Hogmanay 2011

I've spent the day redding (readying the house) and then I went hillwalking. I just sent out the Gaol Naofa newsletter and now there's a fire going outside so I'm about to pop out there, have some supper and await the new calendar year with my family. Good Wishes to you all!

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr! Athbhiain Faoi Mhaise! Blein Vie Noa!

(PS: pop over to Seren's blog for a New Year's blessing)

Oíche Shamhna sona dhaoibh!

Scél lemm dúib:

dordaid dam,

snigid gaim,

ro-fáith sam.

(Translation: I have news for you: the stag bells, winter snows, summer is ended.)

in honor of mí dheireadh fómhair

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfies
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
the grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer
Fires in the fall!

-- "Autumn Fires" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Lá Lúnasa 2011

Ah, finally have some time to write up about my Lúnasa festivities. More than any other festival (save Oíche Shamhna that is), Lúnasa is my most lengthy celebration. I'm a child of autumn and so I bask in all the turn of the season has to offer for as long as I can. Can I just praise the weather a bit here? A couple of days this month have given us a sneak peak at October's glorious weather and I couldn't be happier. We are in such a time now. Hurricane Irene has given us here in the southeast some breezy and extremely less humid air. I am loving it! Even if it's just a tease of autumn. But back to Lúnasa...

Book Review: Sleeping Naked Is Green by Vanessa Farquharson

In an effort to bring more content to the blog I thought I'd branch out some and instead of talking mainly about Gaelic Polytheism and Gaelic culture, I'd also talk about other subjects which are close to my heart and help make up who I am: green living, permaculture, domesticity, homesteading, frugality, deep ecology and bioregionalism. I might even bring in some photography tips at some point but we'll see. So expect more varied topics from now on and kicking it off is a book review...

Sleeping Naked Is Green is a blog-turned-book much like Julie & Julia but instead of dealing with a woman's trials through cooking, this tackles an eco-cynic's journey into green living. It chronicles 366 consecutive days in the life of Canadian film critic, Vanessa Farquharson.

Reading as an anecdotal memoir meets handy tip guide, Sleeping Naked Is Green has the friendly conversational tone one expects from blogs. Each chapter is a month and each day features one green change the author made such as using a handkerchief instead of tissues (March 20th) or walking home from work twice a week (October 1st).

What is so great about this book, I think, is just how small some of these changes are. I know a lot of people make excuses when it comes to being more green, “oh, I'm too busy to completely mess up my routine with new habits” or “It's such a life overhaul” ad nauseam … but really, there is so much out there that hardly takes any time at all.

"There is a true yearning to respond to the singing river and wise rock." 

— Maya Angelou

Lá Lúnasa sona daoibh go léir!

by OeilDeNuit

Lugnassad, luaid a hada

cecha bliadna ceinmara,

fromad cech toraid co m-blaid,

biad lusraid la Lugnasaid.

Lughnasa, its dues for telling:

In every distant year,

a taste of every fruit with flame,

a meal of vegetables on Lughnasa.