Running On Empty
Well, I should have known that it would happen. I would stew and fret and argue with and scream obscenities at my PC. I would get my blog up. And my brain would frizzle, sizzle, and dry up.
And so it has happened. My brain is on empty. But, since I am sitting on the leading edge of a migraine, this too will pass.
I wish, wish, wish that my dear Father had brought his digital camera with us to the Celtic Music Festival on Saturday. I would have pictures. But he didn't. And I don't.
The festival was wonderful for the most part. Sat in the blazing sun for most of the day, consequently my eyes are a bit sunburned because I'm too stupid to wear sun glasses. Not that I have prescription sun glasses but it is the thought. I did wear my lovely baseball cap for most of the afternoon.
Alstair Frasier, as always, was incredible. His skill, talent, whatever you want to call it, is out of this world. He is one of the finest Scottish fiddlers alive. One of his skills is the ability to pull out incredible music from a very divergent group of musicians. He tends to collect musicians wherever I've seen him perform. If he sees you and recognizes that you're in the local high school jazz band, he will ask if you brought your tuba with you to the festival. Yes? Go get it and join me on stage. He's that kind of musican.
Who else did we hear? The Celtic Wonder Band, a local group was marvelous. Wake the Dead, according to the Web and the program, this is a group out of the Bay Area that "found a spiritual walkway between Irish music and the Greatful Dead." White Hackle Pipe & Drum band, your traditional pipe & drum band--can't live without one of those around. And Solas had the closing gig spot on Saturday's schedule.
Playing Sunday were Mick Moloney, who I believe is Irish (heck, he looks Irish but could be Swedish for all I know). Wicked Tinkers, I am not sure where these folks are from either but they look like crazy Scotsmen in the publicity shot in the program. The Waxies Dargle (?what the heck is a Dargle?), appears to be a Northern Californian fusion of folk, blues, jazz and Californian music.
There were an assortment of other groups and dancers as well, far too many to list here even if I had the energy. Several groups of kidlets as well. Very nice and it is encouraging to know that the ol' traditions aren't going to die out next year. Alstair had his son and a friend on stage at one point. Very iimpressive. If those two young men continue to play together, I see a CD or two of excellent music down the road. One of the pieces that the three of them played had been composed by Alstair's son, Gaelen.
Knitting Content: I took with me the yarn to knit the youngest niblet's holiday gift, a poncho. Unfortunately, I ripped every stitch out that I knit during the day. Took it with me yesterday to the Sunday Knits and ripped it out again. This evening, I bought a real pattern. It should work now.
I cast on last night, and knit two rows, of my "Aran 101." I decided after about 15 stitches that the size 5 Denise is just not a good fit. The cable is the same size as the needle and I just don't do well with it. I also decided to give in and knit the size larger than I started so I'll be ripping that out and starting over again.
Bella looks lovely, however. Did manage to get a couple more rows knit on her.
And now, I hear drugs and my pillow calling me. Time to put this migraine to bed. Tomorrow should be a better day.
And so it has happened. My brain is on empty. But, since I am sitting on the leading edge of a migraine, this too will pass.
I wish, wish, wish that my dear Father had brought his digital camera with us to the Celtic Music Festival on Saturday. I would have pictures. But he didn't. And I don't.
The festival was wonderful for the most part. Sat in the blazing sun for most of the day, consequently my eyes are a bit sunburned because I'm too stupid to wear sun glasses. Not that I have prescription sun glasses but it is the thought. I did wear my lovely baseball cap for most of the afternoon.
Alstair Frasier, as always, was incredible. His skill, talent, whatever you want to call it, is out of this world. He is one of the finest Scottish fiddlers alive. One of his skills is the ability to pull out incredible music from a very divergent group of musicians. He tends to collect musicians wherever I've seen him perform. If he sees you and recognizes that you're in the local high school jazz band, he will ask if you brought your tuba with you to the festival. Yes? Go get it and join me on stage. He's that kind of musican.
Who else did we hear? The Celtic Wonder Band, a local group was marvelous. Wake the Dead, according to the Web and the program, this is a group out of the Bay Area that "found a spiritual walkway between Irish music and the Greatful Dead." White Hackle Pipe & Drum band, your traditional pipe & drum band--can't live without one of those around. And Solas had the closing gig spot on Saturday's schedule.
Playing Sunday were Mick Moloney, who I believe is Irish (heck, he looks Irish but could be Swedish for all I know). Wicked Tinkers, I am not sure where these folks are from either but they look like crazy Scotsmen in the publicity shot in the program. The Waxies Dargle (?what the heck is a Dargle?), appears to be a Northern Californian fusion of folk, blues, jazz and Californian music.
There were an assortment of other groups and dancers as well, far too many to list here even if I had the energy. Several groups of kidlets as well. Very nice and it is encouraging to know that the ol' traditions aren't going to die out next year. Alstair had his son and a friend on stage at one point. Very iimpressive. If those two young men continue to play together, I see a CD or two of excellent music down the road. One of the pieces that the three of them played had been composed by Alstair's son, Gaelen.
Knitting Content: I took with me the yarn to knit the youngest niblet's holiday gift, a poncho. Unfortunately, I ripped every stitch out that I knit during the day. Took it with me yesterday to the Sunday Knits and ripped it out again. This evening, I bought a real pattern. It should work now.
I cast on last night, and knit two rows, of my "Aran 101." I decided after about 15 stitches that the size 5 Denise is just not a good fit. The cable is the same size as the needle and I just don't do well with it. I also decided to give in and knit the size larger than I started so I'll be ripping that out and starting over again.
Bella looks lovely, however. Did manage to get a couple more rows knit on her.
And now, I hear drugs and my pillow calling me. Time to put this migraine to bed. Tomorrow should be a better day.
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