I thought I’d get a little work done in the shop this afternoon.

I have a cold and I am not at my best so I figured I’d keep it simple and glue some braces to the backs of the three dulcimers I’m currently making.

Here is my apprentice mixing me a fresh batch of hide glue.

While the glue was drying I thought I’d clean up the shop a bit.

The shop vacuum hose gently grazed the cord of the little crock pot that keeps my hide glue warm and the pot gently fell to the floor, delicately spilling warm water everywhere.

Luckily I had the lid on the jar of hide glue and it didn’t spill a drop. And the sawdust on the floor soaked up a lot of the water too.

Not a bid deal, not even a big mess but enough of an adventure for me to decide that even though I love my work it is still work and I have a cold and should take it easy.

So I guess its time to enjoy the dancing monkeys!

The two musicians on the left play a wonderful rendition of “Dancing Queen,” the favorite song of Marjorie, the young lady on the right.

Her two older sisters often tease her about dancing by herself  but I told her that they are just jealous of the attention she is getting from the sax player.