Autoharp and Katydid

I have an autoharp. When I was in university doing my B. A. in ECE, they said we had to learn to play an instrument. I played the recorder, the piano (which is in bad shape), and I've played guitar. I decided to pick up an autoharp.

This is a photo a reporter took for a Manotick local newspaper, where I used to live and work. She did an article about me teaching music. I was playing Waltzing Matilda! 

1993

I played the autoharp at church, and sang with it. 

Originally, it was sad playing it in the modern era, remembering the good times. Caitlin tried to sell it online for me. There were no bites. I brought it home, but Caitlin forgot to take the advert offline. Suddenly, a bite. 

There were questions about the instrument. The older ones have a better sound the potential buyer told me. She'd been researching it. I've replaced some felts. Re-felting professionally would cost $500 she told me. I'd reglued some.

Since I took it to university, student teaching and supply teaching, and going in and out of my portable in winter, I bought myself a hard shell case.  The heat of the school, and cold of winter, didn't do it any good. 

I have the tuner, spare pegs, and pics. Also, an autotuner. I always used to tune it sharp, and my mother had perfect pitch. She'd just shudder when I played!

I've been playing it. I told my disappointed buyer that she gave me a gift of getting back to playing it. I am going to keep it for now. 

Tuning takes time. I'm doing my best. My voice isn't what it used to be, either. I used to sing in professional choirs, Ottawa Choral Society in the 80s. I began singing with the church choir when I was 13. 

   

 I was out back playing it, and a katydid came to check it out!

 

The katydids, or bush crickets, are in full breeding stage. It's Katydid season. They are munching and mating.

 If you want to know what they sound like, you can hear them on my video. I thought he'd make a good percussion section for my songs!

 Katydid 

In the meantime, Saturday was Caitlin's birthday. I chose some flowers to send. We're meeting up next weekend, but I gave her her gift before they went to Newfoundland. I wanted to mark the occasion. This is what I ordered:

This is what she got! Sigh. It's the thought that counts. I shouldn't have agonized so much over which flower arrangement to send! They create a bouquet, and deliver what ever they have. 

Whirlwind tour of Ottawa

We were supposed to have lunch with JB's aunt Monday, but she's having some issues. We thought we'd do some errands in the city (Ottawa), anyway, before the freezing rain began and rush home. The green is rain, the blue, snow.

The snow was being blown by the wind as we made it into Bells Corners.

Hubby had a couple of things to pick up at Carlingwood Mall. It's a formerly Sears-anchored mall. Sears is done in Canada. The blurry photo is pathetic. Rather fitting. The parking lot is bereft. I feel so badly for those whose pensions have gone, while they paid upper management millions in bonuses for staying on to shut down the company.

Coincidentally, the mother of an FB photographer buddy parked behind us in the parking lot. She lives in Merrickville. She posted that on FB and I had a good laugh. We have never met and might not recognize one another!

That said, there are still a number of stores in the mall. I found myself a new suitcase. Hubs says they match my red boots, which aren't waterproof BTW.


We dropped off a gift to my daughter, as well as the loan of my soprano recorder. I love music. I haven't a photo of me playing my little recorder, but I have a photo of the autoharp. I played and sang in church many times, both in choirs and solos. I joined the church choir with my parents when I was 13.

Josee is taking recorder lessons and will borrow my recorder. I've had it for close to 20 years, I think. It's a one-piece, a good style for newbies. In music camp, one summer,  I met some interesting players. I've often toyed with getting an alto or deeper recorder. I just need some motivation.

It was a lovely drive, considering the storm that was on its way.


We stopped to buy some mealworms for tree frog. He's still in the plant. He sang when I played the piano a few weeks ago. He sang randomly, when we were watching evening TV. The cats were amused.

I'm so sad. Big Al's closed in Kanata. In August! I didn't know. Its other Ottawa store is about 100 km away, in Orleans! This other one was on our way into Ottawa.

We spoke to a young man who worked in the Pet Store nearby. He said that Al's had management issues, yet many people still come into this store asking about things. He sold us some spray for the easy chairs. You can see how well it worked the first day. Yay, Annabelle.

Other purchases, a green tablecloth, new kitchen knives, and drink mugs.

We had lunch in Perth, on the way home. The snow had started and things were deteriorating.

Dead stop on the 417 right at island park west bound #otttraffic pic.twitter.com/1eIdpItsmq

— Janet Rochon (@janetsplanet16) January 22, 2018

@MIHomeYGK @OttTraffic @cbcallinaday Perth Road, north of #ygk - freezing rain for an hour. Accumulating like crazy. Doing about 60km/hr. Super sketchy. #ontstorm pic.twitter.com/wsc1u1g7qM

— Jana J (@StellarJana) January 22, 2018

Josee took piano lessons, and can read music. They are learning this at school.
Izzy is still taking ukulele lessons. Mommy sent me a photo.