>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE

WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY:

>> SCHOOL IT ALMOST OUT AND

SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE

CORNER.

>> CELEBRATE THE SUNSHINE BY

EXPLORING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE

STATE.

SOAK UP THE SWEET SMELLS OF

SPRING AT THE WILLOW FIELD

LAVENDER FARM.

PLAY BALL WITH THE WEST TERRE

HAUTE LITTLE LEAGUE.

AND JOIN JESSICA NUNNEMAKER AS

SHE GOES TO CONVERSE, INDIANA.

AND WELCOME SONGWRITER AND STORY

TELLER KERRY RAY AS SHE COMES

INTO THE STUDIO.

>>> AND IT'S ALL COMING UP RIGHT

NOW ON "THE WEEKLY SPECIAL."

♪♪

>>> WELCOME TO THE "WEEKLY

SPECIAL."

I'M DARRYL NEHER.

>> AND I'M ERICA SAGON.

>> SPRING IS HERE.

THE WEATHER IS GETTING

BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO

OUTSIDE.

>> I LOVE GETTING MY GARDEN

STARTED BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST

HOPEFUL TIME OF THE YEAR BEFORE

EVERYTHING STARTS TO GO WRONG.

WHAT ABOUT YOU.

>> I LIKE TO GARDEN IF BY

GARDENING YOU MEAN FARMER'S MARK

AND JUANERING AND WANDING AND PURCHASING

THERE.

THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO SMELL

THE FIELDS THAN THE WILLOW

LAVENDER FIELDS IN INDIANA.

>> BEHIND ME, 15 YEARS AGO WAS A

CORN FIELD.

♪♪

KNOWING I WAS GETTING READY TO

RETIRE FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS

FIRE DEPARTMENT, I WANTED TO

GROW SOMETHING HERE AND HAVE A

SMALL BUSINESS INSTEAD OF GOING

TO WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

♪♪

MY WIFE LIBBY AT 5:00 IN THE

MORNING WOKE ME UP ONE DAY AND

SAID, HOW ABOUT LAVENDER?

>> AND I SAID, COOL, THAT WOULD

BE GREAT.

SO WE GAME THE FIRST LAVENDER

FARM IN THE STATE.

WE PUT 100 PLANTS IN THE GROUND

AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

♪♪

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VARIETIES

OF LAVENDER ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE HAVE IT DOWN TO FOUR.

WE HAVE TWO HYBRID LAVENDERS.

THE STRONGEST SMELLING IS

GROSSO, IT CAN GET 7-FOOT WIDE

ON THE WEST COAST.

HERE IT GETS ABOUT HALF OF THAT

BECAUSE OF OUR WINTERS.

THE OTHER ONE IS PROVINCE WHICH

IS THE COOKING LAVENDER.

THESE HAVE BEEN PROVEN ONES THAT

HAVE COME DOWN.

LAVENDER NEEDS AT LEAST SIX

HOURS OF HOT SUN EVERY DAY.

IT NEEDS WELL DRAINED SOIL,

ROCKY, LYMEY, AND IT LIKES IT ON

THE ALKALINE SIDE AND DO NOT

OVER WATER IT.

I'M TELLING YOU, AFTER 12 YEARS,

I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE AN

EXPERT.

THE PLANTS ALWAYS TELL ME

SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THEY ARE THE EXPERTS AND THEY

ARE ALWAYS TEACHING ME.

THERE'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY YEAR

AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS US

STIMULATED.

THE WEEDING, ALL OF THAT IS DONE

BY HAND.

THERE ARE NO SPRAYS.

THERE ARE NO HERBICIDES OR

PESTICIDES.

BESIDES, THERE ARE SO MANY NEAT

LITTLE BUGS AROUND HERE THAT IF

YOU SPRAY, WOULD YOU NEVER GET

TO ENJOY THOSE THINGS.

LAVENDER HAS JUST BECOME A

CULTURE AND SO WE HAVE A RETAIL

SHOP IN OUR BARN WHERE WE SELL

THESE PRODUCTS, LOTIONS AND

SOAPS AND CANDLES AND SACHETS.

15 YEARSA. I WAS CRAWLING DOWN A

HALLWAY WITH THE TOP FLOOR OF A

BUILDING ON FIRE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRIM

STIMULATING, EXCITING LIFESTYLE

AS IT WAS.

TO GO FROM THAT TO A GENTLEMEN

FARMING GROWING LAVENDER, NO, I

HAD NO IDEA I WOULD DO THIS.

NO, WE HAVE' HAVE A CREATIVE LIFESTYLE

THAT'S CONSTANTLY STIMULATED.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

>> THE WILLOW FIELD LAVENDER

FARM WILL OPEN FOR THE SEASON ON

MAY 23rd.

YOU CAN FIND DIRECTIONS AT

WILLOWFIELDLAVENDER.COM.

>> YOU GARDEN, WE SEE THE

LAVENDER.

DO YOU RAISE HERBS YOURSELF?

>> YES, I NEVER HAD ANY LUCK

WITH LAVENDER.

I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO WILLOW

FIELD.

>>> IF YOU DO HAVE LUCK WITH

LAVENDER, THEN THIS NEXT SEGMENT

IS FROM YOU.

ANNIE FROM EARTH EATS HAS GREAT

FOOD RECIPES IN THE PAST.

WITH THE HOT SUN, WHAT A GREAT

TIME TO FIND SOME REFRESHING

DRINK RECIPES TO COOL YOU DOWN.

♪♪

>> HI, GUYS.

WE ARE AT FARM BLOOMINGTON IN

DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

YOU WILL SEE WE ARE SURROUNDED

BY THESE GORGEOUS FLOWERS.

CHEF, WE ARE IN A RESTAURANT.

WHAT THE HECK ARE FLOWERS DOING

IN A RESTAURANT?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW

THAT FLOWERS ARE EDIBLE AND

DRINKABLE.

WE ARE MAKING A LAVENDER

LEMONADE.

IT WILL BE BLOOMING THE MIDDLE

OF JUNE AND JULY AND GO OUT

THERE AND PICK THE FLOWERS.

I BROUGHT SOME IN FROM HOME AND

THIS IS JUST STARTING TO BLOOM

HERE, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE

LAVENDER PLANTS, YOU CAN ALSO

BUY DRIED LAVENDER BECAUSE YOU

NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CULINARY

LAVENDER.

A LOT OF LAVENDER THAT YOU WOULD

BUY TO PUT IN YOUR SACHE TS.

IT'S ARTIFICIALLY PERFUMED AND

SO THERE ARE CHEMICALS ON IT.

SO MAKE SURE IT'S A CULINARY

LAVENDER.

WE ARE MAKING A SIM.

SIR -- A SIM WILL SIMPLE SYRUPS.

IT'S EQUAL PARTS OF WATER AND

SUGAR.

WE HAVE HONEY.

LEMON JUICE HAS THE ACIDIC

FLAVOR AND THE PEEL IS THE

PERFUMING FAVORFUMING FLAVOR.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU

GET ORGANIC LEMONS AND WASH THEM

WELL BEFORE YOU ADD THEM.

AND THEN I WILL ADD THE

LAVENDER.

YOU WILL ABOUT HALF A CUP OF

LEAVES AND FLOWERS, BUT WITH THE

DRIED LAVENDER YOU CAN ADD A

QUARTER CUP.

WE WILL PUT A LITTLE BIT OF

THOSE STEMS IN THERE.

>> YOU ARE JUST EYEBALLING THIS.

>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT TASTE.

IF YOU LIKE IT STRONGER,U., YOU CAN

ADD MORE.

IF YOU HIKE IT LIGHTER, YOU CAN

ADD LESS.

I HAVE ABOUT ENOUGH LAVENDER

THERE.

WE CAN BRING IT TO ONE BOIL BACK

IN THE KITCHEN AND LET IT STEEP

FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES.

YOU CAN START TO GET THAT CITRUS

AND THE LAVENDER AROMA.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND SO WE'LL LET THAT STEEP

AND COME BACK AND FINISH THE

LEMONADE.

JUST TO SPEED IT UP, I PUT IT IN

AN ICE BATH.

SO NOW WE HAVE OUR NICE SYRUP

AND I WILL LEAVE EVERYTHING IN

THERE FOR TODAY.

IF YOU WANTED TO BE FANCY AND

TAKE THE TIME, YOU COULD STRAIN

THAT OUT, BUT I KIND OF LIKE THE

WAY THIS LOOKS IN THERE.

>> YES.

>> WE WILL ADD 2 CUPS OF LEMON

JUICE.

AND THEN WE'LL ADD WATER TO

TASTE.

AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO STIR

THIS IN.

GARNISH OR GLASSES WITH A LITTLE

BIT OF LEMON.

IF WE WANTED TO, WE COULD PUT A

NICE PIECE OF LAVENDER IN EACH

ONE.

AND VERY IMPORTANT, WE WILL GIVE

IT A TASTE.

I THINK YOU WILL REALLY LIKE

THIS.

AGAIN, IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE IT

MORE OF AN ADULT BEVERAGE, YOU

COULD ADD A LITTLE BIT OF

INDIANA VODKA OR YOUR FAVORITE

VODKA TO IT.

>> I WILL TAKE THE ONE THAT HAS

SOME OF THE LAVENDER PIECES IN

IT, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

>> CHEERS!

HERE'S SUMMER.

>> ABSOLUTELY!

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT REAL

FOOD AND GREEN LIVING ON THE

EARTH EATS WEBSITE.

PRINT OFF RECIPES, READ THE

LATEST IN FOOD NEWS AND

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY PODCAST.

IT'S ALL AVAILABLE AT

EARTHEATS.ORG.

>> AND ANNIE'S NEW EARTH EATS

BOOK IS ON SALE NOW, FEATURING

MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES,

GARDENING TIPS AND GREEN LIVING

STORIES.

VISIT IU PRESS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO DRINK.

>> TALL COLD ON THE PATIO.

IF I HAVE A GO-TO IT'S A MOSCOW

MULE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED, SPRING

FOR ME IS BASEBALL.

THANKS TO THE WEST TERRE HAUTE

COMMUNITY FOR A LOT OF KIDS OVER

THE LAST 60 YEARS, IT'S MEANT

BASEBALL AS WELL.

♪♪

>> THE CRACK A BAT... THE CHEERS

IN THE STANDS, AND THE SWEET

TREAT WHAT IS A BETTER WAY TO

ENJOY A SUMMER DAY?

THIS IS WHAT GILL AND A GROUP OF

GENTLEMEN PROBABLY ENVISIONED

WHEN THEY CREATED THE WEST TERRE

HAUTE LITTLE LEAGUE 56 YEARS

AGO.

BUT ONE YEAR AGO, THIS

IDEALISTIC SCENE WAS WOULD NOT HAVE

EXISTED AS TERRE HAUTE STRUGGLED

AGAINST UP EMPLOYMENT AND

POVERTY LEVEL, HIGHER THAN THAT

OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THIS

BASEBALL FIELD AND THE COMMUNITY

FAMILIES WERE LOST TO TIME.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GETTING

LOST WITH THE PARENTS WORKING

AND THE PARENTS NOT BEING THIS,

AND THE GRANDPARENTS RAISING

THEM.

THEY NEED A PLACE THAT THEY CAN

FEEL SAFE AND THEY HAVE A GROUP

OF INDIVIDUALS THAT TRULY CARE

FOR THEM AND CAN MAKE THEM THE

NEXT BIG THING AND THAT'S THE

REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.

>> IF IT WEREN'T FOR WADE SULFUR

AND PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS THIS

COMMUNITY WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF A

SAFE OUTLET FOR THE LOCAL YOUTH.

>> WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WE

NEEDED A PLACE FOR THE YOUTH TO

COME AND RIDE AND PLAY AROUND

AND JUST PLAY A LITTLE BASEBALL

AND RIDE AROUND AND ENJOY THE

TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND A

HUGE KEY IS BEING SAFE.

>> IN 2014, WADE AND HIS

VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED A GRANT AND

WITH THAT GRANT, THEY BRIDGED

CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE

COMMUNITY.

>> THERE'S A GROUP THAT NEEDED

TO COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON

GOAL AND A COMMON PURPOSE, AND I

JUST WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A

GROUP OF FRIENDS AND A GROUP OF

FAMILIES THAT CAME TOGETHER.

>> AND BOY, DID THEY COME

TOGETHER WELL!

>> WE ARE HAVING THESE

BUSINESSES SUPPORTING US.

WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTIONS TRADES

PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO DO IT

AND THEN WE HAVE THE PHYSICISTS.

THEY KNOW HOW THINGS ARE BUILT

BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE SCIENCE

BEHIND IT.

WHY DON'T WE BRING THE STUDENTS

IN AND WANT TO MEET EMPLOYERS.

WHY DON'T WE BRIDGE THAT AND

BRING THEM TOGETHER.

IT'S A PERFECT FIT.

>> MERCEDES McCALL SURE DID

THINK SO.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS

HIGH SCHOOLERS WE GET OUT IN THE

COMMUNITY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHILDREN,

NOT JUST AT OUR SCHOOL.

>> WADE AND HIS CREW MADE SOME

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.

THEY BUILT A SHELTER AND 12

PICNIC TABLES ADDED SETS OF

BLEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTED A

BATTING CAGE.

>> FOR US, IT'S A SENSE OF

SERVICE, IT'S A SENSE OF

COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST A SENSE

OF FELLOWSHIP.

WE ARE TEACHING, WE ARE TRAINING

AND WE ARE JUST ENCOURAGING THE

PROPER HABITS AND THAT GOES FOR

COACHES AND PLAYERS AND PARENTS

ALIKE.

FAMILY, REFAMILY VERY FAMILY ORIENTED.

>> THIS SHIFTED THE CULTURE AT

THE GAMES FOR THE BETTER BUT

TRANSFORMED THE FAMILIES AND THE

COMMUNITY AROUND IT.

>> THE BALLPARK HAS BUILT

STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS TOWARDS

THE LITTLE KIDS.

I KNOW THAT THESE LITTLE KIDS,

THEY IS THAT RIGHT OFF IN

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYING BALL

THEY ARE GOING TO MAY PLAY TOGETHER

ALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT'S THE BOND CREATED JUST

WITH THE USE OF A BALLPARK IS

UNBELIEVABLE.

>> YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR FACES

AND I THINK THE -- IT'S ABOUT

THE PERSONALITIES, THE CULTURE,

REALLY HAS CHANGED WITH THE PARK

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I THINK YOU SEE A LOT MORE

FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE PARENTS

WALK WITH THE KIDS AND THEN THEY

CAN STOP AND THEY CAN POINT OUT,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DID THIS.

I PLANTED THIS TREE.

I HELPED TO BUILD THIS SHELTER.

I MEAN, THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO

SEE THAT AND MY DAD HAS BUILT

THAT.

I CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> AND WITH THE COMMUNITY'S NEW

FOUND PRIDE IN THE BALLPARK,

THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE

CLEANUP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE

GROUNDS.

>> AS FAR AS LITTER AND DEBRIS

AND TRASH, IT DOESN'T REALLY

EXIST ANYMORE.

THEY SEE THE GROWTH, WHAT'S IN

THE PARK AND WHAT'S IN THE

BALLFIELD AND THEY DON'T WANT TO

SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO THAT.

THEY GET VERY OFFENSIVE.

THE PARENTS STEP IN, THE

STUDENTS STEP IN AND THEY TAKE

CARE OF IT THEMSELVES.

IT'S THEIR PARK.

THEY OWN IT.

>> THE IMPACT OF THIS RENOVATION

GOES FAR BEYOND BASEBALL.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD

BRIDGES BETWEEN FAMILIES,

GENERATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY

WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S ALL STARTING TO KICK IN,

AND WE DON'T SEE THE FIGHTS.

WE DON'T SEE ANY KIND OF, YOU

KNOW, POOR CHOICES BEING MADE.

THESE ARE -- THESE ARE THE

THINGS THAT WE WORK FOR.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE

HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR AND IT'S

ACTUALLY WORKING FOR US.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET

EVERYBODY TOGETHER LIKE IT

SHOULD BE.

THAT'S THE DREAM.

♪♪

>> GET IN ON THE ACTION AND

SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE LEAGUE.

FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE

UPCOMING SEASON AT

WESTTERREHAUTELITTLELEAGUE.COM.

>> SUCH A SWEET STORY.

DARRYL, I BET WITH YOUR LOVE OF

BASEBALL THAT YOU HAVE TODAY,

YOU PROBABLY PLAYED BASEBALL.

>> I PLAYED BASEBALL FROM LITTLE

LEAGUE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY

MOM PLAYED AND MY MOM COACHED.

>> WHAT DID YOU PLAY?

>> FIRST BASE.

I WAS SLOW AND SLOWER.

>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS

TO GET.

>> THE SMALL TOWN SPIRIT,

JESSICA IS HERE TO SHARE A NEW

DESTINATION.

>> TODAY IS ONE OF THE SMALLER

SMALL TOWNS THAT WE HAVE COVERED

YET.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP

IN MIND THAT NO MATTER HOW SMALL

THE TOWN, THERE'S ALWAYS

SOMETHING TO SEE AND DO.

YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO

FIND IT UNTIL NOW.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND AMAZING

BARBECUE, A FANTASTIC ANTIQUE

SHOP COMPLETE WITH A HUMOROUS

JOHN DILLINGER STORY, A WOOD

CARVING CLUB AND VEGAN SHOP?

IN CONVERSE, INDIANA.

THAT'S WHERE!

CONVERSE MAY SEEM LIKE A SLEEPY

LITTLE TOWN AT FIRST GLANCE, BUT

JUST YOU WAIT!

ITTY-BITTY ACRES IS AN ADORABLE

HOME DECOR SHOP WITH PLANS TO

BECOME A FAIRY GARDEN

DESTINATION.

REALLY, IT'S CUTER THAN CUTE AND

FULL OF SEASONAL AND GENERAL

GIFT ITEMS.

I JUST LOVE IT!

UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE A

CAHOOTS SOAP COMPANY AND FOUND

YOURSELF SURROUNDED BY HOMEMADE

SCENTS IN.

THIS CASE, SMELLING IS

BELIEVING.

EVERYTHING IS MADE ON SIGHTS,

SOAP, CANDLES, LIP BALM, AND

BROWN SUGAR AND FIG, OH, AND

HONEY.

YOU WILL SEE SPECIAL BLENDS LIKE

OUTDOORSMAN OR GARDENING.

IF YOU ARE FEELING HUNGRY, YOU

ARE IN LUCK.

RIGHT NEXT DOOR LIES A

PHENOMENAL DINING OPTION.

JEFFERSON STREET BARBECUE.

ALL THE FRIES ARE HOMEMADE.

THEY SMOKE THEIR OWN MEATS AND,

WELL, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH

THE PULLED PORK WRAP.

EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

EVERYONE IS SO NICE AND THE

PLACE ITSELF IS TASTEFULLY

DECORATED.

HOOSIERS CERTAINLY HAVE A WAY

WITH BARBECUE.

WE ALSO KNOW OUR HISTORY, DON'T

WE?

ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES AND GIFTS

MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR USUAL HOME

TURNED ANTIQUE SHOP BUT THEY

HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

ONCE UPON A TIME, THIS WAS

ACTUALLY A BOARDING HOUSE.

ONE OF THE MALE BOARDERS KINDLY

TOOK THE LADY OF THE HOUSE

SHOPPING WHEREVER HE ROLLED

THROUGH.

DURING ONE AFTERNOON ERRAND RUN,

THE MAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES

PICKED HER UP AND APOLOGIZING

STATED THAT THEY HAD SUDDEN

BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO AND HAD TO

CUT THEIR TIME SHORT.

YOU CAN IMAGINE HER SURPRISE

WHEN SHE SAW A PICTURE OF JOHN

DILLINGER IN THE PAPER FOR

ROBBING A BANK NEARBY.

SO GO, EXPLORE.

THERE'S MORE TO INDIANA THAN

RACE CARS, CORNFIELDS AND

BASKETBALL.

EVEN IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE

CONVERSE, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL

TOWN LIKE CONVERSE.

HEAD TO WWW.LITTLEINDIANA.COM.

SMALL TOWNS, DESTINATIONS NOT

DRIVE THRUS.

>> CONVERSE PRIDES ITSELF ON

BEING INDIANA'S FIRST FAIR.

IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

SO BE SURE TO VOTE

SHOWMEGRANTCOUNTY.COM FOR MORE

INFORMATION.

>>> GREAT NEWS FOR LITTLE

INDIANA.

JESSICA NUNNEMAKER WON A BEST IN

INDIANA JOURNALISM AWARDS FOR

HER BOOK.

IT'S FULL OF GREAT SUMMER ROAD

TRIP IDEAS FOR DESTINATIONS THAT

ARE HER FAVORITE AND PROBABLY

YOURS TOO.

>> WHEN YOU TAKE THE WEEKEND

ROAD TRIPS, YOU NEED GREAT MUSIC

TO GO ALONG AND WE ARE LUCKY TO

INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THE

BEST.

MEET KERRY RAY!

♪♪

>> I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A REALLY

MUSICAL HOUSEHOLD.

YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILY REUNIONS

WERE JAM SESSIONS OR THEY ALWAYS

ENDED UP THAT WAY.

I WOULD PUT DAD'S BOOTS OWN AN

GRAB A UKELELE AND I SANG MY

FIRST SOLO WHEN I WAS 3 IN

CHURCH.

I FOUND THE BLUES ON MY OWN.

IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT REAL

PEOPLE AND REAL CELEBRATIONS.

WHEN I FIRSTOR FIRST STARTED, I KNEW

VERY LITTLE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A

RECORD.

I COULD BARELY PLAY GUITAR AND I

WAS STRUMMING AND WRITING SONGS.

AND BY THE TIME I MADE THE

SECOND RECORD, I HAD MOVED TO

BROWN COUNTY AND MADE IT IN THAT

AREA.

IT WAS A LITTLE MORE EARTHY, AND

BEGAN TO SOUND MORE LIKE NEAT TO

ME.

AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I

MADE MY MOST RECENT REPORT

"SWAGGER."

I PLAY EVERYTHING FROM SOLO

SHOWS.

I LOVE TO DO THAT AND I LOVE THE

INTIMACY IT CREATES WITH THE

AUDIENCE.

AND THEN I DO A DUO.

THAT DUO IS NEARLY ALWAYS MYSELF

AND DEON O'BRIEN.

WHEN IT COMES TO INSPIRATION FOR

SONG WRITING, I THINK THE TRITE

THING TO SAY BUT THE HONEST

THING TO SAY IS IT'S LIFE.

NOT EVERYBODY WRITES SONGS FOR

THE SAME REASON AND FROM THE

SAME MACE.

THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM IS

THE TRUBY TROUBADOUR, I THINK THAT'S

MORE THE TRADITION THAT I COME

FROM, AND THE PLACE THAT I WRITE

FROM.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT ALL THE

SONGS, WHETHER DIRECTLY BEING

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL OR NOT ARE AT

LEAST CONNECTED TO MY LIFE IN

SOME WAY.

IT'S WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE'S

LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S STRUGGLE

OR CELEBRATION AND TRYING TO DIG

DEEP.

I TRY TO FILE OFF ALL THE

PARTICULAR EDGES THAT ARE ABOUT

ME IN A WAY THAT THEN I CAN

DISTILL IT DOWN TO A MORE

UNIVERSAL PART OF THE HUMAN

CONDITION.

ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO HAVE THE

LISTENER BE ABLE TO PLOP

THEMSELVES IN THE SONG AND

IMAGINE THAT IT'S ABOUT THEM.

I WRITE ABOUT LIFE, THE GOOD,

THE BAD, THE PROUD MOMENTS, THE

EMBARRASSING ONES AND I THINK

THAT BRINGING THAT VULNERABILITY

JUST BY EXAMPLE AND YOUR

WILLINGNESS TO BE HONEST ABOUT

IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE

BETTER ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN

EXPERIENCE AND ACCEPTING

THEMSELVES.

IT'S LIKE A CALLING.

I THINK IN LIFE WHATEVER YOUR

CALLING IS, WHATEVER YOU FIGURE

OUT IT IS.

IF YOU ARE UP TO IT IN I WAY YOU

ARE WINNING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD FEEL

ANY LEVEL OF CONTENTMENT DOING

ANYTHING ELSE.

IT FEELS WRONG NOT TO BE

PLUGGING MYSELF BACK INTO THAT

EXPERIENCE, AND SHARING THAT

EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE.

NOW WE'RE IN THE STUDIO WORKING

ON A BRAND NEW ONE, AND IN A LOT

OF WAYS WE ARE MAKING THE

SIMPLEST, MOST ACOUSTIC, MOST

STRIPPED DOWN RECORD I HAVE EVER

MADE.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE HERE IT IS IF

YOU LIKE IT AND HERE IT IS IF

YOU DON'T.

YOU KNOW?

>> AND NOW KERRY RAY.

♪♪

♪♪ IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO

TELL ME ♪♪

♪♪ OH, I HAVE TRAVELED ON ♪♪

♪♪ YOU KNOW, I GOT NOTHING AT

HOME.

♪♪

♪♪ YES, IF I LOOK AROUND I

SUSPECT I KNOW WHY ♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

>> KERRY RAY JUST RELEASED HER

THIRD ALBUM ENTITLED "SWAGGER"

PRODUCED BY "WEEKLY SPECIAL"

FAVORITE REVEREND PAYTON.

LEARN MORE AT HER WEBSITE,

KERRYRAY.COM.

ERICA WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS

WE CAN DO THIS SPRING.

IT'S WONDERFUL WONDERFUL.

>> COLD DRINKS, BASEBALL, IT

DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN

THAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE GO,

KERRY RAY.

♪♪

♪♪

>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE

WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY: