@james-phillips Like you, I'm no fan of injections either yet barely felt mine-- yay! Other than tending to a medical emergency in a relative's apartment nearly a year ago, I have been in no one else's home in over a year. Even after my second injection has kicked-in (a couple weeks after the injection itself), I will still take appropriate precautions. So glad you got through the brick walls and got your first vaccine!
@ken-longfield I hope you are doing well after your second vaccine and side effects are minimal for you!
Ken, be safe on your drive! Hope all goes well with your vaccine!
Venni, truly, I hope you recover and feel better soon!
@lisavb There's always the bathroom as a practice room. Or, maybe not-- the acoustics are really good in lots of bathrooms. 
@lisavb Strum quietly at 7:50. :)
Oh, @lisavb, she needs you just a few minutes before bedtime, at least. :)
Wow, @rojo! That back is stunningly beautiful! So cool.
@lisavB Yay! I am happy you love your McSpadden and understand having a mountain dulcimer which you feel is just the right fit in every way. Enjoy!
Those look good to me, @rojo!
I can't help with song lyrics about bees & blues yet do know I love honey. 
Yup, I'm in!
Thanks for all you do, Strumelia!
Your instrument is gorgeous and there is nothing wrong with it-- the fretting pattern is a pure diatonic pattern. Tune the dulcimer this way: the string farthest away from you (on the bass side) to D and the middle string and melody strings to the A above the bass string. Then, begin playing the major scale at fret 3 on the melody string.
@derik-palmer Welcome to FOTMD! Many of us here well past sell-by date and more than a few have experience with other instruments.
What a great project! Thanks for the posting, Ken-- so good to see!
Doggone cool, John! The new owner is in for lots of fun playing this beauty!
Lisa, enjoy your beautiful Mize!
Ken, I am happy to see your good news!
If PA is anything like OH, the thing which makes a person eligible for helping someone move is owning a pickup truck. It must be different where Dusty lives (than where I live). :)
Kevin, I am not familiar with the maker. Perhaps, over time, you will be able to learn more about Mr. Frazier and his instruments.
I think the basics of what Chick Corea had to say about music applies to porch players, too, in many ways.
Many members who were on Bruce Ford's EverythingDulcimer forum will remember Richard Troughear's sound experiments with mountain dulcimer. The following is a link to a photo and information about the first mountain dulcimer Mr. Troughear built while in military service in Vietnam. (Thanks to Anne Bowman, who shared the link on Facebook!)
Here in Ohio, one festival which was fairly large with well-known players traveling to teach there folded before pandemic hit. The people who organized the festival-- a monumental job-- decided to do so no longer. The folks on the committee were all in the over-50 age category.
Also before pandemic hit, another fest which used to be well-attended scaled way back and, I think, the reasons had to do with all the folks doing the work were older people.
Relatively speaking, the population of the mountain dulcimer world is an older population. There are great young people in the mountain dulcimer world yet the bulk of the population of players of which I am aware is a decidedly older population.
Wow, @steven-berger, lucky you! John fashions those upside down hearts just right and I know it'll sound great.
@kusani I offer my deepest sympathy.
We are snug in the house and prepared for a major snowstorm heading into the region.
Take care, all, and wherever you are, be safe!
Your website looks great, Grant!
That (7-string) fretboard with the fanned frets looks pretty cool and wild!
I'll buy sets of strings in common gauges and packs of singles in light gauges and use whatever I have on hand for a re-string. Using all light gauge, for example, I might have a .014 for melody then .012 for the drones. I always have .022 or .024 on hand for when I want to switch-out a high drone for a low one on the "bass" side of the instrument.
Nate, I believe Randy has built, at least, an instrument or two with wooden frets.
Don plays so many wonderful old tunes, some of which he collected himself from people who have passed from this life. How I would describe what Don does is he plays traditional tunes in an innovative style which conveys both the tunes and the spirit of the tunes as he collected them. He uses the mountain dulcimer as a tool; like with any job, you want to use the tool which best fits the job. Don is a treasure!
So good to hear from you, Ken L-- I admit, I was concerned by what felt like a long absence. I pray for continued healing for you.
Hello, @winks! How exciting to have a Blue Lion on the way!
