Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Sunday Full of Music Making
This morning I went down to an Independent Church in Millers, MD - about five miles from where I live. The drive was beautiful with all the trees covered with snow. I played in a service with my two friends. We did Bring a Torch with autoharp, recorder and guitar. We also did Pat-a-Pan. It included a recorder duet, patting on the autoharp and vocals. I went home for lunch then over to Gettysburg - about 20 miles from where I live. I went to an OT jam for about and hour and a half then over to a Lutheran church near the square for an Celtic service. I am in an ensemble that plays for the service. We do prelude, 2 hymns, Offering and Communion music and then the postlude. At both services I took communion. I’m hoping the Lord is pleased with me!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
My Musical Camping Summer of 2009
My first camping adventure was in May to the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival just 25 miles from home. I almost didn't get an electric site but they stuck me inbetween the motorhomes when I told them I had a real long extension cord. The two gals I sing with were both there so we did a good bit of blugrass jamming.
My next trip, also in May, was to Folk College at Juniata College in Huntindon, PA. I decided to use my camper instead of bunking in the dorm. I had a 15 minute commute but enjoyed the camp atmosphere and sleeping "in my own bed." Folk College was good. Two performers/workshop leaders I really like were Joel Maebus and Cindy Kallet.
Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering was next in June. This is always a great time. Two of my favorite diatonic players were there - Bob Lewis and Mike Fenton - so that made it really special. Brian Orr worked his homeopathic magic on folks, myself included. Its so nice to see old friends again and jam the nights away.
I spent the first full week of July at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. I have previously taught beginning autoharp there but my course was not chosen this year. Since my daughter and her family are there all summer I decided to go anyway. When teaching I never had time to go to lectures etc. I only had time to go to concerts in the evening. It was National Geographic Week. The lectures were by 2 NG photographers, the engineer for the Mars Rover, and the man who discovered the Lucy fossil. All very interesting. I went to 3 orchestra concerts, and and opera dress rehearsal. I was there for the Fourth of July and saw the big fireworks display over the lake. It was especially fun to spend time with my grandchildren - Rosie 7, Oliver10, and Sam 13. They have a trailer in place at the campground where I stay.
The third week in July I went to Swannanoa OT Week. I towed my camper and stayed overnight at a KOA near Natural Bridge. I visited a cave while I was there. I parked the camper at the college and stayed in the dorm. OT week is like MLAG - like a family reunion. I do Sacred Harp singing, took a course on History of OT music, and play in a string band. The concerts are great and so is the jamming. Stayed at the KOA again on my way home.
August was HOTA Fest at Bradford, PA. (Heart of the Alleghenies) I presented an AH workshop for kids but only had one boy and 9 adults! We park our campers in the parking lot there and use showers in one of the dorms. I was parked beside Desert Rose. Todd was there so I got to see all the 'harps he carries with him - impressive. I did a good bit of OT jamming with locals there and found I fit in just fine. I did some sight seeing on this trip. I visited the Kinzua Viaduct - a railroad bridge that collapsed during a tornado and the Zippo museum which was very interesting. I also met up with a bear when returning from the shower in the dark! I stayed at a KOA before and after the festival and that is where I saw the bear.
The last week in August I started on my long journey. I first went to Williamsburg to an Aliner Rally. I belong to the Mid-Atlantic group. We have a get-to-gether every year. We visited the Jamestown Settlement this time since we had been to Williamsburg several years ago. They had a reconstructed village with blacksmith etc. There were 3 ship replicas that you could board which was interesting to see. Then on Sunday off I went to Assateague. The original plan was to meet my daughter and her family there but they more or less backed out due to schedules etc at the last minute. I decided to go anyway. This was the first trip I ever did where I was completely on my own and not meeting anyone etc. I traveled the bay bridge/tunnel - it was very cool. I'm really glad I went. I love the ocean but the water was too rough so I couldn't go in. I walked the beach, many nature trails, visited visitor centers, went to Chincoteague, to Ocean City, MD, and found a small library in Berlin, MD where I could use my computer. I had to move from one site to another half way thru my visit. At the second one there was a lady practicing clog dancing! I played and she danced. We laughed and made our selves a memory.
One more trip this time to Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering. This is near Huntingdon, PA. I stayed in the state park campground there. I presented a workshop entitled "Try an Autoharp." It went well with about 12 people in the class. I also helped with 3 different slow/beginner jams. Concerts were good and so were the couple of workshops I had the time to attend.
I slept 33 nights in my Aliner and towed it 2500 miles. The converter was not working right so I had that replaced when I got home with a better unit and should be good to go from now on. I washed and waxed it, washed bedding etc, and took out anything that could freeze over the winter. So now I can think back over the good times and anticipate more to come in 2010.
My next trip, also in May, was to Folk College at Juniata College in Huntindon, PA. I decided to use my camper instead of bunking in the dorm. I had a 15 minute commute but enjoyed the camp atmosphere and sleeping "in my own bed." Folk College was good. Two performers/workshop leaders I really like were Joel Maebus and Cindy Kallet.
Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering was next in June. This is always a great time. Two of my favorite diatonic players were there - Bob Lewis and Mike Fenton - so that made it really special. Brian Orr worked his homeopathic magic on folks, myself included. Its so nice to see old friends again and jam the nights away.
I spent the first full week of July at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. I have previously taught beginning autoharp there but my course was not chosen this year. Since my daughter and her family are there all summer I decided to go anyway. When teaching I never had time to go to lectures etc. I only had time to go to concerts in the evening. It was National Geographic Week. The lectures were by 2 NG photographers, the engineer for the Mars Rover, and the man who discovered the Lucy fossil. All very interesting. I went to 3 orchestra concerts, and and opera dress rehearsal. I was there for the Fourth of July and saw the big fireworks display over the lake. It was especially fun to spend time with my grandchildren - Rosie 7, Oliver10, and Sam 13. They have a trailer in place at the campground where I stay.
The third week in July I went to Swannanoa OT Week. I towed my camper and stayed overnight at a KOA near Natural Bridge. I visited a cave while I was there. I parked the camper at the college and stayed in the dorm. OT week is like MLAG - like a family reunion. I do Sacred Harp singing, took a course on History of OT music, and play in a string band. The concerts are great and so is the jamming. Stayed at the KOA again on my way home.
August was HOTA Fest at Bradford, PA. (Heart of the Alleghenies) I presented an AH workshop for kids but only had one boy and 9 adults! We park our campers in the parking lot there and use showers in one of the dorms. I was parked beside Desert Rose. Todd was there so I got to see all the 'harps he carries with him - impressive. I did a good bit of OT jamming with locals there and found I fit in just fine. I did some sight seeing on this trip. I visited the Kinzua Viaduct - a railroad bridge that collapsed during a tornado and the Zippo museum which was very interesting. I also met up with a bear when returning from the shower in the dark! I stayed at a KOA before and after the festival and that is where I saw the bear.
The last week in August I started on my long journey. I first went to Williamsburg to an Aliner Rally. I belong to the Mid-Atlantic group. We have a get-to-gether every year. We visited the Jamestown Settlement this time since we had been to Williamsburg several years ago. They had a reconstructed village with blacksmith etc. There were 3 ship replicas that you could board which was interesting to see. Then on Sunday off I went to Assateague. The original plan was to meet my daughter and her family there but they more or less backed out due to schedules etc at the last minute. I decided to go anyway. This was the first trip I ever did where I was completely on my own and not meeting anyone etc. I traveled the bay bridge/tunnel - it was very cool. I'm really glad I went. I love the ocean but the water was too rough so I couldn't go in. I walked the beach, many nature trails, visited visitor centers, went to Chincoteague, to Ocean City, MD, and found a small library in Berlin, MD where I could use my computer. I had to move from one site to another half way thru my visit. At the second one there was a lady practicing clog dancing! I played and she danced. We laughed and made our selves a memory.
One more trip this time to Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering. This is near Huntingdon, PA. I stayed in the state park campground there. I presented a workshop entitled "Try an Autoharp." It went well with about 12 people in the class. I also helped with 3 different slow/beginner jams. Concerts were good and so were the couple of workshops I had the time to attend.
I slept 33 nights in my Aliner and towed it 2500 miles. The converter was not working right so I had that replaced when I got home with a better unit and should be good to go from now on. I washed and waxed it, washed bedding etc, and took out anything that could freeze over the winter. So now I can think back over the good times and anticipate more to come in 2010.
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