Fiddle Hangout - Off-Topic (Not Fiddle Related) Forum Feed

valentines day

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:38:47 CST

If your Sweetie says, "Oh, don't buy me anything for Valentine's Day.", you'd better buy something!!

any body have any solutions?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 03:41:48 CST

Hi Friends,

I just get down my computer, I am working on it, but suddenly get down and can’t get start again.

If any body have any solutions?

Los Angeles Stolen Instruments

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:44:45 CST

A beautiful young musician in the LA area has had 3 instruments stolen from her trunk on Superbowl Sunday.

She is now without an instrument - she is a gigging artist. This it what was taken..if you see these or have any ideas as to how to find them please email me! Thank you!

--Herman/Hermann Mueller Violin. Year 1914, made in Berkeley, CA

Serial # I-3306

Currently has shadow acoustic pickup installed on left hand side of violin. If it has been removed, there will be noticeable wear to the varnish directly to the left of the bridge where the pickup would have been.

--Breedlove Quartz 00 Mandolin

serial #12948 - Sunburst color with matte finish.

Currently has coca cola pickup on it (they may have removed this). There is also a velcro patch on the right hand side of the instrument (where an old pickup was)

--Oscar Schmidt Mandolin (By Washburn) - bright white with orange knobs for volume and tone.

Why we shoot deer ?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 11:42:11 CST

WHY WE SHOOT DEER

Why we shoot deer in the wild. (A letter from someone who wants to remain anonymous, who farms, writes well and actually tried this)

I had this idea that I could rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it. The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.

I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope. The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it. After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up - 3 of them. I picked out a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw my rope.

The deer just stood there and stared at me. I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold. The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation. I took a step towards it, it took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope, and then received an education.

The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.
That deer EXPLODED.

The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity. A deer-- no Chance. That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined. The only upside is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.

A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope.

I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual.
Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in. I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder - a little trap I had set before hand....kind of like a squeeze chute. I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back.

Did you know that deer bite?

They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when ...... I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist. Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and slide off to then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head--almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.

The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective.

It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds. I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now), tricked it. While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose.

That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day.

Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp ... I learned a long time ago that, when an animal - like a horse - strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape.

This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run. The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head.
Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down..

Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head.

I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away.
So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope......to sort of even the odds!!

All these events are true so help me God... An Educated Farmer.

Happy Birthday Mr. Dickens!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:44:53 CST

Charles Dickens, one of the greatest writers in the English language, was born on this day 200 years ago. Many Happy Returns Mr. Dickens, although I don't know if it matters much to him now.

He also paid his first visit to the US at this time in 1842 - 170 years ago.

Tuner foolishness

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 09:04:02 CST

With the help of my Korg CA-30 tuner, I determined that my Sonicare toothbrush emits a C# tone.

My 100th post

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 09:15:49 CST

As this is my 100th post I am determined not to waste it.

Weird Dream

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:08:22 CST

I had a dream last night that Gliga decided to stop making violins and go into the jewelry business. They sent me some samples of their work and it was HIDEOUS and over-priced to boot. I woke up this morning very disturbed because I do think that Gliga violins are lovely and it would be sad if they gave that up to make gaudy necklaces. I tried to describe it to my husband this morning...he didn't get it. Trombone player.

I traded for a cello

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:07:09 CST

I had a rather expensive, and unneeded tube-based guitar pedal and I traded it for a 4/4 cello.

My wife questioned the move, but now that she has heard me practicing the last two nights, she loves the sound of it. Not MY sound, mind you, but just the sound of the open strings as I am learning cello bowing technique. Tonight, I grouped the fiddle and cello up, 15 minutes each. Being that the are both tuned in 5ths, it seems natural.

I am seriously tempted to buy a 5-string cello set and restring it GDAE so I can use my fiddle knowledge. Almost every song I know starts on the D string. :)

YeeHaw Junction Reviews

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:37:54 CST

I've posted two blog entries on the YeeHaw Junction Bluegrass Festival held last weekend including lots of pics and videos. Check 'em out. - Ted

http://www.tedlehmann.blogspot.com

Not happy with iPad upgrade

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:52:41 CST

Evetybody empt telling me I would love my iPad even more if I upgraded to os5, so we finally did it...well it took all day, I lost some stuff, and no the youtubes don't work right and are all really lousy looking... I feel the the upgrade really ruined my iPad...if you have one, I'd say read up befr you upgrade...seems there are lots of complaints!

Guitar Zero by Gary Marcus - Book Review

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:59:19 CST

I've posted a review of a new book by Gary Marcus called "Guitar Zero," an account of the experience of a neuro-psychologist who decides, at age 38 to learn to play the guitar. I don't usually post my book reviews here, but this book has so much to say to musicians and wanna-be musicians (like me) about learning and playing as well as a lot about music in general I thought I'd offer it to you. I'm honored to have the chance to review this book, which has been reviewed in Scientific American and The Christian Science Monitor. Marcus has also been recently interviewed on NPR. Good stuff. If you buy it, don't forget to order through my Amazon portal. - Ted

http://tedlehmann.blogspot.com/2012/01/guitar-zero-by-gary-marcus-book-review.html

http://tedlehmann.blogspot.com/2012/01/guitar-zero-by-gary-marcus-book-review.html

Why no hurdy-gurdy workout?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:56:41 CST

Ha,, just kidding....please don't discuss...and that little effort at humor on my part really took some doing on this iPad...hurdy- gurdy does not compute! G EDIT: Doggone iPad messed it up after all...supposed to say hangout, not workout...ruined my pathetic little attempts to be humorous! More coffee!!! Less hurdy-gurdy...no more typin that one out!

Why No Bagpipe Hangout?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:30:56 CST

Discuss.

Mike Compton workshop in Winchester VA

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:24:31 CST

Mike Compton workshop Saturday March 17th 2012 at the NSH Winchester VA:

Mike Compton's mandolin weekend at the Nancy Shepherd House Inn is $395.00 plus tax per student, which includes lodging at the inn Friday & Saturday nights with breakfast, plus a 7:00 PM meet & greet workshop followed by jamming Friday evening and Concert Saturday evening.

Or $165.00 per student for students not staying at the Nancy Shepherd House Inn. Lessons are on Saturday after breakfast from 10:00 to noon, then after lunch from 2:00 to 4:00.

Concert on Saturday evening at The Shenandoah Arts Council from 7:00 to 9:00 one block up the street from the Nancy Shepherd House Inn. The concert is included for all students (lodging or not).

Checkout for NSH Inn lodging students is Sunday at noon. Breakfast for NSH Inn lodgers will be served at 9:00 on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

There are 4 bedrooms at the Nancy Shepherd House Inn, so when those 4 rooms have been claimed, there is plenty of lodging within 5 minutes of the inn.

For lunch and dinner, there are a good number of great restaurants within walking distance of the inn.

There is a 10 student max so contact David McLaughlin to reserve your spot.

http://www.nancyshepherdhouse.com

http://www.taterhilltavern.com

540-247-5073

You Will Be Called Bluegrass.

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:05:13 CST

We are NOT bluegrass--not that there's anything wrong with it--but we simply aren't. We play "Shady Grove" in 6/8; our bassist swings quite a few songs, slaps like a rock-a-billist at times, uses a scalular approach; only a few tunes of ours are from the bluegrass lexicon (to whit, we play "All for you" by Sister Hazel, etc.); and only rarely doth a banjoist join us on stage. No matter. To the masses around here in Northern California we are bluegrass.

So what. We simply call ourselves a string band, but we'll be announced as "Now it's time for authentic BLUEGRASSSSSSSS! Ladies and gentlemen please give it up for the Moonshine Mules!"

Whatever. But if you do not have drums, if you play an acoustic guitar and keep an up- tempo rhythm, if you have a stand up bass in your band, and if you have a fiddler, you are bluegrass. Yeah, I know...but wishing don' make it so. And I don't much care.

I'm gonna lose my mind!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:28:44 CST

People won't leave me alone and basically I have no life ... Except to get sucked into everybody else's soap operas!

On the 23rd Day of Christmas...

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:22:23 CST

My true love said to me,

"Stop already!"

On the 22nd DaY of Christmas...

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:05:36 CST

My true love giveth to me

Twenty-two young, lithe lasses a lassoing....

So long for now

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:18:36 CST

... no, not one of those fed up, taking my ball and going home sore loser posts. I've decided that fiddle's not for me, or maybe I'm not for fiddle, so I wanted to thank all those of FHO I've had any contact with and my friends especially for the good times. I'll see some of you on Banjo Hangout, I'm sure.

All the best,

Bob Cameron

Name of your fiddle

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:04:37 CST

Am I the only one? or is there someone else out there that has given their fiddle a name? At the risk of sounding like a loon, a couple of years ago, I affectionately name my fiddle "Gabby." That way when I'm floating around the house and want to let the family know that I'm going to play, I say "I hear Gabby calling my name and away I go for my fiddle fix like an addict needing a fix.

What's "New"?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:43:56 CST

I've posted an essay on my blog exploring the issue of "newness" as it affects bluegrass music. As usual, I look forward to the continuing discussion of this either here or in the comment section of my blog.

http://tedlehmann.blogspot.com/2012/01/whats-new-essay.html

GA Music Foundation items to be auctioned off 1/15/12!!!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:54:26 CST

Join the Auction Kings for a fantastic auction

Sunday, January 15^th from 11:00am -- 7:00pm. (Come early for prime parking!)

GEORGIA MUSIC FOUNDATION ITEMS

· The Georgia Music Foundation (formerly Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Foundation) is launching a fund-raising effort to raise money to preserve and share Georgia’s rich music heritage—they want to auction off the following items:

· Travis Tritt signed guitar

o Enormous Chet Atkins SST model guitar built by Gibson

o Music Hall of Fame item - signed by country super star,Travis Tritt

· Calliope

· Handmade Georgia calliope

· A musical instrument that produces sound by sending steam through a series of large whistles.

· Turn-key Coca-Cola Soda Fountain, with the bar, 5 bar stools, two of the booths that seat two each, five of the round tables with two seats each, drink fountain, cool neon “SODAS” sign.

Gallery 63
4577 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342

Pre-register to bid on items and for more information!
Call: (404) 252-2555

Hope to see you there!

can you say "domination"

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:17:39 CST

...or better yet "Roll Tide!!!"

21 - 0

The first shutout in BCS Bowl history.

edit to add:

In order to stay out of trouble with our moderators:

They weren't fiddling around / and / 21-0 is music to my ears.

had a good jam today.

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 17:37:42 CST

I attended a small jam I was invited to today. It was a good experience. This bluegrass jam was at a lady's house who is a beginner fiddler and is coming around quite well at improvising bluegrass breaks. The jam was made up of some folks who recently took one of Pete Wernicks bluegrass jam workshop courses (a four weekend class for beginners and "closet pickers" ) There was four of us; myself, two gentlemen with banjos and the lady fiddler.

I had jammed once before with the fiddler and one of the banjo players at a similar slow jam a month ago.

I decided it was prudent to stick with guitar all afternoon, as I find it much easier to lead a group, especially more newer players with a guitar, and franky a BG jam without guitar rarely works well.

Well, it was a slow jam, and I'm fairly competent at flat picking, so I ended up leading most of it. I kept it slow and comfortable for the folks and they seemed to really enjoy it.

Some of my favorite jams are ones with more newbie jammers (especially older folks who pick up/relearn the instrument after retirement like some of these folks). There's no ego problems, just a spirit of camaraderie. Jams like this don't feature the most skilled players I've played with, nor the snappiest tempo as other Jams I've enjoyed, nor the best mix of instruments etc, and occasional derailments happen along with false starts, sloppy endings etc....but these type of jams always warm my heart the most and I walk away smiling.

Makes me feel good to provide a good solid rhythm and some vocals for some beginners to a jam along with and leave them all smiling and happy for having the experience.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a good experience. Hopefully the next jam (which I might host at my house) with this same group will have a few others, and possibly a guitarist so I can try a little of my newbie fiddle skills..

Village of Baoma, Sierra Leone

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 07:33:52 CST

FYI, blog entry on water & sanitary resources in the village of Baoma, Sierra Leone.

No Talent?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 7 Jan 2012 12:07:11 CST

I was reading Smok'n Fiddle's latest joke about a student having talent and I thought of this. True story. My grandfather, Harold McIlvena, played clarinet in the Calgary Symphony and gave piano and clarinet lessons on the side. One student in particular, he told me, had no talent. This unfortunate student, try though as he may, couldn't read music well, played the wrong notes, accented phrases incorrectly--so much so that finally my grandfather had to tell him, "Look, you've simply no talent and you'd do yourself and the world a favour if you pursued some other interest. Neither I nor anyone else will be able to help you."

Fast forward some twenty-five years. The Salt Lake Symphony was in Calgary and Harold and his wife, of course, went to see and hear the fine music. The conductor came onstage to great applause and once it died down he addressed the audience.

"Is there a Harold McIlvena in the house? Please stand!"

My grandfather somewhat slowly and apprehensively stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are honoured to have my first clarinet teacher with us tonight."

The applause was loud and appreciative.

Put the fiddle away...

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 17:55:08 CST

...finally got some time to play for about a half hour tonight...I didn't have much time for it anyway, but tonight my playing was incredible...meaning, incredibly horrible! I couldn't stand to hear myself...I was actually happy I ran out of time and had to put the fiddle away...that was lousy...lousy playing experience tonight...yuck!

On The 12th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 02:00:14 CST

my true love gave to me,

twelve drummers drumming,

Gibson Brothers & Larry Stephenson in Berryville, VA - Preview

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 05:26:09 CST

The Gibson Brothers & the Larry Stephenson Band will be giving a concert at the Berryville Concert Series in Beryville, Va on Saturday, January 14. There are still a few tickets left for this great concert. - Ted

http://tedlehmann.blogspot.com/2012/01/gibsons-and-larry-stephenson-at.html

On The 11th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 02:25:19 CST

my true love gave to me,

eleven pipers piping

On The 10th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 3 Jan 2012 02:38:53 CST

my true love gave to me

ten lords a-leaping

On The 9th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 02:56:22 CST

my true love gave to me,

nine ladies dancing,

PDF Files

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 13:02:43 CST

I received a Toshiba Thrive for Christmas and am scanning all my sheet music on a SD card in 'pdf' form to use in it. The problem is that some of the music is small and I can't figure out how to save an enlarged file. I can open the file and enlarge it xxx% but it won't save the new image. Any suggestions?

Christmas Presents

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 11:13:45 CST

We spent alot of money on Christmas presents for the grandkids, guess what my grand-daughter was having a ball playing with this morning---and empty milk jug!!! How come you don't see these advertised on TV. What does this remind us about what Christmas is truely about. Not buying junk.

On The 8th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 03:36:02 CST

my true love gave to me,

eight maids a-milking,

Happy New Year

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:00:28 CST

Happy New Year everybody,

I wish everybody great health, no arthritis or tendinitis, Always a tuned fiddle and great friends to hang out with and jam, lots of time for practice and always an open mind to learn something new

On The 7th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:14:52 CST

my true love gave to me,

seven swans a-swimming

Resolutions?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:50:08 CST

Not much for new year's resolutions, but this year I'm going to try to learn the rest of the tunes on Charlie Walden's list. There are some great tunes on there, and a whole lot of them I don' t know.

Anybody else?

Count down to 2012

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:51:58 CST

We're doing the count down to 2012. How are your bring in the new year?

On The 6th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:35:29 CST

my true love gave to me,

six geese a-laying.

Creating "Back up tracks" - suggestions & tips (tech questions)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:55:53 CST

I recently posted an mp3 that I played other instruments on. (See Below) One of the comments on the soundoff post asked if I would consider making "back-up tracks" for Irish tunes. I think it would be fun & I am going to give it a shot. Instead of just having mp3 tracks to play along with - I thought it would be more constructive to have it in an adobe flash package. Somewhat like "the virtual session" at the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions/

I like the BBC format

1. I like the idea of grouping tunes in sets, it eases new players into playing sets of tunes & gives them some practice going from one tune to the next.

2. Having the sheetmusic there is helpful.

3. I like the multi instrument approach (guitar chords etc)

Some of things I'd like to add

1. a slow down feature.

2. maybe a more in depth section for guitar/bouzouki backing. maybe in time chord charts?

3. Sheetmusic for variations, not only melodic variations, but workarounds for flute/pipe players who can't play below D

4. Footnotes & tips for all of the above.

I have no problem creating the tracks, but I would need advice on how to wrap it up in an adobe flash package (I have no experience whatsoever with that)

Is there an open source equivalent? Any other added features that YOU would like to see? Also if I can get this together, maybe I can enlist some bluegrass & old timey guys to make a similar kaboodle for other genres.

On The 5th Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:26:53 CST

my true love gave to me,

FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL-DEEEEEEEEEN RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS!

On The 4th Day of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:21:47 CST

my true love gave to me

four calling birds

Coldest day of the year

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:22:06 CST

Tomorrow, or is it the next day, on average will be the coldest day of the year. Instead of our usual artic cold and snow, it will be raining.

On The 3rd Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:24:07 CST

my true love gave to me,

three French hens,

Murphy's laws as applied to the Hangout

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:16:31 CST

Law 1) No matter what technical advice you are looking for, it is probably already in the archives.

2) No matter how much of an expert you are on a subject, there are other experts on the same subject who will give conflicting opinions.

3) No matter how careful you are at wording your comment, someone will misread it and challenge you with "gusto".

4) No matter how intimidated you are by the Hangout members, you will find them to be respectable and friendly.

5) If you read page three of any post, it will be impossible to tell what the original post was about.

I'm sure that I have missed millions of others of Murphy's laws as applied to the Hangout... Do you know of others?

On The 2nd Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:01:55 CST

my true love gave to me,

two turtle doves...

On The 1st Day Of Christmas

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:09:38 CST

....my true love gave to me

A partridge in a pear tree.

More Christmas greetings

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:28:28 CST

Since things are getting really busy here at home, and I may not be online much or at all for a couple of days, I'd like to wish all the good folks of FH a very merry Christmas, or whatever solstice-related holiday you may celebrate. This has not been a good year for me and the fiddle, but even when way out of practice and feeling guilty, I've always taken great pleasure in visiting here. Thanks to Eric and to everyone who has been part of this great fiddling community.

And here's to more and better fiddling in 2012.

Rich