Warming Up the Music Hall

Today, Richard and I went to see our friend Jeff to help put up rigid foam insulation. I haven't had the experience of doing this before, so was happy to have the hands on learning. The house has really good space. This particular area, once completed, will serve as the music room. Right now, we are playing here on Thursday nights with a roaring fire going in the wood stove, but without insulation you can imagine how chilly it can get when you're any distance away from the fire! There's still more to do, but we made a good dent in the job today. It felt really good to be out helping a friend, and to be investing in our future too because we get to share that space playing tunes we love, in company of good friends. Richard and I are gathering as many ideas and building techniques as we can in anticipation of building our own place soon. And experience is the best teacher! Dad, please make note that is ME up on the ladder!

UPDATE: And know that the reason you do NOT see the floor below me is that it has been opened up to reveal the Olympic size SWIMMING POOL below!

The Good Life

Our Fiddle-icious t-shirts are being retired today but word is out that another season will begin in January with a new set of tunes!
For now, Richard and I will be joining in as many jams as possible. Tuesdays we have been getting together with Kathie Howatt (my sister). On Wednesdays we meet with our friend Jim either at his house or on the 4th Wednesdays at the UU church here in Augusta. Thursdays we travel to Pownal to gather with friends at Jeff's place. So what do we do with our spare time? Well, there's always at least one contradance on the weekend, and we spend time with our families. A busy life? Absolutely... but the really fun part is that we're doing the things we LOVE with the people we LOVE and we're doing it all with each other. Richard and I had already set our individual life priorities before we got together, and one of the things that made it so easy to get together is that we've chosen similar paths. So deciding where to spend our time together doesn't create any stress. It's finding time to catch up on the house chores, haha, but even that isn't too bad because we pitch in together and just do whatever we have time for. It's a great life we're living here!

Progress

Our Fiddle-icious fall concert series came to a close this evening. We've had four concerts, two last weekend in South Paris and Lewiston, and two today at Corthell Hall in Gorham. It has been quite a learning experience for both Richard and me, and there have been times when we've been a little frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. I'm glad we didn't. In looking back at where we were as fiddlers a year ago, and even six months ago, it is pretty amazing to be where we are now. Still lots to learn and a long way to go before we get where we want to be, but the progress is evident. The best part? We're on the journey together!

For more information on Fiddle-icious, you can check out http://www.fiddleicious.com/index.html

Back Together!

Richard has been really busy getting the new clapboards and trim in place after a simple end of summer paint job turned bad! (You may remember we had to unexpectedly replace a rotten sill). We are so happy that we finished the priming and painting, and the little house on Murray Street is finally closed in and ready for the winter. A few more little details to finish up, but the big job is behind us.

Brrrr...

It's that time of year! The intermingling you see here of winter snow and autumn leaves is really quite symbolic of the changing of our seasons. There may be a few nice days in store for us, but the reality is cold weather is fast approaching and we have only a limited amount of time to finish preparations. I know we still have a few unfinished projects and chores that once completed, will allow us to sit back with a good book, cozy quilt and hot cup of tea. Until then, I'll keep this image as a reminder of what is in store!

Hand in Hand

Well, we got our wedding rings today. Richard and I got married April 21, this year, and didn't really have time to get them (for those of you who may remember that we planned the wedding in about 4 hours). We talked about getting platinum, D-U, and various other types of metals, and even considered henna tattoos or mood rings (that would be a little dangerous for Richard to have any advance warning about my moods some days!) but in the end, we chose traditional white gold, simple and true, a symbol of our love and commitment to each other forever.

Charles Bukowski- Cause and Effect

" the best often die by their own hand just to get away, and those left behind can never quite understand why anybody would ever want to get
away from
them "

Last weekend Richard and I had the opportunity to take SK home to Boston (Somerville actually) and while there, we decided to go out for dinner and a beer at Bukowski's, a tavern nearby. This particular Bukowski poem was on the wall, among others. We had a good time, and came away with this pub coaster which seemed like a fun way to share another of our interests with all of our faithful readers. Has anyone else read this guy's work, either poems or short stories? When we're on the road, R and I sometimes like to read to each other, and Bukowski has been one of our favorites, for me I think because it is dark and insightful, drawing out some of the forbidden, unpleasant thoughts many of us have at times.

Fiddle-icious

Richard warms up at our last Fiddle-icious practice. We have been meeting in Falmouth on Mondays since the spring, working with other musicians in anticipation of fall concerts. This past Monday, we had our dress rehearsal. How fun! Concerts will be the upcoming two weekends, on October 22, 23, and 30. It has been a lot of work, not always a lot of fun, but the rewards are great. We have met some wonderful people, learned some new tunes, increased our fiddle capabilities, and been part of a fairly large orchestra. Thanks to Don Roy for his vision and commitment to this organization, without him it wouldn't happen. His wife Cindy Roy is also instrumental in keeping things going, and adds her talents and instruction in step dancing and piano. There are numerous others who have helped, and I don't know all their names, but THANKS to them also. This orchestra has a lot of fiddles, but also are people playing guitar, double bass, piano, whistle, flute, accordion, and even a tuba. For more information, contact Pam at fiddlehedz@yahoo.com or comment on this blog site. Tickets are still available for the performances.

Flooded!

The Fayette Corner Road was barricaded on Monday October 17th. As you can see, there was standing water on both sides with very little passable road in places. The nice thing about stopping here to take a few photographs was the quiet solitude of a cold, dreary fall day. Reports of flooding after the recent rains made headlines here in Maine, and in New England. Perhaps a few days of sunshine might be in store for us!

Little Erkle

This is not a very flattering picture of little Avery, but his mom gave me permission to post it because it is so darned cute! Avery has just caught a pass from his Grampah. I think he might have missed it completely if not for the holiday glasses which I'm sure have improved his vision. This All-Star Athlete will be one to watch in coming years to see just where his talents really lie. Now, here's a question for Miss Tonya... does this photo do justice to the description I had given you? :)

Worrrrd Powwwwer!

Back by popular demand, here is our Avery perusing the crossword puzzle book. Give this little guy a book of any kind and he is happy and content. Now if he just could get the clue for 23 across....

My Favorite Accordian Player

Move over Lawrence Welk wanna-be's... My heart belongs to Richard. We've been having a lot of fun playing different instruments. Here you see Richard playing his accordian. R also plays piano, fiddle, guitar and mandolin (there may be other instruments I haven't mentioned too). Music and dancing are a big part of our life together, as those things have been important in our individual lives. As for me? I was playing around with the guitar and harmonica today and having a fabulous time! We're fortunate to have so many different instruments in the house, and the encouragement from each other to develop our talents and interests as the mood occurs.

On the Move

Avery came to visit us this afternoon while his Mom and Dad went to a wedding. Grampah and I really look forward to little A's visits. He's very easy to have around, good natured and easily entertained. Now that he is crawling and pulling himself up on furniture, we will be entertained (and on guard) as well. His smile is the best.

Cover Story

Our little house is getting the big cover up after a couple weeks of major attention. Richard has finished the structural repairs, placed new insulation and sheathing, and finally a layer of Ty-Vek. We covered it all with plastic and cleaned up the work site in anticipation of a rainy weekend, but will finish the project next week by replacing the clapboards.

The Saga Continues

Here is our little house with the old sill removed and the new wood in place. Richard has done a fabulous job at making sure everything is securely fastened and shored up. This afternoon, the new insulation went in. The siding should be back on by the end of the weekend!

Mr & Mrs Howatt Return

Kathie and David are back from their Las Vegas wedding vacation. Richard and I had fun decorating their car at the airport, complete with balloons, static stickers, and marker messages on the windows! They had a great time, took lots of photographs, and are ready to settle into spending time with the pups, Bentley and Fern, who have been well tended by the Davis' next door. WELCOME HOME MR & MRS HOWATT.

Happy Birthday

Betty Green is celebrating her birthday, and we're celebrating Betty Green! Though I have only known her for a relatively short time, 'mom' is great! Richard has nothing but praises to sing about her, and it is easy to see why that is so. She is open and honest, you always know how she feels, she is kind and caring, and always ready and willing to lend a helping hand, encouragement, or whatever else anyone might need, whether it is her own family, or others in our global community. I am so fortunate to have her as part of my family. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We love you!

Dancin' Shoes

We're trading in our work boots for some dancin' shoes tonight. Time to get out and have a good time away from the house and chores. What are your favorite Saturday evening activities?

This Ole House

Richard and I have been working on the outside of the house this summer, scraping and painting and taking inventory of 'This Ole House'. We got the back side and street side of the house done, and saved what I thought would be the easiest side for last. Uh-oh, not so. When Richard went to secure a couple of loose clapboards, he didn't feel much (any) resistance underneath. After some thought and discussion, R removed the fairly new clapboards to the point shown here only to find the sill rotten the full length of the house. It seems that whoever went in to do repairs before only went 'skin deep' and left the bigger job for someone else... the Green Team. Richard is amazing though, he has gotten the old sill out, and replaced all the way from the north/left end to past the door. The plan is to finish it today and get things insulated, re-sided, and sealed up for winter. We had friends, Carol and Sticks, visit us Friday overnight... Sticks is an old house renovator, and he says we're on the right track with the repairs, that is good encouragement for us, being novices at this sort of thing. Well, that's it from this neck of the woods~ just fiddlin' around on an old house!