Course

I just grabbed a quick picture as I was leaving yesterday. It doesn't look like much, but my finger is sure complaining. After working all day yesterday, the purfling channel is done. It looks a bit rough (inexperience), but it won't show by the time we're done.

If you look around the perimeter of both the front and back, there's a groove that I've cut out all the way around. That's what I'm bragging about.

It Rained Today

It rained today, and then the sun came out.
Then it rained, and then the sun came out.
Then it rained, and then the sun came out.
Then it rained, and then the sun came out.
Then it rained, and then the sun came out.

What a day!

Oh, darn!

I had to share this ... it actually happened in Texas on July 2, 2008. I got it from snopes.com

It loads quickly, even if you're on dial-up, Gryper.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/awning.asp

*

Intermediate Strings Course

Yesterday was the last day of the course at the Haliburton School of the Arts. Bethany, the instructor, was so well prepared. It was way too much fun playing music with people for so many hours every day. We had six who played violin, one who played cello and of course Bethany played whichever was needed at the time.

On Monday we started working on a Gavotte composed by William Boyce (1711-1779). We were told that we would be performing on both Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in two different areas. I thought there was no possible way we would be able to perform this by Thursday, it was way too complex.


Bethany had us plugging away, both in smaller groups and all together. We worked on several other pieces at the same time, Andantino by Suzuki with violin, violin II and cello parts. We had a version of Twinkle with four parts, we played through twice and everyone had to play a different part both times. Each day we did some discussion on theory, music appreciation, technique, and caring for the violins and cello, but mostly we played.

On Tuesday we were given a piece composed by Bach called "Two Gavottes from the D Major Suite", I was playing the second violin part - yikes! It was unbelievably difficult, moreso than the Boyce Gavotte. We worked in smaller groups trying to figure it out. Then we were handed a version of "The Irish Washerwoman" ... yay ... fiddling. Then I looked at the arrangement - holy crap! It had notes way higher than I've ever played or my fingers had ever even looked for, never mind found.

Every day we played our pieces a lot! By Thursday afternoon we did it, we played a concert in the building where our class was taking place, there were a few people who were right there and many who watched us as they passed by. Some bits of the Bach Gavotte were a little rough, the Irish washerwoman was pretty good, except the really nasty high part was rough. Our cellist played Two Grenadiers with Bethany accompanying and also a duet of The Entertainer with one of our violin players, both of those pieces were great. The Boyce Gavotte we pulled off really well and it had gone from being a cluttery mess to a beautiful piece.

Friday, at lunch time we performed in another building in the cafeteria for an audience of around sixty people. We ended with the Boyce Gavotte that went really well. As we played the last note, you could have heard a pin drop in that cafeteria. It actually brought tears to my eyes, sap that I am. I was so proud of us.

Those of us who live in the area are going to be getting together on a weekly basis to play; it will be so much fun. We're just looking for a place to play.

So here I am, in a worse state than I was before the course started, I'm an addict. I was already like a junkie, and my bi-weekly lessons were my fix. I am still addicted, but now I'm starting into withdrawal. Bethany, my "dealer" is on vacation from teaching now until September. Last night, I got home, we started working on supper, and before I'd been home for an hour, my fiddle was out of her case and I was playing it. The only reason I'm not getting a fix right now is that it's only 6:30 in the morning and the sound would carry across the lake waking all of the neighbours. Oh, the hell with it I have the shakes, I'm sweating and I think the belly cramps are starting. I'm going to play anyway. I guess there's a good reason they used to call it a Devil's Box!

LATE ADDITION: I remembered while we were driving a couple of hours after I'd already posted this that I forgot to mention one really important thing. We got treated to a mini-concert when Bethany and her sister Jessica played a violin/cello duet for our class. It was absolutely beautiful, I had goosebumps as soon as they started. Thanks Bethany and Jessica!!

*

Mantr*acker

One of my favourite shows on TV right now is a Canadian production on OLN, called Mantr*cker. You can find the web-site at mantr*cker.ca (for now, replace the asterisk with an a), you'll understand why after I've finished this post.

I don't want anyone, like Mantr*cker himself, googling and reading this. My nephew Prince Charming, has applied to be on the show and I have thought of the perfect strategy. So PC if you're reading this, pay attention.

I was driving to my summer violin/fiddling course and fantasizing about being on the show (LOL, yeah, right, with my fitness level and outdoor experience level). Anyway, here's what I'm thinking. There's the obvious double back strategy, and the wear footwear with no tread (like wetsuit boots with about four layers of sole to protect your feet) strategy. I'm thinking more high tech and sophisticated.

I think you and your partner in crime should adjust your circadian rhythms for the two weeks prior to the filming. Sleep during the day and be up all night. Rent or get your hands on a couple of pairs of night vision goggles. The night before you sleep for about four hours, so you've no need to sleep for a while. Start the race with the usual strategies, but then, find yourself one of those dense little thicket type areas, or maybe a cliff with an overhang where the horses can't go. Bed down for the day.

While he's going nuts looking for where you have headed, you're dreaming of winning the big prize - glory. Just when the horses are thinking about munching a bale of hay and snoozing by the hitching post, you rise and shine.

It's perfect. The biggest assumptions are that you'll be on the move all day and sleep all night.

There ya have it PC. There's the plan, now it's up to you to just as we say in Canada, "give 'er".

Vote For Heather

I've sent a message to friends and family ... now for anyone I missed, my niece needs votes for a job as a reporter at Fashion magazine ... please go to http://www.fashionmagazine.com/reportersearch/vote/blog/11/ and vote for Heather Loney ... every day.

*

The Grandkids

Saturday I visited with the youngest two grandkids. Both of them have learned more new stuff each time I see them despite the stumbling block of their autism.

I remember when it was first mentioned that Grandson III may be autistic. I thought to myself, "Yeah, right , drama!". He was a friendly, content baby who seemed to be doing things on schedule.

Well, I was wrong. He does have autism, but despite that he's learning a lot and I see progress each time I see him. When I went to visit Saturday, I greeted him and kissed him on the cheek. He greeted me back with eye contact and a big smile. While the his dad, Lex, and Mrs G and I chatted, he sat on the chesterfield looking at a book and laughing to himself about something in the book. Several times he came over to me to play, and he also went over to Mrs G to play. It was so much fun. Not the kind stuff my overactive imagination suggested when I first really started to realize that his autism was a reality.

When Granddaughter I, who who had other challenges too, was diagnosed with autism much younger, I was astounded. I couldn't believe that two children in one family would have to deal with the same challenges, but they do. I had no real idea what to expect, and what their lives would be like. Granddaughter I came up to me yesterday as I sat in a rocking chair and climbed up on my lap, and looked into my face singing for a minute or so, then turned around and settled in with her head on my nice cushy "granny breasts" and stayed there for about five minutes. During that time she took my hand and rubbed it on her cheek. I was so pleased about her choosing to do that with me.

Both are very sociable and are doing really well, thanks to the constant hard work and incredible patience of their single father, Lex.

I'm proud of all three of you.

*

First Batch of the Year

What a pleasant way to spend part of an afternoon. The sun is shining, it's 25ºC outside. There's a breeze blowing off the lake, rustling the leaves on the trees and into the front windows and out the kitchen windows.

I puttered in the kitchen making my first batch of jam of the year, Strawberry Rhubarb. Had a nice chat on the phone with the Lexiphage while I was stirring.

I ended up with six and a half jars of jam (make that five and half, Lexiphage claimed one) a clean kitchen and lots of time to play my fiddle this aft.

Note: The french horn experiment is moving along nicely. I've learned the fingering for eleven notes and can play Mary Had A Little Lamb and Go Tell Aunt Rhody (really badly!).

Igpay Atinlay Ocksray

Ouldn'tshay atthey ebay Issykay Issykay Issmay Iggypay?

Iyay asway hinkingthay astlay ightnay atthay Iyay ouldshay ostpay inyay igpay atinlay. Ityay ashay eenbay ayay ilewhay incesay iyay okespay ityay. Ityay asway eallyray ikelay ymay irstfay anguagelay, otnay englishyay.

Enwhay eway ereway idskay, eway okespay ityay allyay ethey imetay. Ityay isyay ardhay yingtray otay ypetay ityay oughthay.

Ifyay ouyay eakspay igpay atinlay, easeplay eavelay ommentscay.

Nothing to it

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about my next "How Hard Can It Be" project.

Easy-peasy ... Here's the chair I decided to learn upholstery on. You can see it sagging in the centre because the springs are no longer supported by the webbing.

First step, pull all the tacks out and take off the outside fabric.

Next step, take off the fabric that covers the stuffing.

Now I'm down to the padding, then the straw and the horsehair layer. (Shouldn't have picked a breezy day for this project!)

Next comes the layer of burlap that is fairly tight weave.

Peeling the burlap back, reveals the springs.

Now I'm down to the springs. They are all tied to their neighbour with jute and fastened to the sides of the chair.

Now we're at the webbing that supports the springs. These have pulled away from the frame of chair; they're the root of the problem with this chair. The only thing holding them in was a piece of bed sheet underneath them and they were tied to the frame with some of the pieces of jute that weren't broken.

Her she is, all taken apart, stuffing gone and in need of a couple of minor repairs, before I put her back together again with new webbing, stuffing and fabric, and I'm not sure yet, but maybe new springs. Time to find an online upholstery supply store.

This project was surprising easy so far. One step at a time, it makes complete sense. I'll keep you posted.

Fun And A Half!

We went to visit Cyclin' Granny and the Mr at their cottage today. We got there shortly before Prince Charming, Lisa and Mikki arrived. We yakked for a bit, then CG and I went out in the kayaks while. PC, Lisa and Nikki went out in the rowboat fishing. CG and I paddled around and figured out how things work, then took a little break.

Then CG decides to try, with a little encouragement from me, to try getting back into the kayak out in deep water. I told her it was a good idea in case she ever fell in and there was no skirt on the kayak. She had intended to try eskimo rolls, but felt she may need more time to work up to it. Instead she bruised and battered herself for over half an hour. I too was injured, my abdomen was absolutely cramping from laughing at, oops, I mean with her. Exhausted, we went in for burgers.

So the two Misters took the kayaks out after lunch, no laughing and choking, a dignified tour around the bay.

While they were away, CG, PC and I took the rowboat out into the lake and did some emergency preparedness training. We tipped 'er. Then we righted 'er and tipped 'er again, laughing, snorting, guffawing, hooting and hollering. The three of us had a blast. Then Mikki decided she'd like to join us in the deep water, so she came in for a while, then played in the poor waterlogged row boat. Turns out we were out there for almost two hours.

The Misters had taken the oars in with them, so we ended up pushing the boat all the way back, it seemed weirdly heavy. Turns out the innards were full of water, good thing she has a drain.

We all headed out separate ways. By the time I got home I had a serious case of jelly legs.

All in all an awesome time!

*

Summer Projects

I have lots of exciting plans for the summer.

Ken put the new seat, no, chesterfield on my bike, so I don't get bum problems.

Along with the chair re-upholstery from my previous post, I have two classes booked at the Haliburton School of The Arts.

Today I picked up another toy for fun, it's a little addition to my altzheimers prevention programme. I picked up this little doll, she's not mine, she's just on loan for the summer. Isn't she a beaut!

I can play a scale in the key of F, just one octave, but you've gotta start somewhere. How cool is that? I really want to play that "Tantivvy, Tantivvy, Tantivvy, A-Hunting We Will Go" tune. All the local hounds will start baying and looking for hares.

*

*

Asking the question when you don't know the words.

Yesterday evening, our next door neighbours three grandkids came over to see our parrot. They were 9, 7 and 4 years old. I let them in and showed them to Merlin's cage and they asked a bunch of questions. Ken was working at the computer.

When they'd exhausted the parrot questions, the little four year old asked "Where's the dad-person?".

I loved it ... the dad-person.