 Ivy and Sophie Walker, stars of Walker County, stopped by The Courier-Times nearly two years ago to drop off their then-new CD and say hi. Since then, the Sulphur Springs, Indiana natives have signed a contract and moved with their family to Nashville, Tennessee, and spend their time writing new material as well as opening for country icons such as Loretta Lynn. They will be back in Henry County Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. show at Whitetail Tree Farm for Pumpkin Fest. It’s all about Springport, Indiana, for the next three days. In a couple of hours, I’m heading to the home of Cindy Bay for one of my favorite things to do as an author: attend the book-club discussion about a book I wrote. Cindy’s book club read my first book, and today they are reviewing the second, That Sweet Place: At Home in the Heartland. We’ll gather around Cindy’s massive party-room table (the joke is, courtesy of her brother, “it sleeps 17”) and enjoy lunch and discussion. It will be a cherry-on-top experience, if for no other reason than being with the women gathered there. Can’t wait! In an unrelated book-tour stop, tomorrow and Sunday, I’ll be not far from Cindy’s house as a vendor at the Whitetail Farm Pumpkin Fest, also near Springport. I hear it will be hot but the wagon rides, pumpkins, corn maze and all the fall-fest goodness will remind everyone that it is, indeed, autumn. Saturday’s bonus is that Walker County performs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. there at the festival! Hearing their performance (bring your lawn chairs) is included with admission to the festival and if you have never heard these Henry County-native girls and their dad, Billy, perform, wow, are you in for a good time. I’ve followed the girls since they were in elementary school, and closely followed their collective dream of hitting it big in country / Americana music ever since I featured them on the cover of The Courier-Times her magazine for women a few years ago. Well, guess what? The family got a contract. Yes, a big ol’ Nashville, Tennessee-styled contract, and they all live there where they write music and perform all over the country on weekends. Aside from their talent, I cannot tell you how nice these girls are. In fact, the whole family is just as nice and down-home as ever! Whitetail Tree Farm brought them home for Saturday. I look forward to hearing them! I’m also looking forward to enjoying a new purchase. Brian and I didn’t like “bumming” awnings for outdoor book events from people, and although there has always been someone generously step up and offer to loan us theirs, he found a great deal on a small awning. So I’ll be trying it out (and seeing how I do at putting it up and down) this weekend. If you want a fun, fall way to spend Saturday or Sunday, Sept. 24-25, come out to the Pumpkin Fest, located just east of Ind. 3 between New Castle and Muncie. In other news from the week, last night was a unique experience. I was invited to give the opening program at Family Involvement Night at Blue River Elementary School. I spoke about finding and recognizing your gifts and talents early on, and encouraged parents to nurture those things in their children through reading and the abundance of activities and opportunities out there today. Thank you to Christie Fouse for the invite! I enjoyed the evening. It goes to show, we never know what unexpected opportunity awaits us in this life. Enjoy your weekend.
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