Celtophile Monday

I heard this song on Thistle & Shamrock yesterday and could not move myself out of the car until the last note died away. It reminded me of the way I felt standing amid the giant redwoods and sequoias of California. Enjoy!

Click here to listen to track on Rhapsody

Muir and the Master Builder
Words and music by Brian McNeill (as sung by Dick Gaughan)

I asked the Master Builder, why did he make John Muir
From the seed of a man so hard and unforgiving?
A father who tried to use the Gospel to ensure
That his son's life would never be worth living
And the Lord's voice whispered on the high Sierra wind
From the mountains where the clear waters lie
Saying "Hold the bravest heart above the gravest of sins
And I'll show you how to make a hero rise"

"Leave Calvin and the Bible to the parish of Dunbar
Give a blind man back his eyes to find the brightest of the stars
And lead him to the altar of a better God by far
In the vale of the Redwood Cathedral"

I asked the Master Builder how did he find a way
To put the man in the mountain and the mountain in the man?
How long did he search to find the uncommon clay
That he needed for his Master Builder's plan?
And the Lord's voice came down from the high Sierra skies
Saying, "Take a heart of hard Scottish stone
Plant the seed of a wild place deep down inside
And I'll show you how to call a hero home"

As I stand by the thunder of the roaring mountain falls
And I hear California call you saviour
I cannot help but wonder had a different fortune called
Would you have done the same for Scotland the Brave
Your home and your father's?

God lives above the redwoods so they say
Looking down straight and true at the best of all his treasures
And if a man should stand among them to pray
It's against them the lord will take his measure
And who grew straighter than long Johnny Muir
A redwood of flesh, blood and bone
Filled by the Master Builder with a passion so pure
For the mountains that no one can ever own

I'm a guest of MeanKitty today!

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Click here!

Temporarily distracted by Facebook!

If I've been a bit MIA lately, it's because I'm still catching up on work after vacation, and I'm busy figuring out Facebook.

Um, does anyone ever REALLY figure out Facebook? Seriously?

Once I've pummelled my Profile and Fan Page into the shape I want them, I'll be back here. :) Mainly I'm trying to get blog and Twitter feeds set up for there's a one-stop place for readers on FB to keep up with me. (Which isn't really that hard...I don't move that fast!)

There's also a new Fan Page for the Beyond the Veil blog, so if you're on FB regularly and would like a little ping when there's a fascinating new post to read, click here and be a fan!

Samhain Spring Fling! Contest and Free Ebooks

News fresh of the Samhellion Blog ticker:

Calling all readers!

We decided it was time for a celebration. Winter is over, summer is on its way and spring...is, well...a little anti-climactic isn't it?

Not anymore!

At Samhain Publishing, spring is getting a makeover! This week we're holding contests, chats on the Samhain Cafe and giving away free ebooks. So dig out your favorite pair of shorts and turn on that sun lamp because its time for some fun!

Contests - There are seven contests, each beginning at 12:01 EST from the 19th through the 26th. Each contest will be released on the Samhellion Blog and the post will contain a link to the current contest.

Contest Rules

One entry per household.

Void where prohibited.

Only complete, correct entries will be entered into the drawing.

There are more than forty prizes up for grabs.

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Chats - Samhain authors will be chatting on the Samhain Cafe chat loop on Wednesday 4/22 through 4/26.

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Free ebooks - We will have a free ebook for you each day this week! They will be announced on the Samhellion Blog and ultimately end up in our library.

New BtV blog post: The Snake Pit

Hop over here for impressions left by a recent trip to Mexico. Enjoy!

Back soon...

I'm on a short hiatus for spring break with the family. See you in about a week!

~Carolan