Arts

I’ve Been Air-BnB-ed

Fiascos, Travel

Very amusing story actually.

We reserved an Airbnb for a week in May, based on it being listed as “secluded” and a “cabin in the woods.” Today I read the detailed stuff they eventually later send.

We’d wanted something without other people and noise around, both for peace and quiet and the sanity of the two dogs.

Turns out this “cabin in the woods” has another unit over top it, and another on the other side of a wall. Eli only barks if there’s something to bark about, but if there’s a group upstairs enjoying a football game or an excited gathering on the other side of a wall, he’s going to bark.

I messaged the host to ask what he thought about the situation. He said the other spaces weren’t booked, but they might be, so barking and noise could be a problem. He also told me the reason they’ll probably be booked is because they’re hosting an artists retreat that week. Oh, and you’re not allowed to use the fireplace. (Weird, as it’s featured in the photos.) As you can see, this had rapidly turned into exactly the situation I did not want.

So, I said I’m very sorry for the trouble, I canceled, and I got a full refund. I immediately booked a charming cottage-cabin on the other side of the Hudson, on forested land in the Catskills with no one else around, a big claw foot tub, a fireplace, and a private gazebo with a grill. Perfect!

Then the original host’s wife then messages me, and asks if she could transfer us to one of their more secluded cabins up in the woods without neighbors, and if we liked, we could walk down to the artists retreat anytime we liked.

Welp. It was a little too late for that. I can almost hear her saying to her husband, “You just turned away a week’s booking in the bigger space and let a composer and a writer go during a week when we’re having an artist’s retreat.” I’m going to assume she’s the brains when it comes to the business.

Still. I love the new place we found in the Catskills. And it’s owned by theatre folk. Photos below!

O

It’s Here! It’s Here!

Arts and Crafts, Musical Instruments, Musician

Took a drive down to Whitestone this morning, and picked up my very own barrel organ (piano). There is great news, and not-as-great news.

The great news is that it is in near-mint condition, and everything mechanical is completely operational without so much as a squeak. You couldn’t ask for a better from an instrument that’s sixty years old. The condition is absolutely uncanny — no paint fading, no rust on the strings or gears. Even the hammers are in pristine condition.

The seller didn’t know why it didn’t play. (Something inside.”) The reason is a simple one — It doesn’t have its cylinder. The cylinder looks exactly like a music box cylinder, only big. They came with six songs each, and were interchangeable so you could switch to different tunes.

However. The good news far outweighs the bad. Cylinders can be bought. From what I’ve seen, they come up now and then. I’ll just have to look on the auction sites I frequent.

These were manufactured in the nineteen-fifties and sixties for tourists visiting Italy and Spain. They’re about half size — full size would be about six feet tall.

It must’ve sat lovingly in some Nona’s front room. I plunked some notes; and while (of course) they were out of tune, they weren’t unrecognizable out of tune. In highly professional technical terms, I’d say “it sounds like a beat up classroom piano.” A video —

A great purchase! Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. This one was a winner. =)

It Doesn’t Come With a Monkey

Musician

To absolutely no one’s surprise, I’ve bought a barrel organ.

It’s one of those things that you imagine an Italian man with a monkey rolling down the street and cranking. Don’t be too concerned — The one I bought is a half-size version.

They weren’t produced for quite a while until a Spanish company started making them again in the 1950s. They were made in both organ and piano versions — something I did not know. Mine is a piano version. It has something wrong with the cogs inside, but that’s hopefully an easy fix. They’re pretty simple machines.

Here are some photos of what I bought and a few I found (same model) on the internet.

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The barrel part of “barrel organ” is a metal cylinder that sits inside the instrument that plays six different songs. In a few minutes I’ll be off to research where I can buy different barrels so I can add songs.

I imagine buying a stuffed animal monkey in a fancy costume and taking the instrument and my new plushy friend to events at church or in the park across the street. =)

“O sole mioooooooo …”

Crochet Naïveté

Arts and Crafts

I’ve tried to wrap my mind around beginner crochet many times.

I’ve tried it so many times, I have a drawer full of untouched yarn. Yesterday I opened the drawer and caught sight of some nice chunky 100% wool that I really like, so I thought it might be time to give it another go.

I feel a bit silly about not taking to it. Seems a bit doltish that someone who can sew a period gown from scratch can’t crochet a pot holder, but there it is.

I spoke to my good friend (and craft genius) Miss G this morning. She’s going to bring me a few simple patterns … and provide plenty of advice. Jonathan picked me up a couple of new hooks today while he was at the store. =)

Have a great sleep!