Author: thecapeblog

Got back into the swing of things today. Ron mowed and I did a good chunk of clean-up. This Monarch was nice enough to stay still and spread its wings so I could take its picture.

During the late 15th century (probably) on Mull a feud took place between Maclean of Duart and Maclean of Lochbuie over land ownership (not over chiefly rights). Duart imprisoned Lochbuie on an island with an ugly crone as a servant. Nature took its course and a child arrived who later inherited the Lochbuie chieftainship. Legend?

More about the son, Murdoch the Short:

Ewen was killed prior to 1538 in a feud with his father John Og, who had gone to Hector Mor Maclean of Duart for support against Ewen. After the Battle, Hector Mor imprisoned John Og on the fortress island of Cairnburg Mor, on of the Treshnish Isles about two miles off the coast of Mull, away from women so that John Og could have no new heir. Without a Lochbuie heir, Hector Mor felt that he could easily take over the lands of Lochbuie. He did allow John Og to have an ugly maidservant however, and in due course she became pregnant.

The story goes that when Duart found out that the maidservant was pregnant, she was taken to Torlosik so that they could keep an eye on her. There, Duart directed the doctor (Ollamh Muileach, in Pennyghael), that if a daughter was born it could live, but if a son was born he was to kill the child. One version of this story says that the maidservant bore twins, a son and daughter. The nursemaid, who had been friends with (Ewen the Little Head), showed only the daughter to the doctor and hid the son, named Murdoch Gearr or(Murdoch the Stunted) he was born about 1496. The nurse took the child to Glencannel, where he was raised by a family of MacGillivrays.

John Og was succeeded by his illegitimate son Murchadh Gearr, or(Murdoch the Short), who became the sixth Maclaine of Lochbuie, he was legitimated in 1538.

Caledonia
Music and Lyrics by Dougie MacLean
Published by Limetree Arts and Music (MCPS and PRS UK)

I don’t know if you can see the changes that have come over me
In these last few days I’ve been afraid that I might drift away
So I’ve been telling old stories, singing songs, that make me think about where I come from
That’s the reason why I seem so far away today

CHORUS
Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time
Caledonia you’re calling me and now I’m going home
But if I should become a stranger you know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had

I have moved and I’ve kept on moving, proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing, found others on the way
I have tried and I’ve kept on trying, stolen dreams, yes there’s no denying*
I have traveled hard sometimes with conscience flying somewhere in the wind

CHORUS

Now I’m sitting here before the fire, the empty room the forest choir
The flames that couldn’t get any higher they’ve withered now they’ve gone
But I’m steady thinking, my way is clear and I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flow then I will disappear

CHORUS

I’m having second (and third and fourth) thoughts about the “islands” I planted in the back, and where I should plant the new shrubs.

Yesterday, I picked up loam at Blacksmith Shop Farm. Ron and I managed to unload, spread and seed it without destroying ourselves.

It’s been drizzling since this morning: perfect!

Typical Sunday.

Talked with Sungevity about updating their proposal from 2012.

Ron found his hearing aids! On his workbench! How neither of us spotted them in all these months is a mystery.

He is happy to be able to hear again.

Woke up thinking it was Sunday. We were out of coffee. Couldn’t understand why there was so much construction noise across the field and traffic on the way to S&S, but no Sunday Times. Ron informed me that it’s only Saturday. I gain a day this weekend!

Finally talked myself into doing yard work today. Actually, more like having good work weather and feeling well enough to dig in.

Got the lawn mowed and the new grass seed watered. Picked up a goodly amount of gravel as well.

Finally put down the marsh grass and covered everything with the old wire fencing to keep it in place.

Ron is feeling much better, so much so that he fixed the front window today – fabulous!

Listening to Jazz at Lincoln Center, Anat Cohen’s Roots of Rio perform choro music.

The lawn got done today: aeration and overseeding. I have a project, raking up the gravel, putting down loam and seeding the end of the driveway. I have hope for grass.

We checked out the window at Edgewater. Not great.

Made fish chowder for supper: leeks, celery, potatoes, partly rotten tomato, cod or maybe pollock, broth.

Ron felt well enough to do his WH stagehanding last night, but the cold or whatever it is caught up with him with a vengeance today.

The dinner guests we were looking forward to seeing tomorrow also had to cancel.

I did the transfer station run; Robert helped with the recyclables.

Made fruit roll-up with some of the autumn berries. I did a horrible job but it still tastes pretty good, and I learned from the try.

I got a flu shot last weekend and whether it’s that or something else, I’ve been dragging ever since.

Ron got a shot, too, but he still mowed the lawn and did a bunch of clearing a couple of days ago.

Today he/we cleaned up the Autumn Berry tree (Elaeagnus umbellata. OLEASTER FAMILY (Elaeagnaceae)) on the right side of the driveway. We filled up the truck with treats for Emma’s sheep and wood for the transfer station.

We also harvested about 9 cups of berries, which are edible and considered the forager’s best-kept secret because many people don’t realize that they are good to eat. Including me until today.

Bob Lalime installed the new, high efficiency furnace today. I figured out the least expensive way to pay for it; now we wait for our rebate.

Aldrich came by to redo the Winslows’ driveways. They were nice enough to patch a couple of cracks in ours, which is fantastic. Some of the same crew that did our driveway. Wouldn’t accept money.

I deposited checks from PowerSports. Very happy they will clear before the long weekend (Columbus Day is a bank holiday).

We’ve been enjoying several shows on HuluPlus: Manhattan, Blue Bloods, Blacklist, Sleepy Hollow.

Had lunch with Cindy and Cathy. Cathy insisted that the restaurant comp our lunches since they messed up the order.

Did laundry, changed the sheets. Paid the mortgage on Edgewater. Had a flu shot at CVS. Drafted a sympathy letter to Pat Flynn’s son. Did a little trimming in the front and had a long chat with Laura and Joe.

Didn’t go to New Bedford for the art studios open houses, mow the lawn (Ron wants to do it tomorrow) or do the transfer station run.