Off She Goes

Off with the old (red paint) and on with the new (green paint) for a fresh new entrance to our home here in Wayne. The bright red door was never my favorite , though we've seen a lot of homes with the front door this color once we moved here (funny how you notice things like that all of a sudden). The paint was flaking, the knob kept jiggling loose, and it just didn't make for a nice feeling of "Welcome!".
This being our first full weekend home without other things on our 'HaveToDoList', I chose a few high priority projects that had been on my mind... the first of which was to UPDATE THE FRONT ENTRANCE. The result is a beautiful freshly painted green door, a new lockset, and some lovely pink flowers to greet all who enter... and just as important, to greet ME when I come home 'cause it's all about setting the mood before you get into the house! Richard likes this new color too, by the way! This color is called 'Campground' and is put out by Glidden. I scraped the flaking paint, wire brushed and then used steel wool, vacuumed up all the dust and then wiped the door down before priming it and putting two coats of paint. I was quite proud of myself for changing out the lockset unassisted... we chose an antique brass finish Schlage brand, and will use the same products on the back door.
The flowers came from Gingerbread Farms here in Wayne, my favorite place to look for annuals, perennials, herbs and shrubs. With the help of Sue, we chose some pink daisies and an assortment of pink petunias. I also have some pink geraniums (which you can't see in this photo). I got another light pink geranium but I think it might go out by the back door.
What's next on the agenda? I'm not sure. I have, as mentioned, a mental 'to do' list, but I choose from it as the mood strikes me and the weather presents itself rather than being rigidly attached to anything written on paper... that method suited me well in the past, but I like the way things happen these days with more consideration of what I FEEL like doing. Lots more fun! Well, off I go to see what I can do today!
Off She Goes is a nice jig that you can find in several resources including the New England Fiddler's Repertoire, the Fiddler's Fakebook and the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes. It's a tune that we played at Fiddle-icious this past year too.

High Dad in the Morning

This one's for me dah...

to show him what his girl's made of these days :) There was a time when I would not have thought it possible for me to climb this high on a ladder for any reason (other than rescue my children, but thank goodness that was never necessary). When we bought the place, I knew (and I believe I shared with Richard) that I would NOT be going up high to do ANYTHING. I didn't want to build up his hopes that he'd have a willing partner in these home maintenance high wire acts.

Today I decided I wanted to put sealer on the siding and trim on this part of the house. And Richard was going to be working on the new building. That left, oh yeah, me. So I started with the lower area and got that done easily with a step ladder. Then I progressed to go up the ladder (that R had been so sweet to set up for me) to do the part above the roof of the porch. That only left the middle section... the hardest section... the highest section. But, I just kept at it, doing what was comfortable, being careful, stretching as much as possible. Only one small corner where the trim juts out beyond the wall was just too much... Richard did that for me. It's nice to have this part of the house done! Tomorrow I'll finish up a few odds & ends of projects from the weekend... it's been nice weather in between the rain showers, and it's been really nice to not have to go anywhere!

Devil in the Woodpile

Firewood is a devil of a chore... known to keep you warm while you're cutting, while you're stacking, when you bring it in, and finally when you BURN it. Richard has been busy this weekend cutting firewood for our winter's fuel, and he's done a really great job. While he's been out doing that, I've been catching up on household chores inside and out... cleaning the house, painting the front door and changing the lockset, mowing the yard etc. We took a little break this morning and went to Home Depot, which we did NOT enjoy and were both HAPPY to get out of that place... we didn't get everything we wanted or needed. And for some reason it's not a happy place to be... dark and a din of noise. Much better to be home on the property being productive and using our time wisely. After a quick dinner, we're off to read for the evening... enjoying being home! The picture above is only a small sampling of what R has been up to for the past two days... he is some hard working man and I'm lucky we share our lives with one another.

Hull's (non)Victory

The hull's were defeated today by the huller!

Strawberries are in season! Last year I didn't make time to go pick berries, and I regretted it quite a lot. True, they take a little time to pick, and then when you get home they need to be hulled, rinsed, sliced, and frozen (or however you choose to keep them) but it's so worth the time and effort. I went to the local strawberry fields here in Wayne (Stevenson's) and picked with my mom, my sister, my niece, and my great-nephew, Gavin, this morning. We had a really nice time together.
One thing that I got recently as a gift was a strawberry huller. Up until today, I'd always removed the hulls with my thumbnails (which always ended up being uncomfortable from being pulled so much) or by using a knife (which is a little awkward). This huller rocks! Quick and easy, and no annoying discomfort aftward.
We'll freeze our berries in zip lock bags. This makes them easy to thaw and easy to use... a tasty treat no matter what time of year!

Hull's Victory can be found in several books including the Fiddler's Fakebook, the New England Fiddler's Repertoire, and Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Done Gone

Our house on Murray Street is DONE GONE... hooray! When Richard and I bought our house in Wayne, we hadn't sold the little house in Augusta. No matter at the time, we knew in our hearts that Fiddle Ridge was where we wanted to be. So we've been making mortgage payments on TWO houses, and doing some repairs at Murray Street while we're making some improvements at Fiddle Ridge... phew! Can you say OVERLOAD?
This morning we signed papers to sell the Augusta house... deal is closed and we now are the happy owners of only ONE mortgage :) Nice timing too since we have the long holiday weekend ahead of us. We have purposely NOT scheduled anything, though we do have a few options if we want to participate in activities. Right now though, we're thinking we want to spend some solid time at home working in the yard, building the workshop, gardening, and in general NESTING in our home. I think it'll be nice to be rid of the distraction of the other house, and to indulge in passionate bursts of creative home improvements without the guilt of having to spend time on the other place.
Done Gone is a tune from the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Daisy's Jig

More flowers from the garden. I get a meditation emailed to me each morning... it gives me a thought to focus on for the day. Today's is "Peace of mind comes with daily discipline" and I find this is so true. There are a couple of ways to think about this.
First is the short explanation that comes with the titled meditation... to have quiet time every day to just 'be'... whether it is prayer, meditation or some other way to focus your mind.
Second is my first impression when I read the title... that regular attention to the things that you want done (chores, exercise, etc) brings a sense of peace.
Either of these help to de-clutter my mind and bring peace to my soul. This in turn helps create energy and joy, and this generates creativity and passion... for me anyway! What are your thoughts?

Those Blues

Blue iris' are beautiful... deep and rich in color against the bright greens of foliage in the garden. The gardens here are a constant flow of color so far... just about the time one flower fades away another one opens and a new splash of color graces the south yard.

All the rain we're getting is making everything super lush and green. The garden is growing, the grass is growing, the ferns are growing, and the weeds are growing! It would be easy to be singing "Those Blues" which is a tune from The Curvy Road to Corinth, but even the memory of the blue of the flowers keeps the other blues away!

Cape Breton Symphony Strathspey

The concert tonight was great! Beolach was only four in number rather than five... the group had been on Cape Cod for a folk festival and on their way home... the keyboard player, Mac Morin kept going I guess, he'll get back to Cape Breton before the others! The venue was pretty interesting. We followed the directions, which were perfect, we headed up the mountain on the slippery dirt road (wet from all the rain), followed the signs... to a parking lot with a big building that did not look like a concert hall. It's hard to describe, but definitely not what we expected, nor did it sound like Beolach expected it either. Very remote, very undeveloped, very 'rural Maine'. The concert was acoustic, in a large room, and we had a good time. We weren't in the front row, but because of the small area, we were able to see the fiddling styles of both Wendy MacIsaac and Mairi Rankin. The guitar player, Pat Gillis, is left handed and he learned by just picking up a guitar and playing... so, he plays left handed with the guitar reversed so the strings are upside down! The piper, Ryan J MacNeil played a variety of wind instruments. Wendy also filled in on keyboard since Mac wasn't there... oh yeah, neither was his keyboard, someone brought one in to use! We had a really good evening... great date night!
Cape Breton Symphony Strathspey comes from Jerry Holland's and the Cape Breton Jig can be found in the Portland Collection Volume Two. If anyone gets a chance to see Beolach, or to go to the New England Celtic Arts in Carthage, we highly recommend both!

Cape Breton Jig

I'm sure we'll hear a few jigs this evening at the Beolach concert we'll attend in Carthage, ME. Not too far of a drive for us from Wayne, the event takes place at the New England Celtic Arts. We had not heard of this venue before... a friend e-mailed us the information. This group of young adults is one of my favorites for Cape Breton style music. I've had the opportunity to see the group a few times, the first was at the Celtic Colours Festival held in Cape Breton. Various members of Beolach also do concerts and workshops solo or in small groups. We love hearing live performance, but distance and ticket prices are often prohibitive without a lot of advance planning. The concert tonight is both affordable, and less than an hour away~ both factors that made it easy to say "YES".

All Young

We're all young at heart here at Fiddle Ridge... that includes our photographer, Richard, as well as all of us who range in age from 1 to 49!
It is a rare occasion that we are all together these days. Careers, family, and location all present their own challenges. Last night though, everyone was able to spend the night out at our house and we had a really nice time this morning fixing breakfast, playing, and then eating together. As you may imagine, Avery is our focal point and we just love watching him explore his world.
The day is well under way now. The boys are off to do chores at Bryan's property and Jen has headed back home. My parents and Richard's parents will be coming over later and we'll enjoy a nice lobster lunch... that will be a lot of fun too.
Keeping in close touch with family helps keep me young. My children, nieces and nephews are up on all the latest fashion styles, language and activities... I get first hand accounts of what's happening in the 'real world'. Working helps me stay abreast of current trends too. And probably the most important tools in staying young at heart are having a postitive attitude and an air of expectancy and wonder, no matter what is going on.
All Young is listed in the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Piney Woods Gal

This picture was taken a month or so ago, when Toby and SK were staying with us. We had walked out along some old wood roads where Richard runs sometimes. This pond is along the way, and is surrounded by pines... beaver dams are evident and many different birds can be heard here.

Paint the Paint

This is the barn at the Murray Street house... it needs painting before I can sell the house. Richard and I have painted the house itself, but hadn't gotten to the barn before we found the house in Wayne and moved.

I spent a good part of today scraping and painting and got the top half of the wall done over as far as the doors, plus the fascia above that section. Rain showers put a halt to the project, so I'll go back and finish tomorrow morning. A few other minor repairs, replacement of the oil tank next Tuesday, and the house will be ready to set a closing date. This little house served me well for the time I was there, and gave Richard and I a nice transition time before finding a place of our own.

The Lighthouse Collection is where you'll find Paint the Paint.

1000 Bows

The prevailing topic of conversation recently, at least in fiddling circles, is about bows. There was a luthier & bowmaker at Maine Fiddle Camp, Nate Slobodkin. He talked about how bows are made, how to select a bow, and even disassembled his bow to demonstrate how it was put together. Monday night at Fiddle-icious we had a master bowmaker, George Rubino, talk to us about how he was trained, the different bows available, and how they are assembled. He will be coming back to continue the discussion, and share tips on maintenance.
Richard and I have five bows between the two of us. I have a really inexpensive plastic bow that I got with my first fiddle; a fairly nice commercial grade bow that has been repaired; and another fairly nice commercial grade bow. Richard has a carbon fiber bow that he likes a lot, and also a nice pernambuco bow that he likes well enough but hasn't totally connected with. So, I asked to try it out... so much nicer than what I've been playing! We keep the other bows handy in case of emergency... and there have been occasions when someone got to a jam without a bow of their own... but I really enjoyed playing this evening with the pernambuco bow. It's light, smooth, responsive. We both tried a lot of bows before selecting the ones we have, and there really is no end to the amount of money you could spend on a bow. Literally, you could try a thousand bows before you find the 'perfect' one.
1000 Bows can be found in the Lighthouse Collection.

Close Call in the Tickle

Ticks are everywhere. Stories about ticks are nearly as plentiful. Until recently, I've had a fairly healthy respect for ticks and have looked up images on the internet (such as this one here) and kept my eyes out for ticks. Since moving out to the woods, I have been moderately diligent about 'tick checks' for myself, Richard, and whoever is here helping out (mainly SK and Toby so far). I have felt a couple crawl up my leg and brushed them away, and that at least gave me the idea of what they looked like in real life. How I got to be my age and never have seen one (or paid attention to them anyway) I do not know.
So a couple weeks ago, I was standing in Richard's office talking to him, and he glanced up and said "What is THAT? I think it's a tick" and indeed it was... he pulled the dreaded creature (this was a regular wood/dog type tick) and I immediately went to take a shower and check for more... which I did not find, thankfully! Since then, every time I'm not sure whether a dark dot on me in a hard to see place (like my lower back for one example) I run to ask "Do you think that's a tick!?" which the answers so far have been "No, just a freckle" or "Looks like a mole to me" or "Hmmm, have you showered yet today?".
At Fiddle Camp Friday night, we were getting ready to turn in, and even though I'd spent the entire day and evening in sandals, I decided I'd need to sleep in my wool socks... don't ask me why this was important because the temperatures this weekend were SO warm! Anyway, as I'm pulling my socks over my feet I realize they are a little dirty (from being in sandals) and I go to brush the crud off but there's this one piece that will NOT come off... 'OH NO' I say to myself... 'I think it's a, a, a----' "Richard, IS THAT A TICK ON MY FOOT?!?!" to which he answers "Well, yes, I think it is a tick".
My fabulous husband pulled the creature out of my skin (it was slightly attached but hadn't been there too long) and after we carefully checked each other for possibly more, we calmed down and went to sleep.
Saturday morning, I again inspected myself for ticks (you're probably wondering if I do anything else with my time these days besides tick checks and fiddle tunes) and found OH NO, a tiny black dot... could it be a deer tick? I still haven't seen one of these, but I hear they are very small, and look like a black dot. It's time for our first workshop and I decide that I'll be safe enough waiting until after the workshop to seek out the camp nurse for a definitive answer.
After the workshop, we look for the nurse, only to realize we don't remember her name, or what she looks like. So, we walk around a little bit, go to a cabin that says "Nurse" on it, find no one, and head back to our Loon Nest. On the way there, I was a woman who I thought could be the nurse... Richard ran to her and verified her position as indeed 'Camp Nurse' and we had her look at my 'possible tick'. Nothing. Just a little black spot, no tick. Phew. Relief.
The rest of the weekend was uneventful in the tick department, and I'm sure I'll become less paranoid of ticks as time goes on. We do live in the woods, and we love being outdoors so we're going to have to accept the fact that we're risking exposure.
We'll continue to be mindful, keep an eye out for suspicious characters attaching to our skin, and keep asking "Do you think that's a tick?"

Brilliancy Medley

Brilliancy Medley comes from the Fiddler's Fakebook. Todays post about this past weekend's Maine Fiddle Camp includes a few photos for which I really wanted to have separate titles... so I've composed a medley of thoughts for my faithful readers today!

Say Old Man Can You Play the Fiddle...

This tune is an old favorite of mine from the Fiddler's Fakebook, though I don't play it often enough! Richard is certainly not old (and neither am I, haha) but once in a while I'll affectionately call him 'old man'. We had many opportunities to jam along with folks this weekend. This little stage with the piano is the focal point of the 'big tent' where all campers gather for orientation and performances. When not used for mass group events, it somehow continues to be a center for the 'really great musicians' to play. Anyone can join in, and even if we don't know the tune, or don't play it up to speed, we're learning more how to find one or two basic notes, and learn more from there. It's all a process. Fiddle Camp is a really fun, encouraging environment to do this.

Honest Woman of Many Trades...

can be found in the Lighthouse Collection... Cynthia plays a newly learned tune for a couple of fellow fiddlers after a workshop. The campers are grouped according to ability and age, and assigned a bird name (we are the Loons) and a nest location (tent near one of the buildings). The Loons gathered here for four regular workshops, and our instructors came to us. Typically, the instructor has an idea in mind to teach a new tune, often with some bowing or drone technique. They will spend an hour with us, breaking the tune down into pieces so we can learn by ear, and then putting it all together.
I've been attached to books and sheet music, and have found it a challenge to learn by what I hear... but it's getting easier all the time. The trick is to remember it AFTER the instructor has left! Even more of a trick is to remember FOUR new tunes at the end of the weekend :)

The Lighthouse Collection also offers Sweets for Breakfast... Here I am, enjoying a fabulous meal (breakfast I believe) cooked up by Second Breakfast. The food was delicious... it's so much fun to be at camp and have all meals provided for you... things always taste a little better when you don't fix them yourself! Breakfast generally included yoghurt, granola, raisins... an assortment of cold cereals... oatmeal... sausage (very delicious and not greasy at all), scrambled eggs, home fries... assorted breads and toasts. Juice, coffee, tea complete the breakfast menu.
For me, I like to start my day with yoghurt and granola, and coffee... but because we were at camp and it was right there for me to choose, I added sausage, eggs and home fries to the start of my day! Mmmmm... delicious!

Kitchen Girl

One fun thing this weekend was working in the kitchen, helping with washing dishes and learning about the Hobart dishwasher. The meals at camp were fabulous and served up by Second Breakfast... healthy and delicious foods, featuring as many products grown and raised locally in Maine as possible.
The call went out Friday evening for volunteers to help out in the kitchen whenever possible to ease the burden of providing meals to I don't even know how many people. I was compelled to go in and cut vegetables, or help in whatever way I could, but alas the workshops called and I did after all go to camp to fiddle... but still, there was the little voice talking in my ear saying "Can you help out for a few minutes?"
Saturday after dinner, I heeded the call and went to the kitchen to offer my services in washing dishes... I was received with a hearty "YES!" I informed Richard that I was going to help 'for a few minutes' and would meet him at the Fiddle-icious rehearsal in a few minutes.
Well, let me tell you, they were backed up with dishes from here to there! Piles of dishes, and still dessert to serve! So, I went to the back sink, and there was the giant overhead spray arm I remember from high school cafeteria days! Aha, this is going to be fun, I think to myself... so I start rinsing and loading racks for the Hobart. A nice woman came along and showed me the PROPER way to work... load the dirty dishes in the rack and then spray them en masse because doing them one at a time and loading them individually TAKES TOO MUCH TIME and there were A LOT OF DISHES. Well, I hadn't really scoped out the volume of work waiting to be processed but when I saw the frantic look in her eye, and heard her say "I learned this process when doing the dishes THIS MORNING" I thought I'd better pay better attention instead of just thinking I'd waltz into the kitchen and do a nice little good deed... Oh MY GOD, there was a mountain of dishes!
Okay, so this is the procedure... Load dishes into rack, spray all the food out as good and as fast as you can, and shove the loaded rack into the Hobart and pull the door down. Start on the next rack. We did this, rack after rack after rack after rack for I don't know how long... Thank GOD the Hobie works fast or it would never have worked.
Now, you can suggest paper plates and throwaway utensils, but part of what I love about Maine Fiddle Camp, and these caterers is the commitment to stewardship of the environment. So, if it means I give up part of my camp time to help this process work, HOORAY THAT I CAN AND WILL PARTICIPATE. It means the dishes all got washed, dried and stored for the next meal. It means that all the food scrapings got collected for the pigs. It means there was a very minimal amount of actual trash. And it means that almost everything we used gets reused for the next meal. And esthetically, I mean really, don't you think that it's nice eating off 'real' plates intstead of paper?
We did use paper plates today for the cookout... so out of 5 meals served and countless snacks, there was still not much in the way of throwaway garbage. I'd say that's a good deal.
SK turned me onto the name Hobart, so when I went into that kitchen on Saturday, I knew I was in for a real kitchen appliance experience.
There may be another post or two about this weekend's Maine Fiddle Camp. For now, I'm going to go unpack our gear, start the laundry, and maybe play a tune or two.
Kitchen Girl can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Puncheon Camps

This photo is archived from last years Maine FiddleCamp. In the background you can see the dining hall, one of many buildings on the Camp NEOFA grounds where this event takes place. You'll also see many ages represented here, and get an idea of the community of musicians gathered together for this great weekend.
Richard and I will be participating in this years Maine Fiddle Camp June weekend, and have been looking forward to it for months now! We'll be learning new tunes, improving technique, hearing great music, laughing and joking around, camping, and sharing meals and stories with friends. I have been fortunate enough to have attended several years in the past, and no matter what the weather has been, I've had a great time. This weekend looks to be sunny and warm, which makes it even more fun.
This weekend also celebrates Father's Day, and I just can't say enough about my dad. He's been there for all the big, and little, things in my life... always supportive, encouraging, and also offering advice and comments along the way... Thanks Dad! Traditionally, the years I've gone to Fiddle Camp, part of my gift to my dad has been to stop by and play the new tunes I've learned... I'm looking forward to doing that this year with Richard. We'll be catching up with R's dad too, and may play some tunes there!
I was looking up the word puncheon, and this is what I found... all definitions seem likely to apply to this weekends camping, though the cask would have to be filled with non-alcoholic drink to comply with camp rules, haha...
pun·cheon1 (pŭn'chən) n.
A short wooden upright used in structural framing.
A piece of broad, heavy, roughly dressed timber with one face finished flat.
A punching, perforating, or stamping tool, especially one used by a goldsmith.
[Middle English punchon, from Old French ponçon, ponchon, from Vulgar Latin *pūnctiō, pūnctiōn-, punch, from *pūnctiāre, to pierce, from Latin pūnctus, past participle of pungere, to prick.]
pun·cheon2 (pŭn'chən) n.
A cask with a capacity of from 72 to 120 gallons (273 to 454 liters).
The amount of liquid contained in a puncheon.
[Middle English ponchon, from Old French poinçon, poinchon, punch, cask (probably because the casks were inspected and marked with a punch).

My Old Fiddle

Fiddler's get pretty attached to their fiddles~ maybe not every fiddle they've ever owned, but certainly the ones they have for any length of time. From my observations, fiddlers are not opposed to trying other fiddles, and will consider trading up, but it takes quite a lot for a fiddler to actually give up their old fiddle once they've become attuned to it. Each fiddle, each bow, and even the accessories that go along with playing, make the 'package' unique. Add to that the personality and preferences of the fiddler, and it is no wonder that fiddling inspires such emotion in the player and the listener, and certainly in the dancer!
It may be the same story with other instruments, and I'd be interested to hear personal accounts of anyone's intimate relationship with their guitar, bass, drum, etc. For me, my world is fiddling, and it is with that instrument that I feel connected. I still enjoy playing piano, guitar, mandolin, and a host of others on occasion... but it is the fiddle that catches my ear, stirs my soul, and draws me to the jams and dances.
Fiddler's also get pretty attached to the person they allow to work on their fiddles. It's a supreme act of trust to bring your instrument to someone, leave it there, and have them do a repair on it. I've gone to a few people over the years, and have had good experiences, and met some interesting luthiers... I usually take my fiddle or bow concerns to Nate Slobodkin in Bangor . Richard has made connections over the years, too. Right now, his fiddle is at Somerset Violins having the bridge reset by Harry Richter, as well as a couple of other recommended adjustments. We both like Harry, and trust that he will do whatever is best for the fiddle.
We even name fiddles... right now I'm playing the 'Deer Isle Fiddle', you may remember its purchase from last year. I still have 'My Old Fiddle', and probably always will. It was hard to move on from it, and this 'new' fiddle has many of the same tonal qualities that I love about the old fiddle. Richard has a loaner from Harry, it's probably a fine fiddle, but neither of us have connected with it... R will be heading back to Waterville to pick up his own fiddle later today... slightly changed but still a good old friend.

Flowers of Edinburgh

I'm trying something new with photos... to see pictures of some of the beautiful flowers in our perennial gardens, click here.

Evergreen Lasses

This is where I spend 3-4 days a week working at Club E... it's a great dental practice! We have a committed team of employees (aka Evergreen Lasses) & doctors (aka Boston Boys) working together to provide quality dental care.
What makes this a great place to work? It's not just the team, or the dentists, or the philosophy and common mission... it is also the facility. The building expresses all the things just mentioned, and more. The presentation makes the first statement to each patient who comes to us for care... and it also speaks about our team of professionals. I think it says "We care about where we spend our time, and we care that we want the best for ourselves and for you."
You may notice there are a lot of windows... I've spent time this weekend washing them! They should be finished this week. It is amazing how much of a difference there is between those that have been cleaned and those that have not yet received attention!
On another note, Sunday afternoon was a time of celebration for my nephew Matt, as he graduated high school. I CANNOT BELIEVE I FORGOT MY CAMERA, no pictures of this event. We had a good time, enjoyed good food, and really enjoyed being outside in the SUNSHINE :) One highlight of the afternoon was the attempts to open the new guitar case with the Fender inside... the latches were locked and many tries with the keys were unsuccessful... it took an engineer to finally figure out the design... Richard turned the key AND slid the latch and was able to open the case, much to the delight of all who were watching... HOORAY Richard for saving the day :) Matt has worked hard to reach this goal, and we're all proud of him!

Life Like A Sea In Constant Motion

This tune title comes from The Fiddler's Throne, and as I was going through the very long list of tune titles we've compiled, this one caught my eye. What a great visual definition of life!

This archived photo is from last year when Richard and I went to Popham. We were surprised to see Dick Green (you may have read about him in some State of Maine fishing articles ) casting just offshore... we wondered why he didn't answer our calls "Hello..." but perhaps he was just intent on catching the fish of the day.

Richard wrote me a poem about love being like an ocean. Love and life both ebb and flow, are strong and surging, can be quiet and still, take on color and light from the surrounding atmosphere, support life, and teem with activity. I like to think about how my life, and my love are like the sea... deep, bold, every changing yet ever constant, full of undercurrents that follow the channels yet press against the rocky shores, reflective of the sunshine or clouds.

Buddy At Big Pond

The title for this fiddle tune reminds me of this work week. Dr P, Joleeen, T-Madd and I (among others, but those are the main characters in this story) have worked together as a tight, focused work machine to get A LOT of quality dental care given to A LOT of people. We do usually work at a good pace to accomplish a fore-set goal, but this week we went above and beyond... a common super-goal, clearly defined parameters, and extremely good communication between the four of us has made this one of the BEST WEEKS I've had at work for a long time. Newly conceived 'Spot Bonus' is now being instituted :) for a quick reward for those who play the "Let's Do It" Game!
Buddy at Big Pond comes from Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes

Return to Milltown

Back to work I go after a week and a half of being home. This has been an interesting vacation for me, and I have alternated between whether or not I thought it was a 'good' one.
I haven't accomplished anything amazing. We haven't traveled to Florida or Virginia. I have not used my time as effectively as I would have liked. For all those things, I was feeling like I didn't have a very good vacation... like I'd have been better off working.
BUT...
... in reality, I've had a wonderful vacation. In the months prior to having time off, we've moved, we're still 'newlyweds' getting used to living together, and I'd been spending quite a lot of energy getting the other house ready to sell. What had happened, as I see it now, was I had 'burn-out'. Low energy, low creativity, low motivation to do a big project. I needed this vacation to unwind, get to the point where I could relax, and have time and space to 'veg out'.
The great thing is, I had a really good vacation. We did a lot. We did travel to Brattleboro and I attended my first Dawn Dance. We thoroughly enjoyed having Toby and SK here, and I'm happy that I was totally here with them and not going to work. We put our garden in, and that was a major project! We spent time taking SK to MA with no deadlines for getting back. I spent a day with Avery, playing and reading books. We've danced, we've jammed, we've played music at home, we've talked. We've visited family, we've got the workshop started. I've had time to have long telephone conversations with Jen and Bryan. I feel rested. And I feel ready to get back into the routine I love. I'm so lucky to have had this time to get my bearings, get re-focused, and to reset my priorities in life... and when I look at how the past week and a half has been spent, I really have used my time effectively doing all the things I say mean the most to me. Thanks to Richard for putting up with me when I've been frustrated with myself for not getting things accomplished, for his support when I put all my focus into the garden, and keeping 'us' focused on doing things together.
Now, to get ready for work!

Virginia

This afternoon we drove to Topsham to visit Richard's brother, Gregg, who is visiting from Virginia. R's mom fixed dinner (fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, tomatoes) and dessert (apple pie & ice cream)... delicious! We'd planned to help celebrate their dad's birthday, but 'Pop' is off fishing, and the birthday wishes were shared via telephone call.
It's fun for me to spend time with Richard's family, because it helps me to know him better. The relational distance gives me a different perspective than when R and I interact directly. Not only does it give me better insight for R, it also helps me get to know the family better too, by listening and watching them talk with one another! The stories are great, their memories of events years ago are always interesting and varied :), and I find it fascinating to see similar facial expressions and gestures evident in each one of them.
Gregg will be back this summer with his wife and two boys for a week long vacation, and I'm really looking forward to that. The concept of family is very important to them, as it is to us. My own sisters are my best friends in the world, and it's so nice to know that my husband holds those same values with his brother. And I think the best thing to appreciate is my mom & dad, and Richard's mom and dad for the family values they've demonstrated over the years.
Virginia can be found in The Fiddler's Throne.

Clark's Favorite

What does it take to be a super-hero these days? Is it anything different, or more, or less than the good ol' days?
Richard recently finished reading a book about Superman, a novel that paralleled the stories of the super hero we grew up with... but the story took a few twists and turns of its own too. The ongoing attraction and tension between Lois, Clark, and Superman is a triangular interaction that plays itself out over and over in real life. Bringing me back to my original question... what DOES it take to be a super-hero these days?

Maiden That Jigs it In Style

I got a web link to a live session from a Celtic Colours performance, and I just was so completely engaged...
There are many different fiddle styles, many tunes, many performers from which to learn. I sometimes am not sure just which is my favorite. When I hear "old time" my soul just wants to lean back and fiddle along. When I hear the tunes played in Cape Breton, I want to 'dance my feet' and play along. When I hear the Quebecois tunes being played, I want to fiddle along. The strathspeys, jigs, reels, waltzes, two steps, hambos, schottische... whatever it is, I want to fiddle along.
Maybe I'm developing my own style, a combination of all the fiddle styles I love. I guess that's what it's all about when it comes right down to it... learn as much as you can as far as technique and tunes and then just let your own soul dig into the music and find your own way to let it out!

Visiting Dignitaries

Jen and Avery visited this morning... what a treat :) Though I've seen them both at family social functions, and I talk with Jen on the phone, and I was with A on Tuesday, it is not often enough that Jen and I get to sit and talk! Life gets pretty busy, hectic, and out of control in many ways... that's usually what hinders us from regular girl time rather than not wanting to do the mother/daughter thing. I know some moms/ daughters just don't have the desire to get together, so I'm really happy and proud to know that when the opportunity presents itself, there is no hesitation on either of our parts to clear our day to do just that.
Conversation invariably turns to 'Davis Girl' issues, things that my sisters, myself, and Jen have to deal with... in particular our personalities, and our inbred expectations of ourselves and those in our spaces. I know that to some degree, most women these days juggle husbands/partners, careers, personal needs, family in general, household chores, community/social obligations... not an easy balance for anyone. Martha Stewart comes to mind, because she's gotten such a bum rap about so many things. She has been subject of many jokes and snide remarks because she evokes an air of excellence in homemaking and women's lives in general. Well, guess what? I LOVE Martha! She may not have the best communication methods or the most tact in the world, and she may come across as sometimes rude and exacting, but she knows how to run a household efficiently, and how to maximize her time and resources. I am definitely NOT a Martha Stewart wannabe, but I do agree with many of her values, and I think my sisters and my daughter also lean toward having their lives, work spaces, home spaces be that sort of order & harmony with their personal life goals.
So, I want to thank Jen for taking time out of her day to come to Wayne, and visit me today. I am really proud of her for taking a stand for what she believes to be important, and for making such strong attempts to juggle all aspects of her life. I like to think we inspire each other :) as much as my sisters (Jen's aunts) inspire us. SK asked recently if she could be a 'Davis Girl', and I said of course. I should have qualified it a little bit, because in addition to the status symbol which is fun and cool, comes a little bit of setting yourself up for a bit of derision from those around you who like the 'idea' of your being excellent and accomplished, but not liking the 'impact' of how that gets accomplished. Being a Davis Girl is, for me, one of the highest honors I know!
Visiting Dignitaries comes from the Lighthouse Collection.

Peace River Jig

We have lovely flowers blooming in the perennial bed these days... purple, white, and yellow iris... lilacs on the side... and light pink columbine. SK shared with me that columbine means dove, and that each flower is in the shape of a dove... many doves meeting together to form a flower.
Doves are a symbol of peace, and it seems to me that a garden of flowers, gently fragrancing the air, gracing the yard with color, is about the most peaceful image I can think of.

High Reel

Yesterday found this fiddler spending the day with the grandson... what fun we had! A is so interested in his world, and has so much personality. He absolutely LOVES reading... he has a lot of hard books with bright pictures. If I sit cross-legged on the floor, he gets a book, stands in front of me facing away and then backs up to sit down in the 'seat' I've created with my bent legs. He'll sit like that for quite a few stories.
I brought my fiddle and some books along with me, on the chance I'd have a few minutes to play a few tunes... this is a good practice for all fiddlers to adopt. There have been many times I've been happy to have the fiddle along to play, and a few times when I regretted leaving it behind when I could have played... I haven't ever been sorry to bring it along even when it doesn't get played. Anyway, Avery got the book out of my bag and did his little routine where he backs into me to sit on my lap. I don't know what he thought when we opened the book and there were no bright pictures, or even many words! I believe this may have been his first introduction to the world of printed music! So, I started singing and following my finger along with the notes, to give him the idea of associating these things together.
I did play some tunes while he was playing, and he really liked that too... when I'd stop he'd immediately look up at me with a quizzical look on his face, utter a few undecipherable sounds, and then happily smile and go back to playing when I'd start another tune.
Avery is cutting teeth, and has been a little fussy by some reports but we had a fabulous day yesterday!
High Reel is in the Portland Collection.

Basker Family

Basking in the almost afterglow of having children in the house again, we are gearing down to the household consisting of the mom, the dad and the cat.
Richard and I have commented so often to one another over the past couple of weeks how much we have enjoyed, (loved really), having SK and Toby here. Their company, conversation, insight, tolerance, help, and generally just 'being' has been so appreciated. There can be a lot of challenges in blending families when adults with children fall in love and marry... and you never really know how everyone will get along until they're all 'there'. Both of us feel very loved and accepted by each others parents, brothers, and sisters. And we've had good experiences in the previously short visits with any of our children. This however has been the first opportunity to have the 'live-in' experience of being parents living with adult children, and it has been SO good.
When I think of family, I think not only of the personal investment of years of knowing one another, but I also think back to television shows like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. Now, I realize those were idealized portrayals of families, but still they are my mental images of how families are there for each other. Years ago I had the privilege of living with my sister Kathie, and it was one of the best times of my life in part because we truly shared our lives, our children, our cares, our joys. That's when I started reviving my love of music, with Kathie's encouragement and her extra guitar. These days, I'm especially thankful for those times... that legacy of music and family live on here in this house with Richard, and our children, and our family.
We're not the Baskers, but I do bask in the warm glow of family. SK and Toby move on and continue to live their lives independently of us... Bryan will be traveling soon, Jen's life with Jason and Avery takes its own turns... all this is as it should be. But, I am secure knowing that Richard and I have established ourselves here, on this property, with the vision that we'll be able to accommodate all our family and friends who want or need to share this space.
Basker Family can be found in the Lighthouse Collection.

Dawn

Memorial Day weekend affords the opportunity for contradancers in New England to attend the Dawn Dance, held in Brattleboro, VT. As mentioned in a previous post, I've never been, and have been pretty happy to know I'd get to do just that.
Richard and I met our friend Jim and traveled together, making the journey in about 4 hours of actual travel time, not including stops for coffee, fuel and water. We thought we'd find a place in Greenfield, MA for dinner, but nothing caught our eye so we continued on and ended up eating at the Co-Op in Brattleboro. The Co-Op is really nice... lots of yummy foods and household products in the store... with a great deli/self-serve restaurant. The food of the day was chicken (or tofu), spicy vegetables, greens, brown rice.
The dance is held in a town recreation hall/ gymnasium so there was a lot of room for dancers, and a nice stage for the musicians and caller. Vendors occupied some of the smaller spaces with clothing, food, t-shirts, etc. We got to hear great music, great calling, see many familiar faces, and do some great dances (contras, squares, waltzes, hambo, etc).
The dance goes until 7:00 am, but by a unanimous three-way concensus before we left Maine, we knew we were not committed to staying the full time. Many people who attend this event will go out and sleep in their vehicle, although there are some hardy souls who manage to tough it out and dance ALL NIGHT. We are content with the knowledge that we COULD do it if we WANTED to! So, we left around 2:00 am, taking turns driving and sleeping (no one doing both simultaneously). Check out the web site for photos of previous dances, and information about bands and callers.
Though we haven't had a lot of energy today, we certainly recognize that we're doing better than we would had we gotten NO sleep at all. As it turns out, we've worked in the garden, got a little more done on the workshop, and spent a good amount of quality family time together here at home. SK's friend Sienna helped round out our little group at the lunch table today, easily joining in the conversations and then making the trip into the village for Tubby's ice cream and a walk around the mill pond before all three young adults headed out for other parts. Richard and I took their departure as a sure sign that it was time for us to take a much needed nap!
Dawn comes from the Portland Collection, Volume Two (the green book).

Rebel's Road

Richard and I are headed out in little while for Brattleboro... Tonight is the annual Memorial Day Dawn Dance! Richard has been before, so he is a veteran... I however am a Dawn Dance Wannabe who is just now having her opportunity present itsefl... Our friend Jim is riding along with us, he's a fellow fiddler and regular contradancer, and a friend of many years, so the journey will be fun, entertaining, and will also strengthen our friendship simply by sharing the experience...
I chose the title Rebel's Road, because sometimes I feel a little rebellious in my existence... like I've never really been part of any set group, always just a little bit out of synch with whomever and whatever is going on. The fun part is that at the same time I'm not really 'with' whatever is happening, I'm close enough to know what is going on, and to know that I'm on the fringe of activities. A little bit rebellious, not really a radical personality, but supportive of rebellion in all its phases, as long as rebellion itself is NOT the true and only motivation. Adherence to personal principles, and belief in one's own abilities and ideals is the real key.
I once was involved with someone who chose rebellion for rebellion's sake, and though he did a lot of really cool stuff, I always wondered (and sometimes voiced) whether or not he was truly doing what HE wanted to do, or was he really just always doing the opposite of what was expected? Hmmmm.
For me, I sometimes feel a bit rebellious, but really, the identifying label I put on it is "to thine own self be true" which feels more honest and hopefully more 'to the point.
I'll be traveling today with my chosen life-partner, and a long time friend... both of these men know me pretty well and I draw from their perceptions of me. I'm also lately finding myself thinking about how I've been perceived by SK and Toby because in the past few weeks, they've seen me at my BEST and my not quite WORST... all of which makes me ME. And I'm happy to say I feel the freedom and the love & acceptance to be all of what I AM and all of what I am NOT, and still very loved. I hope those around me feel the same freedom and flexibility.

Musical Priest

For another viewpoint on progress being made here on various projects, check out Toby's online journal, complete with photographs. Toby has been a great help, and good company. We're happy he's spent a good part of his vacation here in Wayne.
SK has also been spending quite a bit of time with us. Willing hands and easy conversation have made this month a lot of fun with her. This evening we had a dinner party for friends of hers, Donna and Steve. The meal was delicious, the stories were great to listen to, and the latter part of the evening was playing tunes together so you know I liked that! One of the stories told was about going to what was thought to be a local televised concert/ revue of sorts at a coffee house. What happened was Religious Night karaoke with the singing priests... totally unexpected entertainment... the coffee house was so small there were only three tables so not a big audience, and because it was being televised it was impossible to leave without being noticed. You can imagine how it all turned out!
There were a couple of new recipes tried out at dinner this evening. One was Apple Chutney, mixed up by SK, very good with the roast pork. The other was Fiddlehead Pate, served with cheese and crackers. I'm not sure what went into the chutney exactly, but I can tell you about the pate.

Fiddlehead Pate

Cook, rinse and drain fiddleheads and set aside. Saute some onions and cook small pieces of bacon. Mix the sauted onions, cooked bacon and fiddleheads in a bowl. Add some goat cheese, and then season lightly with fresh ground pepper. Put through the food processor until fairly smooth.

For the Apple Chutney recipe, you'll want to email SK at thegrassishardyandsharp@hotmail.com. She'll be happy to tell you what you need to mix this recipe up.

Richard and I are going to miss having Toby and SK here at the house with us. The daily interactions, taking turns with household chores, helping each other when more hands are needed, sitting down at the table together sometimes... all these things have really given us a sense of 'family' beyond the occasional visits of a few days. It has been really good to have space to accomodate personal privacy too.

Musical Priest is from the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Bird's Nest

When we first moved to Pine Needle Alley, our house was surrounded by giant pine trees, you may remember this from previous posts. This apple tree was tucked in that pine grove, just searching for light. The forester who came to cut the pines did an amazing job at felling the trees exactly where he wanted them, leaving the apple tree intact. Richard has trimmed a few branches, and I imagine we'll need to trim more to really get the tree healthy. It's leaning quite a bit, but I have an idea of putting a sling around the tree and then supporting it with an ever-so-slight amount of tension to a couple of trees at the edge of the forest... and then increasing the tension ever-so-slightly over time to try and at very least prevent more leaning~ and possible in helping the tree come back to a little more of an upright position. Careful pruning may help give a more upright appearance too.
The sod on the ground comes from the garden spot on the east end of the house. The ground here is barren, once covered with pine needles. We have hopes that the sod will 'take' and that it will eventually become a meadow.
Each time I bring a wheelbarrow of sod from the garden spot over to the base of the apple tree, a robin flies off and cries out her warning call. I guessed there must be a nest in the apple tree, and careful inspection revealed just that.

In the crook of branches, you may be able to make out a nest, nicely protected by leaves and branches. The mama and papa robins are never far away, always perched on a nearby branch, calling out warnings, ready to rush at me should I try to get too close to their babies.

I love working out in the yard. Hearing birds, listening to wind in the top of the trees, feeling the sunshine and even drops of rain on my face... all have a calming affect on me. So, when I'm in a bit-of-a-snit, Richard thinks he'll just bring me to the kitchen door and give me a gentle heave-ho out the door into the yard to dig in the dirt, listen to the birds, and generally to commune with nature when I'm not communable indoors!
How do you zen-out from the cares and stresses (even those self-imposed) of life?

Bird's Nest can be found in the Fiddle Music of PEI, as well as Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes.

Spring Breakup

Spring is essentially over, the break-up of the season is nearly complete. Nights are still cool, and there's still danger of frost... but days are warm, sun is getting higher in the sky and we're about to turn the corner toward early summer very soon.
Memorial Day weekend is just about here. Our plans are to work around the house. The new workshop is coming along very nicely... Richard is putting in a lot of hours making this happen. It will give us the space we want for our tools and small building projects, some storage upstairs for lumber and extra supplies, firewood room in the back, and a porch on the front. The porch is an added feature, not in the original plans. It didn't start out as a serious idea, but once voiced it has become a real part of the building project. The fun thing is that we want to use it as an outdoor stage! The garden is still taking shape, photos to come of both these projects.
Sunday we'll head off to a Dawn Dance... yes, we will be contradancing until Dawn! This will be our big holiday weekend trip, our friend Jim will be going along with us to share the driving and conversation. We'll bring our fiddles along too, I think, in hopes of playing some tunes in between the dancing.
Memorial Day is the usual summer kick-off in many Maine communities... the time when summer folk open up the family camps, and the first real influx of people from 'away'occurs.
We car-pooled down to the Thursday night jam... this is the highlight of my week as far as social engagements go. I like hosting our Tuesday jam at home, but for getting out, Thursday is great for me. The music is fun whether it is an old standard that we've played a thousand times before... or a new tune that I've never tried... they're all good. Company and conversation are good too. Oh, and have I ever mentioned the hot pepper popcorn? Mmmmmm Good!
Oh, one other special thing today, Richard grilled up some Spam for lunch... OMG, what a treat that was!
Spring Breakup can be found in the Lighthouse Collection.

Miss Brown

A richer, darker brown you'll not find... well, maybe you can but still, we're very happy with the color and textue of the loam we had delivered today. This soil will be brought to the garden site as soon as the sod has been cut away. A couple truckloads of manure will get added and all will be tilled into the existing dirt to build up the soil for a healthy crop of vegetables!

The evening was filled with music and company, a perfect combination. Katie gave a full house tour to her mom, Allison, before they headed out. Then Kathie and David arrived for a tour of the new workshop site before settling down to play some tunes. A fellow fiddler, Jim, also came to join in the playing of tunes for the evening. Turns out David and Jim recognized each other from doing Christmas Bird Count in the past... small world! Conversation and music easily intertwine at most jams, and though tonight's gathering was relatively small, the agenda stayed true to form.
Miss Brown comes from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Sally In the Garden

I'm looking forward to some vacation time! These perennial beds are calling me, the new garden site is beckoning me, the grass is reaching for me to lie down and watch the clouds drift by. The weather forecast is sketchy, I'm choosing to believe the one that says sunshine and warm breezes :)
We got the lawn mower out today and started taming the grass. The recent stretch of rainy weather really made the yard lush and green... just beautiful!

Barnestorming

This afternoon, we had the opportunity to play for a scholarship benefit. The event was set up as a wine tasting and a silent auction, and we were invited to provide some music. As it turned out, Richard, SK and I were the fiddlers and our friend Jeff was the guitarist. We had a great time! The event was very nicely arranged, the snacks were wonderful, the acoustics were apparently just grand for those attending. The items set up for auction were well displayed, conversation seemed to be lively throughout the afternoon, and we had such a good time playing tunes that we knew.
As payment, we received much applause and encouragement, which would have been enough for me and I'm sure for my fellow musicians. In addition to this, we were able to have a bite to eat, and recieved a bottle of wine each. Not a big cash gig, but as Jeff says, this is all part of getting us 'out there' and hopefully generate more income and more gigs and more exposure. Jeff was prepared with flyers to hand out, and maybe well have some folks from todays fundraiser stopping in at the Thursday jam or the regular Wescustago contradance. All in all, a great afternoon!
Barnestorming comes from the Curvy Road to Corinth.

Gale

Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors at the moment. He was introduced to me by my sister, she too is a big fan. I recently finished reading Buffalo Soldier, the fifth book I've read by him and I just loved it. It takes quite a lot for me to set my chores, lists, and housework aside to just read, but for Chris Bohjalian, I'll do just that.
I've thought about his writing, his stories, and tried to determine what it is that holds my interest... what it is that lures me and holds me in the pages between the covers. I think in part it is the characters... they're real people, and at the same time they're more than ordinary. They are heroes, they are villains, they are good, bad and indifferent... they're like you and me on our best and worst days. Chris Bohjalian also takes some very real issues that we deal with in these particular times... and he makes them interesting, personal, and believable. His writing style is easy to follow, but not necessarily 'easy'. It's challenging, and I always feel that I've come away with a renewed appreciation for humanity, for people, for individuals that you never really know until you interact with them. I've come to respect and tolerate lifestyles with which I'm unfamiliar, not just because they may seem "cool" but because they are real for those that are involved. This particular book dealt a lot with grief and how different people react to it. Other books have dealt with death, the law, pressures from society, medicine... many subjects and many threads of stories running through the main idea.
Has anyone else read this author? What are your impressions? The Gale was the river that ran through the town in this most recently read book. The Gale is also a tune you can find in Along the River.

Mother's Reel

To all the mothers in my life (mom, mother in law, daughter, sisters, friends), Happy Mother's Day. And for all the fathers and significant other support people, Happy Mother's Day. And for the reason for the season in a sense, thanks to the children for making it possible... and as my father in law said, if it weren't for the fathers, we wouldn't have been mothers in the first place :)
We had a great day here, gathering family together to share stories, laughter, food, and love. Hope all of you out there had a great day too. Missed Joline and her family, no news on Miss Tasha and the soon to arrive Bailey, we're thinking of you!

Here and There

Club-E just finished a two day retreat, part of which was facilitated by a practice management consultant who came into our office to observe... and then spent a day sharing her impressions with us on how we can strive and achieve a higher level of excellence. Great information, for work and just as importantly, for me to use at home.
Personal integrity is HUGE for me. I know when I'm living it, and I know when I'm not. I recognize excellence when I see it, and I know when I am personally giving it out. I'm not talking about perfection. What I am talking about is excellence, about doing and being my best, no matter what. My difficulty lies in that in doing and being excellent, it often challenges those around me, and creates a sense of insecurity. Many times, I've taken on that I'm responsible for creating their insecurity, and in order to make others more comfortable, I back down on the things I KNOW are important. What suffers are the details of living a wonderful life.
When I am doing and being my best, I am sending the message "I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT MY LIFE, AND THOSE AROUND ME, AND EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO IT, THAT I WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE".
At work, we have as a group, made the decision to let go of the past and step forward with some exciting new leadership, implementation of new ideas, and enhancing some of the things that are already working pretty well. Although there may be some lapse into old habits, as a team we'll re-group and get everyone back on track because we have chosen this together. We will not be able to let go of the vision of teamwork, delivery of dentistry, or personal excellence & commitment. Not one of us can do it alone, it takes the commitment of everyone involved.
The same is true at home. To achieve any measure of success, a commitment to doing and being excellent is imperative. It also takes a commitment from everyone who participates to invest their personal level of excellence to do and be whatever it takes to be a part of this household.

Before we found this property, I had a vision of a communal living experience along the lines of the Nearings. In my mind it would require that any participants, for however long they were here, would voluntarily assume responsibility for sharing communal space as well as joining in whatever project was in progress. The retreat has challenged me to decide what level of excellence I choose for myself, how I can achieve that, and what my personal commitment and participation will be. It has challenged me to accept my personal standards of excellence for what they are, personal standards. I don't have to apologize for them, I don't have to cover them up to make them look like something else, and I don't have to let go of them because someone else's level isn't the same. But I do have to be committed to do my personal best at all times. Finally, I am challenged to realize that if I truly want to have our home open to others, I have to accept that other people will give their absolute best over the time that they are here, on their own schedule to be sure, but that they will be giving their own personal best.
It's not about being better, or perfect, being smarter, or being anything other than my personal best. In the grand scheme of things, it's probably neither here nor there, but in the scheme of things in my world, it's everything.
Here and There is from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Laxo Burn

We've been clearing brush and debris from in back of the house where the pines were cut, to open up space for the meadow, the workshop/shed, and the garden. Seemed the best place to burn some of this was right on the garden spot. A lot of the branches were right in this area anyway, and it was about the safest spot to have a fire since there weren't any dry twigs, leaves, etc. Richard and Katie tended the fire during the day, and Toby joined in when he arrived late in the afternoon. A great team effort by all involved. We anticipate a couple more burns before we're really all cleaned up, and the amazing progress on Sunday is great encouragement.

Last night, Katie and I came up with a delicious new recipe, which has been named but I can't remember it. We de-boned some chicken, spread it out, layered it with cheese (some with goat cheese, some with thin slices of cheddar), placed a strip of bacon and then rolled it all up. Place in an oiled pan, fold side down and then lightly sprinkle with rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so. Very, very tasty. We'll make it again, but are thinking next time of adding some caramelized onions. If you try this, let us know if you like it!

Laxo Burn can be found in the Fiddler's Throne.

Square Order Shuffle

That's how I feel inside sometimes, those three words as a group, each word alone, or any two of them as a pair.
Square... too ordinary, too establishment, too blah blah blah.
Order... too much order, too much regimen, barking too many silent orders.
Shuffle... moving things around trying to find the perfect place for things, for me, for being.

Square Order... the kind of tidiness that is ordinary and expected in a nicely maintained household, the kind of household Martha Stewart would be proud to visit.
Square Shuffle... moving things around in expected ways, calculated moves.
Order Shuffle... telling people (a-loud or a-quiet) how to shift their views to match mine
Order Square... to put their things in an order I understand.
Shuffle Order and Shuffle Square are just more of the same.

Left to my own devices, I can create and maintain a sense of order, at least for a little while until I get some crazy idea in my head for a project and then things just get blasted into disorder for a while. Somehow, when there are other beings involved (at home, at work, even in small groups like Forensics) I somehow think it's up to me to come up with a plan for things to work much more simply, with much less mess. Fact is, it just ain't really so. My description for my life has often been "ORGANIZED CHAOS" and I sometimes wonder why I get so wound up in trying to have things look so "good", so tidy, so NICE. What I've really been wanting to do are things that are the opposite of housework, the opposite of tidy, and the opposite of maintaining the status quo. What I really want to be doing is writing, making quilts, digging in the dirt, playing the fiddle, driving to Hampden to roll around on the floor/ground with little A. What I end up doing is dishes, laundry, picking up, cooking.
Would it really be so awful if I stocked up on enough Cheeze-Its and nachos to last the weekend? Is there some reason why I don't trust the wonderful people around me to pick up the slack when I just want to play, and then let them do what they do on their own schedule? Really. I'm just getting pretty fed up with myself lately, for allowing myself, for ENCOURAGING myself to get and stay caught up in all these darned chores :) I will say that I had a REALLY fun time this weekend working on building a trail in the woods, to me that really was like playing! It was one of the most fun things I've done lately, so I guess I won't give up on myself totally...
Square Order Shuffle comes from The Fiddler's Throne.

Nearly Done

This afternoon, Toby and I picked up some corn at the grocery store, planning to have it with the roast pork we'd cooked earlier. As we approached home, we saw the CMP truck working on the lines, and once we got to the house, we found we were without power!
Now, Richard and SK had been burning brush a good part of the day, and had gotten the pile down to a nice bed of burning coals. R had the idea that we could cook the corn in the husks, right in there! He tested one ear which came out tasty enough, but 10 minutes in the fire did not cook the corn to perfection.

More time was clearly indicated. The remaining eleven ears went in next...

... The coals got raked to create a little pit, the corn got evenly laid, and then raked over with more coals and ashes. Richard timed them for 15 minutes this time...

... The result? Perfectly cooked ears of corn, smothered in butter, lightly sprinkled with salt. This went really good with the pork, and some bread. A hearty and delicious supper!

Nearly Done is a tune from the Fiddler's Throne.

When You've Hooked Him Hold Him Fast

Good advice that I am happy to be taking! When I first saw the name of this tune, I immediately thought of Richard and how we 'hooked' each other... and how completely my life is wrapped up with his. I know that may sound 'old fashioned' and I suppose in some ways it is. I have friends who have been having a hard time in their marriages and relationships, and I have had my share of heartache in that department. But, my experience and observations seem to support this post's title... hold him fast. I'd add, to emphasize the point, 'and don't let go no matter how bumpy the ride!'. I realize how invested I am in the life we've started building together, and in all the plans and dreams we conjure up daily for our future. And even more important is finding time to daily share our joys with one another.

Today starts my second year of blogging! Posting my thoughts and activities started out as an experiment, sort of an on-line newsletter to share with family and friends. Over this past year, blogging has become a regular part of my life, a way to stay connected with those I see often, as well as those people who live far away. There have been a few times when I've wondered if anyone reads the posts, and that has given me the opportunity to realize that I also do it for myself. Blogging is fun, easy, fast, and provides a creative outlet for my thoughts. If you haven't blogged before, try it... you may like it :) On the flip side, I LOVE reading blogs. I've flagged a few that I read fairly regularly, some are people I've never met (and probably never will), and of course, I'm a big fan of since 11 among others.
What is your impression of blogging, either as a blogger or a reader?

Lassie with the Yellow Coatie

We've attracted gold finches! A couple of days ago, as I was getting ready to check my email, I got a glimpse of something small and yellow darting past the window... I thought it might be a goldfinch, it was just that sort of color! I ran to look at the thistle feeder, but didn't see any finches. Richard, however, has seen them and told me about them so I was happy to know they're here. This afternoon I was lucky enough to be out in the yard WITH the camera, and this little guy is sitting on the feeder. As you can see, the feeder is down on thistle, proof that the birds are finding their way here.

The perennial garden has burst into even more color this week. The rains have helped a lot. We have three varieties of daffodil, one completely yellow, one with yellow and white, and one that is a nice white on white (very elegant). Yellow tulips have also bloomed. It's been a yellow week, I suppose!

Finch in the Thistles

Richard was able to get a nice photo of the purple finch who has been frequenting the thistle feeder in the yard. We noticed him first on Monday morning. For the most part, the birds we've seen in the yard are the regular woodsy kind of birds... chickadees, juncos, phoebes, crows, nuthatches, robins etc. It's a real treat to get a new bird come to call. We have a lot of different habitats throughout the property, and as we get more settled we'll be doing more bird watching to see which ones are more suited to one area or another.

Wild One

Meet Riley, the newest addition to the Davis clan, arriving only a week ago. Mom and dad have been talking about getting a puppy for a while now, waiting until their new home's finished and they'd settled in. Well, the time finally came when they weren't able to hold out any longer, and their search began in earnest. You see here the fruits of their labor... an adorable little springer puppy. They say Riley has a lot of energy and that he gets into a lot of mischief, but I just don't see it because in between his spurts of energy he sleeps a lot! When he is lying in my mom's arms or when he is snuggled next to my dad in the chair, Riley reminds me of the little pound puppies that the kids had when they were little. This dog is truly sweet, and so very loved! Riley could not have found a better home, and I don't think mom and dad could have found a nicer dog. Congratulations to them all. One of these days I'll get to see Riley's "Wild One" mode!

Chipchase Reel

Here's a furry little friend we've seen scurrying around the woods many-a-day. I was out with the camera this morning, in hopes of catching a great image of a purple finch who's decided to feed on the thistles we've set out. That photo was pretty blurry, will try again later since he seems to be returning frequently today. As I was waiting for the finch, I heard a rustling in the leaves out by the stone wall so I crept quietly (barefoot) trying to think like an Indian, so as to get very close and then become a statue with camera poised. Hoping to see a deer, or turkey, or some fabulous large animal, you can imagine my surprise to see such a small creature emerge from the large sound I'd heard!
Small things come sometimes on the heels of big expectations, and vice versa... I'm sure there's a moral or something in there. Anyway, hope you enjoy the photo of this little guy, he made me smile!
Chipchase Reel comes from the Portland Collection, Volume Two.