Yesterday was the 19th annual Delmarva Folk Festival in Hartly, Delaware. Although the weather a few days before was unusually rainy along the eastern U. S. seaboard a stiff breeze on Friday pretty much dried the venue, known as a mud hole of a place from previous rainy years, was quite dried out and with the exception of the far edge of the main parking field was in fine shape for the main day of the event.
Because of the weather, I think there were far fewer people attending than would have after a week of clear skies and sunny days. Even so, I got to meet up with friends and made new acquaintances. Most notable were Bob and Bethany who, upon seeing the pole lathe in action, experienced something akin to love at first sight. It was kind of nice, after 2 1/2 years of demonstrations with the lathe, to find someone who was not only interested and appreciative but also determined to be directly involved in becoming a pole turner. Dave Lawson, a candidate for a Senate seat in the Delaware legislature also was there as he has been the last 3 shows I have done locally. He and his family spent the afternoon perusing the vendors and listening to the music. At the end of my time there he and his grandson helped me out by cleaning up the wood chips from the shave horse and dumping them in the bonfire pit just inside the stage area gate.
As always, everyone was quite fascinated with the lathe and the other “greenware” on display and for sale. Not much selling for me but plenty of oooing and ahhing. Tish did quite well with her bead jewelery I have now however gone national with product going as far as California and as we were packing up one of the artists/musicians-Andy Reiner with Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers www.bmuz.net - came to our booth to see about having a custom wort stirrer made. Wort is one of the steps in the process of home brewing beer. We came to agreement on price and design and soon I will fulfill a special order to sent to Massachusetts.
I actually got a couple of people to have a go with the lathe and they did quite well beyond just moving the treadle but actually cutting wood. All good fun. I am really looking forward to the festival being an annual event for us.
