Jim Blum met Bob Bellamy when he joined Jim's 5th grade class. Paul Kovac (Hillbilly Idol) was already there. Not that the buddy system is running rampant here or anything. Bob has released four CDs of hammered dulcimer music, which he recorded in his studio on the second floor of his barn, above the pigs and horses. He is an organic farmer by day, and a musician by early evening. He began playing mandolin, but found his real passion in playing and building hammered dulcimers. He plays many of his concerts now with Wendy. Wendy Barlow lives and teaches classical harp in Wooster, Ohio. They have released an album of Civil War music together.

A Reading of The Night Before Christmas/A Vist From St. Nicholas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; -- Noel Paul Stookey

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; -- Tom Prasada-Rao
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, -- Robin Williams
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, -- Linda Williams

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. -- Michael Clem
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. -- Julie Murphy Wells

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, -- Susan Werner
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, -- Don Dixon

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. -- Lisa McCormick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; -- Tom Paxton

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! -- Vance Gilbert
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" -- Tim O'Brien

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, -- Aine Minogue
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. -- Jonathan Edwards

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. -- Bela Fleck
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. -- Tony Trischka

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; -- Tish Hinojosa
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. -- Jeannie Burns

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! -- Beppe Gambetta
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; -- Dee Carstensen

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; -- Grace Griffith
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. -- Marie Burns

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; -- David Mallett
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; -- David Holt

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, -- Wendy Barlow
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; -- Bob Bellamy

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. -- Jim Blum
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" -- Joe Gunderman