Hands in The Dirt......... Back in the Woods

It's 11:32 pm on a Saturday night.  June 11, 2016. I'm sitting in our camper listening to bluegrass music being played by the musicians we are camping with.  They are probably 100 ft from me.

They started playing this afternoon after we all came back from the creek and they are still going strong. The players change.  They come and go. They switch instruments.

I sit and listen.  And smile.  The air is beginning to cool off.  We have all the windows open in the camper so we can enjoy whatever breeze comes our way.  We may even need the sleeping bag again.

It just doesn't get much better than this.

To start at the beginning, we arrive yesterday evening.  This is our second year attending this somewhat private camping trip/music festival.  We don't know many people but immediately feel welcomed by everyone.  We spend the evening talking, making new friends, playing with the kids and petting the dogs.

We have a fantastic evening and fall asleep listening to the sound of soft bluegrass being played.

This morning (Saturday) we wake to the same wonderful music being played.........................Did they sleep at all?

Jim and I decide to lay and enjoy the music.  We talk, we listen to the music, we laugh.  It's so nice to have the luxury of not being on a schedule.

Finally around noon we decide it's time to head down to the water.  Most everyone else is already there.  There are probably around 30 people hanging out on the gravel bar.  Adults, kids and dogs are all playing in the water or just hanging out talking.  The kids all have water guns and are having a blast.

As we head to the water we see a pop up canopy that has been put up for shade.  Nice touch.  Jim and I enjoy the coolness of the water.  The sun is especially hot today but the water makes us forget.  After a while we notice someone walking toward the pop up with a chair.

Cool.  He's going to relax in the shade with his feet in the water.  But then I notice he is carrying something else.  He has a fiddle with him!  I can't believe my eyes.  I am going to hang out in the water and listen to someone play a fiddle.  Amazing...........  But it gets better.  Eventually, two others join him to play.  Then one of the girls walks over and begins to sing.  I am so honored to be with this group of people.  They are extremely talented but still down to earth, good people.  We are on a popular stretch of water for floaters so we have kayaks and canoes floating by.  I think they are just amazed as I am.  They all slow down as they pass so they can listen just a bit longer.

Early evening we all head back to the campsite which is only about 1/2 mile.  We take our dish up to the potluck dinner and continue talking to everyone.

After dinner the musicians slowly begin to pick up their instruments and begin to play.  Eventually we have about 12 musicians playing fiddles, guitar, bass and singing.

Now we are back at the camper.  Jim has fallen asleep.  I am sitting here writing.  Enjoying the peacefulness of life. Listening to music. Listening to the wildlife outside the camper.
It's been a wonderful exhausting day for everyone, young and old.




I wonder how many people are able to experience things like this.  And of those that do, how many truly appreciate the beauty of it.  This is not something you can buy at a store.  This is priceless.

Peace to all.....