Greetings to all the wonderful folks around the world! With summer time well on us here in the USA there will be folk festivals and conferences all over the nation. I would love to hear from you about some of the festivals in your local area, anywhere. Just drop me a line and I will be happy to pass on the information in my newsletters or forum. Come on by the forum and chat with us about your celebrations with folklore.


Summertime is very special for my family. We get together often, potluck style or barbecues, and stir up all those old fashioned folk recipes that have come down through generations of family members. My father was part Irish and we all still love his meat and potatoes dishes. One of the best ones was Pot Roast. Mom would put peas and carrots in the roasting pan with the biggest pot roast she could get (there were nine of us at home) and boil the potatoes separate. When the roast was done, she took out the vegetables and set aside the meat and whipped up rich, dark brown gravy. While the gravy was heating up, she mashed the potatoes really good and creamy, with cream skimmed from the top of the cow or goat's milk, and real butter. The roast was set on a huge platter and sliced, the peas and carrots were put in the gravy and the mashed potatoes piled high in a big bowl. This was one of our favorite dinners when we were growing up and still is.

Of course, in the hot weather, we choose lighter foods that are quicker to make and don't heat up the kitchen too much. One of my quick summertime meals for the folks is to buy a round of jalapeno and cheddar bread, slice it crosswise into four layers, stuff it with cheeses and deli meats, wrap it tightly in foil and just set it at the back of the barbecue or on the bread warmer shelf and let it heat up while the ribs are cooking. Very good eatin'! And don't forget to toss some Polish sausage or Kielbasa on the grill to crisp up for an appetizer to keep all them folks from starving before supper's on.
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For some folklore fun around the country:

Saturday, August 23, 2008 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM)
'Appalachian Folk Life Festival' in the heart of Appalachia, Wise County, Virginia.

For more information contact:
Voicemail: 276-523-1322
Reservations: 800-933-Park
Email: swvamuseum@dcr.virginia.gov
Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/sou.shtml
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Door County's American Folklore Theatre Summer Season in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
June 18 thru August 30, 2008
www.folkloretheatre.com/specialEvents.html
gen@folkloretheatre.com or (920) 854-6117.
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August 25 - September 1, 2008
The Burning Man Festival
In the Black Rock Desert, Black Rock City, Nevada
Burning Man
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And in the UK:

38th International Ballad Conference
(SIEF, Kommission für Volksdichtung)
School of Welsh, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Monday, 28 July - Saturday, 2 August 2008
For further information, contact the Conference Organiser: Dr E. Wyn James, School of Welsh, Cardiff University, Humanities Building, Colum Drive, CARDIFF, CF10 3EU, Wales, UK. Tel. +44 (0) 29-2087-4843; Fax: +44 (0)29-2087-4604; Email: Ballads@cardiff.ac.uk; Website
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Till next time, Folks, may your home be filled with laughter and may it reach from floor to rafter.


Here's the latest article from the Folklore site at BellaOnline.com.

Folklore And Colloquialism
The importance of the use of words and colloquialism in folklore writing.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12227.asp

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Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Phyllis Doyle Burns, Folklore Editor
http://folklore.bellaonline.com

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