Potential Dates for MontanaFest 2006
I hope interested folks see this before it gets shuffled to some folder few visit. Perhaps Sysop would leave this out in plain view for a few days, please.
The good news is that Ruthie and I are hosting another festival this summer, MontanaFest 2006. With one under our belts we know what’s in store and hope to make 2006 even better. We have decided to limit the number of guests to 40. It’s pretty tough to improve on the food and grog of last year but if possible we will. The workshops will be more to the point and more connected than last year so those attending will leave with inspiration and knowlege they didn’t have when they arrive. For those who did attend last year please give me any feedback you can to help Ruthie and me improve this festival.
Here are the dates on the table for Montanafest 2006. June 24, July 15, July 22, July 29. Let me know if one works better for you than another. Ruthie and I went through the calendar and eliminated the dates that jumped out as undoable. We will try to pick the best date for everyone interested in attending.
For those unaware MontanaFest is a festival for woodworkers. I call it a “party with a point”. Last years Festival was 2 1/2 days of workshops, great food (all catered) and great camaraderie. People came from all over the country as well as Canada. Here is a link to last year’s website, www.Montanafest.com
Chime in on the dates, we’ll get this ball rolling.
Lee
Replies
Lee
Great to hear from you, as you've been absent from here for a while! I was hoping that you'd do it again. The only thing I've got cooking this summer is that I'm taking the wife and my 2 youngest kids on an Alaskan cruise, before they run off to college and never want to spend time with the old man anymore. We're looking at dates of either 2nd week of June, or July 9th. I will now push the better half for the beginning of June for Alaska, and hope that one of the dates near the middle/end of July will work for Montanafest. I will definately be there.
For those of you out there interested, we had a fabulous time last year. If spending a weekend with fellow woodworkers learning about turning, finishing, hand planes, hand cut dovetails from Rob Cosman in person, and learning how to carve from the MAN himself, Lee Grindinger (ok, deep breath.............) not to mention great food, grog, and partying until 2:00 AM under the stars of Montana, than this fest is for you.
OK. Commercial over.
Lee, in order not to steal this thread, I've got a carving question for you. I hope you don't mind me emailing you.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,I've not been absent, just silent. You're gonna love the Alaskan cruise, Ruthie and I did the Inside Passage several years ago and had a great time. Marjorie Glacier in Glacier Bay is absolutely awesome. We "parked" near it for nearly three hours and watched that baby calve continuously, it moves 7' a day so it's very active. I hope your Captian is as into glaciers as ours was. Take warm clothes and bundle up for that so you can be on the outside deck, the sound is incredible.We'd already scratched the weekend of July 9 from the list because the 10th is my birthday which is a celebration unto itself. I'm leaning towards scratching the 15th of July from the list as well so we have a couple of weeks after my birthday to put things in order before MontanaFest.It's looking like either 7-22 or 7-29 is leading the list and unless someone pops up with a reason to the contrary I'm inclined towards 7-22.Oh, thanks for the commercial, you're hired!Lee
Hey Lee,I am trying to smooth the way for another run. Spencer is going to be in Mexico for on a Youth Trip. O'Neill is well- O'Neill. Probably happy to go but will spend his time drawing in the camper. We have a family wedding in North Dakota on the 15th So the 22 looks like a best bet from here. I am trying to talk my wife into making the trip. In all I am at best 50/50 at this point as time and $ are the big factors to be resolved. I will move as much heaven and earth as I can...Alan
Lee
It's good to know that your spirit is still with us here, even as a Lurker!!
Thanks for the info on Alaska. We've heard it's great from several folks. The kids are even looking forward to it, which is a miracle all by itself.
Either of the late July dates work for me, I'm in. If you need any help, let me know. I could do a bit on tuning a hand plane, or how to wrestle one of those grizzlies of yours, properly of course.
I sent you an email specific to carving tools. If you didn't get it, let me know here, and I'll send it again.
Jeff
Lee
By the way, last year, after I left your house at Montanafest, I ran into this guy. He was looking for you, and the keg of Troutslayer.
Jeff
What happened to the guy on the motor cycle?????
Hi, Alan:
Believe it or not, he drove by, which you're NOT supposed to do, and slapped the buffalo on the behind. The buffalo didn't seem to mind, as he quick-stepped for about 2 strides, and then settled back down into his "keg stroll!"
He was a very large male, and was probably used to humans acting like idiots.
I did see another even larger male stampede a guy who ran up to the buffalo and tagged it from behind. I actually have photo's of the buffalo charging, and the guy being escorted away by the park police for stitches, or something. He was bleeding pretty good.
People need to learn that these animals don't like to play tag, and they don't like to play nice.
Jeff
Lee, thanks for coming back for an encore! I'm excited, because Nick will be retired by then and he really is interested in making the trip. The first date would be a bit difficult for us. The July dates are better. I hope Robin can come again.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Thanks you guys, it's looking like the weekend of July 22 is at the top of the heap.Lee
Hi Lee,
The family and I had a great time last year and would love to come again, we will have to reserve one more spot than last year though.I have to figure out a better way to get there instead of going through the traffic in Yellowstone, the huge RVs are so sloooooow!Lydia still talks about all the nice woodworkers ,and the band ,and the food, and Ruth.Let me know if I can help some how.
P.S. What was the attendance of last years Fest?Please tell Ruth hi for me and the family.
Tim
Hey Tim, we're still analyzing the surveillance tapes trying to figure out how Lydia came up with the Loupe tickets so often during the drawing, Hah, hah, ha...Give our best to Angie, the dear and extremely sweet Lydia and the new one. It will be great to see you guys again. There were 36 here last year.Lee
Can you put me down tentatively for two folks.....I gotta get ahold of my WW buddy to see if it's workable, will let you know shortly...
Eric in Calgary
Great Eric!I'm not putting anybody down just yet. The next task at hand is to figure out how much this party will cost which means talking to caterers and rental companies. Last year it was $150 for all three days, it's going to be a little more this year. It won't be a lot more, just enough to cover expenses. I'll be sure to let you know when it's time.Lee
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