Lavender & Sweet Music

Water wheel at Lost Mountain Lavender farm in Sequim, Washington.

The annual Lavender festival held in Sequim, Washington started the last day we were in Port Angeles. Besides TWILIGHT and vampires, the Port Angeles area is notable for the lavender festival. Port Angeles is basically next door to Sequim ( pronounced 'squim' ) and the hotels and trades benefit very well from the over 440, 000 people that attend this event. There is a big street fair along with tours of several lavender farms. I was excited to see the festival I have heard so much about , so on our way out of town we stopped in Sequim. The whole town is beautiful, flower baskets everywhere, and lavender is a mainstay in the town landscape. Lavender in bloom everywhere! We caught a shuttle from a mall to the street fair and checked out all the booths. There were so many , most packed with lavender influenced merchandise, lots of jewelry booths , lavender bundles, sachets, crafts, lavender infused honey, etc. The booth I loved the most had nothing to do with lavender. The booth of George and Anwyn Leverett caught my eye and ear.

This is George Leverett. He and his wife made this instrument. Isn't it beautifully crafted? Not only were the instruments he and his wife make beautiful, they also play the instruments and sing. This is a hurdy gurdy they made. I am in love with these instruments, and if I were younger I would have invested in one and learn to play it. I decided it was more practical for me to buy a CD of their music and spin and weave wool while I listen to their music.

This is Anwyn Leverett holding a 5 stringed hurdy gurdy they call the 'Aquitaine'. Click on the picture to enlarge and view the details of this instrument.

You have to click on this picture and check out the trees and detailing! Anyway, I love the type of music they make and my husband picked out a CD from them that has a some songs about spinning and weaving, just perfect for me to listen to as I weave my home and hand spun wool! The youtube video below is Anwyn and George Leverett singing 'SWEET BECKY AT THE LOOM', however the youtube quality of this video is nowhere near as lovely as the CD really sounds. To see their website click on Altarwind Music. The following song sings about sweet Becky at her loom. The words 'shuttle',' warp and weft',and 'sleigh' are words pertaining to weaving. Enjoy!

Make A Joyful Noise Unto the Lord, All Ye Men!

It was music night tonight in our home fellowship. And boy oh boy are we blessed with musicians of amazing God-given talent! Above is Frank Dutra on the saxophone. I believe I have stated before, this man on his worst day of playing the horn is better than most on their best day!And we get to hear him most every Saturday we meet and break bread. You have got to hear him play Amazing Grace on that sax...... Tonight we had a special guest and brother in the Lord, Patrick Dennis! My Hubby and I went to high school with him and have re-connected, to our blessing. What a talented musician he is. He makes stringed instruments come to life....they speak and sing at his finger tips...yes they do! Here Patrick is playing a mandola....

and even more special guests...our sister Audrey gave us some precious time with her daughter from Montana, Denise...who brought along..and played, her banjo AND guitar, and the other sister, Renee played harmonica....these girls can sing too!

We met in the home of the Wingmaster, and here he is playing his guitar, AND the drums, along with Denise on guitar, Frank on sax, Patrick on one of his guitars on the side. Most of us were singing along and enjoying the bounty of instruments and people able to play them! Let's not forget the food....there was a lot of food! Here is the chocolate cake and Pasta Pie we brought. The pasta pie was made at home, then we put it into the oven and baked it when we arrived at the Wingmaster's home and oh my goodness ! Delicious!!! For the recipe check out Noble Pig's Blog. The instrument below is a Dobro. It belongs to Patrick. My son-in-law, Birdy Balaku, recorded most of tonight's music, but Hubby and I cannot seem to get it downloaded. We will figure out how to do this for another Sunday post, but for now, please enjoy this video shown below this picture. And by the way, we wish you were able to meet with us for fellowship and breaking the bread and partaking of the cup in communion . You're welcome to come on over any time we meet! Our next musical gathering will be in April! ~"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands, serve the Lord with gladness....." Ps. 100~

Make Joyful Noise Unto the Lord !

" Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

.....Tonight we met for worship and fellowship in the home of the Wingmaster and his wife ( see 'Turn the Page-Life on the Road' in sidebar ). This is our regular time of gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We share a communion meal, songs, scripture...we share our lives, our trials and tribulations and praises. We pray for and with each other.

......We have been meeting with these families for many years. We have grown together through so much..we have watched each others' children and grandchildren grow up. We have been together through so very much , and we know that ALL that holds us together is our oneness in Christ. Because of Him we can rejoice in good and bad times and hopefully remember that though we may fail each other, Jesus NEVER fails us !

......We do have great music, that's for sure. Frank is playing the sax, at his worst he is a better sax player than most at their best..and we do not exaggerate !You should hear him play 'Amazing Grace' ! We also have the Wingmaster and his sons on guitar, sometimes we have the keyboard...and of course, there are the many voices lifted up to God....He hears even those of us off key....

"put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:12-14