In Honour of Best Friends...

 In honour of best friends... without whom the world would be a dreadful place indeed. Thank God for the blessing of friendship!!!

The Sun Will Shine Again

Those of you who have been peeking around corners and discovering the nooks of this place…. To you I write this. Also to people who have no idea whom the persons I am about to mention may be, because one never wishes to exclude people, particularly Potential Readers Of Lovely Books….  

But anyways. 

To those of you who know.

You guys. (Ahem. Switching—I mean, Switching out of italics now. You are welcome)

You have read of Ronnie’s Rachel, no? Of Benjie, of teddy bears and great ships and the vast crushes awaiting them whilst they dock, and of creaking barns and nervous soldiers? You have heard of this? 

Well, before any of that…. There was Germany. There was a little house that sheltered warmly against the horrors of the times, and let the inhabitants believe that good would prevail. There was peace amid traumatic circumstances, and hope inside of destruction. 

Until there was not, and their world fell apart. So completely, so thoroughly, that it took the only One Who could to save them. 

Dear readers…. From the beginning of our meeting her in that cold, lonely barn in Belgium, we are given the opportunity to go back. Back, back, back to the days before…. Because you see, there is more to her story than meets the eye at first. (It so happens that this is a novella, really, and may be found, as far as it has been published, under the button up above by the title of At The Heart Of The Storm.)

And I tell you here, it will wrench your heart, and warm it, shatter it into a thousand hopeless pieces, and mend it in ways  you (and she) could not possibly have expected. The story before the story, and how the beginning as we knew it began….

May it draw you in as it did me. 

~Emi

Ps.    Please do let on what you think, hmm? Comments, you know. Blogger-girls delight in them. Greatly. You have no idea. Unless you are one yourself, and then you might😜

🎶Iiiiiiiiits Canada Day up Canada way on the first day of July!

And we're shoutin' "hooray" up Canada way, when the maple leaf flies high.

When the silver jets from east to west go streaming through our sky,

We'll be shoutin' "hooray" up Canada way when the great parade goes by.🎶

Heehee…. 

Errrrr no, that wasn’t actually me. THAT, my dear readers and potentially curious people, was The Man In The Black Hat. (He’s a Canadian legend, you know. Think newer than the Ogopogo, and older than Loonies and Toonies.)

See why I picked him? 

Stompin’ Tom Connors says it for us…. 

And thank goodness too, because I didn’t think of this yesterday…. (Or like, y’know, even before…. Which would have been smart. But the thing is, I DIDNT, and so I had to enlist help now.)

And then I watched the parade this morning, (at which this song was played, I kid you not a bit) and DID think of it, but the day held other things than writing, and here we be.

Good thing there are songs to take our place when we fail to be sufficiently eloquent ahead of time on occasions such as this🤣

Anyways, Canada…. I’m awfully glad my little corner of you is home🤗 

In Belated Honor of Memorial Day

To alll the lovely “Yanks” in the crowd, who may or may not understand how come a Canuck has got hold of such footage…. (Hint, it lived on YouTube, and then it was Transplanted ;) Or why…. And how come it be here…

This one’s for you😜

Oh, but you want an explanation?? Well, call it in honour of a Twinnie-First-Class (; (Wait, is that even a rank?? Well, it is now, anyway! It has been newly invented😜) And the video is courtesy of the same, strongly requested by the aforementioned🤣 

Soooooo…. To the patriots on the far side of the border…. 

Enjoy (; 

Titles, Monikers & Misnomers

Dear kindreds. 

Ready for an Out-Of-The-Blue-Ish kind of a topic? 

Because one presents itself very handily here, and it proves to be a pleasant thing to scribble about on Saturday afternoons ;) (That’s when this was written, see, only I added tidbits and furbelows on later days too, maybe even a Wednesday.)

Every so often the subject of scribbles, and what to name them comes up in the various places of discussion on the blogs of Accomplished Scribblers Whose Work I Admire. The general rule seemeth to be that, scribble once having been written, it then proves uncooperative in allowing itself to be crowned with a Particularly Suited Title Which Pleases The Author.

This is very interesting to me. Because in my experience, and throughout all my years of scribblerhood…

This is exactly the opposite of my difficulty.

Exactly.

See, I have titles that stack up in my head and result in mountains the like of which would fill a shelf with books—if their stories were written. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as they come decidedly without stories. Typically with outlines, and that’s about all. Like covers with maybe a front page and fluid description, but no book in them.

Titles jump out at me from the pages of books, ‘round corners and places through which sunshine peeps and casts intriguing shadows…

Well, not exactly by way of shadows. That was poetic liberty, and not an actual happening😆 But who knows? Maybe someday! The point is, they do pop up, and then they sound SO interesting to me that I either scramble them down, or just go around with them visiting my thoughts at completely unexpectable intervals throughout the seasons. Whether this means they should do the same to other people remains unknown😆

But today…

A handful of them are venturing out into the world, to see whether they have fortunes to be made, or should go into gardening instead. Livelihoods or lavender, you know. 

Be dears and tell me what you think, won’t you? It may save us both seeds and sowing. In individual gardens and  otherwise…

Shall we sally forth and meet our contestants, then?

Quite right. Off we go then!

1. The Words Of His Mouth Were Smoother Than Butter, (But War Was In His Heart)

Okay, that one… I was reading through the Psalms the other day, and that line of Psalm 55:21 just leapt out at me… And it wanted to be a story. Oh, but it wanted to be a story!! 

Now, this is not one I could ever write… I wonder if there is such a thing possible as writing a letter to Tessa Afshar? Because if so… I may have to!

2. Painting The Roses Red.

This is an old one😆 I believe the original interpretation was that people will go to great lengths to tint their roses to the queen’s decrees, terrified of losing both noggins and position… “Off with their heads” and all that, you know… When it isn’t the queen who matters at all, but the wisdom of the King, who painted the roses perfectly the first time, thankyou very much. 

Yes, I thought myself to be quite wise at the time😜😆

3. Teachers Of Good Things

This one is also the excerpt of a bible verse… Namely, Titus 2:3.And it does come with a person in mind, a charming, precious, pure gold darling of a woman… Of silvered crowning glory. A character, you could say. As yet unwritten. Character, that is, the part about the bookful of her story goes without saying. 

Bottle Full Of Tears:

Psalm 56:8-1

The story of three portraits, children, their lives a victim to the holocaust, and the Father who never let them go.

Even in greatest sorrow…

And finally… The one that has come closest to being written out…

You ready? Well, hang on to your gold pan then, cuz WE… Are off to Dawson City, Whitehorse Pass, and the land of dancehall girls…. To meet one man. Yup, really just the one. The celebrities shall have to live in some other book, we’re here for a Nobody. An unusual kind of a nobody, undriven by gold, and there for unfathomable reasons… So say the Sourdoughs!

Shall we meet him? Well then, step lively and skip a beat, because here… Is…

Number 4. 

Aka, No Fool’s Gold

Yup. This is him, No Fool. Oh, he doesn’t look like much yet, but he’s a pretty decent guy, for all that. Humbly clothed, but richer than many a millionaire….

Okay. I admit…. This one has a leetle touch of an ulterior motive in it😆 I don’t know about anyone else, but…. Ohh, I get sick of hearing about gold fever and men losing their minds to the allure of the elusive…. Coming back broken, because they sought what was either unattainable, or cost them everything…. And sent them home mindboggling wealthy, and unable to even enjoy it. Like a Robert Service poem, the Yukon that swallowed men alive. 

Now, give me a story like that of Twelve Foot Davis, whose cabin possessed a latch string which was always out, and you have a happy camper. Er, scribbler. I LOOOOOVE pioneer stories,  I just like ‘em heart-rich, not weighted down with a sack of gold😆 

Soooooo… The thing is, I wanted just this one guy who DIDN’T.  Didn’t catch the fever, didn’t go down on the Gold Boat, only ever ventured down the Pass to bring others back down. That kinda guy. He’s in the middle of it with everyone else, he’s seeing everything they do… But it doesn’t take hold of him, and he finds his gold in the little things everyone else is missing. 

There is gold, and then there is Fool’s gold. But towering above them both, you have No Fool’s Gold… (Yes, this is what they call him, and no, it ain’t his real name…) And he seems to have a knack for finding it everywhere! Richer than George Carmack after the Bonanza Creek was discovered. 

Which is really, really rich. He stored up His treasures in heaven, and moth and rust were no match for them…

In The Lair Of The Evening Wolves

This one is brand new, y’all… So new it does not even have an attached description of plot. (Although it may posses a small orphan boy by the name of David. Found out just now.) And it has been echoing in my thoughts. 

I know very little about Evening Wolves, except that they are mentioned in the bible… And even so… Only the fact that they exist. In Zephaniah 3:3. Look it up!

I’m picturing this as set in an ancient times 63 years into the exile of the Israelites in Babylon, awaiting the promise of being brought home again, anticipation mounting… Again, Tessa Afshar, please?!! Oh, never mind, if she wrote every story I thought of, she’d be swamped beyond belief😜 Could also go by One Boy’s Journey.

Now hang you on, my handful grew!

Masterpiece:The Wonder Of God’s Crayons.

Sometimes children just say the most simplistically insightful things…. This is something I borrowed from my little sissie, when she was a much younger sissie than she is now… She’d say God’s “markers” must be pretty marvellous to colour the world like it is. And she was right. From the mouths of babes and five yr olds….

I’ve heard it said that we are God’s masterpieces….

But how often do we stop to believe that God simply doesn’t slip and drop a sudden splotch of paint in the wrong place? Not ever. We’re the ones who do that when we try to wield the brush our own way…. It’s like letting a five yr old loose on a Thomas Kincaid painting. Not good at all😆 

He doesn’t make mistakes with His works of Art, and He doesn’t do them randomly. Every line in us, whether we recognize it or not, is intentional, and that is beautiful. No, Anne, just because you were given red hair does not mean it was for spite. But how often do we forget? Read Zephaniah 3:17 if today happens to be a day when you could use a reminder of just how loved you are. A book I should read a great deal more often, or at least once thoroughly, because I had forgotten the beauty of the promises within its pages….. 

Huh🤔 Now I went n said a HANDFUL of titles, and here we see exactly… A cool seven. A handful plus two digits. Or maybe 2 pinches, if we count like I cook. 

But see, the thing is… Those are my main unwritten ones, and sometimes the names DO only come along after a thing is written. (Though about 3 of these are brand new, showing up for this specifically, I guess!) They can be convenient that way. Other times a name pops out of the blue, and demands you to use it. Or else it just sticks around. Sometimes a scribble goes title-less for years, but almost always… They go and choose their very own! 

Which puts me on the verge of Story Letters, and THERE is a topic for another post. One I may yet need to put Down The Rabbit Hole, because it thoroughly invigorates me😜

The joys of creating people, people!!!! The wonder of seeing a story spun before your very eyes and feeling rather like you’re just the pen… 

There now, how was that for a ramble rolled-into-scribble-airing?? I shudder slightly to think of how many miles have gone by, yet I don’t know of much I’d change… So there we have it (; 

The Title-Folk have had their little excursion into the world, foraying and sallying forth in scribbling suits  trimmed brilliantly with ruffles of Word-ribbons and Yet More Verbage.

So, dear readers… Now I must ask an opinion of you😜 Since you are so obligingly Still Here, and available to be asked, and also because I am now the slightest (ahem) bit curious… 

Question #One. Do any of these sound like stories you’d write? 

Ditto #Two. Which one most tickled your interest, and what do you see the contents as? Colours, picture's, characters… (That’s always my favourite part of discovering a story, discovering the people in it😉)

Okay. The walls of solid text are going abroad now, and the titles to seek wise counsel… And as for Emily, she is off to bed, being yawningly finishing the ending of this! 

Goodnight, you lovely people… Although chances are you’ll read this in the morning. That was not very well thought out. Oh well, goodnight anyway😆

Yours Wordingly,

~Emily

Dear Kindreds. I have something to tell you today. Or rather, I have a message to give you. A message from our dear Julie… And one she wanted me to give to you. And…. . And a stone uncovered is one you no longer have to trip over, but can avoid in the future. And for another “stone-story”, I say…. 

John 8:7-11.

Anyway. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive her. I certainly have🫂

And so…. without futher ado, I give you….

Julie’s message.

It's been a long time... well, at least it feels like a long time, but perhaps some of you remember Seonaid, aka Seon, who wrote on here briefly...

Well... the time has come to admit that... Seon was a fictional character.

And before I explain any further... I want to apologize. I'm sorry... it was a lie, and it was wrong of me to pretend that Seon was a real person.

Y'see... Seon was a test... an experiment, really. I created her to see if I could effectively write a character who was very much unlike me. Right when I was beginning A Time of War (formerly The Duty That Lies Before Us) I was facing a challenge that I never had before... writing a boatload of characters very much unlike me. Ronnie, Josh, Mac, Emma, Katie... and so on and so forth goeth the list. So most of them have a bit of me in them, but for the most part, they are very much unlike me. And I wanted to be sure I could write believable characters instead of dead carbon copies of myself.

Enter Seon. 

And she served her purpose well... I guess she was believable, cuz I had people fooled... even Emi, who, being my best friend, is an expert on me... 

But it was wrong. And I'm sorry. There's no excuse for a lie, ever.

-Julie

In Which The Long Losted Returns

Hullo again at long last, ye kindreds very dear!

It is I, Emily—Of—The—Disappearing-Act… Oh, very very glad to be back, and having as Lizzie once said, “graduated from the Society—Of—Well—Kept—Eyes”!

You’ve no idea how lovely it is, truly😜 There’s nothing like a famine to make you rejoice in the prospect of feasts! And here… I am (: Back at last! 

Now… This isn’t particularly intended for a long post, just a “Return Of The Runaway Scribbler”, and to post a poem that once wrote itself… And wants to be posted now. 

Scribbles are wonderful, marvellous, splendiferous things, and funnest of all when they go with the wind and a bestie (;

But perhaps the most—humbling and inspiring sort… Are the ones that seem to write themselves, to come from beyond yourself. Have you ever had that happen? The kind where you look at it afterwards, and you can’t even take credit for the writing of it, because, as Emily Byrd Starr The-Original said it….

“Lovely thoughts came flying out to meet me like birds—They weren’t my thoughts, I couldn’t think anything half so lovely. They came from somewhere.”

That was the case with this poem. Ever since I was little, words have done things to me. They tickle until you simply must put them down, and tempt you with the turning of them, the weavery and splicing and fiddling of them…

An art to be joyed in. 

But the finest things…. Are written during the times when you sit back in sheer awe afterwards, and know that it was not you who wrote it. It was only written through you, not by at all.

It is… A humbling thing, to know yourself to be only an instrument. Only? Nay, not only. Broken, but beloved… Empty and useless on our own, yet perfectly directable in the Master’s hand. Useable. I think that’s the part that strikes me most! 

Even when we don’t see how. 

Can you imagine what the prophets must have felt, receiving divine revelation? Being given what would, thousands of years later, be true scripture, yet knowing in the moment only that it was God who gave it to them… To preach, yet not experience, to prophecy, but not to see… 

Now,in no way am I comparing this with scribbbles! Just a thought that struck me… 

Anyway. The piece aforementioned!

                               

Neither Ink Nor Author I,

Only an instrument in hand…

A vessel purpose driven, 

through the love that ever stands.

It is merely I who form the words,

Who sets them on the page.

They are not mine, but given me

Each word in His wisdom placed.

It is not I, yet I rejoice to be used,

Held in the Master’s guiding hand,

And in wonder, I see, word by word,

All the way… In the portrait emerging 

His fingerprints, 

and in awe and amazement 

I stand.

The ink, from the Spirit flowing.

Renewing in It’s power…

A strength and shelter freely gives, 

A hope for each new hour.

Neither ink nor author I, 

Only a pen in His hand…

But to be used by the Master

Brings true joy in the The Way,

And the Light of His love, 

Joy commands. 

Like the song says… Fill up my cup, let it overflow!

Wishing you all His joy today, and may you walk in the fullness of His grace…

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Until We Meet Again.

—Emi K

Notice

Hello Kindreds!

This isn't exactly a post... more of an excuse. Emi asked me to apologize on her behalf, since she will be unable to come on the blog for at least six weeks, due to illness. I don't understand all the details, but she is recovering from some kind of severe eye inflammation and can't look at screens at all. She just wanted everyone to know she isn't neglecting the blog on purpose, and she can't wait to be back and scribbling again! I know she misses you all. Prayers for her recovery are really appreciated, thank you! 

Dear  kindreds….

This is a post that is to consist entirely of the musings and collective thoughts that followed the discovery and diving into of a book I happened upon without trying to…. And that has been ceaselessly encouraging me ever since. I’ve lost count of the times I have opened it in tears, and found comfort…. Or opened it with question holes in my heart that were unexpectedly and perfectly filled, and found my eyes filled with another kind of tears. 

That kind of a book. 

Your eyes widen at this, and a not-sure-what-to-make-of-this light enters your questioning gaze. 

Finally you ask it. The question begging to be posed.

What is this book, that it has had such leverage, you ask in polite curiosity. It really wants to be slightly more, but it stuck to that. 

It is a book of poetry, I reply. Eloquence is my strong point, as you can well see. And sarcasm, appropriately wielded and in the hands of an expert, is an art. 

But curiosity gets the better of you. 

“Well, who by then? Wordsworth? Longfellow? Maybe Robert Service? You’re northern, after all, that would make sense. All except the tears part. Was it written on the subject of the Yukon Trail, perhaps? “

“No?”

“Well, then what is it? Modern? Historical? Antiquated? Something newly released and that is why you discovered it!”

Nope. No to all of the above. It comes with an unassuming cover, clearly from another era, yet not so old as to collectible. It is not the kind to catch your eye on the shelf, and a sweetly old fashioned and very demure watercolour graces the front.

Yet the title says it all. Heart Gifts, by Helen Steiner Rice.

You have struck gold. Anything sound familiar about that title? (Always keeping in mind that the discovery of it took place at the very least several weeks after the original HeartSong Moment was written up and posted, maybe more.)

Hidden among dozens of bright and bold covers…. Yet I found it. Or maybe…. I am rather inclined to think it was put there for me to find. I knew the moment I pulled it out that it was coming home with me, and…. It has been a Godsend. That is the long and short and yes, too the the sweetness of it.

As if the thoughts of your heart lay spread out on the page before you, a page you would never have found by yourself…. When you needed to know the Master heard and saw and loved…. Even when you could hardly find the words to pray, and your thoughts stubbornly clung to everything but what truly needed to be thought and asked…

And a gentle, quiet leading brought you to where you needed to be anyway. To see. To hear, to know…. To be refilled and strengthened for the road ahead.

It has blessed me…. Far beyond what I expected when I took it off the shelf. And now…. I cannot but share it, on the grounds that mayhap ye shall find it to be exactly what you need as well🙃

May your days be filled with His Light….

Yours, counting her blessings….

~Emi

Ps. This went up fast-ish, and now it wants to start sprouting all over on me…. So I reserve the right to edit and add on this one😜🤪 Like lots, maybe. Just a heads up (;

One Drop At A Time

One by one, the raindrops fall on the “seed” that is yours truly…. Duly and deeply nicked, albeit unexpectedly and at a cost…. there is something going on at the heart of it. It swells suspiciously, and one might be forgiven for wondering if mayhap and possibly things be nearly set to sprout forth…. Nay, but already are as we speak. New and previously unexperienced things…. Glorious things, scary, frightening things, peace immeasurable, ways where no ways were…. And where the Master makes a way, it always leads to a place He has made ready.

He goes before us, does not fail us….

            

And the raindrops fall, and the heart finds hope in the melody that is them. 

Yes, these garden analogies are likely to continue. Quite. This blog has temporarily turned snapshot journal, and I find myself quite alright with that…. This is a season. Yes, there is more to this than mere thoughts and musings…. This is Life, and the Real Life tendings of my Gardener…. And He is faithful, forever faithful.

See Philippians 2:10-11 and Philippians 4:7….

He is always faithful…. And He will show you so in a thousand ways. Wait for the Light to shine through, kindreds…. I tell you, it is worth waiting for. Not all the darkness in the world can dim the power of the true Light. Beyond your wildest dreams, it’s worth it. Surrender is not losing, it is gaining more than anyone could have imagined.

Living completed, and learning to trust like a child….

~Emily 

In Times Of Darkness

                             Psalm 34:18

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Kindreds… I have something different for you today. I don’t know what to call it, so I’ll just say it was…. Heart-written.   One of those times when you’re just the pen…. Neither the ink nor the author. And I felt as if I needed to share it, so…. 

If any one of you out there is in the middle of the same kind of dark valley…. Hold on. There is hope. You may not see it, but it has not given up on you. The Light is still there…. The Light is ALWAYS there, and He cares. He’s not letting go…. Hold fast. Even when it looks hopeless. He will be your hope, and the rock on which you may stand.

      

In Times Of Darkness, 

                                  Revive Us Again

Psalm 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Have you ever felt like you were drowning, and you couldn’t swim? Like all the world was dark around you, and not a peep of light shone in? How like a seed, I wonder, would this situation be?

The rain rolls down around it, deep in the earth it cannot see…. When all is dark and muddy, what earthly good can in this be?

The rain, it keeps on coming, in torrents, that, swift and unceasing, soften your shell…. Yet the hopeless becomes the cause of hope, God doeth all things well. 

In drowning, it may sprout forth, the raindrops sweetly sink to help…. What feels a death sentence becomes a life source, a gift the seed could not give itself. 

He knows, He knows that you’re hurting…. But He knows that you need this to grow. So wisely He permits that which breaks you, so that in time, His abundance you’ll know.

Loving you too much to leave you, that small seed encased in the ground…. Knowing that in you, there be blossoms…. After in His love, you shall abound. 

Hold fast, when you’re drowning and can’t swim, when the world around you goes dark…. When it’s cold and it’s wet, and you’re hedged in….

Just hold fast the hope He provides. For He always sends hope when you need it, light for the heart, if not eyes…. Knowing this, hold fast to the light now, all the more when the fear groweth stark.

He goes with you, He promises warmly. And every promise He makes, He does keep. Just keep watch, ye wee seeds in the dark ground…. When the night is o’er, His faithfulness you plainly too shall see.

So rejoice in the grace of our Gardener…. Who protects us in the midst of each storm, nurturing in the midst of great pain…. I’ve found, and I know you will find, too, that He is faithful, and He always shall be.

Rejoice with me in His grace, my friends… Because this is half journal entry. 

The darkness has no power over Him in whom we trust.

Yours overflowingly, having come through the valley, and been brought into a joyful place…. 

Emi

Luke 8:24~25 

And they came to Him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

And He said unto them, where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying to one another, what manner of man is this! For He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him.

Ps. I know I’ve mentioned Celtic Woman before, but this song in particular…. Rang true for me after every valley. If you need just a twinkling of encouragement wherever you are in your own path at this moment…. This song may provide you with more than that. To me, it has been a lantern of His faithfulness. You Raise Me Up

Heart song moments.

They come unexpectedly, un-sought-for, and always when you need them most. They put hope back in you, joy within you, and give an awed wonder to the eyes of the heart….

Is that an odd thing to be writing about? Probably…. But they’re been on my mind lately, and so I had no choice but scribble and see where the thought led. (Ephesians 5:19 is where it originally started, btw.)

And this is where they went.

                                  Thought of the day~

One raindrop in the middle of a desert—one sweet, cool, precious raindrop—May do quite as much for your heart as dancing in the rain in a summer where drought is nothing but a bad dream, a distant memory. 

One drop of living water when you need it most….

Will go soul-deep, and nourish the heart it falls upon.

He is good, whether the falling rain washes over you, or that one drop falls in the desert to give you hope.

You are not alone.

And Not Alone…. Oh, what a wonderful place that is to be, to know you are.

Yes, this is a hasty post…. But it’s going up exactly the way it is, this morning!

The 30 Song Tag

Hello again, kindreds!!! 

Haven’t we got an intriguing title up top today? I’m so excited I could spin in circles!

See, this is how it came about. I was tagged for this by the lovely Lizzie Hexam, she of the blog Starlight And Saucepans…. And I have had SO much fun with this🤗 So much so that you may get winded halfway through, because I did not go by any form of word-rations at all. Not even a smidgen. 

It’s also the first tag I’ve ever done, so this feels milestone-ish and very much uncharted territory-ish. Maybe without the ishes.

Now, there’s one thing you should know before we start. Remember that quote of Anne’s, the one that goes “There are such a lot of Anne’s In Me”? It just so happens to fit me to a T. And today everything I write is wanting to come out sounding as if I’m the countriest thing to come from the provinces since Stompin’ Tom Connors. I’ll go back to my customary whimsical self in short order, never you fear. But as for today…. Meet the Emi that climbs trees and goes snowmobiling🤷‍♀️

You will find ample evidence in the following😜 Everybody ready???? Yes? Splendid, I was hoping you’d say that (; Ahem. So. Let us begin!!!

Your favorite song

Oh boy. You do know that I’m absolutely terrible at pinning down just one favourite of anything, right???? Books, teas, movies…. And ESPECIALLY songs. Ask for my current Top Ten, and they’ll roll off my tongue like I’ve been waiting for you to ask…. But just one??!!

I’m going to echo Lizzie, and say One Of My Favourites, and not necessarily my One Favourite! 

Lay Low —Josh Turner…. And yes, you may be seeing him a few more times before all the questions are covered, because I am kinda sorta slightly an enormous fan😜 And please oh please, take a moment and watch the music video while you listen…. It is GORGEOUS, I tell you.

Random pic of a log cabin because they’re lovely and they belong with this song….

                          

Your least favourite song

Ooh, my least favourite!!! Well now, let us see. *props her chin in her hands and thinks very hard* Well okay, not going to pretend, when I dislike things, I dislike them heartily and to the great amusement of my sisters😜 And if you asked my lil sis, she’d tell you pretty much anything by The Brothers Osborne. There would be no doubt in her mind whatsoever. 

But while I don’t exactly ENJOY their music, I don’t know if I would say it’s my absolute least favourite. I’m sure somewhere there must be a song that I am not thinking of that I like even less. Like maybe by Bailey Zimmerman. Sorry, just simply not a fan. Also that is why you see no specific song here X)

A song that makes you happy

Sowin’ Love by Paul Overstreet. It never fails to make my heart smile, and when your heart smiles…. You can’t keep the smile off your face either. It bursts through like sunshine!

A song that makes you sad

Ooh…. A song that makes me sad. That’s…. A surprisingly easy one. Three Wooden Crosses  by Randy Travis and Josh Turner. (See, I told you!) I can never listen to this in the presence of other people…. Because I’ve tried, but I cannot make it through the whole thing without crying. Even though it is, in fact, an incredibly encouraging song. That fact does not make me one particle less teary.

A song that makes you feel guilty

This Is Me—Randy Travis…. I saw someone say this once, and I’ve never been able to hear the song any other way after that….. They said to listen to it, not like a love song, but as if it was God talking to you…. And yeah, there are times when that does make me feel incredibly guilty. Also like crying. Because trying to keep things from the One who knows your heart…. 

A song that often gets stuck in your head

The song Shanti sings right at the end of The Jungle Book, oddly enough. You know, the one that reels Mowgli in whilst Bagheera looks on approvingly and Balloo in horror…. and it then makes him tumble head over heels in love and the river? That one. Actually, this one.  “My Own Home.” And it goes ‘round and ‘round in my head until it bursts upon a world that was neither waiting for nor prepared for it.

A song that reminds you of someone

 Strawberry Roan—Wilf Carter…. My dad always used to sing it growing up, and they are now forever connected in my head (; The quintessential prairie cowboy song.

Bonus Fun Fact I have always wanted to casually throw into a conversation: My dad’s friend’s dad was friends with Wilf Carter. (Yes, that’s a bit of a tongue twister😆) They used to work on the same ranch, anyways.  And nine yr old me was SO starstruck for a very long time after finding that out, because WILF CARTER! MONTANA SLIM!! 

Knowing someone who knows someone who knew a legend…. Starstruck may not be a big enough word for what I was😄

A song that reminds you of someplace

Now, if you were asking about Adventures In Odyssey episodes…. This would be easy.  But you’re not! Sooooo….     Hum. Huskies And Husqvarnas, by Tim Hus. It never fails to bring to mind all those long road trips from my childhood…. in which the mountain roads would go corkscrewy and lead to places of indescribable ruggedness and wonder. 

A song that reminds you of a certain event

I thought and thought and thought about this one…. And finally came to a conclusion. The hymns sung in my grandparents church are very, very distinctive. Dating back hundreds of years and unchanged, that kind of distinctive. And this is one that always and without fail brings back memories of it for me…. Or rather, this is something that sounds very similar, I couldn’t find the original on YouTube for the life of me. 

Gaelic Precenting

For clarity, no, I’m not Gaelic. Not a bit of it, though I wish I   was (; But aside from the fact that our version is sung in German… This could be an un-identical twin.

A song you know all the words to

The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers…. And in case anyone is wondering, there is only one right version. I’m telling you. It is THIS one. I will argue all night with anyone who disagrees, so fair warning has been given😂  I’m serious, though…. Even his own previous renditions don’t quite cut it. It’s as if by this point in time, his voice had somehow gathered the necessary wisdom and a certain time-worn mellowness needed to make this song so special.

A song you could dance to

Níl Sé’n Lá, by Celtic Woman. Five notes in and my toes start tapping, one minute, and I can hardly sit still! Do yourself a favour and watch the music video, it’s beyond delightful (:

A song that makes you fall asleep

Ohhhhh. Now what do I say??!! I don’t fall asleep to music, sorry😆 I happen to be a light sleeper, and so much as a light being on in the other end of the house will keep me awake. 

But a song that relaxes me…. Your Smile—Josh Turner. I don’t know why, it just gives me the warm-cozies every time,  and I love it all to pieces! 

A song from your favorite band

High Valley’s On The Combine. This song is nostalgic, I’m telling you. Which folks would know, if I’d actually posted the Thanksgiving scribble in October that I meant to. But yes. That is one song that quite literally does sound like home to me🤗 And so does the band…. Win-win! 

Yes, I know folks who would be greatly insulted by me using a picture of a combine that so clearly is not Case IH. See also What Colour You Drive, by the Hunter Brothers to find out why that matters to begin with😜

A song from a band you hate 

Oh brother. Is it bad if I admit I was hoping you wouldn’t ask??? Yes? But saying you hate things ain’t nice, right? So how about a song I Very Heartily Dislike instead. Brothers Osborne—It Ain’t My Fault. Not linking it.  Blame-shifting makes me boil, even in music-ish form. And yes, my sisters think me hating it so fiercely is extremely funny😆 

A song nobody would expect you to love

Ummmmmmm…. Tweedle-Dee-Tweedle-Day-Now-What-On-Earth-Do-I-Say? I am usually pretty predictable. So that makes this much more difficult. By half. Something unexpected to SOME people, now that I can do. How about…. Wajch Moaka, by NW Aunbädunk? It’s actually a Low German translation of  WayMaker, but it sings to me in a way its English double  just can’t live up to! I mean, some people will suspect this, if they know me pretty well, but I’m preeeeetty sure it would surprise everyone on here. Does that qualify it?

A song that describes you. 

This is hard😳 Maybe Northern Girl, by Terri Clark…. Let me think about it and come back to it later, eh?

Okay, this is later now! And…. I thought and thought and thought some more…. And I came up very blank. I don’t think that particular song has been written, sorry😆 Going with Northern Girl out of default. 

An underrated song more people should love

Ummmmmm…. Huh. I’m gonna say Jerusalem’s Cry, by Randy Travis…. Or actually, make that Paul Lassey’s Scottish Fougères - Bretagne, because harmonicas are in and of themselves thoroughly underrated! Does that make sense? I’m not sure. Anyways, both songs I heartily enjoy and admire and hardly ever see anywhere, so that counts, I think.

A song that you often hear on the radio

Okay, this one is easy.  New Old Trucks, by the James Barker Band. Short answer among many XXL ones😜 

A song you wish you heard on the radio

George Fox’s Billy Green. Yes, I am fairly patriotic (;   No offence whatsoever intended towards the other side of the border, this all happened a very, very long time ago, and I am delighted to be neighbours with you, truly! But I am also a Red-White-And-True patriot, and therefore must needs love this song (; 

                  

A song you listen to when you’re happy

Celtic Woman, Ballroom Of Romance. Oh, but it all but makes me dance where I stand! I’m not kidding, I start bouncing on my toes and spinning where no spin is necessary and just generally being carried along with the music😜 You can’t be down in the presence of anything so merrily lilting, tis impossible!

A song you listen to when you’re sad

The River—Garth Brooks. Sometimes you just need something to flow as slow as you feel at that moment, but that’s still going to help tip your world back to rights at the same time…. And this is usually the one I go to.

A song you listen to when you’re angry

Terri Clark, Better Things To Do. And I take it allllll out of context and just sing it for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with what the song is even about😂 But it IS pretty effective, and it lets off steam, and you come out just plain feeling better n almost a leetle bit like laughing (; 

A song you want to play at your wedding

Alan Jackson, That’s The Way…. No explanation on this one, that is just…. If I ever do happen to be blessed with a such an event, this—and the marriage itself—is what I want it to signify. More of a theme song than actually playing then, but it sort of counts! You could call it a Hope Chest song, I guess (:

A song you want to play at your funeral

Oh😯 Now, if I must come clean, this is one subject I’ve  maybe once ever thought of. And I didn’t think of music, I was being dramatic, and I wanted Northern Lights. At either 80 or 100 yrs old. So. Not helpful😆 Allow me to reset the dial to Processing. 

Processed. A little uncertainly, because this is a mainly new thought, but…. I’m going with  “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” But honestly…. I don’t know, if I was taking this very seriously, I’d probably think about it for several days (and or weeks X-) before making a decision. 

A song that makes you laugh

Ooh, if I think about this too long, I will scribble down a looooong line, because this is fun!!! With Cattlerack Cadillac and Master Caster and Talkin’ Saskatoon Blues heading the list. Because Tim Hus does not get the attention he so richly deserves, and he is priceless. Okay, next question before this one runs away with me!!

A song that you can play

Uhhhhhh… Half of Für Elise and likewise half of Swan Lake… Front and foremost halves😜 Accomplished, aren’t I?

A song you wish you could play

Slight confession? I can’t actually read music. Not a bit. I always refused to learn it on account of it felt so confining, and I couldn’t “find music” in the written notes. (Yeah, smart move, Emi x) I’d rather just play around and let the music go where it wanted. So… I wish I could play everything!!! 

A song from your childhood

Bud The Spud—Stompin’ Tom Connors. Yes, that’s a real song! By an even realer Canadian legend (;

Your favorite duet

Anything Randy Travis and Josh Turner have done together. I told you I’m an enormous fan! I have not stopped to count up how many times I mentioned them so far, but I think I’m unintentionally beginning and ending with them😆

Your favorite song at this time of year

Hmmmm🤔 The Snowmobile Song, Stomping Tom Connors? Or maybe Skate, by Tim And The Glory Boys…. There really aren’t that many January songs, are there? ‘Kay, I really do not know which one to go with. Just pick whichever one of those fits best to you personally, because Philippa forgot to lend me her hatpin today😆

And that, my dearies, was 30 songs. (Well actually, the count mayyyy be higher than that, the list got Emi-ed ;) And I actually surprised myself, I thought I’d have all the answers right off…. Because generally speaking, they overflow for all they are worth, these thoughts of mine! But this actually did take me a wee bit😜 Why is it that songs flee the moment you need them, and flit about your head willy-nilly the rest of the time? I’ll play Davy and say “I wanna know.” ;)

Ahhhhh…. *insert contented sigh here* 

Okay, that was fun. That was a lot of fun. I even reminded myself of some favourites that had slipped my mind recently, and have been very busily getting reacquainted with them…. And remembering hundreds more that don’t fit here, but must be dug out of storage posthaste, because I miss them! 

But they won’t all fit in tonight, because it is getting LATE and tomorrow is Monday. And no, Ms. Lorrie Morgan, I disagree. Mondays can too be good days!  

Ahem. Distracted. And the next line in my head is “But it’s Sunday now and everything’s alright.” And what d’you know, so it is! But I do believe I was about to say Goodnight when I got song-ambushed. Is that what I was going to do? Well anyway, I am now…. All good things must come to their right and befitting end, even days. The delightfulest (yes, sleepily permitting myself to make up words) variety seeming to come to the most hastened of ending points…. 

Which is not fair. It really isn’t. But farewells…. *sniff* must still be said…. It is inescapable. 

So “Goodbye, And May You Always See A Happy Face In Your Looking Glass”, ye kindreds dear….

Yours meanderingly,

~Emily

Ps. Now, this being my first tag ever, I think I’m just going to leave it at this. For one thing, I have not the foggiest notion whom to tag😜 So if you read this, and you fancy a go at the list your own self…. Please, please do take it up, and let me know how it goes on your end! 

I should perhaps post a clean list of questions here just in case…. That would be smart. But it’s already so long, this post…. Soooo, if you click on the link right up at the top, where it says Starlight And Saucepans, you will find it waiting for you there!