Happy Mothers Day

[Bell Banjos]

My wife Jeannie Bell never gets any credit (publicly) for her HUGE role in our banjo making. The name SHOULD be "Bell Family" banjos. She keeps the all important paperwork, the 'need it' list, keeps the wood supply running as banjos fly in and out, and reminds Danny and me to "Sweep this place!!!" Banjos have to pass her inspection. We use the database for reference and have made many patterns, and when she looks at a peghead, SHE KNOWS. When I 'age' a banjo, it will have to be convincingly old, or back to the bench. And when I pout and say "I wanna keep this one," she reminds me that means it's time to go. My mother, Sandy, opened her home for the First North Country Banjo Gathering in February, which members Tim, Al, John, Elaine, and Adam attended, along with some local musicians. Yay for the ladies. Happy Mothers Day.

[Dave Culgan]

Three cheers for our Moms. Whatever music I have in my blood came from her side of the family, stars of the minstrel and more high-brow stage. My dad's favorite record (actually the only record we recall him ever buying) was bagpipe music, highland pipes at that! Dave