Off-Grid in West Virginia

Sunday

Linda

Friday, Sonny and I spent a great day together. First he took me out for a nice lunch and then we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie staring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. We don’t go to the movie theater very often, but sometimes its nice to just get out and go on a date. We spent a wonderful afternoon together and then he surprised me with another gift.

Now I am not a shiny diamond type of girl, and I don’t get excited about expensive clothes and perfume (unless I get them on an outstanding sale). A batch of new chickens or a new garden tool makes me happy, but there is one thing I have wanted for quite a few years. A mountain dulcimer. Its an instrument that I have always wanted to learn to play, that or a hammered dulcimer. Although the hammered  dulcimer has a beautiful sound I think I would have a hard time keeping all those strings in tune. I played the guitar years ago, but as I get older I find it harder for my fingers to play the chords. A dulcimer can be played in multiple positions and makes it easier for my crooked fingers to get around.

Sonny’s early Christmas gift to me was a scroll neck mountain dulcimer that was handmade by the McSpadden company of Arkansas. My heart did flip flops in my chest when I saw it and would have sang a song if a heart could. My dream had finally come true. My eyes swept over the beautiful craftmanship, the curve of the scroll and the luster of the walnut wood. I strummed the four strings and the resonance of the sound was exceptional. It even came with a nice hard case to carry it in.

I already love playing this new instrument and in two days I have almost mastered the song “Down in the Valley.” Hopefully by this time next year I will be proficient in many songs. I’ll never be a professional, but I will thoroughly enjoy playing for myself and family. I do believe this is the best gift Sonny has ever bought for me and will always be a memorable one. Thanks Honey!

*NOTE TO MY SISTER: Take down that dulcimer you have hanging on your wall and get new strings so you can play with me. Between the two of us we can drive everybody nuts.

My new baby. Isn't she beautiful?

Dulcimer and case

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 18th, 2011 at 7:57 pm and is filed under Off-Grid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.