September, 2012

The weekly Irish session is officially moving to Sunday afternoons from 4:00-7:00 at McGinley's pub. John Walsh and his girlfriend Angel have hit the road and we may not be seeing them for awhile. We wll miss John's banjo at the session, but he has entrusted me and Elanor to keep the music going each week. Likewise with the ceilis, which will be held same time and place every six weeks or so, the next being Sept. 16th. Contact the Irish Club of Alaska for more information.

Jim and I drove out to the valley on 3 different days, and played the Alaska State Fair with 3 different bands: Jubilee, The Kerr Family Band, and Crooked Road. The weather wasn't perfect but the tunes were awesome!

Here's to a splendid autumn in Alaska, and a tremendous bounty of raspberries!

August, 2012

Enjoyed a fabulous party at Shonti's out in the valley -- I hope you saw my photo of the month that depicts me in a grass skirt. More partying to come later this month when we bid farewell to John and Angel -- leaving the state for a warmer climate. John will be missed at our sessions, and with the Crooked Road band. But with the young energy of Ben Saylor and Maura Walsh, I am hopeful that the band will continue to play together -- we are booked for the State Fair this month, for example. The McGinley sessions will continue also, though I hear tell it may be moving to another weekly day and time.

We lost a friend recently who was afflicted with a brain tumor. Carol Moonie passed away peacefully at home. I was able to play dulcimer for her while she was in hospice care with her husband Dave and his lovely daughters. She died the following week. My thoughts and prayers are with this family full of enormous love.

July, 2012

Seems like my daughter's band (High Lonesome Sound) is getting many of the gigs that we used to, and you know what? I'm OK with that! The older we get, the less time I feel like hauling a hammered dulcimer around, setting up sound, etc. I have been enjoying summer so far, and continue to play Saturday afternoons at Celtic Treasures whenever possible. I also played at the Zoo again --they have built a wonderful new outdoor stage. Now if they can just do something about the mosquitos! Things are slowing down a little, gig-wise, until the State Fair next month. Priscila Scrady and Graham Siebe were in town recently, and both were a great addition to our Thursday night session at McGinley's.


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