2 Xylophones

Today, I finished 2 xylophones
that I've been making.

I did this because,
I wanted to get accurate
musical notes,
according to particular measurements
that I was thinking of.

So, here are the resulting
musical instruments.

The first one,
is made from lengths
of  1 inch / 2.54 cm  diameter dowel,
pine wood.
Cut into 12 lengths
of  1 inch / 2.54 cm  increments,
the first is  1 inch / 2.54 cm  long,
and the last is
                                                                                                12 inches / 30.48 cm  long.

                      The second,
                      is made from lengths
                      of  0.95 cm  diameter dowel,
                      Tasmanian Oak wood.
                      Cut into 12 lengths
                      of  0.95 cm  increments,
                      the first is  12.35 cm  long,
                      (0.95 cm  +  11.40 cm)
                      and the last is
                      22.80 cm  long.
                 

                      The hammers are made from
                      a  2.5 cm  diameter wooden craft bead,
                      with a  5 mm  hole drilled through,
                      and,
                      a  5 mm  diameter wooden craft dowel,
                      15 cm long.

                                                                                                 I have them sitting on some felt,
                                                                                                 which helps to dampen any sound
                                                                                                 from the table surface.

                                                                                                 I've tried them out,
                                                                                                 and they don't work too badly  :)
                                                         
                                                                                                 Now, to play a few tunes .............  :)

    (c) Katherine Stuart 2020

Thai Temple

Last week I was invited by my friend, Gigi,
to attend Morning Prayer at
Wat Buddharangsee,
the Thai Buddhist Temple,
in Annandale, Sydney, Australia.

It was a very meaningful experience,
and as well as this being a peaceful place,
there was also lunch,
brought, prepared and served,
by all those attending,
in true community spirit.

And they do this every day !!






    text (c) Katherine Stuart 2020

Chinese Temple

Yesterday, (21 Jan 2020)
my friend,Gigi,
took me to the Chinese Temple
up from the Fish Market,
in Sydney, Australia.

This was the first time I
experienced
"going to temple".

It was a very peaceful place,
teaching by example,
the art of
giving and receiving graciously,
being calm, and meditation.

                                                                                                 A worthy tradition.

(c) Katherine Stuart 2020
Dochas Books Film

4 Events

Over the Christmas /              New Year week,                      I observed 4 critical events,  through 4 movies.                                                                "Star Wars IX -                        The Rise of Skywalker"                                                                                                                                                                                            

                      "Jumanji - The Next Level"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                            "Cats"

                                                                                             and,                                                                                                                                     "Sorry We Missed You"

                                                                                                                         What does it all mean ?

                                                                                                                         It's not clear to me as yet,

                                                                                                                         but things could crystalize,
                                                                                                                         this year.
                                                                                                                         Big changes are coming,
                                                                                                                         concerning family,
                                                                                                                         relationships and people
                                                                                                                         in general.

text (c) Katherine Stuart 2020
Dochas Books Film

                                                                                       

Conjunction 2019

Here is a spectacular photo
compiled by Kelvin Hennesy
(c) 2019-Nov-26
of the conjunction between
Jupiter and Venus,
also featuring
the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae,
as they set over Mt Warning
in northern NSW, Australia.


https://www.astrobin.com/vm3oe1/     

Ragnarok Coffee

Yesterday, Gigi and I
had the good fortune
to meet the owner
of "The Diver Cafe"
(Diver, as in diving in the sea
with a lead weighted dive suit)
across the road,
in Arden Street, Coogee,
Sydney, Australia.

He is super talented
with latte art.

Here, you can see the moon and sun
in relation to the Old Norse legend
of Ragnarok.

He explained the story to us -

   That the sun is chased by a wolf,
   and likewise, the moon is also chased by
   a wolf,
   both keeping the sun and the moon apart.
   If ever, the two wolves do not do their job
   properly,
   the sun and the moon will come together,
   and it will be "the end of days".












(c) Katherine Stuart 2019

 
 

The Pink Sun

This photo was taken on
Mon 9 Dec 2019,
at Coogee, Sydney, Australia.


The setting sun
was a deep pink orb,
that could be looked at directly,
without hurting the eyes.

It was very impressive.

It's a result
of the unusual bushfire haze
over Sydney at present.


         I think you can actually see
         the pink orb of the sun
         above this yellow spot.

         I think that the bright yellow spot,
         is actually a secondary
         light spot within my
         camera lens system  :)

         Incline your screen
         as far back as it will go,
         and look at this photo
         as far down as you can go,
         at a very shallow angle,
         and you will see what I mean.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2019