who's the proud new owner of a mandolin?

...moi!!!

This year for my birthday I asked for a mandolin... and my wish was granted! 

The instrument has the same fingering as the violin (but with frets, so no worries about intonation!) and is strummed like a guitar. As I have played the violin since I was six and know a bit of guitar, the mandolin is going fairly well!

It's definitely a good change for me ~ I have been needing some inspiration and freshness of late, and its soft, bright tone brings a smile to my face when I play.