Friday 5 July 2013

Sunshine and Dulcimers


A very quick post today, folks, and sorry I am late, and remiss in reading and commenting on yours (you other bloggers). Has been a very full and tiring week overseeing mum's kitchen installation and then putting everything back In entirely the wrong places, of course. And amongst the rubbish we threw out were two old skewers and a plastic bag full of small plastic bags. These items have taken on an importance far outweighing their actual worth, but they are important to mum so must be replaced.

Anyway, the sun has been shining for two whole days and looks set for another couple so hey, we are into SUMMER! The garden still looking ok.




Ooooops! Sorry, should have rotated before uploading to blogger, can't do it now. Crane your necks...


I've even been sitting outside myself to do a little stitching, heavily dosed with antihistamine and vaseline up nose and sunglasses when possible! (Not up nose, don't be silly.) Yes, hay fever here with a vengeance, and our garden in particular has some nasty little pollen-bearing blooms somewhere, but haven't isolated which ones yet.


This is a nice little shady nook. I could hear the bumble bees humming away round the flowers, I love to listen to them, they live in the beech tree which overhangs our garden.


                      Applique all finished, now embroidering. So relaxing this felt stitchery.

And now, to finish up with, a photo of my latest impulse purchase: an Appalachian or Mountain Dulcimer. If you check out Joni Mitchell's 1974 BBC concert videos, she plays one on the California and A Case of You videos. Not that I can sing like that! (Who can??) But I thought it would be a fairly simplish instrument to play to sing with...if I can find my key!



It is quite a basic model, probably the cheapest you can get here in the UK. I would love a hand-crafted one, perhaps if I get on with it I will think about it.

Now then folks, I have a load of ironing (yes, I know, twice in a month!) Lunch, then pack and pack up the car. I am off to Sheringham Festival up on the  North Norfolk coast. The Mollys are dancing there both days, so we arrive this evening to set up camp. Yes, at my age I am spending the weekend under canvas. No, I don't believe it either! Last time I did that was the last time I took the Guides to camp about 26 years ago. I hope the weather is better, I seem to remember being up at about 2 am wringing soaking wet girl Guides and their sleeping bags out in the pouring rain. Deep joy!

So I will be sans laptop for a couple of days but will hopefully have some great photos to share when I get back. Hope the sun shines for you and yours , have lovely weekends.

19 comments:

  1. Lovely post and life seems to be looking good for you with lots of colour, crafty beauty, natural beauty and a night under the stars to look forward to. Enjoy! I did just reading about it all.
    jo x

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    1. Hi Jo, that was quick! I'm just off for a shower and get changed before setting off - already exhausted with packing etc - you'd think I was going away for a week, not just 2 days! Lx

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  2. Hi Lynne, You are a lady of many talents. Connie is always talking about your blog. It is one of her favorites. I really like your Mountain Dulcimer, that's a cool purchase, enjoy. Your embroidery work is beautiful.
    Like I said, many talents.
    Hey, we finally had our launch day. Gypsy Rose is in the water. Come over and see our launch day photos. Connie took more photos yesterday on our 4th of July sail, we'll be posting them soon, but check out my launch day post.
    Have a happy day. Steve

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    1. Hi Steve, thanks for lovely comments, I'm looking forward to having time to get to grips with my dulcimer. Yes, I have been across to have a look at Gypsy Rose a few times - she is a beauty and I envy you both having her, will check out the new ones soon.Enjoy yourselves!

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  3. Are you off to the potty festival? Have fun.
    Gillx

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    1. Hi Gill, yes, it was fantastic, 36 dance sides, great weather...what could be better! Just have to wade through a (digital) mountain of photos before I do the next blog post all about it! Lx

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  4. You and your instruments....you need to get together with my lot, I feel left out sometimes not knowing my clarinet from my....there see, I don't even know the names!!! I need a bit more of the stitching, looks fab! :) x

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    1. Hahahahaha! Ada you crease me up! If you want to play......just do it! I was scarcely a spring chicken when I went back to hands-on acoustic music-making. I took the stitchery away with me but didn't have a minute to take it out of the bag!! Lx

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  5. Have a wonderful camping weekend, sounds like good fun Lynne.We are going camping at the end of August, I love sleeping under canvas (except when it rains :o( Loving your gorgeous garden and foxgloves and your new dulcimer. I am a big Joni Mitchell fan xox happy days this weekend x Penny

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    1. Hi Penny - well, it had been a long time since I last went! Some things are better catered for now, otherwise, camping is timeless. Tell us about your August trip, won't you? Lx

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  6. Rats I am working this weekend otherwise I would come and watch the Mollys. Love your cushion, right up my street. That Applique is pretty, something else I want to do.
    Have a good time in Sheringham, it is nearly a year since I went last.

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    1. D'you know, Pam, I had a feeling you might have been coming! LAst year the camp-site was a quagmire, apparently - I wasn't there as we had my son and family over from New Zealand.

      Applique is so relaxing - especially with felt - no hems!! Lx

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  7. Hi Lynne your garden is looking fab and I love that shady spot - sorry you have to sit there with sunglasses up your nose! I'm still on the lookout for some sorrel since you wrote about it in on of your posts but no can do - did yours come from a garden centre? Love Joni Mitchell - going to watch out for her dubbli doobler next time! Enjoy your weekend x Jane

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    1. Hi JAne ......ha, yes, my typing runs away with me sometimes, but you knew what I meant!
      You should get sorrel in a good garden centre - but particularly the nurseries should stock it near the herbs/salady stuff.
      W/end was fab....blog post coming soon! Lx

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  8. Garden is looking fabulous! I love those red paviers, beautiful colour.

    I know you had a great time this weekend as I'm a bit late posting on here..sorry..
    Im a fan of Joni Mitchell too, if you look on You Tube and check out me mate Chris While, she is doing a tutorial for Dulcimer for Case of You :-) and if you haven't already, have a look for Blue Tapestry album its Chris While & Julie Matthews tribute to Joni Mitchell and Carole King. My hubby did the album cover photos too... thought I would get that in LOL.

    Sorrel, I couldn't find any plants even at the National Herb Centre so I bought a packet of seeds instead and will sow them today!

    Nearly forgot to mention the embroidery, its stunning! what a multi talented lovely lady you are xx

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    1. Karen, this is getting weird! (Yhanks for comments, by the way. lovely to hear from you!)

      I did indeed check out the Chris WHile video on you tube. n fact, my mate Rob sent it to me, saying right, Lynne, you have 3 weeks before next session to learn this! i LOVE her singing. I am following her video trying to learn the chords she is playing. AND I sent away to their website for Blue Tapestry, and another cd by Chris and Julie. Fancy you knowing her!!! Would you ask her to hurry up and post the follow-up video of her playing 'California' !! PLEASE!!! And fancy your husband doing the photography - I am proper made up, really! (I will be when the cds arrive and I can see the art work.) Dammit, what a great coincidence!
      Sorry you couldn't find any sorrel, and I hope your seeds do well! Lx

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    2. What a lovely coincidence, I haven't seen Chris & Julie for ages, we really must catch them this year at a concert, Chris is my fave singer and her daughter Kellie is brilliant too, they make a great duo. I hope you like the Blue Tapestry cd. 3 weeks to learn a new instrument and new complex tune...wow... enjoy! xx

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  9. Replies
    1. Why thank you1 I took it with me this week end to the festival thinking I'd have time to sit in the sun at the camp-site and do a bit of stitching....er...no! Lx

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