Snapshotos from Saturday:

We went to Clinton, MO on Saturday to attend a bluegrass festival that Grant's old band was performing at. Greg, (the guitar player who moved to Colorado to accept a pastorate just about six months before Grant moved to Bolivar to accept a teaching position at SBU) was back in town for a visit and had scheduled to guest appear with the band during this performance. Greg had been with the band 14 years and Grant had been with the band 28 years. It was so weird hearing the band announced on stage while Grant was standing NEXT to me, rather than up on stage. It was a bittersweet visit...good to see all the guys and their families again, but sad, too. That band was such a huge part of Grant's life from the age of 17-45, that it seems odd not to still be a part of the band. Surprisingly, Grant hasn't found any regular bluegrass group to pick with down in this part of the country. Two different bands have invited him to join, but both have fallen apart over pre-existing personality conflicts within the band before they could really even get off the ground. I think Grant misses picking a lot. He brought his bass down to Clinton with him in hopes of finding a good jam session, but it seems we missed the jamming...there had been some jamming on Friday night around the campsite, but no one hung around Saturday night after the show to jam. We didn't even end up taking the bass out of the van.

Grant, bless his heart, let me take Ransom with us. This delighted Doug to no end. He spent quite a bit of the day "training" Ransom and taking her for walks.









We listened as the band warmed up. Darcy, exhausted from an overnighter with her friend, Jaylin, fell asleep on the ground. Doug continued "training" the dog. And, Rayna worked her way into a black mood over not getting to have first turn, "training" the dog.






Rayna had fun most of the day, though! She was delighted to see her old buddy, Alayna, again. (Our kids grew up hanging out with Greg and Tracey's kids during the numerous band gigs that filled many of our weekends back in our "old life".)







Rayna's day REALLY brightened when she was able to "save" a little frog. Rayna has the deep-seated belief that any wild-life she finds needs her intervention to survive! And she is certain that they mourn her terribly when she has to "abandon" them to the wild once more because her mother just doesn't understand how much the little frogs, insects, birds, rabbits, etc, NEED her!












Darcy was actually looking quite comfy and content before I aimed my camera her direction. She gets a bit scowly faced whenever she thinks I am taking her photo. (Her mother just causes so much frustration in her life, these days!)









Brian's (mandolin player's) dad did his morning workout using Doug...much to Doug's delight!












Rayna spent a great deal of time working with Ransom. Ransom listens to her and obediently follows each command. Of course, the fact that Rayna and Doug were well stocked with doggy treats didn't hurt! Ransom was quite attentive to both of them in turn!














Darcy and Trent got to catch up on old times, too. I was shocked at how much Trent has grown in just the year and a half he has been away! He is as tall as his father, now!