Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 23:27:11 -0800
Subject: mandolin in Alto

Hello Mickey,

I hope that things go well for you. 

I will be playing with the "Festival of Four" quartet in your neck of the woods, at the Spencer Theater on February 5, Sa, 8 pm.
http://www.spencertheater.com

I will be happy to put you (+1) on the guest list.

Perhaps we could do the Breedlove clinic/workshop at the Folk of the Wood's the next day, what do you think? Since I will be in the area already, I am sure we could come up with a mutually beneficial arrangement.

I look forward to hear from you.

Radim

Hi Radim,

Wow! You'll only be about 5 minutes from our store (and about 7 minutes from our ranch)...we also live in this very same area. In fact, for further info on our area, you might check out the Alto, New Mexico official website at:
http://www.altonewmexico.us

I'd be happy to announce your coming appearance on both the Alto and the FOTW website...I'm not sure why Spencer doesn't request promotions already...I'd provide it for them free of charge.

We have 4 other businesses besides FOTW...I've recently completed one of my first CD's, still in the mix stage, on the "Acoustic Forest" label at:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page5456.htm

And, the video publishing company is moving along at:
http://www.wisdomofthewood.com

And, we now have a manufacturing business called "Mystic West"...we're just now completing our first mandolin tailpiece by billet CNC...interestingly, mando mfr's are taking an interest in this tailpiece themselves...we'll see if we can make something to their liking.

Hence, as you can see, we're committed in many ways...a lot has developed since we last talked. I'm now working on a book/video set on fingerstyle mandolin. I want to make sure that you're promoted in this effort. So, if you want, let me know if you have a discography and a small bio you can submit...there are very few of us fingerstyle mandolinists...we need to stand together in this effort.

Let me know how else I might assist and thanks for the ticket offering (I'd hate to miss your show!), Mickey

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Subject: where are you?
Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 07:18:05 -0600

Your moving sign at the sierra mall says you are next to Precision Wire on the airport road. I can't find you, how about better directions?. Need some spikes put on my banjo. Thanks,Gary Damron, Capitan.

I'm in the process of drawing a map now...hopefully, I'll be posting it on the www.altonewmexico.us website....

Spike installation is only 6.00 per spike...be sure to also check out our website on the Shubb 5th string option (of which I personally use)
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page732.htm

I knew an Allen Damron out of Austin...

Directions to our store specifically:
Mile Marker 2 Airport Rd.
From Capitan: Take the Ft. Stanton route...go past the airport...go past Ranches of Sonterra...up over the hill look to the left for a building that's long, white with brown trim.

Here's a picture of the building:
http://www.altonewmexico.us/page5.htm

Please call 336-1111 if on the road for further directions...

Mickey

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Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 17:16:54 -0700
Subject: Re: California vs. New Mexico

Hi Mickey,

Greetings again Don,


Thanks for the . We did get back home safely, with less weather than when had coming to NM. I looked at your Alto website, very nicely done. I especially like the way the thumbnail panels change with the cursor hovering over them. The only suggestion I would make would be to have something else for the "outside view" top picture in the FOTW link. The scraggly trees seem to obscure what one really wants to see. Nice pic's of the store, and I really like the rustic sign. How about putting in a minute or so of your own music at the beginning of the home page? That would be a nice touch.

Thanks so much for the input...I will work on bringing in more images with impact for the "views from FOTW" section...hopefully, the aspens come in soon...

Having a soundbyte as the homepage opens would be a tremendous idea...

If you come up with anything else, please e-mail me...I do appreciate your submissions...


The Ruidoso area is definitely hard to beat; I wouldn't mind retiring there. Parts of California are stunning, but expensive to live in. My favorite places are the northern California coast, especially a place called Patrick's Point, where the redwoods come right down to the beach and you can find agates in the sand; Big Sur; Yosemite (of course), and Mammoth Lakes. We're near the San Bernardino Mts, which are a little like Ruidoso, but the people and places unfortunately don't have the same charm.

You might want to come up more often; I believe the more you visit, the more likelihood of becoming attached...Ruidoso & Alto, NM will grow on you...I suspect it's not far off from parts of California such as where the redwoods meet the coast; I'd love to see that...most places will have their own aura...


Well, I will definitely keep on pickin', especially with my new Stelling. I'm also looking forward to going through your cross-picking book; thanks again for that! And my wife and I are both enjoying your mandolin video. Being or having been teachers ourselves, we recognize it when someone else is a gifted teacher, as you are. I just wish I could spend more time pickin' and less workin'. You might want to look up Buckner's Breakdown, which is pretty nifty. I don't get Banjo Newsletter (not yet, anyway), but I'll bet you do, and it's supposed to be in one of the issues. I'm also hoping Whippersnapper, Coo coo, and Shoot the Dog will show up somewhere. I enjoy the bluegrass channel on Direct TV, and being somewhat cheap, I try to find free tabs of the songs on the internet. Please let me know if you have any intermediate/advanced banjo tabs out; I would definitely pay money for that!

Thanks so much for the inspiring words...

I'm working on some more banjo tabs now...to be placed on our website at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

I've been requested to put up my version of "Pony Express" a few dozen times...so, that will be one of the first pieces...I'm also hoping to post more melodic tunes in our "Melodic Banjo" section...I appreciate your staying tuned with us...and, I will keep an eye out for some of the pieces you're looking for...

Keep on Pickin',

Mickey

Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 13:11:07 -0700
Subject: Thanks!

Hi guys,

I just wanted to say thanks again to Mickey, Tradd, James, and the others we met when we visited you last week. As I said then, visiting the store was our main reason for taking a vacation in Ruidoso, to explore the possibility of a trade-up and to meet you all in person. Your hospitality far exceeded my hopes and truly did make the trip from California well worth it. We look forward to dropping by again the next time we make it out in your direction. Ever consider moving to California ;-)? Probably not. You'd like our mountain areas too, but I know you enjoy being where you are, and it is beautiful country. We'll just have to try to get a bluegrass revival going here, to make it more attractive to you (yeah, right!).

Your friends,
Don and Glenda Wilkins

Greetings Don and Glenda...

Thanks so much for getting back with us...sounds like you've had a safe journey home to California...Yes, there's some wondrous country in California...I've been up to Calaveras County in California's wonderful pine ladened forests...I'm still in awe that we live where we do...and it truly does feel like home...as we discussed the other day, when you've arrived at a place that feels like home, it's quite a gamble to search elsewhere...considering what it takes to implement a move today...and, talking about home, I've recently launched the Alto, New Mexico website at:
http://www.altonewmexico.us/

Let me know what you think...it's currently in flux...

Hopefully, you do make it back to our neck of the woods...I really enjoyed our visit last week...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

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Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 10:29:35 EST
Subject: Hey Mickey...keep this old mule in mind...

Howdy Mickey!

Greetings Mike,

Glad to assist...

On the note of our area: my wife and myself love it here in the (Sacramento) mountains...and, yes the air is crystal clear...and the skies are turquoise blue...we feel very blessed to live here and hope we have the benefit of staying for the rest of our lives...and Hatch green chiles are heavenly...

On the National: you might check wtih Elderly Instruments at www.elderly.com...or George Gruhn's at www.gruhnguitars.com...

Wishing you the best in your research efforts, Mickey


I was out in your part of the country several years ago and really wish I could have visited your shop, you have one of the most incredible web sites and I have sent it to lots of the mando players in our old time music community in Florida.

But boy! do I miss the laid back folks in New Mexico and all the nice beautiful nothing....sorry...city life is grinding on this country boy after 25 years, and at the McDonalds here they don't ask if "you want chiles with that" like they did in NM.

I thought you might occasionally run across an old National so I just thought I would ask you to keep me in mind if you run across an older tricone for sale.

I am looking for an older National squareneck Style 1 -2 tricone without dents or dings, can live with some oxidation, but can'not abide steel wool brutalities. Would prefer 1927-1929 and all original, would consider 1930's..

Please keep this old mule in mind, been saving up my plowing wages from Mr. Mouse for several years now, ready to go hawaiian, wife has been warned and the mutual funds sold!

Tired Mule (Mike Scott - Orlando)
ps. Please go outside today for me for a minute and breath the New Mexico air and check out that big blue sky...