Yesterday morning started like this at Hillside Farm.

Yep... it's snow! Love that Jeep!

Of course, the youngster here… which would be my son Zach and daughter Izze, loved waking up to all this snow. What’s not to like about snow that packs, snow that rolls… snow that makes snowmen and snowballs? Meanwhile, back at the Fur Peace Ranch, we were a little worried about the weather affecting our First Annual Dinner With Jorma Night. Our fears were for naught, however… folks came from as far away as Colorado for our little event. Our staff at the Ranch outdid themselves on this one. Appetizers, soup, salad, a choice of entree and a desert. More than yummy… more than yummy!

We talked and hung out in the Beatrice Love Kitchen and then headed over to the workshop so I could to a little show for the folks. The workshop is where Live At The Fur Peace Ranch (our award winning WOUB show) was born… right there on that little stage… way before we built the Fur Peace Station.

Of course, I was winging it with the set list so this is merely what I think happened… more or less:

An Evening With Jorma
At The Fur Peace Ranch
Dinner and Music
Last Show Of The Year… Indeed
December 29, 2012
More… or less… the set list!

1. True Religion
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
3. Heart Temporary
4. Been So Long
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Barbeque King
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Living In The Moment
9. Things That Might Have Been
10. I See The Light
11. I Know You Rider
12. I Am The Light Of This World
13. Nine Pound Hammer
14. Encore: Water Song

Snow was falling as the show ended and our wonderful guests melted into the night. Our thanks to them for braving the storm and coming to our little corner of the world… and my thanks to my brothers and sisters at the FPR for their tireless work in making this a wonder ful evening for everyone.

What a sight!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. May it be blessed for you all… from me and mine!

View of the Mediterranean from the beach in Jaffa, israel

From the beach in Jaffa to my backyard… see below:

Our pergola with Tibetan prayer flags

And everywhere else around this old spinning ball.. I wish you all a Merry Christmas… Happy Holidays!

Onward

Sort of white

So here it is, December 23, 2012… and I, Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen have turned 72 years old. Holey moley! When I got up today, Vanessa said, ‘Go hang out with your friends until 1500… then I need you to baby sit. ‘Cool,’ said I. ‘Count me in.’ So off I went to hang with some of my buds in the woods. A little four wheelin’. A little noise makin’ good times all around. It snowed over the last two days… see above. Today the temperature was in the low fifties… perfect to be outdoors.

I got back at three. Vanessa went to town and Izze and I watched Brave again. A cinematic marvel, for sure. By 1900, Ness was back and the roast that had been cooking all day was ready to eat. Home made horseradish sauce, sweet cornbread, new potatoes and carrots and a dandy dessert. Ginger came over with her son Montana and their Brazilian exchange student Marcos. My buddy Ted came over too.

We prayed together… each in our own way, enjoyed delicious food and fellowship and now Izze is watching ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.’ Obviously there are pluses and minuses in the getting older process. The alternatives would seem to be unacceptable so whatever adjustments I have to make are OK with me. Each moment is so precious… so enduring in the heart. I treasure my place in the world more than I can express.

I have so many people to be grateful to and for. Let me just mention one who, without knowing, has helped to steer the course of my existence… that would be the Rev. Gary Davis. Here is a picture of the Rev. in concert in London that a friend sent me today.

Thank you for your mentorship!

The year is winding down, and my age is winding up. I thank all my family comrades in arms and the myriad friends I have made worldwide for helping to give meaning and substance to my life!

Onward!

As always… to be home safe and sound is a blessing beyond measure. As I have been noting here in my blog, I went abroad with my teenage son, my musical partner Barry MItterhoff and his lady friend Gayle. We did a gig in Bilbao, Spain and then to the Middle East where we played three gigs in Israel. You see so much in the news here in America that has so little to do with reality anywhere and everything to do with ratings in the ongoing jousts between the sundry talking heads. Some people here at home were chiding me for going to the Middle East based on the sensationalist nonsense we had been seeing. As always, our task is to avoid contempt before investigation and I spent a lot of time in contact with friends on the ground, so to speak who assured me that life was going on in the aftermath of the ‘war.’ I would never have risked the life of my young son if I thought there was any danger whatsoever… and there wasn’t.

My point here, is that what I saw in the grand little country of Israel, was a deep love of the music that has sustained me all my life. Was there a consensus of political opinion? Of course not. Was there a consensus for a deep and abiding love of the spirit? Absolutely! I wrote mostly about the delicious food I encountered while overseas. What’s not to like about a good meal? It’s a little harder to write about the spiritual intangibles that make life truly worth living. I experienced a fellowship of the spirit that that still surrounds me even being home for several days. You can’t quantify this.

In the past, I have been taken to task for working in Israel and for supporting that country in spirit. Frankly, I don’t care. I’m entitled to my opinion and you… collectively to yours. So be it. Opinions are like… well, that nether portion of your anatomy. Everyone’s got one.

Here at home, we are still reeling under the cloud of that unspeakable tragedy in Connecticut. My daughter’s elementary school is under a whole new set of rules for dropping off and picking up our kids. I cannot imagine the pain and horror of losing a child. I have outlived my parents as I should in a ‘normal’ world. I hope my kids will outlive me. Tragedies like this always spawn a torrent of editorializing. Again… nice for ratings… sorrow for those involved. That there is evil in this world is undeniable. There is also great good… and being the eternal optimist I am, good will ultimately prevail.

Nuff said. When I passed through Immigration at Dulles International, I said to the officer… ‘It’s great to be back in what is, to me, the greatest country on earth.

Onward

Our friend Eran had been talking about taking us to Julie’s since we got here. Julie… the Egyptian grandmother had a tiny restaurant near the shuk with about two tables in it… Suffice it to say, that home cooked food was unbelievable.

Zach and Gayle look into Julie's kitchen...

We went into the kitchen and picked what we wanted to eat.

Yeah, we knew it was gonna be that good!

After about a 90 second wait… the food began to appear.

Julie herself, getting ready to feed the troops...

The smell of the food was so enticing… still it could not compare to the reality of the eating itself!

Julie with the gang... Zach is behind me...

‘How old are you?’ Julie asked Zach. ‘Fifteen,’ he answered. She laughed. ‘When I was fifteen I was married… before I was sixteen I had my first baby… then I had three more.’ We all laughed, and suggested that Zach wait a couple of years.

The family back home in the day!

Lunch went quickly and seconds were encouraged and free.

Julie tends to the table on the street.

Our lunch was coming to and end, and it was getting to be time to go.

Julie's is on Yom Tov St.

Back at the hotel, we hit the roof for a cup of coffee while looking at the view.

The view north from the roof

Just a little bit ago, our friend Eran Arielli to Zach and I to a legendery sabich shop… Jewish Iraqi sandwiches… from a no name shop… gourmet!

Yeah... we got a seat... Eran and Zach

It was so good, I didn’t even realize that the eggplant wasn’t meat. That’s gotta be good!

Dad and Zach at the No Name Sabich shop.

You can find this place on…

You can find this joint on Tchernihovsky Street... go there and wait... it's worth it!

A nice post postprandial stroll back to the hotel and some final re-packing. Heading to the airport at 0130…

What a great trip with really good friends!

Last days of Channukah by the fountain

Day before yesterday we drove up to Amirim but before we did… we went and ate at Bertie Restaurant in Tel Aviv and as expected everywhere here, the food was fantastic.

Calamari rocks!

Mmmmm good!

After such goodies we hit the van and headed up to Amirim and Hemdat Yamin. Here is our set list from that night:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 35, 2012
Hemdat Yamim
Amirim, Israel
Friday, December 14, 2012

1. Been So Long
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Heart Temporary
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Goodbye To The Blues
6. Barbeque King
7. Children Of Zion
8. The Terrible Operation
9. Good Shepherd
10. Uncle Sam Blues with Yair Dalal on violin
11. Death Don’t have No Mercy with Yair Dalal
12. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
13. Things That Might Have Been
14. 99 Year Blues
15. I Know You Rider
16. Encore: 1. Genesis 2. Water Song

Yesterday, we spent some delicious time with some wonderful folks in Jaffa for lunch and a jam with the Israeli blues gang.

Play the blues... middle eastern style

Then it was off to Zappa, Tel Aviv for the gig. Another good one and a dandy for the final Israeli gig. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 36, 2012
Zappa
Tel Aviv, Israel
Saturday, December 15, 2012

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. Been So Long
3. Second Chances
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Goodbye To The Blues
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Red River Blues
8. How Long Blues
9. Vicksburg Stomp
10. Barbeque King
11. Good Shepherd
12. Things That Might Have Been
13. San Francisco Bay Blues
14. Vicksburg Stomp
15. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
16. Nine Pound Hammer
17. Encore: 1. Genesis 2. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

Yep… good times indeed.

The beach in Jaffa

A bunch of running around today… and back to the States early tomorrow morning.

I love this place… and I loved this trip!

After a long dysfunctional flight from Bilbao to Tel Aviv (about 18 hours on that one) we got to the hotel about 0100 Israeli time yesterday morning. We had a little bit of time to walk about the big city later on in the morning checking out shops and posters.

Me and Zach on the street...

I had been thinking about hummus at Abu Hassan’s since I first ate there two years ago. It was even better than I remember and well worth the table wait! Well, enough about food… on to Jerusalem and Zappa.

Yep... there's that poster again

A late show… 2200… but a darn good one. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 34, 2012
Zappa
Jerusalem, Israel
Thursday, December 13, 2012

1. I See The Light
2. Children Of Zion
3. Second Chances
4. Red River Blues
5. Barbeque King
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Living In The Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. Big River Blues
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. Goodbye To The Blues
12. Come Back Baby
13. The Terrible Operation
14. I Am The Light Of This World
15. Nine Pound Hammer
16. Encore: 1. Genesis 2. Embryonic Journey

Gayle and Zach relax backstage before the ride back to Tel Aviv

After our set… we said hello to friends and family and headed back to our hotel in Tel Aviv.

Tonight we have a show up north at Hemdal Yamin in Amirim. Better work on the set list for tonight…

Onward!

Look, the know me here!

Tonight was our first gig ever in Spain… in Bilbao and sold out no less, and what a time we had. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 33, 2012
Sala BBK
Bilbao, Spain
Tuesday, December 11, 2012

1. Been So Long
2. Children Of Zion
3. Second Chances
4. Hesitation Blues
5. I See The Light
6. Come Back Baby
7. Red River Blues
8. Living In The Moment
9. Good Shepherd
10. That’ll Never Happen No More
11. The Terrible Operation
12. Barbeque King
13. Vicksburg Stomp
14. I Am The Light Of This World
15. I Know You Rider
16. Encores: 1. Genesis 2. 9 Pound Hammer

Our dressing room in panorama

Tomorrow we leave the hotel at 0515 for an early flight to Tel Aviv. More when we get in.

Goodnight Bilbao...

More will be revealed…

After arrival, a delicious trip to the Cafe Iruna

Well, we got in early afternoon… walked around downtown… ate good food… took a nap… got up… met our promoter Carlos and he took us to the Cafe Iruna, virtually unchanged for over a hundred years. Delicious snacks while we waited for the restaurant to open for dinner.

Tile work behind our table at the Iruna

Nothing like regional specialties in a beautiful setting.

Wow!

We talked and ate and looked around and just dug being here.

What a ceiling!

We finished our coffee and walked over to the restaurant. I forgot the name… I’ll get it tomorrow. Anyway, check this out:

What's not to like about meat and potatoes?

Yeah, pasture fed beef… garden grown potatoes and salad… That’s what I’m talking about!

And a Merry Christmas to all!

A lovely walk about town. Tomorrow morning a river walk and perhaps the Guggenheim. Tonight, we’ll try to shake the jet lag. Tomorrow night, our gig at Sala BBK.

Great to be here…

Yesterday Myron and I drove from good old Southeast Ohio to a hotel near Dulles International Airport. Why? Because this afternoon I’m meeting my son Zach and we are heading to Bilbao, Spain for a gig at Sala BBK. Our first trip to Spain ever… New territory indeed. The we leave for Israel where we have three gigs. Zappa in Jeruselem, Hemdat Yamin in Amirim and then to Tel Aviv for a gig at the Zappa Club there.

Needless to say, as short as this trip is (one week, give or take) I am very excited about the journey and I will be blogging a away as internet access allows.

Onward… indeed!