Show Us Your Pets!
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Forum Activity for @mary-z-cox
Mike Clemmer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ken Longfield:
Saw this video on FB & well worth watching--very nice documentary on Mike & Connie Clemmer :)
I came across this video of Mike Clemmer. I thought some folks might enjoy watching it. https://www.voanews.com/a/6346682.html
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Any banjo players out there?
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Jumping ?? Jumping ?? We don't jump--we levitate --why do you think we get paid the big bucks for concerts ?? We spend hours meditating & considerable yoga hours for that :) We are training to ascend :)
Any banjo players out there?
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
My bass string was out of tune--so I walked away from the mic to tune. Then back again to play. Cameron is my favorite fiddler & he knew my string was out--so he just held the tune and the stage. Happy Holidays :)
Any banjo players out there?
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Here's a little banjo from Saturday night with Boston fiddler, Cameron Freer. This is our levitation verson of dance tunes Black Eyed Susie/Forked Deer. :)
updated by @mary-z-cox: 12/08/21 05:34:52PM
Any banjo players out there?
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Hi. Once when I was playing a small banjo concert in the mountains--I also played a couple tunes on my mountain dulcimer. I demonstrated several different banjos too--I think the cello banjo, my fancy mermaild Deering, the John Bowland 1865 Fretless & the John Hartford with the grenadilla tone ring. A lady rushed up at the end and gushed--I love all your banjos--but I love that all wood banjo the best. (mountain dulcimer) maryzcox.com
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hi !
the destribution in Florida has been excellent . Bob & I got our vaccines in February from the health department & the vaccine seems readily available to anyone who will go get it .
Even though the media claims disparity in the distribution—a look at the income level & rates of distribution county by county are eye opening . For instance —st.John’s County—richest in the state has a 72% vaccine rate & Leon County —only 28 in income levels also has 72% And Gadsden —one of the poorest counties —around 60 % and that’s probably because there is a younger population there .
A lot of folks want to make a political argument out of vaccine distribution & there has definitely been favoritism —especially in the early stages—but from a pragmatic POV—the lower age requirements & fast distribution to all has actually worked well for everyone except folks in isolated rural areas who may have no one to bring them in . But by getting everyone who can arrive first —it will get to the harder to reach areas sooner too .
Actually Leon county has gone right in to all sides of town to offer all Covid services —especially the poorer sections .
Yes—I’m pretty sure some of the richer retirement communities got theirs first —but they got in fast —got it done & moved on to the rest of us very quick :)
Show Us Your Pets!
OFF TOPIC discussions
Thanks for asking. Elvis passed last June at 15 (he had a tumor on his aorta & finally his back broke) but he had an excellent last year with several beach camping trips & a fall mountain excursion in which he was able to escape and join old man McCalls bear hunting dog pack for a night of intense hound excitement. (they were poaching on our land) But he was like a puppy until the last month or two. We have been 9 months without a basset & just got Charley last week. He is one of the most intelligent puppies I have ever seen & Bob & I feel like new parents again.
Keep picking,
Mary Z. Cox
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Update —our little granddaughter (Violet Juniper Hyder) came 5 weeks early on Jan 23 & she is home with her parents—she is very tiny 4 lbs 11oz .and they are allowed no visitors because she is a preemie & because of the virus—but we may be allowed to see her after she gains a pound or two . Bob & I had the 2nd Phitzer vaccine last week & we are both recovering from surgeries last week —we are a little sleepy but doing just fine & we are taking gifts & supplies over to the kids on Friday even though we can’t go inside yet .
i’ve been working on a baby quilt for Violet since it’s a little cold & rainy outdoors & have been playing my dulcimer & cello banjo a little .
As far as we have heard—Covid vaccines seem to be going well in Tallahassee & they have given out both Moderna & Phitzer & many friends & neighbors have already had 2nd vaccines . We got ours at the drive through at the health department . They gave us both right in the car—2 at a time . It was very well organized & everyone in masks & we didn’t even feel the first shot — the second one was a little heavier —but neither of us had any reactions . Everyone is still masking in Tallahassee & keeping their distance & no big events . Their are a few open places but we don’t go there right now .
If you read this—let me know where you are located & if you have got your vaccines yet?
Love & blessings,
Mary Z Cox
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hello All,
The fruit tree post was wonderful . Our 3 Meyers Lemon Trees are heavy this year & so is our pink grapefruit tree :) I’ve been busy in the kitchen & put up 12 pints of Lemon marmalade . It takes almost a full day for only 6 pints . We have tried to encourage our neighbors to pick—but most of our usual pickers are staying indoors because it is cold & rainy. Also everyone in our neighborhood is having a bumper year for lemons —so it is difficult to find them homes :)
My good dulcimer news is I’ve been having fun experimenting in EAA & working out many A old time tunes —having fun with Grub Springs Waterbound Shenandoah Falls & Crockets honeymoon :)
Also had some frets pulled on my black walnut MMD & greatly enjoying playing it again :)
Here is some of our good news for this year (not going to mention any troubling or sad news because we all got plenty of all that )
1. Bob & I are finally going to be grandparents —Violet Juniper Hyder is due in February . This is our Daughter Natalie & Husband Will’s miracle baby & is the only grandchild on either side of the family . So far she is growing well, active & healthy & looked good in the genetic testing too —she’s already 4 lbs & the size of a cauliflower :) and Bob has quit drinking so he will be allowed to hold her—which is improving his health too :)
2. Bob & I have been fortunate in we live in Tallahassee which is easy to stay inside & to also have outdoor activities that are isolated in natural beauty —so we have not caught the virus . We got our first vaccines last Saturday from the local health department & have our follow up on the 30th :)
3. Looking forward to camping & festivals this summer & hope we’ll all be out & about & picking again :)
Hope everyone here is safe & well & picking a few new happy tunes too :)
Love & blessings,
Mary Z. Cox
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Tallahassee is pretty shutdown--FSU gone remote, public schools closed, bars, clubs closed, restaurants--take out only. Groceries open but shelves getting empty. Spending a lot of time cooking, writing a new mountain dulcimer book, getting ready for a new mountain dulcimer recording, learning some new tunes and songs.
My local gym is closed--so I've become the fitness director for Elvis (my 15 yr old basset hound) He walked 4 miles yesterday --but only 2 today. I miss my zumba classes--so have a plan to teach him zumba in the kitchen while I'm cooking.
Yesterday--I made Meyers Lemon marmalade--because I still have lots of Meyer's lemons on my trees and it turned out wonderful. :)
Trying to update some of my profiles on pages that haven't been updated in years & updating pix.
Zumba??? Now you want me to Zumba? I'm not going to pose with that dulcimer again--not enough milk bones in the world for that :) If you make beef stew again--can I lick the crockpot ?
updated by @mary-z-cox: 03/18/20 10:35:24PM
Your "Dream Dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Okay--I've got many dream dulcimers & this is my newest one--love the wormy chestnut and of course the old man carved head--I really do like the little carved heads on dulcimers
I think I'm In trouble here! Bought yet another dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Congrats on your new dulcimer. IMHO--it is very normal to enjoy playing your new dulcimer. Everytime a new dulcimer arrives at my home--it gets lots of playing and attention. :) Fortunately, I don't have an additive personality--but instead, I'm very active in dulcimer, banjo, and guitar rescue--a compassionate and humanitarian calling
mzc
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
OFF TOPIC discussions
There are a lot of wonderful folks that I know that are on fomd -- but I met them all first somewhere else :)I did meet a total stranger on fb and we ended up loaning him our mountain cabin, then my husband and I stayed with him in his home for 2 weeks in Quimper , France and he stayed with us again thIs year for 2 weeks in Tallahassee, and now he is getting ready to retire to Martinique in a year or two -- and of course, we are invited for an extended stay :) I've also met some great folks on banjohangout, and have stayed with them in their homes and become good friends. :)We are so lucky to meet so many wonderful folks wherever we go and have had the double fortune to remain friends for many years :)Happy Holidays :)
Ho Ho Ho and here I go again- buying another dulcimer!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Cedar and walnut sounds very nice :) Nothing like a new dulci under the tree!
:)MZC
Throw in a few more bucks and you can order one of the mid range McSpaddens and select your own favorite woods. Also, David at Modern Mountain Dulcimers, makes a regular sized dulcimer where the back and sides are some kind of red wood -- that sounds and plays really nice.Also, several folks on this list and myself have all ordered dulcimers from Mike Clemmer and although you will pay a few more bucks-- you will get to choose your woods and style which lets you have a more special dulcimer. Also-- I have two of Paul Conrad's intarsia dulcimers-- which play and sound good too-- take a look and listen to some of my video clips here to hear and see them. Getting to know Paul is worth the extra bucks :)Hope this helps,Mary Z CoxPs. IMHO 300 buys a good beginning dulcimer, 400--700 an excellent intermediate dulcimer, 700 + -- you get into pro models and very special dulcimers :)
Crock Pot Beer Chicken
OFF TOPIC discussions
That sounds really good. Think we used to make a similar recipe like that years ago and it was really good. We also used to make that beer bread-- and it was so yummy because the beer tasted like yeast in the bread. :)
Sassafrass is awesome-- got two dulcimers with sassafras :) one is cherry & sassafras, the other walnut & sassafras. If the sassafras is new, you will also have the pleasure of your dulcimer smelling like root beer until it ages :)Best wishes,Mary Z CoxPs. IMHO I!d much rather have the Clemmer dulcimer over the folk craft :)
D-A-C tuning
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Love this tuning & keep one of my Simmerman's in dac all the time. If you find that one of your dulcimers really sounds good in this tuning-- if you just keep it in this tuning-- it just kind of sinks in and always sounds good :) mzc
Stand for Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Gary Sager at Prussia Valley builds a beautiful wooden stand-- adjustable and folds for travel. I love mine.Also, John Stockard makes a very sturdy adjustable metal stand. I've used mine for years and still works great :)Hope this helps,Mary Z Cox
Have a couple dulcimers with built in pic ups, but haven't used them that much although they sound perfectly fine and very acoustic. Just got a uke with built in pick up & cutaway body that I think I may start using on stage. Like the dulcimer, the uke needs some kind of amplification if it is playing with another instrument in order to be heard :)
Cherry River Line - Lester McCumbers on fiddle & Kim Johnson on banjo
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Whoah -- way-- way different than the Cherry River line we've added to our set this year. Ours is a modified version of the West Virginia vocal that we added a couple verses with Copperhill & Duck Town :)Mzc
Photos Dulcimer Factory c. 1995 DF-4
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
But does it smell like root beer ? :)
Photos Dulcimer Factory c. 1995 DF-4
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sassafrass usually only smells until it is aged. My cherry/ sassafras dulcimer smelled like root beer for about 5 years -- wonderful. :) my walnut/ sassafras never had the smell, but suspect it was older aged wood. Have a Spanish curly cedar/figured mahogany that kept the Spanish cedar smell for several years-- it was kind of a peppery wood smell-- but so many folks smelled it-- they finally just sucked all the smell out of it :)Really loved the root beer smell on the sassafras, though :)
Starting a weekly jam session, please give me some tips.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here's a fun jam session :) And you can even hear the dulcimers :)
A very wonderful Christmas gift...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lovely! What a fun surprise :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z Cox
New Timber Hill Butterfly dulcimer arrived today !
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I just love it too! Here it is under the Meyer's lemon tree. The rumble is the wind--it is breezy and wonderful outside today. :)
updated by @mary-z-cox: 06/08/16 09:24:05PM
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My favorite is John Stinson's # 2
But I just found the words to Harrison Town and I am currently mesmerized by that tune too. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
I played in the Florida championship contest after playing a couple months in front of a large audience and judges. Played with one guitarist . Only took second place, though :) actually lost out to John Blosser who got first that year and he was a much better dulcimer player :) I did take first place the next year :)Mzc