Rainbow at the Ranch a couple of days ago

This picture was a couple of days ago, but it set the scene for today’s Thanksgiving.

Vanessa and her sister Ginger spent 24 hours cooking a magnificent dinner in the Beatrice Love Kitchen at the Fur Peace Ranch. Friends and family… a perfect day!

The Kaukonen Boys see dinner coming!

Yeah… it was a repast to remember… and we do not forget the many blessings we enjoy individually and together!

The scene of the crime...

Not much more to say right now, except a very happy Thanksgiving… one and all!

Last night was the final show of 2014 at the Fur Peace Station and what a show it was. Our very own John Hurlbut, Ranch Manager, got together with a bunch of friends from Dayton (the Gem City) and put on a show to remember. In the late 50’s I lived in Greene County when I was going to Antioch College and many aspects of my life were formed in those years. Not only did I learn to finger pick from Ian Buchanan back then, but I bought my old 1958 Gibson J-50 for a hundred bucks at Pop’s Music store in Dayton.

Anyway, the music scene was alive and well then and it is even more vibrant today. Here is a list of the personnel of the Gem City rockers who comprised The Spin last night:

1. Rich Reuter, lead guitar and vocals
2. Khrys Blank, vocals and tambourine
3. Erich Reith, percussion
4. Bryan (Hazy) Russell, keyboards
5. Eric Henry, guitar & lap steel
6. Chris Carter, drums
7. Brad Denson, bass

This was a show to remember and we’re already talking about ending the season next year the same way. Many thanks to the Lost On Iddings who morphed into the Spins with Hurl, but also to their families who came along to enjoy a lovely fall night at the Fur Peace Ranch.

A more than grand time was had by one and all… Thanks folks! See ya next year and a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

‘Cause there’s changes in the ocean
And there’s changes in the sea
And there’s changes in my own true love
But there ain’t no change in me’

From ‘The Rose Of Aberdeen’

So we were rearranging some furniture in the house yesterday and today and I have to say that left to my own devices, I would rarely change anything. Yeah, boring I know. Anyway, moving this… moving that and all of a sudden, it’s like a new world. Izze, our delightful eight year old was completely upset by the repositioning of the dining room table… and I get it, believe me. Things are moving quickly in her young life and I can see it is sometimes hard to accept this. Things are changing more quickly in my life too. There was that period of time in my forties and fifties where I just really didn’t perceive change until after it had taken place. Now, change is with me every day. My Dad (may he rest in peace) used to talk about the fact that getting older was a series of successful adaptations. These adaptations occur more often these days and sometimes when I sit by myself I find myself thinking about the time I have left to accomplish the things I want to accomplish. Now I know that thoughts like these are a luxury and largely a waste of time.

With this in mind, I get up off my ass and get something done… finish writing a song, take Izze skating, practice the guitar, vacuum the bird room… whatever. I’ve got a tour with Tuna coming up… I look forward to that but I’ll miss home. After the first of the year my new CD, ‘Ain’t In No Hurry’ will be out and I’ll be touring to support that. I hope to get a little motorcycle trip in in the Spring… spend some vacation time with the family… maybe a little time with my seventeen year old son Zach before his young life calls him away for the Summer…

As always, my life is a embarrassment of riches and I am still confronted with a plethora of delightful choices. It is cold this morning as I sit here in the dining room… with the table in a new place. It’s like having a new room… sort of. Changes in the ocean, changes in the sea… there is no constant except change and there are changes in me too… and that has to be a good thing.

Now I’ll see if I can convince Izze, and myself… that this is true.

Onward!

As I left the Ranch yesterday... the snow began to fall.

Yeah… 17 degrees this morning and four inches of snow fell overnight. It’s not winter… but it’s coming.

Yep... it snowed last night

We fed the cats… Zammy and Weasley and they got some warm milk to boot. They stayed toasty under the porch and came out for breakfast. I hitched Maverick, Dog Of Destiny, up and we headed down the driveway.

First light at HIllside Farm

He was leaping around and really enjoying himself in the early dawn.

Technology from yesteryear

Down the old road, past the ancient trailer and back up by the oil well.

Natural gas... right to the house...

Thank goodness our gas well is still producing… well, time to see if I put the plow on my tractor correctly… at least it’s warm in the house.

Onward…

Small town America celebrates Veteran's Day

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

We owe such a debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have served, and who still serve. Living in a rural community, one winds up knowing almost everyone… and that is one of the things I love about living here…

The R.O.T.C. men and women from Ohio University

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Athens County is an area where the ‘counter culture’ is still alive and well… although everyone honors and treasures our soldiers.

Walking proudly!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It is just one of those days that touch my heart.

This is cool, but you should see our MRAP!

Every time I’m in the D.C. area, I like to go to the National Cemetery to pay my respects. When my Dad was stationed in the Philippines I used to like to ride my scooter out to the Manila American Cemetery and do my homework in that garden of stone. My uncle Tarmo is buried in a National Cemetery in L.A. My Dad and my other uncle Pentti chose to be buried with family in Inglewood.

More than enough honor to go around

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Changing of the Guard at OU.

I know so many vets… but I’d like to name a few… Jorma Kaukonen Sr., Navy WWII, Tarmo Kaukonen, Army WWII, Pentti Kaukonen, Army WWII, Ray Hurlbut Navy, WWII, Chuck Fadel, USMC Vietnam, Jerry Sullivan, Army Vietnam… and the list goes on… but I’ll leave it at that. Thanks my friends!

Thank you all so much… those gone before, those here today… and those to come. You all do us honor!

There can never be enough said...

foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Turn, turn, turn...

The seasons are turning again as seasons will… Halloween has come and gone… Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the final weekend of Season 17 at the Fur Peace Ranch is over. Almost two decades of music and fellowship… indeed where does the time go?

Saturday night G.E. Smith held sway on the Jackie Russell stage at the Fur Peace Station… Jack Casady played bass, John Sferra played drums, and yours truly got to wail a bit on my Jazzmaster. a heckuva good time was had by all.

Campers... last weekend, 2014

The open mike Sunday afternoon was as outstanding as it’s ever been… thanks everyone!

G.E. pays me a visit in the library...

Sunday night… G.E. joined Spencer Bohren for an impromptu show at the Station… opened by me doing about twenty minutes of tunes. Spenser is a national treasure… you gotta see and hear him! By the bye.. G.E. is a national treasure too!

Pick it boys!

Yeah, what a weekend of music.

This morning after the last class, me and the guys got together for a class picture…

Looking good boys!

A fitting end to a fine year… Until next year folks…

May the Good Lord take a liking to you…

(as Roy Rogers would say!)

OK folks… a lovely Fall day here at Hillside Farm… a little rain, but in the 50’s. Our new cat, Weasley, is having breakfast with our trusted main cat, Zammy… Maverick, Dog Of Destiny, is still sleeping… Vanessa is opening a pomegranate… good times.

Let's go class!

I’ve never done a live streaming lesson before but David Wolff talked me into it. (It wasn’t too hard) Check it folks:

Dear Students & Prospective Students of BreakDownWay.com,

We had a fantastic response to our request to pick 2 songs for Jorma to teach on his first Live Streaming Lesson. The results have been tallied and he will be teaching:

“I Belong To The Band”
&
“In The Kingdom”

This great event will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 7pm EST

ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN A FREE WORKSHOP AT THE FUR PEACE RANCH IN 2015

You can access the signup page here:
https://BreakDownWay.com/live-streaming.php

The cost will be $99.99

OK, that’s it for the mercantile statement… join us if you can.

Now, tomorrow is our final workshop this year at the Fur Peace Ranch. This would entail Jack Casady, G.E.Smith, Spencer Bohren and yours truly.

Yep… seventeen amazing years. We are so blessed and so grateful for all the amazing gifts we enjoy.

Onward!

It’s 0603… Daylight Savings Time left us yesterday morning but the good old internal clock said, ‘It’s time to get up.’ DST or not, it’s still dark out and we are well into Fall for sure. Living in the country as I do, I find myself really tuned into the purpose we give to seasons… sowing… reaping… the rhythm of life that moves us all. I think of the seasons in my own life and like everyone else, I wish I had more time. That thought would have never crossed my mind when I was younger… life was an endless stream of summers and time was of no consequence. All this said, I am the most fortunate of men. At an age when my Father seemed to search relentlessly for things to occupy his time in a meaningful way, I am still able to be not only an active participant in my chosen profession… but still productive.

I just finished work on my new CD project for Red House Records and we are slated for a February 17, 2015 release date. Out of eleven songs I have four originals. Three new ones and a reprise of Bar Room Crystal Ball. Why redo an old song like this? Because I wanted the words to be heard and in my current recordings, you can understand all my words. As a song writer, today I want the words to be understood.

I have talked about this before, but for me today… it is all about the story… the fact that the guitar is my vehicle for this tell is incidental. Of course this does not minimize the guitar in my life… not at all. Without the guitar my life would have been of far less consequence.

The seasons come, and the seasons go, and for today I am enjoying my place in Fall.

This coming weekend is our final weekend of the 17th year at the Fur Peace Ranch and we will be hosting Jack Casady, G.E.Smith, myself and Spencer Bohren.. It should be a rockin’ weekend… as always!

More will be revealed!