Thought I’d catch you up on what I have going on these days…
This past Friday, January 9, the Caney Creek Gang played the monthly Breckinridge Bluegrass Music Association Jam and Show at Rough River Lodge in Grayson County. Needless to say, we had a blast!
(pic from Sheila Nance)
The Caney Creek Gang is gearing up for our next gig. That’ll be January 31, 12-1pm at Marty Shephard’s Ky State Rep Campaign Kickoff.
My new, 2026 flyer for the Rosine Bluegrass Gospel Show is out (thanks to my daughter Kenlee). The Caney Creek Gang will play March 28 along with my cousin Conner Raymond’s band Kentucky 31. I would be mighty grateful if you would share this flyer!
(flyer created by Kenlee Autry on Canva)
I’ll be heading down to Nashville January 22-23 for SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Blue Grass Music of America). I’ll be helping Dennis Cook, BMF Chairman, with the BMF (Bill Monroe Foundation) booth/table, and I’ll be setting up my sound system for the BMF Showcase Thursday night with Off-Time Bluegrass Band, Mountain Highway, Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters, and Rick Farris Band 10pm-2am. Yes! 2am! SPBGMA goes virtually around-the-clock for four days.
I’ll come back the 23rd because the Rosine Bluegrass Gospel Show for January is the 24th. Can’t do two things at once, right ?!
James Monroe commissioned a new sign from me for the entrance to Uncle Pen’s Cabin. I decided to use some 1.5X14 boards I had from some old, discarded church pews. I planed them down to an inch-and-an-eighth. They’re glued and clamped together right now. Soon I’ll start on the design Mr. Monroe chose from some options I gave him.
Those of you who know me know woodworking is one of my hobbies. Here soon, probably as soon as I finish the Uncle Pen sign (late January), I’ll start on a whole bunch of the little, 4-inch, cedar mandolins I make for Run the Ridge Trail Run awards. Our goal is 75 runners this year. I have 20 extras left over from last year so I’ll make 55 for the October race. I also have to get started on the 10-inch mandolins for the top 18 finishers.
(Ohio County native Jacob Watson with his 1st Place Male 25K award)
As you are reading this blog, I’m trying to set the date for the Third Annual 2026 Rosine Autumn Jam. It’s a very difficult thing doing this every year. I have to find a date that works for all three bands. I also have to look at other event dates. I was going to make the first Saturday in October our date every year, but Beaver Dam has started a new festival this year and chose to have it on the first weekend of October every year. I don’t really want to have a conflict with that event; however, I know from experience that date will still have three or four events in Ohio County regardless if Rosine Autumn Jam is or not. So I’m looking at September 19, even though that date is late summer, not autumn. Stay tuned as I plan to have the date set by the end of this month. What would you do?
I can tell you that whenever the date is we will have the washer tournament again this year. I said from the beginning that I wanted to add at least one activity every year. This year? A square dance! A big shoutout to Gina Jugo, band leader for The Country beavers Band, for suggesting that idea!
I remember in the late 70’s and early 80’s we still had square dances at the Rosine Park. My Mamaw Eva never missed one. I wish now that I had let her teach me, but back then I was too shy to participate. Either that or I thought it was too old-fashioned. I can’t remember how I felt about it all those years ago. Today, though, I see square-dancing as a cultural activity that needs to be continued and preserved.
(from appalachianhistory.net)
I still haven’t harvested a deer this season. I have until January 19th to harvest one with my crossbow. The last deer I saw I let walk. He was a small buck. Will I regret it?! Probably not, but Dad needs some ground deer for making jerky. Alpha-gal keeps me from eating venison, but all my kids love it! I know they’ll miss it. My brother Kevin has taken three does, so Dad’s ground deer supply may have to come from him this year. There’s a chance of snow next weekend. That would be kinda cool to harvest a deer in the cold, winter snow.
(I let this youngun’ walk November 29, 2025)
Well, that’s all I have for now. I’ll also have this blog posted over at my Notes of Blue FB page. Don’t forget to checkout my Notes of Blue YouTube channel. I have over 30 videos on there now.
I love ya! Take care and God bless!
