Estate Sale Dulcimers

I met my friend Gwen for breakfast a couple of weeks ago. We ate our steel cut oatmeal with fruit and chatted for a while, then began to talk about an estate sale we had both seen online.

“They have a couple of dulcimers I would love to see,” I said. “I’ve always wanted a dulcimer.”

“It looked like a great sale,” Gwen said.

“Want to go, do you have time?” I asked.

“I’ll drive,” she said.

When we arrived, I began to look for the dulcimers. I asked one of the attendants where they were and she said they had already been sold. I was disappointed, but Gwen and I had gotten there late so I certainly understood why they would already be in the hands of another. We walked around the house and each found a few things we could use in our artsy businesses (Gwen is a potter and I am a puppeteer and storyteller.). After about 20 minutes I heard Gwen say my name. I turned to look and there, hidden behind a door, were two beautiful dulcimers. There they were, those two beauties! I took them off the wall and looked them over. The prices were very reasonable. I called another friend, Hope, who plays dulcimers and leads a dulcimer group and was relieved when she answered the phone.

“Hope, I need some help.” I said.

“Are you ok?” She sounded concerned.

“I’m fine,” I said, and went on to tell her about the instruments. “They are signed; they look handmade.”

After further conversation Hope said, “Oh, Lona, they ARE handmade. That is an amazing find! They are both worth the price. They were waiting for your to arrive and take them home!”

After a brief moment I decided to purchase them both. Gwen lovingly carried one for me and I put the other in my arms to carry to the check-out.  

I’ve wanted a dulcimer for over 20 years and now I own two! They are gorgeous and it makes me happy each time I take them out to play! I am still at the point of learning how to play them properly, but this is not all about being proper, it’s about enjoying the opportunity and the journey, and knowing that a new dream can begin at any time and any age in your life.

It’ll be a new story to tell.

Here are pictures of my new ‘babies’. I put a shoe in the top picture for scale. One is curly maple and the other is walnut. 

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The Times, They Are A Changin’

I’ve spent my morning pondering a story that I have told on stage for several years now. In general, it seems to have connected well with my audiences but it now needs an update, a remodel, a redo. I’m not changing the story – the core of a good tale remains relevant. I am working on the delivery of the story.

I have some new things happening in my life: my husband has a new job, our son is getting married in November, our first grandchild is on the way, some people have left my circle of influence and new friends have come in. Change brings different perspectives that I appreciate. Bob Dylan sings a song about change. It is not always easy, in fact it hurts sometimes – but it is all so necessary.

I have a friend who I collaborate with from time to time and who has also helped me refine some of my stories. When there is too much in a story she says, “You’ve got to cut your darlings.” How stinkin’ hard that is! I don’t want to leave my darlings out, but The Times They are a Changin’!!

What do you need to change to make the delivery of your story better?

Give a listen to Bob Dylan as he sings:

Reclaim, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse: A Place for my Instruments

I started my blog this morning about Reclaim, Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse and then thought, “this could make a good series.”  I truly believe that too many things are thrown in the landfill that could be reused in some way.  Being a storyteller I really love the stories and ideas that come from repurposed items. It is a resurrection in a way; new life, new purpose, new reason.

In the series I’ll take some pictures and show you some of the projects that I’ve worked on and some that are still in process.  I am not sure I will blog about this every week but certainly once a month (I need to put that on my calendar to remember).

Here is the project for today:

I have many instruments – flutes, guitars, percussion and some others. They were being held in a very large black plastic container, not attractive in the least. I wanted something cute to store them and keep them accessible and organized.  Each time I went to a thrift store I looked at cabinets that I could use but nothing seemed quite right.

Then one day my husband and I went into a GW Boutique (Goodwill store) and shining rays illuminated around this piece of furniture, the sirens sang and drew me in closer. My eyes beheld the splendor of a…wait for it… rack for golf bags.

It was very dusty, dirty, and in need of a seriously good cleaning but I knew it would get my instruments out of the plastic container and could also be a nice addition to my home. There was a place for my guitars, a shelf for my flutes on the bottom, and extra space for my frame drum. There were drawers to hold tuners, extra strings, and guitar straps. I LOVED it!! So for $20 and a couple hours of elbow grease I ended up with a wonderful station for my instruments.

I am considering painting it and putting casters on the bottom so it rolls but for now it works just fine.  This golf rack has a new life and a new purpose. I love it and it works perfectly for my instruments.

What has a new purpose or a new story in your home?

Marimba

While in Asheville, NC last week, I went to a Goodwill store. I very quickly noticed a lovely wooden instrument. You might call it a xylophone or a glockenspiel, but this is neither; it is a marimba. I know this because it says Guatemala across the front of it. The marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala. I didn’t realize that, but Google can be very informative.

There was no mallet, so I hit some of the keys with my fingernail. It sounded so pretty. The keys were smooth on the top and a little rough on the bottom; I thought they might be hand carved. I knew the platform it was on was handmade. I ran my hand across the keys and it was dusty. It had been a while since this instrument had been loved. "What is your back story?”, I thought, “Someone needs to love you again.” I wondered if it could be me. When I looked at the small end and saw the price, I said, “You are going home with me!” I carefully picked it up and put that beauty in my cart. It was two days before my birthday and I decided this would be a gift to myself.

When I got home, I brought the marimba in my house and got out some wood cleaner and a soft rag. It took a little elbow grease, but, oh, she is pretty. I found a couple of small dowels and put wood knobs on the ends to make some makeshift mallets so I could truly hear the sound of the keys. I LOVE IT. Listening to it makes me happy. I have a new instrument to learn. I think that Google might help me out again with some tutorials. The only thing I know about my new marimba is that she was made in Guatemala. How she made it to the United States, North Carolina, and then to Asheville, I’ll never know — but what matters now is the moment. Oh, she is a pretty instrument!

Dancing with the Stars LIVE

A week before Christmas our youngest daughter, Carmen, called and asked what my husband, Steven, and I would be doing for New Year Eve. I asked her what was up and she said she was trying to get her plans together for the night. It set me back that she was interested in spending that evening with us. When we had our family Christmas together, Carmen handed Steven and I an envelope and inside were tickets to go see Dancing With the Stars Live on New Year’s Eve. It was such a lovely surprise.

As Steven and I watched the dancers coming on and off the stage with different costumes, different music, and set images I took note of the stories that were being told. Some were dramatic, some a little silly, others romantic. The ease and flow between transitions were striking to me and before we knew it 2 hours had gone by and the dancers were taking their final bow.

To me, the night was lovely and so joyful. I got a little dressed up and was able to sit back and enjoy the date hand in hand with Steven. To appreciate the love and generous hearts of our children, and to be thankful for the artists of the world. I took a few pictures, they might not be perfect, but they hold a memory for me.