Some folks I know

Some folks I know

Here's Bob Pinchbeck (left) playing my osage orange dreadnaught, Dale Mitchell (in the middle) on mandolin and Eric on concertina busking and playing some funky ol'-timey music at the 2005 Arts on the Avenue in Ladysmith (You can reach Dale at dalemmitchell@hotmail.com). I did some repairs on Dale's banjo, but as you can see, he hasn't had the end-pin on his guitar fixed yet.....

Here's Ralph Schemming playing my osage orange mandolin in my shop. He's not with us any more, and it's a shame - he was a lovely, happy old guy with a million stories about building and selling instruments. I miss the old guy.

Here are Heather Peat and Rick Van Krugel at a jam at the Spiral Cafe in Victoria. Although she is not holding it in this picture, Heather has one of my rosewood parlor guitars.

Barry first taught me frailing the banjo, then finger-picking a guitar. He still makes wonderful music.

And just for the heck of it, and because it is so beautiful, here is Kyuquot, a little village on the west coast of Vancouver Island accessible only by boat or plane, from the deck of the Sharon M. In my other life as a fishery biologist, I came here on occasion. It was not always sunny and beautiful as it is in this picture.....

It has been known to snow in Ladysmith....