Sal Returns to the Pickle Factory

Last year a bunch of Fleaharmonics went to Sechler's Pickle factory on our way home from the Midwest Uke Fest.  Most of us went on the factory tour, and all of us purchased some pickles to take home.  You can read about that visit in this post.

Sal and I love a good tradition, so we -- and most of the other Fleaharmonics -- decided to stop at Sechler's again this year.  Happily, everyone's feet sported proper attire, so we could all go on the factory tour.  The lady behind the counter knew we were return visitors when we came in.  How?  Because she recognized Sal!

Closed toe shoes - check.  Hairnets - check.  The Fleaharmonics are ready to go on the factory tour! 

While waiting for our tour to begin, we stepped into the small pickle museum adjacent to the factory store.  Here are Nicole and Sal posing next to a photo of President Eisenhower -- and a letter from Ike thanking Sechler's for sending him pickles.

Who knew?

Thomas and Sal next to some pickle sheet music.  Methinks we should learn this song for a future visit!

Sal and the pickle-loving Fleaharmonics posing with the giant pickle.  Another tradition!

After purchasing many jars of pickles, we all traveled homeward.   We will enjoy the memories -- and the pickles -- until we return next year!

Sal Goes to Midwest UkeFest 2015

Sal had a great time at this year's Midwest Uke Fest.  There were lots of great classes to attend, and most of her ukulele-playing friends were there to share in the fun.  What could be bad about a whole weekend of ukulele playing, learning, and listening!?

Since Sal has been to the Fest two times before, she has many memories to share.  Click here to read about Sal's experiences at UkeFest 2013 and here to read about Uke Fest 2014.  (I just read the posts again before adding the links here, and am glad to have revisited those delightful times!  <3 Uke Fest every year!!!)

A delicious tradition.  Going out for Thai food the night before Uke Fest begins.

Stu Fuchs -- a wonderful instructor!  Sal and I met him at Mighty Uke Day and were looking forward to attending more of his workshops at Uke Fest.   We were not disappointed!  This year Sal and I didn't take photos with the other instructors, but you can see those gifted fellows in the previous years' posts via the links above.)

Each year there is an Open Mic Concert at the Uke Fest.  Nicole, one of our fellow Fleaharmonics, did an amazing solo at the Open Mic last year.  This year she blew us away again by performing an original song -- with an assist from Jeff (another fellow Fleaharmonic).  Check out  Nicole and Jeff's performance here!

At last year's Open Mic, our whole Cleveland contingent performed The Tide Is High.  This year we did another fun song.  Here is our rendition of Build Me Up, Buttercup.  (We don't actually start playing until a minute and twenty seconds in.)  We were quite nervous, but it was fun, too.  We're already thinking about what we should play next year!

At last year's Uke Fest we took some mock-busking photos in front of Woodburn's pizza place.  Of course doing something once means it becomes a tradition, so we had to do more fake busking this year.  There was some discussion of where the photos should be taken.  Recreate last year's shots -- or find a new place?  From the photos below you can see we chose to find a new spot.  I have cropped the pictures into squares, so we can all envision what they would look like as album covers!

I used the "fade color" effect in iPhoto on this picture.  It makes things look a bit bleak -- which I think is what we were going for by busking on an abandoned train.

The same shot, using my favorite combination of effects for stuff like this -- "antique" and "edge blur."  Much better for an album cover, I'd say.

Another angle on the thing.  Used my favorite effects on this one, too.  If this was the album cover, I would put the name of the band in the lower left of the picture.

This one would be a cool album cover, too!  Same effects.

You can't keep a ukulele band down for long!  Presenting a cover for an album of happy songs by The Cleveland Fleaharmonics!

A BIT OF MUSING ABOUT LIFE...  It is common knowledge that the ukulele is the world's happiest instrument!  While playing it, uke lovers lose their cares for a while and feel true joy (unless they are practicing barre chords -- but that is a subject for another day...)  Unfortunately, sometimes life presents circumstances that make it hard to pick up the instrument and get happy.  Sal and I were going through such a shadowy period during Uke Fest, but the warm atmosphere, the challenging classes that forced us to concentrate, and the companionship of friends and fellow ukers brought us through.  Thanks to the Uke Fest family and our fellow Cleveland Fleaharmonics for a wonderfully uplifting weekend!  Looking forward to next year already!

Sal Goes to Dulcimer Days

Coshocton, Ohio is most famous as the home of Roscoe Village, but many music lovers also know the city as the site of the annual Coshocton Dulcimer Days Festival.  I won't get into the very long story of why we went there, but suffice it to say, three Fleaharmonics and Sal ended up at the festival.  Unfortunately for us, and for those who worked so hard to prepare for the big event, the rain poured down for hours.  Navigating the charmingly uneven brick sidewalks meant following a zigzag course in an attempt to avoid an overabundance of gigantic puddles.  Most of the vendors -- who were supposed to be in tents along the streets -- packed up and went home.  It was a pretty dismal day.  All was not lost, however.  The three of us (and Sal) took a ukulele workshop with Bing Futch -- a super musician and teacher.  This prevented the trip from being a total washout -- pun intended!

Hoping to go to a drier Dulcimer Days next year!

This was Bing Futch's third meeting with Sal.  The others took place at the Midwest Uke Fest, which happens each August in Woodburn, Indiana.  We'll all be meeting there in just a few weeks for two days of ukulele fun and learning.

Sal Visits the Adorable Sophia

The first weekend of October was an exciting time for Sal -- and for me!  We went to visit the adorable Sophia! 

Here's the cutest baby in the word with her own ukulele.  It looks like she'll be playing it soon.  :)

Sophia's in-depth study of the ukulele continues.

Of course I had to take photos of Sophia with Sal, too.   In this one she is wearing the t-shirt that was presented to Sal at the 2014 Midwest Uke Fest.  As good as it looked on Sal, I've got to say that it looks much better on Sophia.

As I drove home, I stopped to take photos of something I pass by on each visit to my favorite baby.

Every time I pass this, I think I should stop and take a picture.  This time I did.

Sal Visits a Pickle Factory

Sal's last post was a cliff-hanger!  The Midwest Uke Fest was over, but some of the Fleas were going to break up the drive home with a stop at Sechler's Pickle factory...  I hope the suspense wasn't too much for anyone!  ;)

Back to the final night of the Uke Fest...  At the Sunday night jam, it was decided that everybody who wanted to go to Sechler's would meet in the hotel lobby at 10:00 a.m.  Four of us showed up at the appointed time, and we formed a mini caravan to St. Joe -- Sechler's home base.  When we arrived, we found we had just missed a tour, so would be waiting 20 minutes or so in the gift shop.  No problem!  We had a great time there checking out the pickles and pickle-related merch.

Sal and Bruce, wearing the required hair and beard nets, posing by a photo of Frank Sinatra -- a fan of Sechler's products.

Sal with some of the pickles Sechler's makes.  I never knew there were so many varieties!

After we had been perusing the jars of pickles for a while, it was time to start our tour.  As the ladies began to don their hairnets, it was discovered that something was amiss.  Tabitha was not wearing closed-toe shoes, which are required.  The tour guide asked if she had other shoes in the car.  She had Crocs.  Nope -- Crocs are too slippery.  Tour denied!

Tabitha generously encouraged the rest of us to go on the tour, which we did.  As we left her, it was suggested that she write a song about her sad plight while waiting for us to return.

The tour was very interesting!   I won't give details about the pickle-making process, but if you are ever near St. Joe, Indiana, I highly recommend going to Sechler's!  You will learn a lot and have fun, too.

One little taste of the tour... These giant wood vats hold thousands of pounds of cucumbers in brine.  They age in them for 3-9 months before being processed into delicious pickles.

Sal with our friendly and informative tour guide.

At the end of the tour, I wanted to buy some pickles to take home, but I'm not really a pickle person.  I consulted with our tour guide, who suggested that I accompany her to the pickle tasting bar and try the Candied Sweet Raisin Crispy Pickles.  They were delicious, so I bought four jars -- one for myself and three for gifts.  (One lucky person has not yet received her jar of pickles.  Are you hoping it's you?)

There was a sign in the shop suggesting that visitors pose for a photo with the "giant pickle."  Of course we had to do this!

Our little group.  Notice Tabitha's open-toed shoes, and lack of hairnet.  Maybe next year...

Tabitha made good use of her time while the rest of us were on the tour.  She did write a song!  We ended up playing and singing it at a picnic table next to the factory.  A few other visitors came by and talked with us, and then a Sechler's employee asked if she could take a video for their Facebook page.  Of course we agreed!  Click here to watch it!

If you would like to sing Tabitha's funny song, here are the lyrics.  They are to be sung to the tune of You Are My Sunshine.

          I went to Woodburn, to lovely Woodburn,
          to sing and play my mighty uke.
          Then went to Sechler's, a-wearin' sandals,
          and I could not see the cukes.

          I love them pickles, them crunchy pickles,
          but alas I could not go.
          For wearin' sandals, in pickle factories,
          is apparently a big no-no!


In my endless quest for photo ops for Sal, I saw a cornfield across the street and decided to ask my companions if they would be willing to do another faux busking shot there.  Being the extremely cool people they are, they said "yes," and a nice lady took the pictures for us.

Who would busk in front of a cornfield?  The Cleveland Jumping Fleas!

Too much fun!

We could put it off no longer.  It really was time to go home....  Sigh...

On a happier note... while going from ukulele paradise to real life is always tough, this fun stop made the transition a lot less painful.  Perhaps stopping at the pickle factory will become a post-Uke Fest tradition...

Thanks Sechler's!  I'm really enjoying my Candied Sweet Raisin Crispy Pickles -- and some great memories, too!  :)

Sal Spends a Blissful Weekend at the Midwest Uke Fest!

The Midwest Uke Fest was one of the highlights of last summer, and I was sooo looking forward to going again this year!  I signed up early and was glad to find that several of my favorite Fleas were also going.  The weeks of anticipation stretched before us...  And then, suddenly, it was time! 

Most of the Fleas drove their own cars -- for various reasons -- but Sal and I were able to hitch a ride.  (Thanks, Bruce, for letting us tag along with you.)  Before going to the motel where out-of-town ukers customarily stay, we stopped at Folkcraft Instruments to say "hello," pick up our registration packets, have a strap button put on my beautiful Druid Moon ukulele -- and, let's face it, maybe we just couldn't wait to get to the scene of the weekend's uke-tastic events...  While we were there, Thomas, a fellow Flea, arrived at Folkcraft, too.  Great minds.

We got our registration packets, and I received a surprise extra in mine!  It requires a small flashback to explain it, so here goes.  Last year I brought Sal to the Uke Fest, and took many pictures of her there.  If you'd care to take a journey down memory lane, here is the post about last year's Uke Fest.  When registering for the Fest, you can order a t-shirt, which I always do.  This year my packet also contained a tiny Uke Fest shirt for Sal!  What a thoughtful -- and fun -- gesture from the wonderful Folkcraft people!  You'll see a photo of Sal wearing her shirt later in this post.  :)

After the visit to Folkcraft, we went to the motel to check in, and meet up with the rest of the Cleveland contingent.  We all went out to dinner together -- with the exception of the one unlucky Flea who had to work that day and arrived too late to join us.  After all the driving, everyone was looking forward to a beer or glass of wine.  We found a Thai restaurant, and began looking at the beverages on the menu.  When our server came to the table, I asked her to describe two of the beers listed.  She then stated that the restaurant did not serve alcohol or pop -- even though they were on the menu!  All of our faces simultaneously fell!  It was quite funny, actually.   

There was no beer or wine, but the food was tasty and we had a good time anyway.

After our meal, we returned to the hotel, and everybody met in my room to practice the song we planned to do at the Open Mic Concert on Sunday.  Happily, wine and other liquid refreshments were available -- thanks to the prior planning of almost everyone in the group!

For some reason I was given a big room with a sitting area, so it was our practice space on Friday and Saturday nights...  and the place to have a bit of a party, too.

As in previous years, the Midwest Uke Fest was wonderful!  The classes were great -- and so were the people!  Intense learning, lots of laughs, wonderful camaraderie...   <3 the Midwest Uke Fest!!!

Of course I had to get photos of Sal with all of the instructors!  Check out these fine musicians and the creative ways they elected to pose with Sal!

King Richard, as he was jokingly called by his fellow instructors, is also the big cheese at Folkcraft.

 Bing Futch with Sal.  I took two of his classes, and he blew my mind at least three times!

Li'l Rev and Sal.  I really enjoyed my classes with him.  I've heard that he will be an instructor at next year's Uke Fest, too, and am looking forward to taking more of his classes.

Sal hanging out with The Ukulele Cowboy Society.  They are based in Columbus, so I envision some Flea field trips and/or group outings to see them when they come to Cleveland to perform.

Nick -- the guy who can do it all -- measuring Sal for her t-shirt.  He was not an instructor, but Sal wanted to pose with him anyway!

Sal wearing her Midwest Uke Fest T-shirt on stage.  Doesn't she look great!?  What a wonderful surprise this shirt was!  A gesture like this says a lot about the Folkcraft family.  They are good people!

The Fleas rehearsed again in my room on Saturday night.  We practiced our group song, and Nicole played through her solo for us.  And then it was Sunday -- a day of more great classes and... gulp... the Open Mic.  Happily, we didn't embarrass ourselves -- and Nicole was outstanding!  Check out the videos of our performances.

The Tide is High performed by our merry band!   (Don't worry about the thumb.  It's soon removed!)  From left to right you can see Thomas, Holly, Nicole, and me.  Unfortunately, because of the angle this was shot from you can't see Bruce and Tabitha, who are behind us.  I guess we'll have to configure ourselves differently next year so all the Fleas get their 15 minutes of fame!

The Cuckoo performed by Nicole.  The audience was amazed by this -- and for good reason!  Wow!

GUSH ALERT!  Picking up the ukulele was one of the best things I ever did!  It has brought me so much joy -- through playing it and through the people I've met because of it.  One of the best things about my uke buddies is that they don't look askance at my kooky ideas.  They are willing to do things that others would look askance at.  For example, in the time we had left after eating lunch on Sunday, they agreed to walk quite a distance to pose for a photo with Sal and a tin man!  We saw this metallic fellow in front of a heating and cooling company as we drove into town, and I immediately thought that Sal must be photographed with him.  I was afraid I would have to do this necessary task alone, but most of the hardy Fleas made the trek with me. 

What fun!

As we were walking back from the tin man photo shoot, I had another crazy idea for a Sal photo.  What if we pretended we were busking in front of Woodburn's bowling alley?  As I said before, my uke buddies are game for anything, so they all got into the spirit of the thing.  I thought we should have a cardboard sign, so I explained what we planned to do to Folkcraft's Nick, who readily agreed to get us a big piece of cardboard.  After that the Fleas contributed their ideas for the perfect wording, and Tabitha did a great job of lettering and decorating the sign -- with much verbal input from the rest of the group.

After we ate our Sunday dinner, we all walked to the bowling alley, and realized that a photo there would not work.  The sign was too high on the wall, and the light was not good for photography.  After some pondering and walking around, we discovered that there was a pizza place around the corner.  It looked perfect, so we began to get out our ukes and set up our scene.  Then we saw a cop car -- with a cop disembarking from it -- next door!  It appeared that we were doing our pretend busking next to the police station!  Much hilarity ensued as we discussed the possibility of being arrested and calling Folkcraft to ask them to send somebody to bail us out, etc.  Some even floated the possibility of asking the cop to pretend to arrest us and taking a photo of that, but wiser heads prevailed.

Usually I don't want to be in photos, but these turned out so great that I wish there had been a passerby to take them so I could have been part of the picture, so to speak.  These photos are classic!  Our first album cover!  ;)

The wall was a bright color, but these pictures were crying out to be sepia!

Don't you love these tough characters!?  Suggested group name = The Hard Cases! 

We went back to the hotel, had one last little drinks party in my room, and went downstairs to the lobby for a final jam session.  On Friday and Saturday night other uke players had been there, but tonight it was just us.  It was fun, but we were pretty tired, and I know I was about ready to call it a day, when in walked Bing Futch.  He sat down and joined us.  We had a great half hour of playing with him, but had to regretfully say, as midnight passed, that it was time to say a final goodnight...

Good-bye to Uke Fest one more time...  Already counting the months until we meet again next year...  Thanks so much to everyone at Folkcraft for all they do to make this a wonderful experience; to the instructors for their patience, skill, kindness, etc.; and to the awesome Flea contingent for making every experience so much fun!  You guys are the bomb!

Monday morning arrived, and it was time to return to real life.  Sigh...  But happily, some of us were willing and able to make a fun stop on the way home -- Sechler's Pickle factory.  Next post:  all about our pickle adventures.

Sal Attempts to Visit a Popcorn Museum and a President's House

On the way home from the Midwest Uke Fest, Norma, Sal and I decided to stop in Marion, Ohio.  There is a POPCORN MUSEUM there!  Who could resist such an attraction?  Not me (or Sal)!  Marion is also the location of the Warren G. Harding Home.  Harding may not have been one of the country's most illustrious presidents, but we were open to seeing his house and learning about him.  Anybody who becomes president is bound to have an interesting story -- and we were sure that the Harding Home staff would be full of information to share.

We three travelers drove into Marion and, with the help of our trusty GPS, located the museum.  We got out of the car and approached the door.  Uh-oh.  The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday -- and this was Monday.  Sadly disappointed, we looked longingly through the windows a bit, took a few pictures and started back to the car. 

Argh!  Popcorn denied!

Even though we couldn't go in, the outside of the building was an attractive spot for Sal to pose.

So close, and yet so far...

Norma volunteered to step through the ivy to place Sal on this book, which is located in front of the museum.  (As a librarian, I felt it was necessary to photograph Sal there.)

We realized that it was lunch time (because we were very hungry and had just been deprived of popcorn), so we needed to find a place to eat.  What's the best way to do this?  Ask a local!  At that very moment a young man came walking down the street and I asked him where a good restaurant might be.  He gave us lots of suggestions.  Then I asked him the most important question --  "How do you feel about ukuleles?"  After giving me a brief look -- possibly indicating that he was wondering why he had stopped to talk with this kooky person -- he said that they are okay.  This gave me the opening I needed to bring Sal out and ask him to pose for a photo with her.  He began to strum, so I asked if he was a musician.  He told us that he has been rapping for quite a few years, and has done so with some rather famous folks.   

This gentleman was a good sport to talk to two odd older women about restaurants, ukuleles, and music.  Unfortunately you can't see his multitude of rap-themed tattoos very well -- but you can see Sal, which is the most important thing!

After this conversation, we decided to stop at the Harding Home before lunch, as it was very close to the Popcorn Museum.  We drove over there without getting lost -- thanks to the GPS's ability to navigate the plethora of one-way streets in Marion.  Imagine our chagrin when we found that President Harding's place is also open Wednesday-Sunday!  Our mood brightened when a man who was doing some exterior painting said we could look around the grounds.  The first thing we noticed was a Mobile Voting Booth.  According to the sign near it, "this booth was used in Columbus, Ohio between 1880 and 1940.  Kept in storage most of the year, on election day such booths were towed by horse or tractor to the precinct where they remained for the day."   The door was unlocked and we went inside -- asking for permission from the painting man first, of course.

Sal is ready to vote!  I did some iPhoto manipulation of this shot and really like its old-timey feel.

We walked around the outside of the house to get a few more Sal shots.  I'd love to return to Marion (but not on a Monday or Tuesday) so we could go inside the house -- and the Popcorn Museum, too!

Sal posing on the sundial, with the Harding Home in the background.  Wish we could have gone inside...

It's a Registered National Historic Landmark.  Too bad we couldn't go inside...

Norma strumming Sal on the Hardings' front porch.  You can see the mobile voting booth in the background.

On the way into town we had passed a music store, and decided it would be a good idea to stop there after the Popcorn Museum and Harding Home.  Since many of Marion's streets are one-way, it was a bit of a challenge to find the store again, but we did it.  As is her custom, Sal was a great conversation starter.

Here is Chuck, the proprietor of Musician's 1 Stop introducing Sal to a tiny violin.  Yes, it plays!

Driving home after our unsuccessful attempts to visit two of Marion's attractions, we passed some things I had to get pictures of.  Luckily, my friend Norma is very easy-going, so she didn't mind my daredevil driving as I stopped to take these photos.  Here's the thing.  Sometimes you pass something and think, "I should stop and take a picture of that," but you are in a hurry so you don't stop.  Later you wish you had.  On the way to the Uke Fest, we passed a sign for a town called Texas, and I thought we should stop, but we were rushing to meet our ukulele chums, so we didn't.  On the way back home we passed signs for Cairo and Siam.  As we passed each one, I thought that I should have started taking pictures of these signs back in Texas!  The photos would have added the illusion of national/international travel to Sal's adventures, but alas, we didn't stop.  I think we'll be taking pictures of such signs in the future! 

When I saw this building I swerved quickly off the road to take pictures of it.  Covered in grapevines and obviously unoccupied for some time, I thought it was a perfectly picturesque place for Sal to pose.

Another swerve off the road moment.  When I saw this sign I could not resist!  (Disclaimer:  Sal is not in this picture.  I guess I should have put her on the curb, but I was concentrating on the sign and didn't think of that.)

We took this photo for Ehukai Teves and Lois Hornbostel, who are taking pictures of water towers they pass in their travels.  I don't think there is a good way of including Sal in a water tower shot, but I'll start thinking about it and maybe I'll come up with something!

I hope Norma is willing to come along with Sal and I for more trips in the future!  We sure had fun with her along!

Sal at the Midwest Uke Fest!

Last year Folkcraft Instruments put together their first Midwest Uke Fest and I, a person who had only played the ukulele for a few months, bravely ventured there in search of musical knowledge and new experiences.  A few other members of the Cleveland Jumping Fleas were also going and, though I was not well acquainted with them, it was good to see some familiar faces in faraway Woodburn, Indiana.  The two-day event was amazing, and I decided that I had to return in 2013 for the second Midwest Uke Fest.

As August 2013 grew closer, I started to "encourage" some of my fellow Fleas to attend this year's Uke Fest.  Surprisingly, a few of them did!  To be perfectly honest, my nagging probably didn't make much difference, but it is possible that my constant begging was the last little nudge they needed to sign up.  ;)  Of course Sal had to go along, too.  (As I said in a previous post, the Ohio-travel-only rule does not apply to ukulele events.)

One of the things Uke Fest attendees love to do is get their picture taken in front of a big Folkcraft/Midwest Uke Fest banner.  The camera is activated by a computer, which e-mails a copy of the photo.  We decided that we should get a shot of all the Clevelanders together, so we gathered our group and posed for a couple of photos.  Sal was, of course, included, as were some other ukes.  Then it was time to take a silly picture.  We posed in goofy ways, waited as the computer counted down... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 .... and suddenly we were photo bombed!  The resulting picture is much funnier than the one we were about to take and thus ended the photo session -- with much hilarity!

This photo bomb is presented by Bing Futch!  You can see the edge of Sal peeking out from under his arm.  I'd say this photo reflects everyone's happy mood pretty well.

The Uke Fest begins at 8:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and it's a pretty long drive from the motel to the Folkcraft facility.  One of our merry band is extremely prompt -- and the rest of us are a bit more casual about time -- so on the second morning I decided to take some funny shots of Bruce impatiently looking at his pocket watch while other Fleas pretended to rush to the car. 

Bruce checking the time, while Joe and Norma "run" in slo-mo to the car.  Sal is waiting on the trunk.

Norma breaks character. 

I asked each of the wonderful instructors to pose with Sal, and all of them had fun ideas of what to do with her.  I love creative people!

Sal and Ehukai Teves share a musical moment.

What happy music they made!

 Lois Hornbostel -- dulcimer-player extraordinaire and a friend of Sal, too -- being a bit fierce!

The Uke Fest was featured in the local newspaper -- and there's a picture of Bing Futch on the front page!  Too bad they didn't have the photo bomb shot -- or this one with Sal.

Sal and Butch Ross getting ready to Rock and Roll!

Yeah!

Sal with the swingin' Gerald Ross.

Since the Uke Fest is held in the shop where Folkcraft makes and sells their beautiful handcrafted ukuleles and dulcimers, people attending the Fest pass by the displays of these instruments several times a day.  After last year's Fest, I decided that the next year (which is this year), I would treat myself to one of these beauties.  There are several types of wood to choose from, and I am certainly no expert, so when Ehukai Teves and I were both in the shop on the second day of last year's Fest, I asked him what wood he would choose.  He told me he would get a black walnut body and a butternut soundboard.  From that point on I thought about this beautiful future ukulele...

Of course I don't really need another ukulele, so as I walked past the instruments on the wall during Uke Fest 2013 I tried to resist temptation, but in the end it was too much.  I broke down and ordered myself a Druid Moon concert ukulele with -- you guessed it -- a black walnut body and a butternut soundboard.  It will be arriving in a few weeks.  I can't wait to play it!

Which of these is not like the others?  Sal, while very cute, is a bit out of her league on this wall of handmade instruments.

Sal posing with wood that will someday make beautiful music.  The picture was pretty boring, but then I did some things to it on iPhoto and now I think it's neat.

Richard Ash -- head honcho of Folkcraft -- and Nick Young, who answered all my questions and placed my order.  These gentlemen were kind enough to pose with Sal -- even though she is not handmade.  ;)  I asked them to pose by the register/computer to show that this is where the construction of Sal's future sibling began!

Once again, the Midwest Uke Fest was a peak experience for me!  If I was a gambler -- or as the song goes, "if I were a gambler" -- I'd be willing to bet that the other Fleas had a great time, too.  We were treated to informative classes with great (and patient) instructors; a super-friendly family atmosphere; entertaining concerts by all of the multi-talented artists/instructors; and fun jam sessions at the motel after each day's official activities were over.  Who could ask for anything more!?  

Even though a few days have passed since the Uke Fest ended, I'm still pretty much on a cloud of ukulele bliss.  Thanks to the Ash family and all of the instructors for giving us this joyful feeling (and a bunch of new stuff to practice, too)!

Already looking forward to Uke Fest 2014!!!