Podcasts about Shearwater

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with author Gina Leola Woolsey about her stunning biography, Fifteen Thousand Pieces (Guernica Editions, 2023).  On Wednesday, September 2nd, 1998, an international flight carrying 229 souls crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. There were no survivors. By Friday, Sept 4th, thousands of dismembered body parts had come through Dr. John Butt's makeshift morgue in Hangar B at the Shearwater military base. The Chief Medical Examiner faced the most challenging and grisly task of his career. Five years prior to the plane crash, John had lost his prestigious job as Alberta's Chief Medical Examiner. After 14 years of marriage, John began to think of himself as gay, but remained closeted professionally. Then, after serving a handful of years as Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, the devastating crash in Nova Scotia cracked his carefully constructed façade. Fifteen Thousand Pieces explores one man's journey to accept his true nature and find his place in the world. Chapters alternate between the fast-paced story of the crash, and the history of the man in the making. It is both fast-paced and introspective; gruesome and touching. Ultimately, it is the story of how death teaches us to live. About Gina Leola Woolsey: CBC Award-winning author Gina Leola Woolsey tugs at your heartstrings with written portraits of people striving to find love, self-acceptance, and belonging in an ever-changing world. She left her corporate career mid-life to pursue an education in creative writing, earning a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from the University of King's College. She lives wherever the narrative takes her. Currently, her time is split between small-town Alberta, downtown Montreal, and her hometown of Vancouver. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is  a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with author Gina Leola Woolsey about her stunning biography, Fifteen Thousand Pieces (Guernica Editions, 2023).  On Wednesday, September 2nd, 1998, an international flight carrying 229 souls crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. There were no survivors. By Friday, Sept 4th, thousands of dismembered body parts had come through Dr. John Butt's makeshift morgue in Hangar B at the Shearwater military base. The Chief Medical Examiner faced the most challenging and grisly task of his career. Five years prior to the plane crash, John had lost his prestigious job as Alberta's Chief Medical Examiner. After 14 years of marriage, John began to think of himself as gay, but remained closeted professionally. Then, after serving a handful of years as Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, the devastating crash in Nova Scotia cracked his carefully constructed façade. Fifteen Thousand Pieces explores one man's journey to accept his true nature and find his place in the world. Chapters alternate between the fast-paced story of the crash, and the history of the man in the making. It is both fast-paced and introspective; gruesome and touching. Ultimately, it is the story of how death teaches us to live. About Gina Leola Woolsey: CBC Award-winning author Gina Leola Woolsey tugs at your heartstrings with written portraits of people striving to find love, self-acceptance, and belonging in an ever-changing world. She left her corporate career mid-life to pursue an education in creative writing, earning a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from the University of King's College. She lives wherever the narrative takes her. Currently, her time is split between small-town Alberta, downtown Montreal, and her hometown of Vancouver. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is  a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with author Gina Leola Woolsey about her stunning biography, Fifteen Thousand Pieces (Guernica Editions, 2023).  On Wednesday, September 2nd, 1998, an international flight carrying 229 souls crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. There were no survivors. By Friday, Sept 4th, thousands of dismembered body parts had come through Dr. John Butt's makeshift morgue in Hangar B at the Shearwater military base. The Chief Medical Examiner faced the most challenging and grisly task of his career. Five years prior to the plane crash, John had lost his prestigious job as Alberta's Chief Medical Examiner. After 14 years of marriage, John began to think of himself as gay, but remained closeted professionally. Then, after serving a handful of years as Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, the devastating crash in Nova Scotia cracked his carefully constructed façade. Fifteen Thousand Pieces explores one man's journey to accept his true nature and find his place in the world. Chapters alternate between the fast-paced story of the crash, and the history of the man in the making. It is both fast-paced and introspective; gruesome and touching. Ultimately, it is the story of how death teaches us to live. About Gina Leola Woolsey: CBC Award-winning author Gina Leola Woolsey tugs at your heartstrings with written portraits of people striving to find love, self-acceptance, and belonging in an ever-changing world. She left her corporate career mid-life to pursue an education in creative writing, earning a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from the University of King's College. She lives wherever the narrative takes her. Currently, her time is split between small-town Alberta, downtown Montreal, and her hometown of Vancouver. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is  a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/medicine

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with author Gina Leola Woolsey about her stunning biography, Fifteen Thousand Pieces (Guernica Editions, 2023).  On Wednesday, September 2nd, 1998, an international flight carrying 229 souls crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. There were no survivors. By Friday, Sept 4th, thousands of dismembered body parts had come through Dr. John Butt's makeshift morgue in Hangar B at the Shearwater military base. The Chief Medical Examiner faced the most challenging and grisly task of his career. Five years prior to the plane crash, John had lost his prestigious job as Alberta's Chief Medical Examiner. After 14 years of marriage, John began to think of himself as gay, but remained closeted professionally. Then, after serving a handful of years as Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, the devastating crash in Nova Scotia cracked his carefully constructed façade. Fifteen Thousand Pieces explores one man's journey to accept his true nature and find his place in the world. Chapters alternate between the fast-paced story of the crash, and the history of the man in the making. It is both fast-paced and introspective; gruesome and touching. Ultimately, it is the story of how death teaches us to live. About Gina Leola Woolsey: CBC Award-winning author Gina Leola Woolsey tugs at your heartstrings with written portraits of people striving to find love, self-acceptance, and belonging in an ever-changing world. She left her corporate career mid-life to pursue an education in creative writing, earning a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from the University of King's College. She lives wherever the narrative takes her. Currently, her time is split between small-town Alberta, downtown Montreal, and her hometown of Vancouver. About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is  a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at www.hollayghadery.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Local people lead efforts to rid Lord Howe Island of invasive species.

    Talk Talk is an interesting band. Their musical style evolved significantly over time, moving from synth-pop to a more experimental art rock and post-rock sound, particularly with the albums 'Spirit of Eden' and 'Laughing Stock'. I like every phase of their career but I especially love the album 'Spirit of Eden'. Those last two albums have grown in stature and influence over the decades, inspiring countless musicians with their innovative use of space, silence, and unconventional song structures. It's no wonder that an ambient focused person like me would glom onto Talk Talk when you consider band leader, Mark Hollis's often-quoted sentiment about the importance of silence in music – "Before you play two notes, learn how to play one note... and don't play one note unless you've got a reason to". Recently a favorite podcast of mine, Discord & Rhyme, dedicated an episode to 'Spirit of Eden'. It's totally worth a listen. You can find here - https://discordpod.com/listen/155-talk-talk-spirit-of-eden-1988 After listening to that episode I decided to make a mix of tracks with a 'Spirit of Eden' feel. I used a few tracks recommended by the guys in the podcast - Bark Psychosis, Van Morrison, and Mile Davis. And combined those with 7 other cuts that fit the vibe. I always knew that Rain Tree Crow/Sylvian/Jansen/Barbieri would be a perfect fit. I was excited to use one of my favorite albums of 2022 - 'The Great Awakening' by Shearwater. I had forgotten how much I love that record. Are there any Talk Talk fans out there? What do you think of this collection of Talk Talk inspired tunes? Cheers!   T R A C K L I S T : 00:00   Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri - Mother London (Stone To Flesh 1995) 05:52   Phil Clemo - Maze (Through the Wave of Blue 2024) 11:07   Bark Psychosis - Street Scene (Hex 1994) 16:20   Van Morrison - When Heart Is Open (Common One 1980) 22:33   Rain Tree Crow - Blackwater (Rain Tree Crow 1991) 26:44   Shearwater - No Reason (The Great Awakening 2022) 32:00   Tuxedomoon & Cult With No Name - Do It For Van Gogh (Blue Velvet Revisited 2016) 36:18   The Blue Nile - From a Late Night Train (Hats 1989) 40:01   Bed - The Whimps (The Newton Plum 2001) 43:10   Miles Davis - He Loved Him Madly (Get Up With It 1974) 62:37   end

Broken Country by Clare Lesley Hall. Set in a small English farming community in the 1960s, this is the story of a love triangle which goes horribly wrong. Beth and Gabriel were young lovers whose lives then took very different turns and when they reconnect years later, a lot of things have changed. You know from the first page that someone is dead, and the weight of secrets which Beth and her husband Frank are holding becomes insurmountable as a murder trial looms and nothing will ever be the same again. Beautifully written and highly recommended. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Dominic Salt and his three children live on the remote island of Shearwater where he's the custodian of the world's largest seed bank. A woman is washed ashore in a storm, but her arrival can't be random as the island is so remote and it soon becomes clear she's come searching for something which the family may not want to give her. The isolation, the depth of these characters and the unfurling of the story is couched in some exceptional writing. This book is a miracle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wir haben unsere Stammgäste zum offenen Gespräch eingeladen. Die TuneFish Hosts Lars und Markus reden mit Stefan und Ludger über alles mögliche, was Ihnen gerade so im musikalischen Kontext vor die thematische Flinte kommt.Bereits im Cold Open geht es hoch her und es wird politisch bevor wir mehr oder weniger laut johlend zum Aprés Ski abbiegen. Unsere Hörerinnen Hille und Marion geben uns Themen wie Guilty Pleasures und musikalische Skandale vor. Aber es gibt noch viel, viel mehr zu bereden und dann haben wir ja auch noch unsere Hausaufgaben ... RUBRIK: Die HausaufgabeUnd als wäre alles Gelaber allein noch nicht genug, gibt es unsere beliebte Rubrik: Die Hausaufgabe!Lars und Markus schlagen sich gegenseitig ein Album vor, das dann subjektiv auseinandergenommen wird. Wir vergeben Punkte zwischen 1 (mies) und 10 (genial). Also gibt es jede Menge Gesprächsstoff!Heute geht es um:Manchester Orchestra "A Black Mile To The Surface" (2017)Shearwater "Palo Santo" (2007)Wir sind auch gespannt auf Eure Wertung:Das beste ist: Ihr könnt jederzeit mitvoten. Jedes besprochene Album führen wir hier https://www.tunefish-podcast.de/hausaufgabe/ mit der Wertung auf. Ihr könnt uns Eure Punktzahl als Mail an tunefish@derherrgott.de, über das Formular auf der Seite oder via Social Media schicken.>>> EUER SENF DAZU:Unsere Folgen leben immer mehr auch von Eurem Input, daher scheut Euch bitte nicht zu kommentieren, zu kritisieren oder gerne auch zu loben. Sei es als Text oder Sprachnachricht. Wir senden unglaublich gerne Eure Meinungen. Alle Kontaktmöglichkeiten, Shownotes und Infos zu unseren Gästen (und natürlich auch alle Episoden selbst) findet Ihr auf unserer Website: https://www.tunefish-podcast.de/>>> EUER SUPPORT:Da wir den Podcast dauerhaft werbefrei halten wollen, Euch aber gleichzeitig mehr Musik im Podcast bieten wollen, haben wir uns auf Anregung einer Hörerin überlegt, wie Ihr – die Hörenden – uns hier vielleicht etwas unterstützen könntet. Wir haben uns da für 3 mögliche Wege entschieden.• Patreon• PayPal• BitcoinAlle Support-Infos:https://www.tunefish-podcast.de/support/Unsere begleitende Spotify Playlist (diese Episode: Song 622 - 666 )hier könnt Ihr die von uns erwähnten Künstler, Songs oder Alben nachhören, die wir in den einzelnen Episoden besprechen:TuneFish-Spotify-PlaylistWenn Euch gefällt, was wir tun ...... helft Ihr uns unglaublich damit, wenn Ihr uns eine positive Bewertung gebt, wo auch immer Ihr uns hört.5 Sterne, Abos und Likes bei den einzelnen Folgen sind unser schönster Applaus. Stay tunefished, Lars & Markus .....RSS-Feed zum Podcast:https://letscast.fm/podcasts/tunefish-862dcd8d/feed.....Wir haben große Lust auf Euer Feedback. Also feedbackt uns bitte ;-)Schreibt uns eine Mail oder kommentiert auf unserer nagelneuen Website:https://www.tunefish-podcast.de/TuneFish aufInstagramBlueskyFacebookMastodon

We talk with Tarik Shahzad who broke the Cook County, Illinois Big Year record in 2024 with 294 species. His record-breaking bird was an incredible Short-tailed Shearwater. Hear all about his Big Year and more!

North Island little shearwater - Jordana Whyte from Dunedin Wildlife Hospital introduces us to a recent arrival on a visiting cruise ship This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

In the latest instalment of Cleary Gottlieb's Antitrust Review podcast, host Nick Levy is joined by colleagues from the firm's Brussels office, as well as two veterans of the Brussels scene, Sir Jonathan Faull, who chairs Brunswick's European Public Affairs Group, and Peter Guilford, who runs Shearwater, a leading EU public affairs firm. Together, they discuss the legacy of Commissioner Vestager and the in-coming Competition Commissioner, Teresa Ribera, for antitrust enforcement, merger control, digital regulation, and foreign subsidies regulation.

Hey, it's great to bring you... Episode #100!!! Six years, a lot of blood sweat, and tears as the saying goes but a huge amount of learning, growth, and fun... I've loved every moment. I want to acknowledge the support of XDEEP who had the vision to join us early as the show sponsor and have been with us every step of the way. I am incredibly grateful to Piotr, Patrick, Bart, Magda, Barbara, and the wider XDEEP team for their support. Other sponsors have also supported us... Shearwater, Seacraft, SEAL Drysuits, Fourth Element... and you'll hear it here first, Insta360. They are all fantastic brands that I love. Most of them I was diving before Speaking Sidemount and I'm very proud and thankful for their support. And then there is all of you. Thank you so much for your support as patrons. You are the group that helps with production costs so you are part of this team and I appreciate the support :). In this episode, sponsored by XDEEP and Seacraft, I catch up with one of the most interesting people I know... Josh Richards. Josh and I have known each other for five years and have knocked out some terrific dives together in some of the premier caves of Mount Gambier, South Australia... an area known as the "Limestone Coast". Josh and I delve into his fascinating journey from military service to stand-up comedy, to being in line for a one-way trip to Mars, and ultimately to becoming a prominent figure in Australian cave diving exploration. We discuss the intricacies of diving, the importance of teamwork, and the skills necessary for technical diving, particularly sidemount diving. Josh shares his experiences in discovering new cave systems in the Mount Gambier region and the dynamics of his team, the Soggy Wombats. Josh's stories emphasise the collaborative spirit of exploration and the joy of sharing discoveries with the diving community. Enjoy :) Steve

The Guys are joined by Jenny to talk about a new and exciting rum label, Great Shearwater Rum. The founders call into the show to talk about how the brand got started, their process and then walk everyone through a few of their rums they were kind enough to share.

This week the boys get ready for their upcoming trip to Isle Royale. To get ready for taking more shipwreck pictures, they discuss Nine Tips To Improve Your Wreck Photos, an article written by Jason Brown for the Shearwater website blog, go check it out over at https://shearwater.com/blogs/community/nine-top-tips-to-improve-your-wreck-photos

This week on the podcast, big Shearwater news as they announce a partnership with Reel Diving. A ‘heroic' diver sacrificed his own life trying to save another diver, knowing that he would be missing decompression stops, and PADI are talking at the United Nations.https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/2-poles-die-after-malta-wreck-dive/ https://timesofmalta.com/article/zonqor-tragedy-experienced-hero-diver-sacrificed-life-try.1095120 https://www.scubadivermag.com/padi-leading-the-fight-at-global-plastic-treaty-discussions/ Websitehttps://www.scubadivermag.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/ScubaDiverMagazine/Scuba Diver Magazinescubadivermag.com/subscriptions

My guest today is Los Angeles-based Producer/Mixer/Engineer/Drummer Danny Reisch, who has worked on projects for Local Natives, Dirty Projectors, Khruangbin, Barns Courtney, White Denim, Other Lives, Shearwater, Sun June, Tele Novella, Intocable, Halo video game ( last 3 seasons), The Green Knight score (a24), Disney Peter Pan score, Interview With The Vampire score, Willie Nelson, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, The Zombies, Counting Crows, Jimmy Cliff, Father John Misty and many more. In this episode, we discuss Dallas Childhood Memories Early Band Experiences Four Track Beginnings Michael Jackson Obsession Back to Future Influence Supportive Creative Family Unique School Experience Discipline College Music Degree Early Audio Awareness Atmos Mixing Insights Texas State University Touring and College Life Sound Design Job Band Experiences Takeaways Respect for Bands Working with Passionate Clients Good Danny's Studio Journey Early Studio Challenges Austin Music Scene Daytrotter Sessions Impact South by Southwest Frenzy Live Recording Skills Move to Los Angeles Pandemic Mixing Shift Film Score Mixing Financial Ecosystem Differences LA Studio Setup Challenges John Congleton's Advice Matt's Rant: What If? Links and Show Notes Danny on Instagram John Congelton on WCA Credits Guest: Danny Reisch Host: Matt Boudreau Engineer: Matt Boudreau Producer: Matt Boudreau Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau  WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell  Announcer: Chuck Smith     

The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century.

This week, tickets for our digital screening of Diving Into the Darkness are available, A British scuba diver who saved her twin sister's life in Mexico by repeatedly punching an aggressive crocodile three years ago has been awarded the King's Gallantry Medal. An Australian stripper is facing prison for diving for cocaine that Police had already confiscated and Shearwater release an air-integrated version of their Peregrine computer.https://www.scubadivermag.com/join-special-virtual-screening-of-diving-into-the-darkness/https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/medal-for-diver-who-saved-twin-sister-from-croc/ https://www.scubadivermag.com/stripper-caught-diving-for-coke-in-nz-but-it-was-in-usa/ https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/fresh-from-the-pot-plymouth-rnli-rescue-diver/https://www.scubadivermag.com/shearwater-launches-air-integrated-peregrine-tx/Diving Into The Darkness Link:https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/mzsdWebsitehttps://www.scubadivermag.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/ScubaDiverMagazine/Scuba Diver Magazinescubadivermag.com/subscriptions

“It's not just a spirits company, but a way of life.” That's what Fierce & Kind's owners and founders, Cyndi Smith and Basem Harb, say when talking about the ethos behind their company. In addition to peddling high-quality vodka and bourbon, Fierce & Kind donates a whopping 25 percent of net profits to charity. To learn more, we asked them to come on Happy Half Hour. Smith and Harb, former tech entrepreneurs, stopped by the SDM office one Friday with bottles in tow. Fierce & Kind's American bourbon is aged two years and five months, clocks in at 86 proof, and drinks almost like a Scotch: It's smooth, accessible. The cloyingly sweet aspect present in other bourbons is missing. This is intentional, Harb says. “I'm a Scotch drinker,” he tells us. He wanted to emulate some of the sippable qualities of Scotch, including its peatiness and vanilla notes. The bourbon is made with heirloom corn and other grains, adding complex flavor profiles that are missing from single-grain Scotch whiskeys. And bourbon isn't the only creation on the distillery's lineup that is great on the rocks. While he doesn't mind a good cocktail, Harb prefers sipping spirits neat. He and Smith wanted to make an exceptionally drinkable vodka that could stand up on its own, sans mixers. The result is a six-times distilled vodka that's a far cry from the Dubra handles of college lore. It's creamy and surprisingly light on the finish. It also won gold at the 2023 TAG Las Vegas Global Spirits Competition. Harb said that he's been doing restaurant tastings around town and may have even convinced some barkeeps to offer it as a sipper. But while the booze is fantastic, there are plenty of excellent spirits brands out there. Why buy from this one? The answer lies in ethics for those who may want to be more conscious about who they spend with. Fierce & Kind operates with an internal stock options program and equity crowdfunding campaign that is currently in-progress, making it an employee- and consumer-owned company. There's also the aforementioned charity component, which feeds directly into The Fierce & Kind Equity Foundation. The first organization supported by the Foundation is City Heights–based Nile Sisters, which provides predominantly working-class and immigrant women training for healthcare careers. Since the brand is on the newer side, this endeavor is just getting started, but the duo said they will continue to identify and support building “economic opportunities and entrepreneurship in historically disadvantaged communities.” In addition to tasting world-class tipples, we also talk about the news. Shearwater at the Del closed and world-famous Nobu will be taking its place as the final portion of the resort's $550 million renovation comes to a close; Vegas-based Clique Hospitality will unveil The Kitchen and The Clubhouse in Del Mar with an exec chef formerly from Miho Catering; Burgeon Beer Company opened a new Vista taproom; and Vietnamese-Latin fusion joint Chao XO just launched in National City. Two words: BIRRIA PHO. We'll see you next week!

Get the lowdown on the world's smallest penguin. This episode is about the interesting world of the Little Penguins that live on Phillip Island.Paula Wasiak has worked at the Phillip Island Nature Parks since 2009. Primarily, she coordinates and conducts field data collection, supporting projects aimed at future-proofing penguin survival and unlocking the mysteries of the oceans. She also works with other seabirds when the needs arise. Paula completed her Bachelor of Science Honours looking at the role of calcium in the reproductive biology of Little Penguins. Named a Superstar of STEM in 2023/24, Paula loves sharing her knowledge with different audiences, from community groups to students, and occasionally on the radio and telly.Links:* Paula on Instagram - @paula_wasiak* Paula on TikTok - @paul.penguin* Paula on Threads - @paula_wasiak* Paula on Twitter/X - @paulawasiak* Paula's Superstars of STEM profile - scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/paula-wasiak/* Phillip Island Nature Parks website and socials - penguins.org.au* Penguin Foundation website and socials - penguinfoundation.org.au* Fire-retardant native plants used to protect Phillip Island's Little Penguins - abc.net.au/news/2023-12-19/little-penguins-phillip-island-bushfire-heat-stress-conservation/103227806* Little Penguin recording by Rob van Bemmelen (XC198156) - xeno-canto.org* Short-tailed Shearwater recording by Nick Talbot (XC177452) - xeno-canto.orgWeekend Birder online:* Website, Monthly Letter and merch - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder* Threads - @weekend.birder* Twitter/X - @birderpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham embark on a journey exploring the intersection of marine education and environmental stewardship. Tyler shares his experiences with the Blue Robotics Education Initiative, highlighting his recent expedition aboard the NOAA research vessel Shearwater to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This trip, part of the LiMPETS program, offered Tyler a unique perspective on how ROVs can revolutionize high school education beyond traditional robotics and engineering classes. The episode then shifts to a broader discussion on climate change adaptation with Peter sharing his latest thoughts on this critical issue. As the episode winds down, both hosts reflect on the year 2023, sharing their personal and professional growths and looking forward to another year of coastal and ocean dialogues in 2024.

https://scubapro.comThis week on the podcast, some interesting news coming out of the DEMA show, police are searching for a surfer who rescued a diver in Australia, a new underwater depth record, an underwater earthquake was filmed by unexpecting divers and the historic diver Don Walsh has passed away.Garmin Descent Mk3ihttps://www.scubadivermag.com/garmin-launches-new-descent-mk3-mk3i-and-t2-transceiver/Shearwater Stern TXhttps://www.shearwater.com/tern/ Divesoft DNAhttps://www.divesoft.com/en/products/analyzers/dnaUnderwater Earthquakehttps://divernet.com/scuba-news/caught-on-camera-divers-rocked-by-earthquake/ Police Seek Hero Surferhttps://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/police-seek-surfer-who-rescued-scuba-diver/Underwater Photo Shoothttps://divernet.com/photography/photographers/world-dive-record-as-chilled-model-poses-five-times-deeper/Don Walshhttps://divernet.com/scuba-news/deepest-diver-don-walsh-dies-at-92/Scubapro SCUBAPRO is the world's most iconic brand of dive equipment for those whose passion is under water. Websitehttps://www.scubadivermag.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/ScubaDiverMagazine/Scuba Diver Magazinescubadivermag.com/subscriptions

CINEMA CINEMA was established in 2008 by Brooklyn-born cousins, vocalist/guitarist Ev Gold and drummer Paul Claro. They've been described as “experi-metal punks” by the Village Voice, a “jolt of adrenaline” by BrooklynVegan, and “feral and unrelenting” by Big Takeover.    Touring extensively through the past 15 years, CINEMA CINEMA has performed over 475 shows across 11 countries. Multiple treks alongside SST Records founder Greg Ginn, including a 45-date North American tour opening for Black Flag in 2014, select dates supporting Black Flag in 2013, and shared dates in 2010, 2011, and 2012 with Ginn's other outfits: The Royal We and The Taylor Texas Corrugators. In addition, the band has half a dozen European tours to their credit, including a 2013 stint in support of Martin   CINEMA CINEMA returns, this time with polymath percussionist Thor Harris (Swans, Angels of Light, Shearwater) in tow, to release their seventh full length, “Mjolnir”. Recorded at historic BC Studio in Brooklyn, NY with legendary noise producer Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, John Zorn, Boredoms). The album will be released July 28 as a red 12” vinyl LP, digital download and via streaming platforms by Nefarious Industries.   Inviting multi-instrumentalist Harris into the fold inspires new direction for the ensemble. Exploring his creative repertoire, Thor makes use of BC's synth collection along with an assortment of drums and arcane percussion pieces to leave his fingerprints on the proceedings. The trio submerge themselves in the strange beauty of chaotic sound, captured inside BC's cavernous recording space. Tracked just before the pandemic, Bisi spent time cultivating the sessions in the months that followed, helping shape one of the band's most expressive records to date. This marking the third time that CINEMA CINEMA and Martin have worked together (2014's A Night at The Fights and 2017's Man Bites Dog), the familiarity breeds wild results.       CINEMA CINEMA's info https://www.cinemacinemaband.com

If you are planning to invest in the Chinese market, then you are on the start of a roller-coaster ride of a journey and you need help. We all need help. We will be chatting with entrepreneurs and leaders to understand more about their China journey; and the challenges they have experienced in the Chinese market, how they have overcome them and what pieces of advice they can share with those of us who are just starting out.In this episode you will meet Baptiste Bassot, MD at Shearwater.You can reach out to Baptiste here: Email: baptiste@shearwaterasia.com LinkedIn URL:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/baptistebassot/Website: https://www.shearwatercn.com/ https://shearwaterasia.com/ ---------------------------Connect with Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory at Woodburn Accountants & Advisors on LinkedIn here.---------------------------Thrive in China RoundtableGeared towards international companies selling to China who want to systemize & scale their China business. Each week Kristina Koehler-Coluccia hosts a complimentary deep dive into a market entry strategy or implementation guideline that will help you protect and grow your China business.If you are looking to create a solid foundation for your China business and learn how to grow and scale quickly then you can register here. ---------------------------Can Woodburn help you? I am offering a free 30mins call where we discuss the obstacles you are encountering on your China business journey and how we can help accelerate your success. Book a call here.

Scuba Diving Magazine's September/October issue is their 2023 Photo Issue. In this issue they present the 2023 winners of the Through Your Lens photo contest. The Women Divers Hall of Fame is now accepting applications for their 2024 Scholarship and Grant programs. Deadline for application is November 15, 2023 at 5 pm eastern. More info. Ocean Explorer Trust had released footage from the EV Nautilus expedition where they surveyed three historic WW II aircraft carrier wrecks from the Battle of Midway. Three videos from the exploration of the Japanese carriers Akagi and Kagi along with a video of the USS Yorktown are on the EV Nautilus YouTube Channel. Here are the latest firmware updates for Shearwater dive computers. Peregrine - V86, Perdix and Perdix AI - V93, Perdix 2 - V95 and the Teric - V23 Commentary Earlier this month we had another local dive shop close here in Connecticut. While there are a number of reasons why this shop closed there is one element that we cannot ignore. Many local dive shop owners are getting older and there will come a time when these dive shop owners will retire. What then? There are two options - find another, younger owner to take over or close the shop. With so many headwinds, running a full service local dive center is complicated. Will the local dive shop model evolve from the high flow business of the 1980s and 90s? Only time will tell. The 2020 Divers Alert Network Annual Diving Report provides information from 2018 on diving related fatalities, injuries as well as information on equipment failures. The report is 92 pages and broken down into five sections and five appendices. DAN started this report in 1988 and plans to release the next Annual Diving Report before the end of 2023. If you are a DAN member you can download a copy and then share it with your dive buddies.

Join Matt Testoni and Olly Dove as they delve into the world of the Short Tailed Shearwater. Olly has worked with these birds on islands in Tasmania and shares her first hand knowledge of what its like being a sea bird researcher. From making sure you have a shearwater nest and not a penguin nest to to the hazards of seabird research, Olly is a wealth of shearwater knowledge!Check out Olly's podcast, That's What I Call Sciencehttps://thatsscience.org/and her adventures on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ols_dove/Check out Dan Musil (our theme composer)https://danmusilmusic.com/orhttps://www.facebook.com/dan.musil.musicCheck out Matt Testoni's photography on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/matt_testoni_photography/or athttps://www.mtunderwatermedia.comVisit the Seacreatures Podcast buy me a coffee to support the showhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattTestoniVisit the Seacreatures Podcast Patreon to support our showhttps://www.patreon.com/seacreaturespodcastand our Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/seacreatures_podcast/ Support the show

This live episode from the Becker's Hospital Review 13th Annual Meeting in Chicago features Melissa Lacy, Executive Vice President of Quality and Performance at Shearwater Health. Here, she discusses how the pandemic shifted how the industry sees the workforce and workflow, overcoming the nurse staffing issues, and more.

Two Sinking Liveaboards and Two New Shearwater Dive Computers #scuba #podcastScubapro Websitehttps://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/us https://www.shearwater.com/announcements/peregrine-adventures-edition/https://divernet.com/scuba-news/underwater-kiss-claim-leads-to-divers-arrest/https://divernet.com/scuba-news/red-sea-liveaboard-sinks-at-abu-nuhas/https://www.scubadivermag.com/search-continues-for-four-missing-after-liveaboard-sinks-in-the-philippines/Scubapro SCUBAPRO is the world's most iconic brand of dive equipment for those whose passion is under water. Websitehttps://www.scubadivermag.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/ScubaDiverMagazine/Scuba Diver Magazinescubadivermag.com/subscriptions

n today's episode we read the chapter 13 – A Night on the Town, in which James and Farfalla travel to Paloma's home to drop off Elisabeth in preparation for their trip.This week's podcast partner is Certainly Strange: https://open.spotify.com/show/1stSYQC9Sqox9TwbU48Dof?si=ct4_QX_NQh6hHZHxZ9eyVA&utm_source=copy-link&nd=1The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 13 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode James received a letter from a distant relative informing him that he is to inherit a house on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.In today's episode we read the chapter 13 – A Night on the Town, in which James and Farfalla travel to Paloma's home to drop off Elisabeth in preparation for their trip.Today's podcast partner is fellow Boopod network member Certainly Strange. An attempted murder on a ghost, cursed paintings burning houses down, and lighthouse keepers disappearing without a trace. The world is filled with astonishing stories that will make you think "I don't know what's going on here, but it is certainly strange!" Join host Nemo on a journey through the strangest parts of our history. Check the show notes for a link to the Certainly Strange podcast.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.July 14th, 1932 I had the dream again last night.I haven't had the dream since we left Meadow Lane. I thought it was over. The water rushing over my head, and that interminable darkness at the end.This time I woke to find myself on the dirt road staring at the Oak Tree at Meadow Lane in the earliest morning light. I had never ventured this far during my other sleepwalking episodes. Thankfully it was too early for anyone else to be up, and I was able to hurry home before anyone noticed I was gone. I have succeeded in avoiding casting eyes on Meadow Lane up until today, and the sight of it; abandoned, disheveled, forgotten… it broke my heart. I only allowed myself to stay for a brief moment while memories of my time there came flooding back; birthdays, holidays… Marius. I waved goodbye to the Oak Tree before walking away, and I swear I heard it singing. A soft, sorrowful song, echoing in the air around me. The song echoes in my head even now as I pack our bags.We are leaving Pocket today.~~~~~~“Bye bye,” says Elisabeth, waving goodbye to the birds on the porch railing as the car pulls away. Farfalla feels something tug at her heart as they leave their house for the city. Paloma has agreed to care for Elisabeth while Farfalla and James travel overseas to settle the affairs of Uncle George Archibald and Carnifex House. Farfalla turns to glance at James, who is focused on the road ahead. He has been apprehensive about taking over Carnifex House from the moment the letter arrived. Farfalla struggles to understand why he seems hesitant, to her it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. “Are you excited to see Auntie Paloma?” asks Farfalla over her shoulder, turning her head to glance at Elisabeth in the back seat.“Loma's house! Biscuits!” says Elisabeth. James laughs wholeheartedly at this. It is no secret that Elisabeth gets more than her fair share of biscuits when she visits Paloma.Farfalla reached out to Paloma to smooth things out just before the holidays. She felt terrible about overreacting to the hobby horse Paloma had bought for Elisabeth. They made peace easily, and spent the holidays together at Mr. and Mrs. Shearwater's apartment in the city. It was a great relief to Farfalla since there are so few people in her life who embrace and love her. Though the people of Pocket stopped being outright cruel once Elisabeth came along, they still excluded Farfalla and her family from any community events or gatherings. James never seemed bothered by it, sharing a life with Farfalla seemed to be enough for him. The drive to the city goes by rather quickly. Farfalla holds her breath as they pass The Aviary Finishing School for Girls of Distinction. A shudder runs through her as she recalls the woman who stepped out of Priscilla Ponceroy's room the night Priscilla's hair was shorn off. She never told anyone what she saw that night, it was simply too bizarre, she figured no one would ever believe her.“Penny for your thoughts,” says James, snapping her back to the present.“Oh! I was just remembering my time at The Aviary,” she spits out.“Ah, yes, I forgot you were once a Girl of Distinction,” he laughs. Farfalla giggles and turns to look at James' profile as he navigates through city traffic. Finally, they pull up to Paloma's apartment building. The tall structure reaches into the sky and Farfalla has to crane her neck to see the sun. “I don't know how she lives here, so far away from the grass and flowers, even the trees grow far below her apartment. I don't think the birds even fly that high!” she shakes her head.“To each their own, my darling,” says James, circling her waist with his arm and planting a kiss on top of her head.They enter the building and are greeted by the young man sitting behind the front desk. “Welcome back!” he says, recognizing them right away. He holds up a finger “I have something for you, young lady!” he adds winking at Elisabeth. He opens a drawer and pulls out a small cat figurine. “This belonged to my little sister, but she outgrew it and I thought perhaps you would enjoy it. His name is Peanut, by the way,” he explains, handing the toy to an enamoured Elisabeth.“Peanut!” she says, turning the toy over in her hands. “What do you say?” prods Farfalla.“Fank you!” replies Elisabeth enthusiastically. “You're most welcome,” says the young man. “Will you be needing help with your bags?” he asks, turning to James and Farfalla.“That's very kind, but no, we just have the one suitcase,” replies Farfalla.They gather their things and head up the elevator. Elisabeth shouts “Wheeeeee!” as the contraption starts making its way up to the 15th floor. Farfalla can feel her stomach heaving, she does not enjoy elevator rides“Welcome!” says Paloma, swinging the door open. She has recently been promoted at the department store where she works and with her new salary is able to afford a rather nice apartment. Tall windows look out at the building across the street and let in a moderate amount of sun. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the living room compensates for the lack of natural light. “How's my Lissie!” she says, stretching her arms out to catch Elisabeth and lifting her into the air. “I've made us pasta primavera for lunch, it should be ready in just a few minutes,” she adds, turning to James and Farfalla.They give Elisabeth a quick snack then get her settled into the guest room for a nap. Farfalla looks around the room as she unpacks Elisabeth's bag, and notes that Paloma has added a bookshelf filled with children's books and stuffed animals, and has hung a butterfly mobile from the ceiling and placed some brightly coloured paintings on the walls. The room is absolutely charming, and Farfalla smiles warmly at the care and love Paloma has put into it. Elisabeth falls asleep almost immediately, tuckered out from the long drive. James and Farfalla join Paloma in the dining room for lunch, then they retreat to the sitting room to talk about their upcoming trip.“Our boat leaves Saturday, and we should arrive in Scotland around the 29th if all goes well. Then we take a train through Scotland to the coast and a ferry to Skye. James has organized transportation by car to get from the ferry to Carnifex House,” explains Farfalla between sips of tea and bites of her biscuit.“That sounds like quite an adventure!” says Paloma, enthralled.“That's one word for it,” says James, sounding less than thrilled about the prospect of nearly three weeks of travelling to get to their destination.“Falla, I was thinking,” interjects Paloma, “if it's alright with you, James, perhaps the two of us could go out for dinner tonight, like old times,” she says, turning to James for approval.“Of course, I'll stay here with Elisabeth,” says James.“Great! Falla, go put on a pretty dress, I know just the place!” says Paloma excitedly. Farfalla steps away to change and returns a short while later wearing an airy floral dress.“Have fun my darling,” says James, laying a kiss on her cheek. Paloma leads the way down the corridor, down the elevator, waves hastily at the young man behind the front desk and pulls Farfalla out the front door into the hot humid city streets. The walk several blocks to a small café on a side street, clearly this isn't one of the tourist spots. “Les Ailes Du Ciel” reads a sign above the door. “The Wings in the Sky” says Paloma, translating, “They have the most amazing crostini, and they make a pâté that is simply divine! And wait until you see the pastries, the Mille Feuille is out of this world!” Farfalla smiles as Paloma keeps gushing about types of food she's never even heard of. They sit at a small table on the outdoor patio, a small candle flickering between them. The server brings a series of small white plates with ornately decorated dishes on each. Farfalla isn't always certain what it is, exactly, she is eating, but every bite is a revelation. “This is my favourite, it's has goat cheese, honey, and grapes on it!” says Paloma, digging into the small toast on her plate.“So, how are you feeling about this trip?” she asks, daintily wiping the corner of her mouth with her napkin.Farfalla takes a deep breath. Up until yesterday evening she was very much looking forward to the trip, but then… “I had the dream again last night,” she says quietly.Paloma's hands slowly drop to the table. “Oh Falla, I thought that was over!” she says, her voice filled with sympathy.“So did I. I hadn't had that dream since we left Meadow Lane,” replies Farfalla. “Dreaming of water like that when we're planning to cross the ocean by boat, it just… it's a little disconcerting,” she says.“I'm sure it's just nerves, this is a big trip. Everything will be fine, you'll see,” says Paloma, reaching across the table to grab both of Farfalla's hands in hers.Farfalla smiles at her and takes a deep breath before continuing. “You're probably right, but just in case, I want you to promise me that if anything should happen to me, to James and I, that you will raise Elisabeth as your own. She's still very young, she would easily adapt.”Paloma shakes her head, “No, Falla, I won't even discuss such a thing. This trip is going to do a world of good for you and James, and you will return in two months' time rejuvenated and excited for what the future holds, and you'll bring your beautiful little girl along with you for the ride,” she says, the words spilling from her lips in rapid succession.Farfalla stares at her quietly for a long while. Finally, Paloma nods. “Of course I will care for Elisabeth, always and forever, as if she were my own. I love that little girl more than anything in the world,” she concedes. Farfalla gives her an understanding nod. She loves Elisabeth more than anything in the world too.“I have here an éclair for you miss, and for you our world famous Mille Feuille. Bon apetit!” says the server, placing the delicate pastries in front of each of them.“These are delectable!” exclaims Farfalla, taking a bite of the éclair. Paloma cuts into her pastry and places a piece on Farfalla's plate. “Wait until you try this!”Farfalla allows herself to get lost in the sweet taste of the icing that tops the layers of custard and pastry. It's a great escape for her troubled mind. She hasn't stopped thinking about The Dream since she woke up standing by the side of the road this morning. She keeps replaying the dream from start to finish, triggering emotions at every step; first panic as she sinks deeper under water, then calm when she sees sun shining down on her from above, then the most gut-wrenching, frightening, horrible feeling of all as the dark, empty Nothing sets in.“We should probably get going, it's getting quite late,” says Paloma, pulling several bills out of her wallet to pay the server. Farfalla shakes her head to rid herself of her jumbled thoughts and stands up, pulling her shawl over her shoulders to alleviate the sudden chill in the air.They amble back to the apartment building, but Paloma stops short outside the door to her unit. “What you asked me earlier, about caring for Elisabeth if something happens to you and James. Falla, do you… do you have a premonition that something is going to go wrong? You don't have to go on this trip, you and James could just move here to the city for a fresh start.” she says.Farfalla's breath catches in her throat. She hadn't allowed the thought to surface - whether her recurring nightmare is a warning of some kind. She looks Paloma in the eye and smiles, “Of course not,” she says. “This will be the grandest adventure of our lives, and we will return in no time. No time at all.”Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 14 – Look to the Skye – in which James and Farfalla make their way to the Isle of Skye to claim Carnifex House.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. Leaving a rating or a review on your preferred podcast platform is incredibly helpful in helping the podcast gain visibility so others can find and enjoy the story of The Skylark Bell, it's a quick, easy, and free way to support my work. If you'd like to support me further,  you can also subscribe to Patreon, where you'll get early access to ad-free episodes as well as digital downloads of my music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! And be sure to follow me on social media for updates, I love to connect with listeners... Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When the guest is just a little bit extra strange. Welcome, weary travelers, to The Inn Between. Join Gabriela Jones, a recent botany undergrad, in her new job as Innkeeper near the rural town of Shearwater. New episodes monthly on the first quarter moon. Written and read by Bailey Loveless TIP YOUR INNKEEPER at Ko-Fi to keep the show advertisement free and access bonus content Read guestbook submission guidelines here LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: This podcast is inspired by and recorded on the Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest. We celebrate and honor these ancestral lands and their stewards--past, present, and future. THEME MUSIC: Yonder Dale / Tiny Surprises / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-6f8ef6 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Gabriela & The Inn Between.

We'll explore how positivity is learned and takes discipline to master. We also learn about a tough little one that can give us the courage to take on any size storm.  PLUS - Two great processes to support your culture, family and life as well as a new mindset: 70/30! Describe the typhoons you are facing that will challenge your positivity. List which processes you will employ to support the discipline of others Describe what you can do different to increase your positive discipline.

In today's episode we read the chapter 10 – A Wedding After All, in which James and Farfalla marry, but things don't go quite as planned...This week's podcast partner is The Grim Cities: https://anchor.fm/thegrimcitiesThis episode features the song The Wedding Dress originally composed by Cannelle for Fantôme Friday #11 in Season 1. This version has been remixed and remastered by Pink Flamingo Music Productions: youtube.com/channel/UCqt6NSbXlXVl3Ofp8jeV4IQThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 11 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, James Carnifex came back into Farfalla's life and the two fell in love.In today's episode we read the chapter 10 – A Wedding After All, in which James and Farfalla marry, but things don't go quite as planned...Today's podcast partner is The Grim Cities. I discovered this podcast by accident, and I'm so glad I did! The Grim Cities covers paranormal stories from the Twin Cities area and beyond, often covering stories even I, who has lived in the Twin Cities for years, hadn't heard of. Even if you're not familiar with the area, the podcast is absolutely worthwhile with great research and entertaining delivery. Just check the show notes for a link.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.March 22nd, 1929Today is my wedding day. I never thought I would write those words. After Marius disappeared, the thought of falling in love again or being in a relationship seemed so foreign to me. Impossible. I had accepted the reality of living out my life on my own, quietly, shunned by everyone in town. But life is funny sometimes, it weaves joy and sadness in and out like the creek that flows into Pine River. The day James Carnifex came back into town was the happiest day I'd had in a long time. The following day we went for a picnic by the fountain in Brighthaven. I made us some sandwiches and James bought some pastries from Tourtereaux's Bakery downstairs before we left. We talked and laughed, and I felt freer and happier than I had in years. We saw one another the following day, too. Then he had to travel for business, but upon his return he came to me. We've spent nearly every waking moment together ever since. I relish the company. I had unknowingly swallowed my loneliness down so deeply I had all but forgotten about it, but the moment he left on that trip it came roaring back up from the depths of my being and I realized I don't want to be lonely. I don't want to be alone.I spend as much time with James as possible, and it's lovely, but I've surprised myself in that the thing that has brought me the greatest joy, the greatest pleasure, is the look of shock (and, dare I say, horror?) on the faces of every single person in Pocket who turned on me when the silence fell on Meadow Lane. Every person who blamed me, pushed me to the fringes of their community, treated me as a lesser person, as something to be shunned and feared and loathed. Every person who crossed the street when they saw me coming their way, or who pretended I wasn't there when waiting in line at the store or the post office. I am finding great pleasure in shocking them, perhaps even angering them. Those who don't think I deserve happiness. I have gone out about town with James again and again, relishing their wide eyed, open mouthed disbelief that someone would be kind to me, perhaps even love me. So, naturally, when James asked me to marry him, I said yes.~~~~~~“I will,” says Farfalla, her voice echoing in the vast, mostly empty room. She looks up at James and smiles.“Then, it is my honour to pronounce you husband and wife,” says the officiant, sealing their fates together with a clasp of his hands. With a swish of his robes, he fades to the back of the room, leaving James and Farfalla officially married. They turn to face the hall where Mr. and Mrs. Shearwater, Paloma, Isadora Finch, Isadora's husband Eric and their daughter Sarah are sitting, immediately causing everyone to hop to their feet and clap with joy. James takes Farfalla's hand and leads her down the aisle to the door, her sleek white lace dress trailing to the floor. It had been Mrs. Shearwater's wedding dress originally, and Paloma helped alter it to give it a more modern fit. Farfalla's hair is covered with a long veil, the top of which is attached to a simple tiara that Isadora gifted her when she found out about Farfalla's engagement. In her hands Farfalla holds a bouquet of dried hydrangeas, having been unable to come by any live flowers so early in the year.The group walks out onto the stone steps of the hall facing the Brighthaven Town Square. “Everyone, line up, Eric will take a photo!” says Isadora with excitement. James, Farfalla and Farfalla's family line up on the stone steps as Isadora's husband sets up his camera.  “Isadora, you must be in the photo as well!” shouts Farfalla, gesturing for Isadora to join them on the steps. Isadora grabs Sarah and sets the toddler on her hip as she joins the group. A fortuitous break in the clouds sends delicate rays of sunshine down on the happy couple just as Eric takes their photograph. Farfalla smiles. Everything is going to be just fine.“Is everyone ready to go?” asks James. The group nods in unison. Their joyful chatter carries over the town square as they walk to their cars.“Great! We'll meet you at the diner!” shouts Farfalla over her shoulder as she gets into the car. James closes the door gently behind her then runs around the front of the car to the driver's seat. They take a moment to catch their breath.“Can you believe it?” he asks.“It feels surreal, doesn't it?” says Farfalla, feeling a childlike giddiness rising in her. She and James had been friends for many years prior to the Carnifex family leaving Pocket, but she never imagined for a moment that she would one day be his wife. Then again, she never imagined that her first love, her true love, would suddenly disappear, and that she would be forced to move away from Meadow Lane, and that the people of Pocket, the town she had lived in her entire life, would turn against her.“Is everything alright, Falla?” asks James, noting the crease in her brow.Farfalla shakes her head, ridding herself of the negative thoughts. She reminds herself that today is her wedding day, and she refuses to let anything ruin it. “Yes, everything is great,” she says, taking a hold of his hand. James smiles at her, gives her hand a gentle squeeze, then starts the car and pulls away from the curb. They turn onto the main road and head back towards Pocket. James parks the car on Main Street, just outside Bunting's General Store, across from The Early Bird diner.“And now, Mrs. Carnifex, we celebrate!” he says playfully as he grabs Farfalla's hand and helps her out of the car. Farfalla stands up and grins at James before planting a kiss on his cheek, then they scurry across the street to meet the Shearwaters and Isadora in front of the early bird.“Eric has gone home with Sarah so we can enjoy our lunch,” says Isadora. “Shall we?” she asks, gesturing toward the door.Farfalla takes the lead and walks up the short walkway to the restaurant entrance. Just as she is reaching for the door handle Mrs. Kestrel turns the key in the lock. Farfalla stands on the opposite side of the door, a look of confusion on her face. She knocks gently and says, “Mrs. Kestrel, we're here for lunch to celebrate my wedding.”Mrs. Kestrel's eyes narrow and her sharp voice cuts through the glass, “We're closing due to unforeseen circumstances,” she says. With that, she turns the “open” sign to “closed” and walks away.Farfalla stands in front of the door, shellshocked. At that precise moment, a thick cloud blows in, covering the sun and sending heavy rain drops pouring from the sky. Farfalla looks up, grateful for the rain that will camouflage her tears. She laughs then, a harsh, bitter sound that sends shivers down Isadora's spine. “Come on, Farfalla, let's leave,” says Mr. Shearwater, grabbing her by the elbow. James stands on Farfalla's other side, ready to catch her should she stumble.“We'll have lunch tomorrow, I'll prepare your favourite dishes and we'll bring them over to your new house,” says Mrs. Shearwater in the most comforting tone she can muster.“Chin up, Falla,” says Paloma, giving her sister a hug, “this was just back luck, it'll be all blue skies from here on out!”Farfalla imagines what a mess she must look like. The bottom of her dress is quickly getting covered in mud, just like when she was a child wading into Mirror Pond. Her veil is soaked and clinging to the sides of her face, and she can feel eye makeup running down her cheeks in black streaks. The people of Pocket have accused her of being a witch for years, and today she looks the part. Farfalla lets out another bitter laugh, then turns to look at the people standing around her. The only five people in the world who treat her with kindness, love, respect. The only people who speak to her, touch her, love her. She notes how their clothes are getting soaked and their wet hair is sticking to their faces as they stay out in the rain trying to comfort her. She should be feeling love for them, gratitude. But the only emotion running through her body at this very moment is rage.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 11 – Elisabeth, in which we meet James and Farfalla's daughter, Magpie's Great-Grandmother, Elisabeth.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon or Ko-Fi, where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! You can also find The Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for all necessary links. Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode we read the chapter 8 – The Silence, in which we learn what sparked the mysterious silence at Meadow Lane.This week's podcast partner is Mums, Mysteries, and Murder: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mums-mysteries-murder/id1578866284The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 8 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, Marius vanished in the terrible snowstorm of 1925.In today's episode we read the chapter 8 – The Silence, in which we learn what sparked the mysterious silence at Meadow Lane.Today's podcast partner is fellow Boopod Network member Mums Mysteries and Murder. If you enjoy true crime with a side of belly laughs then this is the podcast for you! Marti and Effie explore stories from their combined homelands of Australia and Scotland, which almost ensures they've covered some cases you haven't heard before. Be sure to check the show notes for a link to Mums Mysteries and Murder.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.May 3rd, 1925Everything has changed. It's not just that Marius is gone. The light, the wind, the rain, it has all changed. Normally the lilac and the apple blossoms would be filling the air with their sweet scent at this time of year, but not this year. Normally, the foxes would be playfully hopping out of their burrow, and birds would be singing from the highest tree branches, but not this year. Normally, the grass would be turning green, young leaves would appear at the end of the tree branches, tulips and daffodils would be blooming, but not this year. Normally, I would be happy and joyful, singing and dancing, celebrating spring and getting ready to wed Marius, but not this year. Or any year. I feel no joy, only heartache. Of course, Marius was never found, but you knew that already. You know everything. Well, almost everything.Papa and Mama have decided we should leave Meadow Lane. Perhaps the Carnifex family was right to leave when they did, perhaps we should have done the same. Perhaps Marius would still be here if we had.I went to the Oak Tree to say goodbye this morning. It was eerily quiet. Too quiet. There was no sound of wind blowing through the branches, no birds chirping, I didn't even hear my shoe scrape against the thick bark as I climbed to my favourite branch. There was no haunting tune and no heartbeat. Perhaps what Isadora Finch told me, how her people believe everything has a spirit, even rocks and trees, is true. Perhaps, like Marius, the spirit of the Oak Tree is gone. I wonder sometimes if, perhaps, my spirit is gone too…~~~~~~“Falla, it's time to go!” Mrs. Shearwater's voice echoes up the stairs. Farfalla is sitting in front of her vanity, staring at herself in the mirror. Her face looks so much older now, sadder. She puts her hand against the cool glass to hide her reflection. Her notebook sits open in front of her, she re-reads her last workds "I wonder sometimes if, perhaps, my spirit is gone, too...". A tear slips down her cheek and lands on the word "spirit", causing it to blur. Farfalla closes the book and shoves it in the drawer of her nightstand. She turns to take one last look at her room, the room where, not so long ago, she was dancing and singing with joy. She feels for the silver chain around her neck, and the feather ring looped onto it. She couldn't bear to have the ring on her finger as a constant reminder of Marius, but she also couldn't bear the thought of not having it close, so she slipped it back onto the chain, just like she had the day Marius proposed in the apple orchard.“Farfalla, it's time to go!” comes her mother's voice again, more insistent this time. Farfalla is about to leave when she hears the Skylark Bell ring outside her window. The sound is striking, she hasn't heard the bell ring for weeks. Almost like there hasn't been any wind to blow it around. If she's honest with herself, she had all but forgotten about it. She opens the window and carefully removes the bell from its hook. A wave of grief washes through her as she remembers unwrapping Marius' gift to her. She runs her finger along the Skylark's wings and circles the vine down to the bell. Farfalla reaches under her bed for the decorative feather box that the bell had once been stored in, the one her father originally commissioned Marius to build. She turns the feather key in the lock and lifts the lid off the box. She places the bell inside with great care, then closes the lid, turns the key to lock the box, and slips the key onto the silver chain around her neck, next to the feather ring and tree charm.Farfalla pushes her area rug off to the side and feels around the floorboards for the plank with the notch in its side. When she and Paloma were children, they discovered a secret compartment under the floor, and used to hide small treasures under there. Then one day Paloma reached in and felt a mouse scurry between her fingers, so they stopped using the secret compartment as a hiding place. Farfalla lifts the board and carefully places the box in the space beneath it. She kisses her fingers and touches them on the top of the box. “I love you, Marius. I will always love you,” she whispers, before easing the plank back into place and pulling the rug back on top. She stands, grabs her travel case, then steps into the hallway and closes her door, for the last time.Mr. and Mrs. Shearwater have decided to move to the city with Paloma, to Paloma's delight. Farfalla has chosen to stay behind in Pocket. Audrey Tourtereaux spoke to her parents, and they've agreed to let Farfalla live in the small apartment above the bakery for a modest sum. For work, Farfalla has approached several residents in Pocket about dressing their flower beds and window boxes. The Buntings are paying her quite handsomely to decorate the gardens at the general store, and they've put up a flyer advertising her services on their community bulletin board. Several months go by, and Farfalla is doing quite well for herself. She gets a contract with the library to decorate their planters and front entrance for the fall, and they've asked her to put together some decoration ideas for the holiday season as well. She dresses the window boxes on The Early Bird restaurant and the owner, Mrs. Kestrel, is so impressed she asks Farfalla to design the flower beds at her house on the edge of town. Before long most of the flower beds in Pocket are overflowing with beautifully coordinated flowers and plants, all with Farfalla's signature style. She takes pride in her work and is grateful for the kindness of her fellow townspeople and the trust they've placed in her.After a year of living on her own Farfalla begins to fall into a routine and feels a sense of normalcy return to her life. She regularly joins Audrey Tourtereaux for tea on the patio behind the bakery, and during the summer she attends a few larger gatherings with Isadora Finch, the Starlings, and Willy and Emma Bunting. They reminisce about “the olden days”, always careful to avoid any mention of Marius. Farfalla spends the holidays with Audrey's family, enjoying their traditional French-Canadian cooking and songs, and for the first time in a long time she feels something akin to joy. Winter comes and goes without incident, to the relief of everyone in town, and Farfalla is excited to get started on her springtime projects. She walks down the street, breathing in the scent of the hyacinths, and feels a semblance of happiness. The past year of living independently, forging her own path, staying connected with her friends, earning fair pay for doing a job she enjoys, has brought some comfort to her, and helped heal her heart. Just when it feels like everything is falling into place, talk of “the silence” begins.At first Farfalla notices a subtle change in the people of Pocket. Hushed whispering that stops suddenly when she enters a room. Sideways glances from people at the diner or the general store. Then come the cancellations; first Mrs. Kestrel cancels Farfalla's services for both her home and the diner, then a few smaller clients follow suit. Finally, the library informs her they will no longer be needing her services, and lastly Mr. Bunting tells her they can no longer afford to hire her due to budget issues, but his tone indicates this is merely an excuse.“Audrey, do you have a moment?” she asks one day, spotting Audrey on the sidewalk outside the bakery. They haven't gotten together for tea since last autumn, but Farfalla chalked it up to the winter months not being conducive to social gatherings on an outdoor patio. Audrey looks around nervously and nods her head, but signals for Farfalla to follow her around the corner to the back of the building. “What's going on?” asks Farfalla, perplexed at her friend's strange reaction.“People in town are talking…” begins Audrey, clearly uncomfortable. Farfalla waits patiently for her friend to continue. Audrey lets a long silence hang between them, like she is hoping Farfalla will just drop the subject, before finally continuing. “They're saying there's something strange going on at Meadow Lane,” she says at last.“Meadow Lane? No one has lived there in over a year, what are they saying is going on?” she asks, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.“Well, Mrs. Kestrel says that last month while her nephew was visiting, he walked up the lane to go climb the big tree but came running back a moment later crying and screaming that he couldn't hear anymore. Mrs. Kestrel says his mother stepped onto the property to see what he was talking about, and she fainted almost immediately. They packed their things the next day and neither one of them has said a word since,” finishes Audrey, taking a deep breath.“That's very strange… it doesn't even sound possible! But, even if it's true, why is everyone acting strange around me?” asks Farfalla.At this Audrey stares down at the ground. “They think you caused the silence.” The six short words send Farfalla reeling. “What? Why would they think that?!” she asks, at once feeling horrified, scared, and angry.“They think you cursed the property after Marius disappeared. They say it's strange how you prefer to spend your time with plants and animals instead of people. They're afraid of you,” says Audrey, somberly.Farfalla is afraid to ask her next question, but she needs to know. “Are you afraid of me too, Audrey?” Farfalla feels her heart sink as she sees her friend turn to look away.“Audrey, we need your help with these pies!” comes Mrs. Tourtereaux's voice from the window behind them. “I have to go. I'm sorry,” says Audrey, hurrying past Farfalla.The rumour spreads like wildfire over the course of the next few weeks, and by the time summer comes Farfalla has been completely cut off from everyone in town. She goes about her day quietly, using what little money she has saved up to buy food and supplies from the general store, and keeping to herself in her tiny apartment. She doesn't dare to go back to Meadow Lane to see what everyone is talking about. She convinces herself that doing so would give credence to their fantasy. But deep down Farfalla knows, the real reason she doesn't want to go back to Meadow Lane is because she's afraid the stories might be true. She felt the silence the day she left; it had wrapped itself around the Oak Tree like a blanket. Once again Isadora Finch's warning had come true, “There will be a long silence,” she had said that day several years ago. Never in her wildest dreams did Farfalla think one day the entire town would shut her out and accuse her of being a… Witch? Sorceress? What did they think of her, really? She knows she didn't do anything to cause the silence, so where did it come from?Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 9 – An Old Friend – in which someone from Farfalla's past reappears just when she needs him most.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon or Ko-Fi, where you get early access to ad free episodes as well as digital downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! You can also find The Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I introduce you to an evergreen tree and explain what happened to all those bananas last fall...Welcome, weary travelers, to The Inn Between. Join Gabriela Jones, a botany lover, in her job keeping a vaguely magical inn near the rural town of Shearwater. New episodes monthly on the first quarter moon. Written and read by Bailey Loveless TIP YOUR INNKEEPER at Ko-Fi to keep the show advertisement free and access bonus content Special thanks to local poet and woodcrafter, Chris Kleinfelter for letting me read his poem “Unseen Legends” for our guestbook segment. Chris has been writing the last 30 years, since he returned to college at age 40, which brought out his love for writing. After winning a poetry award in Thoughts Beyond Insanity, the campus literary journal, he has been writing ever since. His work has been featured in Harrisburg Review, The Villager, Tidepools Magazine, Sixfold Poetry Summer 2020, and Corona Global Lockdown as well as the Olympic Peninsula Writers Association 2022 anthology. You can find more of his work on his poetry blog poetinplace.com Submit your work! Read guestbook submission guidelines here LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: This podcast is inspired by and recorded on the Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest. We celebrate and honor these ancestral lands and their stewards--past, present, and future. THEME MUSIC: Yonder Dale / Tiny Surprises / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Follow on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In today's episode we read the chapter 7 – Marius' Disappearance, where we relive the terrible events of the winter of 1925, this time from Farfalla's perspective.This week's podcast partner is Generally Spooky: linktr.ee/generallyspookyThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 7 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, Marius gifted The Skylark Bell to Farfalla.In today's episode we read the chapter 7 – Marius' Disappearance, where we relive the terrible events of the winter of 1925, this time from Farfalla's perspective.Today's podcast partner is Generally Spooky, also a member of The Boopod Network! If you're interested in learning about the often spooky and haunting history of Scotland, you won't want to miss this one! Hosts Eilidh and Kieran sprinkle just the right amount of humour in each episode. Just check the show notes for a link to the Generally Spooky podcast. Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.February 13th, 1925Winter has come. It has been the most brutal, devastating winter anyone can recall. The snow simply won't stop falling, and it has been bitterly cold. Over the holidays Marius asked Papa for my hand in marriage and Papa graciously accepted. We announced our engagement to everyone just after they'd opened their holiday gifts. Mama was so happy she set aside her usual decorum and let out a loud whoop! Paloma clapped and cheered, and Papa held us both in a warm embrace for a very long time. Marius has been living with us since the Carnifex family moved away last month. James told Gordon Starling his parents are thinking of moving to Europe, but they may return once winter is over. I was surprised at the news; James didn't even say goodbye to me. Still, I am so happy to have Marius living with us and our engagement no longer a secret. Despite the cold I feel warm and loved and full of hope for the future!Not everyone has been so fortunate though. There was a fire at the Tanager's farm, and Earl Tanager was killed. I can't imagine how devastated his wife Phoebe must be, and their children Charlie and Marie. They were trying to keep warm with candles, having run out of firewood for the fireplace. Many families have run out of firewood. Papa cut down the trees in the apple orchard and distributed wood to as many people as he could, but that was weeks ago, and now we've almost used all of it. I cried and cried as he and the Starling boys hacked at the trees, there will be no fragrant blossoms this spring. Mama has promised to pull seeds from the few apples we still have in the root cellar, but it will take years for them to grow into the blooming, bountiful orchard we once had.This morning when I came downstairs Papa was standing at the front window staring at the Oak Tree. I knew what he was thinking before he even said anything, and right away I cried “Papa, no!”. I can't bear the thought of the Oak Tree being felled. My Oak Tree. I have heard its song, felt its heartbeat. It is a living breathing thing and I feel like if it were to die, I would die too. Marius ran into the room when he heard me shout, and Papa explained that we were out of firewood, and he was thinking of cutting down the Oak Tree. I wept and wept and begged Papa not to do it, so Marius offered to go out to look for firewood. I didn't know what would happen then. I didn't know Marius would never come home…~~~~~~Farfalla stares out at the Oak Tree from her bedroom window, relieved that it is still standing, and grateful to Marius for offering to find another source of firewood so her father wouldn't cut it down. She places a record on the victrola and winds it. Music fills the room, and she begins dancing to keep warm. She gets lost in the sound as it wraps around her like a warm blanket, and subconsciously starts humming along, eyes closed, swaying from side to side. Finally, the victrola winds down and the music stops, but Farfalla doesn't seem to notice and keeps dancing. Her humming turns to the song of the Oak Tree, the one she heard that day when the tree seemed to be singing her name, “Fallalala Lalalalala”. Outside her bedroom window the wind picks up and the Skylark Bell begins to ring.In the mirror of Farfalla's vanity a mist slowly appears, and a woman's face gradually fades into view. The woman's piercing blue eyes are filled with worry, and her mouth moving as if she is trying to shout a warning of some kind, but no sound comes out. Farfalla, still dancing and singing with her eyes closed, is blissfully ignorant of the woman in the mirror. Finally, Farfalla stops moving as the last notes of her song fade from the room. She opens her eyes and see it is beginning to get dark out. Where is Marius? Farfalla furrows her brow and hurries downstairs as the woman in her vanity mirror fades away.“Mama, has anyone heard from Marius?” she asks, walking into the kitchen.Mrs. Shearwater grabs a wooden spoon from a drawer to stir the stew. “Not yet, but I'm sure he'll be home any moment now. Why don't you sit at the table, I'll bring you some food,” she says, shooing Farfalla from the kitchen.Farfalla sits at the table, pushing the stew around her plate with her fork, unable to eat because her stomach is too tight with worry. She remains perfectly still in her chair for what seems like an eternity, silently staring off into space. Darkness fell on Meadow Lane hours ago, and still Marius has not returned. Farfalla may be still on the outside, but on the inside her heart is pounding and her stomach is clenched with worry. Worry and guilt. He wouldn't have gone out if it weren't for her. Her thoughts keep swirling in an incessant spiral that gets darker and darker by the minute. Mr. and Mrs. Shearwater and Paloma are sitting in the living room with layers of blankets over their shoulders, the small fire in the fireplace barely providing any warmth.A loud, insistent knock at the door startles all of them. Farfalla turns to look toward the door, hoping with every fiber of her body that it is Marius on the other side. Mr. Shearwater walks to the door and cracks it open so as not to let the cold air in. He nods his head, closes the door, grabs his coat and boots and walks out.Farfalla's heart sinks. If it had been Marius at the door, he would have come in. Where has Papa gone? Who is at the door? “Don't worry, Falla,” says Paloma, walking over to her and laying a blanket over her shoulders, “Papa will find Marius, and everything will be fine, you'll see.” Paloma's comforting words do nothing to ease Farfalla's anxiety, she can feel deep in the core of her being that something is deeply wrong. At long last Mr. Shearwater comes back inside, a grim look on his face. He slowly takes off his coat and boots before walking over to the dining room table and taking a seat next to Farfalla. He takes her hands in his and heaves a sigh before speaking. “That was Gordon Starling, he was with a man I've never met before. They came to tell me they found Cormorant by the side of the road,” he begins. Farfalla feels tears stinging at her eyes already. They found Cormorant. That means they found only Cormorant. She hears a ringing in her ears that drowns out her father's words as he tries to reassure her that they will go out looking for Marius as soon as morning comes and bring him home. “The man says he thought he saw him out by Mirror Pond, we'll start our search there…” his voice trails off.Farfalla can feel a crack spread across the expanse of her heart. She gets up from the table and wanders to the front window. She can't see the Oak Tree in the darkness outside, but she knows it is there. How could she have been so childish? So foolish?! Suddenly, Isadora Finch's warning echoes in Farfalla's mind. She had said something about the tree, then the words “Beware the dark horse in the snow”. Somehow, Isadora knew, and somehow, deep inside her, Farfalla also knows. Marius is never coming home.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 8 – The Silence – in which we learn how the silence at Meadow Lane was sparked, and what lead to the house being abandoned.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating on spotify or a review on apple podcast, they help give the skylark bell visibility so others can find and enjoy the story. If you'd like to connect, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, mastodon, or on the contact form on my official website, the skylark bell .com. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon where you get early access to ad-free episodes as well as digital downloads of the music, and more! Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Underwater GPS with Shearwater & Sonardyne #scuba #podcasthttps://divernet.com/scuba-news/deep-wreck-discovery-ship-topples-in-dock/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jvxPN405r4Scubapro SCUBAPRO is the world's most iconic brand of dive equipment for those whose passion is under water.Websitehttps://www.scubadivermag.comInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/ScubaDiverMagazine/Scuba Diver Magazinescubadivermag.com/subscriptions

In today's episode we read the chapter 6 – The Skylark Bell – in which the mythical object finally makes its grand entranceThis week's podcast partner is Dark Tales from the Road:https://linktr.ee/darktalesfromtheroadThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 6 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, Farfalla encountered Marius for the first time while sitting on a tree branch in the apple orchard at Meadow Lane.In today's episode we read the chapter 6 – The Skylark Bell – in which the mythical object finally makes its grand entrance.Today's podcast partner is fellow Boopod Network member Dark Tales from the road. Host Kayla covers weekly episodes traveling to find the weird, haunted, macabre, morbid, criminal & more – if you love the eerie atmosphere of The Skylark Bell you definitely won't' want to miss this! Check the show notes for a link to the Dark Tales from the Road podcast.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.August 1st, 1924We are in love.Oh gosh, to see the words written down makes my heart flutter!Last spring Papa told Marius he could use the shed behind our house as a workshop. He works there nearly every day, joining Mama, Paloma, and I for lunch most days. I bring him tea and biscuits in the afternoon, we sit on bales of hay in the barn to drink our tea and talk about everything and nothing.For my birthday he gifted me the most amazing treasure. He kept it a secret for months, never telling me what he was working on in that shed. My heart almost stopped when I saw it. A Skylark carved out of wood, its head twisted toward its back, a blackberry held firmly in its beak, with a vine curving all around it then down between its clawed feet. At the end of the vine hangs a small silver bell. He must have spent countless hours working on it, all for me. It's hanging in my window right now; I can hear its sweet sound floating on the breeze. Marius says the bell came with him from Europe, and that it's very old. There are larks swirling all around it in an infinite spiral, and words written in a foreign language. Mama told me she thought the words looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd seen them before. Finally, after several weeks she came running into my room one day, unnaturally agitated, holding The Skye Lark Belle book in her hand. She whipped it open to the spot where she'd left her bookmark and pointed to the page. “Here it is!” she said, “It's Scottish Gaelic, the words engraved on the bell, they're the same as the words in my book!”I remember staring at her, stunned at the unbelievable coincidence. I asked Mama what the words meant, and she read from the book, “The Skylark Bell rings only for The Skye Lark Belle”. We looked at one another and shrugged then, neither one of us understanding what that was supposed to mean. Mama had owned that book for years; it was her mother who had brought it back from a trip overseas. She'd found it in a tiny bookshop and liked the etching of the siren on the front. For years Mama had read us only the first part of the book. The happy part. It was only recently that she let me read the final few chapters. Chapters that made me feel devastated and angry. I had grown up with The Skye Lark Belle; admired her, emulated her, grown unnaturally attached to her. It broke my heart to learn how her story ends. My story will not end that way. Papa and Mama have organized a big celebration tonight. It's going to be the talk of the town, they've invited absolutely everyone, even Cousin Bruno and Auntie Freda! Mama has been cooking nearly non-stop the past three days, and Paloma convinced Papa to let her go to the city to get her hair cut into one of those modern bobs for the occasion.  I am going to wear my prettiest dress, the blue one that Mama got me for my birthday last month. I've been saving it for a special occasion, and I think that will be tonight. I have a feeling this will be a night to remember for all time…~~~~~~Farfalla stands in the corner of the room, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. The house at Meadow Lane is filled to the brim with guests. Music floats through the main floor from the Victrola in the sitting room and people weave in and out of the dining area with plates and drinks. Farfalla hears loud laughter to her left and turns to see Paloma and Willy Bunting by the fireplace going through an old photo album. At long last, she sees Marius walk in the front door and her heart starts pounding. Mr. Shearwater pulls him into the house, and she sees Auntie Freda thrust a plate of stew and glass of beer at him. She giggles to herself as he tries to navigate the crowded room with his hands full. Finally, he reaches the dining table and unloads the food and drink. He looks up and realizes she is watching him. She smiles as his cheeks turn pink, and he gestures for her to meet him in the kitchen. She follows him, but moments later Cousin Bruno bursts in and insists they let him take their photograph. From across the room James Carnifex watches, his eyes narrowed. If Farfalla had looked his way she would have seen his jaw set in anger and his knuckles turn white as his grip on the empty glass in his hand tightened, but she is too distracted by Marius' presence to notice. James finally puts down his empty glass and walks toward the front door. He grabs his coat off the rack, and heads home heavy-hearted.Once the photo is taken, Farfalla and Marius sneak out the back door of the house and skip to the apple orchard, lanterns in hand to light the way in the darkness. They stop, breathless, under the branches of the tree Farfalla was sitting in when they first met. Marius takes Farfalla's hands in his and begins, “There's something I have to tell you…” Farfalla's heart starts beating a little faster, could it be…?Marius gets a faraway look in his eye and pauses, like he is focused on something in the distance. Farfalla leans over so her face is directly in his line of sight. “You what…?” she asks.Marius looks at her then like she is the only thing in the world that truly matters. He slips his hand into his pocket and takes out a small silver ring shaped like a feather. Farfalla gasps at the sight of it, both because of its beauty, and because of what it must surely mean. Marius proceeds to ask her to be his wife, and she says yes without a second thought. She feels her heart soar as Marius picks her up and spins her around.They agree to keep their engagement a secret until Marius can ask Mr. Shearwater for her hand, as is customary. Farfalla slips the ring on the silver chain with the tree charm that Paloma gave her for her sixteenth birthday. She can almost feel warmth radiating from it and spreading through her entire body. Nearby, Cormorant lets out a loud whinny. “Are you feeling left out old boy?!” Asks Marius, cheerfully. Farfalla suggests they go for a celebratory ride. He lifts her up into the saddle and hops on behind her. She feels like they are flying as Cormorant goes galloping through the fields by the light of the silvery moon. At long last, her prince has arrived. At the bottom of Meadow Lane, a figure stands watching, blurry through the veils of time that separate them. Another figure appears behind it and pulls it away from the lane, then they both fade away. A breeze picks up, sending the old creaky branches of the Oak Tree swaying back and forth as the ringing of the Skylark Bell echoes in the night.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 7 – Marius' Disappearance, in which we relieve the terrible winter of 1925, this time from Farfalla's point of view.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon or Ko-Fi, where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! You can also find The Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode we read the chapter 5 – Marius – in which Farfalla and Marius finally meet for the first time.This week's podcast partner is The Nightcap Nebula: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1672430903?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=lt_pThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things With Wings Productions presents: Chapter 5 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, Farfalla had a strange encounter with a mysterious woman who seemed to avenge her after years of mistreatment at the hands of her schoolmates.In today's episode we read the chapter 5 – Marius – in which Farfalla and Marius finally meet for the first time.Today's podcast partner is The Nightcap Nebula – If you're a fan of the eerie and inexplicable, be sure to check out fellow Boopod Network member The Nightcap! The name may sound familiar as we've worked on a collaboration in the past which yielded my story Mrs B's haunted Trinket Shoppe and their fantastic episode about haunted objects. Check the snow notes for a link to their podcast.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.June 12th 1923,It has finally happened.The rest of the school year went by faster than I would have thought. Priscilla's hair eventually grew back but she was so ashamed of how she looked she mostly kept to herself, and Sadie was sent home after “the incident” and never returned, so I didn't have to put up with their rude comments and mean pranks. I graduated from The Aviary just last week and am so relieved I never have to see those cold stone walls again. Mama and Papa came to my graduation ceremony. Mama says I'm a lady now. Maybe she's right, we'll see…But that isn't the big news. I had a fitful night last night. I don't remember if I had any dreams, I haven't hung up Isadora's dream catcher since I got back from school, but something prevented me from getting restful sleep. Then I woke up this morning knowing today was going to be the day. I don't know how I knew; I just knew. As the sun began to set I started feeling nervous, so I took a walk out to the apple orchard and climbed my favourite tree. I sat for a long while watching the sky turn from lilac to pink to deep yellow and orange, then closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift, quietly calling out to him.I heard him before I saw him. The thud of hooves on the dirt path between the trees. I was smiling before I even opened my eyes. I watched him for a moment before he got close enough, then I simply said hello. I think I startled him. He looked up at me with wide eyes, then said something about a Magpie. I thought it was strange in the moment, but I didn't give it too much thought.I didn't know then that it was a name. I didn't know that it was her name. Farfalla hops down from the tree with expert agility. “There are no Magpies around here,” she says as the man dismounts his unusually large horse and walks to her. She feels butterflies take flight in her stomach at the sight of him. “My name is Farfalla,” she says, her eyes running over his perfect features, dark curls, and gray eyes, “and I'm guessing you must be Marius?” Her father had mentioned the mysterious Marius several times throughout the week and had told her he would be their dinner guest earlier in the day. She didn't think much of it in the moment. At the time, she didn't realize it was going to be… him.Marius stands in stunned silence for a moment and Farfalla worries perhaps she has done something wrong. There is a strange look on his face, like a mix of sadness and… recognition? Finally, he nods and clears his throat before sticking his hand out toward her. “Yes, Marius… Marius Corbeau,” he says, smiling. Farfalla shakes his hand, a smile teasing the corner of her mouth.“It's very nice to meet you at last, Mr. Marius Corbeau,” she says. “I've heard a lot about you, my father has taken quite a liking to you and your work.” “Your father has been very good to me since I came here, I am very grateful to him,” he replies. They stand in silence for a moment, then Farfalla suggests they make their way toward the barn so his horse can get settled in before they head inside for dinner.“What is your horse's name?” she asks, noting the huge animal's unusual colour combination. It has a velvety smooth black coat with a striking white mane and tail.“This is Cormorant, my loyal and trusted friend,” says Marius, running a hand down the horse's neck. Farfalla gets a pleasant shiver watching his hand glide on the horse's smooth coat. “I hear you have just returned from boarding school,” he says, making conversation.Farfalla tells him about Priscilla and Sadie, and they laugh and laugh. Then she tells him how much she disliked being at the school and how much she missed running through the fields at Meadow Lane. “I used to love exploring as well,” says Marius, “I missed class on more than one occasion to go check out the ruins at the old mill!” he laughs.“The mill here in town?” asks Farfalla, confused. The mill is still operating and is definitely not in ruins.Marius gets a strange look on his face, then shakes his head, “Oh, I meant the ruins of the mill in the town where I grew up,” he says. Farfalla nods and smiles at him. They've come to the barn door, and she pulls it open, heaving it to the side. She leads Marius to an empty stall, and he walks Cormorant into it. She stands back and watches as Marius whispers to the horse before stepping out of the stall. “I'll be back soon, old friend,” he says, then turns toward her and smiles. “Shall we?” he asks, extending an elbow toward her. Farfalla does her best to temper her nerves as she grabs hold of his arm to walk back toward the house.They sit across from one another at dinner, and she spends the entire meal fixated on him. A couple of times she feels Paloma's foot kicking at her under the table when her interest in Marius becomes a little too noticeable, causing her to blush and stare down at her plate for a few minutes.At the end of the evening Farfalla walks him back out to the barn. “You have a lovely family,” he says to her as she swings the barn door open to let them in.“Yes, I'm very fortunate,” she replies. “My dream, someday, is to have such a family of my own.” Farfalla catches herself then and blushes profusely. She hadn't meant to be so forward. Somehow, she feels so comfortable with Marius she tells him things she's never told anyone else. He replies kindly and puts her at ease, then invites her to go for a ride the next day. Farfalla watches as he disappears down the lane into the darkness then heads back inside to help her mother wash up before going upstairs to her room. She sits in front of her vanity brushing her hair while staring dreamily at her reflection. A soft knock at her door brings her back to reality.“Come in Paloma,” she says, already having guessed it is her sister on the other side of the door.Paloma rushes in giddily and plops herself on the edge of Farfalla's bed. “Oh Farfalla, isn't he just dreamy?!” she asks, clutching her hands together and batting her eyelashes. Farfalla can't quite tell if she's being serious or if Paloma is teasing her.“Who are you talking about?” asks Farfalla, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Paloma rolls her eyes at her and drops to the floor at Farfalla's feet. “Marius!” she exclaims, “I am entirely convinced he's quite smitten with you,” she adds, taking both Farfalla's hands in her own. Farfalla smiles and feels heat rise into her cheeks. The truth is, she fell in love with Marius the moment she laid eyes on him.“Okay girls, time for bed!” shouts Mrs. Shearwater from the bottom of the stairs. “Goodnight, Falla, sweet dreams,” says Paloma in a teasing voice. She kisses her sister on the cheek and skips down the hall to her own room.Farfalla finishes brushing her hair then blows out her candle before climbing into bed. She lays in the darkness replaying the evening in her mind. Marius appearing on the path below her perch in the apple tree, the moment they stood face to face for the first time, his smile as they told funny stories, the way his hand ran down the side of Cormorant's neck. The thought of him creates a flurry of emotion in her; excitement, joy, warmth, love… and something else. Something that she pushes to the deepest recesses of her mind. Fear.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 6 – The Skylark Bell, in which the infamous bell finally makes its first appearance.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating on spotify or a review on apple podcasts, they help give the podcast visibility so others can find and enjoy the story. You can also connect with me on facebook, Instagram, mastodon, or Patreon, and you can find more information as well as  Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week's podcast partner is The Activity Continues: https://www.podpage.com/the-activity-continues/The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 4 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, Farfalla celebrated her 16th birthday and was gifted a Dreamcatcher by her friend Isadora.In today's episode we read the chapter 4 – The Aviary Finishing School for Girls of Distinction, in which Farfalla must return to boarding school and face her nemesis.Today's podcast partner is The Activity Continues, which started out as a recap of the television show The Dead Files, but has expanded into other areas of the wild and wonderful unexplained phenomena. You may recognize their name as they are also members of the Boopod Network and have participated in collaborations which The Skylark Bell was part of in the past. Be sure to check the show notes for a link to their podcast.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.September 3rd, 1922I don't want to go. I've been dreading the end of summer, not because I don't love autumn, but because it means I have to leave Meadow Lane to go back to boarding school. Mama insists we get a proper education so Paloma and I can become “ladies”. I don't want to be a lady; I want to be a mystical being like The Skye Lark Belle! I want to sing with the birds and run with the deer and play with the foxes. I don't want to be in a building learning how to sit properly and how to sew and how to write letters… I know Mama and Papa had long discussions about this in the beginning, Papa thought I could stay at the farm and help him out with chores, but in the end Mama won.There is no Mirror Pond at boarding school, no apple orchard, no Oak Tree, no fields to run in. Only a large stone building with a wrought iron fence all the way around it. Inside, the building is filled with fancy wood trim and stained glass and the floors are always pristine since no one here ever plays in the mud or gets dirty. Sometimes we go on “excursions” which means we walk to the museum or the library. I'd rather walk to the creek and find some frogs to catch. Paloma is excited, she loves boarding school because it's on the outskirts of the city. She sits in the window and watches the streetcars go by. “Someday I will ride on one of those to get to work!” she says almost every day with that goofy dreamy look in her eyes. I wish I enjoyed this as much as she does, time wouldn't go by so slowly.The only time Papa stepped in was when they headmistress suggested I cut my hair into a short bob like some of the other girls, she said it would make me look more “presentable”. Papa said I was perfectly presentable as is. He then bought me a fancy comb and told me to do my best to tame my hair while I'm at school and that I could let it run wild again when I came home in the spring.Spring seems so far away now. Time cannot go by fast enough…~~~~~~“Falla, did you pack your shoes? I don't see them in here!” says Mrs. Shearwater, digging through Farfalla's travel case.“I have them right here, Mama,” says Farfalla, her voice indicating she is not happy to be packing. Mrs. Shearwater ignores her tone and grabs the shoes from her hand. She expertly slips them into the case and places the dresses and slips back in their place before closing the case and latching it.“I'm all packed up!” comes Paloma's chipper voice from the doorway. “Falla, isn't this exciting! I can't wait to see the library, I heard they added a whole new wing!” Farfalla forces a smile, she doesn't want to put a damper on her sister's joy, even if she doesn't share her excitement.“Okay the horses are ready to go!” Papa's voice floats up the stairs. The girls make their way outside with their travel cases, Mrs. Shearwater following closely behind with a picnic basket. “I've packed you some lunch for the road, be careful not to spill on your dresses!” she says, handing Farfalla the basket once she has settled into the horse cart. “I love you! Be good girls now and I'll see you at holiday time!” she says, waving as they start heading down the lane.Farfalla takes one last longing look at the Oak Tree, its branches have already lost most of their leaves, and it looks like it is waving goodbye at her. Her heart feels heavy as they turn down the road toward the train station.“Chin up Falla, you'll be back home in no time, and that tree's not going anywhere,” says her father with a wink. She leans her head on his shoulder. They ride in silence most of the way, stopping for lunch at the halfway mark to enjoy the sandwiches and fresh fruit Mrs. Shearwater packed for them. Finally, Farfalla and Paloma board the train. Farfalla feels tears pricking her eyes as the train pulls away from the station, its piercing whistle like a sword plunging into her stomach. They arrive at their destination and walk a few short blocks to the school. Farfalla's heart sinks even deeper when she sees the sign at the end of the long, gated driveway: The Aviary, Finishing School for Girls of Distinction. “I'd distinctly like to be finished with this school,” she mutters under her breath. “Well, well, well… if it isn't the rural folk,” says a high-pitched nasal voice behind her. Paloma spins on her heel, her fiery eyes filled with anger. “Well, I see you haven't gotten any nicer over the summer, Sadie Rhodes,” she seethes.“Now, now little one, don't be so sensitive, she didn't mean anything by it,” says another girl, her perfect blonde hair pinned into a fancy twist at the back of her head.“Hello Priscilla,” says Farfalla, too sad to put up a fight. Priscilla Ponceroy and Sadie Rhodes are her nemeses. They've been going out of their way to make her time at The Aviary even more miserable than it already is. Her first year there they locked her in a bathroom, getting her in trouble for being tardy. Then there was the time the hid her shoes, so she had to spend the entire day in her stockings, earning her a meeting with the headmistress about “how to be responsible for one's belongings”. Try as she may she has never been able to get the girls off her back.“Come on, Falla, let's go,” says Paloma, confidently grabbing her travel case and marching through the gate to the main entrance.On the first day of school the students settle into their rooms and unpack, then go to a general assembly where Headmistress Tangella-Newsome gives the same speech about her expectations and how each of them will have arrived a girl and will leave a lady. Then they go to the hall for dinner before retiring for the evening. Farfalla feels relief wash over her as she steps back into her room. Priscilla sat behind her at assembly and kept kicking her chair, trying to get her to react so she would get in trouble. Farfalla was able to ignore it for the most part, but it made her stomach tighten with anger. Then at dinner Sadie put a worm in Farfalla's soup, causing her to shout which earned her a glare from the cafeteria attendant and a sharp “Ladies don't shout!” from the headmistress. Now Farfalla stretches on her bed and closes her eyes, picturing the Oak Tree and the fox cubs at Meadow Lane. She looks up at the dreamcatcher that Isadora made for her hanging from the headboard of her bed, she hasn't had the water dream since it was given to her, so she brought it with her to school, just in case. Farfalla's eyes get heavy, and she lets herself drift into a peaceful sleep. She has no idea how much time has gone by when her eyes open suddenly, as if something has caused her to wake. She feels her heart pound, but she doesn't know why. The room is completely dark save for the bit of moonlight shining through the window. There it is again, a soft footstep in the hallway outside her room. Farfalla creeps out of bed and places her ear on the door. Nothing. She carefully turns the knob and eases the door open. She peeks her head out and sees a woman stepping out of Priscilla's room. The woman turns to look at her, smiles, and puts a finger to her lips. Shhh. Before Farfalla can process what is happening the woman vanishes into thin air. Farfalla steps back into her room and quickly closes the door. Her heart feels like it is going to beat right out of her chest. How did the woman just… vanish?! “I must be dreaming,” says Farfalla out loud, her voice sounding strange in the silent room. She walks back to her bed on shaky legs and gets under the covers. She pulls the blanket up to her chin to try and dispel the chill that is going through her. Finally, she falls asleep again. The next morning Farfalla is woken by a scream. She can hear commotion in the hallway and the headmistress' voice shouting “Who is responsible for this?!” Farfalla eases her door open and steps out into the hallway. A hand flies to her mouth when she sees Priscilla, her hair has been shorn within an inch of her head, and she is standing in the middle of the hall, weeping. Suddenly Lillian Merle comes running down the hall waving her arms in the air. “Headmistress! Headmistress! It was Sadie! Sadie Rhodes! I found the scissors a big pile of hair on the floor of her room!” At this Sadie's eyes grow wide, “I didn't do anything! It wasn't me!”.“Miss Ponceroy, go to your room and do your best to make yourself presentable. Miss Rhodes, follow me,” says the Headmistress sternly, tapping her walking stick on the ground. Farfalla lets herself back into her room and closes the door behind her. She sits on the edge of her bed replaying the events of last night in her mind. There's something familiar about the woman she saw last night, but Farfalla's mind is foggy from lack of sleep, and she can't figure out it. She pours some water from the pitcher by her bed onto her hands and taps her cheeks to help wake herself up. Farfalla lets her thoughts swirl as she paces back and forth on the hardwood floor on the small room. Finally, the school bell rings, indicating it's time for her to head downstairs. She stops and looks in the mirror to make sure she is “presentable” and lets out a gasp as realization hits her. The woman, the one who seems to have taken revenge on the girls who have been so unkind to her, who smiled at her before disappearing into thin air, the woman's face looks familiar because it is practically identical to her own!Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 5 – Marius, in which Farfalla and Marius finally meet.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon or Ko-Fi, where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! You can also find The Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode we read the chapter 3 – The Dreamcatcher, in which Farfalla celebrates her 16th birthday.Something (rather than nothing) podcast: https://www.instagram.com/something_rather_than_nothing_The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellMelissa on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things With Wings Productions presents: Chapter 3 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, we learned about a strange and frightening recurring nightmare where Farfalla finds herself under water.In today's episode we read the chapter 3 – The Dreamcatcher, in which Farfalla celebrates her 16th birthday.Today's podcast partner is Something, Rather Than Nothing. Host Ken Volante does a phenomenal job of bringing art philosophy to the forefront and finding unique perspectives through his roster of guests. You can find an interview with me on the Something Rather Than Nothing podcast on my website, just check the link in the shownotes. Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.July 8th, 1921Today is my birthday! Not just any birthday, today I am sixteen years old! Sixteen years seems like such a long time, doesn't it? Sixteen whole years on this earth… I think Paloma is envious, she can't wait to be old enough to move away to the big city, she says it's not fair that I'm always two steps ahead of her. I'm wearing my prettiest burgundy dress, and Mama has done my hair up in braids, she says I look “sophisticated”. That's only because she didn't see my muddy feet before I slipped them into my shoes. I've invited some friends from school to come celebrate. All my closest friends; Willy and Eleanor Bunting, Isadora Finch, James Carnifex, Gilly Starling, and Audrey Tourtereaux who said she will bring a cake from her parents' bakery. Papa insisted I also invite Gordon and Emma Starling even though they're younger than me, he said Paloma should have some friends at the party too.Mama has already stretched colourful streamers across the front porch, and I climbed into the Oak Tree and wrapped some around it's trunk. I can't be sure, but I think The Oak was smiling.~~~~~~Farfalla walks to the small vanity in the corner of her room. She sits on the stool and stares at her face in the mirror, squinting at the corners of her eyes and the shape of her lips. She licks her fingers and sticks a rebellious strand of hair back in place before standing up and pressing the creases out of her dress with her hands. She can feel her heart beat with anticipation, the party is about to start!“My darling, you look quite lovely,” says her mother as Farfalla comes down the stairs.“A beautiful young lady,” adds her father, a proud smile on his face.Farfalla blushes. “Thank you,” she whispers. Just then she hears a knock at the door and jumps up with delight. “Our first guest!” she squeals. She races to the door and swings it open. “Hi Gilly!” she shouts, throwing herself into her friend's arms, her enthusiasm nearly knocking the girl over.“Happy birthday!” says Gilly, handing Farfalla a box wrapped in brown paper and decorated with a bright yellow satin ribbon.“Hi Gordon, hello Emma,” says Paloma from behind Farfalla's shoulder. The twins wave sheepishly and hand Farfalla a bag decorated with tissue paper before skipping over to Paloma.Behind them comes James Carnifex, who hands Farfalla a small package. “This is for you,” he says, blushing.“Thank you, James,” she says, noting how the sun is reflecting off his blond hair and turning it almost white. Farfalla blushes slightly and waves him into the house. She glances down the lane and sees Willy and Eleanor Bunting making their way toward the house, Audrey Tourtereaux walking with them and carrying a large box with bright blue ribbon. Farfalla, unable to contain herself, races down the lane, the wind loosening several strands of hair from the grip of her mother's braids. “Happy birthday!” shout Willy and Eleanor in unison. “Bonne fête,” says Audrey in her usual quiet voice.“Thanks everyone, I'm so excited to see you! Please, follow me!” she says, leading them up to the house. She gets her guests settled in and peeks out the window, Isadora Finch is finally coming up the lane. Farfalla races out to greet her.“Hello Farfalla, happy birthday,” says Isadora in her calm, even manner. She hands Farfalla a contraption like Farfalla has never seen before. “This is a dreamcatcher,” she says, before Farfalla has a chance to ask, “you hang it above your bed. Our people say it catches the bad dreams in its net and only lets the good dreams through.”Farfalla is stunned, the gift couldn't be more timely, just two nights ago she had the water dream again. She holds up the dreamcatcher to take a closer look. It is made with a hoop of wood through which grass and string has been threaded in an intricate pattern to form a net. From the bottom of the hoop hang several strings of turquoise beads strung on strips of leather with white feathers attached to the bottom. “Isadora, this is beautiful! Did you make it yourself?” she asks in awe. Isadora nods shyly. “Thank you so much,” says Farfalla, pulling her friend into a warm embrace. “Come on, everyone is here already,” she adds, taking Isadora by the hand and leading her to the house.“Let the festivities begin!” Mr. Shearwater's booming voice bounces off the walls. “My darling Farfalla, let me present you with our gift before we do anything else, I think it will make a wonderful addition to your party,” he says, a secretive gleam in his eyes. “Close your eyes and turn around,” says Mrs. Shearwater, a teasing smile on her face. Farfalla puts her hands up to her eyes and turns around. She can hear shuffling behind her and hears her friends gasp and giggle. “Okay, turn around!” says her mother. Farfalla turns around and feels her stomach do a flip of excitement. On the dining room table is a wooden box with a large horn stretching up from the side of it. “A victrola! Mama, Papa, this is such a wonderful gift!” she breathes.“I was only able to buy two records for it, but I believe you'll enjoy them,” says her father. He places a record on the victrola and turns the crank. Like magic, music fills the room. William Bunting grabs Audrey Tourtereaux and begins dancing around the living room. Within moments Gordon, Gilly and Eleanor are joining in. Isadora and Paloma sit shyly in the corner, talking about the latest Agatha Christie novel.“May I dance with the birthday girl?” asks James Carnifex, holding a hand out to Farfalla. Farfalla nods, hoping he hasn't noticed the pink rising in her cheeks, and takes his hand. The pair swirls around the room, everyone bumping into one another and laughing madly. Finally, Mrs. Shearwater claps her hands and announces that dinner is ready. Everyone makes their way to the table, their loud chatter trailing behind them. They eat merrily while discussing their plans for the summer. At long last Mrs. Shearwater carries the box that Audrey Tourtereaux brought, sets it on the table, and opens it so everyone can see the contents. Farfalla gasps in amazement. “Audrey, this is the most beautiful cake I've ever seen! I almost don't want to cut and eat it… Almost!” she emphasizes, laughing. The cake is iced in white frosting and decorated with garlands of flowers and brightly coloured birds all around. In perfect cursive the words “Happy 16th Birthday Farfalla” are written on the top in pale blue icing, the “i” in birthday dotted with a small flower. Mrs. Shearwater serves everyone a slice of cake. It's as delicious as it is beautiful. Once everyone has finished eating Mr. Shearwater announces it is time for Farfalla to open her gifts. “This was sent in the post from your cousin Bruno,” says Mrs. Shearwater, handing Farfalla an envelope. Farfalla opens it carefully and pulls out a photograph of she and her cousin when she was visiting last summer, he had been very excited to explain the inner workings of his camera. Farfalla smiles warmly at the memory. Next, she opens the gifts that the Starlings brought over, starting with the box from Gilly which contains a beautiful dark blue leather sketchbook with a hummingbird etched on the front in gold. The bag from Gordon and Emma contains a lovely bouquet of dried flowers in a small glass vase with a yellow satin ribbon tied around it to match the box that Gilly's gift was wrapped in. The package from Willy and Eleanor contains an intricately illustrated book of native flowers and birds. Next, she opens the small box from James Carnifex and finds a brooch in the shape of a swallow, its eyes encrusted with a bright blue stone. “Oh James, this is beautiful!” she says, pinning it to her dress. James blushes and smiles warmly at her. Finally, she opens Paloma's gift and finds a long silver chain with a charm on it in the shape of a tree. “It's supposed to be the oak in our front yard, the one you love so much,” says Paloma, leaning in to gauge Farfalla's reaction.“Paloma it's absolutely perfect. Thank you so much everyone!” she says, her voice filled with gratitude. “Oh, let me show you what Isadora brought!” she adds, suddenly remembering the dream catcher. She runs to the coat rack by the front door where she left it hanging and scurries back to the sitting room. She holds it up proudly and explains how it works. She and Paloma give one another a knowing look when she gets to the part about the dreamcatcher filtering out bad dreams.“How curious!” says the ever-practical Mrs. Shearwater.“I think it's lovely,” says Audrey softly, walking over to take a closer look. The sun begins to sink below the horizon and Farfalla's guests start to leave one by one. Isadora is the last to go and Farfalla walks her down the lane. They get near the Oak Tree and Isadora stops in her tracks, tilting her head to the side like she is listening intently to something only she can hear. Her brow furrows, and she closes her eyes. Farfalla stands next to her, perplexed, but not daring to disrupt whatever is going on by speaking. Finally, Isadora opens her eyes and turns toward the tree, a look of worry on her face. “There will be a long silence,” she says, her gaze unwavering, “beware the dark horse in the snow.” “What do you mean?” asks Farfalla, her voice quivering. Her hand instinctively goes to the tree pendant on the silver chain Paloma gifted her earlier. “I don't know any more than that, I'm sorry,” answers Isadora, turning to face Farfalla. “My people believe all things have a spirit in them, including trees. This one is… different. I can't explain it. Just be careful,” she ends, lacing her arms around Farfalla in a warm embrace that does nothing to dispel the chill going down Farfalla's spine.“Are you sure you're okay getting home in the dark? I could ask Papa to give you a ride,” suggests Farfalla as they part ways at the bottom of the lane.“I'll be fine, I'm well acquainted with the night creatures,” smiles Isadora. She takes a few steps down the road before stopping and turning around. “Sweet dreams, Farfalla,” she shouts. Farfalla waves goodbye then turns and walks back toward the house, the silhouette the Oak Tree towering above her against the indigo sky.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 4 – The Aviary Finishing School for Girls of Distinction, in which Farfalla and her sister Paloma return to boarding school, to Farfalla's great chagrin.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. I also love to connect with listeners on social media, you can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon as well as the contact form on my website. If you'd like to support my work you can also join my Patreon, where you get early access to ad-free episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Who wants 20 drum mics? Danny talked about how to mix drums with samples, why a bass amp is best, mixing in Atmos, the Tascam cassette eight-track, how to use compression, and why you should put a single Coles 4038 over the drummer's right shoulder. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Danny Reisch a multi-instrumentalist writer, producer, engineer, and studio owner. Originally from Texas, Danny built an incredibly successful recording studio called Good Danny's, where he began to establish himself as a world class producer and engineer. Since then, Danny has moved to LA to pursue more opportunities, including film and TV mixing. Recently, Danny has just finished mixing for the Local Natives EP, as well as LP's for Bayonne and Barns Courtney. In the film scene, Danny has just wrapped score mixing for Disneys "Peter Pan" and Wendy, as well as AMC's new show "Interview With The Vampire" Thanks to Kelle Musgrave Glanzbergh at Linear Management for the introduction. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.solidstatelogic.com https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://jzmic.com use code ROCKSTAR to get 40% off the Vintage series mics https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy Use code ROCKSTAR to get 10% off https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3HrLShPaKANwile89DlNop?si=18236d5932314fcd If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/389

In today's episode we read the chapter 2 – The Nightmare, in which we learn more about Farfalla's strange and frightening reoccurring dream.Paranormal Exposed: https://linktr.ee/paranormalexposedThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellMelissa on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  In last week's episode, we were introduced to Farfalla as a child growing up at Meadow Lane back when it was a magical, vibrant place.In today's episode we read the chapter 2 – The Nightmare, in which we learn more about Farfalla's strange and frightening reoccurring dream.Today's podcast partner is fellow Boopod Network member Paranormal Exposed – you may recognize the name from our past collaboration about haunted objects released for Halloween of 2022. Paranormal exposed takes a look at eerie and unexplained events from a sceptic's point of view. Be sure to check the show notes for a link to their show.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.November 11th, 1920It happened again. The Dream. The Nightmare. It's the same one every time. I close my eyes and fall asleep and within minutes I'm under water. At first, I panic, thrash around and whip my head from side to side, as if looking for someone, anyone, to help me. Then comes the peaceful feeling. It's very strange, but all of a sudden, I look up through the water and see the sun shining, its light undulating as it filters through the water. I let myself sink deeper and deeper, the water wrapping around me like the comforting embrace of a blanket. I drift all the way to the bottom, stretch out my hands, and feel the sand run through my fingers. That's when I find it. I don't know what it is, but first the tips of the fingers on my right hand brush against it, then I manage to grasp it. I clutch it tightly and pull it to my chest, and just as I'm about to hold it up to see what it is, everything goes dark.I don't always wake up at this point, which is the most frightening part. Often, I'm aware that I'm dreaming but everything is complete darkness. I battle and plead with myself to open my eyes, to make sure I haven't drowned, to make sure I'm still me and I'm still safe at Meadow Lane, but sometimes it takes what feels like an eternity. I fear one of these times I won't wake up at all…~~~~~~“Falla! Falla wake up!” Paloma can feel the panic rising in her voice. It's never taken so long for Farfalla to wake from her dream, and she's never wandered this far from the house before. Thankfully the full moon provides plenty of silvery light, and Paloma was able to see Farfalla wandering across the vast field in front of the house. They are both standing outside now, Farfalla barefoot, as a gust of wind swirls dry autumn leaves around their feet. Paloma can feel the slickness of the frost that is nipping at the grass under her boots, and she shivers, her nightgown not offering much protection against the blustery cold. “Falla, please!” she cries, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.At long last Farfalla's sightless eyes come into focus. “Paloma? What… where are…?” She stumbles, confused, and catches herself on the trunk of a tree. Farfalla immediately recognizes the deep grooves in the bark of the Oak Tree at the front of Meadow Lane and instantly feels relief. Her protector. As she leans her head against the tree, she swears she can hear its heartbeat.“Falla, are you okay?” asks Paloma, her voice shaky as her teeth chatter from the cold.“I am now, thank you,” replies Farfalla, holding an arm out to embrace her sister. Paloma leans in and rests her head against Farfalla's shoulder. They stand in silence for a moment before Paloma steps away and tugs on Farfalla's sleeve. “We need to get inside, it's cold and you're barefoot, you're going to get sick,” she says.“I don't feel cold at all,” replies Farfalla, a faraway look in her eye. It almost feels like there is warmth emanating from the Oak Tree, like it is a warm, living body. Paloma's brow furrows, is Farfalla back in her dream state? She's on the verge of shaking her sister to get her to come to her senses when Farfalla blinks and looks toward her. “Oh, my dear, you're shivering! Let's get you inside,” she says, suddenly appearing wide awake.The girls quickly walk back to the house hand in hand and sneak through the back door into the kitchen. Farfalla drops into a chair while Paloma fills the kettle and puts it on the stove. She grabs two cups and saucers from the cupboard and places a teabag and spoonful of sugar in each. The room remains eerily quiet until a few minutes later when the silence is broken by the kettle's piercing whistle. Paloma quickly removes the kettle from the heat and pours steaming water into the cups. They wait in silence once again as the tea steeps, then Paloma discards the teabags and pours a splash of milk in each cup. She carries the cups to the small kitchen table, then grabs a tin of biscuits from the pantry before sitting down in the chair across from Farfalla.“Was it the same dream?” she asks, carefully taking a small sip of the hot tea. Farfalla nods and reaches for a biscuit. Paloma smiles, her sister has always had a sweet tooth. Paloma waits patiently for her sister to finish a bite of her biscuit then asks, “were you able to see the object this time?”Farfalla shakes her head, takes a sip of tea, and looks up at her sister. “I don't know why it keeps happening, it's horrible!” she says, a single tear spilling down her cheek. “The worst part isn't the part where I'm underwater, it's after, when everything is dark. I can't tell if I'm awake or asleep or if I… if I've died!” she whispers, horror in her voice.Paloma pushes the biscuit tin across the table. Farfalla grabs a second biscuit and dips it in her tea. “Maybe you're in some kind of in-between state, not quite asleep but not fully awake yet,” says Paloma, trying to sound calm and reassuring. Farfalla nods and takes a few sips of her tea. “You walked a lot further than the other times tonight…” begins Paloma tentatively, not wanting to upset her sister any more than she already is.“It's the tree…” says Farfalla, “there's something special about it. I swear sometimes I can hear it sing, I can feel its heartbeat-” Farfalla stops herself, she hadn't meant to reveal these things to Paloma, who surely wouldn't understand. Farfalla looks up at her sister and see's Paloma's brow is furrowed in concern. “It was probably just part of my dream,” she adds clumsily, hoping this will end the conversation.“What on earth is going on here?!” Their mother's voice makes them both jump.“I had a bad dream and Paloma is helping me feel better,” says Farfalla quickly.“It's the middle of the night! You two should get back to bed, you'll be exhausted in the morning,” says Mrs. Shearwater, decisively placing the cover back on the tin of biscuits before carrying it back to the pantry.“Okay, Mama,” says Paloma, gesturing for Farfalla to follow her. The girls get up and quickly head upstairs to their rooms. Mrs. Shearwater tidies up the teacups in the sink and checks to make sure everything is in order before heading back upstairs. Just as she is about to exit the kitchen a small object on the floor near the back door catches her eye. She bends down to pick it up and holds it near the light of her candle to get a better look. An oak leaf. She looks at it quizzically. She cleaned the kitchen floor after dinner, how did it get in here? Suddenly the leaf disintegrates in her hand, turning into a small pile of fine dust on the floor, which is quickly dispersed by a gust of wind that seemingly comes out of nowhere, blowing out her candle and washing the room in darkness. Mrs. Shearwater stands in stunned silence for a moment. “I'm imagining things,” she rationalizes. She laughs quietly at herself, shakes her head, and heads back upstairs to bed.Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 3 – The Dreamcatcher, in which we celebrate Farfalla's 16th birthday.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to my Patreon or Ko-Fi page, where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! You can also find The Skylark Bell exclusive merch on my website, www.theskylarkbell.com. Just check the show notes for links to Patreon, my website, and social media accounts. Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Marine Riders Trails Association already has responsibility for a trail called the Blueberry Run, part of which is under water. Guest host Preston Mulligan asks him about both, and how he thinks motorized and non-motorized users can better get along.

The Shearwater Flyer trail has been causing a headache for the Cole Harbour Parks & Trails Association. The volunteer group maintained the trail until last year, but they had enough after most of their funding was going toward repairing damage caused by ATVs. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Janice Bishop, chair of the association.

In today's episode we read the chapter 1 – The Fabric of Nature, in which we are introduced to Farfalla's vibrant childhood at meadow lane.The Haunted UK podcast: https://linktr.ee/hauntedukpodcastThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comJoin Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriThe Skylark Bell on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theskylarkbellMelissa on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicOfficial Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/storeThe Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  Skyedive is the third and final book in the Skylark Trilogy, and in it we will be revisiting the story from the perspective of Farfalla, and gaining insight on her life, and her motivations.In today's episode we read the chapter 1 – The Fabric of Nature, in which we are introduced to Farfalla's vibrant childhood at meadow lane.Today's podcast partner is fellow Boopod Network member The Haunted UK podcast – you may recognize the name from collaborations we have done in the past.  The Haunted UK is now in its 3rd season of exploring a variety of fascinating, and sometimes terrifying topics. Be sure to check the shownotes for a link.Now, it's time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's get started.June 24th, 1919Papa's name is Nathaniel Shearwater. He's a large, loud man, and I think sometimes people are a little bit afraid of him, but once they take a moment to get to know him, they realize he's kind and fair. He loves Mama and Paloma and Me more than anything in the world. Papa is a hard worker; he's gone before we wake up most days and comes home just as Mama is serving dinner. I'm sure he's tired when he comes home, but he always takes the time to ask about our day and tell us a funny story. My favourite thing about Papa is his big, strong hands. His skin is rough from years of handling construction materials, but when he holds my little hand in his I feel safe and loved, like nothing bad could ever happen.Mama's name is Evelyn Anne Shearwater. Such a pretty name, isn't it? Papa says Mama is a sensible and practical woman. Even her straight, dark brown hair is sensible. Not at all like my wild wavy bright red locks, those are about as sensible and practical as I am! Mama grew up near the city, she doesn't love nature and animals like I do, I think she just doesn't understand. She loves to cook and entertain, throw parties, and have guests over for dinner. She likes to make everything perfect, cooking elaborate meals and lighting the candles just so, placing the pillows on the couch in exactly the right spot. I think that may be why she likes to volunteer at the library, too, because everything is so organized. Mama and I are very different, but I love her dearly.Then there's my sister, Paloma. She is two years younger than I am. Paloma is a dreamer; she wants to be an artist and move to the big city. She's not so interested in the beautiful world outside, the leaves, the animals, the clouds… she's more interested in the world inside her head, or inside whatever book she's reading. We don't play together all that much, but we do love sitting by the fire while Mama reads us stories, or hopping on Papa's lap when he comes home from work and telling him all about our day.Then, of course, there's me, Farfalla. Farfalla means butterfly. Did you know that already? Papa says I was aptly named since I flutter about outside all day. Mama says I muddy up my skirts too much. Paloma just rolls her eyes at me then sticks her nose back in her book. It's fascinating how butterflies transform from caterpillars. People transform too. It's hard to understand what happens inside the cocoon for the caterpillar to change so completely, just like it's hard to understand sometimes how someone can go from a happy, innocent child to… something else. Perhaps by the end, you will understand.Summer is my favourite season. Every morning I wake up before sunrise so I can listen to the birds. The Redwing Blackbirds are my favourite, they have such beautiful voices. Papa says I have a beautiful voice too, he says it's “hypnotic”. I'm not sure what he means by that but I think it's a compliment. He laughed when I told him it was the Redwing Blackbirds that taught me how to sing. I don't tell him things like that anymore. I don't tell anyone. Not people, anyway. Now I only tell my secrets to the birds, they don't laugh.Today I'm going to sit under the lilac bush and finish making my crown. The first time I tried to make one it fell apart, but now I have it figured out. I found some old bare vines that were climbing up the oak tree in the front yard, and when I tugged to get them loose a few twigs broke off the tree. I've been twisting the vines together and working the twigs into the spaces between them. It's a work of art! Now I'm going to add some of the wildflowers I collected before breakfast. Daisies, buttercups, violets, I even managed to get a wild rose without pricking my finger! Maybe I'll add some more, they smell so beautiful.Mama has been reading me a book called The Skye Lark Belle. She always stops reading about two thirds of the way through. She says things get too sad after that part. But in the beginning, it's happy and beautiful. The Belle wears a crown made of vines and twigs. Hers is silver, but I don't know how to turn mine silver. They say The Belle has a beautiful voice, too, and that she is friends with the birds and animals, just like me! I wish I was The Skye Lark Belle. Mama read the book to Paloma and I last winter as well, we sat by the fire downstairs and listened to her long after the sky went dark, begging for one more chapter each time she would stop to tell us it was time for bed. Paloma didn't want Mama to read it again, she didn't like that Mama wouldn't finish the whole story. So, Paloma just goes up to her room to read her own books and Mama and I sit in the rocking chairs while she reads the first part to me over and over.Sometimes I skip over to Mirror Pond and pretend I am The Belle, walking out of the ocean. It's such a romantic idea, isn't it? That a beautiful woman with magical powers would walk out of the ocean one day and everyone in the village would fall in love with her? Well, at least they loved her for a little while…Today the sky is the most dazzling shade of blue, with puffy white clouds here and there. I think Papa would say Mirror Pond is aptly named as well, since the blue sky and puffy white clouds are perfectly reflected on its surface. Sometimes I sit out on the large rock in the middle of the pond and stay perfectly still. For some reason I feel like a prince will appear on his big, brave horse and take me away to a magical land. So far it hasn't happened, but today I'm wearing a crown, so I feel like my chances may have improved slightly.“Falla, it's time for lunch!” Somehow Mama's voice can echo to the ends of the earth if she needs it to. No prince again today. One day he will appear, I can feel it in my bones. But for now, I should probably go home and get some lunch before Mama gets upset. She'll already be cross that the bottom of my skirts got wet in the pond. Maybe I'll walk through the apple orchard on my way home and see how the fruit is coming along. Then I can hide my crown inside the old shed so Paloma doesn't get a hold of it. “Falla! Lunch!” I'd better go. ~~~~~~The girl races across the quarry, her long red hair trailing behind her like a flag. She skips through the fence poles into the field behind her house and races to the apple orchard. There, she slows down to a walk, closes her eyes, and inhales the sweet perfume. The blossoms dropped weeks ago, but her memory of them is vivid, and if she closes her eyes it's like travelling back in time to spring. “Falla! Lunch! Now!” her mother's voice carries on the wind, startling her out of her reverie.  The girl groans and picks up the pace until she reaches the back door of her house. She lets herself in and is immediately greeted by her mother's exasperated face. “Farfalla Isabella Shearwater! Look at those skirts! I told you not to wade into the pond!”“But Mama, it's the only way to get onto the rock! And the rock is the only place to sit where I can watch the turtles and frogs and birds. When I'm on the rock it's like I'm invisible, they act like I'm not even there. It's magical!”Mrs. Shearwater rolls her eyes but a smile curls the corner of her mouth. She turns away from her daughter lest she notice. “Alright my little magician, why don't you vanish up to your room and go change out of those dirty wet clothes, then hurry down, you'll be lucky if your lunch is even lukewarm at this point!”The girl races up the stairs and down the hallway to her bedroom. She opens up her wardrobe and hastily slips into a new dress before heading back down to the dining room.        “Hi Falla! I already ate all my lunch, but I'll still sit with you,” says her younger sister.“Thanks, Paloma,” says the girl, lowering herself into her chair. She smiles at her sister and digs into the plate full of freshly roasted corn on the cob.“Oh Farfalla, you eat like a wild child!” says her mother, walking into the room, “I think you've been spending too much time outside with the animals!”Farfalla looks up at her mother, pieces corn stuck to her face. She sheepishly takes her napkin and wipes her mouth. “Sorry Mama, I'm just very hungry.”Her mother's face softens as she leans in and kisses the top of her daughter's head. “Perhaps next time you'll come home on time for lunch so you're not so hungry,” she says with a wink.Farfalla sheepishly finishes her food and brings her plate to the sink. She and Paloma do the washing up and she heads back outside. The fox cubs come out of their den to play in the afternoon, and she doesn't want to miss it. She runs to the front yard and climbs up the big oak tree, the perfect perch from which to watch the foxes frolic and play. Farfalla leans her head against the trunk of the tree. It has been a steadfast friend her whole life, always standing guard. A protector. Sometimes, if she sits very still, and stays very silent, she swears she can hear a haunting tune emanating from it, like it is singing her name.“Fallalala Lalalalalaaaa…”Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Chapter 2 – The Nightmare, in which we learn more about Farfalla's strange and frightening reoccurring dream.The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review they both greatly appreciated. You can also gain access to ad-free episodes of the Skylark Bell by supporting my work on Patreon – you'll also get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, and more! Just check the show notes for all necessary links.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heidi is a guide and adventurer based in Tasmania.Find out more about the Short-tailed Shearwater!Connect with me on Twitter, email, or website. Short-tailed ShearwaterIngredients1 oz vodka2 oz hot espresso½ oz Kahlua¼ oz simple syrupDirections1.    Pour all ingredients over ice2.    Shake shake shake3.    Strain into a martini glass

Hi, here's episode #79 Rannvá Jørmundsson - "Becoming an Explorer" brought to you by our brilliant sponsor XDEEP and the patrons of Speaking Sidemount. Huge thanks to both for their support that makes everything you are about to listen to possible. One of the enduring themes of Speaking Sidemount is to shine a light on the applications of sidemount diving. I am a strong believer and practitioner in diving sidemount in nearly any application or environment but there's no doubt that if you dive overheads, and in particular caves, sooner or later you are going to find a space that is too small for backmount diving. Or you will need to lug gear far enough or over terrain where you'll want to break it down into smaller parts. This, of course, is where sidemount really shines and is the reason this podcast features many, many great cave divers. I'd also add, that cave diving demands the highest levels of sidemount skills… buoyancy control, trim, and balance - what I call relaxed static stability... meaning the ability to be still in a confined space, and effective propulsion techniques including frog kick and the back kick. No other type of diving is as demanding in these aspects. I draw a strong distinction between cave diving and cave exploration. Exploration requires and builds upon a strong foundation of cave diving skills and experience. But it requires much more. Aspects such as… searching for prospective caves, dealing with landowners, camping in remote locations, and complex access skills like single rope technique. Then there's the diving… preparation and planning, working in teams, reading a cave, line laying for survey, surveying the cave itself, passing unknown restrictions, and self-reliance or solo diving. Add to that the mindset and discipline required and it is quite a leap from your average cave dive. I've often thought about how you get started and what it takes to become an explorer. There is no doubt that leaning on the experience of other explorers is the best way to go. By way of example, you may remember my discussion with Tamara May back in episode 60 released a couple of years ago now where Tamara talked about Project Xunaan in Tulum Mexico where Robbie Schmittner, one of the world's leading cave explorers had pulled together a team of six female divers to continue his exploration in that area. Along the way, he would teach and mentor them on what, for most of them, was their first genuine exploration project. While COVID delayed this project, it also gave the team the opportunity to build on the initial plan including working with sponsors to support their efforts and filming the project. The result was a super interesting view into becoming an explorer and in this episode, I catch up with another of the Xunnan Ha team members…. Rannva Joermundsson. I had the pleasure of meeting Rannva at this year's OzTek conference in Melbourne Australia where Rannva along with her exploration partner Maria Bollerup gave two compelling presentations… the first on project Xunnan Ha and the second on their next project Expedition Buteng in Sulawesi Indonesia. In this episode, I ask Rannva to share how she got into diving and progressed to cave diving. We talk about how she combines her passion for diving with her career working for two of my absolute favourite dive brands, Fourth Element and Shearwater. And then Rannva tells us about the amazing project Xunnan Ha. We talk about the planning, how they worked on the project, and what she has taken away from the experience. Building on this we lean into her next project Expedition Buteng where Rannva is working with Robin Cuesta my new dive buddy and guest on Episode 71 "Caves of Sulawesi". Rannva discusses her partnership with Maria Bollerup on this project, the impressive team they have assembled, and the goals for the project including exploration, scientific, and community benefits. We close by talking about some of the project preparation including KISS Sidewinder training in Mexico… enjoy :)!! Steve

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we've paired up a couple of old friends and onetime tourmates, Sharon Van Etten and Jonathan Meiburg. This pairing was especially fun for me, since I had the pleasure of putting these two together in a different context many years ago, when I was editor of The A.V. Club: Sharon and Jonathan performed an amazing version of the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks duet “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around” for the site's A.V. Undercover series. Seeing their faces together brought back that fun memory, and it was great seeing them reconnect. Van Etten is a singer and songwriter who's been making records for the past decade plus, growing and changing and taking chances in exactly the way you hope truly talented people will. Her amazing early records were quietly intense, very confessional affairs, but she burst from the seams with subsequent releases. In 2019, she released Remind Me Tomorrow, which brought in bigger sounds and colors and an entirely different kind of confidence to her songwriting and performance. She gives partial credit in this chat to producer John Congleton, who was recommended to Van Etten by none other than Jonathan Meiburg. Earlier this year, Van Etten released another incredible album called We've Been Going About This All Wrong, which puts into intense songs some of the feelings we've all been feeling the past couple of years. You know what I'm talking about. Check out “Mistakes” from that new album, and check out Van Etten on the Wild Hearts tour over the next few months, with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker.  Today's other guest, Jonathan Meiburg, is best known in the music world as the driving force behind the band Shearwater, which he started way back in the late ‘90s as an offshoot of his previous band, Okkervil River. But under this name, Meiburg has created a vast and varied catalog that combines his writerly mind with sometimes-moody, sometimes-joyous music. Shearwater just released their first album in six years: It's called The Great Awakening, and it's what a lazy podcast host might refer to as a return to form—or at least more austere earlier vibes. Don't let that six-year gap fool you, though: Meiburg has been plenty busy. He's got another band called Loma with the members of Cross Record, and they've got a third album on the way. Oh, and Meiburg wrote and released an incredible book called A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey, which rolls up history, science, and travel into one really beautifully written piece. (Around Talkhouse HQ, we like to brag that Meiburg has written a bunch of pieces for us over the years.) As you'll hear in this conversation, he's already started working on another book. Check out “Empty Orchestra” from The Great Awakening. As you'll hear, Van Etten and Meiburg are old friends who toured together long ago, but hadn't seen each other in person until very recently, when Van Etten's tour took her to Hamburg, where Meiburg is currently living. They talk about writing songs—and specifically about how gibberish can become lyrics, which I always find interesting. Meiburg remarks on Van Etten's transformation as a stage performer over the years, and they even chat about Sharon's son—specifically his relationship to the movie Cool Runnings. Enjoy. Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sharon Van Etten and Jonathan Meiburg for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please do follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

The fascinating, affable, and charming Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater and Loma joins Dwyer in a conversations that covers a wide array of topics. They discuss the beauty of Marvin Gaye, facing thoughts of suicide and how one pulls out of it, and how Jonathan's fascination with a bird of prey called the caracaras sent his life spinning into a new direction and the book he wrote about them.The Patreon Part 2 of my conversation with Jonathan HEREOpening song, Xenarthran from the Shearwater album The Great AwakeningShearwater BandcampJonathan's Book The Most Remarkable CreatureLoma BandcampShearwater Instagramthemattdwyer.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shearwater