Appreciating Beauty and Bounty

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I'm going to enjoy it in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.  I'll be back in Australia next week.

Memphis and My Mom's Fudge

After a loooooonnnnnnnnnng journey that started in Daylesford at 9 a.m. on the 20th of December, I am in Memphis with my family and enjoying all that goes with that.  Jet lag forced me to sleep late in the day today, but once I was up I started snacking on fudge that my mom made......and then I was happy to get my requested homemade lasagna for dinner.  Yummmmmm!  This is what holidays are for, I think.  I am blessed to be able to spend time with my family, to eat extra-special treats, and to have high-speed wireless internet.  

This is a Sign!

This week I helped Adrian set up a new sign for Tasma House.

I think it is beautiful!

Adrian hired a friend to paint the words onto a large piece of recycled iron which had been kept from another project.  For the base of the sign, we used an old garden-lounge chair, two old metal star-pickets, a few tent pegs, and some copper wire.

Lucky we both like to create things out of found objects, because this ended up being a very low-cost project that looks interesting, as well as inviting!

Constructing the sign is a sign that things are moving forward on Table Hill Road, and I am happy about that!

As 2010 comes to a close, I am wishing to be happily-busy in 2011.  I'm wanting to stir things up somewhere with Adrian.  Who knows where?  I don't.

A Beautiful Batch of Babies!

Yesterday morning we discovered these beauties had hatched in Tasma Gardens......Ten Australian Wood Ducklings!  I am thankful for them!!

Keeping a Calendar Again!

For the past two years, it seems like all I have been doing is taking pictures of ducks and other visitors to Tasma Gardens.  I have enjoyed that activity and the ducks have gotten comfortable with me.  They fly in and land in the pond regardless of my presence.  I take that as a compliment!  They are not shy about making baby ducks when I am nearby either!!

Cluck Ol' Hen, Performed by Stephen Seifert and Bing Futch!

I just came across this video via a friend on facebook.  I get very happy when I see friends playing together!

A Music Clip from Clarksdale, Video by Susana Travieso

Here's another video clip from my USTREAM.TV archives.  This is a clip from a Clarksdale trip........which was filmed by Susana Travieso in 2007.  In this film, Adrian Kosky is workshopping a tune that later turned into an actually recorded recording....a live CD of sorts....called, "Blue Simmer."  Click here for info on that CD, recorded in Australia in 2008.

From USTREAM.TV Archives....here's Adrian Kosky Jamming in Memphis

News from the Radio Springs Hotel

It was a lovely day to play in Lyonville yesterday!  I played a dulcimer at the Radio Springs Hotel with Adrian Kosky and Dr. Phil Mac.  Here's the newsletter that went with the gig:  Click here to read it.

I am happy to share a few of the recordings from my handy-dandy-digital-voice recorder!

Someone is Watching Me

And I'm enjoying the attention....even though I know it comes with hope of another hand-out!

I'm sitting on the veranda, listening to Adrian play his Magowan jocimer, and another cockatoo has just landed in Tasma Garden.  I can't see it at the moment, but I can hear that it is munching in time with Adrian's music.  Two Australian Wood Ducks are sleeping at the edge of the pond.  It all sounds good.  I'm thankful for these things.

Beautiful Birds in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

I just like looking at these photogenic faces.  So I'm sharing some pictures of beautiful birds I have been seeing in Daylesford during the last few days.  I hope others enjoy looking at them, too!  

A Trace of Tennessee

I took this picture in Tasma Gardens today:

Mountain Dulcimer + Bowed Saw

I've been listening to my recent recordings from the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia, and I'm sharing two more from a performance on October 23, 2010.  These two tunes belong to Phil Mac, my bowed-saw-playing, Aussie-muso-songwriter, friend.  Here's my photo of Phil from last year:

My Music With A Mountain Dulcimer

This blog post was updated on March 11, 2011.

I've been sharing my mountain dulcimer sounds by uploading music to another blog since the beginning of the year.  I have enjoyed making this collection of tunes that Adrian Kosky and I regularly play at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  We are now calling our duo "Table Hill," and from time-to-time we let the duo grow by inviting our friends, Phil Mac and Tony Soccio, to play along with us.  It's quite a learning experience to listen to our music AFTER it has already been performed.  Most of the time I like what I hear, and I am thankful for that!

My Mountain Dulcimer Story

Last weekend I had the chance to introduce a couple of new friends to my Memphis-made mountain dulcimers, and I am thankful for that.

People often ask me how long I have been playing a mountain dulcimer, and that is not really an easily answered question.  I can't really put a date to the day I decided I would always play music with a mountain dulcimer....but I remember a time when I began to hope and pray that I would not quit playing music with my mountain dulcimer.  I knew I had given up other interests....like acting, singing, sewing, embroidery, painting, latch-hook rug-making, etc.  I connected with making music with my mountain dulcimer in such an intimate/spiritual way that I knew it was something I could always enjoy and would always need.

A Walk Around the Lake in Daylesford, Victoria, AU

I enjoyed a walk with some new friends today.  Daylesford Lake is encircled by a beautiful walking trail....combine that with new friendship and laughter.....what a blessing!

Happy 21st Birthday to My Girl, Alex!

Been Told By The Messenger, song by Adrian Kosky

I'm happy to share the song, "Been Told by the Messenger," which was written by Adrian Kosky during a visit to Clarksdale, Mississippi, after a visit with George Messenger at George's place called, Messenger's.  George Messenger told Adrian that The Blues is dead....Adrian wrote this song as a way of processing that information.

We performed this version of Adrian's song at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, AU, a couple of weeks ago with our friend Tony Soccio.  In this recording Adrian is playing guitar and tamborine, I am playing mountain dulcimer, and Tony is playing mandolin.  Click here to hear the song, Been Told by the Messenger. 

I like this song.

October 7, 2010, Newsletter from Radio Springs Hotel, Lyonville, Victoria, Australia

Here's something exciting!  Actually....it's a dulcimer-sighting!  In the Radio Springs Hotel newsletter this week.  Here's a link to read the letter:  Click here to read the newsletter from the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville, Victoria, AU.

My Music With a Mountain Dulcimer

I've been sharing my mountain dulcimer sounds by uploading music to another blog since the beginning of the year.  I have enjoyed making this collection of tunes that Adrian Kosky and I regularly play at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  We are now calling our duo "Table Hill," and from time-to-time we let the duo grow by inviting our friends, Phil Mac and Tony Soccio, to play along with us.  It's quite a learning experience to listen to our music AFTER it has already been performed.  Most of the time I like what I hear, and I am thankful for that!

Music Therapy with a Mountain Dulcimer

I enjoyed the Dulcimer Folk broadcast via www.EverythingDulcimer.com and www.Ustream.tv this morning.  Revisiting Ustream.tv reminded me of my own experience with that site.

Fun With An Expresso Machine in Daylesford

 I had my camera today (of course) and captured Adrian at the coffee machine....He was making music with his harmonica and a bit of rhythmic steaming (see below, the video is streaming).  Adrian has been telling me about this ability and his years of rhythmically making fine coffee at "Fat Bobs," a restaurant he previously owned.....but, until today, I had not actually seen him try this at home.  He steamed up some really nice cups of cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream this afternoon....and he did it whilst playing the harmonica and steaming milk.  Ok, I admit, I was impressed with the way he expressed himself.  Here's a peak of these things I speak of:

Australian Songwriters' Association Weekend Residential Slideshow

I've uploaded my pictures to a Picasa photo album, and I now have a slideshow of the scenes from the Australian Songwriters' Association Weekend Residential Workshop that was recently held at Tasma House.

The Table Hill Recordings Continue

I have just listened to and uploaded my recording of Table Hill (that's Adrian Kosky and me) from last Thursday night when we performed for the folks at the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  I'm enjoying hearing our combo of strumstick and baritone mountain dulcimer in this tune, "Farther Along." This recording is of a live-performance, the first for this unplanned, unrehearsed, arrangement and performance,....and this tune will probably never be played the same by us again.....we tend to like to play like that.

Click here to hear Farther Along performed by Table Hill, Radio Springs Hotel & Pub, Lyonville, Vic, AU, August 12, 2010

Here's a link to the lyrics:

Click here for lyrics and info about "Farther Along."

Rainy Days Are Good for Neighbours

Today I'm enjoying online episodes of the Australian day-time drama, "Neighbours."  I have gotten hooked on the irresistable characters and the details of their lives.  I like the way they dress, too.  :)  Here's a sample segment of an episode for you.

Australian Songwriters Association Weekend Residential Workshop at Tasma House

Today was the first full day of the song writing workshop that is being conducted at Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat by the Australian Songwriters Association......and it is a beautiful thing to see AND HEAR!  I am happy to be taking pictures of the process of teaching and learning as it is done down under.  Here's a sample picture.  I'm hoping to have more to blog up tomorrow.  There's a concert!

Musical Moments at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville

Although I'm not scheduled to play music at the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville this weekend, my mind is on the musical moments I have shared there.  Here are two clips that I just uploaded to youtube.  Liz Frencham (double bass), Myles White (guitar), and Pete Fidler (dobro) are performing/jamming.





g'day

Shake, Rattle and Roll...with a Mountain Dulcimer, a Guitar, and a Harmonica!

This afternoon I've been listening to some of my recent recordings.  Here's a sample of the sounds of Table Hill....that's the name of the duo and/or trio that I play in at the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  This is an unrehearsed version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll."  Click here to listen!  For wikipedia information about the song, please click here. 

Peace by the Pond

I spent the day taking pictures by the pond.  It was quite peaceful.  I am thankful for that.

Birds in Tasma Gardens, Daylesford, Victoria, AU

Yesterday I finished an iMovie that I have been working on.  It is a bird slideshow.  Since I've been taking SO many pictures of birds this month, I decided to group them into a "birds in July" collection.  All these birds have visited Tasma Gardens in the past few weeks....plus some!  I had to narrow my pictures down to the few that would fit my soundtrack....which was graciously and musically provided by Adrian Kosky.  Thanks, A!

Listening to Recordings from the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville

As I type this blog entry, I am listening to recent recordings I made during performances at the Radio Springs Hotel with Phil Mac and Adrian Kosky.....Adrian played guitar, tambourine, and strumstick, Phil Mac played harmonica, bowed saw, egg-shaker, and triangle, and I played a mountain dulcimer.

Happy Ducks in Daylesford

This week I have been enjoying the blessing of the beautiful Australian Wood Ducks in Daylesford.  These beauties were too bashful to be photographed last year.  Whenever I would try to capture them with my camera, they would waddle away as fast as they could.  This year, they are hanging around and seem happy to receive my hand-outs.  I'm happy about that.

Mountain Dulcimer in an Australian Mainstream Magazine!

Today I received by mail a copy of The Wanderer magazine, "Australia's Largest RV Club Magazine," July 2010, Volume 25 No 7 issue, which includes my story about making music with a mountain dulcimer on road trips in Australia!  I'm so excited that publishers were interested in my musical mountain dulcimer story which Adrian Kosky submitted to the magazine for me.  Here's one of the pictures we sent in with my story:

From The Wanderer, July 2010

That's a self-portrait I made after a play by the pond one day last year at Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat.....no doubt one of the days spent pondering up my story that I hoped would be published someday.

Click the little magazine picture below to follow a link to the photo album that includes pictures of my mountain dulcimer story, if interested in reading it.

The Wanderer, July 2010

A Picture From the Porch in Daylesford

It seems I am into bird themes this week.  This is a picture I took this morning after brekky, and the beauty in it amazes me.  I am thanking God for showing me this sight.

Another Beautiful Bird

Since I've been exploring the Birds in Backyards site and forum, I remembered this little guy that I photographed in Shoreham, Victoria, Australia, during Easter 2010.  I was so excited about seeing two koalas (in one day) that I forgot about this beauty!  I think this is an Eastern Yellow Robin.  So beautiful!

The close-up makes him look bigger than he was, I think.  So here's another view:

So cute!

The Little Pied Cormorant Came Back

I guess I made my iMovie too soon!  I thought I would never see this bird again after its first visit.....but I was wrong.  I think it's making itself at home in Tasma Gardens!

A Little Pied Cormorant

I've spent the weekend watching this bird

It has been swooping the pond....stalking the goldfish, as I have stalked its stalking.  I googled birds of Australia and found a wonderful website and forum for finding out what's what on this side of bird world and found out that this big bird is called a Little Pied Cormorant.  It was not happy with the camera, but I have lots of pictures of it.  And a movie, too.  This has been my entertainment for the weekend, and it has been good for me.

The Australian birds website is:  Birds in Backyards (Click here to visit that website.)  And the forum that is attached to the website can be accessed by clicking here.

Adrian Kosky and Shotgun Shack -- Promo Video

I've been working on a  new iMovie.  It's for Adrian's band, Shotgun Shack.  I would appreciate some feedback on this one, as it is a serious show!




There's an email button on the lower left of my blog, if anyone would like to send feedback.  Thank you!

Recent Road Trip near Daylesford

On a recent road trip I saw this cool house/vehicle:

After driving by it the first time, on the second look Adrian and I stopped to knock on the owner's door and asked for a closer look.  It's a pretty amazing piece of work.  The porch on the back folds out on the side to allow more space for the grill.  There's a private bed space above the truck cab, a fold down dining table, a kitchen sink, with cabinet space and lots of electrical features.  Quite the road trip find!  

Mountain Dulcimers, Road Trips, and Magazines

I found out last week that an article I wrote about my road trips in Australia will be published in the July issue of  The Wanderer.  I'm REALLY excited about this new place to share news of music via my mountain dulcimer musings!

Click here for more info about The Wanderer magazine.

Midnight Special, Mountain Dulcimer & Guitar Duet, Lyonville, Victoria, Australia

Here's another Radio Springs Hotel recording.  This one is from January 16, 2010.  Adrian Kosky playing a Gibson guitar, and I am playing a Simerman mountain Dulcimer.  I like to re-listen to these recordings!  Glad to share them, too.  Thank you!

Midnight Special, Dulcimer & Guitar Duet, January 16, 2010, Adrian Kosky and Carla Maxwell, Victoria, Australia

Proper Citation for Songs

Lately I've been posting so much of my own music that I temporarily forgot a most important part about sharing information!  In my previous post I shared a performance of the song, "Bad Moon Rising" and the song, "I Walk the Line," but I failed to recognize the writers of those songs......and I hereby profusely apologize regarding the improper posting!

My intent was simply to share an experience from my past.....the only way I know how to best share something.....and that is to get some kind of copy of it out in the universe via the big WWW.  So I freely popped up a recording of my past performance of the song, "Bad Moon Rising" and a recording of the song, "I Walk the Line," both of which I recorded with my personal and handy-dandy-digital recorder....but I left out this bit:  "Click here for information about the song, 'Bad Moon Rising,' a song by Creedance Clearwater Revival, 1969, written by John Fogerty.  Also, the song "I Walk the Line" was written, recorded, and made legendary by Johnny Cash.  Click here to read more about Johnny Cash's hit, "I Walk The Line."

S o r r y!!

Dulcimer & Guitar Duet at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria

Here are a few recordings from yesterday's mountain dulcimer/guitar performance by Adrian Kosky and me during the Mother's Day lunch hour at the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  As always....unrehearsed, unplanned, unrestrained.......never know what background sounds might be included in these recordings.....and I never know how long we might be rolling in various vibes!


Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms, May 9, 2010 (with live babies in the background!)
Bad Moon Rising, May 9, 2010 (with live babies in the background!)
Tamp it Up Solid, May 9, 2010
I Walk the Line, May 9, 2010
Man of Constant Sorrow, May 9, 2010
Forked Deer, May 9, 2010

My Piano Improvisation on Video

I did a bit of my piano practice/improvisation aka "marching" and filmed it today.  It took a few tries to get comfortable with the camera angle and its presence.  Then I decided to use today's music in an iMovie and added it to one of my "works in progress."

This is my own form of music therapy.  I play what feels right at the time...making up the music as I go.  Sometimes the music stays in my head for a day or two after I play it.  I guess I am embedding the chords and rhythms in my mind as I reflect and listen to what I have already played.  I guess that's why I hear familiar structure in this unstructured playing that I do.  My piano skills are very limited, as I am teaching myself....and no matter what I might sit down to play, it always seems like I return to the "marching" sounds.

I find it interesting to watch my own music making.  Today is the first time I have filmed myself playing the piano.  I'm not happy with the position of my arms nor the tension I saw in my hands, but now that I am aware of these things....maybe I can relax a bit more when I play and correct the problems.

The Top of the Piano is NOT a Good Place for a Digital Recorder

Found that out during my last piano improvisation practice session......and I won't place the recorder on top of the piano next time.....and there WILL be a next time, because I enjoy learning this way!

During my last improvisation-on-the-piano-practice, I focused on slowing my march down.....really trying not to march at all.....but I ALWAYS go back to the marching in my mind.  BLAST that band practice!!  Ha!  Just kidding, as I love the memory of marching with my high school band and am thankful that 30+ years later the beat lives on in my mind!!

Here are my recent recordings:

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #1

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #2

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #3

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #4

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #5

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #6

Piano Improvisation, April 21, 2010, Recording #7

Table Hill Performing at the Radio Springs Hotel

Adrian Kosky and I play as a duo we call "Table Hill," most weekends, these days.  We strum and twang up on a variety of instruments, including baritone and standard dulcimers, a strum stick, a banjo dulcimer that the luthier, Bob Magowan, named a "jocimer," and guitar.  It's always a learning experience for me as I play music.....whether I am actually wanting a learning experience or not......and I'm always thankful for the chance to play music for the folks at the Radio Springs Hotel.

Lately I've been taking my handy-dandy-digital recorder with me to these weekend gigs and trying to capture the essence of my learning experiences.  I'm not always happy about what I learn.....but I'm always happy that I can learn and move forward......leaving behind bits that bother me and taking with me nuggets of a positive nature.....to, hopefully, become a better person and a more musical musician.

Here's a sound clip from last Sunday's live/raw performance in Lyonville:

Table Hill Performing at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville

My Own Music Therapy with a Magowan Mountain Dulcimer

Nothing new is happening today, so I am reviewing mountain dulcimer sounds from my past.

In September 2008, I played around with micro cube special effects knobs while playing random, improvisational, sounds with my dulcimer.....because I needed to hear and do something new.  Here are several recordings from that living room session....including, in the first sample, the sounds of picking up my pick to resume playing after I dropped it, dropping it a second time to pretend like I meant to musically do that!

2008 September Sound Sample 1

2008 September Sound Sample 2

2008 September Sound Sample 3

2008 September Sound Sample 4

Playing/Improvisation with a Piano

I played a dulcimer most of the afternoon today in Daylesford, and I recorded a few of my tunes as I played by the pond at Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat.  I thought I might share those simple sounds via my blog, but....once again....I have been easily sidetracked by my own thoughts.....and I'm sharing some piano improvisation, instead.

Playing with Picasa Web Albums

Today I am practicing picture uploading on Picasa.  Here's a little bit of a slideshow that shows a recent press release/promo photo shoot that Dominic O'Brien was conducting at Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat for an upcoming article in the "Prime" section of Melbourne's newspaper, The Age.  As it is plain to see, the musical vibe was quite lovely.

Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat, photos of press shoot by Dominic O'Brien

[edited to change slideshow to embedded photo album]

An Easter Koala!

I've just returned from a visit to Shoreham Beach with a camera full of koala pictures!  It was a beautiful Easter blessing to hear the rhythm of ocean waves whilst photographing a koala in a eucalyptus tree!  Amazing.....awesome, actually!

After photographing this little guy about 10 feet over my head, I was lucky enough to see ANOTHER koala near the ocean.....but that one was VERY high and far away.....pictures not as good.  This pic I am pleased to share!  I love these kinds of surprises that life can bring.  I thank God for them.

Fun Sounds Out Loud at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria

Here are two more sounds clips from my fun with the folks at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  This is live performance, unrehearsed, unplanned, un-set-listed, unprocessed, unpredictable....even on tunes like "This Old Man"......never know who might sing along or bounce with us.  Adrian Kosky on guitar and Me on the dulcimer.

This Old Man

Cindy

AND....at the end of evening, Ken picked up a dulcimer and did some fine strumming!

The Sounds of Music at the Radio Springs Hotel

Here are a few links to sound files form my live dulcimer performances with Adrian Kosky (guitar) in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  Adrian's guitar style is the star here......and I think these sounds need to be shared:

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Sitting on Top of the World

Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss

The Daylesford Dulcimer Gathering, August 27-29, 2010

I've added music to the iMovie/slideshow I created for he Daylesford Dulcimer Gathering which is coming up downunder in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, August 27-29, 2010. For the new soundtrack, Adrian sang and twanged up on a McNally strumstick and that was good enough for GarageBand....and Me.

The Daylesford Dulcimer Gathering, August 27-29, 2010

Yippppppeeeeeeeeeee!  More mountain dulcimer players will be making their way to these-here mountains in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, for the August 27-29, 2010, Daylesford Dulcimer Gathering.  I CAN'T WAIT!!

Here's a glimpse of the fun to come downunder:

It's HAPPENING! Dulcimers Downunder, August 21-29, 2010

Today I am TOTALLY excited about announcing the first Australian Dulcimer Gathering!

I just posted the following on the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer forum and on EverythingDulcimer:

Adrian Kosky and I are happy to make this announcement!

We've organized an event called, "Dulcimers Downunder," to be held August 21 - 29, 2010, which includes accommodation, activities, airport shuttles, and all meals for eight nights at Tasma House Music and Arts Retreat in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

Dodgy Train to Clarksdale, by Susana Travieso and Treyton Williams

I'm grateful to my friends, Treyton Williams and Susana Travieso, for allowing me to share their beautiful documentary film about Adrian Kosky.  This film was made during one of Chandler Griffin's two-week, Clarksdale, Mississippi, Barefoot Workshops in 2007.  It's my FAVORITE documentary, of course, and I am happy to share it as my learning tool for using blip.tv:

The Sunday Night Jam in Lyonville, Victoria

Here's a beautiful glimpse into the vibes at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia.  I captured this clip on January 31, 2010, after Adrian and I did some performing there that afternoon.  It was a lovely day to play!

A Sample of the Sounds of the Radio Springs Hotel

I took my handy-dandy-digital recorder with me to the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville last Sunday.  Here's a sample of my dulcimer sounds with Adrian Kosky's singing and guitar playing:

Click here to listen to Me and Adrian Kosky.

Dulcimers at the Radio Springs Hotel & Pub in Lyonville, Victoria, Australia

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What is a mountain dulcimer?

Here's a fantastic answer to the question, "What is a mountain dulcimer?"  It's a video by Bing Futch in season four of his "Dulcimerica" series.  Quite an excellent video, I think!

Kentucky Music Winter Weekend

I'm happy to share the news about Kentucky Music Week's Winter Dulcimer Weekend coming up this weekend, January 8-10, 2010. I miss my dulcimer world friends soooooo much! I wish the folks at Kentucky Music Winter Weekend lots of fun, friendship, and good tunes!

Click here to visit the site for Kentucky Music Week's Winter Dulcimer Weekend.  Watch the video and get inspired!