The Maggie Project: The Inspiration Behind the Book, The Brothers Foot...

The Maggie Project: The Inspiration Behind the Book, The Brothers Foot...: "Today, Steve Cormey shares the story behind his book The Brothers Foot . I am a songwriter, not necessarily an author. The two are one..."

The Brothers Foot and The Rabbit Proof Fence

The sequel to 'The Brothers Foot' is in the works. The 'Bros' are on a new adventure and singing along as they make their way down new paths and new foes. This next book features a song about carrots, rutabagas, celery and lots of tasty veggies!

May 'World of Ink Tour'

The Brothers Foot are on their way!
I had to write an essay (300 - 400) words for the "World of Ink Tour" promotion for the 'Foot Foot' book .http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com
I haven't written an essay since college, and we all know how long ago that was! I got home from the Lariat 'lasagna cook off' and decided that I should finally write something to send off to them, seeing how as the 'due date' is today!
After a grilled cheese sandwich, some tomato soup and a glass of wine... I wrote something down and sent it off to them. Damn it Jim... I'm a songwriter, not an author!! I hope it works and I got my homework done in time.

Santa's Little Helpers (OK... Not so little but definatley grey!)

Barky Lew and Bish at the 'Delicious Dishes' Christmas party. It was a great time and I think the girls raised over $5,000 for the Mountain Family Center. Thanks to everyone who helped out!!

Delicious Dishes 21st annual Christmas dinner

Delicious Dishes 21st annual Christmas dinner is tonight at the Daven Haven at 5:00. It's a great benefit for the Mountain Family Center and always brings out the true spirit of Christmas. I'm happy to be a part of it again this year! Leeper took over for Gene this year and peeled potatoes with the girls. I made a rum cake for the bake sale and you can see how I made it by going to this link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUuLlc72Ovw

November at 8369'

This picture looks like a painting but it's from just the other evening. Kathy James Rinker took this beautiful shot of Mt. Craig (Baldy) in alpenglow. November surely brings out the beauty of Grand Lake!

Veterans Day

From my friend, Mark Sosis

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, too many people in this country have forgotten that fact. Copy and paste this as your status if you are a Veteran, know a Veteran, Love a Veteran, or Support the Troops!

No Doubt About It... I Gotta Get A New Hat

I've been out in woods looking for the answers to life, the universe and everything. I couldn't find Arther Dent or Sladdy Bartfast but I did find this guy. He was looking for a flying squirrel who had been kidnapped by two Russian spies(yeah, right). Oh well, I'm back for awhile and will stay in touch.

I think there's a rain cloud hanging over my head when it comes to playing music outside! This morning was beautiful but about a half an hour before I was due to set up at the Waconda, it hailed about three inches and the temperature dropped 30 degrees! Oh well... it could have been worse. (At least I wasn't about to play golf with Mac and Dixie Stew.) Now, as I'm writing this blog, it is thundering and lightning is striking (was that Lou Christie I heard?), the wind is picking up and it's starting to rain. At least I'll be playing inside at the Lariat tonight. I hope the roof doesn't leak!!!

Too Close To Home

There was a fire across from Johnsons Landing aka JRs, Rays Chop House, Jack Depews, Moseles. Luckily the wind wasn't blowing too hard, for a change, but it was still a little scary having a big fire that close to 'The Hood'! This is the hot, dry time of year up here and with all the dead trees, it gets pretty worrisome. At least I now have the new fire hydrant that attacked my car door last Winter....

Here's a crazy idea for a bumper sticker that wandered into my twisted little mind the other day. I remember years ago Terry Bramwell had a bumper sticker on his old Plymouth Duster that had a bull legged cowboy relieving himself and the words... "DIVERT THIS DENVER" on it. I think it was about the Frying Pan project to divert water to the the eastern slope like the Big Thompson Project and others. I guess when you're at the top of the food chain (water wise) everyone wants the pristine waters that come from the HEADWATERS of the Colorado River just up the road aways. And I suppose that when we and the moose and deer etc. let our waters flow... they all go downstream! So "FLUSH TWICE - DENVER NEEDS THE WATER!" Here's the website for the "SAVE THE FRASER AND COLORADO RIVER" ...http://www.cotrout.org/

Berts Guitar

I was doing my usual Monday madness today and thought I would stop by the Waconda on my way back home from Grand Lake. To make a long story longer... I grabbed the guitar that hangs by the fireplace there, took it down and cleaned her up and thought that I would tune the old girl (no comments from the peanut gallery, please). Well, of course it was still in tune anyway!!! The guitar was Bert McLaren's old Fender acoustic that he could no longer play due to arthritis in his fingers so he gave it to Doris and Egon at 'The Wac' for anyone to play. Years ago, "Cowboy Cook "and I were sitting there and took down the guitar which we had both used before to write some songs of our own and decided we should write a song about Bert's guitar. So here it is....


BERT’S GUITAR

BERT’S GUITAR JUST SITS AND WAITS
DOWN THERE BY THE FIRELIGHT
NEXT TO HIS OLD BEAT UP HAT
HE USED TO WEAR ON SUNDAY NIGHTS

PRETTY SOON SOME LONESOME PICKER
WILL PULL HER DOWN AND STRUM A SONG
AND WARM THEIR ACHIN’ FINGERS
WHILE EVERYBODY SINGS ALONG

IT BROKE SOME HEARTS, BUT HEALED SOME WOUNDS
AND GOT US THROUGH COLD WINTERS
PICKIN’ SONGS TO WARM OUR ACHIN’ HEARTS
WITH THE MAGIC IN HER STRINGS

HERE WE SIT WITH BERT’S GUITAR
COUNTIN’ UP THE MEMORIES
'TIL LAST CALL COMES TO CHASE US OUT
THEN WE’LL GENTLY PUT HER BACK

THE OLD GRANDFATHER CLOCK STRIKES THREE
EVERYBODY’S GONE HOME
LEAVING JUST THE DYING EMBERS
AND THE MEMORIES OF THE DAY

THAT’S WHEN I IMAGINE
BERT STILL PLAYS HER ALL ALONE
SONGS LIKE “SUPER SKIER”
AND OF COURSE, “STRAWBERRY RHONE”

(CHORUS)

BERT’S GUITAR JUST SITS AND WAITS
DOWN THERE BY THE FIRE
WAITIN’ ON SOME LONESOME PICKER
BOUND TO BE INSPIRED

Fathers Day

This an interesting story and probably very long but here we go... My dad's been gone for 25 years or so and last winter, his little sister, my Aunt Shirley passed. When her husband, my Uncle Bill, was cleaning up things to maybe sell the house he found an old shoe box with letters that my father had written to his parents when he was in the service back in WWII. Uncle Bill sent them to my mother and my sister made copies and sent them to me and my brother. It was very interesting and emotional reading these letters from my dad that he wrote when he was 22 years old. Well, of course, me being a so called song writer had to write a song about it. Ray helped me put a CD cover together and I have finished the song and will record it for real....soon (I promise). Here are the lyrics and if I knew how to put music this blog thing, I would. Anyway, here is the song for anyone who cares to read it and Happy Fathers Day!

Twisted Tee Pee

The wind is stronger these days due to so many dead trees from the beetle kill and it has twisted the canvas on the tee pee around so the door is about 3ft to the right of the door opening on the poles. Anyway, I got it twisted back around today and then the wind came up and moved it back just a little.... dang! I wonder if the Indians would mind if I got my staple gun out and secured to the lodge poles? Auntie Em! Auntie Em!!

Grand Lake Jam

Wild, Wild, Life

Lots of wildlife on the trails these days. Shelly and her kids ran into three moose up by Cascade Falls the other day and had to sit there for a half hour or so until they could pass. The snow yesterday didn't last long but it was a reminder of how short summer can be here at 8369'! The Barky Lew Reunion in Grand Lake is set for July 25th. I'll have more info later but it's not too early to make reservations. I will post some motels and all that good stuff soon.

Back on Board

OK, I get the message! You're correct... I got on that stupid Facebook thing and forgot myself for awhile. As you can see, it snowed here this morning at 8369' but it didn't stop me from going for my morning swim! Rumour has it, that MJ is in town so no wonder it snowed on June 13th. I will try and direct my attention to my blog and leave the Facebook thing alone. It sucks anyway!!!

Get Me 'Somewhere With A Beach'...PLEASE!!

Winter stays long this high. It may be pretty but it's getting old!

I'm sure Dal meant to give me the 'peace sign', but didn't want to drop his cigarette or his scoop shovel. He is still my ch amen and Grand Lakes greatest 'Hippie'! Live well and prosper, my friend....

I hope everyone had as great an Easter as I did! I even got a chocolate bunny but I can't decide if I should eat the ears first or the cotton tail. Maybe if I eat the eyes, no one will see what I do next....