crashes), or that another participant listed a house for sale formerly owned by a serial killer who preyed on realtors, or that your blogger drove a horse and carriage in Georgetown in the 70's, or that someone else had a New Zealand race horse named after her, or that another partier dated a rock star in high school (George Thorogood, of the Destroyers)? 

The winning boat garnered 22 correct answers out of 55, with a prize awarded. Here are the winners:

Boat Captain , Sarah and Matt Mattingly, and guest Olivia Gonzalez (not pictured: Dawn Donald).

And here are some memories of the evening, captured by your blogger and local photographer, me.

Party attendees gather

From left: Wendy Diliberti, aaa,bbb, Connie Lawn and Charles Schneiderman

Real newcomers Karen and Ken Ackerman, with Sharon aaa.

Boat captain  , Sarah Mattingly, Matt Mattingly, Dawn Donald, and guest Olivia Gonzalez

Paul and Winnifred Mullian relax on Pat Patrick's wysteria boat.

Marilyn Dipaulo looking festive

Boat captain Lark Lovering

Aboard the wisteria barge: Winnifred and Paul Mulligan, Boat Captain Pat Patrick, aa, Mike aaa and guest Amy.

Barges tied together for fun

 The sky on Saturday produced some dramatic cloud formations: 

Palm tree boat captain Chris Buehler

Your blogger and photographer (Photo by Chris Buhler)

For those of you who are pictured but not named, send me your names and I'll include them in an update.

Otherwise, enjoy the photos, and enter a comment below or email me. Follow the blog with your email address above right to get automatic alerts of new postings.

Larry

Augusta Heritage Center Cajun and Early Country Music Week, Elkins, WV

It was a great week of music and dance for Carole and me and all our old friends and new acquaintances at the Augusta Heritage Center Cajun and Early Country Music Week, at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV. I studied fiddle with my fabulous teacher Michelle Kaminsky, and Carole studied guitar and song with the great early country guitarists and singers John Lilly, Thomas Eaton and Kelli Jones-Savoy. We have both taken and enjoyed the harmony singing class with recording artist Karin Collins as well.   Photo above: Miguel Fontenot Zydeco Band at the Ice House Party. 

The week included morning and afternoon music instruction, impromptu jams, practice during free time, afternoon cultural events and evening concerts and dances. The highlights of the week include the great Ice House Party with the Zydeco band led by Miguel Fontenot, Fais Do Do with authentic Cajun food, two concerts with the music legend Bill Kirchen ("Hot Rod Lincoln"), and such great recording artists Ginny Hawker, Jo-El Savoy, David Greely (co-founder of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys), Gina Forsyth (Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band), Karin Collins, Cristine Balfa, John Lilly, Blake Miller, Jason Frey, Courtney Granger, and others.

Below, selected photos from the week. 

View of the West Virginia mountains from Halliehurst Porch

View from Halliehurst Porch

Cajun legend Walter Mouton, here on fiddle

Cajun fiddle instructor Michelle Kaminsky with Walter Mouton on accordion

Michelle Kaminsky (right) with her fiddle class at the Student Showcase

Me on fiddle playing the Eunice Waltz

Cajun Zydeco dancers Carole and me 

Dancers at the Student Showcase

Student performers at the Cajun Student Showcase

At the Early Country Showcase

Anne McCabe at the Country Student Showcase

Young performing brother and sister at the Country Student Showcase

Fiddle instructor Michelle Kaminsky with Cajun music legend Walter Mouton

Carole at the Ice House Party

Carole and Jim Riley 

Cajun Student Showcase performers Lynn Brainard and Jeff Miller

Christine Balfa on the rubboard at the Ice House Party

 

Sheridan dancing at the Ice House Party

John Lilly (center) with Kelli Jones-Savoy (right) at a jam

David Greely (left) with Joel Savoy (right) at an evening Cajun jam

Kelli Jones-Savoy

Student performer at the Country Student Showcase

Miguel Fontenot

See year 2012 photos at Cajun week here:
http://jlarrygolferphotography.blogspot.com/2012/07/cajuncreole-music-camp-2012-elkins-wv.html

See year 2011 photos at Cajun week here:
http://jlarrygolferphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/at-cajun-week-music-camp-in-elkins-west.html