Thirteen Thursday Blues
1. My current philosophy on entertainment is a lot like how I feel about food. Provide it yourself or get it locally grown whenever possible.
2. Years ago when I started to become less likely to travel distances for events, I remember saying “Let them come to us.” And some did. Leon Russell and Maria Muldaur performed here in our little one stoplight town. Ani Difranco played Floyd Fest. Native American shamans Sun Bear and Wallace Black Elk were here, so was renowned author Barbara Kingsolver .
3. I’ve seen Ziggy Marley in Radford and the Indigo Girls in Blacksburg, and more recently John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band. Radford and Blacksburg are cities that feel more like towns that are in Floyd’s backyard. I’m less likely to travel to Roanoke for concerts at the Civic Center, because Roanoke is a bigger city and an hour away. Although when it comes to The Blue Man Group (coming to Roanoke in November), I’d not only drive there, but I’d wait in line for tickets.
4. There’s another new blogger living and writing about Blue Ridge country life. I recently left a comment on her site about blogging and said, “Welcome to the biggest water cooler on the planet, or in our case a hose.”
5. As a Massachusetts transplant it took me fifteen years of living in Virginia to like country music. It’s taken me even longer to like moonshine (or to finally taste moonshine that I actually like and that doesn’t taste like nail polish remover.)
6. At a recent birthday party a friend broke out a mason jar of moonshine that had been aged for over three years (because, like me, she didn’t think she liked moonshine when it was gifted to her). Woo hoo! It was made with peaches and tasted like a fine liqueur.
7. Some of us argued about the peaches. They were burgundy red, hard, and looked more like beets. So we pulled one out and cut it open. Yup. It had a pit.
8. For years writers of stories about Floyd, looking for an angle, would mention either pot growers or moonshiners. From my point of view I see both of these activities as a sign of independence and self-sufficiency.
9. You can make wine or beer, but not moonshine legally. You can get morphine-like drugs prescribed or off the internet without a problem, but aren’t allowed to grow a particular herb in your garden for your own use, the same one that Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson grew.
10. I just got a Charlie horse in my foot a few minutes ago. It’s like skidding on the ice while driving in winter. If you steer into the direction of the pain like you steer into the direction of the skid, it won’t be so bad or last so long.
11. Historically, part of the Appalachian tradition in this area has been to gather herbs and dig roots (Ginseng was plentiful), to make medicine from or to sell. Some of us still harvest wild herbs and make medicinal tinctures and teas to use for all variety of ills.
12. ****The Blue Man Group on Global Warming HERE.
13. And THIS is my Bob Dylan’s Got the Highway Blues Rant.
Thursday headquarters is here. My other 13’s are here. View more 13 Thursday’s here. The blackboard and Bob Dylan fun was compliments of the Generator Blog.
Post Note: My server host will be moving my blog to another server tonight from approximately 9 – midnight. If you are unable to post comments during that time, please try back again later. Other than that, I don’t think anyone will notice anything different.
September 13th, 2007 8:59 am
I saw the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas a few years ago. Loved it. I can’t wait to see what kind of show they take on tour.
September 13th, 2007 9:22 am
It’s surprising to find out the sorts of things that historically grew wild in your area. I recently found out wild rice used to cover the Milwaukee area…how strange!
September 13th, 2007 9:33 am
I guess I didn’t live in VA long enough, only 1.5 years…plus it was in a more urban setting 😉
It’s funny you mentioned maryjane! I was walking Wolf the other day, at dusk, and saw a plant by the roadside that looked like MJ; brought back memories, yes it did!
September 13th, 2007 9:35 am
Colleen, you are so kind to mention my new blog. I am honored. And my stats just skyrocketed, so THAT is a testament to how very popular your blog is! Thank you. I read your blog every day, but until now, have been too shy to comment. But the bold step(for me, anyway) of starting my own blog has somehow made me feel bolder in general. And THAT is nothing short of miraculous.
September 13th, 2007 9:47 am
Colleen, good luck with your move. I just started my first blog eight days ago. It’s a strange kind of planting indeed.
I love what you wrote about entertainment. Spoken with the wisdom of a gardener!
Rose
September 13th, 2007 9:47 am
I loved that little clip on global warming with the blue man group. I also loved blue man group. Andrew gave us tickets for Christmas awhile back…..probably 5 years ago. It was so much fun.
Another great TT!!!!
September 13th, 2007 10:22 am
shortly before i moved from NC, an oldtimer was busted for his moonshine operation.
the only reason i see at all for making it illegal is the government misses out on the profits/taxes.
that good ‘ole mountain dew has been known to show up at my parent’s annual old-time jam at their house up on the mountain. but, shhh…..don’t tell! 🙂
September 13th, 2007 10:33 am
They busted one nearby not too long ago and someone convinced someone to keep it intact and now it is displayed at the Old Church Gallery here in Floyd for its culturally historic value.
Ginseng still grows here….but shhhh…don’t tell anyone!
And the number of deaths from prescribed drugs has tripled from 1998 to today, but I don’t see any pharmaceutical people being held accountable.
September 13th, 2007 11:06 am
Dandelions are my favorite herb. Plentiful too!
And:
I agree with – “And the number of deaths from prescribed drugs has tripled from 1998 to today, but I don’t see any pharmaceutical people being held accountable.”
September 13th, 2007 11:17 am
Im not a big Bob Dyland fan but that was a great list. I bet the moonshine was yummy, what you can remember anyway;) Happy TT.
September 13th, 2007 12:15 pm
Didn’t know about moonshine, it is not legal in Spain to make your own wine for own consumption but there are legal stores where you can get all what you need for such procedure…
September 13th, 2007 12:19 pm
I’m your left coast doppleganger! Your philosophy on entertainment is spot on. I find that when I entertain myself I’m rarely disappointed.
In my neighborhood it is legal to grow ‘medical’ marijuana. One must be a registered provider and can supply up to six patients (I think). Anyway, like any state administered program, there is much room for, um, wiggling.
Generator Blog Rocks! Happy TT! Thanks for visiting my site today.
September 13th, 2007 12:43 pm
I grew up in Quiet Dell Wva . If a student was missing for sometime, maybe the truant officer would go way up into the hills and find a substantial still.Me, too Blue Man – love them.. My dad sold ginseng, sassafras and ginger root mostly for teas.We picked every wild herb and used it some way growing up. I was fascinated by it all. and now so ill I have turned again to alternatives and herbs..
September 13th, 2007 1:11 pm
I think knowing how to identify and prepare herbs is another self-empowering skill that shouldn’t be lost. There’s a reason why so many pharmaceuticals drugs have been derived from them. They work.
September 13th, 2007 3:29 pm
I am so scared of pharmaceuticals these days. There seems to be no accountability and no rhyme or reason to the prescribing of them. I have leaned very far away from physicians and instead yearn for shamans and wise women, neither of whom seem to be openly available near to me, unfortunately. I try to be my own wise woman but that only goes so far…
September 13th, 2007 3:53 pm
I saw Blue Man Group in Chicago. It was quite the show.
September 13th, 2007 4:44 pm
been away.., and now you’re moving? interesting. i look forward 😉
the lets are still away, but have painted many stones. will post in the next week or so. now even the earth will come to you!
September 13th, 2007 6:40 pm
I so like your lists, they hold such variety and never gets dull 🙂
#1 is an absolutely favorite of those. So true.
September 13th, 2007 6:44 pm
Laws are funny aren’t they.
My knowledge is moonshine is limited to a couple country songs. I’d imagined it was sort of all rough like Newfoundland’s http://www.screechrum.com/home.asp screech of legend.
September 13th, 2007 7:57 pm
Mines up!
(well half way)
Luv ya!
September 14th, 2007 12:00 pm
I used to LOVE peaches. I can’t do apple brandy but I love peaches. When we were younger we girls would hold them in our mouths and the guys would take a bite. Needless to say those were some long nights. I hadn’t had one in years…I wonder if I could still handle it!
Great post…great rant…I agree with you on many many points!
I didn’t understand for a long time that the deal with moonshine was taxes on the liquor and in college I learned that certain herbs only became illegal because the white women of the church were terrified of what would happen when the blacks or Indians used the herbs and got “wild and savage and might rape them or burn their houses.” Fear, judgement and intolerance has ruined a lot of things for this country. I have always been for legalizing certain herbs. They are safer I believe than many synthetic medications people take…say for their nerves.
September 14th, 2007 3:45 pm
I’ve never tasted moonshine and don’t really know what it is. The Rankin Family (a Canadian East Coast musical group) has a song with that reference.
Maybe the well known musicians actually like playing the small down home venues better anyway. I sure would.
September 14th, 2007 8:00 pm
We saw BMG in Vegas, and the show is a hoot. You’ll get a kick out of it. I did not know Ben Franklin was an “herb” fan. Very interesting.
Michele sent me today,
I played, a day late.
~S
September 14th, 2007 8:03 pm
He may have been growing it for rope as well.