Category: Z3 Adventures

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The Carolina Chocolate Drops are Reuniting!

Holy crap, this would be awesome!

Mary and I discovered the Drops in 2011, or thereabouts, and got tickets to see them at The Queen in early 2012. Hoots & Hellmouth was added to the lineup and it was an unforgettable night. Between sets, mama Mary almost got me into a fight when we observed a young child without ear protection who clearly didn’t want to be there. We had to sacrifice a sweet spot in the pit to diffuse the situation, but still shook our backsides off to CCD (the little bit ‘o ass that Hoots left us to shake).

We saw the Carolina Chocolate Drops as a family in June of that year at the Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival. Westen was taken with their energy and we saw Rhiannon being a sweet mom at one of the kids activity tents.

Mary and I saw them at the Grand on one of our rare dates in 2013. The audience was the worst of the public radio crowd and wouldn’t get off their butts. Mary and I had amazing seats, but scooted into the wings to dance and not block anyone’s view. Unbeknownst to us, WHYY was filming the show and we saw ourselves months later on TV.

After Mary passed away, it was a special honor to take the boys to see Rhiannon Giddens in 2018 at Delfest. It was the first time they got to stay up for a proper headliner and Giddens served up a captivating performance. It wouldn’t be the last time I cried that weekend.

In 2022, Kristen and I took our kids to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Local heroes, The Honey Badgers, were our big draw that year, but we also got to see Dom Flemons…twice. Few artists have the depth of talent and knowledge and personability that he does. He is an American treasure.

CCD hits deep in this family.

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12 Years

“Do you know these kids?”

That question usually comes along with elevated noise levels and some brewing trouble.

This time it was to praise a group of young teens on their first public performance as a band.

This is a new phase of parenting.

Westen has always loved music. This picture was taken 12 years to the day of his first public performance.

Now he’s looking like a full blown rock star on the bass guitar

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Where I Find God

The first time I remember connecting with God was in the woods.

As a child, we had a trickle of a stream that ran along the back of our property and the spot was magical.

I could feel the whole Universe in those woods, like God was there in every leaf and breeze. Everything was in that one place.

I’ve had these moments throughout my life, but for a long time they were scattered over years.

Since finding Christ in my heart, quitting alcohol, and devoting myself to healing, I’ve found God present every day.

Even so, it’s not until I submerge myself in a quiet wood or float alone along a peaceful river, that I return to a feeling of oneness with Spirit.

Although my sons and their companions are a riotous bunch, a long tubing trip allowed me to break away and once again connect with God’s Creation. I’m not skilled at meditation, but it’s easier when magic is all around you.

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Full-On Unschool

Today was packed. The boys started with an improv theater class, then we came home for lunch and a wind down before biking to the library. There, I took care of some exciting personal business (more on that in the very near future) and they engaged in self-directed learning on how to create Roblox games using coding script. Once back home, they played with neighborhood friends for a couple hours before dinner. During dinner we watched a lesson from Tom Woods’ Western Civilization course and followed it up with an episode of Ancient Apocalypse.

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Pumpkin Carve

I’ll have to follow up with more pictures, but we always have a good time carving pumpkins with our favorite people.

It wasn’t a contest, but I’m declaring Olive the winner: