Dolly Parton | 1000 Fields of Roses

After The Clouds

What a week it’s been!
Hit after hit – whether celebrity deaths, or natural disaster…it’s felt like there’s hardly time to take a breath.
In reality, of course, these things are happening fairly frequently. Just, perhaps, in a smaller theatre. People, families, communities devastated, and we may not hear about it.

We pray for those affected.
We give where we can.
And we hold our loved ones close, and look to our communities.

Maybe next week will be quiet.
The future, and the ability to deal with it, is still to come.

Even though there may be clouds…

…the sun will still rise.

❤

People still collaborate to make beautiful things.

…and, because I keep seeing that Dolly Parton was not political…

May your sun rise bright and clear tomorrow.
💖

Published in:

on August 29, 2026 at 10:51 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Dolly Parton, Lindsey Stirling & ARKAI, Nepal, Peter Cullen, Tim Curry

Into The Blue Morning

Dolly Parton died today.

Possibly late last night – the official US date was 25/8.
The first thing I saw when I checked my phone this morning was an outpouring of tributes and grief.
A shock, and a sadness.
But also, gratitude.
Dolly was one of those people who seem to sparkle through the world.
I’ve heard her songs throughout my life – my first album (that was bought with my own money) was a country compilation tape. Of course, she was on it – and provided one of my favourites to the mix.

The music was enough to ensure her place in our hearts.
But she was also a beautiful person – someone who just seemed to love people, and looked like she enjoyed spending time with, and getting to know, people from all walks of life.
She was unashamedly herself, and wanted to help others to be their sparkling selves as well. She used what she had to enrich and inspire others, and was passionate about providing education to those who might not otherwise have access to it.

Most of us have probably heard one of her songs, even if we don’t know it.

She sang to us for decades, all over the world – even in a pub in Ireland!

And now, time to rest.

Today, the world dimmed just a little bit.
But we are left with a long legacy of joy.

Goodbye, Dolly.
We will always love you.
❤

Published in:

on August 26, 2026 at 10:25 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Dolly Parton, Páidí Ó Sé'S Pub

Yes

Published in:

on April 5, 2026 at 6:00 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Dolly Parton, Easter Sunday, The Petersens

Dolly In Springtime

…Parton, that is.
I’ve had a lovely day of catching up with this and that, enjoying the (slightly) cool day, and reminiscing with music. One of those CDs was a Dolly Parton “Greatest Hits” – I don’t know all her songs, but there are some I remember from many years ago (my first cassette tape was a country hits tape 🙂 )
Her voice is distinctive, and comforting. She seems like someone you’d like to meet, too!

I popped in to a bakery down the road this morning.
Indulged in a BBQ pork bánh mì, then saw some Neenish tarts in the display case.

Haven’t had one in ages!
I remember my Dad liked them. I don’t remember the ones he had being quite so violently pink, though.
It was an experience 🙂
The icing was hard (it cracked, rather than behaving as icing should…) The filling is mock cream, with a base of jam, so – a bit richer than I like these days. It also seemed to be a lot bigger than I remember.

But – that was my day.
Bimbling (mentally 🙂 )
Listening to Dolly.
Eating a Neenish tart.

Reminiscing.

It’s not the way I thought my day would go, but that’s OK.

(and if you want to reminisce along with me, as well as feeling the springtime vibe…)

❤

Published in:

on October 4, 2025 at 8:21 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Dolly Parton

It’s The Little Things…

Another week of rest and recuperation…
I’ve been up and about more, though 🙂
Did some organising in the art room, which included excavating some tiny things from a soapstone box that I haven’t really seen for years!
Lots of little trinkets – finally figured out what to do with the glass beads I brought back from Venice, many years ago.

It’s a bit difficult to focus properly when there’s glass around, and not much space to maneuver. They’re prettier than they look…
There were shells at the top of the box. I’m pretty sure I picked at least some of them off the beach. Possibly all?

We (briefly) ventured out on Monday. It was our anniversary, so we popped out (suitably masked) to the local bakery.

I celebrated with a lemon meringue tart, and half a vanilla slice.

Next week should see us slowly getting back into gear.
There are things to do! Places to be!
And a song to share, which seemed to fit the “breaking back out into life” vibe.