Yachats Celtic Festival 2013

We were thrilled to be a part of the 2013 Yachats Celtic Festival. We had planned on attending several years before, but didn’t end up making it until we were asked to perform there this November!  We had a wonderful weekend listening to other fantastic Celtic musicians, walking along the beach and teaching an Irish dance workshop and ceili.One of the best parts about performing at Yachats was getting up early and walking along the beach before breakfast each morning!

Then we got to use our “musician” badges to enter hidden back rooms and receive special privileges!

We were the featured concert on Saturday afternoon. Yachats had a great team of people running the sound and lighting, making for a smooth set up and enjoyable performance! Special thanks to Chris Graamans for the performing photos!

 Kathrina making her violin sing Krista feeling the moment Noah providing that solid back up that he does so well! Noah singing his solo Playing my bodhran Krista with her Desert Rose autoharp

Playing my harp

A humorous moment on stage!Group shot!

 We enjoyed meeting Seamus and learning about his detailed period outfit!

The beautiful coastline!A quiet moment at the end of a full day!

Friday’s Feasts | Amy’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

First of all, I apologize for the lack of food posts on here.  We really have been eating, just not taking pictures of it!  However, I trust this amazing cookie recipe will make up for it!

For quite some time I’ve been searching for just the perfect Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookie. I have a great recipe for a thinner, crisp and buttery type, but I wanted a kind like Bob’s Red Mill makes; thick and chewy – almost like a snack and yet with the perfect hint of sweetness.

When my friend Amy mentioned on Facebook that she was eating a chewing oatmeal cookie she had just made, I wondered if she had found the perfect recipe – and after trying it for myself, I must say she has!

1 cup (2 sticks butter)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour (I used 1 cups of white and 2 cup of whole wheat)
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 package (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, if desired

Cream butter and sugars, add eggs, and beat well. Stir in vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and mix into liquid. mixing thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

The dough is stiff, so don’t be afraid to mix it with your hands!

With tablespoon, pack dough into 1/4 cup measuring cup. Space nine cookies evenly per pan; shape cookies with hands. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 350 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes, or until just done around the edges. Let cool on pans a few minutes before transferring to wire.

Variation: Replace chocolate chips with raisins, and add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste!

Pour yourselves a glass of milk and enjoy!

Wedding Wednesday | The #1 Wedding Processional

So what is the number one wedding processional? You guessed it! Pachelbel’s Cannon in D!  My mom walked down the aisle to it…my friend had it played when she birthed her children…it can often be found and relaxation CDs with ocean sounds in the background…and somehow it never looses it’s charm.

This beautiful piece of music just sounds like a wedding ceremony! It isn’t too fast or to slow.  It is sweet and gentle, without being overly dreamy.  Since it is a cannon, it has an 8-chord pattern which repeats throughout the song, making it easy to come to a graceful conclusion as soon as the bride has reached the end of the aisle.

Most often it is used as the processional for the bride, but it can also be used for the bridesmaids, particularly if the bride wants to come in to the second most popular wedding processional (which we’ll talk about next time!). As you listen to it, note your reaction. Are you bored, or drawn in? Do you roll your eyes at the classical sound, or does it make you think of white dresses and flowers? It is all about what starts your emotions rolling!

Does it make a difference to have live musicians play it?  If it repeats so much, surely it could be faded out on an iPod.  

Of course it makes a difference!  Live musicians can add a fanfare at the beginning to let everyone know it is time to stand for the bride. (Something you won’t find on recordings!) Or if it is being performed on the harp, a swirl of dramatic glissandos can announce the bride before the harpist launches into Cannon in D!

Trying to remember what Cannon in D sounds like?  Click below to hear a sample of our arrangement!

If you actually want to have this song at your wedding, you might not want to watch the video below by the Piano Guys. It certainly gives the music a fresh twist!

Videos of Whispering Roses and The Josties

We had a wonderful time at our joint concert with the Josties in October!  We played a set of music, they played a set and we ended doing one impromptu song together. One of my friends got some video footage of the concert, so if you missed it, here is a little taste! A special thanks to each of you who came and made the concert possible.