Background Music in the Mountains

While our cousins were here we traveled to West Virginia to the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop. The kids looked awesome in their tie-dyed t-shirts. There was plenty of tie-dye at Clifftop, I noticed this year. I wish I would have documented it. I imagine my older sister who bought the unofficial cousin reunion shirts had no idea that they would fit right in. I am guessing ours were the only Lands End tie-dye, however.

Among other objectives, D has been looking forward to going to Clifftop to find a new fiddle. He had lots of choices and he took his time playing every single option.

 In the end he chose this one. 

Of course, while the fiddle tryouts were happening, the kids found the toy table where they stayed busy for an hour. I couldn't tell which was the main event, for the kids certainly seemed oblivious to the fiddle deliberations.

Later during the Master's Showcase, we leaned in to hear Walter talking in his aged, softened voice.

However in the background, our kids were doing completely age-appropriate things towards the back of the hall. (Sidenote: My niece calls her baby brother Wee-spo. I still giggle when I think it.) Main event: Walter (I'm forgetting his last name.) Side show: sibling wrestling.

Later, while the traditional old-time bands played on the main stage, the kids sprawled out on the quilt and circled our seating area as they played and picked berries. Main event: band contest. Side show: cousin wandering.

Our kids look forward to these events. I'm sure the freedom from restriction makes the event more appealing. This music was never intended for the perfectly-behaved or those with only the most self-control. We will take our kids back again and again.