Lay Your Good Money Down

The United Maine Fiddlers are organizing a Fiddle-A-Thon as part of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life on May 5th. fiddlehedz & friendz will be participating, signing up for a block of time during the 24 hour continuous fiddle session. Pledge sheets will be out soon, and we'll be contacting you, asking for your monetary commitment to support us in this endeavor. It's always a little tricky asking people for money to support a cause. Personally, if it is a worthy cause (I believe this is) I don't mind asking... knowing and expecting that people will be able to say Yay or Nay according to their resources and personal choice. If we contact you, we appreciate your Yay or Nay, and honor your choice either way! We are happy to give you the choice to decide :) So, this is just a "heads-up", letting you know that we're gearing up for some hard-core fiddling...

Lay Your Good Money Down comes from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Waiting for the Wind

When was the last time you stopped to listen to the wind? Today will be a great day for that if you're anywhere near central Maine! The wind was howling last night, and as I'm composing this post I can hear it gusting and blowing. They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. March has certainly started with some roaring weather, the snowstorm last week and the wind today. In spite of the snow and wind, the temperatures has felt pretty mild the past few weeks. I don't think that will continue though, as the prediction is for the numbers to go down this week. Still, spring is right around the corner!

Waiting for the Wind is in the Lighthouse Collection.

Sugar Hill

The recent snowstorm left behind glistening crystals in our yard. Literally, when the early morning sun shone down, the yard just sparkled... and reminded me of the crystally sugar that you see on cookies and donuts!

This afternoon when I got home from work, Richard and I went out on snowshoes through the woods. We'd started out walking, but the public road proved too slippery. It was MUCH nicer in the quiet of the woods... no traffic, no noise, no slushy mud. The trees looked like they were coated with a dusting of confectioner's sugar! Hmmm, seems like my mind is on sweet things this afternoon.

Sugar Hill can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Wizard's Walk

Tune of the week for the week starting March 4, 2007 is The Wizard's Walk, found in the Portland Collection (first, un-numbered, blue, indigo, or PC1 depending on who you talk to). This is a challenging, yet fun, tune to play and a great tune to listen to. Lots of energy!

Someone once told me they thought my grandfather was a wizard, because he'd appear in the woods out of nowhere. My grandfather was indeed a woods man, somewhat of a loner, very interesting and knowledgable about nature and life. In his later years, he sported white hair at the base of a bald head, sharp eyes, and quick conversation. He knew the woods and the land around his house as well, if not better, than he knew his own back yard.

Years after he died, I would be out skiing on trails through those woods, or walking out to the edge of the bog... and I'd imagine him out there taking stock of his world. Whenever I hear or see this tune, Wizard's Walk, I think of those woods and my grandfather.

Wizard's Walk was written by Jay Ungar, and there's a dance that's been written that goes along with the tune. Have fun with this one this week!

Oyster River Hornpipe

Tonight, fiddlehedz & friendz played at the annual Oyster Supper held in the town of Vienna. The Oyster Supper was first held back in the 1800's, and though it hasn't taken place every single year since then, it has made a come-back. Our Tuesday night jam group was invited to play music throughout the dinner, from abou 5:00-6:30... well, we had such a great time playing, and the folks there had so much fun listening, we actually played until close to 7:30! There was Oyster Soup, many different kinds of chili, some clam chowder, breads... and pies & cake! Delicious! We took a break from the stage to enjoy the delicious food and to visit with some of the towns-folk. Richard set up the new sound system, and it was fabulous... it helped to blend all the instruments and create a beautiful sound. There were people clapping their hands, tapping their feet, and yes, there were even people dancing a little jig here and there!

Oyster River Hornpipe can be found in the Portland Collection.

Far From Home

We got a nice snowstorm on Friday, and my sister brought this book for me to read while the world swirled in white. It's fun to pour myself into a good book, I don't create the time to do it very often. But, having the book delivered to my door and having nowhere I had to be, I took full advantage of the opportunity. I read about half of it last night, and finished it this morning... I just couldn't put it down! (Last night I literally fell asleep reading, or I would have possibly done the whole book in one sitting).

Chris Bohjalian is an amazing author. This is (I believe) the fifth book of his that I've read, and I've been pulled into each one of them, fully absorbed. This particular book had some focus on the plight of the homeless, and how they might get into that situation. It was really very interesting, and thought provoking, and still lingering in my thoughts this afternoon. It makes me realize how lucky I am to have stability in my life, and a strong network of family and friends to help me maintain good perspective of who I am, and my place in the world... all while allowing and encouraging me to dream big and live into those dreams.

I had the chance to spend some time at the Shelter in Augusta, and learn about some of the reasons people end up in desperate situations with a lack of housing, money, and resources to get their lives together. Some of them are Far From Home mentally, some physically... but all emotionally detached from the kind of home I have in my mind.

Far From Home is a tune from the Portland Collection.

Banish Misfortune

Bigger, more, faster... NOW.

Those are the words almost all of us live toward. We want faster internet connection, more money, a bigger house... faster postal service, more time, bigger paycheck... the list can go on and on. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the constant quest for fame & fortune, however that looks to us. But really, life is NOW. Whatever we have been working toward is happening... NOW. We live on the continuous time-line of life, and we have made our fortune, this one we have right now. Sure, there are many more things to do, see, acquire down the road, and tomorrow's fortune may be different than what we have today. Acknowledging that is great, as long as our quest for life allows us to take a moment each day to banish all thoughts of misfortune and really, REALLY enjoy all that we have already accomplished.

Banish Misfortune comes from the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Off to California

We've booked our tickets to fly to San Francisco in April, I'm so excited! This will be a big trip for us, our first flight together. There is so much to learn and read about before we travel. We're not going until April, so there's time to prepare!

There are the usual tourist checkpoints such as the Golden Gate Bridge and riding cable cars... and there are other things too, like a contradance, hiking, playing some music with B on his new banjo. I have a travel book about the area, a gift from Bryan... lots to read about.

Off to California is in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Julia Delaney

This is the tune of the week. Julia Delaney is an "Irish reel played by everybody all the time" according to the Portland Collection. Indeed, we do hear it played a lot, with some variations. When I first encountered this tune, I loved the sound but dreaded having it called at a session because I couldn't play it. It's in Dm, a key I would shy away from... preferring the easier keys of A, G, D and perhaps Am & Em. Now, with more experience, and more exposure to different tunes in different keys, it's much easier. I chose Julia Delaney as the tune of the week because if I focus on it for a week, I will certainly become more accomplished and comfortable with it... and because I love it so much.

Parry Sound Reel

New Mixer Board & Speaker

The latest fiddlehedz news is all about sound! Richard spent a lot of time researching, and talking to people about, sound equipment... microphones, speakers, mixer boards and the list of extras that go along with a complete sound system. Having a sound system opens up a new world of opportunity. We can provide sound for contradances that we play at, as well as other functions... and we can also hire ourselves out to do sound for other people. The learning process started yesterday when Richard set everything up for a practice session... how fun! The other thing Richard did was to record our practice session... we can critique our sound, the mix, the tempo, the arrangments and more.

Our long term goal is to organize and present community contradances. We are putting together music programs, practicing calling dances, composing tune sets, and practicing for technique/tempo/dancability. It is exciting to be working toward something together, to have this mental picture of what we will be doing, and to be passing milestones already! No illusions about the journey being easy, but it's encouraging to see the dream becoming reality.

Parry Sound Reel comes from the Fiddle Music of PEI.

Memory Waltz

Two years ago tonight Richard and I danced two waltzes at the Whitefield Dance. It was like a courtship, because no one really dances both waltzes with the same person unless they're married or otherwise connected. Most contradances are structured so that there is an intermission about halfway through the evening, and there is one waltz just before the intermission, and the second waltz is the last dance of the night. Typically I would leave either when the first waltz was called, or if I did dance the first waltz, I'd leave at intermission. Part of this is because I'm more of a morning person & my job starts early so I'm not used to staying up really late. The other reason is intermission is a time to mingle and socialize, which I am not very good at. Anyway, two years ago, I dance with Richard throughout the evening, including the two waltzes, and we talked off and on through the evening also. We started a pretty fast courtship from that weekend on... so it's sort of like the beginning of our anniversary... two years of memories...
Memory Waltz can be found in the Twin Fiddling book.

Great Big Taters in Sandy Land

My Great Big Taters are dreams... and Sandy Land is my life! I have always been a proponent of "If you're gonna dream, dream BIG!".

I've been working on my personal "Five Year Plan"... where do I want to be, what do I want to be doing... it's like creating a mental picture of your ideal life. Then, once you can articulate what that would be like, in many different aspects (financial, career, educational, physical, social, leisure activities etc) you create a time line. The time line can have tangible dates to help mark your progress... it can also have things you need to accomplish on the way. For example, if I wanted to become a shoe designer, I'd need some training to get from here to there. (Yeah, shoe designer isn't exactly what I'm shooting for, but you get the idea) It's fun to think about the future, and how I want to shape it around myself and those closest to me. I have never been the kind of person who is satisfied doing the same thing for very long unless there is challenge and personal growth. It's not really a matter of being dis-satisfied, it's more a longing to do more, to do it better, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

to live my life as though it really matters!

I'll keep you posted as I develop my dream into a definite goal... I'm sure you'll all be part of the journey!

Great Big Taters in Sandy Land comes from the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Gravel Walk

The Tune of the Week for the week beginning February 19, 2007 is the Gravel Walk. This tune can be found in the Portland Collection (un-numbered first volume) as well as on the following web page: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/42 This is an Irish tune with great energy. We have played it in the past, and get through it fine, but R chose it as our "Tune of the Week" so that we could really know more about it and also learn it inside & out! Have fun, and let us know how you like it!

Walking Tune

Jen was down with Avery today... what fun! A is so good at putting puzzles together, reading stories to his monkey "George", telling stories, and these days, especially saying "NO". Of course, he is only testing his limits, and once he thinks about it, his answer actually becomes yes on occasion! We had a great walk outside... we heard chickadees, saw deer paths, had a plow truck drive by, and stomped in the snowbanks! It was fun just having time that was uninterrupted, unhurried, and really felt like "hanging out". A got to see his uncle Toby too!

Walking Tune is a piece of sheet music we've collected over the years. I remember learning the (Swedish) Walking Tune years ago at Maine Fiddle Camp... then hearing it again on Prairie Home Companion and hurrying to get my fiddle to play along... and playing it as a march while at Ashokan... it comes up now and then, and is always a treat.

Having a walking tune in my head helps to keep the momentum and focus of the moment. How do you center yourself? Where do you find yourself grounded and recharged?

Frozen Pipes

Thankfully not OURS this time!! We did have some frozen pipes a couple of weeks ago, and though not completely repaired (we are considering some long term renovation before making any permanent repairs, thereby reducing the chance of re-doing the changes later) things are under control and we are fully functional.

No, the frozen pipes last night happened in Fairfield Center. The grange there had scheduled a contradance that we planned to attend, so we got on the turnpike and headed NORTH. Richard was prepared to call a dance, and we were on the lookout for a book we left there last weekend. We got there and NO LIGHTS, NO CARS, NO PEOPLE, AND NO SIGN. Not to have our plans completely thwarted, we made a quick and sure executive decision to get back on the highway and head SOUTH to Bowdoinham! We had a really fun time all evening. The Racket Factory did a great job playing unusual as well as familiar tunes, Cynthia did a great job calling the dances, we saw lots of familiar faces, had the opportunity to discuss sound equipment with contra-connected-people, and got to dance!

The other fun thing about the Bowdoinham dance, for us, is the memories of past dances. This was probably one of the dances where Richard and I first noticed each other as individuals apart from the crowd of dancers on the floor... probably around the mid-nineties. This is also the dance where he introduced me to Katie when she was 15. Richard and I recollected that we always looked for each other at that dance, and I think we probably always danced at least once with each other at any given contra held there. Richard is a great dancer, and I like to consider myself a great dancer too... a definite attraction factor for both of us. After a hiatus from contradancing, I ventured out to the Bowdoinham dance two years ago this past January and... you guessed it... Richard was there, and sparked my interest once again. This time we were both single and available, and it was only a month after that when we saw each other at the Whitefield dance... you'll likely hear more about that over the next week since that is one of our sort-of-official-anniversaries.

So, what could have been a disappointing missed opportunity to dance because of a broken furnace and frozen pipes in Fairfield turned out to be a joyful reminiscence of young love on the dance floor.

Frozen Pipes comes from the Lighthouse Collection.

Bird in the Tree

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count! It's easy, it's fun, and it gets you outdoors connecting with your natural environment, wherever that may be!
I went out this morning at 7:00am on snowshoes, stopping to listen and look for birds. This is the first time I've been out on the snowshoes this season, and there was plenty of snow to slog through... a good workout! The weather conditions are mild... sunny, blue sky with some high clouds, temperature about 17'F, light wind... very nice.

I heard chickadees in each of the three locations I stopped at. I heard another bird that I have not yet identified, I'll attempt identification throughout the day. I did see tracks in the snow... deer, rabbit, mouse... the fresh snow serves as an empty palette for natures art with animal footprints, sprigs of pine needles, an occasional cone and a few brown leaves... add some shafts of early morning sunlight and it's just the most peaceful, beautiful place to be, out here in the woods.

Bird in the Tree can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

For more information on the Great Backyard Bird Count, go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

Flowers of Hope

I was checking around on OPB's (Other People's Blogs)_ and found this one http://martha2.blogspot.com/2007/02/meal-that-makes-us-family-and-friends.html that reminded me how important it is to set the table and gather for meals, at least from time to time. I love lighting the candles, taking out napkins, setting the plates and making it special even when it's leftovers. Creating the atmosphere of the mealtime is like giving a subtle yet very special gift for those with whom you break bread.
Flowers of Hope is a tune I've collected from somewhere over the years.

(Chuck) Wagoner

Tonight was date night, and we went out to dinner at the Chuck Wagon in Livermore Falls. We've always had good food, good service, and a nice evening out when we go there. Tonight it was much busier than usual... we even got to sit out in a booth rather than in the dining room. And lots more people showed up after we were seated. Maybe it has something to do with the time of year... winter blahs, right after a snowstorm, tax return season, who knows... it was busy anyway. I love the paintings they have there, and the sort of hokey decor, it all adds to the fun! I've been going to that Chuck Wagon since forever, and Richard has spent many a meal at the Chuck Wagon in the Topsham area before it closed. It's nice to go to this local style restaurant, not your typical Applebee's or Longhorn, the Chuck Wagon is a special treat!

Wagoner comes from the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Northern Lights

We've had our shrubs illuminated with Christmas lights since just after Thanksgiving. We'd turn them on fairly regularly through the holiday season, then took a break... but never took them inside for storage. This recent storm was a great time to plug them in... almost magical to see the colors just under the snow.

Northern Lights can be found in the Fiddler's Throne.

Snowflake Reel

What a storm we've gotten! Probably about a foot of snow, plenty to shovel. and plenty to make walks in the woods a little more challenging. Traveling has been a little slower than usual, motorists are taking their time (not Peter I should mention, he scoots along at a regular speed)... Winds and light, dry snow combine for some white-out conditions on occasion.

Richard got some nice photos, using our Canon Power Shot with the flash. The flash illuminates the snow flakes, giving a true view of the snowstorm. These photos were taken last night when we went out to shovel. By going out a few times during this significant storm, we were able to easily stay ahead of any major clean-up. Our plow guy employs similar tactics... he came to do a preliminary job and then finished up this afternoon just before I got home.

Snowflake Reel can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Child Grove

Little A has transitioned into a center based daycare facility! The advantages are advanced learning programs, exposure to larger groups of children, and more structure. The disadvantages are more chaos, less parental control to groups of children, and less flexibility in adapting to daily stuff. My favorite line these days? "IT'S ALL GOOD" I mean that. No matter what your choices are, once the research is done, and you set your course, It's All Good. There are no right or wrong ways to approach child care, any more than there are right or wrong ways to approach anything in life. Do your homework, make an educated (and somewhat emotional) decision, and then trust your judgment. Keep your eyes open, for sure, always re-assessing what you think you know... in the end there are so many advantages and postitive aspects to everything we do... always an opportunity for growth and learning for EVERYONE involved. The newdaycare sounds like a pretty cool place to be... I know A has enjoyed his first week there...

The only downside? They had a party today, and grandparents were invited, and I didn't have enough notice to re-arrange my work schedule... next time for sure!

Peacock Rag

Happy Valentine's Day! This is one of the specially designated days during the year when you get to commercially show your affection for those you love the most. It can also be celebrated in quiet and more personal expressions of your love... it's ALL GOOD! There's no right or wrong way to participate in Valentine's Day. I myself am a recipient this year of many acts of love and affection... how lucky am I?!!!!

Club-E made arrangements to gift us all for lunch with pot pies from Slate's this year... mmmmm... so much better for us than chocolates, and personally I like the pot pies better!

Jen, Toby and Bryan had a beautiful arrangement of flowers delivered to the office (see photo above), causing quite a stir, and evoking envy in many of my co-workers! The peacock feathers were an absolute favorite.

And Richard went out in the storm and took this photo of our home, and made me a beautiful card... expressing his love and appreciation for all that I am to him.

To all of you, Happy Valentine's Day, and I love you! I am truly blessed with all the loving relationships in my life.
Peacock Rag can be be found in the Fakebook.

Denis Murphy's Polka

R and I are compiling tunes into programs! We will do an Irish gig just before St Patty's Day, and we'll be playing polkas for a workshop at the DECDA festival at the end of March. This is really exciting for us... to put together our favorite tunes in a presentation format. Neither polkas or Irish music have been a focus for us, so it seemed quite a challenge to come up with tunes we wanted to play. Thing is, once we researched a bit, we actually know a lot of tunes that fit both programs. I've spent most of the weekend researching tunes, looking at key signatures, and trying out the transitions... all in an effort to create sets of our favorites. R has been wonderfully supportive, it's all the more fun when shared!
Tomorrow I go back to my day job, which although wonderful, isn't the same as hanging out at home playing tunes and doing research on the computer. Good thing I'm having fun at work as well as at home, and so far neither has interfered with the other!
Wednesday is forecasted for a nor'easter. We put up firewood in the house for the week, and have checked provisions, just in case we get snowed in... though I'm not really anticipating that we will be... it seems every time they predict such a thing we only get 2" of white stuff, which as Martha says is "just for pretty". Still, you never know, we could get buried in snow if the stars are truly shinin' down on us!

Toss the Feathers

The tune of the week is Toss the Feathers! This Irish tune can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook, and you can also get more information at fiddlehedz.org on the Tune of the Week page.
At the beginning of the year, I set a goal for myself to play a tune a day, and to learn a tune a week. How am I doing? GREAT so far! So good that R is now joining me and we're playing more music than ever.
By playing a tune a day, no matter how busy my day is I at least get my fingers on the strings. And once I've done that, it's so easy to continue playing just one more tune, or to sit down and do a real practice session on technique.
Learning a tune a week has given focus to our playing. The tune can be a brand new one that we've heard and want to learn, or it can be something we've played before but struggle with and want to know cold, inside and out. We post the tune of the week on Sundays on a dry erase board, and we make a good attempt to play that tune at least once a day.
The tune of the week will be posted on Sundays at fiddlehedz.org as well as being posted here on the blog. We'll be calling this tune at our Tuesday jam session too, sharing it with friends who come to play.

Fiddler's Throne

Fiddler's here on Tuesday nights have a choice of throne... a regular dining style chair, or a three legged stool made by our friend Paul, who in addition to making wooden stools plays a great guitar. This scene is pretty typical for a Tuesday evening at our house. Friends gather with their instruments (fiddles, guitars, flutes & whistles) and we take ours out (bass, fiddles, piano) to play whatever tunes come to mind. The way we conduct a jam session is to each person choose a tune or set of tunes, name the books or resources where the tune can be found, indicate how many times they might like to play the tune(s) and how they'll indicate the change or the end... It's a lot of fun, and each individual gets their own moment of leading the session. We try new things from time to time, but generally it's a bunch of friends getting together to have fun with music. Lots of time we'll share a bottle of wine, some stories and jokes, and maybe snack or two before the night ends around 9:00. We feel fortunate to have the space to host this special part of our week.

Fiddler's Throne can be found in, ironically enough, The Fiddler's Throne!

Ross' Reel #4

One of my goals the first of the year, was to play a tune a day, and to learn a tune a week. I've been doing really great.... so great that Richard is joining me. We have decided to take turns choosing the "Tune of the Week", we post it on a dry erase board, and then we play it every day for the entire week. It's fun to find recorded versions of the tune, listen for special techniques and variations, and then to play the tune and experiment according to our own capabilities. Ross' Reel #4 has plagued me in the past... I can play it alright but it has never sounded great and I've never been excited to play it. Richard chose this tune, and by putting some focus into it, I'm learning to play it better, and learning to like the tune quite a lot.

Ross' Reel #4 can be found in the Fakebook.

Sleep Soond Ida Moarnin'

It's easy to sleep sound until morning now that we have our Beautyrest electric blanket with dual controls! It's been quite cold here this winter, and while we are staying warm in the main living areas, it can get chilly in the bedroom. I was using the hair dryer to warm up the sheets and that worked pretty well. But when Richard suggested an electric blanket, well, it was pretty hard to say no! I'm really happy having this little luxury in our life. We turn the blanket on about 10 minutes or so before we go to bed, then turn it down when we get into bed. Warm and comfy!

Sleep Soond Ida Moarnin' can be found in the Fiddlers' Fakebook.

Daily Inspiration for Women

Daily Inspiration for Women

Snowy Yard

Not a fiddle tune title... but I wanted to share our snowy front yard. We have a neighbor plow our road and our driveway, and then we shovel the walkways. In my younger days I would have shoveled the entire thing... happy enough to get plowed out but also just as happy to spend a morning cleaning out after the storm. I still like to think that physically I could shovel our yard and our road, and I know that given the circumstances I would definitely do it. BUT, I am so happy to be spending my time doing other more fun activities while the plow guy does his job in about 8 minutes start-to-finish. Truth be told, if the plow guy didn't come, I'd just drive back and forth over the snow and pack the whole thing down and not worry about plowing it to the side :) In this photo, Richard is busy cleaning up the area where we park our vehicles at the beginning of a storm... this leaves the driveway empty and easy for the plow guy to take care of.

Possum Up A Gum Stump

I think this is the name of a tune, but cannot remember which book it comes from! I found these stumps with crowns of snow while walking in the woods this afternoon. We got about 4 inches (or more) of snow last night... certainly enough to make things pretty.

The woods are lovely and peaceful with their new blanket of white. I did not see deer tracks as I expected. You may remember that there were many deer trails a couple of weeks ago, and that I suspected a deer wintering yard behind our house... not so sure now. Perhaps tomorrow we'll venture further and see what there might be to see in the way of signs of deer and other wildlife.

We are making progress in getting old files in places more easily accessible, and I am settling in more at this computer... discussion continues on a more permanent (?) solution (nothing being permanent, haha).

We practiced some of our sets today, working on subtle cues for changing tunes mid-medley and for finishing up a set. Typically at a jam, whoever had called the tune will raise their foot as an indication to the group that the tune or set is to end. At a concert, or dance, we thought we'd like to develop some cues that are less obvious. I tried winking, but it just made me laugh because I was self-conscious (even though it was only the two of us!). We'll try some other things and find out what works for us. I love when we play tunes together... that's when I know we are truly meant for one another.

It's good to be back blogging again, even when it's just simple day-to-day stuff I want to share.

Give Kids a Smile

Today at Club-E we worked together as a team to donate dental services to children. February is National Children's Dental Health Month, promoted through the American Dental Association which encourages participation at any level. Our office chose to provide preventive and restorative care to as many children as we could see this morning. I'm guessing on the numbers, but I think we probably saw 30-40 children and we donated almost $10,000 worth of services. We had a guest dentist and a guest hygienist join us from other practices... along with six of our own hygienists, three assistants, T-Madd and our own Dr Shumway... what a group! Thanks to T-Madd and Pam C for doing the legwork in getting the kids scheduled (they really did have to work, contacting schools, pediatricians, local community organizations... amazing that it took so long to find enough children to fill the schedule)... thanks to Dr Shumway and Dr Sands, and to all the hygienists and assistants for working together providing services, generously giving their time and energies... and thanks to Sullivan Schein for their donation of clinical materials... and to Club-E for allowing this to take place in our office. It felt really good to open our doors and make a difference in our community. It's hard knowing that we can't see everyone, and that we can't do everything, but it is VERY good to know we DID do something!

Thirty Secrets

Definitely not a fiddle tune, but until I figure out how to get that file, we'll have to settle for post titles of whatever seems to be on my mind This book is great. I've read it through once all the way, front to back, and found it very practical information for relating to significant people in my life... I'm re-reading it now, taking some time to reflect on each of the thirty secrets.... trying to incorporate them into my way of being in a relationship... Does it work? Well, maybe sometimes. What I'm finding is that it takes two... and as much as I read on my own, and as much as I try to be good at relating, it is more than just me... and it's a lot of work... It's all worth it, and I'm committed to the journey... And I'd recommend this book to everyone whether or not they are having relationship issues or not... it's full of practical advice on how to get along with one person, and I think the principles can be applied to small groups too... Has anyone out there read this book? Any comments?

Swallowtail Reel

This is the tune that I've been working on lately... It feels Irish, and is fun to play... We're working it into a set (Richard and Paul and me) and it's coming along quite nicely... I haven't really taken the time to figure out where all my old files are yet, and I'm thinking about getting another computer but haven't totally decided.... Until then, my faithful readers will be treated to random tune titles as post titles, and my thoughts will be presented as randomly as the titles are presented :) Please be patient and kind with your comments!
Confidence and accountability run hand in hand... Without one, the other falters... Self-confidence runs hand in hand with the confidence close allies have in you... and this in turn leads to accountability for yourself as well as those people in whom I entrust my time and abilities... Any break in the cycle creates a breach in myself... When people at work question my abilities, or when my spouse questions my abilities... it creates a question in my own mind as to whether or not I am living up to my own, or others, expectations... and once the question is posed, all areas are suspect to scrutiny...
Maybe I need to swallow my own pride, and admit that I am less than excellent, and less than effective... and maybe when I do that and I am reeling from personal disappointment, and that is the point at which I can go on... Take a stand, accept all that I am... and all that I am not... and go on... Choose a direction, believe in my abilities and just do it... I'm at a personal crossroads, and I feel the need to take stock of what I can do and what I am not so good at...
Swallowtail Reel comes from the little brown book, otherwise known as the Fiddler's Repertoire.

Cold Frosty Morning

We've had a few of those of late... Loyal blog-viewers have probably been wondering "Where is the Fiddler and what has she been doing?"... Take heart and know that we have not frozen off the face of the earth...

We've been fairly busy these cold days of January, but have still not resolved the computer issue. There has been some discussion on replacing the laptop I was using, but we're waiting for a sale. There's this laptop that I am using right now, and we were able to retrieve my old documents and photos, but I still haven't "settled in" at this new computer. Apparently I'm some type of creature of habit because I'm still mentally and emotionally attached to the old computer and am not letting go. But, I'm working on it, and this post is the first step in that direction! (Everyone say a little "Hooray" for me, haha)... So, what have we been doing, you wonder? Let me tell you!

Richard and I went to the North Whitefield contradance (held every fourth Friday) and had a fabulous time dancing and chatting with friends. On Saturday we ventured north to check out the Hampden fourth Saturday dance, with Jen & Avery (this after a wonderful dinner at Jen & Jason's)... Sunday and Monday we worked on tax stuff... Tuesday we hosted the jam here at home... I walked around the woods, following some of the better traveled deer trails in a search for the "Winter Yard"... I have an idea where they might be bedding down, but I didn't want to alarm or otherwise disturb them, I was only hoping for a glimpse of deer in the woods but that didn't happen... I'll continue to walk around that area and see what I can see... Working on new fiddle tunes, working on technique, working on putting together medleys of tunes, working on alternate variations of the tunes... all this as part of a group effort for me, Richard and our guitar friend Paul to form a band. We're pretty excited about the possibilities. And in addition to that, we're working toward playing at the DEFFA festival at the end of March, at the Oyster Dinner in Vienna early in March, and the Norlands when they start their season again. A trip to San Francisco is on my mind, browsing through seed catalogs, and countless other projects run through my mind at any given moment.

So, live is good, even if I'm not blogging... but I miss sharing what's going on, so I'll make a better attempt to do it... Amazing to realize that today is the last day of January 2007... The time flies by too quickly, and I am reminded that life is short and we owe it to ourselves and to those around us to live like all the little sayings recommend... "Live life as an exclamation, not an explanation!"... "You only go around once, go for the gusto"... Do you have any favorites? I like the ones that are positive, and encourage action...

Cold Frosty Morning can be found in the Fakebook (listed as Frosty Morning).

Lost Everything

My computer died, big bummer! R has an extra lap-top that I'm using, but I don't have the files I use... I'm so lost! We've struggled through re-entering a lot of the business data that we thought we'd finally been caught up on for the accountant... that meant a lot of tense moments over the past couple of days, for me and for Richard. We've managed to stay on friendly terms though, and we got the preliminary information to the accountant today. The other good thing is that R has been able to retrieve most of the information from the old computer, he's pretty amazing :) So, the posts may be few and far between until I get my bearings.
Lost Everything is from the Portland Collection, Volume Two (I think, I don't have my database of tunes so I'm guessing!)

Master of the Dance

We completed the second workshop in the caller's series. The first was held two weeks ago at the Somerset Grange in Norridgewock (you may remember the post)... today we met at the Victor Grange in Fairfield Center. The workshops were great~ a nice balance of instruction, dancing, and feet-to-the-floor practical application. After the first session, we were given a homework assignment to find a dance that we would actually call, live with real dancers! Admittedly neither Richard or I prepared before this morning, but we did each manage to come up with a couple of dances that we might be able to do. We got to try them out this afternoon with our fellow students... and we got to hear their impressions and suggestions. This was SO helpful. When it came time to call the dance, it was still fairly nerve-wracking but we were also very prepared. Everyone did a great job, including Richard and me! I called Haste to the Wedding and Richard called Jenny Goes to Camp.

So, for anyone out there who is looking for a caller or band to put on a contradance for your organization, we're your contact! We have opportunities for more instruction coming up, and feel like we could put a short program together successfully. In addition to feeling more confident about calling and playing for contradances, we met some wonderful people through this workshop... some individuals... and especially one family that is learning to dance and call and carry on the tradition of New England contradancing.

Master of the Dance can be found in Along the River.

Waterbound

This is the time of year when my skin gets dry and my lips get chapped. Staying hydrated and moisturized is a challenge... using moisturizers, lotions, and lip gloss help to soften dry skin and protect against dryness... it's just as important to drink plenty of water to hydrate internally.

Instruments need to be tended to as well. Using Damp-Its is an easy way to introduce moisture into fiddles, guitars and stand up bass... keeping a water pot on the stove and having healthy houseplants also helps maintain a comfortable humidity level. We recently had a humidifier installed on our piano... it is silent and uses very little electricity.

I spent my vacation day well. I had many options, but chose to play music as my main focus. I played in hour increments... and in the alternate hours I got smaller chores and tasks completed, like going to the transfer station, making cookies, taking a walk outside, shoveling the walkway, getting the mail, taking out the composty stuff, sorting through piles of sheet music. I'm glad I took the time off and that I used it for personal gain, it was a fun day.

Waterbound is a tune from the Fiddle Music of PEI.

Forked Deer

I went walking in the woods this afternoon. Even though the temperatures were in the teens here in Wayne, there was no wind and it felt warmer. I thought some of getting the snow shoes or cross country skis out, but since there's only a few inches of snow from the storm, I decided to just jump into my boots and walk... good choice! There are some paths off the front yard, not only for humans to use, but apparently for the deer... they are definitely making good use of the cleared trails where Richard and Toby drove the tractor when they were getting firewood. I mentioned this to David & Kathie, and they asked if we had any groves of small evergreens. We do indeed have a nice little grove just north of the back yard... David thinks that is where the deer are bedding down and living. No deer near their house, but obviously we've got a good population living right around ours!
Forked Deer can be found in several resources including the Fakebook, the Portland Collection (blue book), and the Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes.

Home Waltz

I've decided to use a vacation day and spend today here at home. There are quite a few things on my "Personal To-Do List"...

• go through photographs and put some favorites into the frames I've been collecting...
• play through the newly received, thanks to Eric, Cape Breton tunes in anticipation of the once-a-month fourth Sunday jam at his house... learn more about program & design of web sites...
• settle on a course of study for the next few years in preparation for a new or altered career path in five years, and then taking the first step by enrolling at UMA today...
• sit down with scrapbooks and geneology information

In addition to my "Personal To-Do-List" there are a few other things that seem to be chores or work but are enjoyable enough for me to consider doing today and those things are: cleaning a closet, putting away the Christmas stuff (yes, it's still not stored but it is behind a closed door!), or tending to our personal finances. I'm going to start with the first category, and use the second group as filler! Nice to have some relaxing time at home and the flexibility to choose!

Home Waltz is in the Fiddle Music of PEI.

King's Reel

Today is Martin Luther King Day...

I don't consider myself a political activist or a historian, and I have to admit I don't know a lot about this man. My impressions are that he believed in love, tolerance, awareness and compassion for all men and women. I did find the following excerpts from his speeches:

I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I go. I know it isn't popular to talk about it in some circles today. I'm not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love, I'm talking about a strong, demanding love. And I have seen too much hate. I've seen too much hate on the faces of sheriffs in the South. I've seen hate on the faces of too many Klansmen and too many White Citizens Councilors in the South to want to hate myself, because every time I see it, I know that it does something to their faces and their personalities and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.~Martin Luther King, Jr.

So, I'll take this opportunity to reflect, and ACT on my ability to be loving, tolerant, and forgiving... to have awareness and compassion for my fellow man and woman... regardless of race... regardless of social class, religion, gender... regardless of any label or classification.

King's Reel is from the Fiddle Music of PEI.

Reel des Onions

Mmmm... delicious and nutritious. This is the first evening I've actually cooked anything more than microwave nachos since last week! I pan browned pieces of boneless pork with freshly chopped garlic... added chunks of onions and peppers (yellow, red, and green) and seasoned with sage, parsley, pepper and garlic powder. A glass of Syrah rounds out the meal. The table setting is for the photo... I brought the meal into the den and watched the news rather than sit at the table :)
Ahhhh. The living room is finally back together! How nice to fill the wood pile, put the furniture back in place, put away the ladders, and watch it snow this afternoon. It's been a busy few days, but definitely worth it. I think it would have been difficult to get this much done if R was home... only because it takes time away from the project to fix meals, and even to sit down and eat.

In other news, the snowstorm came and went with some minimal accumulation, and some minimal amounts of sleet. I was prepared to hunker down here, light the oil lamps and cook on the wood stove, but no need. I did go out on a "Snow Emergency" ride. For anyone who is not familiar with a "Snow Emergency", it's a term I heard years ago on Prairie Home Companion. Essentially, it's when the weather is so bad that people are encouraged to STAY HOME and not go out on the roads... but instead of following that recommendation, you NEED to go out for MILK or something else... all in the guise of maneuvering on snow covered roads and byways. My "Snow Emergency" did not have anything to do with grocery purchases, but I did have a nice visit with Kathie & David, and with Mom & Dad. Now I'm safe at home, enjoying the evening.

Reel des Onions can be found in the Portland Collection.

Over the Waves

The waves are gone! They're totally covered now with paint that is called "Toasty Tan" but really looks like wet beach sand. This bookshelf holds home improvement reference books, biographies, and our nature & environment collection. This also seemed like a good place to display some of our many family photographs. We have a lot of books. This book case holds most of our paperback non-fiction collection. We each have some authors that we favor, and some topics of personal interest. Library book sales are one source of acquisition... the Cary Memorial Libray in Wayne and libraries in Topsham and Brunswick are ones we frequent.

Over the Waves is a lovely waltz.

Whitewater

This morning I finished painting upstairs in the balcony. This allowed me to move the ladders downstairs into the living room. The first thing necessary here was to apply Kilz sealer over the blue wavy stripes. I experimented upstairs, trying to avoid using the Kilz but the stripe still showed through. After putting Kilz over the stripe up there, and then applying two coats of paint, the blue waves are finally gone up there... now to get them covered over in the vaulted area in the living room! While the Kilz dries, I'll get the books and furniture back in order upstairs... check in later for a photo of the upstairs balcony.

Kilz is a stain killer/sealer that has the consistency of Elmer's glue... really runny like white water. I wonder if it works like Elmer's... you know, like when we were kids and we'd cover our fingers with Elmer's, let it dry, and then peel it off in a plasticized layer? As long as it gets rid of the stripe, I guess I don't care too much.

Whitewater comes from the Lighthouse Collection.

Orange and Blue Jig

IMPORTANT UPDATE... this post title refers to the colors only... Avery is NOT a Gator fan! This family is NOLES all the way! Avery is sporting his mom's new winter hat while he counts pine cones!

Orange and Blue Jig comes from the Fiddle Music of PEI.

Far Away

Note the orderly appearance of the desk :) The prayer flags are a gentle reminder to be mindful of the air we breathe, the water and the land, the sunshine, and for life itself.

Some of Richard's "Marilyn Monroe" collection.

Richard may be physically far away, but he's close to my heart and in my thoughts. I finished painting the bedroom today and spent this afternoon putting the room back in order. I absolutely LOVE the color in this room... it's called "Peaceful Pines" and picks up the green in the linens we have.

Far Away is from the Waltz Book, Volume One.

Mug and Brush Reel

Blue waves... like living in an aquarium... maybe cover this with sand color!

Our office space... no changes planned in here... just a "clean and organize" campaign. We have recently installed faux wood Levolor blinds on this window.

Purple stripes (what is it with all the stripes?) in the bedroom... we have our bedroom up on the stage area... it makes me feel like the Swiss Family Robinson being up higher than everything else. I think I'll use green in this area and keep all the linens fairly neutral.

Good morning! I woke up early... with lots of great energy for a weekend of focused house projects. These photos show the areas I am starting on the "Pine Needle Alley Make-over Project". There are a few other areas I may work into (powder room, dining room, kitchen, living room)... Sound ambitious? No problem! I've kept a clear schedule from now until Tuesday morning, with only a couple of trips out of the house. The scheduled breaks are good for me... I know I can have intense focus and allow all my creative energy to lead me without restriction... the breaks give me the opportunity to re-focus and get a reality check before diving in again. My goal is to have this project completed by the time Richard gets home next week. He seemed a little nervous that things would change a lot, but really it'll mainly be painting the walls... okay maybe a few little changes here and there... I'll keep you all posted!

And in case any of you are wondering about the "Mug" part of this post's title, I'm sure I'll be having a little mug of ale as a reward later on AFTER I've put the paint and ladders away for the day :)

Mug and Brush Reel comes from the Fiddle Music of PEI.

(Not a) Broken Down Gambler

News from Richard... he and his mom reached Atlantic City in plenty of time to check into their hotel and make it to the casino! This was R's first experience at the slots (I've only been once, years ago)... sounds like it was everything he expected. His impression of gambling seems to be similar to mine... fun activity with friends/family that enjoy it but not something either of us would put on our "List of Things We Want to Do". He came out a little bit ahead though, a good evening out, and all part of the adventure!

Road to Lisdoonvarna

or somewhere along the way! Richard is heading out this morning on a road trip with his mom. His dad, Dick, had back surgery and isn't able to make the drive this year to Florida... he'll be flying out next week. In the meantime, Richard gets to spend some quality time with his mom... what adventures they'll have... and how I'll miss him!

Struggling Heart

CPR recertification class was held after work today... we gathered at Club-E for instruction, practice, and finally THE TEST. Everyone passed, of course. The guidelines have changed, as they do from time to time, and it's good to stay well practiced. Bottom line though is, any attempt to deliver rescue breaths and chest compressions in an emergency situation is better than doing nothing... so whether or not you do the exact number or ration, while important, is not as critical as JUST DOING IT to your best ability. I'm in high hopes to never need to use it, but if the need did arise, I can honestly and proudly say "I know CPR, I can help".
Struggling Heart comes from the Portland Collection Volume Two.

New Box

Club-E has gone digital... x-ray that is! We got our first "real time" training today. There are a couple different areas of learning. First, positioning of the sensors is very similar but slightly different than using standard film... plus there's this "tail" attached to the sensor that has to be allowed for. The other part of the process is the computer. Setting up templates to receive the images, getting the timing sequence just right, and then manipulating the images once they've been acquired... this is all new as well.

The training went great. As with anything new, the next few weeks will bring many questions and suggestions. We have a dozen or so team members who will be taking these x-ray images so I anticipate lots of input! We have another training session scheduled in February, this time with a professional from another office... she will come and answer our questions, and point out tips and techniques to enhance the basics we are learning right now.

This "new box" means lower radiation for the patient, faster diagnosis "in the chair", and the ability to instantly critique and improve the images we take.

New Box can be found in Along the River.

Head to Head

I had an interesting experience on Monday afternoon... an ocular migraine! It didn't last long, but it was activity stopping. I spent a few hours taking it easy with the lights low, took a couple of Ibuprofen and felt much better. Seems to have been a "classic case" that matched up with several on-line descriptions. I wouldn't have had any idea what was going on, though I did think of brain tumors, strokes, and other random scary thoughts. Richard had heard of ocular migraines, and when he looked it up, we both felt certain we'd found the correct home diagnosis!
Head to Head is from the Lighthouse Collection.

Ways of the World

Jen, Avery and I spent part of the day browsing at World Over Imports in Bangor. This is one of our favorite places to look for interesting gifts and special bargains. We were not disappointed today... we each found a few things to purchase... some for our own homes, and some to put away as gifts during the year. The nice thing about finding interesting gifts at a good price and putting them away is that when an occasion comes up (planned or unexpected), having a stash of potential gift items in the closet comes in pretty handy... much more economical than running out to purchase something the day before (or the day that) you need it! I like the idea of making gifts, and I like to put some of those away too, but truth be told, time is a commodity these days and home made gifts are not easy to come by on short notice. Also, to be honest, it's fun to find some little thing to brighten up our own home now and then, something to add a little "special" to our world. Today I found some pretty candle rings for the dining room table... an arrangement with little leaves, and some clear beads that remind me of glistening ice crystals on the evergreens outside this time of year.

Even better than the good deals we found was the time we spent together. Jen and I have a nice relationship, one where we can discuss important things like colors we want to use to decorate our homes, and even more important, the unspoken bond between mom and daughter that now goes beyond to include grammah and grandson. We share a lot of common personality traits and also share a certain way of looking at the world that not everyone can appreciate. Whether it is a reality check or not is up for debate, but it sure is nice to spend time with someone who "gets you" in ways that are non-verbal. These are the ways of the world I think... that we all seek some kind of understanding with someone.

Ways of the World can be found in the Fiddler's Fakebook.

Chinese Breakdown

We spent the afternoon at a workshop, learning to call contradances. My motivation is to learn which tunes go best with certain dances... and to be able to fill in as a caller when necessary. Richard's reasons for attending are similar. I actually got to call a dance by the end of the afternoon... it was challenging and fun, and a lot of work! After the workshop finished, Richard and I decided, with our friend Maggie, to go to the highly recommended Chinese restaurant in town. Now, you should know that we were in Norridgewock, so expectations were not all that high to begin with. We ordered our food, said hi to a couple of other people we knew from the workshop, and then proceeded to re-arrange the tables so we could sit together. More workshop folk came in and ordered, we added another table to form a long line and sat down for what turned out to be quite a dining experience. The food came one or two dishes at a time, and even the rice didn't come at the same time as the entree. The vegetarian dish had pork in it, one person kept getting the new dishes of food brought to her, she'd eat some and then realize it wasn't what she ordered so the dish would get passed down the table. And some meals were served in bags because there weren't enough dishes to serve everyone. A mixture of stainless steel flatware intermingled with plastic cutlery... a pint of lemon sauce for one serving of chicken... and the only meal served steaming hot was the last one brought to the table! The only thing missing were the Chinese cooks and wait people... it's possible there was actually only one employee in the establishment, and he was Caucasian! We had to wonder, where did the rave revue of the restaurant get started!?!?

The conversation was priceless though, and it made the entire meal a positive experience. Stories about how each of us first came to contradancing... other dining stories... lots of laughter. We couldn't have had a better day if we'd planned it out. Our homework between now and the next class is to prepare a dance and be ready to call it at the Fairfield Contradance.

Chinese Breakdown can be found in the Fakebook as well as other resources.

Tartar Frigate

Frigate

We spent our evening at the Belfast contradance with a core group of musicians surrounded by as many drop-in players as show up... tonight there were about 15 people (including Richard and me) playing tunes to about 100 people... all this at the community dance! There were a lot of children and families, and it appears they've been paying attention at previous dances because they looked GOOD out there on the floor!

This dance started a little over a year ago, and has grown stronger with each passing month... amazing to see what can happen with good planning, publicity, and a community of support. The community dance is followed by a dessert potluck & social time and then that is followed by the regular contradance, which is also well attended. Tonight's regular dance band was Frigate with Glen Loper, Fred White, and Steve Muise... they're amazing... and the caller was Adina Gordon, who we also heard at the New Year's dance. Great fun. Quite a few dances give tickets at the door... numbers are drawn at the breaks and prizes are given out. Often times the prizes are CD's, and I think tonight they were giving out tickets to get into the dance.

Tartar Frigate comes from the Portland Collection Volume Two.