The Netherlands=

Tulips, Windmills, Wooden Shoes and Mattanja

I met her on a Sunday afternoon. She was easy going, great to talk with and her accent was beautiful to me. Mattanja  Joy Bradley is her name and she is from The Netherlands.

When I first laid eyes on her, she was standing near the merchandise table as the seller was preparing her merchandise and that of other performers for the day. As I overheard her conversation, and her accent, I knew right away she was the one performer for today that I had never met. As soon as I realized she was from The Netherlands, my eyes slowly moved downward to her feet….I quickly discovered she was NOT wearing wooden shoes! I remember in school when we studied that region of the world, it shocked me to think of anyone wearing such odd shoes. Of course, I knew that wooden shoes were probably not practical enough and would be out of style by now, but a little peek never hurts.  Also visions of fields of tulips and windmills everywhere filled my head. I was able to speak to her and welcome her but the whole time my head was full of dancing tulips wearing wooden shoes.

Soon, the show began. It was at my very favorite venue on earth; a placed called Blue Moon Farms or The Frog Pond. Located in Silverhill, Alabama, this farm is opened on Sunday afternoons for half of the year and singer/songwriters are booked from all over the world. Local artists are also booked to add to the awesomeness of it all. Everyone sits on the lawn in their foldup chairs, facing a stand-alone front porch full of very talented people. The show begins early, about 3:00pm and it goes on for at least 4 hours.

To add to the experience, there is a large covered dish dinner inside the farmhouse. Also, there is a small house that is called the sugar shack and it offers fresh brewed coffee with lots of desserts.

A small bunkhouse is located right behind the merchandise stand. It offers homemade jellies and jams that are made locally and for sell at reasonable prices.

There are several dogs that live on the farm, my favorite is a 3-legged dog that lays at my feet and begs to be rubbed.

When the sun begins to lower and the light begins to dim, the trees light up with everything from full sized chandeliers and year-round Christmas lights to lighted decorative balls. The place becomes magical when darkness comes.

This was not my first visit to this wonderful piece of heaven on earth and it will not be my last. The show was fabulous! It included performances by Corky Hughes, Grayson Capps, Kristy Lee, Eric Erdman, Mattanja Joy Bradley and her percussionist. It was absolutely my favorite show so far at Blue Moon Farms.

Mattanja told stories of previous visits to America and she sang her songs beautifully. It was a day to remember. She is an artist to remember; google her, you will be glad you did.

Anyone who is reading this and has not gone to Blue Moon Farms or Frog Pond in Silverhill, Alabama, needs to check it out. Cathe Steele is the owner/operator and she is one of the most delightful people on this earth. She gives 100% of the cover charge at the gate to the performers. She is in this for the love of music and musicians.

How could there be a better experience than what is offered in this little place in Silverhill, Alabama?

Silent Night, Holy Night

All is Calm, All is Bright

Stress grabs hold of us this time of year, and it holds on with both hands. The Christmas rush is on. I do not know why, but a feeling of urgency covers me like a huge blanket and it is hard to wiggle from its grip.

Since I was a small child, Christmas has remained my favorite time of year. I am easily mesmerized by all of the colored lights, especially those that twinkle. My heart gets all a flutter when I am handed a gift; To: Juanita makes me smile as I hold it in my hand. Such small things have such a large impact.

As Christmas Eve approaches so many wonderful memories return and the rush of emotion is heavenly. I used to sit near my Nana’s feet and hand her gifts as soon as I was able to read her name. Her name was Zula Mae Cooper and she had a life that was very controlled by my grandfather Cooper. I can’t remember him giving her anything for Christmas, if he did it was not very much. I know times were tough and both of them spent years of their lives in the grip of the great depression. However, I do not believe his lack of enthusiasm to get her a gift was due to the lack of money. He owned many rental homes in Mobile and always drove a nice car. They lived in a time when men were the masters of their home and the women had little opportunity to participate in decision making, especially when it came to finances. Women stayed home and kept the house nice and raised the children. Life was very hard on a woman in those days, yet Zula (Nana) found a way to squeeze out a little joy here and there. She was a bit peculiar but she had a kind heart and I loved it when she laughed.

I remember being in awe of the fact that most of her Christmas gifts read:

To:            Zula

From:        Zula

And even though I was only 5 years old when I began handing her gifts to her, it just did not sound right.

She would always open each gift and exclaim with great excitement, “Just what I wanted!” Each time I would giggle and feel her joy in that moment. This provided years of intrigue for me.

Later in the night I realized, she bought her own gifts, wrapped her own gifts, yet she would be surprised with the contents and I could not figure that out. 

I laid there shaking my head for many years until I was old enough to understand and then it felt sad. 

None of the “To: Zula, From Zula” gifts were anything expensive, just nice little bottles of lotion and such things ladies enjoy. As I revisit past Christmases, I always think of Nana and I still feel her tugging at my heart. 

I leave those thoughts and jump to today; suddenly I am full of hope. May your Christmas season be filled with great joy and fellowship!

May all be calm and all be bright! I love you Nana!

 Zula Mae Cooper (My Nana)

Chances Slim to None...

It Was Still Fun...

I am all about some food, I suppose that shows when you see me with my Santa belly and full cheeks. My son recently did an interview and a music performance for a Food Network Show.

Whether it airs, when it airs, if it will include the footage of him, these are all uncertainties for me. One certainty is that I enjoyed myself and he and Holli Moseley (also from Mobile), sang and played music. Also he tasted the food of a chef and gave his opinion as they requested. 

With all of the excitement of the possibility of local people being on a national show, there was tremendous joy and gaiety in the air. The mascot of our minor league baseball team the Bay Bears was in attendance and he/she is adorable. There were about a dozen Azalea Trail Maids milling in and out of the building. We were physically located at a building across from the cannon on Government street that was once a nice restaurant called Pillars. Outside there was a grilling cook-off that included the two finalists, one team from Mobile (Meat Boss) and one from New York for a competition on the network. Inside there was a full house of people. Included in the crowd was the building's owners/operators, the directors, photographers, videographers from the show and the handlers who made sure everyone knew what to expect and had signed release papers just in case they got in a shot for the show. 

A chef, who spoke with a heavy accent, but I did not hear his name, had prepared several items from his repertoire. He stepped up to the Azalea Trail Maids to have them taste this food; then he asked that Eric and Holli taste and let him know what they thought of his featured items. Eric tasted chicken in a waffle cone and this man's version of a moon pie which he said were very good. Holli declined tasting and commenting (I am not sure why).

There was a lot less singing than is normally done at a gig as they followed the instructions of the program director…”stop”, “play”, “softer”, “louder”, “sing”, “don’t sing”… We had seen something similar when a  few years ago, a dating show came to Fairhope called “Sweet Home Alabama” and the characters came on a date to “The Shed” barbecue place on Old Shell Road, near University of South Alabama. Eric and his band “The Ugli Stick” began singing his song “Bird on A Powerline” and those in charge of the filming had them sing the same verse/chorus over and over and over again for about 40 minutes. By the time they got through even those of us who loved the song were quite sick of it. After all of that, there was not one second of their performance on this show!

It is exciting to think of possibly getting national exposure on a TV show, but realistically, the likelihood of real exposure is very slim. Yet the musicians will show up and donate their time just for the slight chance. They also come because they are asked and it is the right thing to do. It is right for our city, right for the musicians and right to give the correct impression to the TV networks that we want to help in any way we can to present our city in a positive light.

The reality show TV production is tough and there are lots of disappointments associated with the difference in what is filmed and what is actually used for the show. Also the music industry is so difficult and filled with disappointments. It takes a person with thick skin and extreme courage to pursue these careers. There are also rewards for these entertainers who know in their hearts that this is what they are supposed to do with their lives and it is what keeps them moving forward. As for Eric and Holli, they are not slowing down.

They Exceeded....

Great Expectations

The plans were made and we were ready to go. It would be Eric, my son who is a musician and Gram Rea, who is a musician friend and a member of The Mulligan Brothers. Tonight it would be just the two of them.

Just the two were enough for the job. As they greeted and set up their equipment in preparation for a night of fun and folly, I enjoyed watching them speak of getting together for recording on future projects. They were like two old buddies that had been apart for a long time and pleased at the opportunity to “hangout”for the evening. This was clearly not work to them but rather the chance to play together.

From the time the first note of music was played the evening was magnificent, it was entertaining and it was even better than the audience had hoped. There is no way to fully explain the atmosphere in Manci’s Antique Club in Daphne, Alabama last night. You had to be there. This was a show not just for hearing, but also for feeling and we felt it all the way to our bones.

Gram is a multi-talented musician who is right at home with a fiddle, a mandolin, a harmonica and with vocals as well. He listens to the song and finds his place in it. Instinctively Gram knows which instrument works and where it will sound the best. Eric welcomes the partnership as he proceeds through one song after the next, loving every second of it.

The applause was reflective of the utter joy of the crowd. There was clapping at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the songs; as everyone rose and fell with the emotions these guys sent to us. Anticipation of each word and note grew as the night progressed and spirits were lifted one song at a time. I believe that every soul that occupied a chair in Manci’s last night was lifted up and inspired.

They played mostly original songs, but some covers and some that they made up on the spot. There was even a moment in time when Eric and Gram, feeling the energy and love of the crowd, broke out in dance. The faced each other while playing and did everything from a nerd dance to a Russian dance and the crowd roared. It was not a HUGE crowd but it was a respectable sized crowd and those who attended were so happy they were a part of this magic.

There was great expectation and those expectations were met and exceeded by these two artists last night. Bravo to Gram and Eric for the impressive show they presented. These guys threw out tons of spirit and joy to their audience and it stuck like glue to everyone as they looked on with great big smiles and hearts filled with love. 

These are the kind of moments the world needs to experience. This is the peace and harmony that is lacking in so many lives. We listened and let ourselves be transported to the place in the song and the emotions that it imposed; all outside worries and concerns were temporarily erased. That is what real music is supposed to do. Thank you Gram Rea and Eric Erdman, you did your job well and exceeded our great expectations!

Warmth A Blanket Cannot Offer

Warm Bodies, Happy Souls

Last night there was a benefit concert at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile. It was more than a concert, it was a gathering of like-minded people who wanted to help their fellow man while having a great time. 

Mobile winters are not Alaska cold, but our cold weather is a wet kind of cold that is bone-chilling. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be outside in it without a blanket or a decent coat. We know there are many people walking our street who suffer helplessly, especially when it is cold. This benefit was organized to help them.

There was a schedule of musicians: Deluxe Trio, Ryan Balthrop and Friends. Everyone knew with such a cause, there would be many other musicians in the crowd who would likely grace the stage at some point in the night as well. Greg DeLuca (from Mulligan Brothers) played the drums, he was relieved at one point in the night by Bryan Ayers (from Stereo Dogs). The bass player changed out a couple of times, first by John Keuler(from Molly Thomas and The Rare Birds),  then Ben Leininger (from Mulligan Brothers). There was a fabulous harmonica player, steel guitarist and electric guitarist that joined them and I do not know their names but they were all very proficient and entertaining. Singers included Eric Erdman, Holli Moseley and Angele Ballthrop (Ryan’s mother). At one point the crowd on stage included a baker’s dozen as they ended the show with a couple of Hank Becker tunes.

When the beautiful Holli Moseley stepped up, with her powerful voice, she sang “Bobby McGee”. Many in the audience joined in with the spirit of cheerleaders from the winning team at a high school homecoming game. It was awesome to watch.

The crowd happily joined in with Ryan for, “Don’t Worry About a Thing, Every little thing is gonna be alright.” Everyone also joyously sang the chorus to “Standing in The Rain”, Hank Becker’s beloved song, which was the finale. 

The reason for the show was to help the homeless feel warm for the winter. We let them know our community cares. If anyone doubted our loving hearts, last night pushed that doubt into the ground. I am certain summers are not pleasant as a homeless person, but winters are especially tough without coats and covers. Helping comfort them and providing a softer place to exist, was a win-win feeling for us all. 

It felt so good, as we gathered at Callaghan’s, in honor of those who are down, out and without. In the process we refueled ourselves. I believe everyone there, left happier than when they came.

There was another benefit of this show; we witnessed a magical night of music, and we received a warmth that's greater than the warmth a blanket might offer. 

Many people are lifted by the kindness of others. The givers are also elevated higher by the feeling of being relevant, being powerful enough to help others and feeling that together we CAN make a difference. 

Thank you to Lynn Henderson Oldshue for your valiant efforts in spearheading this and other wonderful causes. Thank you John Thompson of Callaghan’s Irish Social Club for offering your place to allow this magic to happen. Also Thank You to the wait staff last night, you had a tough job with the sheer numbers of people filling every space and requiring you to squeeze through to get the job done. You were magnificent! Thank you to everyone there that lifted the spirits and expectations of this aging lady as I witnessed it all last night.  Our homeless people will now have warm bodies, happier souls and our hearts are warmed in the process. Life isn’t perfect but it sure is good!

Harrison Scott Key

He Makes Me Happy

The alarm went off at 5 am as I had wanted it to do, yet I was not happy to hear it. Only four hours earlier I had laid my head on the pillow in hopes of sleeping fast and hard to make up for the short time I had to offer the bed.

I hopped up, ok I guess hop is not an appropriate adjective to use. I rolled myself off the bed catching my left foot in the covers and falling to the floor with a thud.

After assessing the damage and realizing I was ok, I had to laugh at myself.

Lack of sleep is commonplace when you hook yourself to a musician. My son, Eric Erdman, is a musician and I enjoy attending all of his shows I can. I realize there will come a time when I may not be able to keep up, so I am enjoying every minute until then. He played until about 11:15 the night before and by the time I got home it was nearly midnight but today we had to get up early and head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our destination was the Louisiana State Book Fair. I love authors, it feels like heaven when I am amongst them, he also loves authors and reading. He is a singer/songwriter, which is an author with a twist, one that sets their words to music. 

Eric is a part of a new multi-media art project called TRIO. This is a project in which a book is given to a singer/songwriter and to a visual artist. They read the book and create something that represents the book in their medium. So he read a book and created a song that he sang at the TRIO display which was set up in the Louisiana State Library. Meanwhile I met authors that I had not known before so we were both content. At first he seemed reluctant to sing in a library, he had been taught all of his life this was a place of silence. He leaned to me and whispered, “I am about to make noise in this library!” Then he sang his song with a big smile.

We went to the lectures that were given by the authors that day. There were far too many to catch them all so we had pre-planned who we were most interested to hear and how we could make it to each of their shows. We made it to most of the ones we had selected. There was our friend, Shari Smith (who had invited me) and her lecture was emotional. She told the story of her book, "I Am A Town". This book tells of a time when she was feeling low and searched for a place where she could hide from the world as she healed from whatever had hurt her. This small town and its occupants changed her life and lifted her spirits in ways she could never have imagined. It is a wonderful book that is well worth your time and money; I recommend you get it. You will enjoy her humor and her observations of regular people, doing irregular things. Then there is Judith Richards, an award winning author of Thelonious Rising. It is her 6th novel (two of her novels have won Alabama Library Association awards). This one is part of the TRIO project and it is a story set in New Orleans. A fascinating story which involves music and the way we hear it and feel it. She is a sweet lady with stories to tell and she tells them well.

My personal favorite was a guy named Harrison Scott Key. His book was “The World’s Largest Man”. I knew after the first sentence of his reading that I had to have that book. This man tells the story from the bright and innocent eyes of a child who often felt he did not belong. Though you felt a bit of his pain as he never seemed to be able to please his dad or fully earn his respect. He told tales in his own manner, which was so entertaining that it left you with pains in your gut from laughing so hard. He has the best way of looking at life and dysfunction of anyone I ever met or read. It was my first introduction to this man and to his writing but I will buy everything that he has written or that he writes in the future because he makes me happy. I felt some of the same feelings he experienced and I loved looking back at the absurdity of those days when I was a child; Harrison Scott Key helped me to do just that. I wish I could thank him in person. If you ever get a chance to read his books, grab on with both hands and don’t let go!