I went to the Celts Exhibit at the Scottish National Museum, but was hijacked by the pieces and only saw about 1/3 of it. Hey, I only had three hours to spend. 

The Carnyx was a boar-headed trumpet that the Celts used. Here is a piece composed in 2011 (?) for carnyx. And here they are being played at a music conference. They are being held overhead like that because that is how they are depicted in ancient pictures, from France to Bulgaria to India.

​How could this spine-tingling instrument have died out? How?????

Proud mother!

I strongly recommend that you don't get a head cold. I feel like I have invented a new form of damp. Bleaugh.

In other news, I went on a long walk up Lake Eikern's ringroad and ran across a scary looking sign. It turns out to mean that the road could be closed without warning.

There were wildflowers everywhere.

After a massive dinner, we sat down and half of us embroidered, the other half drew the embroideries on an Afghan dress cuff.

I have a terrible cold, thanks to the long plane ride, and am spending my time using up mountains of papirlommetørkler (paper handkerchiefs), drinking lemon tea, working at my online job, and drawing from an Afghan embroidery. Plus, Astri's cats will now sink their claws into my legs, which is probably a victory.

Astri: I want a battleaxe.

Me: Yikes!

​Astri: No, really. I already have a sword, over there in the nook behind the bookshelf. Oh, and I have a spear behind the door. Two knives in my jewelry chest. I have no guns though. I'm not an American.

Over Lunch: 

Me: This is not half bad.

Astri: When he was young, my father was on a boat with a very dour skipper. When the cook had outdone himself, the skipper would say, "Heh. You had luck with the potatoes. Today."

And then, because we are Ladies, we worked on embroidery. Astri is making a traditional purse, and I am copying Afghani dress embellishments.