If you’re within range of one of these stations tonight (Saturday, March 12th) we hope you’ll join Mike as he hosts another edition of Tent Show Radio from Big Top Chautauqua.
The musical guests will be Brulé and AIRO, and in this episode’s monologue – delivered from the backstage dressing room with the one lonely little lightbulb burnin’ – Mike talks about how sometimes even post-Calvinist Scandihoovian knuckleheads fancy a little musical yearning.
If you’re within range of one of these stations tomorrow (Saturday, March 12th) we hope you’ll join Mike as he hosts another edition of Tent Show Radio from Big Top Chautauqua.
The musical guests will be Brulé and AIRO, and in this episode’s monologue – delivered from the backstage dressing room with the one lonely little lightbulb burnin’ – Mike talks about how sometimes even post-Calvinist Scandihoovian knuckleheads fancy a little musical yearning.
One night when I was up late writing in my room above the garage, I got an email from Geoffrey Keezer. He wondered if I might like to collaborate on a song. Him being the Grammy-nominated jazzman, he would provide music. Me being the chicken farmer with a thesaurus, I would provide words.
So Geoffrey sent me some music. It made me feel like autumn and love lost. I put it on repeat and started jotting notes. Sent him one verse. Then another. Then a bridge and final verse. Then there was some back-and-forth tweaking. Geoffrey and I have never met. We’ve never even spoken. This whole deal has been conducted entirely by email. And yet it’s been one of the most invigorating projects I’ve worked on in a long time, and I’m pleased to say that this Saturday, Geoffrey and vocalist Julia Dollison will debut our song “Red Leaf” at a show in California.
Thanks, you two.
5:52 p.m. CST March 10, writing at dusk, on the roof above me a mourning dove calls. We’re right on the migratory line, you can see them in the state year ’round, but I say it’s a sign of spring. That and the half-buckets of sap we got today.
From here I can see the pig hutch marooned in the snow (open end is turned toward the woods…it doubled as a deer blind in November). Plan is to get pigs again this summer, use’em (temporarily…) to till up some more garden ground. I hope so. Schedule is such that I’ll need help to pull it off, but it looks like that will happen.
With every passing day, the pigs and garden feel ever more essential. Last night the three-year-old and I made a bunch of miniature snowmen, practiced throwing (and eating) snowballs, and went scouting for deer. Highlight was when she threw a snowball and her mitten went with it. Funniest thing ever, apparently. And the joy in her voice when she spotted two deer pawing around beneath a young pine…
Full circle to backyard bacon and potatoes, though, is that moment when you look at the tot laughing there in the snow, standing on ground that stretches all the way around the shaky world, and you feel a flood of chill wondering how/if you’ll get her safely fed and growed and guided…
Then you just say, well, alrighty then, suck it up, walk it off, and get to it.
This winter it just keeps coming. Today’s is heavy, wet. Clings to everything. Yesterday the maple taps eked out a few drips, now back to nothing.
Pretty out there, though. And nothing compared to the previous blasts.
You can even imagine a crocus poking up through this stuff.
If the sun returns.
Been having a whole lot of trouble on the egg-laying front this winter. Production dropped off to nearly nothing (there’s always a taper, but this year was especially steep), then when they started laying again, they were devouring all the eggs.
Last week we instituted a program of increased oyster shell, three-a-day collections, and daily re-strawing of the laying boxes. We also added a golf ball to the plastic decoy eggs (supposedly they try to eat the plastic egg or golf ball and get discouraged).
Sixty-some chickens, and yesterday we got 43 eggs.
Including a couple blue ones.
Bounty!
Shot the breeze with long-time neighbors last night, played music with friends, and just plain enjoyed going home. All for a good cause. Thank you to everyone who made the time and took the trip. Special thank-yous to the Long Beds, who donated their time and considerable talents, and to Sir Arthur’s Court-tet, who opened for us. Beautiful anthem, fellows.
And – if you were there you’ll understand – from now on I’ll call it quasi-cappella.
Also a thanks to Dan, who was there sweeping up the popcorn when I packed the last box in the car and headed south.
Benefit tonight in New Auburn (Mike signing books at 5 p.m., Long Beds playing (and Mike telling a few stories) at 7 p.m.) The pantry welcomes non-perishable and canned goods, but donations of cash or check are especially welcome as this allows them to stock items that are low or provide items that have limited shelf life. Pantry info here (if you wish to designate the New Auburn pantry just include a note to that effect, but we’re happy to help our Bloomer neighbors as well).
Above all, thank you.
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