Sharon Rae

Johnny Paycheck has been like a mascot on these 3 tours the last 8 months. He wrote a song for his wife called "Sharon Rae". Tony and I found this video a while before the tours started. It really spoke to our hearts:

http://youtu.be/HGKhf-sEhaw

The video made us want to know the lady he was singing about, so Tony attempted to find and contact her. He wasn't able to get to her but found her address, and turns out she lives in Fredricksberg, VA, and one of our gigs was in Fredricksberg! We saved the address and when the time came for that gig, we stopped by to see if she was home and we could meet her. I know this sounds crazy! But we knew we just needed to meet her and she would love us! Tony has a song about Johnny Paycheck, he's been a huge influence on Tony. She wasn't home, so Tony left her a note. Her niece, Savannah, ended up getting in touch with us, and over the next few months Tony and Savannah and Sharon corresponded and got to know each other a bit. When we were back in Fredricksberg this southern run, Sharon and Savannah came out to the show!! 

We met Johnny Paychecks family!!! It was so amazing. Being around Sharon was like being around a Goddess. She lived a life so deep in the roots of country music. Beyond the fame and glory of it all though, she really did have this glimmer about her that was so genuine. She said to me, "you're doing it right! Travel while you're young! Enjoy it all!" She traveled with Johnny all through his years as a touring musician. She was so encouraging! 

NOLA!!!

The city of New Orleans is one of a kind. There is so much rich culture here! Our first night in town we crossed paths with our friends Karen and Ashlee. They're these two awesome musicians that tour the country playing..The Midtown Violets. I've seen them play a show or 2 back in Salt Lake, and ever since I've met them I've just looked up to what they're doin. Two women traveling wherever they can spreading music..it's so beautiful. In the description of their music genre they call themselves "Dixie Chicks meets Alanis Moresette" which I think is just rad. Anyway, to cross paths with them on the other side of the county, in NEW ORLEANS of all places! It was so cool! They had a girl helping with merch like I do with Tony's band..Misty. She was such a fun person to meet! I ended up going to bourbon street with them having some much needed lady time out on the town! 

We have a great friend here, Tree, who has absolutely made the experience both last time and this time. He's been completely hospitable, but beyond that, it's like having a full time New Orleans tour guide with you whenever you're around him. He LOVES this city! And he knows everything about it! Tree is not only one of those super captivating characters that can easily demand all the energy of the room, but he also has a lot of really enlightening things to say..so, needless to say he's a really cool person to be around. We are really lucky to have him at this stop in the journey. Here's some chairs he made out of branches. Just one of the many things Tree creates:

All the shows here have been awesome. We made lots of good friends and connections! Then, to put a cherry on top   of the NOLA visit, I got to visit my very best friend from 2-4th grade, Madi. It was such a riot catching up with her! We were inseparable when we were kids. We would make up the craziest little creative games. We haven't really been in touch since high school, so to connect with her after all these years was so refreshing! We laughed like we were 9 years old again! 

What a treat this city has been! Can't wait to come back!

Captain Stan

Captain Stan's BBQ is this amazing juke joint in a town no one's heard of, Woodbine, GA. 

It was our last show on the coast before we started heading back west. When we rolled up and I got out to check it out, I felt like we stumbled upon a secret never-never land kind of spot. It was incredible!!

 

Not only was the whole ambiance just magical, the night and couple days to follow we're epic, too. It was a Saturday, and they're closed Sunday/Monday..they gave us hundreds of dollars of food they were going to toss. The best BBQ chicken and ribs, homemade baked beans and potato salad. SO GOOD!!! Stan left the gate open for us and invited us to make ourselves at home. He made us coffee and French toast the next morning. He was going to take us hog hunting but we were all a little tired and his boat was out if commission, so instead we piled in his truck and he took us to see if we could spot any gators!!!

We didn't see any gators, but hiking around in the swamp lands looking was such an adventure! We came back and cooked up some amazing chicken and rice, played the giant jenga game and other backyard games he has all around, sat around the fire, laughed. 

The hospitality we are given everywhere we go continually blows my mine!

Martha "Granny" Stephens

One of the more penetrating experiences of this tour has been visiting a few civil war sites in Virginia, particularly this little cottage pictured above. Behind here was one of the bloodier battle scenes in Va. Martha "Granny" Stephens owned this house and resided here throughout the war. Some of the writings on the plaques around these sites gave me chills:

"Legend holds that Martha Stephens, unlike most local residents remained in her house throughout the battle. She purportedly made repeated, dangerous trips to her well and tore strips from her own garments to bind the wounds of the fallen." 

"Local children knew Martha Stephens as 'Granny.' They also remembered her ever present apron, the pipe often clenched in her teeth, and her matronly form. But Martha Stephens was no typical granny. At a time when women rarely owned property, she owned no fewer than 7 tracts, including a 92-acre farm in Spotsylvania County. For a time she ran a saloon in her home. A local resident rembered her as 'uneducated and too free and outspoken in what she said and did and how she did it.'"

I absolutely love hearing stories of strong women like Martha. She reminds me of the kind of women I hear my Grandma Babara was. I've carried her courageous spirit with me in my travels since I learned of her! 

Howdy!

I'm doin it! Starting my blog. I've been traveling throughout the nation the past 8 months, and so many magical things happen to me every day. I feel I should be sharing them with anyone who wants to listen. So here I go!