Christmas Dinner MMM...MMM...GOOD

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

SMUG were invited back for the second year in a row to provide some Christmas music entertainment for the First Baptist Church's Christmas dinner for the locals who live around the church area. They arrived at 5:50 Sunday afternoon and were treated to Christmas turkey dinner with large helpings and all the trimmings to set it off. We had a large turn-out and finding the stage pretty tight with SMUGGERS, chairs and music stands. The highlight was the generous meal served to all of the Smuggers, complete with strawberries and ice cream. It's not often we get an opportunity to play for our supper, but it's kind of nice and we offer our thanks to the people of First Baptist and to Bob and Darlene for having us invited back. It was a hard venue to take photos, but a few are attached.

Jean's Birthday at Garden Home

It was Jean's birthday. She sat in the front row, and as we were finishing up our program Hazel spotted a birthday tag attached to Jean, and we did it....we sang Happy Birthday to Jean!

It was SMUG's first Sunday performance at a nursing home and the very appreciative residents were out in full force; among them was Aunt Jessie, Derwyn Huestis, Tommy Knox and Guy Cameron, to name a few, who we talked to during the afternoon and seemed to be pleased to have Sunday entertainment.
SMUG did their final performance of the Summer 2011 program which has always been a big hit, especially with seniors in community homes. We did 20 selections in the hour-long performance which was graced by solos by Bob Acorn and Dennis Wells.
SMUG will be returning in two weeks to The Garden Home with a Christmas Program.


Bobbie Takes A Verse

Hazel Leads SMUG in the Sea Shantys

Summer program underway

Residents fill the activity room to overflowing

Small but Mighty at Whisperwood

Early Christmas Gift for the director.

SMUG did a rousing and mighty performance at Whisperwood Villa in Charlottetown yesterday afternoon. It was our first visit to Whisperwood and we all hope we will be invited to return. The residents turned out in full force, clapped and sang along with everything we played, plus we had some of them playing the ukulele before the afternoon was over. This was a real highlight as we know Leah and Darlene are planning to teach a ukulele group there after Christmas and this was surely great advertisement for the January challenge. There were once again familiar faces in the gathering at Whisperwood and many of us had an opportunity to chat with many of the residents.We had been introduced after our customary "Smug Ukulele Band" by Kerry Trenholm, the assistant activity director, and Peggy Zielinski, the activity director was gracious in her thanks to us for being there for the first time. One of the other highlights, for me at least, was the "apple for the teacher" given to me by Joanne. A photo appears at the beginning of this blog!

St.John's Anglican Church.....MILTON

SMUG played two anthems and several selections for this morning's service at beautiful St. John's Anglican Church in Milton PEI. The Rev. Kenneth Williams opened the service explaining that it was a day for the Anglican Women to conduct the service and five very lovely ladies did just that, with Allison Coles conducting SMUG. The service which saw many familiar faces in the congregation including all of the ladies who conducted the morning program. (I'm having trouble naming all of these ladies for certain, so better let it go at that!)


The Rev. Kenneth Williams welcomes the congregation


THE ANGLICAN LADIES OF MILTON


Darlene Prepares Her Music

Practice at the church on Saturday

The BUZZ on PEI

SMUG was back in full swing yesterday with the return of Hazel and Norma after a long absense during the summer months, as well as a new ukulele player, Maud Anschutz, who joined in with SMUG for the morning jam. Allison and Hazel shared in the directing chores for the morning and as usual coffee time was enjoyed by all with great sweets and snacks from Jane.

The highlight of the morning was a visit from a well-known journalist, Anne Thurlow, who writes for the BUZZ magazine and asked if she could come and do an article for the BUZZ about SMUG and the ukulele. Pictured above is Dennis enlightening Anne on some of the finer points about playing the ukulele. Dennis and Allison are beginning courses in ukulele playing at the STRATFORD COMMUNITY SCHOOL starting this Wednesday night, Sept 21, at 7:pm. http://www.stratfordcommunityschool.ca/

NORTH MEETS SOUTH IN HISTORIC OCCASION

History was made today as SMUG celebrated their fourth annual Summer Picnic at the summer home of the director in beautiful Stanhope PEI.The annual event was graced by the director of YesterUkes, Dianne Sutton and her daughter, Jessica Sutton, all the way from Woodruff, South Carolina. Unfortunately the function was held up from the proposed starting time due to a GPS error in the car of the Suttons, when their GPS didn't recognize Stanhope as a place, but through the other wonder of another modern technology, the cell phone, we all got together shortly after 10 o'clock and following introductions the whole group spent an hour jamming on the ukulele and learned a new song,"JUST HANG LOOSE" soon to also be heard in South Carolina.
Dianne and David had become friends three years ago after a contact was made on the internet between YesterUkes and SMUG. During the time Dianne has helped SMUG as they have matured and moved into local stardom on stage and TV.
The morning was made complete when the burgers came from the barbecue accompanied by all the salads and sweets supplied by the group.Unfortunately about 10 of the SMUG group were uable to enjoy the picnic due to other summer and family commitments.
It should be noted that the accent that some of the YesterUkes were concerned Dianne might acquire while she was on PEI, won't probably happen, as we are all aware that she had arrived with a dandy, and that's another story!!Good thing the SMUG director recognized the name "Sutton". Dianne, it's been a joy to have had you and Jessica with us for today and we hope you will also enjoy the next four days on PEI as you make your way on our little Island and hopefully see why we that live here believe it to be so special. Good wishes from us SMUGGERS to all of your YESTERUKES.The past three years of being in touch has been an inspiration.
Thanks Jessica for the great photography....we are looking forward to more on another blog real soon!


MAURICE,DIANNE and ALLISON

DARLENE,KENDAL and LEAH BROWN

JESSICA,MAURICE,DIANNE and JOANNE

DIANNE,JOANNE, and ALLISON

SMUG WITH OUR GUESTS, JESSICA AND DIANNE SUTTON

EVERETT,HARLEY,ERROL and RALPH

LEAH, VERA and JANE

ALLISON AND LINDA DO IT AGAIN IN THE BACK 80

The circle got larger and larger as JustForFunners and Smuggers arrived for Allison and Linda's second annual Back 80 Summer Barbecue and Bonfire Party. The bonfire was blazing at 6 o'clock as we began to arrive and was still blazing away when some of us left around 9. We haven't heard as of this morning what time the jamming and partying broke up.Steve Rackham was once again the guest chef an again outdid himself with barbecued watermelon, asparagus, and bruschetta, not to mention the traditional hot dogs and innovative mussels. All of that was topped with cake and ice cream supplied by Maurice and Marie in a special pre-celebration of their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. The evening was wisely started earlier this year so the jammers could still see the music for a while as they serenaded one another with wonderful love songs. Our thanks to Linda and Allison and their friends and family for making such a wonderful evening.....and can Allison ever call the weather!


It was a mini-celebration for Maurice and Marie as we helped celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary which will take place officially on Aug 18th. Congratulations Marie and Maurice.