Farm Fest Hangover!
I finally have a little time to sit down and start updating my blog. Farm Fest is over, but what an outstanding weekend of fun. I was the first camper to roll in Wednesday evening and the last one to leave Sunday afternoon. Yeah, I'm still recovering. Farm Fest weekend is best described as too much food, too much beer, too much fun and too little sleep.
But it's a once-a-year shindig and we make the most of it.
We didn't do too much Wednesday night. Beth and the kids camped at the farm that night, but the remainder of the weekend they stayed overnight at grandma and grandpa Dau's. Dale and Mel rolled in around 8 PM, Ross came that evening too. We sat around the campfire, but went to bed very early (especially compared to the next few nights!).
Thursday morning was downright cold -- you could see your breath! After breakfast, we got to work setting up the "big top" and unloaded all the music equipment.
Ross, Denton and Jax cutting down dead tree limbs Thursday morning before the campers rolled in.
Dale unloading the equipment and prepping the "stage."
Setting up the "big top."
"Is this upside down??"
The big top is up, now it's time for lights!
Later Thursday afternoon we got ready for the "Back to the 60's Beach Party." The campers really started rolling in later on Thursday and the party officially started. I'd again like to thank the Kampens for all the work they put into the Thursday night party to make it so much fun. There was a potluck supper which was awesome and a wop mix which was downright lethal.
The wop was lethal, just ask Jon.
The wop was lethal, just ask Bob.
Like I said, the wop was lethal, just ask Sammi!
Shelli and Sammi preparing for the "Beach Party."
Mel and Korey at the "Beach Party."
We listened to 60s music and imbibed in adult beverages and did a whole lot of catching up. It was great to visit with everyone and we stayed up till the wee hours.
We usually have the Thursday night kick-off party out in the west field, but decided to have the party "under the big top" because thunderstorms were in the forecast that night. By 1:30 AM, the thunderstorms were nowhere to be seen, so using whiskey logic, we decided we couldn't break tradition and we took the party out to the west field anyway. We celebrated until 5:00 AM... oofdah!
Ray, Bob, Brian and Sandy at the "Beach Party."
Korey and Shelli organized the "Beach Party."
A few hours later I was having the most pleasant dream of cool water sprinkling on my head. I then woke up to find rain pouring into my camper. Crap.
Soon after that the humidity settled in and there was no hope in drying off anything. The keyword for the rest of the weekend was "moist." Oh well, that's life.
Friday was... um, s-l-o-w. We finally started rehearsing around 4:00 PM and played for the next four or five hours. Friday evening was moist and cool. Good coffee weather. I had a few cups with the Kampens and went to bed early.
Sandy, Kathy, Frankie and Bob on Friday afternoon. Recovering from the "Beach Party" and gearing up for Saturday!
Then came Saturday -- "show day." I woke up early and felt good and refreshed. The weather was bizarre. It was overcast all day, looked like it could pour rain at any minute; it felt sort of cool, but yet warm and very humid. It was kind of hard to describe.
Brian on Saturday afternoon, recovered from Thursday night and ready to go!
We spent the early part of the day playing games and visiting. My sister-in-law Kathy once again provided games and entertainment for the little ones. They played animal bingo and she had all kinds of prizes for the kids. Thanks for all the time and energy you put into those games every year, Kathy!
Soon after that, the cooking began. We had our usual potluck feast before the music and you wanna talk about awesome chow!
Jax smoked over 20 pounds of ribs for the Farm Fest potluck feast! (thanks, Brandy!)
Let the feast begin!
We (the band) started playing around 6:30 PM and didn't stop until midnight. My old high school band instructor, Ken Nelson, came all the way home from vacation in Colorado to make it to the party. He got there about 11:15 PM and as promised, we kept a beer on ice for him!
The crowd gathers early on Saturday evening. (thanks, Sammi!)
Ross and Kevin singing "Seven Bridges Road" on Saturday night. (thanks, Brandy!)
Bob, Ross, Ray and Brian playing a little Johnny Cash on Saturday night (thanks, Brandy!)
"The Maestro" on bass guitar during Saturday night's performance. (thanks, Sammi!)
Yours truly playing "Wipe Out" late Saturday night. (thanks, Sammi!)
It was another late night and I finally headed off to bed around 3:00 AM. Sunday was breakdown, pack up and go home day. Bummer. But it sure was fun.
Now I'm back to work, trying to adjust to the night shift again after being on paternity leave for a few weeks. It will be nice to get back into a routine again, but it sure was nice to have the time off.
This pretty much sums it up...
But it's a once-a-year shindig and we make the most of it.
We didn't do too much Wednesday night. Beth and the kids camped at the farm that night, but the remainder of the weekend they stayed overnight at grandma and grandpa Dau's. Dale and Mel rolled in around 8 PM, Ross came that evening too. We sat around the campfire, but went to bed very early (especially compared to the next few nights!).
Thursday morning was downright cold -- you could see your breath! After breakfast, we got to work setting up the "big top" and unloaded all the music equipment.
Ross, Denton and Jax cutting down dead tree limbs Thursday morning before the campers rolled in.
Dale unloading the equipment and prepping the "stage."
Setting up the "big top."
"Is this upside down??"
The big top is up, now it's time for lights!
Later Thursday afternoon we got ready for the "Back to the 60's Beach Party." The campers really started rolling in later on Thursday and the party officially started. I'd again like to thank the Kampens for all the work they put into the Thursday night party to make it so much fun. There was a potluck supper which was awesome and a wop mix which was downright lethal.
The wop was lethal, just ask Jon.
The wop was lethal, just ask Bob.
Like I said, the wop was lethal, just ask Sammi!
Shelli and Sammi preparing for the "Beach Party."
Mel and Korey at the "Beach Party."
We listened to 60s music and imbibed in adult beverages and did a whole lot of catching up. It was great to visit with everyone and we stayed up till the wee hours.
We usually have the Thursday night kick-off party out in the west field, but decided to have the party "under the big top" because thunderstorms were in the forecast that night. By 1:30 AM, the thunderstorms were nowhere to be seen, so using whiskey logic, we decided we couldn't break tradition and we took the party out to the west field anyway. We celebrated until 5:00 AM... oofdah!
Ray, Bob, Brian and Sandy at the "Beach Party."
Korey and Shelli organized the "Beach Party."
A few hours later I was having the most pleasant dream of cool water sprinkling on my head. I then woke up to find rain pouring into my camper. Crap.
Soon after that the humidity settled in and there was no hope in drying off anything. The keyword for the rest of the weekend was "moist." Oh well, that's life.
Friday was... um, s-l-o-w. We finally started rehearsing around 4:00 PM and played for the next four or five hours. Friday evening was moist and cool. Good coffee weather. I had a few cups with the Kampens and went to bed early.
Sandy, Kathy, Frankie and Bob on Friday afternoon. Recovering from the "Beach Party" and gearing up for Saturday!
Then came Saturday -- "show day." I woke up early and felt good and refreshed. The weather was bizarre. It was overcast all day, looked like it could pour rain at any minute; it felt sort of cool, but yet warm and very humid. It was kind of hard to describe.
Brian on Saturday afternoon, recovered from Thursday night and ready to go!
We spent the early part of the day playing games and visiting. My sister-in-law Kathy once again provided games and entertainment for the little ones. They played animal bingo and she had all kinds of prizes for the kids. Thanks for all the time and energy you put into those games every year, Kathy!
Soon after that, the cooking began. We had our usual potluck feast before the music and you wanna talk about awesome chow!
Jax smoked over 20 pounds of ribs for the Farm Fest potluck feast! (thanks, Brandy!)
Let the feast begin!
We (the band) started playing around 6:30 PM and didn't stop until midnight. My old high school band instructor, Ken Nelson, came all the way home from vacation in Colorado to make it to the party. He got there about 11:15 PM and as promised, we kept a beer on ice for him!
The crowd gathers early on Saturday evening. (thanks, Sammi!)
Ross and Kevin singing "Seven Bridges Road" on Saturday night. (thanks, Brandy!)
Bob, Ross, Ray and Brian playing a little Johnny Cash on Saturday night (thanks, Brandy!)
"The Maestro" on bass guitar during Saturday night's performance. (thanks, Sammi!)
Yours truly playing "Wipe Out" late Saturday night. (thanks, Sammi!)
It was another late night and I finally headed off to bed around 3:00 AM. Sunday was breakdown, pack up and go home day. Bummer. But it sure was fun.
Now I'm back to work, trying to adjust to the night shift again after being on paternity leave for a few weeks. It will be nice to get back into a routine again, but it sure was nice to have the time off.
This pretty much sums it up...
