Today, August 20th, is my first day of class. After 35 years of "first" days, I'm still surprised that I'm so excited. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones that found my path early in life. Real early, in fact, since, my mom, tells about a report I received in nursery school at age four. "Kathy is going to be a teacher. She takes great interest in the progress of the other students." Or was I just bossy?

Ahead is Labor Day Weekend and everywhere I turn, I read a lineup of musicians that calls to me. Cowboy poetry, music and frontier days in Bandera. Floore's Country Store is featuring a favorite of mine, James McMurtry, along with Pat Green, Terri Hendrix and Hayes Carll at the Real American Music Festival.

Closer to home, just ten miles south on Highway 16, the door of Quiet Valley Ranch open once more to a show produced by the new producer, Dalis Allen. The lineup features the old and the new. I would never call Steve Fromholz "old," but he's been part of my experience with Texas music since the beginning. I heard him at The Hop on Berry Street in Ft. Worth. My brother, John, actually went out with Darcie, that famous Fromholz daughter and subject of one of his classic songs. That distinct voice will forever echo in my memory as I think about special musical moments. He is the quintessential storyteller. Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett know this, along with others. "I'd have to be crazy, plumb out of my mind, to fall out of love with you," is one of my favorite Fromholz lines. I even had the chance to invite him to a creative writing conference at T.C.U. in the early '80s as I attended graduate school there. He represented the voice of the Texas songwriter, par excellence.

Another favorite Fromholz song, "Texas Trilogy," has become the title for a new book produced by the University of Texas Press. Laced with black and white photos of the location, Bosque Country, the text relies on Fromholz's story to tell the story of any small town in Texas where "The train just doesn't stop here anymore."

After a slight stroke, Fromholz is back out touring doing what he loves best. Saturday, August 30, will be a homecoming for him. I remember several years ago when Fromholz appeared to play a benefit for his dear friend, Allen Damron, who was suffering some health problems at the time. Allen is fine now. We expect Steve to be fine.

The show kicks off August 29 with Kim Miller followed by Katy Moffatt, both women to "draw to." I remember Katy singing Patsy Cline one year with a voice that stopped all idle noise in the theatre. A wine seminar will be held on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Stephanie Urbina Jones returns to kick off the Saturday night big stage. And she will command that stage. Her following in the Hill Country just keeps growing. Sunday, Rudi Harst will bring a Folk Song Service to Chapel Hill, another Quiet Valley tradition. Join him at 11:00 a.m. Stay for a concert of New Folk in the Round (great songwriting) and a Ballad Tree (pass that guitar) at 3:00 p.m.

The final evening begins with the jazz and blues of Bett Butler. Janice Kennemer first told me about her, and I heard her play for Rod Kennedy once. She has also visited one of my classrooms, leaving the students with stories that change lives. In fact, her CD, entitled "Short Stories," contains some of my favorite songs.

Amelia Spicer also plans on Sunday evening. Wow. Now I remember an evening with this sultry woman took her keyboard to new heights and depths as she played the main stage. I wonder what was in the mind of Dalis Allen as she put these two women, both stylists and keyboard players, on the same night. I know. Double the pleasure.

Quiet Valley Ranch has room for campers, tents, and RV camping. Go to www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com for tickets and information.

I had another wonderful music moment with Patricia Vonne and her husband, Bobby, at Chili's on Friday. After our interview, after I asked her to come play at Schreiner in November, and after two songs, the sky fell out. I watched them pack up. Then, the surprise. Patricia, Bobby and the drummer headed inside the porch area and began performing. She danced and sang, never flagging in enthusiasm. Several of us received castenet lessons, and all signed her mailing list. Now this woman has talent, and she is also the consummate performer. Nothing prevents the show.

Ahead is the Texas Music Coffeehouse on September 3 with Jimmie LaFave. I know that Tom Ferguson still cooks ribs at Roddy Tree Ranch on Highway 39 on Saturday nights while the real folks sing and dance and eat. That weekly event occurs through Labor Day. Bobby Kramer, while inspecting my car at an Exxon, told me that the Hunt Store on Sundays was still amazing. Jr. Pruneda and Johnny Way joined up, along with many other great musicians. Send me your stories. Free Leonard and down the road.