Turning a year older a couple of weeks back I have to brag about my awesome gifts. My wife and family got together to give me a mandolin (just like this one). I've known a few chords on mando since back in my Toronto days when I played regularly in a fun little garage band called The Migrants. I'm enjoying exploring it further now that I actually have one. Interestingly when you try a new instrument for awhile the experience tends to open up new ways of approaching the old ones you've played in the past. Already when I pick up my guitar I feel as though I have new ways of approaching it because of the way the Mandolin is set up.
The second very cool, and very unexpected gift, was all my wife's idea. Knowing how much I love PEI and PEI history, and increasingly folklore, architecture, and anything of cultural significance to our region, she bought me the entire back catalog, every issue still in print, of Island Magazine. I had already been quite familiar with several issues. Years back the magazine featured the travelogue and models of my great grandfather Hemphill who worked on sailing ships, in later years made beautiful models and reliefs (of ships) and was himself the son of a well known sea captain. I've had a chance to leaf through about a dozen more of these back issues and already I've found several references to ancestors on my mother's side, particulary the Hodgson family (her maiden name). I can't say enough about this collection. A great reference they make for a nice addition to our library and I look forward to pulling down every issue. Really these articles should be online and readily accessible to anyone. hint hint. I'm sure it could only help to boost circulation of their print version.
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