Brad Waggoner More Than Just Real Estate

Barn Angels

I've been working out in the barn lately. It nice to be creating again. Click Here to see more Barn Angels.

Enoch Fretless Banjo For Sale

This Enoch "Tradesman" fretless, open back banjo is in excellent condition. The neck is cherry with a small graphite rod for reinforcement. The neck's shape is designed to be similar to some of the early Dobsons. The fingerboard is ebony and is scooped by the pot, it has geared tuners with ivroid buttons. The pot is multi-ply maple with no tone ring and a black finish. The head is a REMO Renaissance. Kevin Enoch makes high quality instruments and though I hate to let this one go. It's not getting enough playing time to warrant keeping it. If you're looking for a real old time sound and an instrument that is fun to play you owe it to yourself to try a fretless banjo. The price of $700.00 includes padded gig bag with back straps.
Email Lisa with any questions you might have.    SOLD !!

  

A Celebration of Life

On June 23, Lisa's mom, Shirley Lyle, passed away. She had lived a long and good life. It was her wish that there not be a sad, mournful funeral, but instead, a party. So a celebration of her life was planned. Lisa and I are blessed with the finest friends and family that anyone can have, sometime it's hard to tell where one stops and the other begins. These friends and family came together here at the farm to celebrate Shirley's life. There were some stories told. There were readings, and there was some singing and pickin'. There were some tears and a lot of laughter. I think that it was just as Shirley would have wanted and more. The feeling from that evening is still hard to describe. But just know this, on June 23 Shirley was lifted up on the wings of angles, and on July 26 forty five people were simply lifted up.

Ice Cream Cones

It's been hotter than normal here the last couple of weeks, and I think ice cream has been on everybody's mind. There's a group of us that get together once a month for dinner and just hanging out and catching up. It's always at a good time as everyone brings something to add to the dinner, and there are some mighty good cooks here in the neighborhood. On this particular evening Lisa and I were teaching an agility class for Cold Nose College, and we were giong to be arriving a bit late. With this in mind knowing we wouldn't have much time to prepare something special we opted to bring desert. Now many people view desert as one of the most important parts of the meal, so maybe this wasn't our best choice but seeing that we would be late it was our only option. With little time to prepare we grabbed two cartons of ice cream and a couple boxes of ice cream cones, and headed up the hill. Well, you would have thought we had brought the most elaborate of deserts. Yes the simple ice cream cone is still a favorite of a good many folks. I think it's because we don't enjoy them often enough. Or maybe they remind us of being a kid again. Either way, they were a hit. I don't think there was much left, and I bet there will be ice cream and cones on everyones shopping list soon. So if it's been a while since you've eaten an ice cream cone, next time you're out, treat yourself to one of life's most enjoyable  pleasures, an ice cream cone.

West Asheville Bungalow For Sale

This West Asheville bungalow is within walking distance of everything West Asheville has to offer. Built in the 1920's the home features high ceilings, period moldings, hardwood floors and tile bath. There is a very large deck for entertaining and a fenced yard. This home is offered for sale by Eco House Realty for $211,000. The furnishings are negotiable. Email me with any questions.

SOLD

Fiddle Class

I have just finished a week long fiddle class at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  It was a large class with 14 fiddlers from all walks of life. The Folk School is known for bringing folks together. Our instructor for the week was Cathy Grant. Cathy is a great instructor. She was able to explain everything a dozen different ways so that everyone was able to make a connection. We worked on a few new tunes, but more importantly we learned how to give any tune drive and rhythm. One tune in particular "Spootiskerry" (sp?), which we dubbed "spooky and scary" was a great choice for ear training (learning to play by ear). I can't say that I can yet play the tune or would ever really want to learn it, but it is one I will revisit when I think I could use some ear exercise. On Friday, the last day of class, all the students gather to show what they have done over the course of a week. This week at the Folk School there were painters, jewelers, spinners and weavers, wood carvers, wood workers, wood turners, bakers, basket makers, quilters, potters, creative writers, and our fiddle class. The fiddle class started things off with our rendition of Spotted Pony and Cluck old Hen. Many of the people in these classes have never before worked in that medium and it was amazing what people can accomplish with the encouragement of good instructors and their peers. If you are ever looking for a great way to rejuvenate your creative self, look into the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Junk in the Wind

I guess I've always liked things that move in the wind. I also like old rusty things that are often found in dumpsters and trash piles. They always said "one man's trash is another mans treasure". Here are a few photos of my "Wind Machines" built with reclaimed, reused, and recycled stuff. Feel free to email me if you'd like one of these in your yard.

               

   

Another Fine Evening

It was another fine evening of pickin' with our friends Tom and Kay on tenor banjo and fiddle and Walter and Toni (not in picture) on Guitar. Photo by Liz

It's Been Busy

It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. The last month seems to have flown by. By now you've noticed the change in the look of my site.  Back in October I took a sabbatical of sorts, some time away from the office. One of the things that I decided to do was license my own real estate firm, BKW INC., and work from my home office. I felt this would be a better way for me to work in the current market. I'll also continue to get back in touch with my creative self.
With Christmas just a few days away, winter seems to have arrived as well, 18 degrees this morning.
Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum have a CD entitled "Winter's Grace". There is a song by the same title by Jean Ritchie. Here is the chorus to that song...

The time when the corn is all into the barn
The Old cow's breath so frosty white
And the morn along the fallow field
Does silver shine

And when cold mornings' radiant star
Shines over hill and plain
We know anew that little babe
Is born to us again
And man and beast and bird and tree
Each one to his own place
We bow our hearts and thank our gods
For winter rest and grace.

Back from Maryland

We just returned from a week at Peaceable Paws. What a week it was. I was privileged to be able to sit in on a week long level  2 instructors course. Training dogs and their people is a passion of Lisa's, and I was happy to have the opportunity to accompany her on this trip. Lisa was assisting Pat Miller with this course, Pat Miller owns Peaceable Paws. The instructors taking this course were working with dogs from the local animal shelter. These dogs have not had any previous training, and it was amazing to see their progress as the week unfolded. Only positive reinforcement and reward methods are used, and not the old-fashioned coercion and use of force. The training these dogs received will help them in their adoption process, and the knowledge and skills learned by those taking the course will insure that more dogs will be humanely trained and make better family companions.
Thanksgiving is this weekend, and I am thankful that I have Lisa in my life, and for people like Pat Miller and all those who are committed to the humane training of our four legged friends.