Bee and Rabbits...

Busy day out in the gardens and had a chance to take some pictures of our two rabbits and one of the bees that was busy helping to keep everything alive.
And I was listening to some songs of Tolkien, which made it even better!

The importance of Vitamin "G" !

Dear readers,

Still alive, but been a busy Spring and therefore no recent posts. However, here is the link to a most fascinating article about Vitamin "G" (not really a vitamin) and the importance it has to help heal and nourish both the body and the mind.
http://healthcoachadvantage.com/blog/stress-reduction-and-vitamin-g/.

Do take a look and I hope your Spring is vital and enchanting.

Duncan

Another Music Player.

As you can see, I have added a grooveshark music player to the blog which I hope will do a better job of bringing harp music as you read.

Also, I have been working a new piece of music from the oldest extant piece of Celtic music and I hope to be playing it at the hospital starting this week.
Here, if the link works, is Aine Minogue giving it a beautiful rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_-WtdNS3FE.

More in a day or two.

Harping Again!

I returned to St. Joseph Hospital yesterday to make my musical rounds again and it was delightful to be harping again. I have been off for a few weeks with a painful left ankle, but yesterday I did my usual wards/units without trouble.
And a hello to Tom who I discovered knows this blog...!
Rain at last--not that I mind the fog we have been having, but it's been cold and freezing a wee bit too much.
I'll write more about the Folk Harp retreat I am going to this weekend...will be great to see old and new friends.

Peace
Duncan

Music...

I'm still working on trying to get some harp music to play on the blog, but experimenting with two music options for the moment.
The Tuna radio does not let me choose a Celtic genre, but if you click on the Renaissance button and then the play button, you will have some good music.
The Celtica player just below is from Celtica radio and plays the stream. It's set to autoplay, if you want to listen to Tuna, just pause the Celtica player,
Been dealing with a very sore left ankle and have not been to the hospital for a couple of weeks, I miss being on my musical rounds.
But I am looking forward to attending the Winter harp gather of the Puget Sound Folk Harp Society to be held the last week in January in Arlington.

Stay warm,

Duncan

Advice from A Tree

Found this on a Pagan blog and it's too good not to share...and I need to take it's advice most of all!

Stand tall and proud
Sink your roots deeply into the earth
Reflect the light of your true nature
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The energy and birth of spring
The growth and contentment of summer
The wisdom to let go the leaves in the fall
The rest and quiet renewal of winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!

~ Ilan Shamir ~

 Snow expected tonight, so I will leave the snowflakes up on the blog for awhile.

Blessings on your path.

 

Christmas Eve...

A bit of Dickens this day, from his "A Christmas Carol", found a card published by the legendary Cahill and Company publishing company.

Christmas Time--the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem - by one consent - to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of the people below them as if they were really fellow-passengers....and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

Granted there is the upper class vs lower class distinction in this quote, but I still see Dickens awareness of what a message of love and compassion can bring to the world.

May your Christmas and Yule be both Merry and Bright,
Blessings,
Duncan