The first tour is in the can, so to speak.
Shady Grove, in Urbana, Ohio, was sweltering until the "natural" fireworks during the faculty concert on 4th of July--hearing the crackle through the sound system while Janita Baker was playing was just a wee bit freaky! Then the weather became positively balmy with cool breezes and nice sunshine--terrific backdrop for classes of eager and able dulcimer students to hone their craft!
After visits to family and friends in Ohio, I headed north to the Evart Funfest in the middle of the mitten (Michigan).
This is the largest hammered dulcimer festival in North America and was no disappointment. Something grabbed me and I ended up teaching 9 classes, as well as vending, jamming with Oldtime and Celtic players and having two stage appearances with Marcille Wallis (Celtic HD player from North Carolina) as well my vending and camping neighbors.
This was followed by a day of Hammered Dulcimer workshops for students of DeeDee Tibbits in Oscoda, Michigan, hosted by Margaret Rush. The girls had a slumber party, complete with a real, live ghost story and I got the cottage ready for my family who arrived later in the day.
Lake Huron showed all of its glory and with the sugar sand beaches, the calm ripples and boisterous waves for body surfing, was judged by all to be a "great" lake!
Now, I'm in Springfield, Missouri, en route to a week of teaching Hammered Dulcimer at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. I am truly humbled and blessed by these opportunities to share music far and wide!