Two of my all-time favorite guys... I'm keeping 'em forever.

Listening to the beautiful Antje

A round of love songs for the happy couple

celebrate!

embrace

Will you marry me? Hells yeah!!

Here we are, the last day of November. Butch and I just got back from another great roadtrip. We killed multiple birds with one stone: Thanksgiving Eve with his family in DuBois, Thanksgiving with my family in Cinnaminson, then the day after with OUR family (Jimmy n Maggie and co.) in Robbinsville NJ, and then home again to Bowling Green. All too short, of course. But it's good to be back. 2 more crazy weeks in this semester, and then whatever the yule tide brings. No plans yet, but it'll be something. At this very moment, me and the mister are sitting in our living room listening to a live Joe Jackson cd. He's flipping through a minimalist cookbook, and I'm thinking I'd like to share some photos from last summer--a very special moment indeed. Ready to go back in time? Here's Falconridge, 2004, comin' right up.

Performing for the Nonsuch Dulcimer Club

Dancing at Launde, Leicestershire, England

I'd better just give the headline news here, since it's been so long and it's not like I don't post when things are quiet-- When I'm not posting, it means there's lots going on!
1. We won our president back. Yay. I'm actually very bummed out about this on several levels, and it's been affecting me in many ways. More on this and the rest later.
2. Dick Glasgow has taken over my festival, and now the festival formerly known as the Cork Dulcimer Festival will be the Causeway Dulcimer Festival, and will be held in North County Antrim. I couldn't be happier. This must be every festival organizer's dream come true-- that one day they get to merely sit on the advisory board while someone else does the lion's share of the work. I'm so grateful to Dick for his passion and focus to keep this tradition going. I know it's going to be a wonderful gathering, year after year after year.
3. We're nearing the end of the first semester here, and it's taking all my might to make a strong finish. Getting a little weary, and we've had a few casualties in the department. Motivation is key... I know it's all worth it, and I intend to work like crazy. I need to remember that everything affects everything, and the demand for excellence should cut all the way through everything I do.
4. Butch's cd is nearly finished. He's in Ohio peddling his wares this weekend, or rather, playing his dulcimer... Soon it'll be time for me to get to work on my own cd. This weekend will be a good time to play a little music.