This past winter has not been an easy one for us. Bessie has been in Kansas City since the end of the year. She came home for Christmas. She was put on the transplant list the end of the year.  To date, she has not matched 5 hearts that were examined for her. She still has problems with the antibodies not matching. Keep her in your prayers.

The park has had many problems with busted water pipes,roads washed out, and not enough time, energy or funds to fix it all.  Scott has about exhaused himself trying to keep up with it but he is doing an excellent job.  We sure do need a maintenance person or couple to live at the park to help with these kinds of situations. 

Anyway, things are finally getting ready and looking like there is going to be a festival. The grass is beautifully green, our kitchen is totally equipped for our eating needs and our beautiful stage still looks great. We have a teriffic band line-up, over 40 shows for the weekend. On Saturday at 10:00 there will be instrument workshops and there will be your very own mandolin lesson from David Davis.

We are also displaying beautiful hand-crafted quilts again. This showing will be in Bill Jones' garage. There will be refreshments served, a guest book to sign with comments and, of course, you may make purchases of special items. 

We will be priviledged to have Gene Skinner as our emcee and Phillip Pitts as our sound man. They do an excellent job. We hope you will bring your family and friends to this fun-filled weekend. We are expecting you. Oh, and be sure to celebrate our 40th annual festival this coming Labor Day weekend. See you soon.

Scott & Bessie Reeder

Labor Day 2007 was a great festival. Many comments about the bands being exceptional was received by several of the workers.  The bands were top performing bands and we were very proud to have them grace our stage.

As you well know, Bessie was not at the Labor Day festival as she was in the hospital beginning the work-up for her heart transplant. At this time, she is on the transplant list awaiting the new heart.  She and her daughter-in-law, Crystal, and her two grandbabies have moved to Kansas City to await her surgery. Thank you for your prayers for her at this time.

A "medical fund" is set up for her at the Bank of Freeburg, P. O. Box 38, Freeburg, MO 65035. The account is a savings account #26229. Checks should be made out to Bessie Reeder. This is strictly used for her medical expenses involving her transplant, biopsies, and prescriptions needed.  This will be a life-long expense, but the beginning of it is in excess and additional help is needed.  Thank you very much for your donations. May God bless each cent that is sent to her and a special blessing be sent your way.

This winter is a clean up, paint up, fix up time at the park.  We have opened the park to campers and we are looking for campers to come live in the park with us.  The fee is $250 per month, utilities paid.  If you want to work for your rent, that is possible.  We welcome you to come stay with us.  This year, 2008 is a very special one here at Bluegrass Pickin' Time as the Labor Day Festival is celebrating our 40th annual festival.  We are very proud to be here to offer that to you as bluegrass lovers.

Scott has been really busy and has met many friends in the two years we have been at the park.  He says "thank you" for your support and little chores that you  have helped him to do. He has had his hands full making sure that Bessie has what she needs during this time.  We are looking forward to 2008 and wanting to see you and your friends at our festivals.  May God bless you in 2008. 

Dear Music Family,

Scott and I want to tell you that we have had an "OK" summer, lots of work. Guess we will "vacation" later on in the year.  But we are really excited about our Labor Day Festival coming up soon. The lineup of bands is super. 

Get your campers ready and come early. We have a great time jammin' and just visiting. We have had some great music at our summer jams and opry shows that have been worth supporting, but, unfortunately, they have not been very well attended by an audience. Our cook shack has served wonderful, tasty steaks, taco salads and burgers.

We want to stress to you to come, camp for the weekend and join us. You

need the "get away" to rest and enjoy the music you love. Get a camping club together with your friends and neighbors. If not well-attended the rest of the year, it could be our last effort to offer this type entertainment on the weekends. So, come see us!!!

The Reeders, Scott & Bessie

From The Dixon Pilot:

"There will be a new look to the stage at Carol's Memorial Bluegrass Park, known to many as Bluegrass Pickin' Time, in Dixon for their Memorial Day Festival." says Marilynn. Buck and Marilynn Moehle, of Dixon, are working hard to transform the stage area into a "traditional mountain cabin look".

The outer portion of the stage on either side will represent a "front porch theme" while the stage's mid-section will reveal "lodge-type decor, including a simulated fireplace and cedar siding. They plan to place cedar flower boxes in front of the stage as an accent to this warm Ozark Mountain look.

The Moehle's are helping Scott and Bessie Reeder prepare for the festival out of their appreciation of Bluegrass Music. "Our 'Memorial' sign at the front gate is another one of Buck's projects as a master gardener. This is an on-going project and we are proud for the new look at the gate." says Scott.  "Many hours have gone into this project and we are truly thankful and appreciative to Buck and Marilynn."

(Click on the pictures below for a larger version, click on the 'back' button in your browser window to return to this page)

Buck and Marilynn Moehle remodeling the stage, all will be ready for the Memorial Day Festival

Park Updates and Info 2007

Scott and I were going "south" for the winter but the "south" is cold too. After talking to Bill and other neighbors about the ice storm, we know that we have a lot of cleanup at the park. Some of your favorite trees are just ruined!  So, Scott has purchased a bucket truck to do our own work.....and he has bought a chipper, so that ought to take care of the trees and limbs. 

The kitchen is being remodeled. We have some newer equipment and willl be ready for the Memorial Day festival.  We are needing workers there. The small shower house will undergo a face lift. The roads need more gravel and smothed out, but only after the limbs are removed. Scott had marked the trees to be thinned out, but you know how the "hand of the Lord" works......he marked off some himself. So thankful to God for all he has done for us. We are putting up more lights in some of the dark walkways and other needed areas. Handicapped facilities are being put in or made more accessible for them nearer the stage. There will be a new look on the stage, but don't know now just what that will be. We have so many that are willing to help us. Scott thought maybe we could have a "work week" and you can come camp with us and draw a chore from the hat. 

We are working hard to make it a beautiful festival and campground. Please bring your friends and neighbors. As last year....between festivals we will be jammin in the park every Friday and Saturday evenings. Come camp for the weekend and enjoy that. Scott wants to have some stage shows, so watch the web or call to see what is going on.

Bill and Mona have had a good winter so far with the exception of a cold or two. Bill was pretty sick during December. They are looking for another good year playing music. Call them to know the places 573-759-7716. They love to hear from you.

We really need helpers all during the summer.  If you know of someone that would be willing to come camp and work or just sign up for a special talent that they have, please call Scott or Bessie at the park 573-759-3544. Can't wait for summer....it's going to be fun.

Ladies, I am excited about our 'QUILT SHOW' on Saturday of the festival. I will be sending out cards, e-mails, notices in papers, etc. to announce it and want you to register your entries. Whatever it might be.....one of grandma's quilts, one you have hand stitched, one of your favorites, one of the good 'ole antique patterns. We will display them, sell them, whatever you want to do. You may even set up a table and sell what you have. We will have tea and tea cakes. It will be an exciting time. I also need someone to coordinate this for me. Call me. 

Thanks, 

We love you all......Scott & Bessie Reeder

573-759--3544 or e-mail breeder46@yahoo.com

It was with sadness that Carol had to give up her life to cancer in 2001. The park was renamed in her honor as 'Carol's Memorial Bluegrass Music Park'. A brick sign with a flower bed was built at the entrance of the park.

Bill and Mona, in April 2006, retired from the park but not from the music. They still have a schedule of performances each year. The new owners of the Bluegrass Pickin' Time are Scott and Bessie Reeder. They will continue the traditions set forth by Bill and Mona as they still live at the park and will attend and play each festival. They will now have time to visit, chat and have coffee with their treasured music friends.

Scott and Bessie welcome you to each festival. Starting this year in the park is a summer weekly jam session on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00pm between the Memorial Day and Labor Day festivals. Park improvements will be necessary at some times. We want to make it comfortable for you as our guests and look forward to your return. Your suggestions will be appreciated. 

Our sincere thanks,  Scott & Bessie Reeder

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Dear music family,

Many Thanks to all our bluegrass supporters who came to the benefit and auction for Bessie. She is getting closer to receiving the transplant. Thank you most of all for your prayers, cards and letters." You are welcome to read the blog and keep up to date. To access the blog webpage directly go to: http://bessiereeder.blogspot.com

Scott & Bessie  

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