Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: November 2018

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Mosaic Monday #4 - The Piano Man

Do you own anything that is 100 years old? Last week, our upright piano was serviced by Daryl Frank, piano technician, and he confirmed that it was crafted at the turn of the century. This was not a complete surprise since I know it originally belonged to my maternal great-grandfather Clem. My mother inherited it, and the piano lived with one of my sisters for a time until I adopted it.

But Daryl was a veritable font of information, confirming some points I already knew, while adding facts about the piano that were news to me.

ONE: The piano is made from quarter sawn oak. This corroborated an assessment by our good friend Neal, the general contractor for our house who knows a lot about carpentry. Uprights made from quarter sawn oak were the most expensive uprights you could buy.

TWO: The piano was originally stained and shellacked a dark, almost black, color, as can be seen on the inside of the lid of the piano. This was news (I am not sure I ever knew you could open the lid!)

THREE: Later, someone stained and lacquered the entire piano a cherry color, which still remains on some of the inside sections of the piano. I remember this color - it was the shade I first recall on the piano, that is until my Mother decided to remove it in the late 1970s, revealing the marvelous oak grain underneath. (She applied a protective coat of polyurethane to all the surfaces.) Daryl and his wife Connie, who together run Daryl Frank Piano Services, remarked on the professional work of my Mother, to remove all trace of that cherry from even the intricate sections of the piano.

FOUR: Quarter sawn oak is also referred to as Chatter Oak, because of the way the saw leaves a 'chatter' pattern on the oak. This was a new term for me; when I looked it up on the Web, most of what I found described how to eliminate chatter!!!

FIVE: The piano contains a serial number, which will allow Daryl and Connie to identify exactly when this piano was built, even though Price and Teeple has been out of business for decades. Of course I had noticed this number in the metal frame of the piano, but I didn't realize it could be used for anything as important as this!

SIX: Daryl estimated that Great-Grandfather Clem paid $275 to acquire this piano. In today's dollars, that equates to roughly $8,000. I had no idea!

Detail stripped by my Mother

SEVEN: The piano is dramatically out of tune, by at least a whole tone. Although I play, recognizing an instrument in tune is way beyond my capability. Glad we have experts for this! Daryl was cautious as he tuned the piano; with its age, the likelihood of breaking wires during tuning increases.

Detail stripped by my Mother

EIGHT: Humidity (or lack thereof) can affect the tuning of a piano, and Daryl theorized that the piano (moved from Ohio) might still be 'drying out' in Montana. Until it is dried out completely, the tuning of the piano could still fluctuate. So, partly for this reason, and somewhat due to the age of the wires, Daryl only tuned it partway and will return in the spring for another tuning.

NINE: The "action" on our piano will need repair. The bridal tape, a component that moves the hammer back and forth to strike the strings, is made of leather. After 100 years, those skinny bits of leather have started to deteriorate. Also, the felt on many of the hammers (especially for those keys used frequently) has been crushed and will not be effective. The good news? Daryl can simply remove the action and take it to his shop, rather than have to move this massive instrument. He plans to do this in the spring, after or as part of the next tuning.

TEN: Piano craftsmen often put pennies inside the instruments for good luck. Another novel fact. But, no, we are not going to tear it appart to see if we have one of those lucky pennies!

ELEVEN: Daryl pointed out the scrollwork inside the piano, which I had taken for granted. Apparently, the decorations were hand-painted onto the metal frame. The painter must have had a steady hand!

TWELVE: While packing his tools to leave, Daryl asked if we had any trouble getting the piano across the state border. Spousal Unit and I exchanged puzzled looks, and he explained that some states are starting to explore legislation prohibiting the import of ivory, regardless of its age or source. Oh my goodness - after all the trouble we had getting the piano into position (see previous post), I can't imagine what I would have done if someone wanted to strip the keys off the instrument!!!

If some of the edges are sharp, Connie advised that I could use an

emery board to smooth the edges. Acrylic, like that used for

nails, could be used to build up/replace the chips. Vinegar

water can remove some of the staining without

affecting the ivory patina.

THIRTEEN: It's irreplaceable. Yep, I think I knew that.
(Although a physical item like this cannot be replaced, it is some consolation to receive monetary compensation from your insurance company if the item is destroyed, as in a fire. Make sure you work with a specialist and your insurance company to document the value of such a specimen!!!)

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

An InLinkz Link-up

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Mosaic Monday #3 - Water, Water Everywhere

Swallowtails on the river shore

It's quite gray outside today, and I am wavering on my choice of topics for my next post. Something about the holidays? It would be timely and cheery … Trail cam photos? Probably not enough material … A continuation of my summer series? The sunny shots could warm my bones, and make for some bright mosaics as well. Ok, that's settled, then. Call this Chapter 5 of my summer 'book' - see Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4.

Pictures from first four chapters

Beargrass

How do you write your posts? Do you sit down and just start typing? Maybe you prepare an extensive outline, college style. Some of you have your furbabies compose at least part of your post!!! I usually begin by perusing the pictures I plan to use in the post. And then I wait for inspiration. Hmmmm … most of the time it works!

Foamflower in front of waterfall

Today, my photos feature water - water in the form of lakes, and rivers, and waterfalls. It reminded me of a recent comment from a fellow blogger who had noticed the predominance of water in my pictures. You know, I hadn't really thought about it before!

Water is a destination for many of us. Summer arrives and we head to the beach, or the pool, or the lake. The North Fork of the Flathead River, as you follow it north, leads you to Polebridge, and the gateway to Bowman Lake. It is a go-to day trip that delights visitors every time, and it delivered for my in-laws in July.

Looking north toward Canadian Rockies with Flathead River in foreground

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake and Bog Orchid

I have written a number of posts highlighting Glacier National Park, mainly the west side of the Park. If you want to spend serious time on the east side, it means staying on the east side, or at least mid-way. In this case, we booked a 2-night stay at the Izaak Walton Inn (more about that in a future post), which meant we could linger on the beauty of the east side, starting with Two Medicine.

Two Medicine Lake - Sinopah Mountain on the left

Two Medicine Lake is one of three lakes in Glacier that offers summer boat tours. Taking the tour provides several benefits: in addition to learning fascinating information about the environment and local history, you cut out some of the hiking necessary to access special terrain - like waterfalls!

Left: Thimbleberry Middle: Pumpelly Pillar Right: Beargrass

Left: Elderberry Middle: Twin Falls Right: Pumpelly Pillar - Spousal Unit and his parents in the meadow below

After we returned to the boat launch site, we devoured a picnic while sitting along the lakeshore - we might have refreshed our feet by dipping them in the cool waters!

Our final stop that day was - you guessed it - another waterfall. Running Eagle Falls, also known as "Trick Falls", has a wide, well-maintained path suitable for everyone in the family. The waterfall receives its nickname, because there are actually two separate waterfalls in the same location. As you can see here, during spring run-off, water rushes over the top ledge for a 40-foot drop, while obscuring the lower falls. However, as the volume of water decreases by late summer, the upper falls 'dries up', allowing a clear view of the lower 20-foot falls.

The formal name of the falls comes from Running Eagle, a female warrior of the Blackfeet Nation in the early 1700's, who experienced a four-day vision quest in the mountains high above the falls. Running Eagle led war parties on many highly successful raids, and was the only woman in the Blackfeet tribe ever to do so, or to be given a man's name.

Scenic Point mountain

You know what? My bones are warm and the gray skies have turned to blue!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

An InLinkz Link-up

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Mosaic Monday #2 - Moose Medley

Are you a collector?

What do you collect?

Why do you collect it?

Is your collection something that you can and do use?

Since I began following Mosaic Monday, I have been fascinated by collections featured by so many of you - tableware with a checkered pattern, holiday decorations, flamingos, old books, yarn, mugs …

Pajamas, Apron and Slippers

I looked around my house and realized that I probably have several categories that approach collections, of varying magnitude. Today I will highlight my obsession with moose (oops, I guess my title might have given it away).

My moose mania most likely began on a backpacking trip to Baxter State Park in September 1994. Spousal Unit and I bunked in a cabin on Russell Pond, and thrilled to the sight of a cow moose feeding on pond weed in the lingering light of a Maine fall day. I have been hooked ever since.

When our kids were young, family camping trips to the Adirondacks delivered great enjoyment. But no moose. We had to settle for this decal.

Over time, moose objects have made an easy gift for family members - most years, my Christmas list says "anything with moose".

Retirement gift from my oldest brother and his wife

Occasionally, I will purchase a moose for myself.

In recent years, moose (and all things 'rustic') have become quite popular, and so many everyday items feature moose.

Retirement gift from our

financial advisor

Pillow in upstairs guest room

I do use most of these items regularly. Some were saved until we moved into the log house, such as hand towels given to us by my in-laws.

I will leave you with a little 'moose' inspiration from this hand towel -

Enjoy the great outdoors

It's OK to be a little wild

If you have a great rack, flaunt it

Be like a moose - be strong and carry on

Mosaic Monday

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

October Oasis

Fall Fiesta Maple in our back garden

Oasis? In Montana? Yes! Oasis is defined as "a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled or hectic place or situation". Pleasant? Check. Mother Nature graced us with several weeks of blue-sky, 60-degree weather. Peaceful? Check. Visitor bookings were slow, at only four days. Difficult situation? Check. The world has plenty of troubles; I keep my head down and focus on my 2018 goals. It might be a bit of head-in-the-sand, but it's my refuge, my safe haven and my sanctuary. Come join me at the oasis.

ONE: COLOR

Orange has always been a favorite color, so it's no surprise that I enjoy autumn, with its many shades of ginger. Decorating for Halloween is a bonus that involves an outside display of pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales and mums.

Inside, my focus is our dining room table. We've had this Halloween tree for many years; normally the kids would split up the 'ornaments' and place them on the tree. A little sad that I do this on my own now …

Of course, Mother Nature outperforms all of us with Her decorating.

Cotton clouds over the house

Upper left: sand cherry; Upper right: burning bush

Bottom: Larch framed by scudding clouds

TWO: CONCOCTIONS

Kung Pao Chicken

My cooking mo-jo revs up in the fall - maybe the cooler days and a craving for comfort food is the gas for that particular engine. (And it helps that weekly cooking is one of my 2018 goals.) Spousal Unit and I have created a bit of a routine with the cooking thing - I look up recipes on Pinterest and he reviews them for process, ingredients and overall interest. If a recipe passes muster, he buys the ingredients during his normal shop. Then, it's a joint session in the kitchen with his fine assistance as Sous Chef. We've had pretty good luck lately with our choices; only the Savoy Cabbage recipe failed to make it onto the 'keeper' list. (links to all the recipes except the bread are at the end of this post)

A family recipe for Pumpkin Bread

Lemon Fettucine Alfredo

Pad Thai with spaghetti squash

Savoy Cabbage Casserole

THREE: CREATURES

The trail cam has not delivered much this month; I tried out some new locations that were a bust, apart from the ubiquitous deer, some dim shots of a coyote and dark visions of a hare. More interesting was the parade of turkeys near the fire circle, which I captured in the video below; this mama was quite intent to get her young'uns across the open space!

And then there are creatures of the Halloween kind … a couple of weeks ago we made an inaugural stop in the Tailing Loop Winery, and lucked out that someone had organized a jam session as part of a Halloween party. As musicians rotated on and off the stage, the harmonica player would be struck with inspiration, grab a mike and wail away. Check out this video of his talent.

Of course, following last year's post about Halloween and the Whitefish costume contest, I am sure you all have been tortured by pins and needles, waiting for this year's entry. Wait no longer … behold James Bond and his date from the Spectre movie. Surely you see the resemblance?

Now, folks, we were not the only loonies to adopt an alter ego …

FOUR: CROSS-STITCH

Progress continues on my 30 Christmas cross-stitch ornaments. I snatch some moments during car rides with Spousal Unit, but I usually double down while watching Dancing With the Stars (I favor Juan Pablo or Milo for the mirrorball) or football. When I most need to escape, cross-stitch is my retreat.

FIVE: CHANGE

But change is definitely afoot. I recently ordered my Day-Timer pages for 2019, and I thrilled to a fresh motif, a vibrant color scheme and the clean sheets. Just a coincidence that January says "Seek Peace"?

Autumn is prime time for planting, and we've transplanted no less than 2 juniper, 18 aspen, 5 Engelmann spruce, 2 Douglas fir and 9 larches. Throughout the winter months, I will dream about my babies; only in the Spring will we get a grade on the quality of our process.