Hot topics at the farm

As expected, due to the transition in my class schedule for the start of second semester at ABC Adult School, my work in Photoshop was minimal this week.  All I did was to change three photographs that I posted previously.

But that doesn't mean I have nothing new to write about this week.  Since the news came out on Wednesday (no pun intended) that Clay Aiken, former runnerup on American Idol and The Celebrity Apprentice, had returned to North Carolina to seek the nomination of the 2nd Congressional District of the House of Representatives - which includes the area in which B.W. and his family has lived for over a century and a half - I have wondered how a fellow singer and reality TV star would react.

First, I think that Buddy Wayne would be jealous of the situation.  He knows that any public appearances by Aiken in his area during the campaign would bring more than the usual attention there.  At the same time, B.W. will make it clear that he is not running himself.  The district voted heavily Republican in the last Presidential election, and he is confident that Renee Ellmers will be re-elected in November.  Then again, if Ellmers is upset and the GOP nomination is open in 2016...


Then again, B.W. cannot concern himself too much about Aiken's activities at the moment.  That's because, for the first time since the 13 people were assembled in his extended family in 2011, there is a real conflict threatening to tear it apart.  It is playing out as part of season 4 of Gone Barefoot, and it's a classic battle of David versus Goliath as B.W. and Hambone play the respective roles.

In my next post, I will have details of this feud, but it began when Hambone ran away from the "Handy Jam."  She told B.W. and her parents that she was "stepping out for a moment," then was never heard from again.  It emerged that Hambone went to her "second home" at Camp Paradise and spent the rest of the night, redneck-style, there with the four brothers she works with.  In the first episode of the season, Hambone was given a verbal warning and told not to do it again.  However, things aren't done yet between them!


Finally, details of the Barefoot family variety show at the "new Jerusalem," the center of government in the post-Tribulation world upon Jesus Christ's ultimate return, have been revealed.  As I implied a few weeks ago, the show is part of a world's fair" of popular culture and folk performances from various peoples and countries throughout the world to honor Jesus and all that He stands for.

Here is the show rundown:

• Buddy Wayne will begin by singing "Bluebird," his signature country hit song
• Popeye, Harvey, and Ralph will sing a tune that would have been heard at the first state singing convention held in Benson, NC in 1921 (sorry that I'm not enough of an expert on old-time Southern gospel songs to give you a title)
• Bunky, also known professionally as "B.O.M.B." gives a one-man band performance at a circus midway with Bryson and Belinda in the audience; Brenda, dressed as a clown, will introduce him
• Brenda, Annie, Jennifer, and Brandy will sing a work song as they finish a special quilt celebrating Southern rural traditions (again, no title available)
• Hambone performs music with her body, similar to this video, accompanied by Bobby Ray who will make his public debut as a fiddler (The performer is Steve Hickman and this was recorded in 2010.)
• The entire family returns with "Come Home," an anthem-like song co-written by B.W. and his wife Brittany Spears (known as Brittany Raylene professionally)