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Congratulations to Anna and Dobie! You are our free book winners for the month of June 2010. Anna’s name was drawn first, so she has the choice of either CRUEL AS THE GRAVE, a mystery set in England in 1193, written by Sharon Kay Penman, or NEW YORK, an historical saga written by Edward Rutherfurd. Dobie will receive the other book. Anna, please email me with your choice and your preferred shipping address. Dobie, I’ll let you know which book you will receive.

Blessings to you both! Sue

St. Patrick’s Day has put me in the mood to celebrate all things Irish, and since my corned beef brisket recipe is from the corned beef brisket package and my soda bread is pitiful (Any good soda bread recipes out there to share?), let’s talk about Irish music. In the past few years, my husband and I have begun a love affair with stringed instruments. Our experimentation has extended into Celtic music. Although we are not accomplished enough to really play it, we certainly appreciate it and have worked a bit with pentatonic scales in various modes, which are believed by many to be the basis for the most ancient Irish melodies.

Sit down at a piano and plunk out A-C-D-E-G.  No F or B, no sharps or flats.  Mix them up a bit, just those five notes.  Amazing. You are there -  Ireland.  Today’s popular music and the music of classical composers are based on a seven-note scale.  Irish music charms and haunts us with a mere five notes.

Hmmm… There has to be a life lesson there somewhere, don’t you think?

Blessings, Sue