Our Friend

The six of us get together about three times a year. We laugh, sing and play music, eat lots of food, drink a bunch of scotch and stay up really late. Our friend Pam died yesterday. I'm so glad that last time we were together, we took this shot of the six of us. It's the only one we have.

See you on the other side Pam. We're really going to miss you.

Finished

~~~~ PRESENTING ~~~~

My violin is completely finished. The one I made is the one on the left.

Swish Thump Thump

Last night I was driving to an event about 1/2 an hour from our house. It was snowing heavily, and the road was slippery. I was behind a medium sized truck (somewhere between a dump truck and a large pick-up), it was hard to tell because it was dark.

We were both taking it pretty easy because of the road conditions. He started to gaining speed and leaving me behind. As I went into a bend in the road the back of the jeep began to fish-tail. I tried unsuccessfully to recover. I went off the road and into a 5 foot ditch, and rolled onto the side, then onto the roof.

As I started into the ditch, I thought to myself, there's nothing you can do now, so best to relax and don't tense your muscles. It happened so slowly.

As I hung upside down from the seatbelt, I thought, first find the emergency flashers and turn them on. When I did that, I also turned off the engine. Then, remembering conversations from past incidents, I cautiously attempted to undo my seatbelt, but it was locked up, so that took some time. I was able to slowly let myself down and not fall on my noggin.

It's incredibly disorienting being in an upside down vehicle, especially in the dark. There was a log outside the one door, so I didn't even try to open it. I tried to kick out the other window, those windows are tough. So I thought, well just maybe the other door will open, and it did, just enough to get my head out and wiggle the rest of me out.

So I gathered up the stuff I needed for the event I was attending, climbed out and flagged down a passing motorist. No point hanging around as cell phones don't work and I wasn't hurt, so I went to where the event was taking place and called the police from there.

The officer didn't need me to attend the scene, if I could fax a statement, so I arranged towing from there.

This morning, I have a couple of twinges, but no big hurts at all, so guess my instructions to myself about relaxing paid off (and it was all so slow). I went over it and over it in my head afterwards, and it's odd though how difficult it is to picture yourself in your vehicle when it's upside down and you've righted yourself, despite having actually been there.

CRAP!

~~

My Fiddle - Update

After all the hassle with the varnish and having received a new batch, I've finished varnishing my violin.

It's a little shiny and not as dark as I had envisioned it, but it's done. I'm letting it harden up for another couple of days before I put the bridge and all the other stuff back on. Once it's all together again, I'll post a pic.

Now I can start losing sleep over my viola. Honestly, it hasn't been nearly as stressful. I guess it's knowing what to expect.

After I posted the above pix, I thought of doing this. This is my violin that I've been playing while I've been making my new one. Surprising how similar the colour turned out.

My Fiddle

Uber Helper

Yesterday we got busy ... a change to the oil tank vent pipe was an easy task for Gryper and the Uber Helper.

Uber helper then went inside to help Mrs G.

Then he got all independent on us and took over.

What a guy!

~~

Disappointed

A couple of weeks ago, I took the fingerboard and all the extra bits off of my violin so I could varnish it. I was really anxious about it, since this is what the world sees, any mistakes at this point will show.

I steeped a really strong pot of tea, (five bags in a cup of water), then used that to put a base of colour on the wood. It was paler than I expected, but that's okay. Then I put on two coats of clear varnish. So far, so good.

Next step is the red-brown varnish. I put it on and it seemed a bit streaky on the neck and sides, but, I thought that after a few coats, it wouldn't show. Then I did the back, streaky with a few small lumps of red, I thought it was a bit weird, but I can sand the surface with fine paper. I thinned it down with some turpentine, calmed myself and started on the front. To my horror, the varnish was very streaky, lots of bits of colour on the surface and other areas, no colour at all. I frantically tried to wipe it off with turpentine and a rag. It came off in blotches.

My next step was to calm myself and think about it. Unfortunately, we were going to be with friends for supper and I had to work at being any fun at all.

The next day, I got out my sand paper, sanded the surfaces of the front and back, and lightly sanded the sides, then used the 2400 grit to smooth it so I could give it another try. I added more turpentine and tried it on a some maple, looked okay, then on a piece of white paper. It had the little streaky blobs in it, as if the varnish was coloured with pigments and they needed to settle.

I let it settle for a day. There was a lot of sediment on the bottom the next day, so I thought, okay, here we go again. Not bad on the neck and scroll, okay on the back, on the front, same nasty mess. Again with turpentine, I tried to take it off and it was a streaky mess.

I got off as much as I could, let it dry, then took a scraper to it and started scraping it down to the bare wood. At that point I decided to call the company (International Violin Supply) that the varnish came from. (This varnish applies very well and virtually anyone can do a good job when using it, blah, blah, blah.)

I explain the problem I've been having and Dude says, "Yeah, that happens once in a while. We don't know why, I'll send you a fresh bottle and hopefully it won't happen again."

That is so unsatisfying. An apology would have been nice, his acting surprised would have even been a bit of comfort.

So, I'm scraping all the varnish off, back to the wood. Roll 'em, take two. I haven't decided if I'll take it off completely, or just the bad parts and use their "fresh bottle" or just the worst parts. I am concerned that if I don't take it all off and start fresh, that I won't be happy with the end result. Maybe I'll look at some other options for varnish.

Thanks for listening.

~~~

Packing & Relaxing

We had a very busy day ... as you can see Froggie was busy packing Mrs Potts.

Then Froggie Friend says "see ya later" and Froggie tucks him into a cushion of paper and pops him in the box.

After such a busy day, one must take some time to relax. Froggie chose to wind down in the soft glow of the soy candle that CG gave us.

He's such a hard worker!

Oh, Now That's Just Wrong

C'mon ... it's still early November!

And it's still coming down!

Sigh!

Self Discovery

Ever since Grandson the First was around three years old, I've told a story about him that I thought was so cute and funny. I'm sure he tired of it a long time ago, but he tolerates it and still laughs along, even after 14 years.

I was babysitting him and he wanted to watch the movie Pinocchio .... again. When I said okay, he asked "Will the bad guy steal his apple again?". I told him that that would happen every time, to which he sadly replied, "But I don't want him to do it again." We talked about it, watched the movie, and it did, much to his disappointment, happen again.

I guess I have to rethink my telling this story.

This morning I was going through my sheet music. I came across a book of vocal selections from the movie Camelot. It's my favourite movie in the whole world. I love the story, the love love triangle, all the irony, the music, the lyrics, the vocals, just everything about it.

This is what I found inside the front and back covers.

As I looked through the pictures, first, I felt that little leap in my stomach and got tears in my eyes. I thought to myself, I should watch it again soon.

Then I saw the fourth from the last picture, where Sir Lancelot is holding Mordred. I really hate Mordred. I had this brief flash go through my mind, "I wish Mordred (the bad guy), wouldn't set up Lancelot and Guinevere (steal the apple). A milli-second later, I thought of that time with Grandson the First. I'll never be able to tell it again without realizing that I'm not so different from that little three year old.

~~~

A few weeks ago, when we were at CG's place the guys were setting off rockets. As Prince Charming ran through the field chasing on, someone called loudly, "Run Nick". I immediately thought of when when King Arthur called out "Run Boy", after he knighted a young boy, Sir Tom of Warwick, who wanted to join the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur charged him to run behind the enemy lines and tell the world that there really once was a beautiful place called Camelot. As I told Lisa about it, I got all stupid and teary.

Now I'm here on a Sunday afternoon wanting to watch the move and I have company coming. I'll have ten people at the supper table, so, I'll have to wait - maybe next weekend- sigh. While I'm preparing for my company, I'll be singing vocal selections from Camelot though, I can picture so many of the scenes, it'll be almost like watching it.

~~~~

And The Dog Becomes the Parent

Our habit is to watch the 11:00 news, and after the weather report, turn off the TV and head upstairs.

Last night, after all the hoodaw with the house selling, we both dozed off during the news. About 10 minutes after the weather report finishes, the dog suddenly barked. I awoke and looked at her, she was sitting in the middle of the living room, just looking back and forth at both of us. It was very clear we were being told it was bed-time.

I giggled at her for the next ten minutes. She's so bossy!

~~

Stuff

Eeeeuuuuwww ... first thing in the morning, I came downstairs earlier than usual and stumbled on this scenerio .... naughty frogs!

Finally after having procrastinated for a while, I finally got to it. Last week, I used a really strong tea/coffee blend and stained my violin. It went from white to a pale tan colour. Today, I applied the first coat of clear varnish. Here are the results (not great lighting for showing off, but you get the idea). I am so pleased at the lovely tawny result. I'll do another coat or two of clear and then several coats of brown varnish. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished result.

I've been playing my other violin and am finding that I really miss this one. I'll be getting it put back together as soon as possible.

~~

Has Granny Quit Blogging?

No, I haven't quit, but it has been over a month. We've just been really busy and it hasn't been at the top of my list. Busy with what you ask. In no particular order (because I haven't the time to sort them). Here's what we've been up to.

This past weekend we went to the Moto Cross place and watched Grandson II on his bike.

Grandpa has been working on his guitar, even though I haven't been busy with it, I thought I'd toss it in.

We spent a weekend at the cottage of friends.

We went camping with other friends and cycled a lot.

We helped Gryper take a tree down.

We went to the Ugly Hat Party and CG's place.

I've worked on my viola.

While spending the weekend in newmarket, we went to the mandarin restaurant.

I got a tattoo with my son and daughter (they're autism awareness tattoos).

And that's the tip of the iceberg. When I have time to sort the pictures from my camera, there's lots more that 's been keeping me out of trouble. Stay tuned.

My Viola Progress

Several of us pooled our shekels and bought a bending iron for bending the wood for violins, guitars, cello and so on. Bethany and I have both started making violas, and since she's away and I have the bending iron in my hot little hands (Well one finger is hot. Ouch!), I got busy bending the sides and the linings of my viola.

~

Inside of the maple sides of the viola are thin strips of wood (lining) that makes the edges of the sides sturdier and provides a surface for gluing the back and the front on. You can see in this picture that I've installed the linings on one side (the one showing). After I remove the sides from the mould, I'll put the linings on the reverse side as well, they're all prepared, they just need to be glued into place.

I've got a decent start on the scroll and neck too. Now I can go back to carving the front and back.

~

When I made my violin, I was at this stage after two years, it's amazing that I only started it in June. It really makes a difference knowing what to do and how to do it.

~~

~~

The Home Wreckers

Today I went to Bethany's place so we could work on our violas together. After I got there we talked about where we each were with our projects. She adjusted the sound post in my violin, fixing up a bit of a dead sound when I played the A string.

We talked about varnishing my violin and my next steps. Then we both started working on our violas. I began carving the scroll on mine and she busily started working on the back of hers.

Bethany needed the drill press so she put it up on the work bench, and started to use it. It didn't seem to be working properly. She stopped and looked it over.

With a surprised tone, she exclaimed, "There's a mouse in my drill press!" I looked over to see Mama Mouse peeking out at us from the underside of the pulley housing on top of the drill press. We both stood staring at it for a few moments, then I said, "Shall we take it outside?"

"Definitely" she replied", as she picked it up and headed for the door that I ran and held open.

She set the drill press down on the ground and opened the pulley housing. There was poor Mama Mouse frantically running around with a baby in her mouth. We stood there staring for a few moments at the nest made from fibres from Ernie's jacket, with several more babies in it. Then we both looked around as if there would be some sort of solution standing nearby. It reminded me of a couple of guys staring under the hood of a car that just quit, not having a clue what to do next.

We agreed that we wanted Mama Mouse to be able take care of her babies, so we would relocate them. We got a bucket and moved babies and nest into the bucket, but Mama Mouse wasn't so co-operative. She evaded us for a few minutes, but finally we outsmarted her and ultimately she left Casa Drill Press. She grabbed one of her babies and bolted up the wall and out of sight between the wall and the deck. We left her to sort her life out and when we checked back later, she had moved all of them to an undisclosed location.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall and watched the two of us.