Astral Boutique's blog

Mary Hopkin

Lately, I find myself putting on the 1969 album Postcard by Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin every single day. There are some beautiful folk songs on here, some "show tunes" type songs that are typical of this era (her hit song, "Those Were The Days", is pretty show-tuney, but I like it). My very favorite track, though, is the very first one. It's a cover of a Donovan song (there are at least three Donovan covers on the album- hooray!), "The Lord of The Reedy River". It is just so haunting... perfect. 

My favorite song: 

A bit of musical history: Mary Hopkin was one of the first artists signed to the Beatles' Apple record label!

Snow White

In late summer, there is always a lot more wildlife out and about in the Sierra Foothills. Over the past few weeks, it has been like an Encyclopedia entry on "animals of the woodland"- I have seen a family of raccoons, opossums, and foxes, along with the usual residents. Someone even saw a bear while we were down at the river! 

Deer are always around, but I have seen more this year than ever before. When I was taking some photos for the shop, I heard a rustling in the nearby trees, and this deer popped his head up and spotted me. Normally, deer run away at the first sight of a person, but this young buck actually walked towards me! I was talking to him and he seemed as tame as a pet.... he just started eating some fallen apples right behind me. I even managed to set up a shot for my Etsy listing and capture him in it! 

I felt totally like Snow White.

Of course, we can't forget the most important animals in my life: the cats! Zazou leaped on this rock as the self-timer was going off, so he got into a listing, too.

Mrrrow!