Howdy Friends! and Welcome to our new friends!
Wow, we went from the ice age to Noah's Ark to spring in two weeks here in Texas... How are you doing in this new year? Hopefully you've thawed, dried, and had a chance to go outside on this really pretty last couple of days!
Our baby bluebonnet sprouts are very visible now. We should have a good crop when they begin blooming in another 6 weeks or so! The rain barrels are full, the house has settled back to where it is supposed to be - all the doors except my office door work, so we know all is well. We're doing a lot of behind the scenes tasks, and enjoying a few days off here and there with friends.
February Performances are all private shows this year. We love getting to play music for school children, and assisted living residents. We get to see both this month! With children and teenagers, we get to teach them how to appreciate something old fashioned and new to them. With the mature "teenagers", we get to see that sparkle in their eyes as they sing along to their favorite songs from their younger years.
Public Performances in March and beyond:
Momma's at Sengelmann; 531 N Main, Schulenburg, TX
Thursday March 14; Shenanigans and Biergartens Spring Break Extravaganza with the Duo; 7pm - 9pm
Thursday March 14; Shenanigans and Biergartens Spring Break Extravaganza with the Duo; 7pm - 9pm
Saint Arnold Brewery, Saint Patrick's Day, 2000 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX
Sunday March 17; The 4 piece Das ist Slainte band plays Irish! Times TBA
Tomball German Heritage Festival, Market and Cherry in Downtown Tomball, TX
Saturday March 23; The 4 piece band at the Grady und Sandra Platz: 2:30 - 6pm
Sunday March 24; The 4 piece band at the Grady und Sandra Platz: 12pm - 2:30
Burton Cotton Gin Festival, Main Street in Burton, TX
Saturday April 20; The 4 piece band plus dancers: 2:30 - 4pm
Muenster Germanfest, Friday - Sunday April 26 - 28, TBA
Brenham Maifest, Fireman's Park, Brenham, TX
Saturday May 4; Under the tent with the 4 piece band plus dancers; 2:30 - 5:30
Saturday April 20; The 4 piece band plus dancers: 2:30 - 4pm
Muenster Germanfest, Friday - Sunday April 26 - 28, TBA
Brenham Maifest, Fireman's Park, Brenham, TX
Saturday May 4; Under the tent with the 4 piece band plus dancers; 2:30 - 5:30
Monday June 3, Lustig Tours Holiday!
Meeting in Munich Tuesday June 4 for a tour of Franconia, former East Germany, and the Czech Republic
Meeting in Munich Tuesday June 4 for a tour of Franconia, former East Germany, and the Czech Republic
Europe Trips: We have 6 weeks left to accept registrations! If you've been waiting to sign up, now's the time. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! A 13 night option is now available! There are 5 double rooms left. Would you like to join us for an unforgettable trip to Franconia, former East Germany, the Bohemian area of the Czech Republic, and Bavaria next summer? The brochure, front and back, is on our website. This new 13 day length trip includes Bayreuth, Bamberg, Halle, Wittenberg, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Bautzen, Gorlitz, Kutna Hora, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, and more! You'll get to cover lots of ground, and still completely immerse yourself in that amazing "haahhhhhliday, vacation" feeling. The beauty of traveling with a small group is the personalized attention, the leisurely pace, and the private party feel. This small group trip is not possible without you. Contact us this month! We'd love to have you!
Website: You can always find out what's happening at http://www.prostyall.com. We update our calendar as information becomes available, and always keep the upcoming public gigs and last minute changes on the home page. The shop page has all sorts of fun things available, including our band member personality shirts "Das ist Ross" and "It's All About The Ponytail" t-shirts.
Social Media: You can find us on Facebook, and Youtube. You can subscribe to our Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/valinapolka , friend us on Facebook: Valina Polka "like" us on facebook: Das ist Lustig "like" us on facebook: Lustig Tours "like" our alter ego on facebook: The Overalls Of Texas
Behind the scenes: It's still office, maintenance and rehearsal season for the musicians. Ross put a lot of that on hold last week with the rains, so we could bail water from the big open barrels to the rain barrels for storage. Hopefully all that physical labor will save us some money this summer if there is another drought. I got all of the contracts for the Tomball German Heritage Festival written and sent out, and have already begun looking at some new entertainers for this Christmas festival and next March 2025. Ross and I got to enjoy a few days off this past month. One day at the Houston Accordion Orchestra concert earlier in January. Here's a video we took of his accordion professor from UMKC. https://youtu.be/MZYVudms8YA She's NINETY (90) years old! What an inspiration! Then this past weekend; One day just chillin' with friends, burgers and beer, the other day driving Texas back-roads with the windows down on our way to a dance in Shelby. Back in the studio living room, we've picked a couple of new songs to add to our St Patrick's repertoire, and are looking forward to getting those rehearsals going! This weekend coming up will be the Houstonfest, so Robert and I will be judging polka bands and classical ensemble while Ross sets up the equipment for the after contest / pre awards polka party. It's always a great time, getting to meet the younger generations, and re-uniting with my former folk dance students and their teachers. At the end of this month, we'll be in central Texas, most likely with me judging at the State level on Saturday the 24th, then Sunday the 25th, we'll get to play for the Kinderfest, encouraging young folks in New Braunfels to take up German folk dance with the KinderTanzer group that is celebrating 50 years this year. Exciting and encouraging times!
Ross' dad is slowly getting worse. Ross' mom is always by his side, and Ross goes every few days to sing to him and pray with him. I haven't been for a while because I had a yukky cold that I did not want to spread to him. Ross has been lucky so far, and has not caught it. My Mom is practicing her travel skills with the portable oxygen, and counting the days till her last Chemo in March. They just got back from a 3 day stay in Galveston. She is determined to go to Europe this summer, and have the best time ever! So is my Dad.
Many blessings to you for this next month. Stay warm, stay healthy, be happy, travel safe, share a smile with a stranger, and Polka On. Prost Y'all!