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Colours by Donovan - Three for Thursday

 

 

A couple of days ago, while I was picking up some veggies and fruit from our local Whole Foods, I keyed in on a song that was playing in the background - a song I loved waaaaay back when.  When I got home, I looked it up on YouTube, played the video and then let the mix of music from the mid-60’s to early 70’s continue playing. Brought back to many happy, and some sad, memories.  One of the songs that played was Donovan Leitch’s “Colours,” a song I adored then and still adore now. I get lost in the peaceful lyrics, the lovely simplicity of the folk guitar accompaniment and Donovan's hauntingly beautiful voice.  The song was released in 1965 and, 54 years later, is still a classic. I have played it over and over since “rediscovering” it. The lyrics are shared near the end of the post.

 

Here’s a link to the YouTube video (version without harmonica): 

Donovan’s “Colours” 1965  

 

And here’s an incredible live version of the song with Pete Seeger sitting in on banjo: 

Donovan "Colours" 1966

Hot, Hot, Hot Dogs Days of Summer - Artisan Handmade

 

The dog days of summer are here and the temperatures have gotten hot, hot, hot.  It seems heat records have been shattered worldwide, especially in places that normally don’t get that hot.  Weird weather all over. Climate change is real, folks! 

 

So, just how did the term "Dog Days of Summer" come about?  Depending on latitude and longitude, the Dog Days usually start the beginning of July and end the beginning of September in the Northern Hemisphere and between early January to early March in the Southern Hemisphere.  Most people believe the phrase "dog days" developed by observing domestic dogs (such as our Seamus) laying around in shady areas during hot days. Another old myth, first attributed to Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist, stated in his Natural History that rabid dogs are supposed to be more common during this time of the year because the heat drives them mad.  He advised feeding dogs chicken manure to curb the tendency!!!

Beautiful Blues - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

 

Blue is a much beloved, favorite color of many, many people worldwide, especially in Europe and the United States.  But, if you look back at the history of blue, it was an ignored color for quite some time.  The Greek and Romans had no word for the color - it was never mentioned in any of the many texts produced at that time.  The color itself was barely distinguished from neutral shades. In the Odyssey, for example, Homer mentioned white and black hundreds of times, rarely mentioned red and yellow and used the term “wine-dark” to describe blue items, such as the sky or the sea.  What we think of as blue was associated with the Celts who were said to have painted their bodies blue before going into battle, women with blue eyes were believed to have loose morals and descriptions of rainbows omitted the color blue altogether!

Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower . . . John Harrigan

 

 

If you are a flower gardener (like I am) and grow many flowers from seeds, you truly understand the above statement.  So much beauty is bound up in a single flower seed which, like magic, can transform into a breathtaking flower.  I find happiness in just holding flower seeds and dreaming of the infinite possibility of what they will become. And when that magic happens - a seedling appears, a plant grows, a bud unfurls and a flower faces the sun - I am truly happy, awe struck and humbled.  And if I can share those flowers with family and friends, so much the better.

Make it an Artisan Handmade Mothers Day - Week 8

 

 

Mother’s Day will be here in just a few short weeks on Sunday, May 12, 2019.  If you haven’t already bought your Mom a gift, I have the best solution for you for your shopping needs!  Check out the Countdown to Mother’s Day 2019 collection hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog.  Each week, handmade artists share up to three of their unique items, each one a perfect gift for even the hardest to please Mom. This week, 12 artisans shared a total of 36 unique items.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 8, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a meaningful beauty that was handmade from the heart.

Make it an Artisan Handmade Mothers Day - Week 7

 

 

Week 7 of the Mother’s Day Countdown - 2019 has come and gone like a flash.  Since Mother’s Day will be here before you know it (here in a flash), now is the time to start shopping for that perfect handmade gift for Mom.  Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog, the Countdown to Mother’s Day is a perfect place to start your shopping!  Each week, handmade artists share up to three of their unique items, each one a perfect gift for even the hardest to please Mom. This week, a total of 36 artisan items were shared on the Countdown from 12 handmade artists.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 7, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a unique beauty that was handmade from the heart.

Make it an Artisan Handmade Mothers Day - Week 6

 

 

Since Mother’s Day will be here before you know it, now is the time to start shopping for that perfect handmade gift for Mom.  The Countdown to Mother’s Day 2019 is a great place to start! The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog.  Each week, handmade artists share up to three of their unique items, each one a perfect gift for even the most hard to please Mom. This week, a total of 32 artisan items were shared from 11 handmade artists.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 6, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart.

Christmas Gift Ideas - Tuesday Tag

 

Please share your links on the host blog:  CHRISTIE COTTAGE

 

 

Handmade Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday

 

 

When I was browsing the internet the other day, looking for nothing in particular, I stumbled across this quote:

 

Something Handmade is So Much More Meaningful


 

It caught my eye, because, being a handmade jewelry artist myself, I promote buying handmade whenever I can, through my own work or the work of others artist friends.  Handmade items ARE more meaningful . . . and are often one of a kind . . . and always have a small piece of the artist’s soul buried in them.

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 1

 

 

WOW, wasn't last Christmas like . . . last month? Yikes!  According to the Christmas clock, there is only 90 days, 22 hours, 30 minutes and those quickly descending seconds (as of 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning) until Christmas is here . . . once again!  And it's even closer by the time your read this "Make it an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 1" blog post!

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