Part of the band recently traveled to Scotland, Ron, Deb, Maranatha and Joanna.  It was the adventure of a lifetime.  We strengthened existing friendships and made some wonderful new ones.  We saw central Scotland, went down by the Borders, spent a little time in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and spent a day in St. Andrews on the East coast.  We had opportunity to play at a precious Church in Lanark and meet it's dear people, who are now dear to us.  We absolutely loved spending time with Rita and Dominick Sciallo and  couldn't get enough of them.  We stayed at Pastors Crawford and Sheila Kirkwood's home in Law while they were away at a conference.  Bless them!  We had the privilege of meeting and visiting with Colin and Mary Peckham (She was in the 1949 revival on the Isle of Lewis) Walter and Ishbel Stevenson,  who have a wonderful ministry together performing Country music.  We played at a Ceilidh held  at a farmhouse in central Scotland.  What a delight, again, more precious people to meet, the son and daughter-in-law of the Sciallos.  We traveled out to the Isle of Barra and stayed at Faire Mhaoldonaich and met Morag Mac Intyre( a fantastic B+B) I was privileged to meet an excellent violinist who was now devoting himself to teaching traditional fiddling  to the  children on Barra.  We participated in the wonderful Macneil reunion on Barra (Ron being a McNeil on his mother's side)  We tremendoulsy enjoyed the Ceilidh, the fantastic dancers, the young traditional fiddlers led by Duncan Johnstone, the Gaelic singers,  one of them being Donald Manford.  We performed a small set for the Ceilidh including some fiddling and "Chief of the Clan of the Ages".  It appeared to be well received.  We had a nice conversation with Jessie Macneil and Donald  Manford, two of the council members.  We were invited  to come back with our band and participate in their "Feis" which is their festival held the second week of July every year.  That would be wonderful, we would love it  We are considering a possible tour of the band to the Western Hebrides.  Scotland and it's surrounding Islands are beautiful. 

We are excited.  We will be visiting Scotland this summer and will travel out to the Isle of Barra in the Western Hebrides to celebrate the MacNeil reunion.  We will enjoy visiting with some dear friends while we are there and investigating a future tour of the Western Hebrides with the band.  I was very sorry to learn that we could not bring our fiddles as carry on.  To bring the instruments required paying over $700.00 for another seat for each instrument.  Hard to imagine that an Irish airlines could have such a policy!  Not to worry.  We will rent the required fiddles when there.  A dear missionary friend in Scotland has graciously offered the use of her guitar while there.  Impossible to go two weeks without music.  More impossible still, to live one second apart from Jesus!

Hi everyone, this is Deb from MPK band saying hello. We are entering into the time of "Scottishness". This is a time when the band dons their kilts once again and plays predominantly Scottish fiddle tunes and celebrates Robert Burns, the renown Scottish poet. The girls will be gearing up and refreshing their highland dances and join other dancers to etertain the guests @ 20th annual Robert Burns Supper held in EauClaire, WI Feb 3, 2007 @ the Holiday Inn Campus. MPK will be providing authentic Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes with whistles, flutes, fiddles, keyboard , guitar and drums, including the Bodhran played by our talented noah (my grandson) The Chippewa Falls Pipe Band will perform some awesome pipe tunes. Come and enjoy or you can log on to our website www.mpkband.com and listen to some sound bites of our tunes. There are Scottish fiddles tunes and some contemporay tunes we have written. We always give the highest honor to the Chief of the Clan of the Ages.

Hi darlins!  Hope you are all almost ready for Christmas, the single most awesome event of the universe.  I have a zillion presents to wrap, but I'm practicing "avoidance".  I am excited about our christmas CD we have out, thanks to Steve Cox.  I also just finished watching our MPK segment on the "It's Happening" show on Marshfield Cable channel 10.  Thanks to Mike Wiegel who did a great job and made us "look good"  We are also excited to let you know we have a wonderful St. Patricks day MPK concert planned for the Chestnut Center of the Arts in Marshfield, Wisconsin on March 17th 2007.  Have a little time for reflection this wonderful season, on the greatest gift giver of all!  Blessed New Year, Deb

I, the MaMa am just getting my feet wet in this territory called "My space".  Help! I can play a great guitar and fiddle, lead a band, work as a critical care RN running "scary" equipment to save lives on a daily basis,  but finding my way around all this computer stuff makes me crazy.   Be patient with me as I find my way.  When I go in a little deeper, I'll tell you all about our band and what we are doing.   I can't wait to hear about You.  In the meantime, be blessed and have a great day!  Deb

Just getting things rolling