Suitcase Full of Tears

My second professional Demo from Nashville!

That Old Unfinished Song in Classic Country Style

KVMR is broadcasting the 34th Annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival which is held by the California Bluegrass Association June 18-21, 2009 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA.

LISTEN LIVE ONLINE AT KVMR.ORG ALL WEEKEND!

This years Line up of the 34th Annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival include:

The Grascals
Dailey & Vincent
SteelDrivers
The Bluegrass Brothers
Chris Stuart & Backcountry
Claire Lynch Band
Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass
Bill Clifton
Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice
Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick
Kids on Bluegrass
Blue & Lonesome
All Star Music Camp Instructors Band
Stairwell Sisters
The Brombies
The Tuttles
Homespun Rowdy
The David Thom Band
Blue & Lonesome
The Mighty Crows
Mountain Laurel Bluegrass Band
49 Special
Red Dirt Bullies
Smiley Mountain Band
The Virtual Strangers
Anderson Family Bluegrass
Black Crown Stringband
Savannah Blu
Matt and George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys
Bean Creek
Grasskickers
Nell Robinson & Red Level
The Wintons
Highway One

4 Days at the beautiful Nevada County Fairgrounds with the best linups year after year. This is one of my all time favorite annual events here in Grass Valley. Tune in to KVMR 89.5 FM in Northern California or catch it LIVE on the Internet from anywhere in the world. It’s a hoot!

I just got my demo back from Nashville!
Wow what a good song when played properly!

A fantastic Live Version of The Decemberists’ “The Mariner’s Revenge Song”
If you have yet to listen to all The Decemberists Songs you are in for a treat as you explore their growing collection of albums.

It is always nice to see Sean Hannity smacked down. The best part of this was that he was smacked on his own show. Obama campaign spokesperson Robert Gibbs.

Uncle Daddy’s Burnt Bottom Chili 2.0

1 Large Skillet
2 Gallon Chili Pot
2 Cans Pinto Beans
2 Can Black Beans
2 Cans Diced Tomatoes
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Green Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Onion
3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Cube of Unsalted Butter
1.5 lbs. Lean Ground Beef (Not Extra Lean)
1 Chili Spice Mix (or make your own:)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Pepper

In a Large Skillet place Olive Oil, 1 clove of chopped garlic, and just a pinch of the diced onions. Add the meat and leave in large chunks as you brown. Strain the grease from the meat. Add 1 cup of Water and Chili Spice and let simmer 30 minutes.

At the same time…
In a 2 Gallon Pot, place Butter, Chopped Onion, Chopped Bell Peppers, 2 Cloves Chopped Garlic. Let Sweat until Onions are clear. Add tomatoes.

Add Beans and bring to boil.

Add The Meat.

Turn down so the bottom don’t burn and simmer until you just can’t take it anymore.

Ok here it is.
Next to the secret of my (Mom’s) Homemade Tacos, my Chili recipe is next on the list of requests. Here is the first version of what I hope will win me a Chili Cook Off somewhere, someday.

Uncle Daddy’s Burnt Bottom Chili 1.0

1 Large Skillet
2 Gallon Chili Pot
4 Cans Pinto Beans
1 Can Black Beans
2 Cans Diced Tomatoes
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Green Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Onion
3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Cube of Butter
1.5 lbs. Lean Ground Beef (Not Extra Lean)
1 Chili Spice Mix (or develope your own:)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Pepper

In a Large Skillet place Olive Oil, 1 clove of chopped garlic, and just a pinch of the diced onions. Add the meat and leave in large chunks as you brown. Strain the grease from the meat. Add 1 cup of Water and Chili Spice and let simmer 30 minutes.

At the same time…
In a 2 Gallon Pot, place Butter, Chopped Onion, Chopped Bell Peppers, 2 Cloves Chopped Garlic. Let Sweat until Onions are clear. Add tomatoes. Add Meat. Add Beans and bring to boil. Turn down so the bottom don’t burn and simmer until you just can’t take it anymore.

I’m saddened to degrees of pain beyond tearfullness.
Our friend and local legend U. Utah Philips passed on to his reward.
I’m crying, I’m laughing, I’m crying.

Bruce Philips passed away of congestive heart failure on Friday, May 23, 2008
<moment of silence>
I believe it was in 1995 when Utah found out he was gonna have trouble heart wise.
He’d been fightin that particular demon for a long time and gave him a good go ’round.
I first heard Utah Philips on that crazy UC Davis radio station in 1978.
Moose Turd Pie cracked me up and I had to find out more about this folk music scene.
What I found out was that it ain’t to eveyone’s likin’
It’s good though.

Mick

Quoted from http://www.woodheat.org/fire.htm:

A fabulous fire

This is what a clean burning fire looks like

This is a photo through the glass of an advanced technology wood stove, one that is EPA certified. Note that the flames are big and lush and semi-transparent, much different from the dark, opaque, ragged flames you would see in an open fireplace. The small jets and feathery flames at the top of the image are flowing downward from the tiny combustion air holes at the top of the firebox.

Not only do these stoves burn much cleaner and more efficiently than older conventional stoves, but the view of the fire is just spectacular, well worth the price of admission. Those of us who study woodburning for a living claim it is the best looking fire in the world. By upgrading to one of these stoves, you can save wood, reduce smoke and enjoy the view all winter long.