A Note to Readers: I was debating whether to continue this letter as normal life resumed and people had less time to read it. It was intended as an uplift during the dark lockdown times. I thank those who encouraged me to continue. I took Anthony Hawkesworth's words to heart. "Just because things are improving doesn't mean that we don't need to be uplifted...." Sue Lapka and others suggested a quarterly letter, but I can never keep track of the months. So it is a Sometimes Communiqué. Thank you all so much for staying tuned to our little town. Here is a summer catch-up.
The Rafts Go By
And the kayaks and the boats and the inner tubes… From trudging through the heavy snow of winter to floating on water, fishing on water, paddling on water. There is a constant stream of traffic through the town headed for the Blackfoot River or the many lakes. Everywhere in the country, summer begins on the 4th of July. We are no different. But how does a town of 50 celebrate the 4th, you ask. Here is how: (A short fun video I made of the event filmed from my window). The theme was Back-to-the-Good Times.
The Stray Bullet is jumping with a fresh, expanded deck and Trixi’s Antler Saloon, the Blackfoot Angler, the Ovando Inn and Blackfoot Commercial Company (Blackfoot Store for short) are all lively.
Something else that comes alive in the summer is our Brand Bar Museum, which was the site of the original Trixi’s Saloon back in the day.
Something else that comes alive in the summer is our Brand Bar Museum, which was the site of the original Trixi’s Saloon back in the day.
I am very proud of our museum because it was the project of the community, built from the ground up and managed by all volunteers, like our Fire Department. It was the original project of Howie Fly and Hugo Eck who beautifully restored the old building as a museum.
At the entrance, you will be greeted by this short description of the town’s history.
At the entrance, you will be greeted by this short description of the town’s history.
Inside you will find a wall dedicated to the inimitable Trixi, who was both generous and colorful and still fondly remembered by those who knew her. She was originally a bare-back rider who could do rope trips while standing on her horse!
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Local artist Angela Bennett produced a beautiful map of the Montana Watershed, which you will find there.
One entire room reproduces a room from the early days of Ovando, including furnishings, table settings, and clothing. Members of the community have donated from their own collections. The treasures in early photographs and accounts of the first settlers are not to be missed. If the museum isn’t open when you come, check with the Blackfoot Store to see if there is someone available to open it for you.
For those seriously interested in the history of this exceptional little town, I have produced a History of Ovando, Part 1, which is available on YouTube. Part 2 is in production. If you haven't seen it, here is "Simon Hoyt's Legacy."
While we are looking back, I have unearthed some fun short clips of early clog dancing. I’m especially fond of this one, filmed in a home in Appalachia that is testimony to the way families enjoyed themselves before screens took us over. We know that similar events that took place in early Ovando.
If you were one of the thousands who took up the study of Welsh during pandemic boredom (as described in that last letter) or, like me, have Welsh roots or simply love clog dancing, this 1959 video is a reminder of the inception of clog dancing. In this small Welsh town, the clogs were made by hand by the shoemaker. It is a short film beautifully done in 1959.
Now fast-forward (we are returning to the computer age), here is the performance that debuted a modern development of an old dance in electrifying fashion with the first appearance of Riverdance. They were not the main attraction but inserted between the main events. That changed. You’ll see why. This one's for everyone. Don't miss it! (I only wish the old Welsh shoemaker and his customers could see it.)
In contrast to the lively foot work, have a look at this next dance in which the woman appears not to be on her feet at all but merely floating in a wedding dance in Kyrgystan. It is amazing to watch. Two other short dances follow. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=560508065123815
In the next pieces, the feet are still but the fingers move. I mean really move! I continue to find very young musicians who astonish me. I could never have imagined a 5-year-old who could play Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu. How ever did he learn it in the first place, not to mention small fingers playing it? And looking about so casually as he does it! Meet Jonah Ho.
Now here are 40 deft fingers giving Beethoven a new sound on Flamenco Guitar. You have never heard Für Elise sound like this. I know you will enjoy these four superb musicians.
I don't want to forget our very first musicians, the valiant little songsters who surround us. My Comadre sent me this short but delightful video from Mexico. “Feliz Dia con Canto” (Happy Day with Song), which highlights the variety and joy of bird songs. Click on the link.
I often hear a new song from birds, hidden away in the leaves of trees, which I would love to identify! Cornell Labs (ground zero for birdwatchers) has created an app for smartphones to do just that. Here is the link to get it.
Identify Bird Calls Easily with the BirdNET App – TechAcute
The skies seem to have been especially busy this month, including the Pleiades Meteor Shower that just ended. Unfortunately, smoky skies over many areas prevented viewing. But the eyes of telescopes large and small never close and as they improve, bring us ever more news of the universe. In 1990, the Hubble Telescope was the first to be transported into space (347 miles!) to provide us with a vastly more detailed picture of the universe in lovely photographs like this one of the Veiled Nebula.
I often hear a new song from birds, hidden away in the leaves of trees, which I would love to identify! Cornell Labs (ground zero for birdwatchers) has created an app for smartphones to do just that. Here is the link to get it.
Identify Bird Calls Easily with the BirdNET App – TechAcute
The skies seem to have been especially busy this month, including the Pleiades Meteor Shower that just ended. Unfortunately, smoky skies over many areas prevented viewing. But the eyes of telescopes large and small never close and as they improve, bring us ever more news of the universe. In 1990, the Hubble Telescope was the first to be transported into space (347 miles!) to provide us with a vastly more detailed picture of the universe in lovely photographs like this one of the Veiled Nebula.
I can’t wait for the James Webb telescope, which is on schedule to be launched this October and promises to open up new vistas, seeing farther back in time than ever before. It will be awesome! You realize the challenges of the project in this short NASA video.
This summer, two private spacecraft were launched to the edge of space to initiate what could be called space tourism. Richard Branson went aloft in Virgin Galactic's spacecraft and Jeff Besos in Blue Origin. But nothing eclipses the courage and skill of NASA's first astronauts, setting forth on the first journey to the Moon. The Moon landing was an event watched around the world but the unexpected consequence of that event, perhaps its greatest gift to humankind, was our first view of planet Earth: The lovely "blue marble" that is our home. The new experience of that view came to be known as the Overview Effect, described by several astronauts in this short video.
Unfortunately, back on Earth the pandemic is marching on and front line workers are being called upon once again to stretch their super-human energies and compassion. Even Covid-sniffing dogs are being deployed to help detect cases. Meet Buffy in Florida. She does more than detect. She cheers everyone with her fuzzy, friendly personality. Cheer is something badly needed in hospitals now.
Dogs are well known for their heroic deeds, but lesser known are the Hero Rats. For those of you who may have read my piece about the famed Magawa, who was awarded a medal for his work in defusing landmines, the news is that Magawa has retired. But the Hero Rat program continues, helping to free land for agriculture in Cambodia that has been off-limits for years due to left-over landmines from Vietnam and other wars.
As I have commented before, it is amazing to me how individuals confined to their living rooms, found ways to make contributions to the pandemic and honor especially those first responders who put themselves in harm's way to help their fellow citizens.
My favorite visuals from the virtual continent Pandemica are the collages of "people at home" gathering virtually to make music together. The technology behind this boggles the mind. Here is how the leader of the virtual Quarantime Choir describes the project.
"This was recorded in April/May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everybody from home with a smartphone and some in their home studio. It was a great experience to unite more than 50 people who would have probably never met in this constellation in 'real life'."
For many of us, these offerings did indeed provide "A Bridge Over Troubled Waters." Here is the Quarantine Choir performing Paul Simon's classic song. in "real life".
While we are aware of the dedicated contributions of the front-line workers, we know little about the equal dedication of scientists behind the scenes who worked around the clock to produce an effective Covid vaccine. Here is a wonderful story of the couple credited with the discovery of the mRNA vaccine now being delivered to millions of people. My thanks go to Alejandra Cisneros in Bali for this!
On the lighter side, here is an old favorite of mine featuring Carol Burnett and Tim Conway in a sketch of Mrs. Wiggins and her boss.
The quiz program Jeopardy has been in the news as it searches for a new host, following the passing of its long-time host Alex Trebek. This reminded me of the entertaining shows of my childhood that we never missed: Pantomime Quiz (later Stump the Stars), I've Got a Secret, Password and What's My Line.
I dug up some of the oldies-but-goodies and was amazed to see that all the great Hollywood actors and other celebrities seemed eager to appear on these programs, which made them doubly entertaining. Everyone from John Wayne to Audrey Hepburn and Bette Davis joined in the fun. Here is just a sampling of these from the archives.
On this What's My Line show, actor Peter Lawford and the most famous ventriloquist of the time Paul Winchell, with (dummy) Jerry Mahoney are guest panelists and Frank Lloyd Wright and Liberace, a popular pianist, appear as "mystery guests."
The next one is for my Comadre. You will see a very young, but everso good-looking Paul Newman, most famous for his later appearance with Robert Redford in the award-winning movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." The guest panelist is David Niven and I should note that regular panelist Bennett Cerf was a well-known writer and head of Random House at the time. If the video doesn't show at first, try clicking on it.
I will add one more to this collection--a Password show that features in this episode Lucille Ball and her entire family at the time: Husband Gary Morton and her two children by Desi Arnaz, Lucy and Desi Jr. (I am enjoying these so much that I plan to make it a regular feature of the Occasional Communique. Great shows ahead.)
The Arnaz children on Password give me a segue into two offerings for children (of all ages!) BBC has a series that is not available here called CBeebies Bedtime stories. Famous actors do the readings, which make them all the more delightful. This one is read by Bridgerton star Regé-Jean page: Rain Before Rainbows.
Some children's stories never grow old. I'm sure there are homes where the Tales of Beatrix Potter are still being read, with their memorable illustrations. Few people know, however, that they even inspired a ballet film for children called, aptly, "The Tales of Beatrix Potter." It is performed by the Royal Ballet and even included renowned choreographer Frederick Ashton as Mrs. Tiggy Winkle. Here is a short clip from the film. (The complete film is available to rent.) Enjoy!
Also in the film category, I was so pleased when "My Octopus Teacher" won an Oscar. I gave you a teaser of this film earlier and it is still available on Netflix. Here, Craig Foster and Pippa Ehrlich are interviewed about the film.
I am bringing Mary Chapin Carpenter back to take us out on a quiet note with this beautiful musical offering.
Until we meet again, wherever you are, stay well.
Sheri Ritchlin
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