Something Lovely.

It's many moons since I posted a Something Lovely post, and my desire to share this with everyone I know has prompted me to post it here. Something lovely, something different, something new, for Milkmoon. The beginnings of a shake up? I'm excited!

This here is my video of 2011. It is from one of my albums of the year called Diamond Mine by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins. Don't be put off by the still you see here, it is beyond gorgeous.
I hope you enjoy it.

Did I Miss Anything?

I'm still here, chasing sun and waves and music and time out.
We were not finished with sickness in this house. It's been the worst year ever, but hopefully we have turned the corner now, and everyone is determined to enjoy themselves as the sun comes out, the school year winds down, and thoughts turn to frivolity and fun.
I am having problems with uploading photos, hence the dodgey iPhone shots on this post, which I hope lend a certain nostalgic dreaminess to it.
I have been out, as I said, finding thrills in all kinds of places, such as spectacular live shows like this one.

Sufjan Stevens in the Olympia, Dublin.

I travelled north west, to the wild, wild sea for a weekend of surfing, (yes, you did read that right!), incredible seafood, and the best company. A weekend of switching off and winding down and getting away from it all. Something I haven't done in years and years and years.

I liked it....a lot.

Bundoran.

The important things: great company, great food.

And with Jay finally home, we have managed to escape a little too, off into the city, in the sun, for more live music.

Summer in the city.

Phosphorescent, The Workman's Club, Dublin.

And yes, the sun is making a gradual comeback, and we have seized it and run with it, run to the beach.

Silver Strand.

So hopefully normal blogging will resume in the next day or so. In the meantime, in about five minutes I will be off out the door to walk (let's be realistic!) the Dublin Women's Mini-Marathon. And if any of you fancy sponsoring me, it's for a very good cause. Here is the link to my donation page, as well as information about the charity of my choice, CARI (Children At Risk in Ireland)

The sun is shining here, I do hope it is shining wherever you are too!

A Friday of Another Sort.

It's Friday. A most lovely Autumn day. The fire is lit. The house is quiet. I sit at my kitchen table, the ticking clock, the pot of tea, the purring cat. And I'm thinking I might do some baking.

But first, some blogging.

Has anyone else been having problems uploading images to blogger? I've been trying for three days now and still no joy. Just when we were back online too!
So, for the first time ever, I think, a Milkmoon post without images... It feels very strange.

I just wanted to let you all know I haven't disappeared again, and I do have something nice to share with you.
I was asked to do another guest post, this time over on Charlie and Caroline Gladstone's blog. You can read it here. They run Pedlars, my very favourite online shop (for those of us not lucky enough to live near one of their shops), as I wrote about here. Do take a wander around their shop and I promise you will find something that you will love!


They asked me to write about music. And I didn't know where to start, so I started at the beginning. And then I didn't know where to stop. So it's quite...comprehensive! And as is my usual, it has a good dose of nostalgia in it.
I hope you like it! And do say hello to them. They are a modern wonder and I do believe, a modern fairytale.

So here's to a most special Friday. We have no school for nine days, so plenty of time for lazing and hanging out together, and getting through my lengthy to-do list.

Roll on Halloween!

Thoughts On Trying To Write A Book.

A strange few weeks.


After a long period of barren-headedness, a forced dry pen scratching against my brain,
urging me to write, to find the words I know lie in the strange warren that is my mind, but that somehow escape me, I find a little door at last.
And though once inside I find my story waiting, it seems the door has closed behind me!

So I am consumed. 

Voices clamour to be heard, some real, some imagined, and as plot lines are revealed to me and I marvel and wonder, stealing moments to scratch out some lines, I find my world to be strangely cocooned, with all other poetry fleeing into the day, and a week goes by with no blog updates. 

A sorry state. And one I must amend!

So. I've been looking outward, enjoying those extra few minutes of light in the evening that somehow bring an extra spring to your step. And loving the air that seems to puff up around everything, like a courting bird, it's feathers against your skin like a caress, a promise of summer. And even though it's barely a whisper that flees into the darkness when it arrives, it still lingers like a memory, hiding in the little buds that loom out of the night, tapping on the window, hiding in the night air that no longer nips and tugs and sneaks in through folds in your clothes.

And somehow, I have to make it work, that I can find a way to have two worlds within me that can co-exist with room for one another. 

And I am thankful for the things that both inspire and ground me. 

My children. Who always ground me!

 Gigi over at The Magpie's Fancy. For being in a similar boat and throwing occasional floats!

And my soundtrack, my music, without which... I can't even begin to imagine. It holds me up and helps me soar, always there, always inspiring. 

For something remarkable and tremendous have a look at my latest post on ~Carnival~. It's my gift to you...

~Carnival~

So, just letting you know that my poor neglected ~Carnival~is back on track again. My fashion blog is now so much more! There'll be lots of music from now on too so pop over if you have a minute to spare.

Enjoy!

Happy Daze!

Well, we're away off down the country for a couple of days to visit this lovely place again. So it'll be a few days before I post again. 

Here's a sweet happy song to make you smile!

See you soon!

Here We Are!

The summer Solstice is rolling around fast. Can you believe it?

So next weekend we are having our annual party to celebrate the halfway point in the year, and in many ways the start of the summer holidays, and I enlisted the help of the amazingly talented Lisa to create this wonderful invite for it. 

This is where we are. This is home (or rather, garden,) to us, and it would be so fabulous if all you wonderful blogger friends I have made over the last couple of years could come see us here. I know that's not possible for some of you, but for those that can and those that can't, consider yourself invited when you hit that play button!

Something Lovely For The Weekend.

Well, Jay is home and life is falling back into place, but I thought I'd share this sweet lovesick song with you. It's by one of my current favourite bands Taken By Trees.

I hope you like it!



If you like this you can hear some more of their music here.

Happiest weekend wishes to you all. I hope the sun shines wherever you are. And if it does please send some our way!

Treading Water.

I know it's been a bit quiet around here.

Once again Jay's away, this time in Washington D.C. 

After five days life just becomes a bit hectic and I have to simplify things! And we still have a few to go. 

So as I sat on my couch with my laptop on my knee, chatting to Jay as he sat in Starbucks somewhere, I marveled at how brilliant technology is, that we can do this so easily! 

Apparently Lisa Hannigan is all over the radio there, so I thought I'd post another of her videos for you to start your week. And if you like what you hear then do check out her album, the cover of which by the way was photographed by our very own sweetie Cliona.

I hope you enjoy!

Something Lovely.

Ok. I am too excited to wait to do this post. I just have to share this with you. This here is a cover of the MGMT  song Pieces of What, by Irish band The Valentinos. The reason I heard about it is because none other than my dear friend LISA is singing on it! How proud am I? 

But it gets better. This wee video below was also made by her. (The only part I have in it is that my house features in it! Little did I know, Lisa!)

So, a big hand to the multi-talented Lisa, and of course The Valentinos for a sweet version of a lovely song. 

I hope you like it!

What I Owe John Martyn.

On Saturday evening,

as light slants in the windows, and the house is quiet,

with only the murmur of the tv drifting up from the sitting room.

I'm going out tonight.

In the hallway, I pause at the mirror.

Behind me, in the kitchen, a quiet song, this song, is playing,

has crept into my ear.

In my mirror, this is what I behold.

Jay is doing his magic.

He hums along quietly, 

rocking to sleep,

our child, 

pulled into sleep,

a song that tugs my heart,

a scene that tugs my heart.

I step out of my heels,

and into the kitchen.

Reluctant to leave.

***

Spencer the Rover.

This tune was composed by Spencer the Rover
As valiant a man as ever left home
And he had been much reduced
Which caused great confusion
And that was the reason he started to roam.

In Yorkshire near Rotherham, he had been on the ramble
Weary of travelling, he sat down to rest
By the foot of yon' mountain
Lays a clear flowing fountain
With bread and cold water he himself did refresh.

With the night fast approaching, to the woods he resorted
With wood, vine and ivy his bed for to make
But he dreamt about sighing
Lamenting and crying
Go home to your family and rambling forsake.

Twas the fifth day of November, I've reason to remember
When first he arrived home to his family and friends
And they did stand so astounded
Surprised and dumbfounded
To see such a stranger once more in their sight.

And his children come around him with their prittle prattling stories
With their prittle prattling stories to drive care away
And he's as happy as those
As have thousands of riches
Contented he'll remain and not ramble away.

An Unplanned Escape!

We have had no internet since Thursday evening! Now while I can appreciate a nice break and enjoy unplugging myself from the entire world, I do like to know in advance so I can plan for it. I kept thinking it must come back any minute now and so failed to enjoy it as I could have. So, for today it'll be a sweet song to make you smile, and hopefully later I can do a week of pictures. 

Gosh it's good to be back!

Something Lovely For The Weekend.

Happy Weekend to you one and all!

(My favourite bit is at the end when they link pinkies!)

Something Lovely For The Weekend.

Sorry things have been so quiet around here. With Jay away I find it necessary to simplify things in order to stay afloat. Hopefully Milkmoon should be back to normal blogging in the next day or two.

I thought I'd share this favourite bit of sweet cheerfulness with you all. It's something that myself and Lisa  are currently sighing over, and I thought I'd post it as a 'thank you'  to her for a divine dinner last night. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Something Lovely.

I am just too excited for words. I just found out that two of my favourite artists, whom I have featured here before, are showing together in London next month. Cue heart palpitations and brain going into overdrive planning how on earth I'm going to get over to London!

I met Jessie Chorley at last years Knitting and Stitching Show when I went looking for Julie Arkell who hadn't made it across the pond to Ireland with the exhibition. I was so disappointed that she wasn't there. Despondent might be a good word. But I wandered into an exhibition which instantly made me gasp in delight and grin. It was called 'Like Mother Like Daughter' and featured the work of Primmy and Jessie Chorley. I have long been dreaming about getting over to do one of Jessie's workshops, but the idea of an exhibition of these two inspirational women together is just too enticing.

                                                    Hush Doll~Julie Arkell

                                                                My Own Story~Julie Arkell

I think if I was to actually see Julie Arkell's work in person I would probably cry. I just would. It fills me with joy and sadness at the same time. Too beautiful for words. 

                                    A Vanished Garden detail~Jessie Chorley

                                                A Vanished Garden detail~Jessie Chorley

The exhibition is on in the Flow Gallery in Notting Hill from November 7th to January 10th. So if any of you are lucky enough to be in the area, please go and take a peek. I have no doubt it will be something very special.

And finally, I want to leave you with some music that I simply cannot stop listening to. It's been on loop all day. A gorgeous Swedish band called El Perro Del Mar, and you can hear some of their songs here.

So, until next time my friends, this is a very happy girl heading of to slumber and dream of magical creatures and books, and of taking wing across the grey sea to England...

The Little Baby Who Danced.

Sometimes I wonder
at the world
seen through baby eyes:



the appearance of music,
these happy strangers right there
in front of him,
and this wonderful gypsy swirl of soaring fiddles and trumpets and drums
right there,
out of nowhere!



He can't help it,
he bounces and jigs and grooves,
and still unsteady on his feet
wobbles with the effort, almost falling over.



And the magic holds him until the end,
when he remembers there is a new and unexplored territory right here,
and off he goes.

Something Lovely.

I know I did a Something Lovely post already this week but I really couldn't wait until next week to share this with you. This beautiful stop animation video is by the wonderfully talented Rima Staines. It's for a song called The Woods by a singer called Polly Paulusma whom I'd never heard off, but will definitely be hearing more of now.



The children loved it, though all agreed that it made them feel sad, the way a really good, proper fairytale should.

Pause.

In the midst of party-ifying the house, cleaning, putting away, clearing, the everyday still takes place.



Tonight, I sit down for a moment. I rest. He and I sit in silence, side by side on the red couch and listen to Mark Kozelek sing AC/DC.

Beautiful. Unexpectedly.

Something Lovely.

Here's something lovely.
I'll be doing a 'Something Lovely' post on a regular basis. It will be something that has caught my eye, my heart, or my breath over the previous few weeks. It might be music, art, someone else's blog, who knows?

I hope you like them.

Antony and The Johnsons-The Lake.

Monday Musings.

The child that books built.
Earlier today I had to repeatedly ask the older two to STOP READING and do their homework. Is it just me or does something feel wrong about that?

So it's nice when bedtime comes and they are eager to go to bed so they can read, and the Little One has his choosing time which can go on for quite some time, and usually involves reading a few himself first to check if he wants us to read it to him. I love those quiet murmurings of him telling himself the story. His version.




from' A Child's Sleep', by Carol Ann Duffy.

I stood at the edge of my child's sleep,
hearing her breathe;
although I could not enter there,
I could not leave.

Her sleep was a small wood,
perfumed with flowers;
dark, peaceful, sacred,
acred in hours.




By the time I had got Him settled tonight, The Smallest had fallen asleep on Jay's shoulder, listening to My Bloody Valentine. They all loved that music as babies. It's a strange one for me as the very sound of MBV makes me feel like I'm 17 again.