Everything about the day was a success!
Old friends, new frineds, new whistles, a new place, it was a good day.
If folks want to send me some of their best pics of the day, I’ll post them to the web page for a while, then eveyone can copy them.
Page is at:
http://www.communitylinks.us/ne05.htm
Mike
PS As of Sunday at 10 AM ET, my web site was down. As soon as it’s up again, I’ll post the few pics I took plus any others that I get.
I am so excited.
As of Thursday at 5:00 PM, the weather is predicted to be in the mid to upper 80’s with low humidity.
For those camping, the lows will be in the mid to upper 50’s and clear.
If you’re staying in the area, Sunday will be the same.
You can’t get much better than this.
No excuses!!! Everyone to the Gathering!!!
Been gathering whistles and other instruments for tomorrow. Rainy here tonight I think, but beautiful tomorrow. Can’t wait.
Friends of the Fipple,
In case of trouble with the link to directions, here’s the low-tech version:
From points West, take I-90 east to exit 4
From points East, take I-90 west to exit 4
For both of these, take US-5 (Riverdale St) south 1 mile and get on I-91 south.
From points North, take I-91 south
For all three, cross the line into Connecticut and take exit 47E toward Hazardville/Somers.
From points South, take I-91 north, and take exit 47E toward Hazardville/Somers.
The exit points you the right way. Go east on CT-190 (Hazard Ave), thru umpteen lights and look for this landmark: at one of the lights is CT-192 to the left. Turn Away! Turn right onto South Maple Street (#32). Go up a little hill, down a big hill, but don’t cross the bridge. The big red barn is at the right, and the workshop is to the left in back. (860) 749-4494.
Hope to see you there.
Walt
Thanks Walt.
Philo
Unfortunately something has, um, come up in the last minute and I won’t be able to make it. But Gunther said he’d stop by as long as I let him bring my whistles. Happy to oblige, of course. 
Somehow, I believe that works to our general advantage…
Philo
Aw mannnn! I’m missing an opportunity to engage in witty repartee (sp??) with Gunther tomorrow!? And I was so looking forward to inspecting his toolbox and trying out his alba, sigh. Packing and travel necessitates my absence from this wonderful gathering (I hear the ears of my fellow chiffers breathing a sigh of relief). But be forewarned, hopefully I’ll make it next year! Maybe the guy in the orange shirt can take some notes for me…
Robin
P.S., and Gunter, no I haven’t learned any of the tunes you told me to learn last year… :roll:
Robin
In previous posts, both Bloomfield and Spittin’ said they might be there.
Now they both cancel out at the last minute.
Am I the only one that is suspicious?
Well, we’ll miss them both, but we’ve got a whole bunch of board members coming and hopefully other musicians, as well as friends and family.
It’s going to be great weather and a fun day.
Hope to see many of you there.
Mike
Finally it is upon us.
I’ll leave you to decipher what that signifies…
Have a great day, I’m jealous!!!
Robin
twas much good fun
Thanks to mike and sweets
Jeez-- it’s 9:00 and I’m the first to post about the gathering yesterday! Sleepyheads!
Well, I guess that’s not too surprising. Some people had trips upwards of 3 hours to get home after we started breaking up around 8:00.
The gathering was a total success. Many thanks to Walt for providing an idyllic location in a leafy grove right on the Sweetheart Flutes property. The shade, plus a completely perfect summer day made for a really comfortable site. Right behind the grove is a beautiful stream and several of us took advantage of that to swim and ride innertubes down the short rapids. Thanks also to Walt for providing burgers and dogs and some truly outstanding homebrewed beer. A perfect day, beautiful setting, good company, multitudes of whistles and homebrew-- it doesn’t get much better!
Speaking of company, the gathering was a great mix of people, both players and spouses. Alas, that stick in the mud Bloomie couldn’t make it but he sent Gunther in his stead and we hardly missed him :roll: . As Char and I schlepped instruments, cooler and chairs from the parking area to the meeting site, I heard some really terrific playing and when I got closer I saw why-- LE McCullough had made the trip up from New Jersey.
A bunch of the “usual suspects” were there as well, and everyone had a terrific time.
Charlene later suggested possibly making an overnight of it next year, with camping at a state park or some such thing. A session 'round the campfire sounds interesting.
Thanks also to Slowair for putting it all together.
It was a great time. I didn’t know it was home brew or I would have tried the beer. Dratsky.
Oh well, it was a great day. The weather was perfect, the site was lovely (okay, there was an abundance of mosquitoes, but who’s counting?) and there was always music playing somewhere around the circle. The instrument table was always in the center of things – everything from a button box to a weird/wonderful cross of a saxaphone and bagpipe, and a ton of whistles to try out. A few whistles found new and appreciative homes (I got an E! I got an E!) and the new Sweetheart Low D’s and BRAND new Sweetheart soprano C’s were subject to a lot of playing. (When I got there the C’s were unfinished. . .half an hour later they were ready for the road!
For me, there was something really cool about ambling down to the stream and sitting in the middle of .5 level rapids with a couple of shrieking kids and doing what we all SHOULD be doing on a perfect summer day. . .having fun. Thanks Walt for offering the site. Thanks to Slowair for keeping the ball rolling. Thanks to everyone who showed up for making it such a great day!
Well Heck, Tyg-- you live just down the road… I’ll bet Uncle Walt would be happy to give you a rain check. It was mighty tasty!
The home brew sure hit the spot. Throw in the warm hospitality, wonderful group of folks and whistles and other instruments, scenic location - and I’d gladly make the 2.5 hour trip again.
It was really nice to see some old friends and some C&Fers I’d never met, play tunes with you all, including L.E. McCullough, and browse the SweetShop ( 
).
Special thanks to the Sweets.
Philo
Yes well I got home around 12:30 but didn’t go to bed till about 4. So that is who that was I new he looked farmiliar I had seen pictures of him. I had a great time and when most people went swimming the playing was the greatest there were just 4 of us two whistles, me on Flute/Mandolin/Low Whistle, and a Guitar. Now because I played slowair’s accordion I have to have one so I have devised a plan. Thanks to the Sweets for everything including Walt letting me play a lot of instruments from his personal collection including Flutes and a Tenor Banjo and the shop tour. Tyg there were so many mosquitoes I have about a million bites. I even sold two whistles one of my own Tweaked Feadogs and a Whitecap with Oak, Gan, and Clare now I have an exuse to update my sale post. I can’t wait till the next one!
I’m glad it was good! Personal reasons and exhaustion prevented me from trying add that extra 3-4 hours to my travels this weekend, but someday…
P.S. Mike, check your link…it doesn’t seem to be working!