Targhee Bluegrass

Year after year, this festival brings in some of the best bluegrass talent in the country!  The drive from Big Sky to Driggs has become as much a part of the experience as the actual festival itself.  Driving south, on the "quiet side" of the Tetons is good for the soul.  Acres and acres of potato crops, enough to feed the entire country, stretch out for miles.  Crops are late this year, and the plants are just now blooming.  On the horizon, the majestic Tetons crown the horizon - and yesterday was one of those beautiful big-blue-sky days.

Friday's lineup included The Grant Farm, Rodney Crowell, Donna the Buffalo and Infamous Stringdusters.  By far my favorite of the day was Rodney Crowell.  Rodney is as much a poet as he is a songwriter, and he is a crazy-good songwriter!!  His lyrics will touch your heart way down deep.  He told a story about being in New York City on a cold day, and offering his coat to a homeless man on the street.  The man refused the coat telling Crowell that he didn't need his pity, that his situation was the result of choices that he had made.  Crowell reflected, "There went my liberal, bleeding heart", so he went back to his hotel room and wrote "Ridin' Out the Storm".

The little town of Driggs, ID is not even as big as my hometown of Sparta, TN.  This bluegrass weekend brings hundreds, if not thousands, of people in from all across the country.  We talked to several folks here who have returned the favor by heading to Manchester, TN for the Bonnaroo Festival.  Although this bluegrass festival, is not nearly the size of Bonnaroo, the quality of the bluegrass musicians is absolutely "A-List". 

Jim Lauderdale and Mike Compton

We have been coming here for 9 years, and have noticed an uptick in the quality of the food establishments here.  Friday night, we tried Teton Thai - a restaurant on Main Street which opened this year.  The owner's mom, the chef, has just moved to Driggs from Hollywood and brought authentic Thai cuisine with her.  The result is a fabulous meal in a perfect setting - good end to a great day.

Randy Kohrs and Mike Bubb

day, we headed back to the festival.  This day is a HUGE lineup - songwriting superstarts Jim Lauderdale and Tim O'Brien and Yonder Mountain String Band.  I have never heard Tim O'Brien live, so this is a big day for me!!  Both  Lauderdale and O"Brien bring a huge cast of awesome Nashville musicians with them.  Randy Kohrs and his dobro are always a treat, and when he added that high tenor voice to "Zaccheus"  with Jim Lauderdale - pure bluegrass heaven!!

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien - what can you say about him that hasn't already been said.  He looks like a music professor and sings with the heart of an authentic, down-home hillbilly.  Born in Wheeling, WV, he is true to his bluegrass roots, and surrounds himself with musicians equal to his awesome talent.  Bassist Mike Bubb also joined Tim along with an awesome guitar picker.

AND, Sarah, Jarosz, a name I'm convinced we will hear more of in years to come, is back this year.  I first heard Sarah last year at Targhee, and in the words of Tim O'Brien: "Sarah is a singer. She's just flat got it".  Sarah started playing the mandolin at age 10, and now at age 20, she plays clawhammer banjo and guitar - all with a good degree of skill.  She's a student at the New England Conservatory of Music and tours extensively during the summer.  She absolutely brings the house down at Targhee.
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A Day in Washington D.C.

This has to qualify as the BEST excuse for a road trip!!!   Tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll!

Two of my four grandchildren were available to make the trip - Miles and Camille.  We hit the road from Chattanooga at noon on Sunday, and by 9:30 p.m. we were rolling in to Fairfax, VA, eating a quick dinner at Red Lobster, then off to bed to grab a few hours before a 4:00 a.m. wake-up call.  We were on the Metro into D.C. by 5:30 to pick up our tickets and then off to the Easter Egg Roll with 30,000 of our closest friends.

Early morning in D.C., before the rush hour starts, is really beautiful.  We got a quick look at the capitol building before we headed over to the White House.  A 65-degree brisk morning was just perfect for a walk and a few quick transfers on the Metro got us to the White House just in time for the festivities. 

The Egg Roll takes place on the South Lawn of the White House - or as the President said  "Welcome to our back yard!".  We waited in line for about 30 minutes, and worked our way up toward the balcony of the White House.  In about 30 more minutes President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walked out on to the balcony with Malia and Sasha and the Easter Bunny.  Colbie Caillat sang the national anthem, accompanied by the Marine Band.  Then the President and First Lady came down on the South Lawn and joined the festivities.

We happened to get up close and personal with the First Lady, who was watching a cooking demonstration along with Al Roker, Kelly Rippa and chef Jacques Pepin

Close by was the White House Garden - Mrs. Obama said she was working with organizations trying to find ways to make local farm markets more accessible and more affordable.

Miles participated in the actual Easter egg roll - and came in first in his group.  Camille headed for the face painting station.  And they both took a turn at planting their own seeds - basil for Camille and carrotts for Miles.

This was a very long day - in fact, Miles said it best when he said "It seems like it has been 3 days since we left this morning!"  I'm falling asleep right now trying to finish this post - it was a long day, but memories were made today that will last forever!!