Forum Activity for @susie

Thanks to those who have shared so far. Ken, I like your comment "...I only have 15.". It sounds like you once owned many more.

I remember our meeting well!  If FunFest is a go next year, I'm planning to be there, fingers crossed.

I'm glad to see so many getting their vaccinations and still worried about those who are not. I live part-time between KY and TN and there's lots of differences in opinions so I'll just let it go at that. I do get concerned that here in KY in the rural part people aren't taking the vaccine for many reasons. There's now more vaccine than arms to put them in. We've had snow and ice storms and then several floods which slowed things down but not now. There's now plenty of vaccine for anyone who is an adult and wants it. Our number are holding steady on those with Covid and at the lowest since last fall. They are just not showing up and some still wanting to know who's going to contact them to get their shots. It's beyond frustrating at times. I just miss the normal at times which can be overwhelming. I don't think even those of us who are vaccinated need to let our guard down completely. Stay safe and be blessed.

My favorite festival cancelled early in the year...the Evart Funfest. Going to miss another year. Hoping for a big celebratory year in 2022. Hope you'll be there again. This is from 2019.

My husband gets his second Moderna shot in just two hours... I'm so happy!  (got both of mine already)

Hi !

the destribution in Florida has been excellent . Bob & I got our vaccines in February from the health department & the vaccine seems readily available to anyone who will go get it .  
Even though the media claims disparity in the distribution—a look at the income level & rates of distribution county by county are eye opening . For instance —st.John’s County—richest in the state has a 72% vaccine rate & Leon County —only 28 in income levels also has 72%  And Gadsden —one of the poorest counties —around 60 % and that’s probably because there is a younger population there .

A lot of folks want to make a political argument out of vaccine distribution & there has definitely been favoritism —especially in the early stages—but from a pragmatic POV—the lower age requirements & fast distribution to all has actually worked well for everyone except folks in isolated rural areas who may have no one to bring them in . But by getting everyone who can arrive first —it will get to the harder to reach areas sooner too . 
Actually Leon county has gone right in to all sides of town to offer all Covid services —especially the poorer sections . 
Yes—I’m pretty sure some of the richer retirement communities got theirs first —but they got in fast —got it done & moved on to the rest of us very quick :)

Jae and I both got the J&J jab Monday and have only had a wee bit of fatigue plus the sore arm.  Will be interesting to see when a booster will be advised, though many in-person festivals have already scrapped spring/summer scheduling.

We are #1 in Michigan, but not for the right reason.

On the one hand, my family and I have been vaccinated, which is so comforting. On the other hand, the case numbers are going crazy in the State. We haven't changed our behavior, still taking the necessary precautions. We are just hoping things turn around for everyone's sake.

Cases numbers here in OHio are heading in the wrong direction.   It is heartbreaking and disheartening.   

Two weeks after my second vaccine (Pfizer) and I'm happy to report that after getting sick for about 5 days with the first shot, I only had a sore arm after the second one.  I've planned a music retreat for July and plan to go to a writing workshop in August and the Black Mountain Music Festival in October.  My book group may actually meet in person this month, outside, of course.  It's so nice to have activities on the calendar after a year of nothing but doctor appointments!  

At the moment I only have 15: the first one I made which is based on a plan by Joseph Wallo, rosewood and spruce; a teardrop from Scott Antes plans, rosewood and spruce; the same model but made of marine grade mahogany plywood and spruce; the same model made of chestnut and spruce; a Blue Lion hourglass, rosewood, red cedar, and mahogany; a Folkcraft all walnut hourglass (the last two have have built in pickups), a David Lynch travel dulcimer; Musical Traditions hourglass of walnut; an walnut hourglass made by Warren May; an original James Edward Thomas all walnut hourglass; a cardboard Backyard dulcimer painted navy blue; a Sunhearth teardrop made by Walt Martin made of walnut and spruce; a C.N. Prichard hourglass reproduction made of all poplar painted black; a teardrop dulcimer based on Scott Antes plan made of paduk and spruce; and one based on the C.N. Prichard dulcimer made of walnut and butternut. In addition I have  four Pennsylvania German zitters, two of which I made. One is based on an instrument in the Mercer Museum and the other is based on an instrument in the Landis Valley Museum. I also have a 16/15 hammered dulcimer and an open back banjo which I made. I made a Fender "S" style electric guitar and am currently working on an acoustic guitar.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Eleven: Folkcraft Resonator, 5 string Blue Lion Jam strung as a 3 string bass, Bonnie Caroll, Black Rose, McSpadden Kit [my first MD], six I made, including one made from Koa, and a travel MD only 4" wide, a Banjimer, and a TMB that I later modified into a double bass using bass guitar tuners and strings.

The Folkcraft, Blue Lion, travel, and the Koa are the ones I use the most.

I'm enjoying your posts...keep them coming. It's interesting to see what you all have.

Six traditional pieces. 26 inch Betty, 26 inch Homer repro, 26 inch Dulcimore, 28 inch Thomas repro, 28 inch Ultra-lite and a 36 inch Grand. I play them all regularly!

I have 5 mountain dulcimers but always looking at new ones : 

• McCafferty chromatic - walnut/redwood top
• McSpadden diatonic - cherry/redwood top
• Folkroots - diatonic strung as a baritone
• Clemmer Ban-Jammer - walnut, chromatic
• Folkcraft - diatonic, all walnut

Also:

• 5 ukuleles of various types - banjo hybrid, ebony tenor, Fluke, etc.
• Bowed psaltery - Pete Braden 1997
• Ugears hurdy-gurdey
• Rick Thum 17/17 chromatic hammered dulcimer -  gently used - Adirondack spruce/ walnut/ hard rock maple - newest addition to the music room 

I own 6. 1Capritaures, 1 Mcspadden& 4 Cedar Creek.

I now have 12 including 2 zitters both with staple frets. Most of mine are traditional style with staple frets, several with wooden tuners. Only one with a 6 1/2 fret.

Ten, plus one in process:

Jacob Gross fretted zither -- replica of one in the Mercer Museum
Large Burnsville NC holly leaf
Small Burnsville NC holly leaf
Til Holloway hourglass  -- out on loan
Harry Wicker KY hourglass
Ozark Walking Stick coffin shape
Korean Honda hourglass -- out on loan
John Knopf JE Thomas replica hourglass 
Bobby Ratliff Hogfiddle elliptical
Bobby Ratliff Cumberland Travel model elliptical -- in transit from Virginia

In process:
Buckeye Pattern Ohio pre-revival two-bout

Plus three Anglo-Saxon Lyres, a Bowed Psaltery and 4 Mirlitons

I own 5, with 1 more on the way...

1. Doug Berch custom (sassafras/walnut)

2. Folkcraft custom (butternut/walnut)

3. Folkcraft Baritone custom (cherry)

4. McSpadden standard (26") (walnut)

5. McSpadden Ginger (GDG) (cherry)

6. McSpadden Ginger (DAD) (on order) (spruce/walnut)

We did this 11 years ago, and then again 8 years ago. So, I thought it would be fun to do it again, and see members' current lists. I know I enjoy seeing what dulcimers (makes/models) others own. After all, DAD (dulcimer acquisition disease) is real.

John, I think your mom's cactus can be given some slack considering our pandemic year. Everything is behind schedule, maybe the poor cactus is too!

Ken, I know what you mean since i lived in Puerto Rico for 13 years. Our neighbor had me over once and brought a night blooming cereus flower out of her fridge where she kept it at night- the perfume almost knocked you out! It was spectacular and strange. People keep many potted plants on their patios there. I always grew my own gandules (pigeon peas), passion fruit, quenepas... it's a whole different world in the tropics.

Dusty, maybe I'll take a pic of a pile of dirty laundry sometime- it could look like renaissance linen drapery! Would be an interesting project...finding the beauty in mundane things around the house. Did you know my mother was a photographer? It always annoyed me when she kept trying to take my picture when i was little.
The thing about photographing my plants is that they are always next to windows with light coming in- it makes it tricky to get a good photo without too much glare, unless I were to drag lights around which is too much bother.  lol

Strumelia, your house plants all look interesting and beautiful, but I also know you to be a superb photographer, so it could all be illusion. I am convinced you could take a picture of your dirty dishes stacked in the sink and it would like like a baroque sculpture.

We don't use pots much for plants except some orchids out by the pool and to start things like papaya seedlings and rooting  pineapple tops.  We've got bromeliads growing all over the yard.  Air plants on the trunks and branches of almost everything.  Night Blooming Cereus climbing the trunks of the laurel oak and mahogany tree in the front yard and mango tree alongside the house.  The neighbor across the street has a 20 ft tall Schefflera that blooms once or twice a year.    Most places Geraniums are annuals... here they're perrenials!

@venni, I hope you are getting professional medical care and that you recover fully.

Yes, please do! The new variants are even faster than the first variety ...

Dusty, thanks for all the info. I like trying out new possibilities, hearing all the new discoveries that are possible with the dulcimer. With an extra dulcimer & extra time, it's fun to explore 

Venni,

Take care & hugs from all of us

My mom's Christmas cactus got mixed-up and started blooming at Easter!  Is that normal?  At least it was the other Christian holiday...

Yes Venni, you really need to have a doctor take a look at you. 

@venni Go to the hospital as fast as possible. Covid-19 can get seriously dangerous very fast, very soon. Take care and I hope you get better soon!

Wanted to include a pic of the funny cactus in the kitchen. It started out when i bought it maybe 12 yrs ago consisting of three stalks about 8 inches high. Now it has reached the top of that window. The reason it's so tall and skinny is because it doesn't get full sun. Doesn't seem to care much though, it keeps growing cheerfully! That one i did repot about two yrs ago so it doesn't need it again for a while.

Here are the two beautiful Red Chestnut bromeliads in the living room I repotted two weeks ago. I pruned off about 20 lower leaves from each bromeliad so that I could more easily get them repotted. They will love their new orchid mix type soil. Isn't it magical how the sun glows burgundy through their striped leaves like stained glass?...

Then here's the 40+ pound spiny cactus that I needed help from my husband to repot- what a monstrous job that was!
Thank goodness it may not ever need a repot again- that last time was 14 years ago! Here it is all happy in its new pot in the bedroom (that blue thingy is a humidifier we use during the winter with the dry house heat)...

@venni I hope you can get help with your worsening covid symptoms!  Take care.

Most of my friends have had very little or no reaction to the vaccines other than a sore arm for a few days.
I got that weird "Covid Arm" reaction a week after my first Moderna vaccine but nothing much else. But then after my second shot, like Robin I was bedridden for a day and a half- very major immune system reaction. I'd do it all over again in a second because I feel so relieved now.
Today I went to the supermarket and for the first time in over a year I did not have that creepy feeling every time someone passed close by me, or just from touching things. Yes i used a mask and Purell but I felt sooooo much safer. Oh happy day!

Today I made a date for next week with a dear old friend (also vaccinated)- it'll be my first visit indoors with no masks, with someone other than my husband. Feels so strange to ease back into 'normal' by baby steps. 

Who knew a year ago we'd all be swapping vaccine stories and brands by now?  I've heard of people with no reactions (other than local soreness you'd get from any injection), I've heard of people getting kicked with the second shot, I've heard of mild stuff in between.  I have one coworker who actually got the Covid Arm thing a week after her 1st Moderna!  They moved up the eligibility here in WA.  We became eligible 3/31, and now all adults will be eligible as of 4/15, so I wanted to get my butt in gear a little ahead of that!

Yay, @lisavb!  

My first Moderna shot was a piece of cake.  About 12 hours after my second shot, my immune system kicked in hard.  It's good to know my immune system is working well.  

Excited to report we each have our 1st Pfizer shots scheduled for next week!

You're welcome, Dusty. And it will be a great loss for the dulcimer community.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for sharing that, Ken.  Unfortunately, the last line reiterates something Bonnie has posted on her website: when their current supply of wood is used up, they will cease building dulcimers.  That will be a loss for all of us.

In case anyone interested is not already aware, Bonnie and Max were also the subject of The Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast #042 by @wayne-jiang and @patricia-delich.