Small Towns, Clothesline Fair, and Bluegrass Music

As a child I was raised in Chicago, not ever knowing the comfortable feeling of a small town.  Since then, we have always lived in small towns, the latest being Prairie Grove, Arkansas. This weekend was the 60th annual Clothesline Fair, so named because the ladies of the area would display their needlework  for sale on clotheslines strung throughout Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove. If you want some interesting, historical reading, try googling The Battle of Prairie Grove.  This battle was fought in one day on December 7, 1862 - it is fascinating reading. Back to the present, the fair is celebrated every Labor Day week-end - starting with a small town parade on Saturday. We got there early, parking in the alley behind the Main Street businesses, and traipsed through the store of friends (thanks Larry and Karen - who by the way were Grand Marshals of this year's parade) to perch under their storefront awning, along with others with the same idea!!!  The kids were all excited, as plastic bags were passed out to fill with candy being thrown from parade entrants.  Yes, it is still allowed in this small town. We adults visited and helped the kids fill their bags. Another reason for attending was the fact that our granddaughter was marching with the band as co-captain of the flag line.

an important beginning of a parade





Grand Marshals - friends Larry and Karen Crawley - wonderful Christian business people



this takes balance - notice the little lady waiting with her candy bag





Remember these?



or these?



Granddaughter Casey on the left






glad I did not play the tuba in high school



many people showing off their antique tractors - doesn't he look proud?

 



dancing tractors - doing moves in the middle of  a small town Main Street

 

square dancers



  Square dancing is a big part of our community and competition is intense at the park with dancing going on all day.  Kids usually start in about age 5 or earlier, continuing through high school so there are many groups involved. When as adults, these kids begin having children and they, too, become dancers, so the tradition gets carried on for generations. It is with great pride when someone over 50 announces, "I used to dance, too. What fun it was" Oh, there is my grandson, dancing with the Buttons and Bows group.!!!





just a very small section of the craft part of the Clothesline Fair



a local Bluegrass band

The activities go on all week-end, with a huge craft fair, amateur afternoon with singers and musicians who are all very talented. Gospel music abounds, both Southern and Bluegrass, on Sunday afternoon, including a group from our church. An evening presentation of Bluegrass music with local musicians is presented, as a benfit for Big House, a ministry started about 5 years ago by a young Christian couple. Many thanks and God's blessings on Jay and Melissa Grissom for listening to God's calling.  The Big House is a place for area teens to go - to just hang out, to talk, ask questions, and get fed, both spiritually and physically.  Melissa cooks  almost everyday for about 30 teens, while Jay molds these teens into wonderful Christian young adults. What an awesome ministry.

Our small group Bible study, as a community service, volunteer to help park cars at the Clothesline Fair, with all the proceeds going to Big House. We took our command post this morning - early and chilly, at the worker's lot.  We really did not have to work too hard - just practice crowd control and allow only fair workers and vendors to park in our area. As I sat along the highway, watching the vehicles go by, I was amazed at the variety of vehicles, each one heading to a particular destination.  I related it to our relationship  with God. There are so many ways people walk on the road to eternal life, just as there are so many different types of vehicles driving on the earthly road . Each one continues along at his own pace, in his own way, sometimes slowing down, sometimes speeding along with no thought of how they got there. Sometimes there are bumps in the road, sometimes there are detours. There are even wrong turns to take and wrong roads to travel - but if we keep on eyes on the Lord and His word in our hearts, we will reach our destination - eternal life.
 God's blessings on each and every one of you.