Hillbilly Band

This might seem silly, but I've always wondered what it would be like to play my guitar in a band. I have been playing the guitar off and on for over 40 years, but have never had formal lessons.  I am self-taught. Although I don't play well, I do enjoy playing my guitar regularly - almost every day. So, when it was announced in our ward that we would be having a talent show, I knew that I wanted to form a hillbilly band with a group of Relief Society Sisters playing silly instruments and I would play the guitar. 

It was a no-brainer, to me, what song we would perform. When I was a young teenager, our family entered our ward talent contest and performed a song called "I Like Mountain Music."  Mother put our band together. She collected the instruments, and taught us the song. Our act was called the Hillbilly Burton Band. These are the instruments we played (as far as I can remember - after all, it took place about 50 years ago)

Dad - Saw

Mom - Washboard

Neal - Didn't participate - was on a mission

Kent - Harmonica

Janice - Comb (covered with wax paper) 

Jane & I - Kazoo

Gayle - Piano, plus she had a spoon taped to her toe so she could tap a lid while playing (hysterical)

Phil - Jug

As it turned out, our family won first place in the Ward  contest and got to advance to the Stake contest. I don't remember winning there, but Gayle thinks we did. I sure wish we had a video of that performance...or even a photo...they didn't have video cameras back then.

Since it was so much fun to perform that number as a child, I thought it would be fun to do it again as an adult. Therefore, I rustled up some other sisters to help me out. I collected all of the instruments (except the violin & piano) and taught the sisters the song. We performed it last night. We were the first act, so the show started off with a bang. It was hilarious and a lot of fun.

Here is a photo of us on stage dressed as hillbillies. Instead of being the Hillbilly Burton Band, we were the Hillbilly Sisters Band.

We used several instruments that our family band didn't use, but it still sounded hillbilly enough. I have to say, the violin made the whole number. Sister Boothe is a wonderful musician. 

These are the sisters who participated last night and the instruments they played - from left to right:

Nachelle Mackie - Bass Fiddle (wash tub)

Angela Meyers - Tambourine

Shelley Richmond - Maracas

Mary Collins - Washboard

Barbara Goodale - Spoons

Barbara Walker - Bucket (drum)

Me - Guitar

Juleen Boothe - Violin

Debbie Richardson - Piano (off stage)

pictured here:

Along with their regular instrument, several sisters played the kazoo on the 2nd verse where we played instruments only - no singing. Alan videotaped our performance, but it won't be posted here.

Well, now I can check "play in a band" off my bucket list. I know I will never play in a real band. I don't need to since this quenched my thirst. This was enough to satisfy my curiosity. It was a silly band, but still a lot of fun.

 Play in a band

September's Year of Dates

We opened our gift for the month of September. Drum roll please!!! 

This is what the poem said:

So, along with a map and a great description of the place we will be going for our date (Escondido Falls), we were given a $20 gift card to get sandwiches at Subway for our picnic. Thank goodness a map was included as we have never been there. I didn't even know there were falls in Escondido. The hike is about 4 miles round trip. I hope I can make it.

These date nights never get old. Each gift is fun to open and fun to do. We can't thank the girls at Alan's office enough for these fun date ideas.

Refiner's Fire

Ever go through times in your life when you believe that God is testing your patience? Ever feel like the world is about to crash in upon you and nothing is going your way? Ever feel like giving up...just throwing in the towel? Ever feel like you could cry at the drop of a hat? Ever feel like you are drowning in worry over something you have no control over? This is how I felt yesterday. 

Sometimes we are asked to do hard things. Sometimes we just have to pick ourselves up and put one foot in front of the other even when it is hard. Sometimes we just have to trust and remember that God is in control and we have nothing to worry about. He knows what we are going through. He is only a prayer away and will comfort us. Sometimes we just have to persevere even when our every desire is to give up.

I found these two memes that inspire me.

Rather than give up and give in to the temptation to let my current situation control me, I am going to control my situation by leaning on and trusting in the Lord. Some things are beyond my control, but I am in control of how I act or react to any situation that arises in my life.

In spite of how difficult life can be, I always come back to my favorite line, which I have made my own motto - "Life is Good"