November 2025
Serenade of Joy
Listen to the audio version by Dorothy
Welcome to the combined November / December 2025 Innisfree Moment. Although I have given it a different title, now Serenade of Joy, I know that some of you, dear readers, will sense a familiarity as you look at the illustration - and rightly so, as I featured it in the Spring of 2024. This has been a challenging year for many, so I wanted to wind up 2025 with a warm-hearted message. The following is an edited and expanded version of its predecessor. Again, I acknowledge and thank Grace McGran for graciously allowing me to re-use this happy photograph, originally taken on Christmas Day 2015.
As you looked at the illustration above where the attentive audience of Cooper, Bailey, Panda, Buddy, BJ, Rico, Bella and Max (just out of frame) is serenaded by Grace, does it warm your heart and bring a smile? It certainly does for me.
First, let me set the tone and recap the story's background:
Grace is the founder of Pet Granny, https://www.petgranny.com, now located at Black Creek on Vancouver Island, and a treasured friend who came into my life in 2008 when I was in the process of adopting a 3-legged calico cat from the BCSPCA, whom I named Cadi (Gaelic for simple happiness). Knowing I would shortly be away for an out-of-town commitment I wanted to find a caring person to come to my home and look after her; with Grace, I knew I had! At the same time Grace's late husband, Noel, originally from Ireland as I am, provided website assistance that I also needed, giving Innisfree its Celtic flavour that remains today. Larry Moss accepted the baton in 2017 and has continued to creatively enhance my script and audio into the version that you receive. So Innisfree's site has had a few updates since its beginning stages in 2006 when I first stepped onto the ministry path.
Let's look again at the illustration above: The joy of music is magical and comforting, oftentimes bringing calm to both people and pets of all ages ... obviously, that attentive audience was tuned in to the magic! Grace also shared that when she played the piano and looked around, she would see her boarder dogs gathered in a circle behind her chair, including ones considered to be completely deaf, and some who came up to put their paw on the piano.
For a light-hearted moment, consider going to Pet Granny's website gallery to look at Grace's delightful captions of Cadi as my office helper. Cadi often planted herself in the doorway of my office when I was working late at the computer, letting me know it was time for us to sit together and for me to read to her ... then, it was how I reviewed my scripts! Yes, she was the boss of me! I still miss her, as I do those no longer with me, but am so very grateful for all the memories we created. https://www.petgranny.com/gallery/Cadi/79.html.
The late Irish poet and author, John O'Donohue, wrote that music is a great balancer in life. When doing research for my dissertation on staying young-at-heart as we age, I talked to the manager of a care home, who emphasized the importance of providing music and pet visitation for residents, and how those who didn't speak at all, when hearing a popular song from their younger days, would perfectly sing the words along with the music.
Another caring Serenade is provided by Paul Barton at Elephants' World in Thailand, who plays classical piano music and gives comfort for elderly elephants, some of whom are blind and have been mistreated. The elephants stay close to the piano, flapping their ears; one 80-year-old sheds a tear while listening to Clair de Lune. Videos are available on YouTube.
I continue to learn of the many healing benefits of music for both people and animals:
- Recently, from a book I picked up in my laundry room, Musicophilia, Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks, a Professor of Clinical Neurology & Psychiatry at Columbia University, in which he examines the healing power of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians, and everyday people.
- Hearing Italian classical composer and pianist, Ludovico Einaudi, also talk about the healing power of music, when interviewed by Tom Power on his morning CBC Radio program Q (October 15); and on October 27 Tom's guest, soprano opera singer, Renée Fleming, winner of multiple Grammy Awards, spoke about how music activates many parts of our brain. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/renee-flemings-brain-scan-revealed-something-surprising-about-the-healing-power-of-music-9.6954738
- At the annual Health Fare in White Rock (October 25), keynote speaker, Dr. Jennifer McIvor, discussed the healthy benefit of music, and how a favourite piece can stabilize and calm our hearts.
What piece of music do you find calming? Mine is The Isle of Innisfree from the 50s movie, The Quiet Man, starring Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne.
As we come to the closing months of 2025, please consider taking some quiet moments to reflect on what your special gift, or indulgence, is for you - that time out of time! A few of my current ones include watching Jamie Oliver's cooking show on CBC, frothing milk for my tea or coffee, watching a Christmas Hallmark movie, and being more regular using the keyboard my sister gifted me way back when!
Before we say farewell to 2025, let's reflect with appreciation on our year - our special people, the new ones we met, the new experiences, and those who supported us during challenging times. I appreciate and thank you for joining me, and for your kind feedback when a message spoke to you. Comments for October's The Kettle is on the Boil, were delightful, and often written as you were drinking a cup of tea.
May the return of the light (commencing December 21st) and the quiet beautify and music of the upcoming Season create treasured memories, and may you and yours have a safe, healthy and beautiful Christmas.
Until we meet again, blessèd be to you ... Namasté!
Dorothy B.
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Rev. Dorothy Blandford, Ph.D
Apt. 202 - 1655 Martin Drive
Surrey, BC, V4A 6E1, Canada
604-535-9016
info@innisfreespirit.com