Thanks so much Dana!

LOL Ken! But I guess it doesn't much matter where I record because it seems as if a good portion of my music walks the line between somewhat normal and somewhere out there. BTW, from a technical aspect, this was one of the more challenging places to shoot a video, however, it was the least stress inducing place I've ever recorded at. I think there will be more outdoor sunrise video shoots in my future!

Does this mean your music recorded there can be called "Loonie Tunes"?

Thank you Benjamin! The loons are nesting right now and were very vocal when I started the video. How cool is that, right?! The babies are due around June 2nd - can't wait!!! :-)

Wow! Nice playing and nice message. Oh, and the loon at the end...whether by design or not is priceless.

Aww...thanks Terry! I don't know about the "amazing" part but I DO know about the "dog gone" part. When I play those kind of songs, my little dog is looong gone! Ha! Every chance I get, Robin! (much to the dog's displeasure, ) Too funny, Strumelia! Yes, no thinking required.

Your music is pretty dog gone amazing Christine. Enjoyed it very much.

Actually, it's reassuring to know you picked the key of E because that's how your baritone was tuned. Means i don't have to think too hard to 'get' the explanation. lol I've been gravitating to lower keys myself over the past few years.

Do you think that maybe the lakeside session renaissance has something to do with shaking off our extended season of cabin fever, Strumelia? ;-) I wish I had a scholarly, music theory based reason for using the key of E to impress you with, but atlas, I do not. I had been playing my baritone, which is generally tuned E-a-e, when my Muse tapped me for this song. After writing it, I tried it on the Dulciborn tuned C-g-c. Yikes! I quickly went back to the baritone! I play by feel and the lower pitches just seem to resonate better with me. Im sorry if my overly simple reasoning disappointed anyone. For the record, my next dulcimer will be a chromatic 5 string baritone. A girl can dream, right?!

Ok, gotta love the loon at the end!

We seem to be having a 'lakeside session renaissance' lately here.

Christine I'm just kind of curious as to why you chose to do this in the key of E? Does it have to do with the fretboard pattern/mode...(because I notice yours is not a chromatic dulcimer which many jazz/blues players opt for) ?

Thank you John! At least I didn't have to deal with any boats or trucks that morning like you guys did! But your challenges sure did make me laugh - with you, not at you!

RA, AID, lupus, and depression all have one thing in common... they are not readily visible to world around you. If, for example, you have a broken leg in a cast this immediately lets people know you are not about to start running down the street. With the other, they can't understand what is keeping you from functioning normally at all times. But everyone has their own battles to fight.. be they physical, mental, or spiritual... and finding ways to work around them.

Awesome job and a great cause!

Ken, I think youre pretty darn cool too! You always make me laugh - so I was surprised to read that you struggle with chronic depression, another misunderstood condition. I hope that you have been able to find a way to cope when youre not playing the dulcimer and making funny videos for our benefit. Yes, it was nice to be outside for a change, but what you didnt see is that it was really cold last Thursday morning when I shot that video. My jacket was on the back of my chair, which I kept putting on between takes, and there were several because my nose kept running and ruining the shoot! But Im a born Michigander and weve learned to work around our unpredictable weather. Heck, were just happy to see the sunshine every now and again! Im glad you liked it Ken. Thank you for your kind words!

Geekling, I am very glad to hear that you are currently in remission!

BTW, no, I do not have Lupus. Someone close to me does so I advocate on her behalf. My informational video hit its mark (hooray!) - her employer and co-workers now have some kind of idea of what she is going through. Its a start, right?

You are cool, Christine, great playing and great awareness for auto immune and lupus issues. Also nice to see you outside. Lexie, I did not know you suffered from RA. A real challenge for sure. Just like Steph, it is one day at a time. I feel fortunate not to have these physical ailments, but I suffer from chronic depression which is also little understood and can be very deabilitating.

Geekling, I must confess, I had to look up Dermatomyositis because like way too many people, Ive never heard of it. Wow - what a challenge life has thrown you! I can certainly see the relation to and overlap with Lupus. I certainly hope that you do not have all of the symptoms - I would think thatd be just too much for one person to handle. BTW, I do not think you shouldve developed a more popular disease, Id prefer if you had NONE at all! I wish you much strength and a long & lasting period of remission.

Lexie, I am very sorry to hear that you live with RA. I applaud your courage in getting up every day and deciding not to let it control you . I am glad that you have found some meds that are helping to take the edge off. Keep on keeping on, right? I think YOU Rock, Lexie!!!