Friday, August 30, 2013

Aunt Mary’s Hornpipe

The Fiddler learned a new tune after work yesterday (Aunt Mary’s Hornpipe) and we recorded a Fiddle & Pump Organ duet with the “Relic” aka Crown.  Follow the link below to give it a listen. If you listen closely you can hear the pedaling. One interesting discovery (and one thing that is easy to fix, but we just haven’t yet) is that one of the pedal straps (canvas/burlap) was replaced with an old leather belt. Therefore the pedal on that side is particularly noisy!

I wasn’t able to link only to Aunt Mary’s Hornpipe, but it is the first tune in the list of the Fiddler’s tunes (after a while, you’ll have to scroll down  for this tune.. with SoundCloud the latest tune appears first in list). There will be other fiddle/pump organ duets in the list and they were recorded using my mother’s pump organ. Also appearing in the line-up -- a couple of fiddle-piano duets by us. If you keep listening, you’ll hear some front porch tunes, square dance tunes, jam session bits, and much more from the Fiddler and his friends.. Hope you enjoy!

The Fiddler on SoundCloud

The link above also now appears as a widget in the sidebar. Happy Labor Day Weekend.. be safe!

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Late Summer Catch-up and a New Relic

Today I picked through my camera’s memory card to try and recall a few things from this Summer. It’s gone by so fast! All I will say is it’s been a very eventful Spring-Summer 2013.
Some good, some bad. Some happy, some sad. That is life, as everyone knows.
And I have blogged so little…
For sure, there will be some randomness thrown in.

I couldn’t leave this one out. This Red-Bellied Woodpecker crashed into a window in early June. He was rescued and safely put into the little chicken coop (aka hospital) for a few hours until he could fly again. He could have nailed me with that long beak, but he was very polite and (I believe) appreciative for the save from a certain death by barn kitties. He took a strong flight out of my hands into the woods.

We’ve attended a few Square Dances over the past few months. What better way to spend a Saturday night?
Of course, the Fiddler is an active participant. The Blacksmith and I just enjoy listening to the music.. maybe we’ll join in with the dancers soon.

I adore this accordion. This gal is my hero – what a phenomenal musician!
For a short while this summer, I thought I needed one like this. But, I decided on a different instrument (more on that below).
My coordination couldn’t have handled this anyway!

Most of June and July was gorgeous – with pleasant temps and plentiful rain. The grass was nice and lush.
{If you look closely, you’ll see our bent windmill.. so sad.. but fixable when we get around to it. We think it was straight line winds}

August hasn’t been so kind. We’ve had hot temps and dry weather the past couple of weeks with no end (or rain) in sight. So, we water.. and water, trying to keep things alive.
Our new garden plot, complete with “Olivia Walton,” the scarecrow.. has done pretty well – all things considered. I have SO enjoyed our sunflowers this year! And so have the birds and bees.

late summer collage 2013

We’ve gone on a few road trips. One was to pick up my old Relic. Had to admire this owl sign along the way.

Can you guess what old Relic is on our trailer?



A gorgeous antique Pump Organ! I hope to do a video or audio soon to share.
It works pretty well, but needs a few minor repairs. I love the old-timey sound of a pump organ. Bonus – you get a workout in too!
She is a beauty, huh? (Photo courtesy of the Seller.. I need to take some of her in her new home).
Crown


Back out to the heat we go to check on critters. We’ll see you soon!

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Thursday, August 8, 2013

“Nothing Short of a Miracle”

Miracles and Angels. I believe they’re a daily part of our lives. We just need to open our hearts. If you haven’t heard this wonderful news story, which took place not too far from our neck of the woods on Sunday morning of this week.. then I invite you to watch and enjoy. I can watch this over and over.

courtesy KHQA-tv

What a refreshing news story. More like this, please! Here is a link to KHQA’s original news story. It’s also made national news via Huffington Post, MSN, USA Today, and others.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Beauty-full Wool

Popping in for a quick blog post to announce the opening of my sister’s Etsy shop! She has some gorgeous and happy sheep in many varieties. Currently, you can find some beautiful roving and washed wool fleeces in her shop.

I blogged about her farm and critters on a Father’s Day visit a couple years ago. You can see some of her happy sheep on that post.

She has Blue Faced Leicester, Border Leicester, Shetland, Cheviot crosses and purebred, Angora goats, and a few Angora rabbits. She knits, spins her own fleeces and sells washed fleeces. She also does some beautiful Scherenschnitte (papercutting). Not to brag, but I have been the lucky recipient of some of those lovely knitted items and scherenschnitte through the years (maybe she will add some of those items in the future to the shop!).

So, if you or anyone that you know is in the market for some lovely and unique roving and washed wool fleeces.. check out Little Flower Farm on Etsy!


Silver Border Leicester Roving from Little Flower Farm

Be sure to give her blog a look, and meet the new cutie -- Rudy!
Little Flower Farm blog

Cheers to all… Back soon.. I hope!

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