the enchantment of music

Earlier this year I found myself locked down in South Africa for what was both a challenging and adventure filled travel experience. During the period of lockdown, a concerned friend took it upon herself to curate and send along a song a day for our little trio to enjoy while sipping wine and preparing dinner each evening.  The intention of her song gift was to lift the stress of uncertainty, share a memory or a smile and let us know that we were in her thoughts. I came to love this tradition and have continued it since my return with my own song selections while I prepare dinner at home. It has the same positive effect. My shoulders come down… I decompress and feel in the moment. 

There is a local radio station called Beautiful Druid that does the same thing for me. Alden Hadwen, whom I had the pleasure of hosting while she was building her forever home here in Stratford, does a wonderful job of curating and sharing her favourite songs and poetry in the most gentle and charming way. She speaks on air as though you were sharing a cup of tea in her living room. The grandfather clock chimes in the background and her new puppy distracts her from time to time. She records from her study and the program is broadcast through the University of Guelph. I highly recommend it.

To me, live music is the experience that I miss the most about this year, but finding these alternative music comforts is something I find worth sharing. Let the music play on!

This week at Wild Honey…

We find alternative ways to deliver the enchantment of music, while still savouring the live experience with intimate gatherings. (Thank you Ron Sexsmith and INNERchamber) We grasp at the last balmy fall days to explore antique shops and farms through the county with a client that no longer drives and we photograph and document a collection of furniture to sell on consignment at a local auction house.