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Today’s Blog Post
The Buckhorn Heritage Day – February 19, 2011 at the Buckhorn Community Centre – WOW what a day!
The six year old boy sat on the chair in front of me. His eyes watched my every move. He was listening closely to the sound coming from the CD player beside us as it belted out the Folk Jig from Quebec.
In his hand he had a set of table spoons that I had brought for the occasion. In my hand I also had a set. Together we played “The Spoons”.
Now for some of you that will make no sense at all. Let me explain.
By holding the spoons by its tail – the lowest part of the handle – the cupped part of the spoon extends out from your hand – holding it between your thumb and first finger. Hold the first spoon with that cupped part facing up. Next place the second spoon in the same hand, in the same manner with its cup facing downward.
Now in order to get the best sound from “the Spoons” you will need to place a space between the spoons by placing your first finger between them – still having the two tails now in your palm area.
As an adult with larger hands I can hold the Spoons quite easily. But a child has a problem with the larger table spoons that make such a good sound. Knowing that, I adapted sets of spoons for the kids.
The Spoon set as a rubber band wound around the tails of the spoon holding them together back to back. Next I inserted a small piece of wood between the two handles to produce space between the larger part of the spoons.
Grasping the tail ends that are held together, the Spoons can now be hit against your knee – or wherever – to produce the clacking sound,
Next to increase and vary the sound you place your other hand over top of the spoon set hitting the under side of your free hand on the up beat.
Varying the beat by hitting two on the bottom and one under the hand changes the sound… cupping the free hand open and closed will produce different added sound to your repertoire. The possibilities for new sounds are unlimited.
Now I didn’t say any of that to the six year old Josh sitting with me. I simply showed him how the Spoons were to be held and hit my knee in a rhythm following the music. He grinned and immediately responded as I showed him.
I had a set of spoons and so did he – and we were off. Clickity Clackity Clack Clack Clack…
Now you can make it a game also. Whatever I did, he followed.
Five minutes earlier he was a complete stranger – now he was my friend.
To my right side I noticed the coolest thing. Josh’s grandma, a lady about my age, was beaming from ear to ear… as she held the video camera steady catching her grandson with his new friend making music.
Josh was one of dozens upon dozens of kids that all tried to play the Spoons with me. Every single one of them excelled at their new found joy with the Fiddle music from Quebec. Their parents took photos and people pressed in to see what was going on.
The Spoons created an amazing reaction as we all connected to our past. To a time before Wii and X-Box – computers and cell phones.
One young lady who was checking her Text Messages put her phone away and asked if she could try the Spoons. Inhibitions disappeared and she was into it.
She also tried the Spring Pole Lathe that I had demonstrating as part of my booth yesterday.
A really great reward came later in the afternoon as Linda Jeffrey, the Minister of Natural Resources for Ontario, stopped by for a talk. Linda came all the way over to Buckhorn from Brampton on this super cold and windy day to meet the folk at the Buckhorn Community Centre.
The folk that organized the event wanted her to meet me.
Before she tried the Spring Pole Lathe together, I talked to her about the large group of people that pray for our MPPs each day. Linda is a gracious lady, very open and very interested in everything.
She didn’t play the Spoons but we had a great time at the booth together.
The audience watching us had grown to a considerable size. She is popular and famous in her position of our Provincial Government – but needed to move on.
I was impressed with this very down to earth lady! (Thanks Linda for taking time with me!)
The Fur Traders and trappers that had the booth to my right were tapping their toes to the music. They were having so much fun that they asked me to attend their Fur and Trapping exposition in August in another city. These are great guys and gals.
I think the sound of Jigs and the Spoons playing caught their ‘Heritage Part’ and made away into their pack!
But they were very impressed with the Spring Pole Lathe and its operation. They want it at the exposition in August for sure!
I should apologize to the gracious basket weaver that sat quietly doing her thing on my left. She listened to the Jigs over and over and over and over again – from 10 AM to 4 PM. The kids and the parents that clustered near the Misty Hollow Carving booth were always there. I hope she got some business… and that my insane music and the big bouncing pole of the Lathe didn’t keep customers away fro her.
The trouble is when I get excited about what I am demonstrating – people tend to come along for a gander and then they bring other people back.
Later on in the afternoon another new friend came to speak with me. His name is Rick Johnson and he serves as the MPP for the large region of “Haliburton--Kawartha Lakes—Brock”. In the last election Rick won his seat as an MPP.
Rick shared some of his journey with me from being a well known Musician to now an Elected Official. It was very interesting to talk with this down to earth guy.
His wife bought him a wood carving set a few years back. I offered to help him get started. He grinned.
This blog would go on into the wee hours of tonight if I told you all the stories that happened with me yesterday.
As a Minister that has served people in churches for 35 years plus… I can say that the Buckhorn Community Centre and the Buckhorn Heritage Day far surpasses all the church experiences that I have had!
Janet Clarkson and all your organizing crew, YOU FOLK ARE AMAZING! I only know Janet’s name – apologies to the rest of you.
My friend Debbie Karpenko from Waterfront Interiors(the one who introduced me to Buckhorn and told me about Janet) was there also. Deb I love this place!
Today I have a “Spring Pole Lathe and Spoons – hangover”. But I can’t wait until February 2012 – when I am already booked again.
Buckhorn Community Centre – I will be there to support you folk!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource
Debbie Karpenkpo – Waterfront Interiors
http://www.waterfrontinteriors.ca/
Linda Jeffrey
http://www.lindajeffrey.onmpp.ca/
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=2108
Rick Johnson
http://www.rickjohnson.onmpp.ca/
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=7104
1 comment:
very nice stuff
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