"Ever On" Dan

I just learned this morning that one of my favorite singer/songwriters died on December 16th of prostate cancer. Tears are in my eyes right now as I write this tribute. Dan Fogelberg was a huge part of my youth. He musically defined so many of my feelings and experiences when in my 20's and 30's. It feels like we grew up together as we are only four years apart in age. As his life changed, my life changed. As he "grew up," I "grew up."

1973......driving my car down Greenburg Rd. in Tigard OR.....suddenly, over the radio, I hear this voice singing about a lost and vain love. Though I was late for something I immediately drove home (no cell phones!), called the radio station and then went straight to the store and purchased my first Dan Fogelberg album. The song was "Stars" and the album "Home Free."

Every new album was an event. I would be at the store the day it was released, take it home and set it in front of my stereo. Not until the next day would I take off the cellophane and let myself read the liner notes. Not until the third day would I let myself remove the record from the sleeve, place it on the turntable, carefully clean it and then sit down to listen. Hours of my life were spent listening to his music; not listening while cooking or cleaning or having dinner with friends but listening....just listening.

He was the musical unrequited love of my life. I loved his voice, his face, his music, his hands, his questioning, his passion, his love of nature and the joy he obviously took in life and music.

Farewell Dan and.....

May the trail rise up to meet you
May your heart rejoice in song
May the skies be fair above you
As you journey ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on--ever on
And in this planetary circle
We are but a single stone
Spinning on our fragile axis
Through the endless night alone
Ever on--ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on
May your love be there to guide us
May it always keep us strong
May we walk within your footsteps
As you lead us ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on--ever on
Ever on

The 12 Days of Christmas

"These are a few of my favorite things...

Of course top billing goes to my dog Miles! Doesn't he look positively thrilled!


This makes me happy. I think that reindeer are amazing creatures. I just read recently that they can travel over 200 miles in 24 hours without stopping for water or food. Feel free to take this reindeer quiz. I'm so fond of my reindeer that here is another picture of her. Someone just told me that female reindeer have antlers in the winter and male reindeer in the summer but I haven't had time to check and see if that's true.



Here is a photo of a few of the reindeer displayed in a yard in my neighborhood. I didn't take a picture of Santa in his sleigh because the reindeer are so cool that I hardly notice him.


Another aspect of Christmas that I really like are the lights. Granted some could adopt the "less is more" attitude, but in general they literally brighten up the long, dark nights. I particularly like blue lights.




Here's a question for the musically inclined. Do the blurry blue lights remind you of anything? If you're not sure click on the photo below to make it larger and I think that you will see what I see.


I even like lights when they are covered with snow.






Here are some of my favorite Christmas ornaments. I bought a number of these wooden angels during my first trip abroad back in 1980.






These two ornaments I bought on the NWPR musical Mozart tour a few years ago. The green glass ball is from Praque and the blue star was bought at the Kriskindlmarkt in Vienna right in front of City Hall.





This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas ornaments. I realize that it is just a cheap piece of plastic but as a child these were magical! I was fascinated by the bells, santas and snowmen "captured" inside the bright, glittering balls. The colors have faded over the years but the magic has not; hanging them on the tree is still a thrill for me.

















When I hear the word "crafts" I generally start to feel faint, nauseous and disoriented but I confess to making dough reindeer one year with my mom. I think that they are really cute!



Spritz cookies!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah!!!!!!! I love to look at them and I love to eat them....I just don't like making them. In fact, I have NEVER made a spritz cookie in my life in spite of the fact that they are delightfully delicious.



Something happened to our family Nativity scene and it had to be thrown away but I always thought that it was an especially nice one, primarily because the stable was made of real wood. One year my mom purchased this one for me. It's not quite as nice as our old one but I still enjoy taking it out and putting it up every year.



Check out this picture I hang on the wall behind my tree. I found an old card that I made for my parents, a note to Santa and a note from Santa and taped them to a board with some wrapping paper on it. Another attempt at crafting! Frankly, this deer picture was the highlight of my artistic career.



What are some of your favorite things about the holidays?

"Music is organized sound."

I like this quote from French composer Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varese. It means that music can be found anywhere; composed by anyone or anything.

Take a closer look at the above picture. Haven't you heard music in the soughing sound of wind playing across a telephone wire, in the liquid sound of falling rain, the staccato sound of clicking high heels, the rhythm of fingers on a keyboard?

Next time you're in Croatia check out this rather odd instrument.



Here's another bizzare instrument. Try this for spicing up that next road trip in Japan!



And finally, when was the last time you really sat down, relaxed and reveled in the sound of the Aquaggaswack?



J.B. (a listener) sent me this link from the Wall Street Journal link about a new instrument called a "Thummer."

Who owns whom?

This Sunday in church Pastor Corey showed a video from an organization called Simple Living. Following the video we had a lively discussion about giving. Why do we give? How much do we give? In what ways do we give? On perusing the Simple Living site a question from one of the entries popped out at me. "Who owns whom?" This is an excellent question to ask ourselves, particularly at this time of year when we are impelled, encouraged, dare I say coerced into buying more stuff for people that they may or may not need or want. In addition, we get to add to our collection of stuff perhaps leading to a basement, attic or storage room that looks like the picture above.

"Who does own whom anyway? I confess that every year I fill up the back of my station wagon with things that I no longer need, want or use. Why then do I have to do this all over again the next year?

I like the idea of Voluntary Simplicity. In my own way, I've been working toward this for some time but I have a loooooong way to go.

A few weeks ago I happened to see a preview of an upcoming Oprah episode on "The Secret Lives of Hoarders." I have a very dear friend who feels overwhelmed by her possessions and I thought that I might gain new insight and understanding into her
struggles by watching this show.

The entire two part program was about this woman, Sharyn, whose 3,000 square foot house was full of 75 tons of garbage, and enough usable items to fill a 10,000 square foot warehouse!


Unquestionably there is more going on here than a yearly trip to the Goodwill. Still, it really made me think. For many reasons, this year in particular I have felt overwhelmed by the flood of consumerism that washes over us during this time of the year. We have so much and so many people have so little.



Truly, I'm not anti-gift giving. I enjoy both giving and receiving thoughtful and loving gifts. However, I find myself being more pleased with the simplicity of this....



....or the experience of this....


...than I am with this!


Have a blessed season and may you receive exactly what you need!

Sevilla, Spain: Real Alcazar

One of the highlights of Seville, aside from the amazing tiles everywhere (but more on that later!) is the Real Alcazar, the royal residence built within the palace and started by Pedro I in 1364 using craftsmen from Granada and Toledo. As with Granada's Alhambra, the outside is very unprepossessing and the inside dazzling!

The main entrance is the Puerta del Leon or Lion's Gate for reasons which are fairly obvious.






















After passing through the Puerta del Leon you enter a long, rectangular courtyard lined with cypress trees, palms and other shrubs and flowers. Ahead of you, through a stone archway is the Patio de la Monteria, where the court met before embarking on one of their many hunting expeditions.



Here are two pictures of the literally faded glory of the facade of the Palacio Pedro I. Can you imagine what it looked like in the 14th century when all was fresh and bright?





















Pictures taken from the Patio de la Monteria....





In this photo you can see La Giralda, the bell tower from the Cathedral, another another one of Seville's famous buildings.

The entrance hall to the Palacio Pedro I, complete with secret passageway. That's my friend, Laure, peeking around the corner where the king used to scurry away (can you say that a King scurries?!) from one royal assignation to another.







Here are photos of the Salon de Embajadores, Ambassadors' Hall built in 1427.









The interior of the Real Alcazar has many patios, including the Patio del Yeso (Plaster Patio). Patios generally have either a fountain or, in this case, a water channel.



























The Patio de las Doncellas (Patio of the Maidens) has exquisite plasterwork. This is where you see the expertise of the artisans from Granada.




















Check out the beautiful detail in the following photos.








Here's a look from the interior of the palace to the gardens outside.




Before exploring the gardens we visited the rooms of Charles V. What struck me the most about these rooms were the amazing azulejos that decorate the halls and the chapel of Charles V. They are truly stunning.



























The gardens of the Real Alcazar are extensive and quite beautiful as you can see from the following pictures.













Sometimes you find interesting surprises......





















Los Baños de Doña María de Padilla, located under the Patio del Crucero. For an interesting story related to this see the Real Alcazar link at the top of the page.