I second Ken H's suggestion to pluck a string then turn the tuning knob. It is so easy to be turning the wrong tuner-- I've done it enough times. ;)
Don, it's wonderful you're going to build gourd banjos for your kids and grandkids!
Oh, I'm so glad you kept all your fingers in the process of working that snakewood!
I like the sound of gourd banjos with deep voices, Don. Enjoy playing your new build!
Thanks for sharing this, Ken! Don is a treasure!
Yes, thank you for the photos @slssld! Enjoy your Black Rose!
I'd like to see a Black Rose mountain dulcimer-- I only live about 20 miles from Nelsonville OH.
@dusty-turtle I have a feeling she never stopped (loving you). 
I am glad you were able to be outdoors with your guitar and your McSpadden, Lisa! Hope you get lots of chances to play outdoors during your "bonus vacation"!
Friends, it has been so good to see the videos and accounts of PMOTPD-- thank you for sharing them!
Here is the little movie Mark & I made yesterday:
Here's some information from Revel's Music about Black Rose Dulcimers:
https://revelsmusic.co.uk/dulcimers-for-sale/intermediateadvanced-players/black-rose-dulcimers/
I believe the song was written by Alice Gerrard who sings here. A young music friend named Matt told me Penny Seeger is the mountain dulcimer player in this recording.
Hey, Bull Terrier named Gary! So nice you can foster, @paula!
@carla-maxwell & @ocean-daughter If the weather's fit, we'll all be able to play a tune or two outdoors!
For the places on Earth with drought and fire/threat of fire now I hope they get the opportunity to be playing indoors on a rainy (not flooding) day.
Happy strumming, friends!
I don't know anything about the Lapidus book yet, I believe, Joellen Lapidus introduced Joni Mitchell to the mountain dulcimer and to using the mountain dulcimer percussively.
A group whose music I really like, Appalasia, has a mountain dulcimer player who is also a percussion player-- Jeff Berman. He uses the mountain dulcimer in a percussive fashion, too. http://appalasia.com/bios
@sunvalleylaw Good to have you here, Steve! The mountain dulcimer journey is a fun one. So cool you got to see Tim H play md with Brandi-- love her and the band!
@carla-maxwell It wonderful you got to meet Larkin! I imagine her book and accompanying recording have been a help for many on their journey of playing mountain dulcimer
That is a neat story, Ken! Thanks for posting the link!
@marg Way cool! Your dulcimer work looks great!
I think she's going to love it, John-- it looks great!
@don-smith I send all good wishes to your Robbin and to you!
The links Strumelia provided, links to her noter/drone blog, can be of great help on yours and Robbin's mountain dulcimer journey.
@don-smith I lived with my folks for some years because my dad had dementia. And sometimes, I just had a hard time thinking. Still do.
@glp1958 Good to have you here, Greg! Have fun building your mountain dulcimer!
I grew up right close to US 23 and not far from the mighty Scioto River in Central Ohio. Friday nights and Sunday nights always saw lots of traffic on Route 23-- headed south on Friday nights and headed north on Sundays.
I am shocked and saddened by John's death. John was such a fine player and a gentleman! He encouraged me on my mountain dulcimer journey and I am grateful to him for doing so.
Thank you, @geoff-black, for letting us know here at FOTMD and for including these wonderful photos. I offer my deepest sympathy to John's wife, Angela, and to you & all who knew John.
@dusty-turtle I'm glad to see Joellen getting notice, too! In my view, her Pelican Ballet cd is one of the best recordings in my mountain dulcimer collection-- and I have lots of cd's in the collection. And her mountain dulcimers are works of art.
@don-grundy So glad you were able to make music outdoors!
Friends, the international day event called Play Music On The Porch Day is always the last Saturday in August-- not far away. Do you have your tune chosen yet? If not, you have plenty of time and can even decide on a tune at the last minute. :)
I just watched the video (with this article) featuring a young musician out of N. Ireland and enjoyed seeing her very much.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-57510337
Yes, @dusty-turtle, that's the collection. After all these years, I'll get to listen to Blue straight through.
Dusty's call of Bonaparte's Retreat sounds right to me. If memory serves, I think I heard Don Pedi say some years back that he thought that "snake charmer" part was a later addition to the tune.
Great video, Dan-- so glad you shared it!
I've wanted Blue yet don't have it. Yet. I've pre-ordered a new collection coming out from JM in a few weeks and it includes Blue.
Somewhere around a baker's dozen, @kevin-r yet I have about 5 of them promised to a couple young players. In addition, I have 3 bowed dulcimers and one of Michael Fox's Dulcijos (which is a little 3-string banjo).
John, with one exception, I am in the process of thinning the herd here. We're thinking we're going to get a much smaller house (and no steps/next to none) someday. Even if I don't own one of your beauties, I admire them greatly.
John, that Will Singleton dulcimer is a treasure!
@james-phillips Have fun catching up with your mom and playing Scrabble!
@susie I'm glad Nightbirde touched your heart-- she touched my heart, too.
I saw this America's Got Talent video this morning and found it very moving. The young woman in it is originally from the county just north of where I live. Also, I saw a young real-life friend of mine post that he & she have been lifelong friends.
