The family that once owned our barn more than a 100 years ago held square dances with live folk music for their neighbors to enjoy. When I first saw the space I could imagine fiddlers stompin’ and farmers and their ladies doe-si-doe-ing on a Saturday night.
Mike Lineau and guitarist-songwriter Buddy Mondlock
We’ve gussied up the old barn for two weddings, but now it’s reverted to storage space for hay bales. Perhaps another season it can be used as a music venue. But this weekend we stayed indoors at the house for some live music—an event Russ and Deb assembled for friends and lovers of folk tunes.
Guitarist and songwriter Buddy Mondlock along with Mike Lineau performed. They had other events in the area and were willing to spend an evening entertaining a couple dozen guests by the fireside. Adding to the merriment, Deb, and local folk singers Richie and Lucy Meyers, joined them for a tune or two.
A cozy, heart-warming evening. YouTube clip
Eating Local and Organic
We fortified ourselves with bowls of venison chili, cornbread, salad (mixed greens, spiced nuts, cranberries, goat cheese and fresh pears) with basil vinaigrette. At intermission, we picked from three varieties of homemade brownies. One had raspberry wine replacing the liquid—an excellent suggestion from nearby St. James winery.
Wondering
I wonder what those farmers served during their barn dances at the end of the 19th century? Likely social gatherings were held during warm weather before planting time or after harvest. The menu probably included wild game, something canned or stored from the previous year or newly harvested. Most certainly something from a jug.
All would’ve been fresh, local, organic, home raised and prepared. It’s great to see that so many of the new restaurants today are beginning to follow the old ways.
A harbinger of spring. I was happy to see a few brave daffodils in bloom at the farm. Now I’m back in my St. Louis condo watching the snowfall.
