Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp,

but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

-o-0-o-

-o-0-o-



-o-0-o-


[thanks to http://www.freefoto.com for this photograph]

-o-0-o-

To a Butterfly
by
William Wordsworth

I’ve watched you now a full half-hour;
Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly! Indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! - not frozen seas
More motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!

-o-0-o-



-o-0-o-

An Irish Blessing

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

MONDAY 21ST MARCH

A Field of Lavender
[with thanks to FreeFoto.com]

-o-0-o-

And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
Shall be, ere awhile, in arid bundles bound
To lurk amidst the labours of her loom,
And crown her kerchiefs with mickle rare perfume.
(William Shenstone from “The Schoolmistress” 1742)

-o-0-o-

Here’s your sweet lavender,
Sixteen sprigs a penny,
That you’ll find my ladies
Will smell as sweet as any.
(London lavender seller’s cry 1900)

-o-0-o-


A Lavender Farm at Hokkaido, Japan

-o-0-o-

Lavender, sweet lavender;
Come and buy my lavender,
Hide it in your trousseau, lady fair.
Let its lovely fragrance flow
Over you from head to toe,
Lightening your eyes, your cheek, your hair.
(Cumberland Clark - Flower Song Book 1929)

-o-0-o-

The well-known song "Lavender's Blue, dilly dilly" dates from the 17th century. There are around 30 verses to the song and there are many variations to the words. However, there's just one verse in a children's book "Songs for the Nursery" which was published in 1805 and here are the words -

Lavender blue and Rosemary green,
When I am king you shall be queen;
Call up my maids at four o'clock,
Some to the wheel and some to the rock,
Some to make hay and some to shear corn,
And you and I will keep the bed warm.

-o-0-o-

The music here was composed by Nigel Hess for the film "Ladies in Lavender." The violinist is Joshua Bell and the video was devised by "xyCuriosityxy"



-o-0-o-


Norman tells me that there are 152 million blogs worldwide. He invites you to join him at the new blog COME SURF THE NET when it begins on Saturday 26th March
http://comesurfthenet.blogspot.com

Thanks to http://www.graphicshunt.com for the cartoon image

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-0-o-

The Selfsame Song

A bird sings the selfsame song,
With never a fault in its flow,
That we listened to here those long
Long years ago.

A pleasing marvel is how
A strain of such rapturous rote
Should have gone on thus till now
Unchanged in a note!

But it’s not the selfsame bird.
No, perished to dust is he. . . .
As also are those who heard
That song with me. (Thomas Hardy)

-o-0-o-


A Bouquet of Flowers by William Arthur Breakspeare

-o-0-o-

In this video Francesco Libetta plays the Pizzicato Polka (Sylvia) by Leo Délibes.
Notice how he plays much of the main theme with one finger!




Norman the Nerd says, “Hallo again! Did you know that 21.4 million new websites were added during 2010?”

The new blog COME SURF THE NET beginning on 26th March looks at just a few of the many interesting and fascinating sites. The address is - http://comesurfthenet.blogspot.com

-o-0-o-

Thanks to http://www.graphicshunt.com for the cartoon image

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Some wise words from Sweden . . . .

Fear less, hope more.
Whine less, breathe more.
Talk less, say more.
Hate less, love more,
And all good things are yours.

-o-0-o-

Something different . . . .


Painted by the Chinese artist Huang Quan 903-965

-o-0-o-

A short story . . . .

Once upon a time a rich man had planned a great banquet to celebrate a military victory. However only one thing threatened the success of the meal; because of severe storms at sea, no boat had been able to set sail, and so there wasn’t a fish to be had anywhere in the whole area.

Early in the morning of the great day, an old fisherman appeared at the gate carrying an enormous fish, big enough to feed the whole company. The rich man was delighted and told the old fellow to name his price, and promised to give him anything he wanted.

“My price is one hundred lashes on my bare back,” was the answer, “and unless you give that, I won’t give you the fish!”

Of course the rich man was astonished at this, but the fisherman insisted, and so a servant was ordered to administer the flogging.

When fifty lashes had been given, the old man said, “Stop there! I have a partner in my work, and it’s only fair that he should have his share.”

“All right,” said the rich man, “And where is he?”

“He’s at your gate,” was the reply, “He’s your porter - he wouldn’t let me in, till I promised that he should have half of whatever I got for the fish.”

So the porter was summoned and, somewhat bewildered, received his fifty lashes.

As the fisherman turned to leave, the rich man called him back and gave him fifty gold coins.

There should be a moral in this tale somewhere, but I’m not sure what it is!

-o-0-o-

This music here is “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone. The soloist is Carlo Romano, accompanied by the RAI National Symphony Orchestra

-o-0-o-

“Hi there! Excuse me butting in at Quiet Corner. I’m Norman the Nerd from COME SURF THE NET which begins on 26th March. More details next week. Bye just now!”

Norman appears thanks to - http://www.graphicshunt.com

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-