I wandered down the hill on the Telluride to Albuquerque route with Beans on Sunday, and he dropped me off at my in-laws, Jenn and Steve, on his way to the airport. He made it back to Baltimore, tired but happy. I am especially excited to be luxuriating in the foothills of the Sandia (it means watermelon--so named for the color the mountains turn at sunset). There are quail families outside with hypnotic chirping that is sure to relax you; and kitties Zoe and Taz, and Rex, the stalwart German Sheppard inside. We ate eggs with GREEN CHILE for breakfast. Major yum! There is nothing that compares to the taste of Hatch New Mexico chile. I am addicted. It started raining gently on the ride in, and continued through the night and into yesterday. This softly falling rain has been the perfect accompaniment to this leg of the trip. Denise says to be prepared for the hot to return as I fly back to Texas, but she said it wasn't Okemah hot. Whew. Okemah was smoldering. That's for sure, in more ways than one.

Photo Credit: David PlakkeWe were so blessed to be at an inside location during WoodyFest, not trekking around in the heat. The Thompson's Loft got cooled down at night, because, as is our habit, we shut the AC off during performances so as not to pick up that white noise when we record. The last day we filmed was a cavalcade of artists, one after another, and all amazing. Red Molly came by, and we pressed them into backup-singer service before they performed on their own. They share a musical connection to Woody, as well as a location connection, in that they make New York City home, and so did he. The Red Molly girls, Laurie, Abbie, and Carolann, brought such a spirited performance, that had there been rafters, they would have been ringing. As they were leaving our space, they mentioned that Carolann was making her last appearance with them at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Then Red Molly will be adding an actual Molly, as Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Venter will be joining them. She first caught Abbie's attention as a New Folk Finalist at the 2008 Kerrville Folk Festival, and met Laurie and Carolann for the first time in June 2008. Look for the new configuration in early August. "Jezebel" comes from their 2010 release James, which sold more copies at the WoodyFest merch tables than any other artist!

- Jessie Scott