Early July Update from Smallville
It's been awhile since I made a Journal entry here. My life is sort of same-old-routine a lot of the time, but last week I got involved in the annual Common Ground on the Hill symposium at McDaniel College which is in the next town. You may recall, last year's foray into the music world was taking a week's worth of lessons on the hammer dulcimer -- with mixed results. Tom and I bought a brand new hammer dulcimer and have played with it off and on, but I am sad to say it has mostly become just another piece of fine furniture that needs dusting!
Anyway, after receiving the brochure for this year's classes I found one that I knew I could do! CARIBBEAN STEEL DRUM. Yup. First time ever offered at Common Ground. Thinking that I really didn't want to spend $200 on tuition, I immediately put my name in the Volunteer pool and was able to work out a trade -- work 12.5 hours in the gift shop and get my tuition free! The Volunteer Coordinator was most accomodating in that she scheduled me to work from 1:00 until 3:45 Monday through Friday and that would give me 15 minutes to get to my classroom.
Well, I must say that after just ONE CLASS I was able to play "Sloop John B" on the steel drum! The class was PACKED...so many people that we had to take turns using the instruments that our instructor (Guy George) had brought with him from Ohio. But after the second day, I decided that I was going to have to have one of my own -- so after that, I didn't have to take turns during the class. Not surprisingly, a number of other students did the same thing.
Each day, we reviewed what we had learned the day before and then learned a new song! So by Friday, we had a small repertoire of Caribbean tunes under our belt. Guy is quite the musician -- he plays jazz saxophone, hammer dulcimer, Irish whistle AND said he took up the steel drum so he would have something else to "hammer on" besides his lovely wife, Sharie. By the way, Sharie was the class accompanist as she is a guitar and ukelele player with a great singing voice, to boot!
All in all, it was the most fun I have had so far this summer. My class was a mix of folks my age and a few "kids" thrown in for good measure. Guy and Sharie taught three classes per day and they were all full to capacity. They are teaching again this week. They were also part of the big Roots Music & Arts Festival this past weekend. Tom and I attended both days, despite the oppressive heat and humidity and had an outstanding time! Talk about a wealth of talent -- everything from traditional music, Celtic, Gospel, Rock & Roll and Bluegrass -- all for the low, low price of $20 per day in the shade under the trees at the Carroll County Farm Museum! Great stuff!
Guy and Sharie told me to come back this week to "crash" their late afternoon steel drum class. I am definitely going to do it -- but will probably wait until Thursday or Friday. I spent a full hour practicing today and am feeling a lot more confident in my newly acquired musical skill already.
In other news, there is a SHOWING scheduled for my farm tomorrow (Tuesday July 10) between 3 and 4. Unlike other realtors, this new one INSISTS that I am here when prospective buyers come to see it. She wants me to be here because this place is a lot more than just a "single family house in a neighborhood" and wants me here to answer all the ins and outs questions about the barn, outbuildings, pastures, hay field and other equipment that I am willing to negotiate as part of the deal.
The folks who are coming tomorrow are going to settlement on the sale of their house at the end of the week and Margaret said "They are READY TO BUY." They are just a married couple with no kids and ONE HORSE. Margaret said they want to buy a second horse but need a place to put it -- PERFECT!
I am so grateful to have found this realtor. Margaret has done MORE to promote this place in the month that we have been working together than the other realtor did in a year! I suppose that was just part of this learning experience and I'm thinking the "time" is getting close, so things are working out better. It gave me another year to do more fixing up and cleaning out. I decided a month ago to STOP FRETTING ABOUT IT and just keep thinking positive! So, I'm doing just that. Please send all the positive thoughts you can muster, as I would LOVE to know that I'll be OUT OF HERE before the snow flies again.
No big plans for the summer other than a week up at beautiful Deep Creek Lake in early August with a couple of my long-time buddies from here at DS. This will be the first time that we have met and I am so grateful that my longest friend has offered the use of her lovely and HUGE vacation home on the lake. I'm sure the weather will be lovely and the lake will be warm. I will be sure to write a story about the "DS Divas Decend on Deep Creek" at some point in time.
The lovely Miss Rio is fine; we finally rounded up a new riding buddy and she lives right down the road. Her horse, "Charlie Brown" is a mix of Quarterhorse and Clydesdale...and quite a character. He is in love with Rio -- but she just sort of ignores him. After all, what would a sleek, fine-boned all black Tennessee Walker want with a short, rotund part draft horse? LOL. Amazingly, though, Charlie really knows how to step out at a walk, so they are good trail companions. No riding last week due to the extreme heat and humidity. We are hoping for a little break in the weather later on this week or on the weekend.
Our other "kids" (the CATS) are all faring just fine this summer -- spending most every day indoors snoozing in the air conditioning and then "catting around" outside all night. It's a great time of year to be a cat! Every morning, I find "gifts" outside the door -- shrews, chipmunks, mice -- any small game is "game" for our crew. I took Jake & Woody for their Rabies shots last week and have to give them their regular shots tonight. I learned awhile back that I have to stagger these shots for Woody or he gets sick -- too much for him all at once. I am thankful for the vet who allows me to do this, as it really saves on my veterinarian budget.
So that's it for now. Not a real exciting journal, but I'll settle for just plain PEACEFUL any day of the week. Stay cool, my friends, and keep your fingers crossed for the showing on Tuesday!
Replies
This is an awesome journal entry my dear friend. You sound so happy and I\'m so happy for you. I will say my prayers to St. Joe to help you with the sale of the house. It truly does sound perfect for that couple. I can just see Rio with Charlie - she\'s probably got her head up all high like saying - NEVER YOU FOOL!!!
I have a friend I met here on DS who plays the steel drum (and other instruments). His wife is a singer and they have regular jam sessions in their home. He used to post several videos on his FB page, but I guess they are super busy because he doesn\'t post much anymore. Glad you like it. Hope it leads to other things and instruments. It\'s been said you have to keep learning new things so you don\'t decline. It\'s one of the few things I like about my classes. At least I\'m learning something.
Hope the showing goes in your favor. Maybe your place hasn\'t sold yet because it\'s perfect for this couple.
It\'s a WONDERFUL journal!! Positive, Positive, Positive!
Keeping my fingers crossed that you sell your house! Can\'t wait to meet you in August.
That is AWESOME! I\'m jealous! :)
So good to hear from you and to get fought up with all in your busy life. Best wishes!
It is nice to hear good news and positivity! I know that I can usually count on that from you . . . . Hugs and love, Neesie!
Hammer on!
It was a great journal update. I think that is totally cool with the steel drum lessons. I think you have wonderful adventures and even everyday life with you is a joy to follow along with it gets me away from my coping with illness and such and leaves me to smile for you.
((hugs))
What a great note. Hope the showing of the place went well today.
Well enjoy your visit girls, or divas, and have a drink on me! Good luck w/ the prospective buyers!
Prayers for a SOLD HOUSE SOON! I love how you bargain for stuff you really want! ^5
Yes, I am also coming to terms with PEACEFUL! It\'s not exciting but it\'s priceless.
Love that you are learning the steel drum. What a nice sound.