Everybody loves podcasting

OK, more technology boot camp. As if the podcasting class itself were not enough--another podcasting homework assignment. This (very poor) podcast was created during my vacation with my kids at the John C Campbell Folkschool this past week. Computers and other electronic devices are frowned upon and the only three pronged outlets with wireless access were in the library of all places. I had a tiny netbook with a poor mic and a script I could barely read in the poor lighting, trying not to disturb those around me while the talent show was wrapping up in the next room. But anticipating my post-vacation desk at work, I really didn't want to be a week behind.

The rest of my folkschool experience was great. This is the fourth year I have taken both kids to Intergenerational week. As each child is required to have an adult with them, a friend from Quaker meeting, Linda, comes to be the other adult. Linda lost her husband in the 1983 Beruit bombing and raised her too children mostly alone so she gets it about single parenting. She's a very good sport, great company and has a comfortable van to tote all our stuff in and all our shopping and finished craft projects home. This year she brought with her a map of all the quilt/fabric shops in NC so the trip home was almost as fun as the week there.

Ben and Linda took Blacksmithing with Judy Berger, a wonderful woman who is great with kids, and their sometimes less than enthusiastic parents. This is Linda's third stint with blacksmithing. Fortunately this was the coolest week we've had up there yet. Jessie and I took glass beadmaking. Both kids were thrilled. Where else to they have parental permission to play with fire?! The classes are punctuated with extraordinary meals and each day ends with a program of music or dance or folk heritage.

My first trip to the Folkschool was five years ago with my son, Ben, for Little Middle Week. It's sort of like a daycamp for younger kids with a few class opportunities for the adults. I took felting. He took, among three other activities, lap dulcimer. It was a fortuitous event. He was getting bored with piano and I didn't want him to lose interest in music. He took the class on a lark and discovered he really liked it. He's quite accomplished now. His sister has taken up hammered dulcimer and is pretty mean at it, too.

This is our last year for Intergenerational week. Jessie is too old and Ben wants to go to a dulcimer week in Cullowhee that is always this same week in July. Linda and I may just come by ourselves . . .