Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey
A journey through the seasons with two adopted whippets, a poet and a camera
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,
with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
A special treat by Janine Jansen and Julian Rachlin for all you music lovers:
Word of the Day Challenge: Prelude
Cee included the great Beatles song Here Comes the Sun in her challenge post this week.
In the same spirit, for those of you who enjoy a bit of music, we are delighted to include What a Beautiful Day by the Levellers:
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,
with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
CFFC: Here Comes the Sun
Our Hoopa has been filling our home with music during lockdown and today he received his baglama saz, all the way from Istanbul. There is lots to sniff and discover.
The saz is played in many countries and the tradition is thousands of years old. It made its way from Persia via Azerbaijan, Anatolia, Istanbul, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Berlin to the rest of Europe and across the Atlantic and is played in the rest of Asia too.
People play the saz to accompany poems, songs and stories that are handed down from generation to generation. Ali Ulutaş, a musician, says the saz is a door of secrets. When people play it, listen to it, they get to know the essence within themselves and from that place, they can understand the other.
southern wind
warm notes and harmonies
fill the room
© Xenia Tran
A warm-hearted thank you to Veysel and his colleagues at Sala Muzik in Istanbul for sending the saz safely to the Highlands.
Wishing you all a blessed day and a peaceful rest of the week,
with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Settings: f/4 – 1/1000 s – ISO 1600, f/2.2 – 1/640 s – ISO 1600 and f/3.5 – 1/250 s – ISO 400.
Below is a video of Ayşe Şewaqî performing Şîr Û Kef from the beautiful Saz Film:
… and for an instrumental performance by Bangladeshi artist Emon Chowdhury you can listen to his beautiful rendition of Tri Bhubon below:
Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #145: Getting to Know You
CFFC: Natural Light vs Man-Made Light
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Curious
Earthweal Open Link Weekend #67
You can see Part I of The Light Always Returns on our sister blog, Tranature.
The skies and changing light reminded me of a song by the wonderful Scottish artist and musician Dougie MacLean:
Wishing you all a blessed Wednesday,
with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Settings: f/2.8 – 1/2000 s – ISO 100, f/3.4 – 1/1000 s – ISO 160 and f/3.4 – 1/1000 s – ISO 125.
Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Tomorrow
we find a friend
through this wonderful life
in nature’s magic
the warm light of the dawn
in vibrant winter skies
© Xenia Tran
Kristjaan at Carpe Diem invites us to write haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry inspired by the song ‘Wonderful Life’ by Colin Vearncombe (aka Black).
Colin passed away surrounded by his family just under a year ago and this post is also a tribute to him and his music. Below is a video clip of him performing the song he became most famous for:
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, settings: f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 160 and f/4, 1/640 s, ISO 160.
Carpe Diem Haiku Shuukan #4 (’18) – Wonderful Life
Dutch Goes The Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Delicious
Forgiving Fridays: Piano and my Mum
It feels as if there is a higher force at play from way beyond the stars. When a physical journey brings rescue dogs to their new home their inner journey is just beginning.
Eivor knew straight away. ‘I have come home and I am here to stay’. Going out for the first time was frightening for him. His previous world had been so small. The soothing sounds of a flute helped to calm his nerves. He now looks forward to every new adventure. Pearl was too frightened to go into friends’ houses on our travels and seemed worried that we would leave her there. When she heard the song ‘In The Light of Love’ for the first time she flung her front paws around my neck and gave me a big hug. We both knew in that moment that we would be just fine. That we are meant to travel this journey side by side.
in the light of love
moon journeys through the sky
every day dazzles
© Xenia Tran
Mish at dVerse Poets has invited us to choose one line from a favourite song and grow our own poem from it. I chose the line ‘In the light of love’ from the song ‘In the light of love/om shree dhanvantre namaha’ by Deva Primal, Miten and Manose. Below is a video clip for you to enjoy:
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, setting: iA, 1/200 s.
dVerse Poets Poetics: Musical Muse
The town’s population has almost doubled this Easter break. Big smiles on pale faces tell us who escaped from city life. They are prepared for all manner of Scottish weather and delighted to see the sun.
“Who’s this little Speedy Gonzalez then!” says a bearded man in a Glaswegian accent. Eivor looks deep into the man’s eyes. He does not understand the words. He understands the energy and warmth behind them and touches the man’s hand with his nose.
energy of love
in timbre of a warm voice
the universe sings
© Xenia Tran
Lillian at dVerse invites us to incorporate the song title of a top song from the year we were born into a poem, or from when we were between five and ten years old. A month after I was born ‘Speedy Gonzalez’ by Pat Boon was number one in the Dutch charts and held its position there for four weeks. I had to smile when I saw this as several people have referred to Eivor as ‘Speedy Gonzalez’ over time.
When I was ten years old a Dutch ‘prog-rock’ band called Kayak appeared on the scene and performed a song on television called ‘See See The Sun’. I did not speak any English at the time and could not understand a single word, yet to me it seemed they were channelling something very special from a place much bigger than I could ever imagine.
Below is a video clip where Kayak bring us an emotional rendition of ‘See See The Sun’ at Paradiso in Amsterdam during a tribute concert for Pim Koopman, a founder member of the band, who had passed away the previous year.
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, setting: Action, 1/800 s.
dVerse Tuesday Poetics: Oldies but Goodies, No Matter the Age
Daily Prompt: Pleased
bars of delight
sun’s music in bent grass
joy of the dance© Xenia Tran
Photographs taken by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, setting: iA, 1/800 s.
In response to Carpe Diem Namasté the Spiritual Way #2 Pilgrimage
At one of the shelters where I volunteered the radio was always tuned into a classical music station and the soothing melodies that drifted past the kennels had a calming effect on the wise old souls who would look deep into your eyes from behind the bars. At home too, many of our adoptees would soon let out a deep sigh and stretch into a relaxed roach while the soft notes from a flute or piano filled the room.
At Carpe Diem Haiku Kristjaan has introduced us to a number of female composers I had never heard of before. When I played a recording from one of his posts on my phone Pearl went into a deep relaxation and Eivor listened very attentively before asking me to play that piece again.
heavenly music
part of us remembers
the angel’s harp
© Xenia Tran
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Lumix Panasonic FZ38, setting: Indoor Portrait.
Carpe Diem #1093 Concertino pour harpe et piano by Germaine Tailleferre
Daily Prompt: Bespoke
dVerse Open Link Night #186
The closing haiku from this haibun features in Between Heather and Grass. If you haven’t read the book yet, feel free to take a peek inside:
Whippet Wisdom - a Highland Journey 
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