There’s a tremendous amount of dedication, planning, work and execution that goes into making a campground stage happen and run like clockwork,  and when you hit a milestone it should be celebrated.  This is exactly the reason I want to spend a little time today NOT talking about Stage 5 but instead … Stage 7.

This year Stage 7 marks their 15th year of providing a place where Walnut Valley attendees can showcase their craft.  When beginning an endeavor like a campground stage you really never know where or what it will lead to, but you do it for fun, you do it because there is a need, you do it because of your love for the music and the musicians.

You go through lots of growing pains ..  year after year when the festival is over this question always comes back to you .. How can we make it better?  Then one day you turn around and you have been .. doing better for fifteen years!!  It’s hard work, and long days and nights, and some of the most enjoyable times of your life … because you are doing it for all the right reasons!!!

So this year when you are trekking through the Pecan Grove and you happen across Stage 7 be sure to stop and tell them thanks for all their hard work and dedication over the years.  Be sure to wish them a Happy 15th Year and celebrate with them for a while. Congratulations Stage 7 ..  you guys rock!!!

Waiting to head to Winfield, and anticipating being there for the duration is so annoying … as I set here at this computer we have 5 more working days before we can leave.   We do plan on going down for the weekend so a least it we get to break up the waiting.  Just knowing that some of our friends are already there and having fun even makes the waiting harder.  But soon enough we will be there reveling in the moment … then it will be over … and then the waiting begins all over again.  Tick tock …. tick tock …. this clock moves so slow … tick ………… tock …………………………….. tick ………………… (sigh)  See you all soon.

Just got home from the Cowley County Fairgrounds Pecan Grove where we spent the night picking and singing with friends.  Ran into some folks from the Comfortable Shoes Camp who shared some pictures from last year with us.  In 2011 I became aware that longtime Comfortable Shoes Camp member Moose had basically lost everything in the May 22nd 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado.  Knowing that Moose was a collector of Stage 5 picks and other memorabilia, I took the opportunity to replace his complete collection last year (2012).  It was a small gesture on my part but Moose was overwhelmed … he cried … I cried, then we shook hands and laughed about how this collection must continue to grow. Wanted to share the pictures and a link to the Comfortable Shoes Camp web page … they have a lot of fun down there.   http://www.shoescamp.com