(photo courtesy Jon Young)
I've had several folks email me about the bat post below. While I was mostly looking for the humor in an odd situation, I have added sensible precautions should you happen upon a bat.
My dear friend Jon Young in Nashville felt this bat was probably sick. (He and his wife April are just as animal crazy as we are, so it didn't surprise me that he'd put a "tail" on that bat! HA!) He was kind enough to get some sleuths on the bat and actually caught a great photo of the bat checking into the local Bat Hospital. I'm glad to know he's going to get proper medical care and will soon be on the mend! (hee hee!)

Jon had the following comment accompanying the picture:
"I'm thinking he was sick. They normally hang from under eves or under a deck, behind a shutter etc.....they don't do daylight. Here's a pic of your bat checking in to the hospital."

***See below in the UPDATE section of the previous post to get BATformation that might be handy knowledge someday!!!
And if the bat contacts me when he gets out of the hospital, I'll let you know how it went!
Till Next Time,
Annie
As I said, I have gotten a lot of emails today...Some let me know that having "those shots" was terrible, the expense of getting rid of bats if they get into the house...and what happens to YOU if they get into your house, others gave me suggestions of getting the bats to move along, while others shared their own "bat stories." And then there's this, which is probably closer to the truth, had Mr. Bat stayed around until we got used to him: (Enjoy! I loved this!!!)
"Well all i have to say is this..................
"I figure by now, the bat has a name, is getting three square meals a day of all the bugs he can eat. He probably has is own little "bat bed" complete with soft pillow. his nails have probably been buffed and shined, and his little bat teeth flossed. He is probably riding around on the back of some new friend, like a donkey, or deer, or heck even Geordie. He is probably sending out signals, to all his little bat friends, telling them, what a wonderful place the DUMB BELL (speaking of The Dumb Bell Ranch!) is!
I figured this out because after all he did end up with ANNE!"
I had to laugh...so THAT'S the reputation I have!! Great!!! I love it! I'll sign off for now and see you soon at the same BAT TIME, on the same BAT STATION....
Annie

|

As if I didn't have enough to keep up with around here, a guest showed up today that I hope doesn't plan to stick around.
I was coming up the stairs and noticed something lying in the corner of the landing. In the corner as it was, wasn't all that odd. Izzy is always bringing home his prize catches. Most of the time, however, he brings them all the way up the stairs and presents them to me at the doorway. He never leaves his treasures on the landing. And this creature was black. At first, I thought it was a shrew or a mole or a tiny field mouse. But again, it was black. Hmm. I leaned closer to investigate and it moved. I then saw the creepy, crawly, boney looking wing/arms. It was a bat.
I ran and got Wayne, telling him to come and look at the bat on the landing. He came, reluctantly, following behind me saying, "It's not a bat Anne. It's got to be a....." and he trailed off. (I marked the following statement on the calendar, as men are NEVER wrong.) He then said, "Well, it IS a bat!" WOW!
I asked Wayne to get him off, and he said no because they eat bugs. Frogs eat bugs too but you don't hear creepy vampire frog stories.
So, the bat won.
For now.
He/She's still laying in the same exact spot. Is that because that's what bats "do" in the daytime? Or is it sick? It's an oddly interesting creature. I've never seen one up close. As a kid, I remember watching them swarm around the street lights on our street on summer nights. The boys in the neighborhood threw small rocks up and tried to get them to dive at the rocks. (Mean kids, they were!)
I have always heard that bats carry rabies. Is that urban legend or is it true? I did a little bit of research and learned that (hmm) bats aren't usually found on the ground and that they can carry rabies. I also learned that if they're just laying, can't fly well or are in water, they may be sick. Great. I also know they are nocturnal creatures. So is he/she resting, having creepy bat dreams or is this vistor a "problem?" While this adds that much more to the "creep factor" or 'mystique' if you want to get all fancy about the language, I'll have to keep my eye on this thing. Hopefully, when it gets dark, he/she...IT...will stretch and yawn really big and go do what bats do. I did read that they are very helpful creatures in terms of bugs (ok Wayne, you won that one!) and in pollenating plants. Well! I'll be darned. That's a good thing, but...how about pollenating someplace else besides my landing?
Either way, he's welcome there for a day, maybe two, but I'd really prefer that he move on along. And no, I don't care if they are warm blooded. I don't care if they are the only mammal that can fly. I don't care if they nurse their young. They are creepy! Why don't the creepy creatures go to the houses of creepy people? I know a few I could recommend if he/she needs a creepy place to stay!
It's not like I feel like "nurturing" this bat. Perhaps he/she heard I'll take in anything.
I need to amend that. I'll take in MOST anything.
(Except bats!)
Till next time...or the bat gets me, which ever comes first!
Annie...the chicken
BAT UPDATE!
I checked last night after dark for a status on the visitor. It was gone. I was glad. I hurried to check this morning to see if the bat had returned. He had not. Guess he took the hint. However, in all seriousness, now I can say that I was concerned. Bats certainly have their places and are helpful in many ways. There are MANY "no-no's" when coming into close contact with a bat. Since it's summer and kids will be kids...even the adult kind, I thought I'd list a few things that are indeed NO-NO's when you are around a bat.
*NEVER TOUCH A BAT OF ANY KIND WITH BARE HANDS. If you do, you are considered "exposed." The bat must then be collected, tested for rabies and you will have to be tested as well. SO NOT WORTH IT! Don't even poke it to see if it's alive!
*Keep ALL PETS away from the bat. Same rules as above apply. Your pet should be vaccinated, however, both the bat and the pet have to be tested for rabies.
*Bat scratches and even BITES are hardly detectable by sight. Most of the time, a visual inspection is not enough to determine if you have been bitten or scratched. Seek medical attention right away...and once again, catch the bat to turn it in for testing.
*When you must catch a bat, use a net or a bucket or something to place over the bat. Slide cardboard or some sturdy material underneath. WEAR HEAVY GLOVES WHEN DOING THIS!! Transfer the bat into a glass container, sealing immediately, then place that container into a heavy duty Ziplock bag for added protection. Get the bat into the hands of health professionals FAST.
*Ideally, IF you think you have come into physical contact in any way with a bat, call your local health department. MAKE THEM TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. If they do not, go over their heads. If you are afraid to try to catch the bat yourself, insist that a wildlife officer come to retrieve the bat.
While I wanted to write a post with a bit of humor because of the various and sundry creatures that seem to show up here, I did want to update and let readers know that bats can be very dangerous. As I said in the post, bats are nocturnal, so they WILL SLEEP in the day time. Generally, they like to be hidden. The area of the landing is shady and this was a smaller bat, probably very young, so he probably thought he was doing what he was supposed to do. Additionally, there are bugs that flock around the security light on the stairs, so I'm sure he was having a bug buffet.
If you have small children or have friends who do, this might be an opportune time to educate (even adults) on bats. They are furry, and to a kid, kind of cute...even to the curious adult. But DO NOT TOUCH THEM!! No sense getting yourself into a world of discomfort as a result.
*Do your reading on bats. They do good things, but are better left alone. If you see a sick, odd acting, laying or dead bat, use the steps above to collect it OR call your local wildlife agency to come and handle it. In fact, that's what I advise. No sense taking unnecessary risks!!
There are many creatures all around us that DO have benefits, but CAN hurt you. I'm not a fan of snakes, but I know they too have their place here on this farm. "All creatures great and small, the good Lord made them all." I'll add to that..."even the creepy ones! Just be careful and sensible and informed! Be safe and remember the animals that share the planet with us. They don't need to be killed, they need to be left alone to do their jobs.
Till next time!
Annie

|

Photo credit: My dear and precious friend, Frieda Hudson.
You're always in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers Frieda. Heartstrings are never severed. I thank you for all the wonderful photos and treasure them now and always. You're my hero Frieda Hudson! Keep pushing forward! God didn't bring you this far with no purpose in mind...so, we wait, right? We're a couple of patient gals when we need to be! We will resume the laughter, the love and the good things we enjoy on our terms before we know it! You can bank on that! I'm saving up all the movies, waiting for you!

An incredibly inspiring friend of mine in Alabama sent this to me this evening. She's like my own personal "ray of sunshine!" It was an email forward, but I felt the content was worth sharing as a blog post. I forwarded it to many people and then decided to share it here as well.
I shared with the folks who got the email that one wonderful part of today's fast moving technology (that I love a bunch!) is that it keeps those distant from us quite close, it helps shrink the world so much and it's a fast, easy way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. So many of us would completely lose touch over time and space, if it were not for "the net!"
Here's hoping that you all look forward to a happy week ahead. I wish you peace, safety, good friends, lots of love and plenty of happiness for you and those you love!

Here's the email:
There are 3 things in life that ...once gone, never come back:
Time
Words
Opportunity

Three things in life that are most valuable:
Love
Self-confidence
Friends

Three things in life that are never certain:
Dreams
Success
Fortune

Three things that make a man or a woman:
Hard work
Sincerity
Commitment

Three things in life that can destroy a man or a woman:
Alcohol
Pride
Anger

Three things in life that, once lost, are hard to rebuild:
Respect
Trust
Friendship

P.-----pray
U.---- until
S.---- something
H.---- happens

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you
find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a
shot!
All you do is simply say the following small prayer. (The email said to say it for the person that sent you the email. Just say the prayer...for yourself, your family, friends, even those who persecute you.)

"Father God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that
You know they may be needing this day!
And may their life be full of
your peace, prosperity and power as he or she seeks to have a closer
relationship with you. Amen."

Here's hoping to start your week off on a great note! Thanks for stopping by!
Till next time,
Annie

|

photo credit Ann Ehringhaus

We're in Wilmington today for the 8th annual fundraiser for the USS North Carolina! It's HOT in Wilmywood today.
The show is to raise funds for the Battleship USS North Carolina. I always enjoy playing this show immensely! It's great fun, out on the fantail of the ship...always a great sunset and moonrise!! (And tonight, the moon should be close to full, if not completely full! BEAUTIFUL!)
John Golden, Mark Teachey, Catesby Jones, Dave Bohn, Kent Knorr and many other incredibly talented people will be performing tonight. I look VERY forward to the event.
It's a great night to see old friends from this area, meet new ones and again, do something beneficial for the battleship.
Yesterday was busy. John and I did a promo at WHQR to invite folks to the HOOTENANNY tonight. (We try to keep it like an old fashioned "hootenanny" that we affectionately call "THE HOOT!" And it is really a HOOT! Folks sing along, it's a very relaxed environment and I look so forward to this show every year. I hope it continues until............forever!)
We had dinner with Marah and Kevin last night. We all wanted Italian, so that's what we did. YUM! Then John and I rehearsed for a while as well as picked around on some other tunes he's working on with his banjo. What a GREAT TIME!! We love, absolutely LOVE being at John and Mary Ellen's! They are so warm, so welcoming and it's, well, like being at home. I was so glad to visit a little with their daughter Martha, whom I adore! She was knitting, Wayne was reading, John and I were playing, Mary Ellen was busy doing her thing and it was just great!
Nice to have friends where you can just "be!" That's a wonderful commodity these days!
So, this is a very short post, as opposed to the usual tomes I prepare! But, that's it! I'll let you know how the HOOT turns out. I'm sure it will be just as it always is...WONDERFUL! Keep LIVE and ORIGINAL MUSIC ALIVE! Also, keep all the old favorites alive and make sure GOOD MUSIC is in front of your family...especially your kids! They need to REMEMBER what has been great for a long time and keep it alive for the coming generations!!!
Till next time,
Annie

|

photo credit Ann Ehringhaus
***CAUTION!*** This is a novella! I'm relishing a great weekend and want you to feel you were right with me! ENJOY! And read it in chapters if you must!!!
I am currently sitting on a ferry, leaving Ocracoke Island after playing at the OCRAFOLK MUSIC AND STORYTELLING FESTIVAL on of course, lovely Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.
This is the NINTH year of this festival and it amazes me how the level of talent grows, how people hear of the festival and return year after year...I find so special that I, as one of the performers, take away so many more friends and lessons EACH year from this gathering of spirits.
There are dear friends and people that I love so very, very much and sometimes this once a year event is the only time I get to see them. For that, I could be sad, but the spirit of the festival is strong enough that the memories can carry Wayne, Geordie and me until the next year.
This year, I found even deeper connections with friends that I felt already deeply connected to. Those experiences are tremendous. I was able to sing and perform, as always from my heart and soul,totally relaxed and hopefully giving my audience plenty to think about and continue my resounding theme of LOVE. My prayer is that everyone who attends my show leaves with the feeling that we were all "piled up" in my living room and just having a great time I hope they leave with thoughts of "how we love." It's pretty easy. Love everyone...even if you don't want to or feel like it! Time IS of the essence. There are no politics in Heaven. Therefore, on the earth, we must live each and every moment to its fullest capacity. We must SAY I love you and then do the sometimes awkward task of DEMONSTRATING it.
Ann Ehringhaus, as you may have read about in previous posts, was right there, camera in hand... with that big, beautiful glowing smile. She truly is one person that really RADIATES "love" in every step she takes and every word she speaks. I was able to spend time with Martha and Gene, my friend Chris. We shared an apartment and it was a breeze and a blast. My "brothers in music," Catesby Jones and John Golden added such wonder and beauty to my set. We love each other deeply and that connects us in ways that words could never show. John's wife, Mary Ellen Golden was right there with her ever calming presence and once again sharing her abounding love for all those around us.
We take our friends for granted. I am sometimes guilty as charged. I dislike it immensely when I don't make the time for connections with my loved ones (both friends and family) as I should. Now, don't get me wrong. I love and adore my them all. I pray for each and every one of them regularly. That said, perhaps I should pick up the phone more. Perhaps I should take a paper and pen and use my handwriting to fill out a little card just to say "I'm thinking of you and love the fact that YOU are in my life." How easy is that? As those of you who read my blog, you know I do love electronics, so I let email suffice for the times I don't send cards, make calls, and use the old, wonderful ways of communicating.
This weekend, was magical in many ways. Gene, THANK YOU for loving me. You are a dear and true friend. I appreciate the time you took for just the two of us to share. I said last night, the words escape me to say what that "forever link" means to me and will continue to mean to me as I go back into reality and our lives move ahead.
The ferry is slowly moving along now. We are on the Pamlico Sound. My thoughts are already moving toward the farm, what the animals are doing, praying the heat didn't affect them and we go home, finding all the critters safe and sound. We are listening to Catesby Jones' "SAMPLER" CD. My favorite song (I have many favs that Catesby has written...but this one is "it." It is called "HOLY GROUND." Tears stream down my cheeks as I hear his voice and know he is speaking to us all from HIS heart.) He is singing to Wayne, Geordie and me about love, life, hurt, tears and ALL the things we all experience every day. Cates, sometimes, it's feels as though you are looking into my soul and writing about it. Does it scare me? NO! It assures me that "as humans," we all have the same fears, we all have the same wants, wishes, desires, questions and most of all, we are just not that different after all.
I want to thank Wayne, as always for being my "right hand man." He watches over me, makes sure that what I need is THERE as I need my equipment and so forth. He thinks ahead and knows my routine so well. What a wonderful feeling that is. To have someone who knows what you're thinking without words makes performing so much easier...and Wayne is good at that. He's always looking ahead, making sure plans, as I have announced them, get done in the way I both want and need them to be carried out.
Mary Ellen, thanks for sharing John with me. John, your voice and your presence are beautiful. I couldn't have been more thrilled than I was yesterday having you and Catesby join me in my show. It gave the audience a "treat" that they would not have had otherwise.
My friends Ruth Fordon and Ken DeBarth, who own the Lightkeeper (google them and see the wonderful things they have to offer to maintain a healthy, happy life!) had plenty of hugs and kisses. Just their presence lowers your blood pressure! PROMISE!
In keeping with "how Annie does things," the shoes came RIGHT OFF immediately. The next thing was to ask all the lady folks in the audience how much time they spent putting on make up that morning, KNOWING it was 1000 percent humidity, hotter than blazes and that our air-conditioned, perfected faces were simply going to slide right off as soon as we stepped outside! I had to laugh. So before the show got started and I asked about the makeup (oddly I didn't see any fellows raising their hands. I guess they opted out of the makeup thing!) So, I took a towel and simply smeared ALL my makeup off and got to work! Folks were there to hear me SING. Not to check to see if my makeup was impeccable, or if my blush was making me look smooth and youthful. What a release. So, the definition of insanity? (Doing the same thing again and again, expecting a different result!) What did I do this morning? You guessed it. I jumped up and there I went, putting that makeup on AGAIN! It wasn't quite as hot, so I didn't melt as quickly as I did yesterday.
I don't even know where to start with Gary and Kitty Mitchell...my long-time, much loved "family." Oh wow guys. You know I love and appreciate you so very much. Thank you for all you do for the festival and all you are in my heart and in Wayne's. If I type too much more, I'll cry and my makeup will smear! (tee hee!) And a big thanks to David Tweedie and his expertise, all the folks who set up the Greenroom, the folks who man the sales tent. No one has ANY idea what it takes to pull off a festival such as this in such a seamless way. The sound folks make us all sound better than we really are! HA! And they have a pretty thankless job, really. But, they're THE most important ones.
I got to spend time with Gerald Hampton (mandolin player extraordinaire), our old pal and dear friend Wes Lassiter was there to play incredible banjo, as was a new friend Alan Forrest, who flat out SMOKES his banjo too! WAY COOL! Robbie Link was there with his "AMAZING BASS!" (WE MISSED YOU KAREN!) We love them dearly. Marcy, Lou and baby Charlotte were also right there. I got to spend time with my sweet love puppy Noah Paley (I still think the HALEY-PALEY PROJECT could work! HA!), Rodney Kemp was right there sharing his stories and making us roll with laughter. And Lewis Allen was there (WEWIS, don't forget to get my address from Gare and just send me the check, will ya?) I got to meet lots of new folks to boot! That's just so GREAT! In fact, some folks just came by my vehicle to say they enjoyed my show. I love it when they feel FREE enough to come and tell me that they enjoy what I "do." It is a blessing and a PRIVILEGE to perform...and most of all, MY pleasure! We had a nice visit and I learned about the various folks who come to see us and their lives too! They show SO much gratitude. It all becomes very emotional for me. I am truly humbled and still stunned that people actually want to hear what I have to say, sing and write about. That propels me to keep right on going...and the music I perform has given me SO much more in terms of friendships that run deep and lasting and acquaintances that I see from year to year. It's a weekend of love and fellowship.
As I have been typing this post, my friend Libby Steadham came for a visit. She brought laughter, some chat and some SQUASH! YUM! Thanks Libby!!! She is another friend I would have never known had it not been for OCRAFOLK and Ruth and Ken. My rewards are far greater in terms of getting to know superior people that you would think is possible.
I pray with all my heart that "THAT" aspect of OCRAFOLK is never lost. No commercialism. No fancy, schmancy stuff...just good music, good times with friends and visitors and as Gary Mitchell wrote in a song he penned a few years back, "Love All Around." That is how I pray OCRAFOLK remains...with love all around. Simplicity will keep OCRAFOLK in a beautiful place. I just feel it and perhaps that's the key to nearly 10 years of love, laughter, music and togetherness.
I love you ALL my friends. I miss "us" when we are not closeby and connected, but you are always close in heart. Just know that. Life makes things so very busy for us...but just know that you each have taught me something, you each love me and always know, I love you too.
OCRAFOLK 2008 is drawing quickly to a close...but the memories, photographs, laughter and the fun will carry us in the weeks to come. My prayer is that the grassroots simplicity that began this festival in its humble beginnings will be the mainstay in the years to come.
NEXT YEAR IS THE 10th ANNIVERSARY!!! It's almost like being married. This gathering brings us together for a weekend...one weekend that offers more love and fun than I could ever share with you in several lifetimes.
In the off-times last night, we played a game called "Chicken Foot" with dominoes. I called it everything but the correct name. It was turkey foot, chicken neck and anything else utterly ridiculous I could think of, but Martha won a game, I won a game, Gene won a game and CHRIS SIMPSON WAS THE OFFICIAL TURKEY NECK CHAMPEEEEEN!!!! GO CHRIS!!! What a blast we had while listening to Catesby's tunes. (Where was Wayne you may wonder? Asleep. He was tuckered out and he just gave himself the gift of REST.)
As I have said many times before, life is VERY, VERY good. This writer is one blessed gal. In my wildest dreams as a child, I couldn't have imagined that I would be "doing" what my heart said I would be doing all along...writing songs, performing them for people...and gee...THEY LISTEN!!! It doesn't get any better than that!!!
A SPECIAL NOTE TO BRENDA CAMPBELL AND JOYCE ALLEN: Wayne, Geordie and I missed you terribly. You were with me in every song I sang and every step we took on Ocracoke this year. You were with us all. We love you so much. And Joyce, you and your family have been constantly in our prayers. Just know that.
Support live music, songwriters and most of all BE a friend and love them as hard as you can! This blog post is for mostly for me, as a small token of thanks to all my friends. It may not make sense in terms of the "inside jokes,the "you had to be there jokes," but please take away this one truth...FRIENDS and LOVE are like bread and water. We have to have them to survive. Sometimes, things get changed up, and change isn't easy...but hold tight, hold dear and spread the LOVE...then it all works out just as smooth as that chocolate pie I was singing about yesterday. As Wayne says,"Let go of the steering wheel and let GOD do the driving...it's so much easier that way!!!" It's pretty difficult to mess anything up when God is doing the driving. (And I don't backseat drive as much when He's driving!) Wayne especially likes that part!
God bless and keep each of you and I'll you see out there somewhere...for now, I'll close and let the wind hit my hair, breathe salty air deep into my lungs, enjoy the ferry ride and relish this precious weekend.
Till next time,
Annie
What the heck...I'll "proof" this later...mistakes are even part of life...so, if it ain't perfect, just know I ain't either! I hope your weekend was filled with all things wonderful and happy! And yep! I said "AIN'T!" What a great Southern word!!! It ranks up there with "yonder." Here's a good Southern quote to leave you with: "We just left from over yonder at Ocreecoke (misspelled on purpose because that is how the locals pronounce it and that makes it correct!) and we shore did have a bunch of fun makin' music. Good music is just something' else, ain't it?" -Annie

|