I was honored to spend the day with my good friend and master violin luthier and bow maker Ken Amundson yesterday while on a quick trip home to MN before heading to Saskatchewan to play with Kenny. I lost one of my favorite fiddles and several bows in the Nashville Flood a few months ago, and I’ve been searching high and low for a candidate to replace it. Ken met me at my grandmother’s house, with close to 20 fiddles and as many bows. Ken has a violin shop in St. Paul, MN that specializes in fine instruments. He brought some amazing fiddles, but one was more special than the rest. One of them was quite possibly the best violin I’ve ever played, and I knew right away I had found my new fiddle.  We also got to spend a few minutes playing some old Norwegian fiddle tunes with my grandma on the piano and Ken and I on fiddles.   Ken is also making me a handmade bow, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thanks so much to Ken and Amundson Violin for taking the time to help me find the perfect match and for his years of friendship. www.amundsonviolin.com