Out on the Road

Richard and I are headed out on the road with our Beat Green band mates this afternoon, headed for Manchester NH to play at the third Friday series at the Mill City Contra. Our friend Chris Weiler invited us to play after hearing us at the Norlands earlier this year.

In other news, I have begun a new journey toward self development! I will be focusing my energies in some specific areas over the next 6-12 months in an effort to become proficient in a few things as well as explore some other activities of interest. I've been a dental assistant for 20 years now, and had a wonderful career... but it's time to shift gears.

One of the main areas I want to develop and grow is in my fiddling. I have started studying with a great contradance fiddler, Elaine Malkin, with the goal of having a solid style and rhythm for playing at contradances. I've also begun my quest for a new fiddle, one of my own choosing, one that speaks to me and also conveys my message to those who listen. Part of the process of the fiddle-search is also to learn more about the fiddle itself... the craftsmen, the wood, the design... all of which creates an instrument with a unique sound and personality.

There are some other things I want to do over the next few months~ take some classes, make some quilts, work in the garden, write, learn about photography, walk or run every day (I've started running again and manage to get out a couple times a week, usually on the days I'm not working). I've worked a good part of my life, and enjoyed the different aspects of that, and I'm a little nervous about being unemployed... but only a little bit :) The challenge for me is to use this next year wisely, be open to learning, channel my energies in positive directions, and to develop a focus for living that can offer financial sustainability over the next half-century of life ahead of me. Pretty exciting, huh?

I got to see little A yesterday after my meeting at the fiddle shop. What a joyous feeling to be watching him play with his friends, have him turn around and see me, and break into this big, glorious smile and walk over to me to give me a hug.

Have I mentioned lately that I love being a Gram?

Out on the Road is a tune from the Portland Collection, Volume Two.

Bells of Tipperary

fiddlehedz & friendz played an outdoor concert on the green at the Mt Vernon Community Center this evening. Doing the sound outdoors is still a bit of a challenge, but Richard's efforts paid off as we entertained an appreciative audience. We did some different things for this concert, one of which was a guitar jam doing Ragtime Annie which was awesome. Richard used a different technique with the bass, bowing on the waltzes and airs. At the end of the concert as we were packing things up, the organizers brought us a can of tip money! Though we don't play for money necessarily, especially in these community settings, we do really appreciate this show of support. We had a lot of fun, had a good jam session, met some people, and were happy to see some family and familiar faces in the audience! Thanks to all who came out :)

Bells of Tipperary comes from the N.E. Fiddler's Repertoire.

Call it a Night

We got to call at the Wescustogo dance in North Yarmouth tonight... We have had opportunity to call at the community dances we've helped put on, but tonight was the first time we've had the chance at a "regular" contradance... We worked together with two other novice callers, and were able to put together a program that flowed nicely, allowed for inexperienced/ beginner dancers and also offered some challenges and fun for the well seasoned contra-crowd... Great music by the Don Roy Trio made it even more fun for us... Well phrased A & B parts of the tunes helps a lot to know where you are in the dance, and this band was able to accommodate all of us... Richard also provided the sound for the evening, so he had that on his mind too... And my 50th birthday was celebrated by family and the dance community so I had some distractions as well... All in all though, it was a huge success... We continue to learn more by experience, and we are gaining confidence at the same time...
Call it a Night canj be found in the Waltz Book, Volume Three.

Bottom of the Punch Bowl

My friend Paul made this beautiful piece on his new CNC wood milling machine... Paul also makes other woodworking projects including the stools we use when playing music (which also make great milking & spinning stools)... No punch goes in here though!

Bottom of the Punchbowl comes from the Portland Collection.

For My Mother Dear

Here's my first photo, taken July 4th, 1957... Today is my birthday and I am proud to say I am 50 years young! I look back over the half century I've lived so far and am so thankful for the experiences and opportunities that have been available... I'm thankful for my mom and dad first because without them there wouldn't be any "me"... And my sisters who have always been, and continue to be, my best friends... And my children who have been the light of my life... For Avery who brings new joy to this family... To Richard, my husband, for being everything I've ever wanted in a partner and enriching my life in ways I never imagined... To my friends over all the years, to casual friends with whom I've lost touch, with new friends...

It's been a joyous, sometimes difficult, always interesting adventure so far and I'm looking forward to a most amazing second half a century!

For My Mother Dear is a tune from the Waltz Book, Volume Two.

Jefferson & Liberty

A nice photo of the kittens at one of their more quite moments.... When they aren't sleeping in baskets and looking cute, they're knocking over glasses of water, drinking my gin & tonic, leaping across the room and wreaking other havoc! Seriously, we are totally enjoying having these little kittens around the house, even when we are mopping up water and re-hanging screening....

Joy of My Life

Hmmmm... At dinner last night with mom and dad, we (Richard, Toby and I) were discussing cremation and funeral services (yeah, I know, kind of morbid)... Then I saw this Cadaver thing on Amy's blog and thought I'd see what Id be worth... Wait, wait, no... I didn't mean to cash me in NOW, hahaha :) It does get me thinking about how I can be healthier though! Go ahead, take the test yourself!

$4725.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. From Mingle2 - Free Online Dating

Joy of My Life is a tune we've collected over the years...

Old French

Last night, we went to Portland to hear Boreal Tordu with our friend and band-mate Sandy... what a fabulous evening! These guys are far from old, but a lot of their music is indeed from years gone by... Lively tunes and instrumentals, and a highly engaging and entertaining presentation all worked together in a lovely, intimate venue at the newly re-opened Cultural Exchange on Longfellow Square in Portland. Boreal Tordu's fiddler, Steve Muise, was named Maine's Music Teacher of the Year, congratulations to Steve!

Car-pooling to events like this gives the opportunity for conversation and knowing more about each other... we met a friend of Sandy's for dinner at the Bangkok Thai restaurant where we had delicious food... And we finished the evening off by stopping in at the Falmouth contradance which happens every first Saturday... Nat Hewitt is almost always the fiddler (playing many a French tune) accompanied by a variety of fine musicians!

Old French can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook as well as the New England Fiddler's Repertoire.

Chorus Jig

We certainly sounded like a chorus of instruments yesterday... The Beat Greens met in Farmington for practice, for the entire afternoon into the evening!
The perennial garden is a chorus of color, changing from week to week from pinks and purples to whites and golds and more...
This morning I'm off to Hampden to sing with my favorite chorus-mate :)
Chorus Jig is actually a reel, and is played to a dance with the same name. It's commonly referred to as a "chestnut" which means it is a old-time-staple at contradances. Not often played or danced these days, we know it's making a come-back at the Manchester NH contradance! There are quite a few chestnut dances that have tunes that work especially well togther such as Haste to the Wedding, which we call quite often. As we develop a following of contradancers here in our community, we hope to bring back lots of chestnuts, in an effort to bridge the dancers of today with the music, dance and callers of years gone by.
Chorus Jig can be found in the New England Fiddler's Repertoire (and the Fakebook too, though we prefer the version in NEFR).

Summer on Marshall Pond

It's high summer here in Maine... We've had some beautiful, hot, sunny days that were perfect for a visit to the beach... Not very much rain, which is showing up in a few places like our little pond which is now a little muck hole! We have only been here for a year and a half, and the little pond has been full for the entire time... Now it is dried up, and black with the kind of goo that comes from wet, mushy, composty leaves and forest stuff... The pups who come to visit us like to try sneaking down to the pond to get wet, but now come trudging back to the yard with nothing but black mud on their feet! Anyway, it is evidence of a dry summer season here in North Wayne... I wonder how it is on Marshall Pond? That tune comes from a binder of music we've collected over the years.

Camp Meeting on the 4th of July

This evening, as part of the 4th of July festivities in Winthrop, we presented a contradance... this continues as part of our Summer Beginner's Series. A rousing success, we had probalby30+ people in attendance, either as dancers or as listeners. We are new to calling, and new also to using the sound system... but somehow it's all working out. As musicians, we are not brand new, but we are still certainly developing our sound and arrangements... As a whole, it was amazing, watching folks who are new to contradancing or even those who may have done some of it before... and our experienced friends who came in support who still looked like they were having fun!

Two more opportunities to learn this style of community social dancing... Aug 4 in Wayne at the Ladd Center, and Aug 11 in Vienna at the Post Office... please come out and try it if you haven't already. All dances are taught, no partner is necessary, and no experience is required... It's a great exercise regimen for couple of hours, and a really great way to interact with members of your community...

We continue to learn more about putting on these programs, and gain confidence & experience in the process.

Camp Meeting on the 4th of July can be found in the Portland Collection, Volume Two.

Reel du Grandpere

I arrived home this evening tired and g-r-u-m-p-y from a long day at work. What to do? I can't quit my day job, even though there are hundreds of other things I'd like to be doing. Actually I usually like my job, but lately it's been a little too much pressure, too much stress, too many things to do.

I had a hard time settling in this evening. Finally, I decided to look at my Grandpa's diaries.... by reading all the entries for July 2. Want to know what I found out?

In 1965, my grandparents took my Uncle Tom and his family to Bailey Island for lunch and lobster.... Lobster & clam feeds were a big part of my memories of childhood, but I mostly remember them taking place at our house.

1966, my grandpa helped my Uncle Tom on his new house all day

1964 found the price of 4”x3/8” machine bolts at $.10 a piece

1968 my grandfather had a yearling cow moose for company most of the day

In 1969, the Poli's came to visit... that would be my Aunt Joan and Uncle Babe... I think they came from New York or New Jersey?

In 1960 my dad hit his leg with an axe and broke it (his leg, not the axe)

1959 found me, my mom and dad visiting my grandparents (this was right before my sister Deb was born, little did I know how much I'd have to share my parents after that!)

So, these are some of the highlights of my grandfather's journal entries. He recorded the temperature and barometer readings, as well as the general weather conditions of each day. It amazes me that he had the commitment to do this, especially when I sometimes go for days (or even a week?) without posting a blog entry! My grandfather was a pretty cool guy... If this is interesting information to any of you out there, let me know... I'll post another "day in the life" of my grandpa...

Reel du Grandpere comes from the Portland Collection, Volume Two.

Sugar Beet Rag

This is a logo we came up with for the new band... We were going to call ourselves Foxfire, but it seems there's another contradance band with the same name... Oh well...

So we came up with another name, Beat Greens... We like it a lot!

Sugar Beet Rag can be found in the Reckless Reel

Going to Town

fiddlehedz & friendz head into Hallowell later this morning to play a lunch program at the Cohen Center. This is a fun music presentation to an appreciative audience... only an hour long. Playing music today will be a much needed diversion from work, which gets pretty hectic sometimes! Good to have some balance in life. In fact, I was going to head into the office for a couple of hours to catch up on a few things, but decided I'd have a better day if I stayed home this morning, posted a blog, and played some fiddle... I can tell already that is a good decision, and it's going to be a fabulous day!

I had an inspiration the other day (yeah, no kidding)... I've been using fiddle tunes as post titles for a long time. I was thinking of adding in some dances to expand my choices. As a new contradance caller, it would be a nice way to become more familiar with the names of the dances. I know that using the tune titles has increased my knowledge of where tunes are and sometimes even more information. So, watch for that, coming soon!

Going to Town can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Midnight on the Water

The moon tonight was beautiful... we were out around 9:30 or so, swimming at the dam about a mile from our house. Richard had gone to the first season's Pizza Jam at the Emporium (where they played fabulous tunes all evening) and I'd had dinner with my sister Deb at a new restaurant in Lewiston (called Fuel). On his way home from the jam, R called me and invited me to meet him at the dam to swim and cool off. It had been over 100'F during the day, and was still 90'F in Lewiston when I left there at 7:45... and a balmy 80'F here at home at 8:45. Now, I know that doesn't sound like much to some of you out there, but for us here in central Maine, THIS IS SUMMER and we must enjoy every ounce of it by basking or swimming :) When we got home from swimming, I noticed the moon... nice and hazy and peeking through the trees.

Midnight on the Water is a lovely waltz that you can find many places, including the Waltz Book and the Fakebook.

Happy Birthday to You...

Happy 25th Birthday to Miss SK Green :)

Hope it has been especially memorable for you!

Indian Point

In August, we will be attending a traditional Indian wedding ceremony that will unite my niece and her fiancee... they'll have a traditional American ceremony the following week. My sister, the mom-of-the-bride, has ordered saris for herself and all of us sisters... this one shown here is not exactly the one I chose, but the color is close. We are looking forward to sharing in this blending of cultures! The mom of the groom-to-be has been very helpful in choosing the appropriate attire and what will be expected.

Indian Point is a nice jig that can be found in the Portland Collection, Volume II. It was written by Rick Mohr.

Jump at the Sun

Big bright beautiful sunshiny day!

We've been putting a lot of time into music practice and dance programming, with fabulous results... but it's time to now get out in the yard and catch up on some chores.

On the agenda today? Mowing the lawn, working in the vegetable garden, and burning some brush. I'm sure we'll venture into some other areas of the yard, but these are the top things on the "To-Do-List" for today. We'll put some recordings on and listen to them as we work, and if we remember, we'll listen to Prairie Home Companion this afternoon too. And, we'll listen for a time to the wind in the trees, the birds and sounds of the forest, and if we're really attentive, we'll listen to the songs in our souls as we give thanks for all that we have...

Jump at the Sun can be found in the Portland Collection.

Waynesboro

Wow! We are still amazed by how much fun it can be to call and play at a contradance, all at the same time! We were invited to put on a contradance at a community center here in town and have been working pretty hard to come up with a dance program that would be fun, instructional, and oh, did we say FUN for beginners! We had a basic program of dances and tunes, and had a core group of our jam session available to play the tunes while we took turns calling. What worked is that we had the basic structure... what needed improvisation is tailoring the dances to the needs of the dancers, many of whom were brand new to this style of social dancing. We managed to adapt some dances to accommodate the evening, keep our basic list of tunes, and incorporate a lot of dialogue and interaction to keep the dancers, organizers, and band all happy. This was not our first experience with calling, but it was our first time programming an entire dance together, and also deciding on the tunes to go along with the dances... and we learned A LOT! We also had a lot of FUN which is the main reason we do this in the first place.

Thanks to our family who came out to support this endeavor... my mom who went out on the dance floor with Richard, and to Kathie and David who came after a LONG day of vehicle trouble, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! And to all the community members who came out and to Darlene for organizing the event, THANK YOU TOO... We really appreciate the support and encouragement.

Waynesboro can be found in the Portland Collection.

Come Dance and Sing

The fiddlehedz & friendz are playing at the Norlands this afternoon, and then continue on to do a contradance in Wayne at the Ladd Recreation Center... Come on out and listen to some tunes, dance a bit, and join in some nice community activities!