Summer on the island starts with a bustle!...

Summer on the island starts with a bustle! - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Good Morning Folks!

Here is the link this week's article. You may recognize a few of the events from the photo entries from this past week. I have added a few more photos, especially for those of you who did not make it out to the Ocracoke Festival. Be sure to mark your calendar for the first weekend of June for next year!

As always, just click the above link, and thank you for reading.

Until tomorrow.

One of the large puppets in the parade.

Can you tell the musicians hung out in the cottage?

Just a few of the after party cast members still playing!

I think Adam and Tara had a great time!

Bob Zentz entertaining a crowd with Pete Seeger songs.

Friday the 13th and the full moon...

Today is Friday the 13th and a full moon. This will be a spectacular event and won't occur again in our lifetime!

This moon is known as the Honey Moon (because of so many marriages in June) and the Strawberry Moon, aptly named because of the strawberry season in the north country.

Don't miss this spectacular event...perhaps you will even be out on a ghost walk with me. if so, it will be a chilling event. Whatever you are doing, don't forget to take a look at our spectacular world.

In the pursuit of a love (story) -

In the pursuit of a love (story) - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Bill and Shirley Lonsbury on their wedding day.

Today's blog post is a re-post from two years ago. (Well, parts of it anyway.)

Bill and Shirley Lonsbury are from Angola, Indiana and they were married in the small chapel, known as the marriage mill in my town.

(Please read the above article before going any further.)

Bill and Shirley are in a nursing home together with Shirley not expected to live much longer. They are sharing the same room. The other night the two of them were together knee to knee, forehead to forehead. It is a love story in which most of us will never experience.

Their life was not a novel nor a movie. It was the life of two young people finding each other in the midst of difficulty, and loving each day as they built a home and family.

My thoughts are with Tonya Lonsbury and her family at this time. 

I think pure love stories are few and far between these days. Enjoy the article and take the time to pursue your own love.

Until tomorrow.

Ocracoke Square Dance, 2014

One of the highlights of the Ocracoke Music and Storytelling Festival is the Ocracoke Square Dance taught by Philip Howard.

During the past few years Philip has brought this dance back to life. it is now enjoyed by all folks of all ages.

If you missed the dance this weekend, here is your chance to take a look. And if you were there, you might find yourself twirling away on that lovely evening by the sea.

Many performers volunteered their time to play the tunes for the dance as well.

Until tomorrow.

The Fiddlers Five

The Fiddlers Five

The ending of all festivals leave us with a sigh and a wish for just one more song or one more story. This past weekend, following the Ocracoke Music and Storytelling Festival, that is exactly what happened.

Philip Howard hosted the cast party for more than forty performers in the festival at his house. It was an evening of pure delight and merriment as musicians played their guitars, mandolins, fiddles and everything else that could fit on the back porch.

At one time there were five fiddle players dueling it out on the screened in porch. There was plenty of foot tapping and clapping during that event.

The music and stories went on until two in the morning. It was a great evening for all of us, and I was so happy to be included!

For more festival photos, please go to Philip's blog.

http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/

Until tomorrow.

Get ready for my letters, filled with sand -

Get ready for my letters, filled with sand - KPCNews: Kpcnews

So, on the last blog post, I wrote "until tomorrow." I am really sorry about that!

On Wednesday I packed up all that I needed and headed off to Ocracoke Island. I was here in time for the festival and so many great events that it will take a few posts to get caught up! In the meantime, here is my first sunset photo and this week's column on the travel. Just click on the above KPC News site for my story.

As always, thank you for reading and for being patient as I settle back into my summer on Ocracoke!

Until tomorrow. (I promise!)

My first Ocracoke sunset of the summer.

Sheets, peonies are blowing in the Indiana wind with "Wamshowers."

Sheets, peonies are blowing in the Indiana wind - KPCNews: Kpcnews

This past week my email box has been full of requests from "Warmshowers." All of a sudden it is time to bike across America and they have found beds, showers, and laundry at my house.

This week's column features two of the young men who came visiting last week from Korea. As always enjoy and thank you for reading. I took the photos as they were leaving my garden.

Until tomorrow.

Joe

Honeysuckle