Forum Activity for @foggers

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Liz (Elizabeth) Thacker said:

Aha Jane I can see why I (hardly) never got to play my new banjo at our Christmas get toether - You were sizing it up for "secret santa" - good job I sat between you and the door - my new banjo AND the dulcimer book......
See ya soon friend.
Liz

Liz (Elizabeth) Thacker said:

Foggers said:

THanks for the replies Lisa and Randy; here is the news...

Well my laptop kind of hiccupped on the DVDs, but after threatening it with a hammer, things settled down and the disks play okay.

I like Dwight's approach to the right hand rhythm. I had already made a start on the bump-ditty pattern through a book i got a couple of months ago, but when I listen to practice recordings it just sounds too "busy" somehow. Having had a weekend with Dwight's "Just Rhythm" DVD I can see that I need to stop worrying so much about the "ditty" and I am already sounding more like I want to! So that is fun indeed.

Of course I can now see that my "Countryman " banjo just aint right at all for clawhammer playing...maybe I need a new banjo from Santa??

LOL Liz - yes, sorry if I kind of hogged your new baby a bit - it was of course sheer envy on my part especially given that the Saga banjo I had got earlier in December was decapitated by Parcelforce *sniff*See you when the snow thaws!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Yes--a nice simple tab arrangement of it is in the Florida Banjo Tab book which is available through my website. maryzcox.com Also--here is a Youtube of it too. Foggers said:

Mary your banjo playing is a delight. I especially like The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Is there anywhere I can get the TAB for that tune?

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Mary your banjo playing is a delight. I especially like The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Is there anywhere I can get the TAB for that tune?

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hello,Yes--I've played banjo since I was 12 years old and my Grandad was also a professional banjoist.If you'd like to know more about me and my banjo music, please visit my website. :) maryzcox.com I do usually play at least a couple mountain dulcimer tunes in concert and evidently I play my mountain dulcimer so much in the old time string band style that folks have come up to inquire "What is the difference between a banjo and a mountain dulcimer? They sound so much alike when you play them. " :)

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

David Beede said:

Foggy - Always glad to talk gourd stuff. I keep meaning to put some building stuff on line but haven't gotten to it. There is a little piece on David Hyatt's site about how I reheaded a banjo for Mike Seeger with a tensioning system I invented that has no metal in it. Here 'tis:
http://www.dhyatt.com/craft_how_to_skin_Beede.html

Foggers wrote:
Hi David - that is so lovely! Have seen you on YT with the gourd banjos, and am really interested in gourd "technology" - will PM you!

Hi David; that is a really interesting way to tension the head on a gourd - though I guess that Delrin is not exactly a traditional material!!My OH is an amateur luthier having made just 2 MDs after years of tinkering with electric guitars mainly. He now has an idea for a percussion instrument that would need a gourd as the sound box, and it seems impossible to source properly dried gourds here in the UK (weather just too damp I think!)

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Foggy - Always glad to talk gourd stuff. I keep meaning to put some building stuff on line but haven't gotten to it. There is a little piece on David Hyatt's site about how I reheaded a banjo for Mike Seeger with a tensioning system I invented that has no metal in it. Here 'tis: http://www.dhyatt.com/craft_how_to_skin_Beede.html Foggers wrote:Hi David - that is so lovely! Have seen you on YT with the gourd banjos, and am really interested in gourd "technology" - will PM you!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Great job Randy. I loved both those tunes and your style too. That's a fine sounding ol' banjo. Did you say you built it or resurrected it? It has a larger head than most of the mountain ones with a wood ring around them. Again, great sound and great tunes.And you're right about the getting old thing. In the playing realm I gave up on virtuosity in favor of variety decades ago. But it seems, if you stick to anything long enough, you either get half way decent at it, or at least eventually you get recognized for endurance!!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

David Beede said:

Glad to see some banjo action 'round here.
I took up ol' time banjo years ago, but then got away from it in favor of dulcimers. I've been building and playing gourd banjos for about five years now and have grown very fond of the mellow round sound they have. Some of mine I string heavy and tune down to D which makes them easy to play along with DAD dulcimer players. The bluesy feel from being fretless also tickles my ear. Here's a tune of mine that I taught to my wife, Julie Johnson's first grade class. They sing on it and illustrated it with some amazing art work. It's one of those "metaphor wrapped in a riddle" songs. Check it out here:

Hi David - that is so lovely! Have seen you on YT with the gourd banjos, and am really interested in gourd "technology" - will PM you!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Randy Adams said:

David I saw a vid of your 1973 box banjo over @ Cig Box Nation...nice box & sounds great! No wonder you build such beautiful instruments!...that's a long time...there's not too much good to be said about getting old...but getting good at your job is one of 'em!

So I got my new/old banjo goin'....ended up putting a piece of brass over the fingerboard to brighten up the sound of the 1st string. I recorded a couple of vids today & I would share them with you if you please?
I learned Watermelon on the Vine from a Gid Tanner & the Skillet Lickers record....great Georgia band from the 1920's!

When I got my banjo to where it was playable the 1st song it wanted to play was this tune...I couldn't think of the title....after I recorded it my son asked me "what tune is that?" & it came to me....it's Nashville Blues, a Earl Scruggs tune. I don't play it in the right style or the right key/mode but it's Nashville Blues allright! Thx for whatching!

Once again Randy - you are great! The sound of that banjo is so right for those tunes.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

David I saw a vid of your 1973 box banjo over @ Cig Box Nation...nice box & sounds great! No wonder you build such beautiful instruments!...that's a long time...there's not too much good to be said about getting old...but getting good at your job is one of 'em!So I got my new/old banjo goin'....ended up putting a piece of brass over the fingerboard to brighten up the sound of the 1st string. I recorded a couple of vids today & I would share them with you if you please?I learned Watermelon on the Vine from a Gid Tanner & the Skillet Lickers record....great Georgia band from the 1920's! When I got my banjo to where it was playable the 1st song it wanted to play was this tune...I couldn't think of the title....after I recorded it my son asked me "what tune is that?" & it came to me....it's Nashville Blues, a Earl Scruggs tune. I don't play it in the right style or the right key/mode but it's Nashville Blues allright! Thx for whatching!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Glad to see some banjo action 'round here.I took up ol' time banjo years ago, but then got away from it in favor of dulcimers. I've been building and playing gourd banjos for about five years now and have grown very fond of the mellow round sound they have. Some of mine I string heavy and tune down to D which makes them easy to play along with DAD dulcimer players. The bluesy feel from being fretless also tickles my ear. Here's a tune of mine that I taught to my wife, Julie Johnson's first grade class. They sing on it and illustrated it with some amazing art work. It's one of those "metaphor wrapped in a riddle" songs. Check it out here:

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Randy Adams said:

Here's what I been doin the last couple days.
[IMG] http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/randyadams/Picture8.jpg [/IMG]
My brother Rodney gave me this banjo a while back & at first I played it and liked it but...it had frets....and a long scale. So yesterday I removed the frets, sanded her down, glued a veneer on the fingerboard, cut 3.5" out of the neck made a 22.5" scale....I like to tune in A & D.....it cracks now!....& I think I got it to where I won't get slivers when I'm playin it!... : )....
I'm hoping this banjo will call to me...ya know....think of a song & know right away this is the perfect banjo to play it on.....get in the rotation so to speak.
This might be fun!

Wow Randy - and here is me too meek to tweak the tension on the head of my banjo! That is lovely work and I shall look forward to HEARING it when you post something here or on YT.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Strumelia said:

Foggers said:

Thanks Randy. It is really interesting trying out tunes on different instruments. I think certain tunes just work on a particular instrument. A song from Jean Ritchie that I have always wanted to do is "Sweet William and Lady Margaret". Of course Jean does it on MD but when I listened to it and sang it I could just "hear" an OT banjo accompaniment. That was one of the things that prompted me to go back to the banjo (as I already could play a little fingerstyle on it) and finally work on getting the frailing going!.

Foggers,
Listen to the clip of my favorite recently recorded version of "Lady Margaret"- HERE . It's played by Brad Leftwich, Alice Gerrard, and Tom Sauber. Instruments are fiddle and banjo, so it might give you some ideas for playing it on banjo.
That whole CD is well worth buying.

Thanks for the album recommendation Lisa- what a treat! I have the albums Alice Gerrard did with Hazel Dickens so this is a great addition to my collection - just downloaded it.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Foggers said:

Thanks Randy. It is really interesting trying out tunes on different instruments. I think certain tunes just work on a particular instrument. A song from Jean Ritchie that I have always wanted to do is "Sweet William and Lady Margaret". Of course Jean does it on MD but when I listened to it and sang it I could just "hear" an OT banjo accompaniment. That was one of the things that prompted me to go back to the banjo (as I already could play a little fingerstyle on it) and finally work on getting the frailing going!.

Foggers,Listen to the clip of my favorite recently recorded version of "Lady Margaret"- HERE . It's played by Brad Leftwich, Alice Gerrard, and Tom Sauber. Instruments are fiddle and banjo, so it might give you some ideas for playing it on banjo.That whole CD is well worth buying.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

He didn't build Robin..he bought from somewhere.I'm still working on it...can't get volume out of the 1st string....just kinda goes thump....little frustrating. Robin Thompson said:

Did Rodney build the banjo, Randy?
The work you've done looks real nice.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Did Rodney build the banjo, Randy?The work you've done looks real nice.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Here's what I been doin the last couple days.[IMG] http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i227/randyadams/Picture8.jpg [/IMG]My brother Rodney gave me this banjo a while back & at first I played it and liked it but...it had frets....and a long scale. So yesterday I removed the frets, sanded her down, glued a veneer on the fingerboard, cut 3.5" out of the neck made a 22.5" scale....I like to tune in A & D.....it cracks now!....& I think I got it to where I won't get slivers when I'm playin it!... : )....I'm hoping this banjo will call to me...ya know....think of a song & know right away this is the perfect banjo to play it on.....get in the rotation so to speak.This might be fun!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thanks Randy. It is really interesting trying out tunes on different instruments. I think certain tunes just work on a particular instrument. A song from Jean Ritchie that I have always wanted to do is "Sweet William and Lady Margaret". Of course Jean does it on MD but when I listened to it and sang it I could just "hear" an OT banjo accompaniment. That was one of the things that prompted me to go back to the banjo (as I already could play a little fingerstyle on it) and finally work on getting the frailing going!.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Glad to hear you got the banjo going Foggers. I'm sure that Countryman will make a fine banjo for you.The banjo & dulcimer are the same for me...I play the exact same notes on both & approach them the same way on most tunes.... a few tunes are instrument specific.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That's so true that learning a second instrument, or a third, actually helps us with all our instruments.I just LOVE tinkering with my banjos! The banjo is the absolute best instrument for tweaking all the mechanical parts on it. TOO FUN!!Great that you took off your resonator and loosened the tailpiece a bit. Try loosening the head just a little bit all around too....like a 1/4 turn per bracket. If it doesn't sound good then put it back again. I find the best sound is when loosening the tailpiece all the way and then tightening it just only enough until it grabs a little....no more. Gives a nice soft bell tone.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Well I have been persevering with me frailing and an currently working on accompanying Rich my OH when he sings "Little Sadie". I will put up an MP3 when we can get through it without coughing (we are both full of germs at the mo).I have curbed my urge for a new banjo - I have tweaked the sound of my countryman banjo by loosening off the tension on the tailpiece and it is sounding a little more plunky. I am reluctant to tweak the head tension in case I go too far and can't redeem a problem. I have also worked out that the resonator comes of easily anyway as it does not have a flange. See how I sound like I know what I am talking about??? That's cos I did go to the expense of buying a book on banjo construction and maintenance so I can sound all clever now.... Actually, I like to know something about the practical side of any instrument I play- i like to know the basics and be able to tune, change strings and do minor adjustments at least.What seems funny is that it was getting my first dulcimer exactly a year ago that re-kindled my interest in the banjo I had owned for a few years too. I used to find it difficult to move between instruments; it felt like my fingers went kind of dyslexic. But now I think that the skills I pick up on one are usefully transfereable to the others- so I am becoming a better all round musician.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Well you should know that many of the very best old clawhammer banjo frailers use/used resonator banjos.By the way, I have frailing scoops on my banjos, but i have migrated to playing even higher up the neck than the scoops, so they don't do anything for me anyway. ;)The banjo you have is likely just fine for clawhammering....just don't use metal bluegrass picks.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Strumelia said:

I'd like to see a photo of your "Countryman" banjo- maybe it's just right for clawhammer....let's see it! :)

Foggers said:

Of course I can now see that my "Countryman " banjo just aint right at all for clawhammer playing...maybe I need a new banjo from Santa??

I shall see what I can do about a pic. My other instruments are already jealous of the amount of attentions I lavish on my MDs. (We all know our instruments have feelings, don't we?) so it is about time I did pics of the others.It is a resonator banjo more suited to bluegrass. I am finding the idea of a banjo with a frailing scoop on the neck quite attractive because my fingers and thumb just seem to be catching the sides of the frets when I try to play up the neck a little for that more plunky and mellow sound. Gosh, listen to me slowly TALK MYSELF INTO A NEW BANJO !!!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I'd like to see a photo of your "Countryman" banjo- maybe it's just right for clawhammer....let's see it! :) Foggers said:

Of course I can now see that my "Countryman " banjo just aint right at all for clawhammer playing...maybe I need a new banjo from Santa??

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

THanks for the replies Lisa and Randy; here is the news...Well my laptop kind of hiccupped on the DVDs, but after threatening it with a hammer, things settled down and the disks play okay.I like Dwight's approach to the right hand rhythm. I had already made a start on the bump-ditty pattern through a book i got a couple of months ago, but when I listen to practice recordings it just sounds too "busy" somehow. Having had a weekend with Dwight's "Just Rhythm" DVD I can see that I need to stop worrying so much about the "ditty" and I am already sounding more like I want to! So that is fun indeed.Of course I can now see that my "Countryman " banjo just aint right at all for clawhammer playing...maybe I need a new banjo from Santa??

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

So hows it goin Foggers? Learnin how to make banjo noise?... : )... Havin fun?

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Foggers, that's great!Dwight Diller was my original banjo teacher about 11 years ago- I took a 3 day workshop of his when i was just starting out.I love his approach to clawhammer banjo- nothing fancy, but heavy on good rhythm. Dwight used to say "The right hand is the meat and potatoes, everything else is gravy."...I love that! ;DWhenever I feel that the banjo world is too frustrating and fussy, I just go back to the basic 'meat and potatoes' of Dwight's philosophy. you couldn't have picked a better learning instructor, in my opinion. Foggers said:

Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

FInally my long awaited Dwight Diller instructional DVDs have arrived. Gonna have to put the MD down for a couple of days and spend some time frailin' instead.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!FInally my long awaited Dwight Diller instructional DVDs have arrived. Gonna have to put the MD down for a couple of days and spend some time frailin' instead.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

razyn said:

I don't play very often, but I started a long time ago. I have a few old banjos, say 1870-1900 or so, with and without frets -- and one reproduction "minstrel" banjo, made within the past ten years (an eBay coup de foudre). I've been to the Antietam Early Banjo Gathering, twice, and really enjoy the fellowship of those guys even though many of them are certifiable (i.e., dedicated Civil War reenactors). There's a Ning group for Minstrel Banjo, and I was lurking in it about a year before Strumelia started this dulcimer one.

My best banjo is an open back S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" tenor (a Nashville pawn shop purchase) that Homer Ledford converted to a 5-string for me. He added his special tone ring, as well as making the new birdseye maple neck (fitted with the old inlays), in 1966. One of the earlier Ledford banjos, I guess. He didn't sign it or anything, but I have letters from him when we arranged for it. I swapped him a nice early Washburn mandolin he wanted -- didn't pay actual money for the conversion, but he costed it out at $75. (More than I had paid for his standard dulcimer, in 1963.) I also got Pete Seeger to autograph it, when he did a workshop in Nashville around 1968 -- so now I can't change the dang head. Mike Seeger also played it, not long after that -- guess I should have asked him to write on it too, but we were actually friends, so that just seemed odd.

Back in the day, about 1915-20 when Uncle Dave Macon was a wagoner and there was not yet a radio show in Nashville (the Grand Ole Opry), my paternal grandfather was one of his employers. (I just checked the Wikipedia article about Uncle Dave, and it discusses The Macon Midway Mule and Wagon Transportation Company.) So my dad and my grandmother had some anecdotes about him. I knew two of his sons, but he had died when I was about twelve -- and he had long since been a professional entertainer, rather than a wagoner. I got into folk music a few years later. I do have a banjo that Uncle Dave broke in about 1892, when he fell off a friend's porch in Lascassas. He gave it to the boy who lived there -- who got the broken neck fixed, and about 70 years later I bought it from him. And I also got some good banjo tunes from him (Elbert F. Pilkington).

Dick

Wow rayzn - I am deeply envious of your contacts with people who are heroes of mine - Pete and Mike Seeger, Homer Ledford....I have looked at some of the re-enactor/historical society banjo clips on Youtube. There are some fascinating instruments there but I am not sure I could countenance playing one with calfskin and real gut strings. And I know what you mean about the mentality of some re-enactors: I used to do meadieval re-enactment and found some of my companions to be rather in retreat from real life!!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I don't play very often, but I started a long time ago. I have a few old banjos, say 1870-1900 or so, with and without frets -- and one reproduction "minstrel" banjo, made within the past ten years (an eBay coup de foudre). I've been to the Antietam Early Banjo Gathering, twice, and really enjoy the fellowship of those guys even though many of them are certifiable (i.e., dedicated Civil War reenactors). There's a Ning group for Minstrel Banjo, and I was lurking in it about a year before Strumelia started this dulcimer one.My best banjo is an open back S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" tenor (a Nashville pawn shop purchase) that Homer Ledford converted to a 5-string for me. He added his special tone ring, as well as making the new birdseye maple neck (fitted with the old inlays), in 1966. One of the earlier Ledford banjos, I guess. He didn't sign it or anything, but I have letters from him when we arranged for it. I swapped him a nice early Washburn mandolin he wanted -- didn't pay actual money for the conversion, but he costed it out at $75. (More than I had paid for his standard dulcimer, in 1963.) I also got Pete Seeger to autograph it, when he did a workshop in Nashville around 1968 -- so now I can't change the dang head. Mike Seeger also played it, not long after that -- guess I should have asked him to write on it too, but we were actually friends, so that just seemed odd.Back in the day, about 1915-20 when Uncle Dave Macon was a wagoner and there was not yet a radio show in Nashville (the Grand Ole Opry), my paternal grandfather was one of his employers. (I just checked the Wikipedia article about Uncle Dave, and it discusses The Macon Midway Mule and Wagon Transportation Company.) So my dad and my grandmother had some anecdotes about him. I knew two of his sons, but he had died when I was about twelve -- and he had long since been a professional entertainer, rather than a wagoner. I got into folk music a few years later. I do have a banjo that Uncle Dave broke in about 1892, when he fell off a friend's porch in Lascassas. He gave it to the boy who lived there -- who got the broken neck fixed, and about 70 years later I bought it from him. And I also got some good banjo tunes from him (Elbert F. Pilkington).Dick

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I, too, play a little clawhammer banjo although I've sold off most of my banjos. I've still got a Clifford Glenn fretless banjo and will probably buy another fretless banjo this year, most likely a Bart Reiter or Mike Ramsey fretless. I'm also looking at the mountain-style fretless banjos made by John Huron based on those of Stanley Hicks. My inspirations include Dwight Diller, Frank Proffitt, Sr., and Frank Proffitt, Jr.Greg

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Jill - my friend has a Goldtone 5 string that is so heavy I can only hold it long enough for one song, then it just has to go! It is interesting swapping around on different instruments; I think it helps me to build my knowledge in transferring from one to another. Hope you get a lighter tenor banjo and get stuck in!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Randy thanks for that link - I have checked out her other YouTube clips and there is some very handy tutorial stuff there about the basic right hand rhythm, which is exactly what I need to work on. I really like her style - there is something just so steady and light-hearted about her playing. Have added her to my YT subscriptions.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Here Foggers check out this lady....she plays slow & clear & credits DD instructions. I like her rythym....& check out her other u-tubes..... http://www.youtube.com/groundhogpeggy

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Yes I was impressed when I checked out the YouTube clips; and his basic instructional DVD is called "Rhythm". I think it is exactly where I need to start as all my instrumental skills have been more melodic/harmonic (e.g. fingerstyle guitar) so it is the rhythm that I need to work on. His teaching tyle is simple - no TAB, clear explanation and good close ups of both hands - exactly what I need! So I have placed an order.Thanks for your advice Lisa - will let you know how I get on with it!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Jane,I have never seen Dwight's DVD's, but I took a weekend workshop with him when i was just starting out.He mainly emphasizes rhythm which is good. I like the West Virginia tunes he specializes in , and his recordings are such a pleasure to listen to- nice easy pace and clear to hear what he is doing- never fancy or fussy. I love how he plays, and I have several of his great music cd's, such as "Just Banjo" and Banjo '99, or some such titles.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Lisa thanks for the suggestions - could not get the link to work for Pat Costello's clips but have found Dwight's website and have a had a catalogue emailed to me from Elaine Diller, so I think I shall get a DVD from them once I have checked out the clips on Youtube.Jane

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Foggers,I play clawhammer banjo. I was lucky enough to have a decent teacher to get me started- Dwight Diller.I highly recommend his DVD's and recordings.Frankly, because I had a live teacher and banjo playing friends to help me, I don't know a lot about visual aides for learning the clawhammer stroke.But...have you checked out some of Pat Costello's online instruction? He has a lot of clips for beginners I believe. Check some here: Pat's clips I don't agree with some of his banjo philosophies, but perhaps his basic stroke instruction can help you if you have not seen it already.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Getting a 5 string banjo about 4 years ago was my entry into US folk and old time music, leading more recently to the MD.I have neglected the banjo until recent months and have set my mind to finally mastering the clawhammer technique. I don't have any teachers nearby, I have pored over the free lessons on YouTube and various books/CDs but I think I need an instructional DVD so that I can really see it in action, slow it right down, and build up really slowly (impatience is one of my vices when it comes to learning new skills!). Can anyone recommend a good one to get me started?
updated by @foggers: 02/17/19 05:56:53AM

WoW we have already topped 50 members

OFF TOPIC discussions

You are all most welcome. :)I too am delighted and amazed at how much people seem to like the place.I was kind of lucky in that these past two weeks I coincidentally did not have a lot of patent invention illustration jobs piled on my desk for a change (my actual 'day job'...yes I do actually have a real JOB!). So I was able to take the time for the most time consuming/tweaking part of getting FOTMD set up. My wonderful Brian was very understanding as I took this time off of our regular work. Now it seems to only need modest changing and adjusting here and there, for ongoing growth/maintenance.I am so very gratified to see how happy folks are with it so far- believe me, that makes every moment spent well worthwhile. Such a wonderful bunch of people. Yay! Thank you!