To Gargoyle: Nothing wrong with using colourful feathers for little ones. Natural feathers are dearer and would be a loss in little hands (darling as they are) which tend to be a bit grubby and careless.

To Arkie, et all: re feathers. I read somewhere that turkey feathers were believed to have been used, but article did not illuminate what for, noters or plucks.

To Guest: "Mr. Tam, Stick to what you already know. Go to a slide guitar style of chording."   I am not a Mr. and I don't know what is meant by slide guitar style, but I expect I will learn (what slide guitar syle is. Not the being a Mister part though).

To BanjoRay: Thanks for the tip about the Friends Of American Old-Time Music and Dance site and event. Will look into it and discuss with the hubbie (also my chauffeur).

To Leeneia, Kat and Maeve, et al: Thanks for all the encouragement. I don't read music very well. Always been the "pick up an instrument and play something on it" type. Though in my young years before kids and adult responsibilities, I spent every waking moment connected to piano, guitar, recorder, harmonica, whatever was handy. Looking forward to learning chords by sight, not just by sound. As I cannot craft (beading, embroidery, crochet) very much anymore, if I find the dulcimer easy on my wrist, I think it will be same. I tend to get really stuck into something until I simply cannot physically do it any longer. But with this, I plan to be smart with stretching and warming up before and stretching and ice pack after. Start with short timed periods and extend gradually. I work on a PC all day and find no problem with typing. I also mimicked movements of players on you Tube and found it quite easy. Will have to see about the pressure thing. Thanks for the tips about the action and distance of strings from fretboard.

To Grab: I don't particularly fancy the sound a slide guitar makes. But I think I will give it a go just to see what it feels like. However, I live in a flat, so practicing on something quiet appeals to me. I won't feel I am disturbing people. It is difficult enough for me to really belt out songs, when I want to practice before a sing around session.

Thank you all for playing.