Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you. I look forward to meeting others here on our learning journey.
Forum Activity for @dulcimerbill
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you. I look forward to meeting others here on our learning journey.
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@eaglenest61 , I love your story about your whole family now learning to play dulcimer together.. all due to you!
I hope you will enjoy this site and find support and inspiration when you see others learning as well in their home music journeys. 
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@riksgewijs ...I'm impressed that you have made a Trossinger lyre replica. Did you use Michael King's plans? Or did you just design it on your own? The kolrosing is so complex and beautiful, would love to see a picture.
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hello, my name is Bill, though I have used Eaglenest61 as my username for years in everything I do. I am new to the world of mountain Dulcimers...or any Dulcimers for that matter. I have always wanted to play the guitar; but was unable to teach myself due to my big fat fingers. Just could not wrap my fingers around the neck properly. My mom suggested the Dulcimer and then informed me that my grandmother on my dad's side played the Dulcimer. Do here I am! I bought a Dulcimer for my mom and I to give her something to do during the day. After my dad passed away 2 years ago; she just seemed so lonely and board. I figured we could learn to play and that would give us more 'us' time. Little did I know my wife would fall in love with the Dulcimer as well. So now, my mom, my wife, and I are all learning to play and having a blast doing it. So now you know a little more about me. I look forward to meeting new friends and learning all that I can about Dulcimers and playing the Dulcimer.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Those fresh peas sound really good Dusty. I've tried growing peas several times in my garden... to no avail. Sometimes you just have to figure out what grows well for you..and grow lots of it. I do that especially with tomatoes, which I seem to always have great luck with. 
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Those radishes look delicious, but I'd prefer the roots to the greens.
I don't grow them myself, but this time of year I eat a LOT of fresh English peas. I think last year (and maybe the year before that) I posted a picture of a big pile of them. One of the local supermarkets doesn't even put them out for the public. They sell them only to a small handful of us who buy their whole stock. By mid-summer they won't be fresh anymore, so there is only about a month when I can indulge.
And I don't do anything with them. I used to make a pasta sauce with them, but they are just so delicious fresh and raw that now I just eat 'em. Shell 'em and eat 'em like popcorn. Mmm.
And I don't think it's evil to add butter to the greens. I cook chard sometimes with apple cider and bacon. Check out the work of Samin Nosrat (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat). She explains clearly how fat functions as a purveyor of flavor. If you heat up some garlic in water, the water will smell mildly of garlic, but if you cook something in that water, it will not pick up much garlic flavor. However, if you cook that garlic in olive oil or butter, those fats become infused with garlic and will pass on that garlic to whatever you cook in the them.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
I picked some French radishes from the garden this morning, got about 8 nice big ones. Brian likes the radishes so much, but I also like to eat the tops, which are super nutritious!
The leaves are a bit prickly so not great for salads...better to cook a bit. After washing and cutting off the thicker stems, I like to make a cup of chicken bouillion (made with 1 cube) and simmer the greens in it for about 1.5 minutes. This makes them soft like spinach, eliminates the prickles and easier to chew and digest. My evil secret is to also add a half pat of butter. 
I just had that for breakfast.. mmmm....it's something I can only have on rare occasions when I have radishes in the garden. As soon as the weather warms, radishes won't grow well anymore for me- they seem to only like chilly Spring growing.
I do this same thing whenever I find young stinging nettle in the Spring. These spring greens things are like a Spring tonic!
I don't eat super healthy all the time, but I do enjoy these rare fresh garden treats.
Here's a pic I took a few years ago of my garden radish greens in broth:
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
@hugssandi Hazel's violin with your singing was just right! You enjoyment would have shown through. <3
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
@Robin-Thompson, I can't wait to hear about your mini concert!
Today Hazel and I played in church. I have practiced and practiced and practiced, and I don't know what happened, but most of the song ended up being Hazel's violin with my singing. LOL! AH well. I still enjoyed it very much!
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
@salt-springs, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! I really loved your sharing, and I've been wanting to tell you so! It's just been crazy here. I may send you a message with way TMI sometime....
@Andreas-Fischer, YOU'RE AMAZING!!!
@Strumelia, I love the idea of your new gadget! Please share how you like it over time.
Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 4th Year
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Great interview! Interesting discussion of the dynamic of building a dulcimer. Carol has been so many places....great music!
It’s a must listen.
Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 4th Year
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 42
The Multifaceted Bonnie Carol and Max Krimmel
In this episode, meet Bonnie Carol and Max Krimmel, multi-instrumentalists and the builders of the well-known and loved Bonnie Carol Dulcimers.
You can listen to all the Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast episodes directly on our website: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast or in most podcast apps.
Every episode has its own resource page with photos, videos, and song lists.
Here's the resource page for this episode: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/042.html
Choose just ONE song for all eternity...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Leaving Lismore for me.
Choose just ONE song for all eternity...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Okay, I am really late coming in on this, but I would choose "Wayfaring Stranger." My granddaddy used to sing that when was a little girl, so it is pretty special
Forming a dulcimer club
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Wow. Dusty! Sounds fantastic. I am one of those beginning beginnerests, and now I am wishing I lived in Northern CA instead of on the Mid-Atlantic Coast.
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
@Steve-Smith, that sees (and looks like) a fun gathering
@hugssandi, you & Hazel will be your wonderful selves. <3 Have fun!
Mark & I are to play a mini concert at the Coshocton Dulcimer Festival on 15 June. Though we've hardly played out much over the past few years, we're looking forward to seeing friends and sharing music.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
@salt-springs, what an inspiring and upbeat post. Good thoughts in there to live by no matter what your situation. 
I haven't lost any more weight lately, but at least I've been dancing more often (my main exercise) so I feel ok for the most part.
Today I got inspired and bought one of those popular fitness trackers you wear on the wrist, on Amazon. It's not a Fitbit brand which is beyond my budget, but a $35 one that does most of those things and is well rated by customer reviews. It's supposed to work ok with my Android v.5 phone... we'll see, I hope it works well enough to be useful.
I don't have any big goals in mind for using it, but I know it'll be fun to try out because I used to love playing around with my old style pedometers. In any case it will definitely make me more aware of how much i move (or don't move) each day. Hopefully it will shame me out of my desk chair a little more often on days i don't go to a dance..which are most days. 
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Andreas, and Hugssandi.........thank you for the bold posts and resolutions you have made public. I want you to know that as one who has been there in my younger days, I was just shy of 300 lbs at 16 years old. It is most important for you to always remember that you are not alone in this battle. It took years for me to become functional and fit....College Rugby, forced runs during Law Enforcement Academy Training, Physical fitness Training during Navy Chaplains School, 8 years of active duty and nearly 20 years of Hot Yoga. I say all that to say this, while all of that worked the real issue for me was one of re-learning how think about not only my relationship to food, but my relationship to the world around me.
Now I am nearly 70 years old and have the old man's gut and I don't move as fast as I once did. And yes, like alot of other Vets I have seen and remember all sorts of ugliness and sorrow..........but, those issues are history and no longer exist unless I choose to bring them into being..........so what's my point...........each day is a new beginning and fresh start. Some days run smooth and others do not.....so be it.
Hang in there and feel free to reach out to me or anyone else who has been there. Even if you can't believe in yourself from time to time, know that I'll believe for you until you get your feet back on the ground and pointed in the right direction. Anyone can message me at anytime and I'll respond...never judge and promise only to encourage.
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
@andreas-fischer please keep us posted! I have 150+ to lose as well. I'm sure we can encourage one another to success!!!
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Andreas I wish you luck in this major weight loss goal you have. We all want you to be around and happily playing music for many years to come!
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
It was a lot of fun! Of course, 6 hours outside does a number on the hammered dulcimer tuning, but it wasn't too bad. One fun thing was meeting a guy who many years ago went to school with and played with Peter Tommerup in California and jammed with him and Michael Rugg, but he never learned to play dulcimer. Another fun thing was the 12 baby goats running around. Not too bad other than Landslide, who spent quite a bit of time climbing on everything and trying to eat instruments, cases, etc. At least when they're this age they don't yet have many teeth and don't do much damage! As for footage, nothing this year. I'll attach a picture from another year while we were setting up...
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
@steve-smith how did it go? That sounds AMAZING! Any footage to share?
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
You can think of something to play for Jesus if he just was going finish dessert and coffee, @hugssandi
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Knowing the way I play, I'd be making all kinds of excuses & apologies, but Let Us Break Bread Together comes to mind.
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
MIKE & ME by Rosalys Peel. What a WONDERFUL BOOK to read when a loved one is on the edge or within the realms of Dementia or Alzheimer's. My husband is on that edge and caring for him at home is my chapter at this time in my life. I find that playing music together and Scrabble together is most beneficial to him and I'll keep that up for the rest of his life. Over 10% of our population has this disease....how to deal with it with love to them is healing to them and to the caregiver. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. I just finished that book 2 days ago. Now for a fun one called HILO HATTIE, A Legend in Our Time by Milly Singletary. When I went to Hawaii in 1963 I saw her perform at the Kodak Show and this book tells her early story and it all brings a smile on my face. aloha, irene
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Tomorrow (Memorial Day) at the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC, and we'll be playing everything we know and probably some we don't, based on requests. Jean and I play mountain and hammered dulcimer from 10-4 in front of the goat barn under a large oak, moving around as the sun moves. It's one of our favorite events of the year because of all of the folks we get to talk with. This will be our 34th year playing there!
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Original poems and short stories by my writing group.
Play Music On The Porch Day 2019
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Robin Thompson:
[quote
You and the kids sure do it up right, Sandi-- making it a special holiday! <3
[/quote]
I sure hope we have another good turnout!!! Last year blew my mind. OH so FUN!!!!
Your next performance?
OFF TOPIC discussions
I'm sure we had a thread already on this, but I have been searchin' and searchin' and cannot find it! Please tell me where and what you are playing!!!
Hazel and I are playing in church on the 2nd, "What Wondrous Love". We've had more time to practice than last time, though there's one note I'll never be able to hit. Still excited! HA HA! I also realized that I was using the wrong side of my bamboo noter for a while, and somehow it was snagging and pulling my melody string(s) out-of-tune. DUH! Looking forward to a better go-round this time....
updated by @hugssandi: 01/06/20 09:34:35AM
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
OH that's a great question!!! I have no idea....
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Trevor Noah's _Born a Crime_. Sometimes it's hard, and sometimes it makes me laugh out loud while waiting in a medical office....
Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.
OFF TOPIC discussions
I never seem to get this part of my life down for any length of time. I kept injuring myself! So I've now gone back to free HASfit senior vids on YouTube.
Visit With Kusani
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I see this was two years ago, but I'm still jealous of both of yous!!!!
Play Music On The Porch Day 2019
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
hugssandi:
I'M SO EXCITED, I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
You and the kids sure do it up right, Sandi-- making it a special holiday! <3
Favorite noter?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Kusani and Richard, I just had to come back and share that my gratitude for y'all knows NO bounds!!! I am still so enjoying my bamboo noters, so I think of y'all with thanksgiving often.
I understand the appeal of chromatic mountain dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@hugssandi I am happy you are enjoying playing! Sometimes, music just feeds the spirit. . . :)
Your Three Favorite Songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
OH that's hard. Too many! Right now I really do love A Man's a Man for A' That though....
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Kusani:
Tom Dooley? 
I LOVE THAT SONG! Do you play it on dulcimer? Is there a recording anywhere?