Larry A. Smail's Blog

Purple Coneflower

  I’ve been busy! The last weekend in June I played guitar with, at least, 6 bands at campgrounds. Of course, over the 4th of July week I was at several cook out meals. One was with my family and the other was at Greensburg, Pennsylvania at Laurie’s brother and his betrothed home. We attended  the home of Kristen and Mark Crosby on July 4th for multiple reasons. Mark had made the trek to becoming a Free Methodist pastor. We, and others had stopped by for a cook out type congratulatory visit. The invite, also, meant chairs set up watching the fire works during the Heritage Days event in Ford City, Pennsylvania.

We did some western-style square dancing  Friday evening (July 6) during one of the hottest days of summer. (Didn’t say we were smart! and I didn’t say I did well either!)

One evening I went for a nice bike ride. I went to Rosston and went around the marina and returned home.The several hour ride was invigorating.

Another project for me is placing tracks in a digital recordings for a future CD. I have placed , thus far, up to six and seven tracks on some of the 13 songs. This is a lot of work and is time-consuming. This morning we worked at placing some vocals on three of the songs.

Button Bush

Muskie Maus

On Tuesday, I spent the day on the Allegheny River casting and trolling for muskies at the invite of my friend, Frank (MUSKIE) Maus. He has caught 305 of these great fish in his fishing career. That is quite an accomplishment. The man is obsessed with muskies! We failed to have any strikes this day. I watched a gar trail my lure and with the next cast felt a nudge on the lure which was, probably, the same gar. We saw lots of mallards and some mergansers and a few gulls.  

Wednesday, found me doing a  couple of miles of walking and later gathering some large rocks for landscaping. (I am getting to old for such weights!)

A bear walked somewhere below my home on Tuesday. I sure would have liked to have seen it! This week I have seen a few deer and, today I did see about 7 turkeys cross the road below my old homestead.

Wednesday evening I located the final resting place of Col. William Sirwell. He was the commander of the 78 Pennsylvania Regiment from our area. He is buried at the St. Mary’s cemetary near Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

Col. Wm. Sirwell grave marker.

Saturday, I am scheduled to play lead guitar with a band called Just Passin’ Through. This band lost their lead guitar player about four years ago and I have been asked to play at Grey’s Home for their annual picnic the last three years.  This band doesn’t play music much together due to travel, etc. This is one time they manage to get together. They play older style country music.

Sunday evening, I was asked to play lead guitar with a gospel band called the Gospel Messengers. This will be a televised event. They lost their lead instrument last year and, as of date, haven’t found a full-time replacement.