Just a side note before Sandy arrives.......

If you have never been to this area of North Carolina and you have any interest at all in the music and instruments and general lore of Appalachia, you need to go. Several dulcimer makers in the general area who are some of the best anywhere, including John Mize, who's dulcimers are on display with the Smithsonian. Mr. Glenn is also well known as a dulcimer maker and the area where he lives, Beech Mountain, is a treasure of mountain singing and mountain lore. BTW, its also the home of another picker of some note (:<)), fella' named Doc Watson whose home is in the same county.

If you go, headquarter yourself in Boone and see the Museum at Appalachian State and make your day trips to all the places you will not regret seeing and hearing. You can pick up an informal session damn near anywhere. I walked into a music store in Boone, got to talkin' and the owner and I played a bit. Within an hour there were about 10 folks all having one helluva' good time and pickin' on the yankee they thought was OK.

Go.....You'll love it.

Spaw