Forum Activity for @dulcinina

I wonder if the sea shanty craze was triggered by the film Fisherman' Friends.  It's based on a true story and has lots of good shanty songs in it.  We streamed it last month.  Give it a try.  Dulcinina

Thanks for posting this, Robin.  That was so interesting and adds so much to the history of the culture of building folk instruments.  Dulcinina

Wow, Ken. Losing weight as well as keeping it off is really hard.  Good for you.  Robert, thank you for recommending Johnny's Selected Seeds.  I'll check them out when I need to re-order.

The broccoli seeds are ready to harvest today and mung beans are beginning to show signs of sprouting.  I've been conservative in the amount of seeds I've started since I'm experimenting with varieties and didn't want to become overwhelmed with too many sprouts at one time.

We had the alfalfa sprouts in a salad last night and really liked them.  Will try them in a sandwich today for lunch.  This is such fun!  Thank you, Strumelia, for your advice and encouragement.  Nina (aka) Dulcinina)

My first "crop" of alfalfa sprouts.  Uhh, not sure I attached the picture correctly.  Nina

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I ordered lids for my mason jars and a variety of seeds.  The lids came the day after I ordered them! The seeds came yesterday and I've started two jars--alfalfa and broccoli seeds.  I've watched plenty of YouTubes so we'll see how the seeds sprout.  I hope to post pictures once there is something to photograph. Nina

Wow.  Thanks for posting the pictures.  I ordered my seeds yesterday.  I'm excitted to get started.  Nina

Thanks for the quick reply. I looked on Amazon and there is a lot to choose from.  Have y ou tried the variety packs?  Food to Live has alfalfa, broccoli, mung, clover and radish.  What's your experience with any of these?  Nina

I haven't done this in a long time.  But you've inspired me to start again. Post a picture if you can of the jars before and after sprouting. I don't have screw on screen tops for my jars.  Would cheese cloth and a rubber band work?  Thanks for posting.  Going to give this a try again.  Nina

That's a beautiful dulcimer, John.  I remember the Galax you showed me in Berea a couple years ago.  Beautiful work.  Nina

How nice that you and Mark were asked to be part of the festivl.  The music and settings were so very nice.  Well done. Dulcinina

Nice, Richard. Nina

The film was on our PBS station in KY this past weekend.  I saw it on Amazon Prime earlier.  The actors are professional musicians, not actors.  But it's filmed well and the music makes up for any other shortcomings.  You can watch clips on Youtube.  Nina

Our little stray who showed up just shy of a year ago has us so well trained.  It's amazing how we cater to her.  She jumps on our laps for a short time, but it hs to be her decision.  And we are so honored.  Love that little critter.

I have kept your place tucked away in my mind ever since you told me about it in Berea.  Nina 

Wow, Don.  Good for your grandaughter!  Another Outdoor Woman!  I attended a few KY Outdoor Woman weekends put on my KY Fish and Wildlife.  They taught all kinds of outdoor skills--fishing, archery, orienteering (sp?) survival skills, canooing etc.  I had so much fun.  Alas, I am not a fisherwoman.  But I'm always delighted when I seen young girls doing such sports.

Ken, I can only dream and live on memories of fresh ocean seafood.  Maybe some day I can rent your little place and you can fix a gourmet seafood dinner for me.  

Lisa, I, too, have not been walking regularly because of the heat and humidity.  But I do my yoga stretches every morning. And since we live in a two-story house, I get to climb steps all the time cuz when I'm upstairs, I need something that's downstairs and vice versa.  Nina (aka Dulcinina)

I am so sorry, Irene. May you find comfort in those you love and who love you and the memories you've built over the years.

Nina

I'll jump in here.  When I needed a new computer, I was debating the issue of a lighted keyboard. Having never had one, I thought it was an unnecessary luxury.  Well, I got it and it is wonderful.  Even though I also have a good desk lamp, the lighted keyboard is still so nice to have. Nina 

I know.  Why is it we have to force ourselves? Even if It's beautiful and sunny and a perfect temperature, it's a struggle.  But once I get out there, I'm OK.   I was hoping I could teach my cat to walk on a leash but she's having none of it.  One incentive I have, however, is listening to Hearts of the Dulcimer (all of which I've listened to before) and the Very Pink knitting podcast.

Anywho, I'll get out there today. Nina 

That's a beauty, John. Nina

Good to have you aboard.  Sebastian sure knows how to take a nap. Dulcinina

In 1987 my husband had a dulcimer made for me by a local woodworker and industrial arts teacher who made dulcimers as a hobby..  I knew nothing about the dulcimer except I wanted to learn to play.  A woman from my church also had a dulcimer but neither of us has cases for our instruments.  She contacted Homer Ledford and he got us cases for our dulcimers.  We went to his home and spent a Sunday afternoon with him.  We couldn't play worth a darn but he was so gracious.  He explained things to us and showed us his workshop.  I had no idea how important he was in the dulcimer world.  I saw him many times playing at art festivals in Berea, KY.  Meeting him is one of my fondest memories.  Nina

That was a nice piece.  I've made so many new friends through the dulcimer.  You know, it's sometimes hard for seniors to make new friends.  But the dulcimer has opened that door and others to me.  I love this instrument and want to share it with as many others as I can, and encourage people to try it.  Thanks for posting that ,Dusty.  Nina

I use Dusty's four finger scale exercise and 2 and 3 finger scale exercise to warm up.  I play a song I like and can play pretty well.  Then I go on to a piece I'm learning.  I take it a section at a time.  If I get frustrated, I stop and play something else for a while.  I keep it fun.  Sometimes I just play songs and don't actually "practice."  I mix it up.  But mostly, I don't think of it as practice.  I also keep my dulcimer out and handy.  I play something every day just because I like to.  Nina

What a gift to you when you were down.  But more importantly, that you were able to recognize it and embrace it as such. Nina

Thanks everyone.  We are definitely smitten.

This little gal showed up 3 weeks ago, skinny, skittish and abandoned.  I began feeding her and after a week she let us pet her.  By the 2nd week we were able to pick her up.  We took her to the vet where she got a checkup and her shots.  Vet said she was about 8-10 weeks old.  We haven't had a cat in 5 years and we've never had a kitten.  She is so much fun and so loveable.  Meet Dusty who is honored to share the name with our own Dusty Turtle on FOTMD.  Nina

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My friend, Gail, and I played our cantars on my porch.  We also played dulcimer for about 1 1/2 hours but somehow our photographer (my husband) didn't get pictures of that.  Last year we played on her porch.  We had so much fun. Nina aka Dulcinina

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I'm having a dulcimer friend come over and we'll play on my screened in porch.  Last year we played on her's. I think this is just the best idea.  I love imagining people over the world playing outside, porch or no porch, and sending up music into the universe.

Hope Dorian isn't a problem for you Ken H.  Play something in that mode to ward it off.  Nina

Thanks for sharing this, Robin.  I listened to the interview and have subscribed to their newsletter.  There is a gathering in Berea,KY in October I hope to go to.  Great resource.  Nina

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Contra dancing is very popular here.  Because I was new, the regulars made sure I didn't sit a dance out.  Whew, what a workout.  Sometimes I go just to listen to the music and watch the dancers.  People have so much fun and some dress in old timey outfits.  What I like is that adults dance with kids and no one is left out.  Boy can those kids dance.  Nina

I start out with some scales as Dusty suggested and prctice those for no more than 10 minutes.  Often only 5 just to warm up my fingers.  Then I quicly play a couple songs I know and like.  Then I go to a song I'm learning or one I find very difficult.  I repeat small sections of the song, especially the measures giving me trouble.  When I get tired of that or frustrated, I stop and play songs I like or are on the playlist of my dulcimer group.  I always end with playing something I really like.  But some days I just play and don't "practice."  

I like variety, too, and try playing the same song in different styles. Dulcinina

Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Volume one features 19 selections by 19 different dulcimer players.  I bought it at a festival from Susan Trump.  Try www.susantrump.com.

Charles, your playing spot is so neat, in the sense of being tidy.  OK, I confess. I cleaned my nook and got rid of a lot of the clutter.  Posting a picture was a good incentive to clean the area.  The little guy sitting on my desk is a limberjack my father got for me at a flea market over 30 years ago.  I made him dance when some of us played at a hospital recently.  No one had ever seen one before and they really loved it.

As for posting the picture, it took me forever and I was surprised when it worked.  I can't tell you what I did because I tried so many ways until it worked.  Nina (AKA Dulcinina)

Here's my playing corner.  It's in a spare room I use as my office and get-away place. Nina

Oops. Not sure if my picture attached.

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Hey Ken, What are the strings for your noter/drone.  I just bought a used McSpadden and ordered strings from them.  When I told them I would be switching from DAD to DAA, they sent me .022 Bass and middle and melody are .012. I'm not sure I really like the sound.  This will be my noter/drone dulcimer. Dulcinina

Thanks for the recommendations.  I'll look into those.  Our local music store didn't have any electronic metronomes. So for now I'll try the apps.

Do you use a metronome app on your phone or an online metronome?  What do you recommend? Dulcinina