The Dragon Has Landed!

We apologise for the cheesy title but we are naturally very pleased and excited to be able to announce that plans for the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland this August are now beginning to firm up. This week we secured the location for the event in Portland, Oregon: it will take place at the Crystal Ballroom on Saturday, 22 August 2009.

Below is a shot of the view of the ballroom from the stage. The Crystal Ballroom has been a Portland nightlife destination for many decades, glamorously famous for its dance floor: a wooden floor on a ball-bearing base, below a balcony of fixed seating, with two bars - one in the balcony and one at the back of the ballroom itself. The ballroom overlooks downtown West Burnside Street, a main boulevard which bisects the north and south halves of the city and just blocks from Powell's Books, the largest independent bookstore in the United States, probably in the western hemisphere.

The ballroom is on the third floor and in addition to that floor, we have the second floor, which is another bar and dance floor - photograph of that bar, intrepidly claimed for Wales by AmeriCymru member, Hugh Roberts, at the bottom of this post, below.

So far confirmed to attend are:- Chris Needs, Bruce Anderson, Niall Griffiths, Oceans ApartDavid Western. Other announcements will follow. There is every chance, should our funding situation continue to improve, that we will book a second and possibly a third day It was our original intention to stage a three day event and we are exploring various sponsorship options with interested parties at the moment. and

The program for the event is in the beginning planning stages but so far we're looking at a Welsh market/tradeshow with vendor spaces during the day and seminars/appearances by lovespoon carver David Western and author Niall Griffiths on the ballroom stage and performers appearing in the ballroom in the evening.

The winners of all our online Eisteddfod competitions will be announced at the event. The Short Story Competition is being judged by Lloyd Jones and Peter Thabit Jones is judging the Poetry Competition. Judges for the other competitions have yet to be announced. David Western will announce the winner of the Left Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon he is creating and auctioning for the event.

We're working out additional presentations and possibly appearances and events at other locations near the Crystal Ballroom: book signings and other events. We'd really love to hear from anyone about events they'd like to see at this, any ideas anyone to make it even bigger and better.

We want to thank all our members and contributors for helping us get to this point and giving us an opportunity to promote Wales and modern Welsh culture in the western USA. We really hope we see a lot of you here and plan a special event for AmeriCymru members.

SUNDAY, St Dwynwen's Day 2009

Reproduced from David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoon Blog

January 25th is Dydd Santes Dwynwen, the Day of Saint Dwynwen, the day of the Welsh patron saint of lovers and the broken hearted, the Welsh equivalent of Saint Valentine's Day.

There are several versions of Dwynwen's story, the least violent version is that Dwynwen was a 5th century Welsh princess who fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else (in other versions she can't marry Maelon because she's going to be a nun). Dwynwen was so upset that she could not marry Maelon that she begged God to make her forget him. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice. God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to religious service for the rest of her life.

Dwynwen founded a convent on Ynys Llanddwyn, which means "island of Dwynwen's church", off the west coast of North Wales, where a well named after her became a place of pilgrimage after her death in 465AD. Visitors to the well believed that the sacred fish that lived in the well could foretell whether or not their relationship would be happy and whether love and happiness would be theirs. Today, Dwywen's island is part of a British national reserve, with miles of walking trails, sandy beaches and the remains of a 16th century Tudor church stand on what is believed to be the site of the original church on the island.

Saint Dwywen's prayer is "Saint Dwynwen, We beseech thee, Comfort lovers whose vision is unclear. Send mending to those with love lost. Protect our companions. In your name, we seek to do the same. In your name, we choose love first. With the love of you, of Mary, and of Jesus Christ. Amen."

People in Wales and people of Welsh descent around the world celebrate Saint Dwynwen's Day by gifting cards, candy and flowers, special dinners, parties and all the same trappings of celebrations for Valentines Day.

David Western's Lovespoon Blog - Back to Work

Reproduced from David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoon Blog

After too many weeks away from the project, its high time to get back to work on the Left Coast Eisteddfod spoon! This week I'm going to work on the maple leaf and the star.

These elements require radically different handling to make them look as they should. The leaf needs to be soft, curvaceous and 'flowing', while the star needs crisp angles and a uniform rigidity. Those with a keen political eye will note that the maple leaf is on the left and the star is on the right...I'd like to be able to take credit for a bit of a political wit with that one, but it was actually just an accident of placement. Perhaps I should have put them both in the centre (or center) to avoid any political misinterpretations!

Anyway, the key thing with the maple leaf is to make it appear 'leaf-like' which is easier said than done. While cutting the leaf on the scroll saw, I was careful to make the tips of the leaf appear to bend slightly. This creates a bit of tension, which in turn makes the leaf appear to have some movement despite being completely static. To further enhance this illusion, I exaggerate the 'hills and valleys' between each leaf tip by using a curved knife (a gouge works good too) to create a concave surface.

I've become a huge fan of curved knives for this type of work and have pretty well forgotten all about my gouges. Because I work on such a small scale, these knives are the perfect tool and are both light and fast in the hand. I'm careful with leaves to not overwork things and make the surfaces too smooth.

A bit of texturing helps give the leaf a vitality which disappears if the surface is too homogenous. There is a tricky area at the bottoms of the valleys where the wood grain changes direction which must be handled with care. Because I don't want to sand my leaves (which kills the vibrant look completely) I need to be very careful in this area. Nice shallow cuts are generally the answer, but occasionally I will fair out a rough patch with a small, curved scraper blade.

The star is a completely different kettle of fish. Here the surfaces will ultimately need to be as flat an fair as I can get them. The intersections of the angles need to be kept crisp and should be as straight as possible. I like to get a facetted look to the star with each arm having a central ridge from which the wood falls away meeting in a valley between sections. To get each arm faired properly, I take advantage of a skewed knife which allows me to cut on a bit of an angle. When the majority of the shaping is done, I go back over the star with a smaller straight knife to clean up any rough spots or fraying. I could cut the star all flat and on the same level, but I have found that facetting it in this manner makes it look a bit more regal and impressive.

Next week I'll have a go at the Celtic knotwork which is always good, dangerous fun! If the spoon is going to break anywhere, the Celtic knotwork is generally the place it happens. But that won't happen on this spoon because I'm doing it for a cause and my Karma will be good!

Please don't forget that the purpose of this spoon is to raise money for the Left Coast Eisteddfod! Without your support, it will be very difficult to get this worthwhile event off the ground. Every dollar you send in will give you a chance at winning this spoon and I very much hope that you will see your way to making a donation!

Jon Langford, "The Newport man who played for Obama"

Jon Langford, a native of Newport who lives with his family in Chicago, a member of this site, posted a quiet link on his page and when I went to look at it, found that he was just in Washington, DC for President Barak Obama's inauguration and performed at an inaugural ball.

From the South Wales Argus:

"AS the United States' first black President was sworn in, a Newport-born man had a ringside seat to history being made.

"Musician and artist Jon Langford, 51, a founder member of the punk band The Mekons, had played at a Washington DC ball to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration the night before, and had a seat at the event being watched by millions of people around the world."
...

"Mr Langford performed six hours of country-punk with his current band the Waco Brothers in a sell-out event celebrating Obama's links with Chicago.

"'The concert was incredible and an illustration of how things are changing. I performed with blues singer David Honeyboy Edwards, who's 94. God knows what things were like when he was a kid,' said Mr Langford."

Read the rest of this really fantastic article and what Jon Langford says about the experience HERE.

Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd Discussion Group

New Americymru discussion group created by Beryl Richards on Prince Madoc:

The Madoc Enigma - an Introduction by Beryl Richards

"The mysterious legend of Prince Madoc Ap Owain Gwynnedd exists on both sides of the Atlantic which has yet to be taken seriously. The following article is only a taster of the adventure. Zella Armstrong of the Daughters of the American Revolution has written a detailed history published during the 1950's, and the Plaque unveiled at Mobile Bay stating that Prince Madoc had landed there was removed, and became the result of an international internet campaign to reinstate it Janice Gattis of the Alabahma Welsh Association was instrumental in running the campaign which was well supported both by American and Welsh ex pats and natives of Wales.

There is so much to discover. I have been on a fascinating journey into both my own Welsh history and the story which continued from Mobile into the American interior. Does anyone wish to share my fascination with this mysterious enigma. Join us on the journey!"

For further information please read "The Madoc Enigma" by Bee Richards HERE.

"Dunkin Like David" Promo Video

For more info see St Davids Day Blogspot

Boston British Consulate Looking for Welsh Ex-patriots, Welsh Americans, and People with a Love for Wales

The Welsh National Assembly and the British Consulate of Boston are looking to connect with the Welsh presence in New England. March 1st, 2009 is Saint David's Day. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and on the days surrounding March 1st the Boston British Consulate and the Boston Cymrodorion Society will be organizing and sponsoring a number of Saint David's Day events. A classic Welsh hymn sing called a Gymanfa Ganu will be held in Salem, MA. Lectures on Welsh history, a Saint David's Day polar bear plunge, and a Saint David's Day feast will be celebrated. To cap off the events Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister of Wales will be joining us at the British Consulate at 1 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, MA for a celebration on Monday, March 2nd.

If you are from Wales, of Welsh ancestry, or simply have a love for all things Celtic contact Phil Wyman the Boston Saint David's Day representative for the British Consulate and the Welsh National Assembly at 978-578-1785, on the internet at http://www.freewebs.com/cymrodorion/, or by e-mail at BostonWelsh@gmail.com.

Welsh Music Industry Day - Caernarfon / Cynhadledd Diwydiant Cerddoriaeth Gymraeg - Caernarfon

CYNHADLEDD FLYNYDDOL Y DIWYDIANT CERDDORIAETH YN DYCHWELYD I GAERNARFON: HANFODOL I UNRHYW UN SY’N GYSYLLTIEDIG Â’R DIWYDIANT CERDDORIAETH YNG NGHYMRU

DYDD GWENER, IONAWR 23, 2009, 12.30PM – 5.30PM – GALERI, CAERNARFON

Yn dilyn eu poblogrwydd yn 2008, mae Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig unwaith eto’n cynnal y Dyddiau Diwydiant Cerddoriaeth Gymraeg, a fwriadwyd i fynd i’r afael â materion allweddol sydd o bwys i ddiwydiant cerddoriaeth Gymraeg a thu hwnt.

Ar Ddydd Gwener, Ionawr 23, 2009, rhwng 12:30pm a 5.30pm, cynhelir cynhadledd Gogledd Cymru yn Galeri, Caernarfon. Bydd pedair sesiwn yn cael eu cynnal yn y prynhawn a bydd croeso i gynrychiolwyr ddewis a dethol i ba ddigwyddiadau y byddant yn mynd, neu aros i’r gynhadledd gyfan.

Mae’r pynciau fydd yn cael eu trafod yn cynnwys plygio cerddoriaeth i orsafoedd radio, brandio cerddoriaeth a marchnata a hyrwyddo digwyddiadau byw. Yn y prynhawn hefyd ceir sesiynau holi ac ateb – cyfle ardderchog i roi sylw i gwestiynau neu faterion unigol, a bydd hwn, wrth gwrs, yn gyfle rhagorol i gynrychiolwyr rwydweithio.

Ymhlith y panelwyr gwadd bydd Gill Taylor (Rheolwraig / Hyrwyddwr), Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales), Gareth Iwan Jones (Cynhyrchydd, BBC Radio Cymru) a chynrychiolwyr o Dylunio Cymru, Creu Cymru a Cerdd Gymunedol Cymru, ac eraill.

Ceir rhestr lawn o’r digwyddiadau yn www.sefydliadcerddoriaethgymreig.com yn ogystal â manylion am yr ail gynhadledd, a gynhelir yng Nghaerdydd ar 30 Ionawr 2009.

Cynhelir y sesiynau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg – bydd cyfleusterau cyfieithu ar gael.

Mae’r diwrnod yn DDI-DÂL, ond mae lleoedd yn gyfyngedig. I gofrestru, e-bostiwch: dai@welshmusicfoundation.com neu ffoniwch 029 20 494110

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ANNUAL MUSIC INDUSTRY CONFERENCE RETURNS TO CAERNARFON : ESSENTIAL FOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN WALES

FRIDAY JANUARY 23, 2009, 12.30PM – 5.30PM - GALERI, CAERNARFON

Following their popularity in 2008, Welsh Music Foundation are once again hosting the Welsh Music Industry Days, designed to address the key issues that matter to the Welsh language music industry and beyond.

On Friday January 23 2009, between 12:30pm and 5.30pm, the north Wales conference will take place at Galeri, Caernarfon. Three sessions will run during of the afternoon and delegates are welcome to pick and choose, which they attend, or stay for the course of the conference.

Topics covered include plugging music to radio stations, music branding and the marketing and the promotion of live events. The afternoon will also feature Q&A segments – a great opportunity to have queries or individual issues addressed, and will of course serve as a great networking opportunity for delegates.

Guest panelists include Gill Taylor (Elvis Costello’s Manager), Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales), Gareth Iwan Jones (Producer, BBC Radio Cymru) and representatives from Design Wales, Creu Cymru and Community Music Wales, amongst others.

A full event line-up can be found at www.welshmusicfoundation.com, as well as details of the second conference, held in Cardiff on 30 January 2009.

Sessions will be conducted in both the medium of English and Welsh language – translation facilities will be available.

The day is FREE to attend, but places are limited. To register, email: dai@welshmusicfoundation.com or phone 029 20 494110

Tyler Stenson - "Lyrically Driven Elegant Americana"

Americymru member Tyler Stenson is a native of Portland, Oregon. He is of Welsh-German descent ( distantly ) and is a composer and performer of “Lyrically Driven Elegant Americana.” We hope you will agree with us that Tyler has a great future ahead of him in the music business. Hear Tyler on his MySpace page HERE

1. We read that you won the Portland Songwriters Association's Songwriter of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. Can you tell us about the awards, and how you found out that you had won? Were there particular songs involved in those awards, or was it for a body of work you did in each year? And was it based on live performance or recordings?


The PSA award was a series of contests over a year that whittled a large pool of songwriters down to a final top-ten competition. At the final performance, each songwriter chooses two original songs to perform in front of a panel of judges and peers; lyrics are submitted, the songs are performed and the contestant is judged based on a number of variables including song quality, stage presence, lyric quality, originality, musical competency, overall performance, rhyme, meter, hook, etc. The official title is PSA “Performing Songwriter of the Year” so it is a bit more encompassing than just the quality and craft of the song- it accounts for the performance attributes as well.

In 2007 I entered the competition with my songs, "Better Be Us All" and "Babysitting the Cowboy". In the 2008 competition, I chose to submit "Whistle Stop" and "Cellophane".

At the end of the evening, the judges compare notes and comments and grant a winner and a runner-up.

In the first competition, I performed last of the ten and therefore had to sit and listen to everyone perform before me. Needless to say, when I took the stage, I was all nerve but feel I performed well. In the end, during the judges intermission, I had to take a walk before the final announcement. When I returned indoors, the president of the PSA got on the microphone and with a drum-roll announced the runner-up then the winner… I’m proud to say my name was called second as the winner.

In the second year, I was given the choice to perform at the finals as an “honored guest” (last year’s winner) or to play by the rules and defend my title. Choosing to defend my title, irony had me placed in the very first slot of the night. I’m not sure what was worse… sitting through all of the competition and playing last or getting it over with, then sitting through the other performances. Either way, the other competitors were extremely talented and I was fully prepared to lose my title. That said, after sitting through nine other performers, president Dan Lowe smiled and told the audience that he gave last year's winner a choice and he was proud to announce that the title had been successfully defended. I didn’t expect to win that night ,so it was a thrill to say the least.

2. How would you describe your sound and style?

My four-word elevator pitch is, “Lyrically Driven Elegant Americana.” In my eyes, lyric is king: some have called it border-line theatrical. Above all, my music is very human and accessible and authentic. Although the lyrics are very rich and full of stories and metaphors, they are accessible through our common American experience.

3. You were originally from Wyoming, and much of your music seems to reflect that childhood. What was it like growing up there for you? What are some of your fondest (or strongest) childhood memories, and do you see them play out in your music?

Looking back at my childhood, I see nothing but sweetness and days that I’m very fond of. It was the perfect place for a child; a place you could run around and explore without a shred of social danger and a place that never glorified money, class or creed. It was a magnificent landscape with settings that kept a child busy with imagination. My fondest specific memories in Lander don’t necessarily play out in my music as blatant re-creations; however, the mentality of the “simpler time” and “nostalgia” is constantly exposing itself. Part of the appeal of Wyoming is the fact that while the rest of the world is sprinting to grow, Wyoming stayed somewhat frozen in time. I consider myself to be somewhat of an old soul; therefore, the pace of Wyoming and the Old West is much more to my liking.

4. Growing up, what music did you listen to? Also, we notice that you feel that at least some of your own music has been influenced by such folks as Paul Simon and James Taylor. We can hear echoes of them in some of your songs. Who else would you say has been influential in your musical development? And what have you found yourself listening to over the past month?

Growing up I found myself listening to whatever my older siblings were listening to… top 40, pop, hair bands, etc. The only culture I ever really received was from my mother, who was more of a Broadway musical, hymnal and classical-type lady. I didn’t start forming my own tastes until middle school, when I fell wildly in love with country music and classic acoustic songwriters such as James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Dan Fogelberg, etc. My musical story is simple, Garth Brooks and country music made me want to sing but the VH1 Storytellers episode of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds made me want to write and perform the abstract. Country music is very surface level but there was a certain appeal to the obscurity in Dave Matthews’ songs. From that day forward I started writing with poetry in mind and placed my musical preferences in musicians that had something individual to say and a unique way of saying it. My biggest influences as a songwriter are Josh Ritter, Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), James Taylor, Damien Rice, Ryan Adams, Jason Ross (Seven Mary Three), David Gray, etc.

Over the last month I’ve been listening to Josh Ritter’s “Thin Blue Flame” on constant repeat… I’ve also been listening to Julian Tulip’s Licorice, Kirk Duncan and my completely random iPod mix. I suppose it is worth noting that I tend to wear my influences on my sleeve (in obvious ways) so I have limited the amount of music I listen to and have started being a bit more self-centered in that regard. The less music I listen to, the less I am influenced; therefore, the more original I become.

My general rule of thumb is to only listen to music that sets the bar high and makes me want to improve as an artist… as much as top 40 songs make you want to tap your toes and repeat the catchy chorus, it is rare to find something artistically rich and thought provoking. My intention is never to be an “elitist” but this helps me (as an artist) strive to be as individual as I can be.

5. How old were you when you came to Portland? Did you come directly from Wyoming? Sometimes moves can be hard. Were there times when you doubted the wisdom of the decision to move?

I moved to Portland as a child with little say in the matter. My connection to Wyoming has become pure nostalgia and the romantic notion that I’ll retire there one day. In all honestly, I only lived my childhood in Wyoming but it is the place of my birth, the place I go back to every summer to visit grandma, the place I still return to once a year for the famous July 4th celebration and annual Father and Sons camping trip and the place that I hold very dear to my heart. In the end, I’ve lived in Portland longer than I ever did Wyoming; however, I carry that nostalgia with me daily and I feel more at home in the plains of Wyoming than I do in downtown Portland.

6. Your song "Babysitting the Cowboy" speaks to the imagination of a child. Did you have a good imagination as a child?

I think my imagination was on par with most children but my mother always said I had the sharpest memory of the bunch and an uncanny way with words that has allowed me to immortalize those memories. "Babysitting the Cowboy" was actually a poem that I wrote for a poetry class at the University of Oregon- a poem before it was ever a song. The assignment was to write descriptively about a childhood memory so I took that vivid day in Lisa’s backyard and re-created the scene as I remembered it. That song is undoubtedly my personal favorite because it resonates so deeply within my bones as it pins the imagination of a child next to the memory of a man.

7. Your song "Whistle Stop" -- were you thinking about your own mortality, or someone else in particular, or just mortality in general? (Or something entirely different which has escaped us? lol)

Though I won’t name names, "Whistle Stop" is in memory of my friend’s mother. Though she passed in 2005, she lived her life boldly and left no doubt behind as to who she was. Yes, I do ponder my mortality in a number of other songs but this song is her legacy.

8. Some of your songs seem to involve a certain reverence for the earth and for life. "Big Hearts" and "Better Be Us All" come to mind. Are you a spiritual person, or do you see this aspect in your music?

I am a believer that everything in this life and everything on this earth that has touched me deserves its day in the sun. Whether it be people that cross my path or a tree that grew in the front yard of my childhood home, all of these things made me who I am, all of these things served their purpose and all of these things are immortal in my eyes. Though I have a spiritual side, I am not an overly spiritual person and it does not govern my life; however, I am a romantic that values nostalgia, love, history, emotion and anything else that exists inside of me or next to me. I’ve never heard your observation put into words but I absolutely admit to my “reverence for the earth and for life” solely on the fact that these are pieces that make up me and therefore deserve my long-lasting respect.

In the end, it is not the earth and life as a whole that I love and respect; it is each plot of land and individual that I’ve personally encountered.

9. One of your fans here at Americymru was very touched by "Cellophane" and it seems to be both a love song and a song about love of the earth. What was your inspiration for this one?

My friend and girlfriend bought me a plane ticket to Europe (the inspiration behind "Big Hearts"). Ultimately, I may have never seen the other land if it wasn’t for them and "Big Hearts" was my humble “thank you” to the dearest people in my life. The experiences I had were beyond compare and that gesture of the human heart was like nothing I’d ever seen. "Cellophane", was schemed in Switzerland on that same trip.

To set the stage, I was with my girlfriend at the top of Mt. Pilatus, looking out at the majestic Alps. Elegant green hills were below and Lake Pilatus was neatly framed in the center of it all. One would think that that storybook landscape would be unparalleled in beauty BUT the song contests that the eyes of the girl at my side, at that moment, matched (if not exceeded) the loveliness. A side note, Lake Pilatus is said to be the burial place of Pontius Pilate… just a little inside info.

10. When you are not making music or writing music, what are you doing for fun?

I’m a dude, I like to hang out with friends, laugh, drink beer, watch Blazer games, watch movies, graphic/web design, read, workout, eat, make comments with no merit, etc. No matter what, my favorite thing is to get together with a group of friends and simply laugh at each other’s expense. Often times, without meeting me in person, people think I’m an overly serious individual because of the depth of my writing- that’s simply not true. I’m a goof and a comedian at heart. My writing is more of a heightened reality rather than a reflection of how I carry myself in the day-to-day. Don’t get me wrong, my music and my lyrics are my thoughts and my love but I live my life with a much brighter smile than some might think.

Right now, for some supplemental income, my best friend and I have started a small creative agency on the side. I really enjoy working with other companies and brands on their logo/web/graphic design, etc.

11. For your fans on Americymru, what would you most like us know about you?

I think I’ve said my piece. Mostly I want them to know that I’m working very hard at making music my undivided livelihood but it is a tough road and I’ll need all of their support, prayers and word of mouth. I haven’t made it big yet so I’m still fighting for position in the industry, by no means coasting to the finish line. I’d also like them to know that I’m for hire. My best successes are with private events and I’m ready and willing to host the most powerful concert they’ve ever seen in the comfort of their living room, no matter where they are on the map (as long as it makes sense financially). I am a real person trying to make a humble talent prosperous… not an easy road, very thankless at times but very noble in the end.

Interview by Brian y Tarw Llwyd

Peter Thabit Jones and John Good to Judge Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition!

We are immensely proud and pleased to announce that Peter Thabit Jones and John Good will judge the entries in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry competition ( English and Welsh language categories respectively ). First prize for both ctegories in this competition wiil be $100 (65GBP approx ). Second and third place prizes to be announced soon. The final submission date for entries is July 31st 2009. To submit your entry please go to this page and read the rules carefully before entering:- Left Coast Eisteddfod 2009 Poetry Competition Group. The competition is open to non-Americymru members but the submission procedure is slightly different.

Peter and John will need no introduction to most of our readers but just in case here are a few links:-

Peter Thabit Jones Website

Peter Thabit Jones on MySpace

Interview With John Good on Americymru

Oceans Apart Website

Peter Thabit Jones reading several of his poems on poetryvlog

Oceans Apart at the "Trans Celtic Gala" show, 2008

Announcement: Eluned Phillips (27 October 1914 – 10 January 2009) Memorial Service at the Welsh Church in Los Angeles

"This Great Welshwoman was born in Cenarth,on the same day that Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea. She knew Dylan well, but did not number him among her close friends. Her friends included Augustus John, Pablo Picasso and that fantastic French singer, Edith Piaf. Her autobiography The Reluctant Redhead relates the story of her unusual upbringing in west Wales, and her periods in London, Paris, USA and Patagonia. She died of pneumonia aged 94 at Glangwili Hospital in Camarthen. At the time of her death she was the oldest member of the Gorsedd of Bards. Being also the only woman to win the bardic crown at the National Eisteddfod of Wales twice, a feat she accomplished in 1967 at Bala and 1983 at Llangefni. There may be a Memorial Service for her at the Welsh Church in Los Angeles. For more details please contact Caroline Roper-Deyo cariadcaroline@yahoo.com"

Diolch yn fawr to Michael Barnes of BritishSocialNews.com for this information.

St. Davids Day Menu

Click to Enlarge This was last years suggested three-course St Davids Day recipe from Americymru. This year we will be inviting Americymru members to try out the many recipe suggestions to be found on our Welsh Recipes Group. page. We will be publishing a new St Davids Day three course menu on Feb 21st. This will allow time for people to try out some of the recipes on the groups page and allow time for anyone to prepare should they wish to try out our recommendation on the day itself. Join Americymru HERE

Saint David's Day March 1st is Saint David's Day, the National Holiday of Wales, a day to celebrate for the Welsh and Americans of Welsh descent. In Wales, people celebrate Saint David's Day by attending church services, wearing leeks and daffodils (national symbols of Wales and St. David), holding parades and children's parties in the schools. Saint David, Dewi Sant in Welsh, lived in the 6th Century and is unique among British saints in that a surprising amount of information was recorded about his life. He was probably the son of Usai, the king of Ceredigion, and the daughter of a lord of what would later be called Pembrokeshire and was the student of another Welsh saint, Paulinus. Dewi Sant was renowned as a teacher who founded monastic settlements and churches in mostly pagan Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. Today, Saint David's Cathedral stands on the site of a monastery he founded in Glyn Rhosyn (Valley of Roses) in Pembrokeshire. The monastic rule of Dewi Sant taught humility, simplicity and asceticism and he practiced these himself: that monks ploughed, planted and tended their crops themselves, without draft animals; that they drank only water and ate only bread with salt and herbs and never meat or beer; that they spent their evenings in prayer, reading and writing; that no member of the monastery had any personal possessions, everything belonged to them all. Dewi Sant's last sermon was recorded as including the words, "Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about.... Do the little things in life," and this phrase, "Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd," ("Do the little things in life") is a phrase used today.

Herbed Lamb Chops with Balsamic Glaze

Recipe And Ingredients 4 large lamb loin chops extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 Tbs chopped fresh sage 2 Tbs chopped fresh rosemary 2 Tbs chopped fresh thyme 1 Tbs dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper 1 tsp salt 2 large Walla-Walla onions, sliced thick 3 large cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon 2/3 cup Balsamic vinegar Preparation: Pour 2 Tbs olive oil into hot pan over medium heat. Season lamb chops on both sides with salt and pepper and add to pan. Pour onions over chops and cook until lamb is browned on both sides, about 5-7 minutes each side, stirring onions until they are clear. When lamb is cooked, remove chops and cover. Sprinkle brown sugar over onions and saute, stirring frequently until onions are browned and coated with sugar. Add garlic and herbs and saute for about a minute. Add vinegar and wine and boil in pan until reduced to glaze, about three minutes. Spoon over chops and serve. Welsh Pot Bread Welsh Pot Bread Serving Suggestion Recipe And Ingredients 2 new, unused, unglazed or painted, bare 6-inch terracotta flower pots Parchment paper 1 1/2 cups Spelt flour 1/2 cup milk warmed to room temperature 1/2 cup water warmed to room temperature 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 oz or two packets fresh or dried active yeast 1 egg 4 tbsp melted butter 2 Tbs finely chopped scallions 1 Tbs chopped fresh chives, chopped 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbs honey 1 tsp chopped fresh sage 1 tsp crushed fresh rosemary leaves 1 clove crushed garlic Seasoning flower pots This step can be done in advance of preparing the bread, at any time. Pre-heat oven to 175F Thoroughly wash pots inside and out and dry well. Coat pots all over (including the rim and the bottom) with olive oil inside and out, using a basting brush or paper towel. Place pots in oven on a cookie sheet and bake at 175F for about 20-30 minutes, or until dry. Remove pots from oven and allow to cool. Repeat this process three times. Preparing Pot Bread Preheat oven to 400F. Slightly warm two tablespoons of the milk and dissolve the honey in it. Allow to cool to lukewarm and add the yeast and mix into a thin paste. Cover and set aside in a warm place for 15 minutes or until yeast is well grown and foamy. Sift together flours and salt in large bowl, make a well in the center and pour the yeast mixture into the well. Add water, butter, onions, herbs and garlic, mix together well and knead on floured surface about 5 minutes, adding additional spelt flour in small amounts until it becomes a smooth, elastic dough. Pat dough into a ball shape. Place dough ball in a lightly warmed, greased bowl and cover in a warm place for approximately one hour, until dough has risen to double in size. Turn dough out onto floured surface and punch down only to knock out all the air, kneading lightly. Separate dough into two equal-sized balls. Place a circle of parchment paper to cover the bottom of each pot and place a dough ball on it. Cover each ball of dough and put in a warm place for approximately a half hour to an hour, until dough balls have risen to double in size or until they stop rising. Gently brush tops of each loaf with well-beaten egg. Place pots on cookie sheet in oven preheated at 400F for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and turn out to cool. Strawberry-Rhubarb Caerphilly Crumble Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly Crumble Recipe And Ingredients This dessert is a sweet, early spring treat in the UK and the US and there are many versions of it to be found. Our version is simple and easily modified for larger or smaller groups. Today Caerphilly cheese is made in different parts of the UK but it originated, of course, in the area of the town of Caerphilly, in South Wales. Rhubarb was probably brought to the United Kingdom thousands of years ago and is today grown in Wales and popular in desserts, wines and other recipes. Serves 4 Filling 2 Tbs. orange juice 2 tsp. cornstarch 1 1/2 cup diced fresh or frozen rhubarb 1 1/2 cup hulled and sliced strawberries 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp chopped crystallized ginger 1 Tsp. freshly grated orange zest Topping 1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats 1/4 cup whole wheat flour 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/3 cup orange juice 1/4 cup crumbled Caerphilly cheese 2 tbls butter OPTIONAL 2 Tbs. crushed almonds Preheat Oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch pie pan. Mix fruit with orange juice, crystallized ginger, sugar, cornstarch, and orange zest and pour into pie plate. Mix oats, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and almonds. With your hands, mix in butter and Caerphilly cheese, pressing it into the dry ingredients until crumbly. Slowly add orange juice as needed until you achieve slightly smooth crumbles that hang together. Spread topping over fruit mix. Place pie dish in oven over cookie sheet or foil to catch any bubble over. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until top is well browned. Remove and let cool to room temperature. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche.

Left Coast Eisteddfod Short Story Competition Will be Judged by Lloyd Jones!

We are immensely proud and pleased to announce that author Lloyd Jones will judge the entries in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Short Story competition. First prize in this competition wiil be $100 (65GBP approx ). Second and third place prizes to be announced soon. The final submission date for entries is July 31st 2009. To submit your entry please go to this page and read the rules carefully before entering:- Left Coast Eisteddfod Short Story Competition Submission Group. The competition is open to non-Americymru members but the submission procedure is slightly different.

Lloyd will need no introduction to most of our readers but just in case here are a few links:-

Interview With Lloyd Jones on Americymru

Review of "My First Colouring Book" on Americymru

Mr Vogel

Mr Cassini

Lloyd Jones on Wikipedia

My First Colouring Book

Mr. Vogel

Mr Cassini

Temporary Position of Participant Assistant for Welsh Program at Smithsonian Folklife Festival

From member Betty Belanus:-

"The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will feature Wales this summer. The temporary Festival position of Participant Assistant is listed below. Please note, the closing date is listed as past, but we are seeking fluent Welsh-speakers based in the U.S. due to potential visa problems for Welsh-based candidates and therefore the position will be open until filled as stated. We urge suitable candidates to get applications in as soon as possible. This position is based in Washington, D.C. and the starting date is negotiable. For more information about the event, see www.folklife.si.edu and click on Festival 2009; for application procedures, click under Opportunities/Employment. If you have specific questions about this position, please contact Betty Belanus at BelanusB@si.edu or by calling 202/633-6582.

2009 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Vacancy Announcement Number: SFF-2009 Opening date: November 24, 2008 Closing date: January 09, 2009 or until filled

Participant Assistant ○ 04-13-09 07-17-09 IS/GS 6 $17.81/hr. salary

Participant Assistants ‑ Assistants help the participant coordinator in making logistical arrangements for event participants; help prepare correspondence for participants. Make travel, housing and other arrangements. Spanish Language desired for one position. Welsh Language desired for one position."

Americymru Member, master carver David Western on Lee Valley Catalog

David Western is a master lovespoon carver in Vancouver, BC. He has generously offered to carve a custom lovespoon to be raffled off in support of the Left Coast Eisteddfod.

Two of David's beautiful spoons are on the cover of the January 2009 Lee Valley Catalog. Lee Valley is "a family-owned business that has been serving users of woodworking and gardening tools since 1978," is the largest catalog of home and garden items in David's native Canada and is avialable in the USA, also. David's Fine Art of Lovespoons is available in the catalog. David is very happy to be on their cover, he said that this was a goal of his and that he is, "very, very thrilled to be on there!"

To see the design of the spoon David is creating for the Left Coast Eisteddfod and follow his process as he creates it, go to his blog here. To enter for a chance to win David's spoon and support the Left Coast Eisteddfod click here.

Image © 2009 by Lee Valley Tools Ltd. and Veritas®Tools Inc. All rights reserved.

An Interview With Ian Price

Ian Price will need no introduction to most Americymru members. He is a regular contributor to the site and his contributions are always of the finest quality. He also runs two community websites ( Treorchy.net and Treherbert.info ) based in the Rhondda Valley. Ian kindly agreed to answer a few questions about his work and artistic inspiration.

1. You run Treorchy.Net What would you describe as its mission and purpose?

I run Treorchy.net and Treherbert.Info with my partner Rosemarie. It's a community website insomuch that we created it in order that people can pass on information, make enquiries, advertise societies or businesses or whatever they wish. It's complimented by a magazine we produce about three times a year in which much of the information we've collected is published and distributed to local communities in order that those who do not have access to the internet can also benefit from and or contribute to the information we collate. We research information for ex pats, send them photographs of their families homes, help them contact relatives etc. We do this for free. The magazine and the upkeep of the websites are funded by local businesses who wish to advertise with us

2. You have a keen appreciation of the history of the Rhondda Valleys. What future do you think they have in the aftermath of the coal-mining era?

The Rhondda is becoming a largely residential feeder area for Cardiff and the M4 corridor. There has been some sobering talk lately of reopening the pits. However at the moment there's very little industry here.

3. You have contributed many short prose pieces to ( read Ian's blog here ) Americymru. What would you describe as your main inspiration as a writer?

My inspiration would be the absurdity of life, its whimsy and it's humour. I particularly enjoy humour being used to show up the self important and the sanctimonious.

4. Who do you like to read and why?

Gwyn Thomas, Tom Sharpe and Alan Coren are the authors who make me laugh the most.

5. You have also contributed many photographs to this site ( view Ian's photo's here ). What inspires you as a photographer?

Fun. I was trained as an artist and so it was just an extension of creating a picture. Believe me it's a damn site easier taking photographs than carting an easel and paints all over creation. I still use pencil, ink, pastel brush et al though.

6. Once again you have contributed a great many masterful caricatures some of which are featured on this page. How long have you been a caricaturist and what is your favorite character?

I just fell into caricaturism as an extension of my leaning towards humour and art. As a kid I started to watch Warner Bros and Tex Avery cartoons and was fascinated and entertained by the whole concept. The characters in these cartoons inspired me not only because of the surreal nature of the whole genre but also because of the talents of people like Chuck Jones and Mel Blanc who put it all together by artistry, mimicry, characterisation and timing. I still have to limit myself to about three of these cartoons at a time because I laugh so much it hurts. My favourite character would have to be Yosemite Sam closely followed by Foghorn Leghorn and the Dawg.




7. What inspired the creation of your character Quentin Whistleton Thyne (Col Retd) . Anyone you know personally?

I created QWT to show up the absurdities of the worst of The Conservative Party in Britain and all it stands for. This was inspired in no small part by living through the Thatcher Administrations. I found it much more effective to use an overblown imperialist buffoon to make the points I wanted to make about inequality, feudalism, royalty, unbridled capitalism, the public school system and all the other trappings of establishment tripe that we're fed every day. I studied politics at university and could have launched humourless attacks on all of the above but as I've a tendency toward the eccentric I thought I'd make my points with humour. The character himself is a combination of characters played by Peter Cook, Stephen Fry, C Aubrey Smith, Terry Thomas and the stiff upper lip chaps portrayed in films like The Four Feathers.


8. In the wake of the deplorable conduct of certain parties in the colonial elections, do you think it's finally time to admit that this whole "independence" experiment has been a ghastly mistake and humbly reapply to rejoin the British commonwealth?

Wouldn't it be ironic if there was the United Kingdom of America and Wales would have to fight for it's independence. We'd win of course and call ourselves The Peoples Republic of Ton Mawr. We'd stride the globe like a cockle. Possessed of an economic powerhouse based on cawl and grass, Nations would tremble before us. Se what you've done now Ceri! You've sent me off on a trail of whimsy. Ha ha!

9. On a lighter note....I recently referred to a walk home from the pub in Llwynypia to Newport . What do you estimate to be the distance involved?

Depends which way you went. Shortest route would be about 30 miles or so.

Read Ian's entry in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Short Story Competition HERE. Enter competitions HERE.

Home is Where The Spoons Are

Reproduced from David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoon Blog

I have just returned from a brief trip to Wales, during which time I managed to visit with a couple of lovespoon carvers and spent some research time at the National History Museum of Wales. The museum, which is located in the supremely scenic and romantic town of St. Fagans, just on the Western edge of Cardiff, can be easily reached by car or bus.

Primarily an outdoor museum, it consists of a large number of historic houses and buildings gathered from around Wales and reassembled on a stunning rural grounds of several hundred acres. The buildings have all been furnished to suit their time periods and enthusiastic caretakers can tell you everything you need to know about the history of Wales, its lifestyles and culture. It must rate as one of the best museums of its type in the world and should be a "must do" for anyone visiting South Wales.

For me though, the real treasure is found in nondescript cardboard boxes which are neatly stacked in the archive vaults! St. Fagans is home to the largest and most varied collection of Welsh lovespoons in the world; as a collection it is unrivalled, as a source of information and inspiration it is priceless. I have been very fortunate to enjoy terrific support from the curatorial staff at St Fagans and their help with accessing the archived collection has allowed me to learn a great deal about the lovespoon.

Unfortunately, there remains much we still do not know about the lovespoon tradition. Frustratingly little has been written about them over the many centuries of their existence and most of the information we have on them today is either the result of educated supposition or fanciful exaggeration!

It is my hope that the hundreds of spoons contained in these boxes will one day give up some of their secrets and we will be able to paint a more accurate picture of their rich history, but for the present time, most remain an elusive mystery. One day we might know if there were regional styles to spoon carving, which symbols were understood in the day and which are more modern inventions and what real significance in the courting process the lovespoon held.

I have learned one very important lesson from my rubber-gloved contact with these glorious historic marvels though, and that is lovespoons MUST be made with passion! It is my belief that If there is no feeling for the subject or the recipient, the spoon suffers and inevitably lacks a 'spark'. This is a sentiment reinforced by the unrivaled Alun Davies of Abercynon who carves the finest lovespoons I have ever been fortunate enough to see. He once told me, "A lovespoon is not a lovespoon unless it is made with love; love for the tradition, love for the wood and love for the person who will receive it." I don't think a more accurate and truthful description is possible and it is one I have embraced in my own outlook toward lovespoon carving.

This passion is found in a number of the more basic spoons found in the archives. Although they lack the technical skill of many of the more modern spoons in the collection, many of these roughly made pieces exude a certain magic; they have a warmth and a romance which is quite enchanting. More often than not, I found myself being captivated by spoons which were obviously made by the most amateur of hands but which possessed a real charm.

So if I can offer any advice at all for anyone who would like to try their hand at lovespoon carving, it would be to see it as more than just a carving exercise; let yourself become involved with the piece, don't worry about finishing it in a hurry and most important, throw yourself into it...it is, after all, a lovespoon!!

"Dunkin Like David"

Americymru member Phil Wyman plans to put Wales on the map this year by standing waist deep in the river and praying on March 1st. Such was the practice of St David,, patron Saint of Wales, and March 1st is his Saints Day.

Pastor Phil posted the following appeal in a Forum ( St Davids Day Ideas Forum ) on Americymru a few months ago:-.

"On Saint David's Day, Sunday March 1st, 2009 I am planning on praying like David might have prayed - like the old ascetic Celtic saints - standing waist deep in cold waters. Of course, I am looking for people to join me, and I am hoping to get some media attention. Living in Salem, MA - just north of Boston this should not be difficult in March.

I have a group forming now, and am hoping to get about 10 people to join me. There are other people in other places considering joining the crazy idea. Anyone here want to join the chilly fun?"

Since then plans have matured considerably and there is now an official "Dunkin for David" blog ( which can be foundf HERE ) and a growing list of sponsors and supporters.

We are appealing to all Americymru members to consider joining in or helping to publicise the St David's Day Dunk.

Contact Pastor Phil and /or leave messages of suport via his Americymru page HERE.or by commenting below.

The official "Dunkin for David" ( in PDF format ) flier is attached below. Please feel free to print and distribute:-

Recruiting.pdf

The Left Coast Eisteddfod 2009 - Enter Online Competitions Here!

To visit the main Left Coast Eisteddfod page click HERE. To enter one of the competitions click on the group links below. PLEASE do not forget to read the relevant rules of submission before entering. ALL competitions are open to non-Americymru members but once again please read the rules before submitting your entry. They differ slightly for members and non-members. Winners will be announced at The Left Coast Eisteddfod on August 22nd 2009.
	Poetry Competition Group You may submit your entry in either Welsh or English. The two language categories will be judged separately and there will be a prize for each. There is a US100 dollars (approximately 50GBP ) prize for the winners in both categories.
	Student Essay Contest Group This essay competition is open to children between the ages of 8 and 16 years of age. The student chooses a person of Welsh birth or heritage who has made a significant contribution to world history.
	Visual Image Competition Croeso/Welcome to the Left Coast Eisteddfod Visual Image Competition. Here you can submit TWO photographs in the categories defined below and compete for a first place cash prize of $100 in each category.
	Short Story Submission Group Submit stories in the short story category here. Each story (and any links) must be added as a separate discussion in the group forum .
	Tom Jones Impersonators Group! Calling All Impersonators of His Royal Hotness, President of Wales, the Right Honorable Tom Jones - Give us Your Videos!
	Left Coast Eisteddfod - PIRATES Group! Show off your inner Pirate! Win $50 and acclaim! We're looking for Pirate Impersonators to send us photos in all their glory! Show us your John Callis, Howell Davis, Robert Edwards, John Evans, privateer Henry Morgan or Dread Pirate Bartholomew Roberts .
SPONSORS If you would like to sponsor the Eisteddfod or any of the individual online competitions please email americymru@gmail.com for details . Here is a list of our current sponsors.