Forum Activity for @lois-sprengnether-keel

In my own wilder past goats were also part of my life, starting out with Alpines & Nubians, but found Toggenburgs were the breed for us.  Lived in 15.95 acres if woods, but when we needed to move, what worked for goats didn't work for people & vice versa.  Finally found a place for both, but eventually too little time.  Our last goat went as a companion to a horse, but my daughters never forgave "giving Cookie away."  May your friend have time, enjoyment, & continuing memories!

I'm correcting my C.S. Lewis quote: “No,” he said, “not our dogs.” However, he said, there would be, in heaven, “the essence of dogness.”  I think those of us loving our pets would go more with the idea of without them heaven wouldn't be heavenly. 

Two thoughts: C.S. Lewis said dogs (or was it pets? should look it up) must go to heaven or else we wouldn't find it heavenly; & at the lake alongside our big dog park I found tucked away a memorial stone to a dog saying it was always the best hello, but also the hardest goodbye.

My malamutes all seemed to go at 10, while my huskies could go to 12, 13, 14, so the husky in my wonderful husky/malamute mix is now 14, but oh the joint problems!  Had a woman say the final year for her mal was 15 but again those joints.  I read these losses & dread it coming.

Hugs to all losing &/or loving their pets.

@ken-hulme That's ...well, if not GENIUS, a darn good idea.  Those 200 songs could be an excellent idea to share &/or sell.  People tend to put down Ionian noter/drone, but this is a perfect example of how easily it can work.  Just had a thought <GASP!> Many of these songs, since they're so traditional, could be found in something like the Sing Out! book, but that is planned primarily for vocal & guitar or maybe banjo.  It would be easy to write in the dulci openers.

Thank you so much, Richard, for passing along this word since we know he was right in the worst hit area.

Thank you, Ken & Leo, for making me doubt I under-watered, although the summer/winter differences are worth remembering.  This is the first I've heard of it.  I really suspect my problem is lack of attention.  I'm fairly sure the planting medium was dry whenever I watered.  Saying "summer watering on the order of twice a week" is definitely not what I've done.  These aren't cacti and they may be getting too little light, too.  (It's a big east facing window that isn't used constantly.)  For now I'll keep the few that have survived, but have two small pots that I'd love to fill.  Suspect some time I'll give in to the temptation when I see them at the grocery store or nearby greenhouse/plant store.  Hate to be a serial plant killer.

While I still will use a guitar when needed for my storytelling programs, it's not easy with my fretting hand shortened on the pinky finger due to Dupuytren's Contracture.  I had the finger worked on once, but the brace I was supposed to use during recovery was too big & the finger became worse.  Not interested in possibly tempting my luck further with other treatment.  Fortunately the dulcimer is easier even when I do something forming a chord.  I'm told I mainly "finger dance" as I find the noter doesn't quite satisfy my desire to be "hands on."

I'm so glad this Off Topic Discussion has been re-opened by our head of MD music & gardening .  I have questions about keeping succulents alive.  I've kind of learned how to manage a lot of regular plants, but succulents still must quake in fear at going home with me.  Tips wanted, please.

[quote="Lois Sprengnether Keel"]

YUM!  Seriously, can't those things catch bugs?!?  Sounds like they wait to be fed!  Heck, our pets can do that & are. . . well, pettable.

@jost  said Well according to fotmd and the Facebook groups AppleCreek is something of a lottery. You can end up with a cheap and great sounding instrument but you have also a high chance of getting expensive firewood. I wouldn't risk my bucks for it.

Possibly a beginner might not know the difference, but @wally-venable shouldn't feel too put down.  We both won that lottery.  Found one in an antique store that was small enough for me to use as a "travel dulcimer" that both takes less space & isn't something I'd get upset if anything happened to it.  It's definitely not something I use in a program or even play at home since I have other dulcimers I like for other reasons, but I bought it & right afterwards started seeing all the bad press a while back.  If you buy it, either try it first in the store or make sure you know the return policy.

I've never tried a cardboard dulcimer, but not everybody wants to put together their instrument first. 

Glad you have this problem sorted out, @tull66 , just felt the AppleCreek discussion deserved another view.

Thank you both, Ken & Greg/Banjimer.  I, too, find dulcimer ideally suited to syllable playing unlike guitar which tend to be closer to "incessantly repeating a pattern."  I was fairly sure this 1/4 vs. 1/8 notes was what was happening, but thought it deserves clarification.  Our Ditties are never Bum!

This discussion is split between "Fret Addition" & talking about strums.  I noticed Banjimmer (@greg-gunner"> @greg-gunner ) gave the common strum using "Bum - Ditty."  I suddenly realized I've had a problem with this common strum that maybe can be clarified here. 

My question is "Does 'Ditty' imply 2 strums just as the word 'ditty' is 2 syllables with probable emphasis on the first half?"  On guitar the strums were highly clarified, but it looks less obvious for dulcimer.  I do strum in both directions unless the song seems to require repeated strokes in one direction to stress the gravity of the melody.  If I'm doing Bum-Ditty is it something like "In - Out" (or vice-versa) or is it "In - Out - In" or even "In - Out - Out" with the part after "In" occurring in the same amount of time as a "Bum"?  To put it another way: Whole - Half/Half?  Because of the time signature I'm presuming the latter as opposed to Whole Note in one direction, then Whole Note in the opposite.

Hope this makes sense and all you Bum-Ditty-ers don't mind clarifying this.

Oh my, Dulcimer Boy, your journey to loving dulcimers sounds so much like my own.  Had even said it was an instrument I'd skip since I, too, have a background with others.  Found what I call "the Orphan" & the rest followed.  I'm always willing to loan it to a beginner nearby since I now have several, including Tennessee Music Boxes.  (Like John Knopf I'm in that trick area north of the Ontario border.)

Good warm-up suggestion, @lancashire-lass !

You pointed out:  One thing that I have been doing is exercises with a softish rubber ball. I start with a minute or so of gentle squeezing gradually getting harder, then pressing my fingers, in pairs, vertically into the rubber. The whole thing takes about four minutes or until my hand feels comfortably warm. I first started doing this because I was learning the ukulele (I still am). Think it keeps the old fingers agile.

I really need to get a ball & do this.  Can well believe it helps for any musical instrument. 

Hi Lorilee, this is why I'm not a therapist...poor instructions that are so much easier demonstrated!  I can understand the confusion.  Don't take anything backwards as I'm sure that would hurt without helping.  Even without talk of angling (which may have started the confusion) what you're doing is pressing against that index finger which is separated slightly from the other fingers & it's pressing back.  (To be sure & not be too heavy, you could make it index finger on index finger if that makes sense.)  The finger really doesn't go anywhere, except maybe a bit up & down, definitely not back &, while toward the palm's not a problem, it's not needed.  The reason I say "a bit" is because the pressure of the two fingers cancel each other out.  The idea is for the lower index finger to be a tiny bit strong in the muscle of that hand, strengthening your thumb which uses the muscle it shares with the index finger..

Hope that makes it clearer & not even more confusing.

Scrolling through recent posts, the "Painful Thumb" caught my eye as it's an issue I've faced, not due to strings but what @Dusty-Turtle & @ken-hulme meant about muscles.  This may not fit the problem starting this forum topic, but I hope it helps others experiencing thumb pain due to muscle problems.

I've had physical (or it probably was considered occupational?) therapy on hand problems & have learned it's especially common for women.  Apparently our thumbs tend to be weaker.  There's even a book, Caring for the Painful Thumb - More Than a Splint, written by Jan Albrecht, an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. It's written so patients can understand with over 200 color illustrations, the book can be used by both patients and therapists. 

I bought the book, but nowadays tend to use 2 exercises I learned.  What they actually seem to do is strengthen the muscle between the thumb & index finger.  Can't give you 200 illustrations, but will try to describe what I do.  If more is needed, try your library to see if they can borrow the book for you.  (I don't expect them to own it, but inter-library loans give you access to more than they have.)  Failing that, you can find the book to buy online.

Take your hand or both hands & make a C (for the right hand it's a backward C).  Have all your fingers curled in that C formed by your index finger & thumb.  Lift the index finger & lower it a few times.  (I tend to do it about 10 times, then switch to the second exercise.)  For the second exercise, straighten your fingers out (not as straight as an L, but more of an angle -- 45 degree?); lift the index finger, press down on the index finger with your other hand, while the index finger resists the pressure; I hold for the count of 10.  If both hands hurt, switch hands & do the second exercise for the second hand.  If your hands are sore, you can gradually over time increase this until a time comes when they don't hurt. 

I'm not a doctor or a therapist, but these have helped me when my thumb gets sore.  Since, as the t-shirt says, "Old age isn't for cowards!", if anybody here or anybody you know has a recommendation of a general book of therapy exercises for various conditions, I'd love to know.  I've had various bouts for various ailments with therapy studios in the past & know there's a need for a DIY book.

Saw this on Facebook & have to share it here.  I'm sure my Kindergarten report card said: Does not play well with others.

 Golden Rules for Music Ensembles.jpg - 73KB

My husband has 5 old (mainly '20s + a 19th c.) banjos.  That keeps him from complaining about my "Folk Instrument Petting Zoo" including several dulcimers.  He definitely agrees about the pots, pointing to cigar box & a ham can as proof.  Skins certainly make the difference.  His oldest has a goat skin head & gut strings.  He says that combination makes a big difference.

He's not been at all tempted by gourds (thank heavens!), but we know a fellow, Tim Twiss, who loves fretless gourd banjos for reenacting & just plain enjoyment.

With or without the video, The-5-easiest-houseplants-for-beginners is for those of us who claim a "Black Thumb." 

For my continuing adventure, I patted myself on the back for getting a Mandevilla through the winter.  (The local greenhouse didn't think I could do it.)  Next I was careful taking it in & out of our sun room during times when it got cold at night -- having it on a rolling platform helped.  Once that danger was past, however, I figured it was just a case of give it lots of water & let it enjoy that sun.  WOOPS!  The poor baby's looking dehydrated even with lots of water flowing through it daily.  Fortunately there's still plenty of green, so it's now rolled over to a shady corner of that sun room & I'm just hoping I can again bring it around.  (Bought my usual 2 for the front entrance.  Won't let my hold-over Mandevilla see them -- too painful seeing what greenhouses produce.)

Have some other adventures with indoor houseplants (& outdoors), am even occasionally feeling like my thumb is getting "gray", but it's a long way to Tipperary & a long, long way to green.

<Chuckle!>  I've always figured it was a pun on rosining the bow from the start.

I do a program using the abolition song "Roll on the Liberty Ball" that was sung at the planting of the enormous cedar that was the marker (seen for miles) of the Underground Railroad Station operated by the family of the woman I portray (Liberetta Lerich Green).  Later when Civil War years near and I talk about the family's involvement in that & Lincoln's election, I use "Lincoln & Liberty, Too" -- his campaign song.  Both sets of lyrics to "Old Rosin the Beau" were by the abolitionist music group, The Hutchinson Family Singers.  I have 3 blog articles about them and Civil War music at  http://www.storytellingresearchlois.com/search/label/Hutchinson%20Family%20Singers .  The most recent (therefore the first shown) has a video of ex-Weaver, Ronnie Gilbert singing "Lincoln and Liberty, Too."  Personally I always found it funny singing to the tune of "Old Rosin the Beau" as the family's father was staunchly anti-alcohol, even salting the corn crop he sold to pay their part in an Underground Railroad fine paid by all members of the network.

I use the songs to tie together Liberetta's life story, fitting some incidents to verses, since a normal life, unlike fiction doesn't have an easy outline.  The song also has predictable repetition, encouraging audience participation.

Cool!  The name sounded familiar so I looked it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_harp .  You let the wind play it.

@Strumelia dared to say "I think dogs are dumber and will eat quantities of poison stuff.  (sorry, couldn't resist! lololol!)  "  Spoken like a true cat person as it reflects the opinion cats so often show.  Yeah, you better fit that emoji & duck!

(Tempted to add an emoji, but it would be a shame to start another Cat & Dog war.)

The time difference can be a help or hindrance.  An online time converter is worth checking before deciding on workshops or concerts.

Knowing how cats love to nibble plants, this is worth checking: Poisonous Plants to Dogs and Cats .  (Can't have cats anymore, but am grateful my allergies don't prevent me from visiting and enjoying them.)

I'd love to know the thoughts of the husky in the final photo as he's looking at a plant.  My own "malamutt" (husky/malamute) prowls for anything possibly edible when he comes in, but fortunately has never been interested in plants.  He's more likely to eat something on the trail.  He stops when I shout out, but catching him before going after something can be hard.  These types of dogs tend to POUNCE!

This almost fits the "Show Us Your Pets" forum, but figure it's worth checking before acquiring or choosing the spot for your houseplants.

Here's an article titled "Why Your Kid Needs a Plant" https://offspring.lifehacker.com/why-your-kid-needs-a-plant-1846503714?utm_source=lifehacker_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-03-18 & I do believe the child in the photo is next to a Monstera.

I don't qualify for the category of "new" folks & also not for me are either monthly nor being "extremely generous and appreciated! "

That said, I'm proud to continue bearing that "Patron" label.  I appreciate this site, both for its information & contacts.  I've been recommending it whenever possible to anybody interested in Mountain Dulcimers, whether a beginner or beyond.  Whether for myself or beginners this is a wonderful resource.  It shouldn't be something you pay for, Strumelia.  All you do as our very active administrator should be the most we expect of you.

I've been an administrator on a network similar to this, but for professional storytellers.  Lack of income eventually made its owner realize it was more than he cared to continue.  I would hate for that to happen here.  We've seen other major sources of dulcimer networking disappear.  I would hope I'm far from alone in my support!

I remember sitting at a light in California's Silicon Valley and wondering what were those bushes of flowering plants.  They were geraniums!!!  Ever since I find our northern pots of geraniums too puny.

(My mom was one of those who loved to identify plants and birds.  Years later, as a children's librarian I re-discovered When the Root Children Wake Up.  Audrey Wood wrote this classic in 1941.  Nowadays there are new illustrations, but either way it's a great way to introduce children to knowing plants.)

Quick Dumb Question:  It sounds like spraying might fit this plant giving it a daily mist.  Does that make sense.  This plant is very tiny in a tiny plastic pot sitting in the scooped out area of the previous plant's dirt.  I see the tiniest of roots trying to stick out of one hole.

It is indeed cute.  I, too, had a planter I bought a while back & knew it was over-crowded.  The hardier ones have started taking over the spaces left by the ones never meant to be bunched in there.  I guess it all comes down to learning what works and what doesn't.  I need to double check the drainage on my Croton.  For now it's in its tiny original pot inside the bigger pot.  Made copies of the 2 pages about what it needs & how to troubleshoot it.

I also read about that Kalanchoe (which has a ton of common names!) &, unless I had tried to start cuttings, it lasted about the normal lifespan. 

Maybe I'll stop saying "Plants quake in fear when they see me coming."

UPDATE: The "non-astilbe" was a Kalanchoe or "Widow's Thrill."  It looks like at times I may have over-watered it.  Was tempted seeing the cheery yellow blooms, but once the one I had stopped blooming roughly 2 years ago it never did again.  Went with a very tiny but colorful Croton.  Maybe I'll even talk to it.  It certainly will get more attention by the kitchen sink.

The non-astilbe is now gone.  In its final days there wasn't enough left to identify unfortunately.  I could swear I went online for that ages ago, but putting in the name of Astilbe the other day sure wasn't the little yellow flowers I saw initially.  I can try to prowl again, but looking for it at the greenhouse may be easier.  Two years after reading about plant life makes me think I may have had a plant with just that lifespan.

Repotting?!?  YIKES!

Your bonsai sounds great but beyond me if I have any pity on that sort of house plant.

Just looked again at the email from the local greenhouse.  The 25 % off ends after today.  Even with further reductions I expect the selection really dwindles.  Today is take my Malamutt to the Dog Park day, too.  <sigh!>  We'll see if I manage both.

Mandevilla is indeed an outdoor plant.  Each year I have 2 at the entrance to our house and 1 in the sun room (which is unheated, so normally the plant dies off.)  This year I brought the sun room plant in and have it by the sliding glass door to the sun room with a light (can't be sure if it's a grow light or an aquarium light as it's quite old from sitting in our basement) suspended from the curtain rod over the sliding glass door.  I keep the curtains open and it lit until 8 p.m. & have been learning to judge watering by the leaves.  Some of those leaves got slightly freezer burnt when our temperatures went around zero.  I also had been rotating it whenever I watered, but stopped that a month or so ago.  Even under ideal summer conditions it's a plant that does a regular job of dropping off leaves no longer functioning.  I've learned to help that along so those don't block the light of the active leaves.  Today I notice some of the vine-y stems I might have cut off, but just wasn't sure, have tiny sprouts!  I really am getting hopeful I'll have this plant able to get back to the sun room and blooming again.  When I brought it inside there still were blooms, but I was hopeful this was just a time for it to recuperate and lay low.  The local plant expert said it needed lots of light and water.

All in all it may call me a liar for my claims of how awful I am with plants.

The astilbe was a tiny blooming plant given 2 summers ago when my husband was in the hospital.  It had cheery little blooms and it took it a while, but it's now definitely gone. 

I've been looking at a few library books on houseplants, no astilbe.  Just put the name in and searched.  WELL!  That's not the plant I had.  Dunno what it was at this point.  One thing I noticed is some plants' lifespan and maybe I should tell myself this one matched.  Still I know I was pretty awful with it.

Have been paying particular attention to plants matching my non-astilbe's conditions.  Don't want anything too big as it must share the counter space.  Your snake plant gets lots of recommendations for the very reasons you mention.  If I could just let myself enjoy it for its leaves and ignore its name <YECH!> Something reminded me to look further.  It's also called Mother-in-Law's Tongue, so I might consider it.  The book says it's often described as indestructible.  Don't think I want the full-sized version in that location, but there are dwarf forms half the normal size -- if I can get them.

To show you the level of my confidence with plants, I have read about  two or possibly three plants that might work in the place of the non-atilbe.  The book giving specifications is The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual; Essential Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing!) More Than 160 Indoor Plants.  Looking at the plants, I've had (& eventually killed) I'm considering a Croton (also called Joseph's Coat) but maybe in this window where I see it more often it will do better.  I know I really like its brightly colored leaves & so it would be a plus.  I wouldn't even mind re-potting it in future years (the book is aggravatingly big on that!).  Two green plants are a jade plant (did I ever have one?) or an aloe which I know I had at one time, also the aloe seems to need more light, so maybe better skipped.

I know I'm not hopeless.  About 3 years ago a co-worker had a humongous spider plant she needed to give away.  I took it with the agreement she'd never inquire after it.  Some of it has gone, but still have some doing quite well even with a baby spider.  It's in a room where I catch it when some leaves shout out for water.  Similarly there's another room where I water when the spider plant gets watered.  Some things survive there, too.  Right now the Mandevilla gives me hope I'm not a serial plant killer/torturer.  I don't dare get cocky about that, but remember the plant expert I asked originally about it sounded like it was very unlikely it would survive through the winter.

The local supplier of all things green and growing has 25% off right now on houseplants.  Just want something fairly indestructible and able to fit the little pot and spot where the non-astilbe sat.

I went to this discussion hoping for HELP!  Are there members able to make suggestions to somebody I'm sure makes plants quake with fear?  Right now I'm wondering what might replace an Astilbe that has finally almost surrendered to my "care."  It took 2 1/2 years, but this plant on my kitchen counter gets some light, but not enough to be truly sunny.  My watering tendencies also are sporadic.  The one good thing is I use water from cleaning my aquarium.

Also in my defense, it looks like I kept the Mandevilla from the sunroom alive in the house.  I usually just buy 3, 2 for the entrance & 1 to be a real plant in that sunroom.  The local garden store didn't think I could do it.  Right now it's far from luxuriant, but hope to see it bounce back in warmer weather.

While I feel like I torture plants, I guess I'm not as hopeless as I claim, but at the other end of the spectrum from all posting here so far.

YAAAY!  Since your dulcimer probably isn't heavier than 8 pounds, you can keep picking it up as it's obviously helped you so far, Ken!  If you have a bass or otherwise heavier instrument, let it be your incentive for playing again in May.

I agree that, when other multi-instrument festivals exist, there should be dulcimer workshops for beginners, possibly linked with an opportunity to loan the "cardboard dulcimers."  (I remember attending a festival where that offer was made.  I also remember thinking it was one instrument I wouldn't be trying!) 

Beyond that, possibly dulcimer festivals would offer at least one FREE beginner workshop.

Hmmm.  At the risk of becoming sectarian, maybe we need a group of " 'Luterans' Beyond the Lute" 

Glad to have you back, Ken, but here's a thought.  Whatever you were watching when your heartbeat returned to normal needs to become a method to calm down your heart when it races.  Do you have some way to monitor your heartbeat?

Thanks for the clarification, @Dusty-Turtle .  Yes, waves of activity I figured.  As for where posted, does this mean even Group posts appear on the Home page.  Hope so, &, yes, @mick-mclaughlin"> @mick-mclaughlin it's one of the great things about having the way to scroll back (72 ! "pages").  I know I ought to go through it for times I've had to be away or when time permits to "discover a bit that I missed the last time."