"Unfortunately, too many people in the folk scene think above instruments are something you give to the "spouse" so they can feel part of the session despite the fact they have absolutely no musical talent."

Actually, I have usually found that in most cases it is these very non-musical types who are the first to howl when a competent trained muso picks these items up...

After decades of searching, I have finally found a source of those brightly coloured plastic split eggs, and I have a bag of kitty litter ...