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Phil

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I am a Christian hillbilly, born and raised near Sparta, NC in a community called Twin Oaks.
I got interested in Celtic music when I was in the US Navy and got an R&R flight to Prestwick, Scotland where I met my ex-wife, (Hannah) Anna Gilfillan, from Kilmarnock, Scotland.
When I got a job teaching electronics at Galax City High School in the vocational education department in 1985, I bought my first tinwhistle and got really hooked on the music.
At the age of 54, I decided to take up the uilleann pipes, so I bought a practice set from Mark Hillmann, and a year later, added the drones to make a 1/2 set.
At one of the schools I went to, Irish Week at Elkins, WV, I got to play a C chanter and fell in love with it. I ordered a C chanter from Seth Gallagher and later on, two regulators. I had gotten Pat Sky to make me a set of drones, and I use the Hillmann bag and bellows, so I have a "mixed" 3/4 C set, (working as a 1/2 set) which is what I play to please myself. I only play the concert set when practicing/playing with Naomi's Fancy.
The worst thing about playing the uilleann bagpipes is that you have to make your own reeds to get one that you can play well. I struggled for two years with an out of tune chanter reed, so I finally went to the school in Elkins, WV and took two weeks (two different summers) of reedmaking. I had a great reed after that that played for 7 years that hardly ever needed adjusting, just a bit in the winter and again in the summer.
Since I live in the hotbed for Old Time music, I like to jam with the local musicians using my whistles and bagpipes (when they are working).
I know quite a few old time tunes, but I don't know their names. My friend gave me a mountain dulcimer and I am trying to learn that instrument, even though I am string impaired.
I had to drop out of Naomi's Fancy due to illness. I am really looking forward to going to sessions and playing with the band occasionally again.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

God, Jesus Christ. Alexander Mack, Christians, Paddy Maloney, Robbie Hannan, Dickie Deegan, Ronan Browne, other Irish pipers and any ITM musicians/lovers.

My Blog

God Said NO!

I asked God to take away my habit.God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is...
Posted by on Wed, 09 May 2007 01:55:00 GMT

Phil Sexton's Faux Sourdough French Bread

Materials Needed:Souring container (1/2 gal to 1 gal, I like to use a 1 gallon crock)Wooden spoonRaising container (I use a 5 quart 10" steel bowl)Shortening to grease raising containerKitchen towel t...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:56:00 GMT

When I Say "I Am A Christian"

When I say..."I am a Christian"I'm not shouting "I am saved"I'm whispering "I get lost!""That is why I chose this way." When I say..."I am a Christian"I don't speak of this with pride.I'm confessing ...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:48:00 GMT

Keep your fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:41:00 GMT