Alligator Stroll

Thought you might like to watch a video - quite a favourite of mine..

Happy spring, everyone!

Today is the first day of spring. To celebrate I thought I would post some pieces of music that I like and also have the word 'spring' in their title. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

There were three more but I couldn't find them on Grooveshark. If, however you want to listen to them you will find all three on Youtube.

Here are the titles:

The First of Spring - Acker Bilk
Spring Song - Halfdan Kjerulf
Spring - Brian Crain

Abundance...

I thought you would like to see a little a bit of what I've been busy with (and thankful for) lately.

Press play and listen to one of my favourite songs while you look at the photos:

 

Cherries - a gift from our neighbour

First courgette harvest

Apricots from our tree

A bucket of beans

Second courgette harvest + plum and salad tomatoes and aubergines

The last of the potato crop (we have the equivalent of 12 crates like these!) and more courgettes

Planting and keeping a garden is a lot of work, much of which I do on my own. After I have harvested, then all the produce has to be preserved in one way or another.* This keeps me busy, too. I planted much more this year because I had more land available and, thankfully, it has been rainy for a longer period of time and I therefore haven't needed to water as much as other years. It's a very productive  year in this respect, too.

*Post to follow shortly explaining how I preserve what the garden produces.

How are my bloggie friends doing? What are you filling your summer days with?

Spring bucket list

It's officially spring. Happy spring, everyone! (Dear me, we seem to have missed out. We had a few frosts at the beginning of December but that's all. Short winter that was!)

Well, I'll get on with what I am here for. I'm here today to post my Spring Bucket List. So, here goes:

Oh, let's listen to a little spring music (and video) whilst we read the list...

:) Learn to play the above Spring Song by Halfdan Kjerulf
:) Collect tadpoles and watch them grow into frogs
:) Learn Wordsworth's Daffodils poem by heart
:) Sew at least one little girl dress or skirt
:) Go asparagus hunting
:) Take a walk in the rain and splash in the puddles
:) Have a B B Q
:) Plant sunflowers along the garden wall
:) Make some bubble blowing rings and blow lots of bubbles
:) Go play at the beach with the whole family
:) Sew a skirt and blouse for myself
:) Go on at least five field trips:

The Paper Mill and Museum, Capellades
The Science Museum, Barcelona
Parc Samà, Cambrils/Montbrió
C.R.A.R.C, Masquefa
The Glass Museum, Vimbodí                                     

Mazurka in B flat major - Chopin

Isn't this a jolly piece of music? It has long been a favourite of mine both to listen to and to play.

Erik Satie

Erik Satie was a French composer and pianist during the late eighteen hundreds. One of his most famous works was the "Trois Gymnopedies" which most people who play the piano will have heard.

This is a composition which is not half as famous but I'm having great fun trying to learn how to play it. Have a listen:

It is no secret - Stuart Hamblen

Stuart Hamblen was an American singer and songwriter who confessed once to be in danger of becoming an alcoholic. A friend asked him how he broke the habit, and Hamblen replied: "I didn't do it. The Lord did it. He can do the same for anybody who'll let Him. It's no secret what God can do."

 

The chimes of time ring out the news:

 Another day is through.

Someone slipped and fell.

Was that someone you?

You may have longed for added strength, 

Your courage to renew.

Do not be disheartened, 

For I have news for you:

It is no secret what God can do.

What He's done for others 

He'll do for you.

With arms wide open, 

He'll pardon you.

It is no secret what God can do.

There is no night, for in His light

You'll never walk alone.

Always feel at home, 

Wherever you may roam.

There is no power can conquer you

While God is on your side.

Just take Him at His promise,

Don't run away and hide.

It is no secret etc.

Chris Spheeris

Have you ever heard of him? Well, up until a couple of days ago I hadn't. His music is "guitar with a Greek twist" and I like it very much. His best album is called "Eros". There are four, simply because I couldn't choose which I liked more!

Fun short video with music

Hope you enjoy this fun little video. We certainly did!

It's summer...

Let's welcome the summer by listening to some fun music, this time by Andreas Vollenweider...

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy these three pieces I have chosen for you.

Clarinet music

Since I was small I have liked the sound of the clarinet. When I was 8 years old I had the opportunity to learn to play this lovely instrument but at the beginning of the first lesson the teacher said "smile", so I did. She then went on to inform me that I wouldn't be able to play correctly as I only had one tooth in the front. This was a big disappointment, as you can imagine.

Since I could not play the instrument myself, I looked for good players to listen to. Acker Bilk has been one of my favourites. Have a listen...

Some years ago my husband bought me a beautiful clarinet, and my sister gave me a teach yourself book with a C.D. My teeth are in the correct place and all arranged as they should be, but now I have little time to dedicate to learning another instrument seriously. I will, I will...

Music to study to

While I'm working around the house and even more often whilst we are studying, I like to play a little background music. Obviously, it cannot be anything with catchy lyrics or too much of a rhythm as these would distract rather than encourage, so I choose guitar, violin or piano instrumentals, or concert pieces.

One of my favourite composers is Brian Crain. Here are two of  his compositions which I like very much. Please, listen and enjoy...

Tea for two

This is one of my favourite pieces of music, played by André Rieu. Anyone for a cuppa?