What Are You Working On?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I think I have never heard of that song, @Ariane. It is sweet it gives you a happy remembrance from childhood. We can all use those sorts of remembrances from time to time.
Forum Activity for @robin-thompson
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
What Are You Working On?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Some days ago I heard a song from the early 1960's in the radio that reminds me of my wonderful childhood and makes me feel "nostalgic" - it is "Ue o Muite Arukou" (also known as "Sukiyaki") sung by Kyu Sakamoto.
Yesterday, while sitting on the terrace noodling around on my MAX (and because this tune has become an "earworm" again - Dean (@Elvensong) will be laughing when he will read this word) I have tried to play this tune on the dulcimer - and (except one half note) it will work.
So I guess that my next recording will be this (for me) very special song... 
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
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Welcome back, @B-Ross-Ashley. You might find that this time of quarantine is an opportunity to hunker down and play more music. We have also found that the initial shortage of toilet paper and some basic food items is over and other than disinfectant wipes and sprays, nearly everything can be found in the markets again. I guess I didn't need that 96-roll box of industrial toilet paper that I ordered when I panicked seeing the empty store shelves back in March and April!
updated by @dusty: 07/20/20 11:36:00AM
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
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Thanx, Lisa. I figured after all these years I needed a change!
We're doing Zoom yoga with our teacher, and I do T'ai-chi in a local park with a couple friends; plus walking when it's not 90F+ and 90% humidity!
I made a vegetarian Picnic Pie for Sunday Brunch today -- roasted veggies and some cheese encased in puff pastry, baked in a springform pan. When it's done you have a free-standing 'pie' that is 3" tall and 9" in diameter that you slice and serve in wedges. A little decadent with the puff pastry, but once in awhile you've got to splurge. It being Mango season we had chilled mango halves for dessert.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
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We had a nice salad for dinner today, with lettuce, carrots, scallions, peppers, and cucumber- all of that fresh from the garden. I added a few other items we like: cheese, croutons, and pumpkin seeds. I am sure looking forward our first tomatoes, we have lots of big green ones. I'm dreaming about tomato mayonnaise sandwiches. 
Hey KenH- very nifty new avatar! 
I've been doing my bounce fitness sessions on my rebounder/trampoline for the past ten days now, usually twice a day. I'm am now able to do 8 minute sessions. The first few days, 5 minutes would completely wipe me out. I'm definitely feeling stronger- my legs are stronger already, and I don't get quite as winded even though I'm jumping more. I've lost a couple pounds but that could be water weight so I'll have to wait and see on that. One knee got a little sore when I did some twisting bounces, so I'm avoiding that particular move now and it's helping.
It's really encouraging that I'm seeing obvious progress after only ten days. I'm actually looking forward to it each day. 
It's nice to feel energized again!
I got some long resistance bands and having fun experimenting with tying them to the frame to add some arm stretching.
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hey, @b-ross-ashley Ross-- good to see you again! It's nice to hear you are going to pick up the dulcimer again. I have found playing mountain dulcimer to be a balm to my spirit. Take care.
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hi, all, it has been a while since I poked my head in here ... Sandie and I are still alive, and living in the middle of the 4th largest city north of Mexico. I have not played much at all in the last while. Our community chorus scrubbed its season in March and we have only done the occasional online singing since. The COVID-19 pandemic has not hit us anywhere near as bad as it has our neighbours across the Lakes, but it has hit our elders in Long Term Care really hard, plus the personal care workers who look after them.
But I am back, and hope to pick up the dulcimer again! Glad to see the rest of you too.
Sandie and I mask up when venturing out, and I get out a lot more than she does. She is asthmatic. Masks are now required in indoors public spaces like malls, stores, etc. Bars and restaurants are now open only for outside service, patios etc. Pro sports are still on hold, and the federal government have decided not to allow our baseball team to play their home games here ... keeping cross-border travel to the essential minimum. Hockey may resume, with all games played in two Canadian cities, Edmonton and Toronto, no cross-border travel involved. I am wondering whether the same will happen with the Canadian Football League.
There were some shortages for a while, particularly TP and bakers' yeast! Since I use a bread machine that got to be a hassle for a while but it is coming back now. The Province is opening up gradually, much more slowly than some of your states are (I hope that is not too political, LOL).
Travel is difficult. I have an annual conference later this summer that is going to be online instead of in person because it is just not going to be possible to get to Ottawa safely. So it goes.
Stay safe, all!
updated by @b-ross-ashley: 07/19/20 07:50:31PM
video Mr. Wilson at Mountain Dulcimer Museum in Hindman
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
John & Ken, it was a great pleasure to be in Hindman for the opening of the museum in November of '15 (I think). Glad you fellows enjoyed the movie!
video Mr. Wilson at Mountain Dulcimer Museum in Hindman
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks Robin. Randy is a very patient teacher whether with children or adults.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
video Mr. Wilson at Mountain Dulcimer Museum in Hindman
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is so great! Thanks for posting it here!
A Samuel F. Russell dulcimore replica
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thank you, friends! This is what I like to do for fun.
A Samuel F. Russell dulcimore replica
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Exception work, as always, my friend. Bravo. That's a real beauty.
A Samuel F. Russell dulcimore replica
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Stunning! Wonderful work right there, John !
A Samuel F. Russell dulcimore replica
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
You do excellent work on making historic dulcimore replicas, John, and this is no exception!
A Samuel F. Russell dulcimore replica
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I finished my Sam Russell dulcimore replica exactly 81 years after Mr.Russell finished his prototype! You can see photos of his in L. Allen Smith's Catalogue, on page 52 (D15). It's made of black walnut, with a rosewood nut and bridge, birch accents, full-width staple frets set in a mean-tone scale, and Perfection pegs. It was quite a project!
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hats off to you Belinda, for becoming avid hikers with your husband!
I find it interesting how different people get creative in figuring out ways to get their exercise safely during the pandemic. We each gravitate towards types of exercise that suit both our current situation, our comfort level, and our individual personalities. 
updated by @strumelia: 07/17/20 09:11:11PM
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
I look forward to Belinda fireside concerts.....
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?
OFF TOPIC discussions
My oncologist still has mer quarantined to home, but wedd can do outdoor activities like walking, camping, hiking, etc as long as it is people-free... we have become avid hikers and go early in the morning to avoid people. Not sure how I'll survive winter because I hate the cold. Sadly, my oncologist told me last week I (we) can't do Clausing this year, which is understandable, but still heartbreaking because it means so much to us and helps us thru the hard holidays without our son. By the way.... This is us !
Intermittently unable to access site
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Okay Strumelia, I'll email later. Thanks!
Intermittently unable to access site
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Magic, I'm needing to see your IP address from the location you usually use and where you are usually seeing this issue happen... so maybe let me know when you are logged in from your normal home location- then I'll get the IP address that I can double-check on about possibly you being blocked from our end. Thanks! You can just email me using the "contact site owner" email link at bottom of site to let me know once you're logged in from home. :)
Intermittently unable to access site
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Okay Strumelia, I won't sign out. I'm at my daughter's house today though so using a different WiFi network than usual and hence a different ISP.
For a while yesterday I was getting the error message on WiFi (at home) but able to connect on mobile internet. So that would fit with an ISP issue I guess. I'm confused though because I'm fairly sure the issue hasn't only occurred when using my home WiFi in the past.
Intermittently unable to access site
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There's something else I'd like to check on, Magic. But you'd need to be logged in at the time I check on it. So if you are able, please try to get logged in and STAY logged in today, so I can do this check. I need you to be logged in at the time I do this checking. Thanks!
Intermittently unable to access site
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Here is what my site platform developers (and my server provider) think:
"So it seems that he's tried different browsers etc. and still intermittently gets this issue.
I'd suggest that he contacts his ISP to see if they are somehow occasionally blocking your site, or maybe a server that might be used on the route to your site."
The idea is that your ISP internet service provider servers are intermittently blocking access to fotmd.com for one reason or another, seeing it as a possible threat. Perhaps that has to do with higher UK protection settings, or not.
It's a good idea to contact them- it's likely that they can whitelist FOTMD.com or adjust that server's settings to stop blocking.
--> Be sure that ALSO on your end, you go into any virus protection programs you might have (and also your browser settings), go into any cookie preventing extensions on your browser, or AdBlock programs etc, and add fotmd.com to any whitelist/'allow' lists there might be within those programs and software.
If this frequent access blocking was coming from fotmd software or fotmd servers, then a whole bunch of members would be experiencing this, and that doesn't seem to be the case. Something you have going on is blocking you from accessing fotmd.com and the pages on our site server.
updated by @strumelia: 07/16/20 01:42:20PM
Does anyone know anything about Jim Hamilton Dulcijos?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I had not heard of Jim Hamilton nor his Dulcijo. Like Dusty, I have heard good things about Mike Clemmer's instruments.
Intermittently unable to access site
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I had a similar problem the other day and I just figured the site was offline for awhile. I came back later and got right on, so I don't know what the issue was. That's the ONLY time I've had a problem getting on in 2020.
Intermittently unable to access site
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It is weird! I can only think it's to do with my IP address being in the UK, or something. I really think the problem must be at the site/server end; like I say, when I get that message, I get it across the board on different devices, different browsers, different WiFi networks, so I don't see how it can be a software/security issue at my end.
Intermittently unable to access site
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weird. I have no advice for you. Sorry.
Intermittently unable to access site
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Dusty, as I say, the problem is intermittent and always resolves itself. I have no way around the error message; I just keep trying and a day or three later the site just loads up normally.
Intermittently unable to access site
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Magictime, I have a question, but maybe I'm just a little slow this morning. If you get an error that you can't enter the site, how are you able to post comments here? What are you doing to bypass that error screen? I wonder if you are not running some kind of virus-protection or internet firewall software that wants to double check that you want to visit this site. I'm no expert, though, so my questions and comments may just reveal my own ignorance.
Intermittently unable to access site
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This is helpful additional information, thanks. :)
I've asked a couple of knowledgeable folks about this to see if they have any ideas.
Meanwhile, if any other members are experiencing this, please post it here.
Intermittently unable to access site
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...sorry, to be clear, by 'no effect' I mean I just had the exact same problem.
Intermittently unable to access site
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I don't have the site bookmarked, Strumelia, but I do usually let my browser 'autocomplete' the address when I type it in. Anyway, the problem recurred this morning, so I took the opportunity to clear my cookies in Chrome and make sure I was typing the address myself; no effect. Then I tried installing Firefox for the first time (so no existing history, bookmarks, cookies etc.) and typing the address manually. I got exactly the same result: a blank page with a 'You do not have permission to access this server' message. I can try getting in the habit of logging out when leaving the site to see if that makes a difference, I guess. I'll get that email address saved anyway. Thanks!
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
I have kept your place tucked away in my mind ever since you told me about it in Berea. Nina
Intermittently unable to access site
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Try not using the bookmark you created a while back. See my last post. Also purposely log out when you do it. Clear your browser cookies. then come to the site by typing in the location fotmd.com and not using your old bookmark to get there. Replace your old bookmark with a new one. Tell me if you get the problem when doing the above.
BTW, the email link at the bottom of the site "contact site owner" works outside the site, through regular email.
updated by @strumelia: 07/15/20 08:08:01AM
Intermittently unable to access site
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Thanks. It happens when I try to go to the site initially rather than once I'm there, and on whichever page I try to go to first (e.g. home page, my profile, forums, any of which might happen to be the first page I try). Usually when I do successfully get on to the site, I find I'm still logged in from the previous time. When it goes wrong, I have tried using Internet Explorer rather than Chrome, and my phone rather than my laptop; it doesn't seem to matter (although I could try another browser next time it happens). Unfortunately there's no way to alert you when it happens because I don't think there's a help email or suchlike I could note down and use outside of the site itself.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Nina -- anytime. Our AirBnb listing is open once again (cautiously), and I'll certainly make you a gourmet seafood dinner!