Burnin' down the house

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Well, after a month without internet service, we're finally up and running http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers, support, and for those of you who donated to help replace our vehicles. We are so blessed http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif (For those who are wondering what I'm talking about, you can read "the rest of the story" here (http://www.notation.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?23830/34253)).

We have most of the debris cleared, and will be listening to the dulcet tones of the jackhammer and crane as they remove the cement pad from our garage, the stone from one face of the kitchen wall, and the entire roof (trusses included) of the kitchen and porch. Then they'll start the rebuilding process http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif So we'll have dust flying around for a while, but it will be someone else doing the labor this time ;) It will all hopefully be done before our "party season" starts back up in August.

Everyone is doing fine - we've talked with the kids about the fire, and related themes (various items that are now "toast") a good bit, and it seems to be in a good therapeutic mode. We're very thankful that the kids have handled it so well.

I have a "mini kitchen" set up in our dining room, and I'm slowly but surely getting replacements for many of my cooking implements. I will certainly appreciate my kitchen when I get it back http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif We're going to have a party when that happens, and you're all invited (seriously)!

ttfn,
Sherry

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Hey Sherry! It's good to have you back.

I am glad to hear that the kids are doing well with it emotionally. Fires can be a real terror to kids. I hope the adults are doing as well. I'll continue to keep you all in my prayers.

Do keep us up to date on the rebuilding process, with pictures if possible. And just keep on keeping on.


God bless,

Lee

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Lee,

Thanks for the prayers - God has been most gracious!

I agree that kids can be greatly affected by fire. They have talked about it a fair bit, but it's been pretty matter-of-fact. I think in our case a few circumstances helped out, a big one being that the smoke alarms hadn't started going off yet when we discovered the fire, so there wasn't the adrenaline rush of "alarm!". It was just Mom in my "to be obeyed" voice saying to get up now, get out the front door and stay on the front porch. Also, we only sat on the front porch for about five minutes, and we couldn't see the garage directly from there (although it lit up the yard like daytime). When Roy* picked us up from the front porch, we got in his car, and then pulled back out on the road. From there, we were in a safe place watching the fire, and it wasn't a direct threat to us personally. So it wasn't nearly as "personal" as it could have been. That said, had our house been wood frame rather than stone, I have doubts as to whether or not I'd be sitting here telling you about it http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

I thought about putting in our "Godzilla eating the cars" picture that we sent to the insurance company, but I think I'll stick with pix of the rebuilding process. They'll be more encouraging http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif If anyone wants to see pix of the entire process, including post-blaze, let me know.

ttfn,
Sherry

notes: *Roy is a fellow who saw the blaze from the cross-road a half mile away on his way to work, and turned down our road to see if he could help. He drove right up in the yard and picked us up from the front porch. This was about 3:30 in the morning. He then pulled up to the sheriff's car so we could give him details, and then took us right to the hotel in Bad Axe and got us checked in. We'd never met him before, and never found out his last name, but God bless him!

The "Godzilla" picture shows the vehicles post-blaze, and there is one part of a post with a bit of siding still attached, and the angle of the shot makes it look like Godzilla hovering over Bill's car. That's the one we sent to our car insurance company http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif )

[David Jacklin (dj)]

Hi, Sherry:

It's great to hear that you're starting to get back to normal (having kids myself, what exactly normal is may be difficult to determine).

As always, our Sherry comes through like a rock.

Good thoughts.

David

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Well, it's been a while, but we're finally getting somewhere with reconstruction! State Farm, our insurance company, has been fantastic - they've given us the money to get started with replacing contents and to get the builder going. Climate Guard, our contractor, has had the place cleaned up and ready to go for two months now. However, I'm sorry to say that Countrywide, our lien holder, has been slower than molasses in a cold snap in January in northern Michigan about releasing the funds to the contractor so he could get going. I think we'll be looking for another lender when all this is done.

Any way, on to the pix! I'll spare you all the debris http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif The gist of the story is, that things have to move in a particular sequence, due to the way the garage roof is saddled to the main house roof. The stone wall (which gave it's life for ours) between the garage and the kitchen needed to be replaced first (all the concrete has been removed as well). This picture shows the shape it was in post-fire:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34508.jpg

This shot doesn't show how bad the stones were - they were pretty much reduced to bleached rubble in the garage area, and quite scorched in the area that was just outside the garage area. You can see the charred posts from the garage, and the cement (after cleaning- ha..).

The stone guys had to remove all this wall, and surprisingly the stone and mortar were quite solid nearer the corners. This was fortunate, because there was some concern early on about how much of the wall would need to come down, and how that would affect the rest of the house structure. Here's the wall... no, wait, it's gone http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif What you can see is the stud wall for the inside. They used this as a guide to block in the new wall.
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34509.jpg


The guys got the back side of the new wall blocked in today, and they'll be back tomorrow to do the stone part (the exterior). They shifted the window and door around for me a bit, which will be a nice tweak. I won't have to bend over now to see out of the window.
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34510.jpg


You can see the belfry in the background. When they took it off the roof, I was amazed at how easily it just lifted off. The understructure had been burned out more badly than was obvious from the ground. And to think I was under that thing pulling stuff out of the kitchen! It will be rebuilt and remounted with the same bell (it's fine). While we have it down, we're going to add a mini-weather station (anemometer, etc.) to the top, so we can track our micro climate http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

So, we're making progress, and I'm extremely happy about that. The psychological relief is amazing http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Will keep you posted as things go, and I'm quite serious about that party to celebrate when it's all done!

ttfn,
Sherry

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Glad to hear things are moving right along, Sherry. With real progress occurring, I'm sure you're feeling quite relieved and looking forward to getting your lives back to normal.

I'll keep up with the prayers.

BTW, my wife, Mary Catherine, just came home last Friday from a successful hip replacement (left side). She's doing just fine. In fact, after church on Sunday, we went to a matinee performance of Alice in Wonderland at one of our local community theaters (we have three of them in Grants Pass).

[Jaap Veneman (jaapv)]

Hello Cherry,

Good to hear work is now in progress. I can image that this gives a relief and vision on when things are normal again. I wish you and your family lot all strength for the time to go.

Cheer Jaap

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Looking at the pictures I now realise the extent of the fire and the impact on you and your kids it must have had.Welcome back to the Forum.
I would love to come to the celebration party ( one never knows !).
All the best with the reconstructions !
Cheers
Djim

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Thanks for the prayers Lee - and keep 'em coming http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I'm glad to hear that your wife's hip replacement has been successful. Bill (my husband) and I went to see a performance of Alice in Wonderland way back before kids, and it was delightful. I hope you enjoyed the performance you attended as much as we did ours http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I'd like to take the kids to see it sometime as well.

Thanks for the good wishes Jaap. It does indeed take a bit more fortitude than usual to deal with some of this situation http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Djim, I would be pleased and honored to have you here! We can take my big bass rig out back and rattle the eaves troughs. The neighbors will just think it's a big combine harvester coming down the road ;)

Something I forgot to mention: if you look at the top picture here, you can see Mahala's bedroom window over the porch. The light from the garage burning is what woke her up (through a light-blocking shade), so you can see that for her it was fairly close. The glass on the outside of her window is all cracked up and some of the aluminum is warped. The window will be replaced (the inside panes are ok). I'm still amazed (and very thankful) about how calm she was when she woke me up. God is gracious http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

p.s. Also, for those who may not "get" the thread/music title connection, there is a song by the group Talking Heads with the same title. Thus the musical connection ;)

ttfn,
Sherry

[Fred Winterling (harbor1)]

Hi Sherry,

Congratulations on getting all the work started! It won't be long now. As a guy who prides himself in his culinary skills, I can tell you first hand what a thrill it's going to be when you cook your first meal in that brand new kitchen with all the new appliances. I had a similar experience to your's many years ago, and ,for me, getting into my new kitchen was a fantastic experience.
BTW, I have an idea. I can glue my dentures in and rent a saxophone and sit in with you and Djim at the celebration party.http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif
Although, in my current state, I may also have to rent a respirator!http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif
Looking forward to seeing pics of the finished work,
Fred

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Fred,

Thanks for the encouragement - I am indeed looking forward to getting back in my big honkin' kitchen http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I love to cook, as do the kids (wonder where they get that...), and while this has been a culinary adventure, I definitely miss my usual set up. We've treated it like a "what do people do who only have limited tools?" adventure, and the lesson is firmly engrained http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

When I got some potted herbs back, it was another of those "Yes!!" moments. Cooking with "good weeds" as my neice says is the best. I lost my entire herb garden, which I really can't replace til everything else is done. The entire south side of the house that was unscathed is lined with huge pots of herbs right now http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

---------
I can glue my dentures in and rent a saxophone and sit in with you and Djim at the celebration party.
---------

I have some Gorilla glue, will that do? ;) Just don't use too much, or folks will think you're frothing at the mouth http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif That would be a cool trio - Fred on sax, Djim on bass, and I can play doumbek. Who else can we get in there for a quartet, quintet, .... big band? (hint, hint,...)

Today has switched from stoning in the exterior of the wall to framing in the window and doorway so that the stone mason can stone in right up to where the trim will be. I don't care, as long as it's progress http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Fred Winterling (harbor1)]

Hi Sherry,

--------
I have some Gorilla glue, will that do?
--------

That'll work! If not, I'll bring my keyboard and just change the instrument sound to "saxophone".

--------
Who else can we get in there for a quartet, quintet, .... big band?
--------

I vote for MG on flute!

Cheers,
Fred

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Sherry,

Looks like good progress to me. I notice one of the masons is smiling, so he must think so too. I'm sure you will feel like a top chef in your new kitchen, especially if you can get someone else to wash pots and pans (which a chef once told me a chef should never do!).

I'd be glad to demonstrate my microwave artistry if you need help with the cooking, but my poor old flute only has about half it's notes and most of those are up where my poor old lip muscles can no longer take it.

Interesting. I switched to State Farm a few weeks ago. I like the idea of having an agent who actually comes on site.

all best,
mgj

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Well, I'll upload some pix later, but the gist of it now is:

We have the kitchen/garage wall rebuilt, but when they took out the flooring down to the joists in the kitchen, the joists were in awful shape, so they took those out as well, ripped out the block bases (which weren't adequate), and dug footings to be poured. Now we have to wait for new floor joists for the kitchen and headers for the garage. Then the guys have to get the roof on the garage, the cement guy has to grade the area, and then he can pour the footings in the kitchen, the pad for the garage, and the approach to the garage. Then they can go great guns at the carpentry, then the electrical, plumbing, and heating, walls, flooring, cabinets, and moulding. Easy, eh?

I'm off to my big District Camp gig tonight, so prayers are appreciated, as well as good thoughts and such. I've never played in front of this many folks before, so it's an exciting opportunity. You guys who are used to this stuff are probably snickering at me right now http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I'm hoping they'll shine lights in my eyes so I won't see anything - I'll just listen and play ;)

ttfn,
Sherry

[David Jacklin (dj)]

Hi, Sherry:

Here's a little known fact: the audience are already on your side! They went to a great deal of effort (and expense) to get to your performance, so they are ready and willing to enjoy it -- and they'll go a long way out of their way to do so.

As long as you enjoy it, they will.

Honest.

David (giving about my 4,000th performance tonight) Jacklin

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Don´t worry !!Just lock in after the drummer´s intro and off you go and enjoy http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif!David is quite right about the audience (after 4000 performances),have faith in the audience and they will let you groove !
Lots of luck an joy and don´t forget the low regions.
Djim

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Many blessings be upon your performance tonight, Sherry. I just know you'll WOW them.

I'll be looking forward to more pictures of the house rebuilding.


Lee

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
What´s the big story of your performance ?It must have been an exciting experience,I reckon.Please do tell us about it.
Djim

[Fred Winterling (harbor1)]

Yea, Sherry, tell us about it. I'll bet it was a blast!
Cheers,
Fred

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Well, last night was an interesting blast http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

The folks did not pay to hear us (it was at family camp for our church region), but no one threw anything, either. ;)

We arrived to find that the stage was ... a haywagon http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif Without wheel blocks, on an incline. However, our one guitarist (who is only 17) was stoked that he could use his pickup truck as additional stage area, so that worked out ok. Oh, and we only had one 20 amp outlet to run our entire setup plus the PA system. We probably should have laid hands on it, but it was uncovered http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

We went through a few iterations of getting equipment set up, and boy was it hot. Temperature-wise, I mean. We've had a fairly decent drought of lovely weather this summer (unlike last summer, when it seemed we had thunderstorms every other day), but it cooled off by the time we were to play.

I really really really enjoy playing with Kent, the drummer. "Well seasoned" is a good description, and we've really hit it off (pun intended), so it was a lot of fun. When we started, there weren't a whole lot of folks gathered around, but we had a hard-core group of about 20 teens who came right up front and were grooving and singing to nearly every song we did. We were playing out toward the campground area, so a lot of folks were just sitting at their camp lots and listening, and mostly the kids were coming over to the stage (it was directed more toward their demographic anyway). We were told we could be heard clearly all over the campground (Missionary Church Regional Campground), and if so, then can claim an audience of over 1500 http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif We probably ended up with closer to like 400 folks who were right there where we were, but I'm not sure if they came to hear the music, or if they were more interested in getting up-close seats for the fireworks following the concert.

As it started getting darker (we had no stage lights), I was really glad for all the practice I'd put in (yay, Composer!) - I could barely see my song sheet. Some fellow came along giving out glow-in-the-dark bracelets to all the kids, so by the end of our concert, there were all these glowing bracelets bobbing to the beat, which was kind of surrealistic. It was a very good experience musically, but especially the whole import of the event - some really good music (most written by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman) and a lot of enthusiastic participation. That was a great worship experience.

We ended with the Terl Bryant/Matt Redman arrangement of "O Come Let Us Adore Him", which is fairly simple in musical structure, but has a very strong drum and bass part that is very "motivational". The bass line is just a G, but the rhythmic impact of how you play it (rhythmic figure and octaves) can really make or break the song. I know, because I tried lots of iterations when I was practicing http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif It was a good song to end with - everyone was on their feet singing for that one.

Now, for the house http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

That's progressing nicely as well. Here is the stone wall reconstruction:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34581.jpg

Since we had the stone mason on-site, I figured we might as well get the porch area re-tuck/pointed while he was around. He hemmed and hawed about giving me an estimate, and I finally figured out that he didn't want to do the nasty job of cleaning out all the old mortar (it was the original, and parts were in really bad shape.) So I got wire brushes for all the kids, and took my trusty rock hammer and went to work. They brushed after I knocked out the biggest chunks of mortar. Then I power-washed the remainder out of the seams and off the rocks. The mason was pretty happy to re-work it then http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif Here is a before/after mortar removal picture. This is with just the mortar chipped out, before wire-brushing or power washing. The white stuff is actually a thin line of white mortar, which was applied to make it look like huge bricks if you're a bit away from the house:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34582.jpg

So that only took nearly 4 days of fairly intense labor to get done - I'm glad it's done, and I'm also glad I don't do that for a living http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

As I mentioned, when they started getting the floor off in the kitchen, they discovered some interesting arrangements in the various levels, so they ripped it all out to start over again. Here it is with only the one stretcher (which has since been removed) going across:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34583.jpg

And, the thing that looks quite beautiful right now, the poles are in for the garage:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34584.jpg


We're currently waiting on the header materials for the garage, so they can get the roof on that. The ground will need to be graded, and then the cement guy will pour the pad, the approach, and the footers in the kitchen. Then they can put in the joists for the kitchen floor, and proceed with kitchen construction simultaneously http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

I'm still having to go round and round with our home lender about releasing funds (I wasn't supposed to have to do that, but they've been such a pain all the way round), but hopefully we've gotten to the point where things can move along without as much flack from them.

So, lots of good things going on. I'm generally staying out of trouble this summer ;)

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

I should mention that for the kitchen/garage wall reconstruction, it's two different colors of mortar because the brown will go with the rest of the outside, but it will "fade in" over time. We decided to go with the lighter gray inside, because it won't be in the light to get faded, and it will be brighter for "inside use". So, the part of the wall that will be in the garage is light gray, the outside part is brown. The boards are the anchor board for the exterior garage wall. The repointed mortar for the porch is also the lighter gray.

ttfn,
Sherry

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Sherry,

You should be feeling good. About a third of those available came to the stage for the concert. That's a very good percentage. If they came only for fireworks, they would have come later. You can also assume that the audience at the stage would have been bigger if you couldn't have been heard where folks were, probably sitting in comfortable chairs or at picnic tables.

It sounds like you had a good time.

The house is looking beautiful. Bet you can't wait.

all best,
mgj

[David Jacklin (dj)]

Hi, Sherry:

How old is that house? If you were in England, I'd say 17th century by the look of the stonework on the lintels. Michigan isn't that old, of course (you're in Michigan, right?) -- about the same period as my area, a few hundred miles away.

You'll have a very interesting kitchen when it's done!

David

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Re. the concert: we did indeed have a good time http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif We'd never done anything like that together, and none of us had played in the dark like that before http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I'm not sure if a captive audience is the best indicator, MG, but the ones that we could see all appeared to be having a good time, as well as all the "rhythmic glow" bracelets we saw after it was _really_ dark.

Re. the house - the original house was finished (after 3 years) in 1896. We just found out yesterday (when a lady stopped by who had lived here as a child about 70 years ago) that all the stones for the house were hauled by horse cart from the fields and quarry up near Grindstone City, about 35 miles away. They probably used some field stone from the immediately adjacent fields as the "noggin" filler.

The trim stone around the windows in the high-arches of the house (Mahala's window, and the parlor window on the opposite side of the house) are both carved limestone, and the other windows on the main part of the house are cut sandstone outlining the window frames and arches. The mason used "bluestone", which closely resembles sandstone, for the reconstructed kitchen/garage wall window and door arches. He couldn't get stone that was as big as what we have in the rest of the house for the wall proper, so you can see that the reconstructed wall looks a tad different than the rest of the house. Just part of it's history, now http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

The inside-the-kitchen view above shows the doorway on the north wall, which should look more like this when repaired and populated:
http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34587.jpg

As you can see, we get lots of use out of that area. We had a couple of the boys' friends over for a sleepover, and we were all "helping" fix pancakes for breakfast. I really loved my kitchen before, and I have no doubts that it will be even better when all is said and done http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

I realize it's been a while since I updated here, but it's for a good reason - we've been busy making progress!

The framing is all done, the sheeting is all done, the cement is all poured, and part of the roof is on. We had to wait for more shingles as they are a special order (we get really high winds out here, so we had extra heavy shingles on it) and the warehouse didn't have enough on hand when the order was first placed. The siding is also here (it's a faux-stucco hardi-board), so the remainder of the roofing and the siding goes on this week - yippee! The electrician was here today doing all that he could, so we should be ready for our next inspection about mid-week.

The insurance company (State Farm) has been tremendous. They have all the appliances ready to order, the remainder of the bulk part of the settlement is coming this week, and their replacement service is ordering the books and music that they could find new. The rest of it I will need to order used if I can find it, and if not, we'll have to figure out an "equitable replacement" price or other replacement.

Here are a few pix of progress.

This is the kitchen floor. We raised the cement foundation a few inches to keep the water out better, and lowered the floor level, to make it even with the transition to the dining room. Thus, we lost one step (maybe another bass body ;) ), and gained a small bit of floor space in the mud area:

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34703.jpg

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34704.jpg

I should also mention that these pix were taken before the inside framing was completed. It does show off the "noggin" stone work quite well http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

This is the garage after framing in, and before the cement was poured (all three truckloads). You can see that the kitchen roof is totally off. It was a really weird feeling to walk in there with no roof and no framing of any kind.


http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34705.jpg
The above is only the framework. It's all sheeted (fiberboard sheeting) now, and is just awaiting the siding.

And here is what it looks like right now (only the lighting is not so screwy).

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34706.jpg

You can see that part of the roof is done on the garage, and they tarped the kitchen while waiting for the shingles so that it wouldn't inundate it (and perhaps blow into the rest of the house) if it rained.

Here is the stone on the porch. It will be enclosed, but I think that having the stone exposed (rather than the really dark fake panelling that was there before) will make it look a lot nicer. I also got some sealer (we had to seal the outside anyway) and it really brings out the richness of the stone (the picture is pre-sealer).

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34707.jpg

We did a couple of things a bit differently with the electrical switches this time, but surprisingly little change. We will end up getting more outlets, due to the fact that when the insurance company pays for a rebuild, it has to be up to code. Our previous implementation used a lot of the existing outlets and such, which weren't enough for current code. Thus, we'll get a bit of improvement from the transition.

So, that's where we are. We should get "buttoned up" before the snow flies http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

This is all excellent news, Sherry. I am very happy to see your rebuilding moving forward rapidly. I think your house will be just lovely when all is done.


Lee

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Sherry,

Splendid, splendid, splendid.

all best,
mgj

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Great news again ! I hope you will be fine and enjoy ýour new castle
before snow falls and maybe have your celebration party at X-mas.
Keep us updated please.
Regards
Djim

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Speaking of constructions ,I happen to read an interresting tutorial about building groovy bass lines which might interest you.The author, a bass guitar guru,also started as a church bassist and has a peculiar view on how to compensate the absence of a drummer( as usual in church)
in your bass playing.Chances are,however,that you already knew this and has instinctively adopted your bass playing and composing.
I included the PDF herewith,however.
What do you think of it ?
Cheers
Djim<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/mime_pdf.gifGroove
gsuck.pdf (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/gsuck-34711.pdf) (162.3 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Djim,

Thanks for the pdf - this validifies my personal methods of practice http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

When I first took up bass (as a guitarist), I played really simple stuff - "root whacker" style. I was pretty much just playing the "bass drum" part on beats 1 and 3 (no back beat for me yet). Then, about a year and a half after I started, I found out about Norm Stockton's "Grooving for Heaven" series (www.normstockton.com (http://www.normstockton.com)). It's a series of instructional videos that actually sort of echoes the tenets of this fellow's approach, only much expanded http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif Norm gives workshops for worship teams (thus the title of the series), but the fundamentals of bass that he teaches are universal. I highly recommend his series, and his 3rd and 4th ones are great fun. The third one expounds on working with the drummer, and encompasses "band" concepts. The fourth one is more on all the "spice" of bass playing - various hand techniques and other "tasties" that are great when done with taste (and taste awful when not ;) ).

In my own situation, we don't have a drummer, and I sometimes will play doumbek rather than bass for certain songs. Doumbek is a very versatile hand drum of the "goblet" variety, similar to a djembe, but with more pronounced slap and rim-hit tones. Learning (and continuing to learn) to play doumbek has improved my bass groove, as you might expect after reading the above treatise http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

One of my favorite practice techniques is doing almost exactly what he talks about, only expanding on it a bit. Using Composer, and "found" drum MIDI files (a lot of them from Rob Goodwin's Midi Drum Files http://www.mididrumfiles.com/index.cfm), I play the file, and do what the fellow says in the pdf above - I practice "being" the drum kit. BUT then, I go back and practice a bass line that is not the drums, but that interweaves with the drums. This is the challenge that bassists have, but by going through first and knowing what the drums are doing, it makes it easier to do something that goes with them.

When I play with the band (with a drummer), it's amazing how much easier my job as bassist is, because now I'm a subset of the rhythmic instruments available, rather than the whole rhythm section http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I think this aspect is what makes playing with the band so much more fun - I like the "group" thing.

All that said, I don't want it to sound like I've "arrived", because when I listen to some of the great bass players out there, I know how far I have to go. But I figure at least I know how much room I have for improvement (a lot), and I think I have a decent idea of what I need to do to get there. Now all I need are those 36 hour days to get in all the practice .... ;)

Thanks Djim! I'm going to forward that pdf to my Church Bass list - I'm sure some of those guys would find it helpful as I did!

ttfn,
Sherry

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Ain´t it improvement ( lots of )we are looking for in this life ?
Thanks for your comment and valuable links.I will surely check out Norm Stockton´s Grooving for Heaven and the drum files.
BTW,speaking of improvement, I found your link next to John Pattituci´s
( one of my Bass Gods or Buddha´s,so to speak ), so you must be on the way, don´t you http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif ?
Nice chatting with you about bass playing and music instead about bloody staffs and note-offs.
Keep grooving
Djim

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Djim,

Not sure where you found my link next to John Pattituci's, but he's one guy that I'd love to have half the talent he has in his right pinky http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif
Maybe if my link is next to his, some of his talent will rub off on me ;)

I can dream...

ttfn,
Sherry

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
"Bleeding staffs " ( good blood though ) after all http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif ?
Djim

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Happy pictures! Happy pictures!

Here's one with the siding on (no trim yet)

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34754.jpg

The windows are now in as well, as is the insulation. Drywaller is scheduled for Tuesday, and then the paint!!!! Then the floor, then the cupboards, then the trim, .... it's getting there ;)

Doors will be a small hold up - we had some that were a special order (the fan topped ones, I presume) so they won't be here til end of next week or following because they're shipping them all together.

And for those of you who are curious, here's a shot of me at the Bad Axe Farmer's Market plying my trade in bass. Yes, I really was having that much fun ;)

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34755.jpg


The purpleheart doesn't show up so well in this picture, but it's fairly representative in all other respects. And I've got to say that music has helped keep me pseudo-sane this summer what with all the house hassle - so there's the tie-in ;)

ttfn,
Sherry

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Do not worry, the "purple heart " is shining off your face and the fiver. .Congrats on the steady improvements of the Castle.
Keep the groove
Djim

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Looks great, Sherry! Both you and the house. Glad to see you're getting close to completion.


Lee

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Sherry,

Surely you are playing a medley which would have words like: I'm as happy as a lark, believe me, because I'll soon go rolling home to My Blue Heaven.

Well it's not blue, but it is charming. That feeling of soon done/only finishing details left, is lovely. Unfortunately, finishing isn't quick work, but you know the final touch is a lot nearer than it was. And you don't have to race against cold weather to do cupboards and baseboards, etc.

Looking good.

all best,
mgj

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Wow - it's been a very busy month in a lot of ways, and I see that despite my good intentions, I haven't posted pictures lately. I have taken a bunch, but I'll just put up some pertinent ones here http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

The exterior is pretty much done, except for reinstalling the bell and cupola. Here are a couple of shots of the front of the garage and the porch now.

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34883.jpg

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34884.jpg

I've talked to our yard guy (aka, landscaper/mower/snow removal, etc) about grading post-construction and reworking the herb beds, so hopefully we can get that done before the snow flies. I'd like to bed my perennials rather than having them in pots all over the house this winter.

Inside, the insulation and drywall are all done, and the floor is installed in the kitchen. It isn't finished yet, because the guys are installing cabinets for the next couple of days. I'm a little taller than the average chickie, and we had built platforms to raise the cabinets up a couple of inches before, which really helps my back. So, it will take them a bit to do all that. Then the floor guys will come back and polyurethane the floor, and hopefully we'll get the indoor/outdoor carpet installed on the porch as well. We're also hoping we can get the lights and other electrical work finished this weekend.

Here's what the interior looks like right now:

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34885.jpg

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

(part 2)

And here are all the cabinets and appliances sitting in the garage. Thank goodness it's a three bay http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34887.jpg

Last but not least, our two new black lab puppies. You may recall that we lost our chocolate lab Sonya in the fire. We had talked about getting a couple of dogs this time, so they could keep each other company, as well as keep each other warm, thus eliminating the need for a kennel heater (the apparent cause of the fire). Here they are, Rascal (red collar) and Eyeshine (purple collar).

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/34888.jpg

We got both of them the same day from the animal shelter. Rascal appears to be a purebred (or close to it) black lab, while Eyeshine is a mix of possibly terrier and black lab. They're both a bundle of energy, and we have a small kennel area set up for them in the garage (behind all the cabinets http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif ) currently. We'll probably keep that for the winter, and then set up a "go out" place for them in the spring.

So, we're moving along http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif It looks like the party will be Saturday December 1. We're planning to have an open house probably from about noon til 6. You're all invited - seriously!!

ttfn,
Sherry

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Thanks for sharing the great improvements in the rebuilding of your castle.Keep them working on it !!!
I would love to join the party at Saturday December 1, but I afraid that I can´t afford hiring in some roadies to move and install my rig nowadays ;).
BTW, would it be possible to have your adress to send you a a small present I had in mind for the occasion ? Also a delivery adress to your
nearest Post Office would be fine.
Keep the groove
Djim

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Djim,

Come on over - I'll even let you play my ThunderStick on my big rig, gratis!

For those who would like to attend (or whatever, just don't paint the windows ;) ), we live at

154 S. Pinnebog Rd.
Bad Axe, MI 48413
USA

And go ahead and make jokes about "Bad Axe" - it always gets a chuckle from my music connections, especially my bass buddies http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Hey, Sherrie, it's great to see your house progressing so well. Are you back to living in it at this point?

Your new family additions are really cute. I have recently adopted a Chocolate Lab myself (in training as a real bird hunting dog) whom I have named Jojoe (Full name: Merlin's Jomocha Joe).

Pictures can be found here:

http://www.ashgrovevisualarts.com/gallery/index.php?album=My+New+Puppy (http://www.ashgrovevisualarts.com/gallery/index.php?album=My+New+Puppy)


Lee

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Lee,

We've been living in the house since two weeks after the fire, but with the kitchen boarded off from the rest of the house at the entry point of the "butler's pantry" to the dining room. It's a sort of small passage where we have some cupboards and shelves for the dishes, as well as a sink and the dishwasher, so fortunately the fact that it was a narrow access helped minimize the smoke damage to the rest of the house, though it was still pretty nasty. I can't imagine what a house with "extensive smoke damage" must be like. Sheesh.

I should take pictures of my current "kitchen" - it's the spare table set up in the dining room with my hotplate, toaster oven, and microwave http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif When I get that moved back into the kitchen, then we can move everything out of the dining room so they can come in and paint the walls in the dining room and replace the ceiling tiles. It's all smoke damaged, but we were able at least to clean off the smell enough to make it livable, though it looks pretty crummy right now. However, I'm thankful we could be home even so - I'd have lost my sanity by now if we'd had to live in a hotel room all this time http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Re. the dogs - we're also training ours for bird dogs. Ishtar, our first dog (golden retriever) was an excellent bird dog. Sonya (the one we lost in the fire) was gun shy, and while she was great with the kids, she wasn't squat for hunting. We're hoping that at least one of the current brood turns out to be a good bird dog. Mahala (10 years old) just completed her hunter's safety training this fall, and has her provisional license and has been out a few times already with Bill. However, guess what was in the garage? Yep, I had to make a hasty order for a good bit of his hunting gear http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

JoJoe looks like a sweety - he's cute on his own merits, but I do hope he makes a good bird dog! What kind of birding do you do?

ttfn,
Sherry

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Sherry,

The third picture--the current interior--is the one I like. Back in the days of building and remodeling houses, I liked this state of affairs best. It meant all the hard work was done and the few days of finishing up would be like a paid vacation (except for installing baseboard, which I hated). It will be pure joy when the crates in the garage are gone and you have your kitchen back, I would imagine.

all best,
mgj

[Fred Winterling (harbor1)]

Hi Sherry,
Congratulations on the progress of your ongoing work. Sorry I have not been around much lately. Having a few health issues of my own. Nothing to overly concerned about but being held back from a lot or activity. Dealing with extreme dizziness and loss of balance due to constricted blood vessels. The problem is being worked on and I will be fine in due time. Was some worry about carotid artery blockage but that turned out to be undue concern. Again, congrats and best of luck with construction.
Cheers,
Fred

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Sherry, I live Cave Junction in a rural valley (the Illinois Valley) in Southwestern Oregon (take a look with GoogleEarth or other map program). Here we have upland game galore, valley and mountain quail, ruffed and blue grouse, pheasant, and even turkey. We also have "A River Runs Through It" type fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon (but you can't keep the salmon caught here right now).

Just a short drive away, we can hunt chukar and huns (Hungarian partridge) and sage grouse and also find fishing where you CAN KEEP the salmon.

Wherever there is water, there are also opportunities for waterfowl hunting, ducks and geese. A Lab is one of the finest waterdogs there is and they ain't too bad at flushing upland game either. Jojoe has a great retrieving instinct and does quite well in the water for his tender age, as did his mom and pop before him. He is 5th generation chocolate but you may have noticed the spot on his right side, his JoMOCHA spot!

Looking at Bad Axe, MI, via Google Earth, you're seem to be in a pretty nice rural area yourself. I have a good friend that moved from here to the Upper Peninsula a few years ago. Perhaps sometime in the future, I could visit her and stop off at your place too, during hunting season, of course.

I hope you do well with your new pups, and Bill's new hunting gear.


Best,
Lee

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Lee, my husband will be out directly to go hunting with you http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif What a great location!

Fred, I'm sorry to hear that your health has been an issue, but we've been keeping you in our prayers that "this, too, shall pass." And be done with.

In other news, we're making it official - today was the last time I had to wash dishes in the bathroom tub!! We now have functional sinks in the kitchen, and I'm moving the rest of the dirty dishes there to wash http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif The dishwasher will get powered up this weekend after the electrician makes his final visit ;) The tile guy will be finishing the backsplashes and the mud area this week as well, hopefully. The porch indoor/outdoor carpet is supposed to get done some time next week, I think. Window and door wells should be done and painted next week, and then the remaining trimwork can be installed. Woohoo!!!

And with that in mind, we're making The Party official as well!! We're going to have an open house on Saturday December 1, 2007, from noon til 6 p.m. for our annual Christmas celebration, and this year to celebrate getting the kitchen back. All are invited, and you can make your way to 154 S. Pinnebog Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413. The directions are even right on MapQuest (after sending them oodles of letters for two years because we were "located" too far north http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif ).

It won't be back to perfect (well, it never was perfect ;) ), but it will be functional. There's still the dining room to re-do (walls and ceiling), but after what we've been putting up with, it will be wonderful http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

And if you can't come, I'll be posting more pictures http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Well, the last of our guests just left, and we had a great time. It was so nice to be back in my kitchen (even though it's not "finished" yet) and doing one of the things I love best - having friends around the big kitchen table, visiting while I cook. I just got the table up yesterday (I still have the webbing clamp around the apron and legs - I haven't got it screwed together yet), and the top wasn't on for fifteen minutes before Mahala and Tom had out the ingredients to start baking for the open house. I had to whoop when we got the top on (it's a 4' x 6' x 2" thick solid maple butcher block top, so it's heavy), because that was sort of the "YES! I have my kitchen back!" moment http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Thanks to those of you who have sent good wishes and such, and since we didn't have everything finished for this soiree, we'll just have to have another party when it's _all_ done. So if you missed this party, you get a second chance ;)

I'll include some pix later of the current incarnation....

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy folks,

Here's your second chance if you missed the party in December http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

We're celebrating two things this Saturday - Tommy turns 8 (he was born at home in this house) and we've finally got everything structurally and landscape-wise done to the house and grounds! We had to get a lot of dirt removed and replaced because of all the glass, burn debris, and construction debris. We now have the herb/garden beds all redone, the driveway is not a dodge-a-rama for holes, and there is officially grass growing back, so we call it "done" http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Here's how it's looking now:

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/36436.jpg

http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/36437.jpg

Needless to say, I'm very very very thankful that we're at this stage http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif)

If you're around the area this Saturday or anytime,do give us a holler http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Sherry
Congratulations on this happy event.All is well that ends well ( old chinese saying (: ).
Sorry to say that there is no direct flight to Bad Axe ( quite a place to live in for a bass player !) from Portugal,so I won´t make it in time to arrive at the party.
May the Lord Buddha be with you and your family and give all His blessings to Beanfield Castle.
Regards
Djim