?The only one I ever went to and I can't even remember where it was held! Of course it's been about 50 years ago I suppose so don't rekon nuthin to worry about. Pap was a crack fiddle player and had only played at a couple barn dances himself. He opposed ALL forms of alchol and thats why he just never played at any. Beer and even shine was present at most barn dances up this way.

It started by the square dance'n couples gett'n loosened up with a slow type square dance and then to the more elaborate styles. The main instrument was the fiddle. GUitar/s, mandolin, doghouse bass and banjer were always present. I remember hearin about the ones playin lead, to continue on - on one song for an HOUR! Now, I'm not too smart and certainly not in that good a shape but don't think I could've danced an hour without a rest--even in my prime!

Our Uncle Perry [the rich oil man] had a fancy barn years ago. Knotty pine sided with a huge hayloft that was also finished well enough to live in. He'd buy bales of tobacco stems to use for bedding for his beef cattle. Guess where I first learned to chew and smoke bakker stems!!!! Times have changed a bunch since then. Perry is dead, the barn is just a memeory, I never did like to chew and have not smoked in probably 15 years or so. I ain't smart enough to dance, don't drink ANY beer/shine/whiskey---just cokes and T--but I sure nuff know how to eat. Got my favorite chik'n stuff cook'n right now. Green beans, peas, carrots, celery, taters, onions, brussel sprouts, black eyed peas, kidney beans and half dozen chik'n breast fillets. Lil DUmplin will be home about 5pm and supper'll be ready for'r!

Check out my website and [www.countryboyenterprises.com] eyeball that radio and coffin. This old man needs to sell some. Money needed to help out some precious folks. I'll make a post on the Christian Homestead forum about't. Matt.24:44

-- ole hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 23, 2001

Answers

You know Hoot, I have enjoyed your posts for quite some time now. I pride myself on bein' able to pick out your posts just by how you name 'em!! Keep it up. They're great!

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), February 23, 2001.

Thanks, Hoot! I could almost picture that barn.... Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), February 23, 2001.

Kind of a followup to this post. Unk Perry raised Angus cattle and had stalls in the bottom of that barn for'm. Those cattle were pampered more than most humans! I remember one summer ole Jeep and I was swimmin in the big, deep pond just north of the barn. A barbed wire fence separated two pastures on the west side of the pond. We were out gommin around gett'n ready to swim. Here came those cows! Angus will chase ya, ya'll know! Well anyhow, ole jeep made the fence quicker than I did and slid right under with no problem at all. Ole slow me didn't have it so easy! Oh, I made the fence alright but was rather hasty gett'n under it. After all, the bull was right on my heels! I slid under just in front of his breath but in doin so just happened to ketch my ole bony arm on a barb. Tore my shirt sleeve along with some meat. Still carry that scar to this day! My nabor raises angus cattle too. I STAY ON MY SIDE OF THE FENCE!!! I'm just wait'n for one to "attack" me on my property. The deep freezer is almost empty! Ole hoot, the cow eater. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 23, 2001.

Hoot, The old time barn dances sound pretty neat. When we visited the caverns near Shartlesville, PA, a few years ago, the tour guide explained some interesting facts about them. He said that on a hot July night, the folks nearby used to dance in the sawdust down in one of the big rooms of the cavern. (Think they referred to it AS the Ballroom, actually...) Anyway, it was 15 or 20 degrees cooler down there, and everybody could dance a lot better at 65 than at 85 degrees. A few kerosene lanterns, add musicians, and PRESTO! Probably a fun place to play a hammered dulcimer, too. The acoustics might be VERY interesting. Maybe I'll get to try it sometime. Thanks for the memory! Gotta get OUR taters and onions cooking..DW's making turkey. Yum, SUPPERTIME!!!

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), February 23, 2001.