The art of Kulning: Night-scented stock are called in for the long summer evening

Kulning is an ancient, sweet and sorrowful form of Scandinavian music used to herd cows and goats back down from their high mountain pastures in parts of Norway and in certain provinces of Sweden, Jämtland and Härjedalen. In practical use since medieval times, the mysterious tones were also thought to be a deterrent to potential predators like wolvesContinue reading “The art of Kulning: Night-scented stock are called in for the long summer evening”

Travel: Among the Irish Faeries and Norse Gods

Many years ago, I went hiking in Ireland in Glendalough I saw some magical landscapes. Ireland has a beautiful soft light in the summer. The diffused sunlight is speckled with clouds that pass over the vast valleys and mountain-sides. It’s possible to sit there all day and just watch the way the light travels overContinue reading “Travel: Among the Irish Faeries and Norse Gods”

Ancient Word of the Day: Vellichor

Noun: Vellichor from the Latin Vell (paper) and ichor (essence). An ethereal perfume that is extruded from the earth and infuses old book stores with mystery, wistfulness and nostalgia. Books are worlds unto themselves that reveal tiny and huge universes all co-existing side-by-side. The aroma of books is the smell of the passage of time.Continue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Vellichor”

Ancient Word of the Day: Thule

Thule or Tile is a legendary island in the North Europe, which was first written about by Ancient Greek Explorer Pytheas of Massalia during his travels between 330-20 BC. Later, a Roman citizen named Strabo wrote about Thule in his treatise named Geographica c. 30 AD. Thule – is the great unknown. The land ofContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Thule”

10 Interesting Things I Found On the Internet #31

Here are some flotsam and jetsam that I found floating around the river earlier on, I’ve let it all dry out and it will make a nice wall display later… This cat that feels dejected and jealous of his cat friend Animals experience jealousy, anger, love, confusion, excitment in the same way that we do.Continue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found On the Internet #31”

10 Cool Things I Found On the Internet #27

Welcome to a cosy corner of the internet where you can find a lot of wholesome and quirky picks to delight your five senses. Toshiya Sukegawa (助川敏弥) – Bioçic Music: Aqua Maple Colour by Erin Hanson (2019) Dogs to the rescue in the Wellcome Collection “Monks living in the Great St Bernard Pass in SwitzerlandContinue reading “10 Cool Things I Found On the Internet #27”

10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet this week #26

Sometimes you just need a happiness infusion straight into your veins, so here is a little shot of endorphins I hope you enjoy it… A Day in the Life of my favourite artist family The lovely and soulful Bartons in their cosy den of creativity The macabre story of The Sorceress by Jan van deContinue reading “10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet this week #26”

Ancient Word of the Day: Deliquium

Latin v. delinquere: “to lack, to fail In 1836, Francis Baily travelled to the Scottish Borders to see a solar eclipse. He witnessed a macabre and beautiful phenomenon. A row of lucid points, like a string of bright beads of irregular distance and size from each other. These suddenly appeared around the circumference of theContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Deliquium”

10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet #24

This week it’s going to take some intense eye-bleaching and palate cleansing to get the gross taste out of your mouth. So here are some things to hopefully brighten up the rooms and windows of your mind. Future Imperfect by River Crow The future may be hopeful. The future may be fearful. The future willContinue reading “10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet #24”

10 Cool Things I found on the Internet #23

Does your brain need to be plunged into icy-cold water? Consider this weeks picks to be a refreshing and brief dunk into a frozen arctic pool…when you know that a sauna will be waiting for you afterwards. Where the river begins A look at how linguistics, word origins and paleo-climatology are linked. “If you pauseContinue reading “10 Cool Things I found on the Internet #23”