Saying Goodbye

Sorry for my recent absence. My family and I are in the process of easing my father into the next life, with the help of Hospice.

A friend of mine sent me this bit of verse from Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar", and it's a fitting tribute for Dad:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.

Spring Pretties

Two years ago I bought a single little pot of sweet woodruff to plant in the middle of my little stone circle made up of hunks of granite from my beloved home state of North Carolina. This spring you can't see some of the stones for the mounds of green and white!

My stone Dachshund is barely keeping her head above "water"!



Woodruff is a lovely ground cover, but be aware that it spreads! :)

Women and the Ebook Revolution

Thanks to Angela James for the link.

Angela (Samhain Publishing), Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches, Malle Vallik of Harlequin and Kassia Krozser of Booksquare, and their panel "Smart Bitches Women Read Ebooks" at the recent Tools of Change conference.

Celtophile Monday

Photo Feature: Endangered Scottish Butterflies
RampantScotland.com has a great photo catalog of many of Scotland's 32 butterfly species, many of which are endangered due to habitat loss, changes to farming methods (factory farms, anyone?) and global warming. Click here for the feature page!


Robert Burns' Life - The Musical!
In the year of Homecoming, a new musical on the life and loves of Robert Burns is premiered at Dumfries Theatre Royal by the Dumfries Musical Theatre Company. Willie Johnston talks to the co-creators of "Red, Red Rose", the celebrated Burns actor John Cairney and composer Geoff Davidson. Click here for video: BBC.com

Villagers Demand Brighter Outlook
A small Highland community has attacked the BBC over "inaccurate" weather forecasts, which it says is putting off tourists and threatening livelihoods. Villagers claim Carrbridge, which is situated in the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore and protected by mountains, has its own weather system. Click here for full story.



Dance Champion Gets Medal - 65 Years Late
A former dance champion has been presented with her winner's medal, 65 years after her victory. Josephine McKeen, then nine years old, won the All England Sunshine Dancing Competition with her cousin in 1944, as World War II raged. But because all available metal was required to make armaments for the war effort, she never received her prize. Then living in Liverpool, she visited military hospitals to entertain soldiers despite ongoing bombing raids. Mrs McKeen - known as Jose - now lives in Irvine, Ayrshire, with her husband. She was presented with the medal by her local MP, Brian Donohoe, at a special ceremony in Irvine. Read more

Welsh House Discovered to be Bursting With History
From a cursing bowl to a house-full of oak furniture a Bangor building is bursting with history. Situated right in the centre of Bangor the Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery is a bit of a 'hidden gem'. It was saved from closure - at least until 2012 - earlier this year, and the museum's curator Esther Roberts is on a mission to put the place on the map. And part of that is an exhibition which has just opened charting the 125 history of the museum itself. The museum building is substantial and the former Canon's house in the city. The grand proportions and high ceilings lend themselves well to displaying items, while attic rooms create more intimate display areas, and the cellars ideal storage. It all began 125 years ago, when Bangor University decided to put together a 'handling collection' for use by students. The whole collection ranges from geology, zoology, botany, history and antiques, and objects bearing a Welsh history. Read more

Irish Walk of the Week: Dolmen Loop
Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary. Christopher Somerville describes his hike with local Michael Moroney: "I've rarely seen so much enthusiasm for a well-loved landscape, or so much energy and good humour packed into one human frame." Read more




Dawn Chorus: The Secret Language of Birds
IrishNews.com writer Jenny Lee's essay untangles the threads of bird calls on an Irish morning. Read story

Megalithic Photo of the Week: Engelsberg Keltenwall
Located in northern Bavaria, Germany. Read more


And finally...

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