Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I think that my violin is very pretty.
The card that you can just see a corner of here, inside the violin, says that it's a Stradivarius, but I think it's lying. It used to be my aunt's, who got it from her uncle, so even if it is untruthful, I love it, and wouldn't change it for any other.
I know that she's not quite as cute as Pippo, but…
My puppy makes me very happy. When Will left for college we got Roxie to keep me company. She is so sweet and loving and though I miss all my siblings she does make it easier to get along.
Will chose her middle name: Replacement.
We went to see Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas last Sunday, which was pretty, happy, funny, and (much to my excitement) real. They are both amazing musicians and I was so grateful to be there. All their music is so beautiful and energetic — and their CD, Highlander's Farewell, is full of wonderful music.
The crowd was very quiet and tame, however, and the musicians seemed a little disappointed with how little feedback they were getting. So at the break I said something about wanting to dance, and Mama encouraged me to in no uncertain terms. I had studied Irish dance for about seven years, first with my sisters and then with certified teachers, and even though I am shy, fiddle music is hard not to dance to.
So I got up and danced in the aisle, and after that set was finished, Alasdair told me to come onto the stage whenever I wanted.
So after a few tunes I got up on stage.
This is the only picture I didn't take, since I was dancing 🙂 |
It was funny because I am not a very, “get up and dance”- ey kind of person. Also my sock flew off. And also, I look like a ghost, because this picture was taken in the dark.
As Mama has told you, messy rooms annoy me. A cluttered room makes me feel cluttered. A room that needs vacuuming makes me feel itchy and dirty and sad.
So it's very real to me that every night Mama takes out this quilt, which is gargantuan, and spreads it over the sofa, and sheds little bits of thread all over the room.
It looks beautiful in this picture and is beautiful in real life, but it still bothers me.
So Auntie Leila says, “Anyone can quilt!” But Cousin Bridgie says, “No.”
Bethanne says
Bridget, I'm so excited to comment on your post! I am with you 100% about cluttered rooms. I think your violin is beautiful, too. Is it hard to be the only child left at home? We don't have that here yet, but Nellie will be in your shoes someday. Thanks so much for posting! You should do it more often!
Lisa G. says
Bethanne, do you know that the link to your pfhr post doesn't seem to be linking? At least, not for me.
Bethany James says
I'm so impressed you got up and danced! I wouldn't have the gumption, but I'm sure that it was a treat for everyone there, especially the musicians!
Kate says
I love your description of clutter making you feel cluttered, that sums it up perfectly for me too 🙂
Your violin is beautiful, all the more so because of it's history. Fun post!
Bren says
Bridget,
Loved your {phfr} post! I am with you on the clutter, but I have no problem dragging a quilt out every evening to work on, and leaving threads behind….it is what we quilter's do! ♥
Mamabear, JD says
Yay Bridget! You have the family wit. I am amazed by violin playing. It seems so hard to me, like going to the moon or performing open heart surgery, except more graceful. That makes me sound kind of stupid, but it's true! Keep in the Thursday rotation, we like it.
Christine says
My violin claims to be a Strad too: but it's just a nice German 19th century factory violin. It was my great-grandfathers.
Jessica says
You were brave to get up and dance! Bravo!
I love quilting AND I hate clutter, so whenever I am working on a big project I end up trying to pick it all up and put it all away every day. Which just means I have to drag it out again the next day. 🙂 It can be a pain, but it is often worth it!
Lisa G. says
I had a feeling you were going to do a post – great photographs!! Even the one you didn't take – it's very cool looking. Your violin is very beautiful – my father played that instrument.
CMerie says
Way to overcome your shyness and get up and dance! Love your violin. Stringed instruments have to be the most beautiful of them all.
Serena says
Bridget, how wonderful that you saw Alasdair Fraser perform! And got up and danced – would love to see a video clip of that : ). Alasdair Fraser's solo on the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack is just amazing – I listen to it over and over. Might have to head on over to Amazon and buy that cd you recommended!
Lisa says
I, too, want to say, “Yay, Bridget!”
Awesome post. Come back sometime.
PNG says
Bridget, great post! I love your dog, your violin is beautiful, and I'm so proud of you for getting up and dancing.:) Good for you! A carpet that needs to be vacuumed also makes me itch and feel dirty so I have my son, Lucas, vacuum every morning for his chore-time.;) That is a beautiful quilt, but thanks for giving us the reality behind it! Awesome.
Dusa says
Hee! Cousin Bridgie! I like it. And great post (good for you getting up and dancing!)
Laura Jeanne says
Great post Bridget! I'm impressed that you were so brave, to get up and dance on stage! (Of course, this is probably such a scary idea to me because I can't dance one bit.)
Your violin is indeed pretty. I have an old German one (I think about 150 years old) that I think is pretty too, but I gave up playing it long ago. It was just too hard! I admire your talent–you can dance, *and* play the violin–bravo! 🙂
Tracy C. says
Wow! Kudos to you for getting up on stage. I very much identify with your feeling the clutter. I get like that too.
Rachel says
Hi, Bridget, it's so good to hear from you! I think it's fantastic that you found the courage to dance. Good for you! I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in previous posts, but do you play the violin?
Deirdre says
Bahahahahaha! That is the funniest post I have read in a long time, if not ever. “Cousin Bridgie says 'No.'” Hhahaha! You have such a distinctive writing voice; I love it.
I am ready to be a Fraser fan. If I'd been there, we could have danced together! Way to be.
Kate says
Bridget, the same thing happened to my daughter when Alasdair and Natalie came to our small town. They performed in our small theater to a very restrained and reserved (but packed) audience. Alasdair even joked about how Americans don't/can't/won't dance and asked everyone to stand up so he could teach a little jig. Our local music store owner who we know well, ran up the aisle and pulled my oldest daughter out to do her Irish steps. She eventually was pulled up on stage. It was a very thrilling evening for her, but I didn't get any photos.
BTW, we have a couple of violins with “Stradavarius” stamped on the inside. I'm assuming the maker doesn't believe we are all that gullible and means that it's “like a Stradavarius” or copied from one.
Libby says
Bridget, I totally agree with you about clutter–it adds so much stress! How long have you been playing the violin? That's so neat that yours is a bit of an heirloom! One of these days, you're going to have to play and do some soft-shoe at the same time! 🙂
kayleen says
I LOVE your violin. When did you start lessons? I have a 2 1/2 year old and I'm anxious to get her going on something….probably a tad bit early 😉
I can't stand a messy room either! Oh my goodness, it stresses me out just thinking about it. Ever seen the show Hoarders? That show actually gives me nightmares.
Love your post lady! Very sweet and enjoyable and entertaining to read 😉
RubberChickenGirl says
Oh. My. Goodness. I am SO glad you got up and danced! A. We have crowds here at concerts that make it look like you took a wrong turn to a funeral as well. 🙁 and B. we need more G-Rated dance in our culture! :))
Also, I see Stradivarius on all sorts of violins (my 16 yo plays–wish you could have a jam session) which makes me think A. I don't think Strads are all that common! and B. I think they mean Strad. copy (of the original design). But your violin is older, and from what little I know, that makes them sound lovely, and it has been handed down which is very lovely.
Thanks for sharing, Bridget!
RCG
Margo says
how funny! I loved this post, especially the dancing part.
And I'm afraid I'm a guilty quilter too who leaves little threads around. . . but (this may amuse you) I am dragging my feet about getting a dog because I don't want dog hair everywhere. teehe.
laceymw says
I wish you had video of that dancing, Bridget! I love some good Irish dancing. What fun! And I am SO with you on the cluttered house thing. I just feel tense until things are picked up.
Emily says
I wish you had video of that dancing, Bridget! I love some good Irish dancing. What fun! And I am SO with you on the cluttered house thing. I just feel tense until things are picked up.
ruth says
My problem is that, while I can't stand excessive clutter, I have to have my projects out or I forget about them….
Sue says
Great post, Bridget!! Your violin is so beautiful – and Roxie too, in a very different way. She looks so sweet! I am also the youngest (of five), and had a “replacement” doggie of my own. He lived to the ripe old age of 16, and I still get misty-eyed when I think of what a great companion he was for me.
I love that you were able to get up the courage to dance on stage. I laughed out loud about your sock flying off! What a great memory you made.
Pippajo says
Welcome Bridget! Brava! I have to echo the other comments and say, “Atta girl!” for getting up on that stage and dancing! What a great memory for you to keep.
We also have a violin that says Stradivarius in it. But we're pretty sure it has an inflated ego. My aunt bought for us at a yard sale strictly because it says Strad. inside, but none of us play. The Viking and I both had to take a Strings Methods course in college, but neither of us remember a bit of it. I actually drove myself and my strings teacher crazy because, being left-handed, I was always picking the violin up in the wrong hand and trying to play it backwards.
This is the second post in a week that mentions an affinity for something Scottish/Celtic so I thought I'd pass on a TV show for you all to check out (in case you don't know about it already). I've only seen it on Netflix, though I'm pretty sure you can watch it on You Tube, if you're into that sort of thing. Anyway, it's Monarch of the Glen, a show set on an old estate in the Scottish Highlands. My sister and I watch it whenever we need a Scottish fix. Check it out!
Lindsey says
I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Monarch of the Glen!!
Woman of the House says
Great pictures and a great post, Bridget! You were very brave to get up and dance in front of all those people! Lots of companies made violins that they called Strads. They used the measurements of the original Strads, so they felt justified in using the name. Unfortunately, there is more to a real Strad than just the measurements, but yours is very pretty and I'm sure you play very well even without a Strad. 🙂
Kate says
Hey!
You have a really pretty quilt. The dog's eyes are the best part about him. (I like eyes a lot. LOL)
justamouse says
Awesome post, Bridget! And I'm totally understanding how you feel about picking up. I've been the same way since I was your age. And awesome on the dancing.
Lindsey says
Thanks for the great post Bridget! You are a very accomplished young lady 🙂 Way to go with your dancing!
When I was about your age I took violin lessons for two years, but then my teacher moved out of our small town, and there were no other violin teachers there! This year I am finally going to resume my lessons. We live in Prince Edward Island, a province with an amazing fiddling culture, so I am excited to learn some toe tapping tunes!
I hope you'll post again soon!
Erika says
Bridget, I just loved this post! You remind me a bit of my youngest sister. She lives far from me and I miss her! Thanks for sharing.
Habou says
Bridgie,
Not only is your violin beautiful but you play beautiful music. I can't get enough of it. Love, love, love your post and love you.
Betsy M says
Hi, I am a bit late coming to read but just wanted to echo the good job Bridget! You made me laugh out loud with the “Aunt Bridgie”. I would also LOVE to hear more about your violin playing. How old were you when you started lessons? Oh, and good for you for dancing.
BLD_in_MT says
Clutter makes me feel cluttered too. I can't sit and relax when I know there is clutter to clear away!
Also, I bet the musicians really appreciated you! I was in a similar concert situation once and when I started dancing others soon followed. After the show I talked to the musicians and they thanked Matt and I so much and said the it really helps them play better when they get that energy back from the crowd!