Independence Day fell on a Thursday. So did lots and lots of rain that didn't actually stop until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Fireworks shows all over the place were cancelled due to the horrible weather. Friends of ours, who attended the big hoo-ha in downtown Nashville, said that the fireworks were barely visible due to fog and the smoke from the rockets lingering close to the ground in the wet, heavy air.
The 42nd Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Craft Festival wasn't a complete wash-out, but it was close. Many craft vendors cancelled plans to attend, and crowds were significantly impacted by the rain, but the competition went on as scheduled, and from the coverage Jack and I monitored from the comfort of home, thanks to WCTE-22 Public TV in Cookeville and DeKalb Telephone Cooperative Television's livestream of the event, the competitors were as skilled and talented as ever.
I must say that since WCTE has started producing nationally-recognized programming, such as the excellent "Bluegrass Underground", the quality of their coverage of the Fiddlers Jamboree has grown exponentially. The television coverage this year is the best we've ever seen - the improvement was obvious.
On Friday night, Mom sang with the Smithville/DeKalb County Community Chorus - a solo, even (Yay, Mom!!) - and got Lucia a spot on the stage with the children's choir part of the program.
Despite the rain, I carried my camera and tried to get as many good shots as I could, but the conditions were nasty, and I spent a lot of time with my gear tucked up under my sweater. I managed to get a few pictures that pretty accurately document the performance. Hopefully I'll soon get a chance to photograph the chorus on a sunnier day.
When Lu first came out on the stage, she wasn't quite sure what was going on, but as soon as she spotted her mommy and me out in first rows of the crowd, she turned on the charm and ended up stealing the show.
When time came for the children to file off the stage, Lucia wasn't quite ready for her performance to be over, so she took time to make a grand, final bow. Very cute!
Saturday was an exciting day for the Vernons - for all of us, really - Beatrice took her first steps walking, and Sis won the "wheel roll" competition at the Page Family reunion, snagging the coveted prize, a GORGEOUS hand-turned bowl, made by our Uncle Bill from wood salvaged from our Aunt Nancy's beloved gingko tree after it was mortally wounded in a spring storm. The wood is an amazing honey-blonde color with a deep, delicate grain. It's absolutely beautiful, and I'm so proud of Sis for winning the big prize. Dad's brought home the booty the last two years in a row and abstained from the competition this year, but Sister is keeping it all in the family.
On Sunday after the sun came back out, Jack and I joined the rest of the family for a nice cookout on the farm. Mom and Dad double-teamed some delicious "homeburgers", and before we ate, Aunt Ruth and Uncle Warren stopped by for a short visit with all of us. They're getting ready to relocate from Smithville to an exciting new bi-coastal adventure that will allow both of the to be near their children, and I must take a moment to wish them the very best!
After lunch Lucia and Jack played with his remote-control helicopter until until the batteries went dead.
Lucia pretended that she was controlling it with her voice and hands. I love her imagination.
By this point in the weekend, poor little Beatrice was tired and ready to be at her own house with her own bed and her own stuff. She'd already walked; she was done. Snuggles from Papa and NanNan kept everything OK.
In other news, Jack has been called for jury duty.
The 42nd Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Craft Festival wasn't a complete wash-out, but it was close. Many craft vendors cancelled plans to attend, and crowds were significantly impacted by the rain, but the competition went on as scheduled, and from the coverage Jack and I monitored from the comfort of home, thanks to WCTE-22 Public TV in Cookeville and DeKalb Telephone Cooperative Television's livestream of the event, the competitors were as skilled and talented as ever.
I must say that since WCTE has started producing nationally-recognized programming, such as the excellent "Bluegrass Underground", the quality of their coverage of the Fiddlers Jamboree has grown exponentially. The television coverage this year is the best we've ever seen - the improvement was obvious.
On Friday night, Mom sang with the Smithville/DeKalb County Community Chorus - a solo, even (Yay, Mom!!) - and got Lucia a spot on the stage with the children's choir part of the program.
Despite the rain, I carried my camera and tried to get as many good shots as I could, but the conditions were nasty, and I spent a lot of time with my gear tucked up under my sweater. I managed to get a few pictures that pretty accurately document the performance. Hopefully I'll soon get a chance to photograph the chorus on a sunnier day.
When Lu first came out on the stage, she wasn't quite sure what was going on, but as soon as she spotted her mommy and me out in first rows of the crowd, she turned on the charm and ended up stealing the show.
When time came for the children to file off the stage, Lucia wasn't quite ready for her performance to be over, so she took time to make a grand, final bow. Very cute!
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| After the performance... |
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| The V4. |
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| Sis shows off her wheel-rolling prize to Aunt Ruth. |
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| Beatrice and Uncle Warren. She loves him. We all do. |
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| Lucia narrates everything. Someday she will discover Tennessee Williams, and she will love him. |
Lucia pretended that she was controlling it with her voice and hands. I love her imagination.
By this point in the weekend, poor little Beatrice was tired and ready to be at her own house with her own bed and her own stuff. She'd already walked; she was done. Snuggles from Papa and NanNan kept everything OK.
In other news, Jack has been called for jury duty.
