"It's a Pleasure to Know You" by Karl Williams sung by Caroline Paton, with thanks to all who've donated to her GoFundMe.com campaign!

https://youtu.be/wdm9ySkeFto or https://youtu.be/mPsUKP8M8yw (a bit clearer and more focus on music too) will bring you to a cozy inn in CT south of Kent near the Housatonic River to a music session. Sit back and enjoy a lovely song by Caroline Paton accompanied by a host of folks in mid-April 2018, some singing along on the chorus. Caroline and Sandy founded Folk-Legacy Records, Inc over 55 years ago along with Lee Haggerty. Caroline has continued to run the company since Sandy's passing in July 2009 which was a number of years after Lee's earthly exit.

For many folk musicians and members of their circle, friends gather and sing songs as part of their memorial, often one at a time leading a song.

When I realized that while attending Lee Haggerty's service in the back room of the Sharon Congregational which has about a hundred people sitting in the round, I offered a little song I had made up for my young children. Inspired by the first 'coos' of our youngest child aroung the turn of the millenium, it went like this. 

Sing me a song, my little one, my pretty one. Sing me a song today.

I'll sing along, my little one, my pretty one. I'll sing along this way.

La, la, la, Lu, Lu, Lu, You love me and I love you.

La, La, La  Lee, lee, lee, I love you, and you love me. 

One of the songs I led at Sandy's service is on a Folk-Legacy TBM (Trickett, Bok and Muir) album. The round goes like this with our use of children instead of people..

Oh what a goodly thing, if the children of the earth, could dwell together in peace. 

I should put together some of my early favorites such as the round, Vine and Fig Tree, One Bottle of Pop, Don't Throw Your Trash in My Back Yard and Jennifer Gentle. Many songs are connected to the people who wrote them or sung them, occasions and more.

If folk music is new to you, explore more online or head to a Folk Festival and get swept off your feet with some contra dancing. Locally there may be some regular dances and song sessions within an hour or so of wherever you live. In the MA/NY CT tri-corner area (some call it the 14th Colony for Artists and more, so google that for more inspiration and history( there are regular dances at Dewey Hall in Sheffield CT and at the Town Hall in Cornwall CT. A first contra dance in Falls Village CT will be held at the Center on Main April 27th, 2018.

Some private schools, high schools and colleges welcome students by having a 'mixer' of a contra dance. That can be a lot of fun, especially with live music and a few folks who have a clue what they are doing.

But teaching a beginner session is cool too. Happy singing and sharing some good times in old fashioned ways, penning a tune and inviting friends into the circle even by cruising around youtube! By the way, I am sitting behind Caroline in this video..so feel free to count me in your cheerleading circle when you are braving your first tune or event.

PS A call from a new friend is informing me that a mother raccoon goes out during the daylight to get food for her young brood of four to six babies. She likely will go out often so don't over worry about rabies and such necessarily.

She's likely out looking for a meal (everything in her life would be babies.) Signs of rabies would be passing out or coming on aggressively. A mother raccoon is not looking angry or pick a fight. Keep one's distance. If you see the babies do not go close.

A mother raccoon will defend her babies to the death so don't bother them. Watch out for the hungry bears coming out as well. There's not much food even for hawks and owls. Check with state rehabilitators list. The DEEP (Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection) would check an animal out. Some ACO, Animal Control Officer.