Garden Music

Finally got the support up for the raspberries bushes--above picture. 

As I have been working in the garden, one of the composers I have been listening to has been Bantock: a Scottish composer of the late 19th C. who wrote some wonderful music and utilized harps in much of his work. At times energizing and at times soothing, perfect music for the rhythms of gardening.

Got the main work done, now have pumpkins, cucumber, corn, tomatoes, lettuce all planted with a second attempt at some rhubarb to be done in next day or so.

Have been working on the Scottish tune Huntingtone Castle which is delightful and I want to add it to my repertoire. Hoping the night shift will allow me some time to play the harp again...been busy the last rotation.

Some pictures of the garden...and look for 2 Greenmen above the main garden!

 

Two of the raised beds with lettuce, chives, garlic and sage starting up again. 

Each year a bit more...and always changes...the lure of the garden.

May Day and Beltaine!

Ah, to truly have the Wheel turn and bring us again to this day is a joy. Spent the first part of the day on a very long walk with Kim to challenge ourselves and to enjoy being out and about.

When I came back, the sun had decided to come out and I told myself it was time to return to the garden. Last year we had a small crop of beans and lots of pumpkins and squash in a small area that I had spaded and added in some good soil. This year I decided it was time to enlarge the garden area and for the last month as time and weather permitted I broke the grass/sod over a much larger area and this is what it looks like: uh, see above. Still haven't figured out to place images in the blog. May not look all that large , but I think we will get a bit of a good return from the work.

Hopefully this picture of some apple blossoms of our new dwarf apple tree will show up in the right place: , well close.

Also got a rhubarb plant in near the blueberries and the raspberries in a cozy and warm place near the fence.
Will be a long wait until next year when we can actually harvest them, but garden time is a time all of it's own.

And of course, there was music...red winged blackbirds, chickadees, crows a cawing while chasing each other all and about.

Happy Beltaine and Blessings of the Spring to you all!

Duncan

A wee bit of gardening....

The day was much warmer than I expected during the middle of the day, so I was able to get out and plant some narcissus bulbs that a friend at work had given me a week ago. Had planned to plant them earlier with the hopes of still seeing them this spring, but the weather has been rather inclement to put it mildly this last week.

And got a bit of spading in as well, hope to enlarge one of our garden areas so we can plant more vegetables this year.

Nice to be out and doing Greenman Work!  And also have been working on some new tunes and finally learning how to play some tunes I have been struggling with for years. Nice to "be in tune" this Spring -- both in the garden and with the harp.

Happy Spring everyone!

The Green Man

A Harp Dream

Two nights ago I awoke in the middle of the night, after dreaming of being in a workshop of Harpers and leading a workshop at one point about the history of harps for the audience/participants? (one is never quite sure of dreams....).

I cannot recall much more, but the dream energy was strong and invigorating for me...just before St. Patrick's day which has also now observed in several calendars as the Day of the Greenman. So this dream carried a lot of "green" and wonderful energy.

And now Spring is just two days away...about time.

Duncan

Harping for the Bread Makers

I went out this morning to the local Great Harvest Bread Company to play as they kneaded and baked their bread. I have done this on several St. Pat's days...it's fun and honors those good folks who continue the ages old tradition of local bread making.
I played for about half an hour, to the delight not only the bakers, but the customers who came in for a free slice of bread and almost always left with a loaf or a scone or a roll.
Reminds of the tradition of the musicians who would play for our Celtic ancestors as they toiled at various and needful tasks.

May your St. Patrick's day be full of luck and grace and may the sweet Sun shine on you this Spring.

Blessings,

Duncan

A Sunday meditation

I came across the most well known of John Donne's poems again and thought it well to share it as a good reminder that as we look at the world around us, let is care fully and wisely for all of our companions in our journey.
And be not quick to inflict harm, but love as fully as we are able.

Who casts not up his eye to the sun when it rises? but who takes off his eye from a comet when that breaks out? Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon any occasion rings? but who can remove it from that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this world? No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.


If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Duncan

Hogmany

Ah, to be in Scotland for Hogmanay! It has been noted that while the Scots do not celebrate Christmas in the same way as other countries do (due to the religious history of Scotland), they sure know how to bring in the New Year. A brief description of Hogmany from one of the online calendars:

Hogmanay in Scotland - ritual eating and drinking and the ceremony of "first-footing" - it was believed that if the first person to enter and bless a house after midnight was a handsome young dark-haired man, good luck would come the rest of the year.

May the first day of the New Year bring you blessings and set the days aright for the rest of the year,

Duncan