Sorry, I meant to send this when I sent the earlier copy to my mailing list. For some reason this address doesn't work on my mailing list and nothing goes, so it has to be separate. I would have done this earlier today, but got called away for Jury Duty. My number was up when I called in at 11:15 this morning. They took 45 folks from our group of about 200. The rest of us were released at 3:00. I have done my civic duty! Donnie HOEDOWN '09 - HOEDOWN '09 - HOEDOWN '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOOD - MUSIC - FELLOWSHIP - FOOD - MUSIC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey Everybody.............I thought I'd put out the first newsletter for the upcoming gathering of HOEDOWN '09, or as I like to call it, Reunion of Families And Friends! I hope everybody who attended last May had a wonderful time and will want to do it again. Special thanks to everybody who helped make this special and fun event possible. You know who you are! It took some work to get the place ready, but we did it......even adding the outdoor "flush toilet"! (No more renting a port-a-pot, thanks Clarke, Gale Rogers, Don Fann and whoever else helped). Ladies, remember, there is a nicer bathroom inside the house. Thanks to all who contributed to the fish fund, or contributed your time and labor (thanks Bob & Dot Green for feeding so many folks before and after and helping organize), tables (thanks O.D. & Francine) and potluck. Thanks to sister Retha Johnson for picking up Al from the Memphis airport. Thanks Steve for helping Bob and me snake the downed trees out of the yard. Thanks to everybody who helped make Hoedown '08 such a fun and successful event. So far, nobody has brought their campers to stay the weekend. This is a two day event. We did have 30 or so who came back last time for the gospel singing, more country music and more food spread under the trees on Sunday. For the ones who have stayed in motels as far away as Winona, check out the Bed And Breakfast at French Camp. http://www.frenchcamp.org/NatchezTrace_site/bedbreakfast.html I don't know what rooms in Winona go for, but the B&B in French Camp is closer and is $75 a night for two. French Camp in midway between Jackson and Tupelo (home of Elvis) on the beautiful Natchez Trace. French Camp Academy (where I graduated class of '68) runs the B & B, Council House Cafe, housed in a 100+ year old log cabin (watch your head when entering, low doorway), museum & gift shop. Greenwood LeFleur's carriage is on display there. Also a blacksmith shop and sorghum mill. Lots to see around there about how life was many years ago. Depending on which way you're coming from, a leisurely drive up or down the Natchez Trace is nice too. Lots of historic spots to check out. I haven't had much response from my newsletters in the past. Just by clicking reply and include how many you think will attend would be a great help. It seems impossible to get even a ball park figure of how many will attend. Since we had 150 in '07, I was guessing we might have 200 last time, so I had ribs and catfish to feed that many. Well, I counted only 105 who came and we had waaay too much fish and ribs (thanks Gary, Randy, Dennis for cooking the fish and thanks Jim for cooking the ribs and contributing half). Better too much than not enough, right? Some time ago I asked if June would be a better time for the majority of attendees. By then, most kids should be out of school and most local churches are done with their homecomings. I didn't get much response. This time, brother Bill Taylor from Alaska has suggested June to allow for his oldest, Terry, to be home from Iraq and able to attend. I have talked to two of the musicians, Hayden Green (Nome, Alaska) and Al Beasley (Phoenix, Az.) since their being there decides the date, but so far, still undecided. Since our musicians are quite spread out, we need a date that works for all. Hopefully, Mickey Suit (drummer from Ark.)and Katie, Jim Boston and Adrian Travis, guitarists (Jackson) will be there again. I don't know about "Toad" and his guys yet. Toad and Peggy have sold their home in Kilmichael and are enjoying life on the road in their camper. (Traveling and a pickin' and a grinnin' around the country) If anybody knows if they have a new e-mail address, please let me know. Hopefully we'll have a date decided on soon. Remember, if you play an instrument, know somebody who does or just want to sing, please join in. If you have a church or community event, birthday, anniversary, family addition or whatever to share, just let me, Hayden or Al know. Feel free to get up and announce it yourself or one of us will. Please let me know if you have suggestions for Hoedown '09. You can e-mail or call just to say howdy! Let's pull together and have another great gathering of friends and family with good music, fish, ribs and potluck. Thanks......and hope to see you all there. Donnie Grice 1408 Lauren Drive Petaluma, Ca. 94954 707-763-1343 donald_grice@comcast.net