Author: Laura Stone

What a title for a post, eh? So in a discussion the other day someone said to me "no one can make you feel anything", a phrase I've heard before in my work in mental health, and a phrase that I hate. And in the last few days I've been thinking about why I so… Continue reading Bull Horkey

Yes, supposedly it's true... Macbeth, along with most of the other old kings of Scotland, is buried across the road from my house. I get to walk past Macbeth every morning. I'm not sure if Lady Macbeth is there. I also get to walk past the effigies of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll every… Continue reading I live next to MacBeth

You ever have those days where everything's just a bit off? Yesterday was weird. I remembered I had a phone call to make, an hour after I was suppose to make it. I remembered I had a song to lead in a workshop, 15 minutes after it was supposed to have started. I remembered that… Continue reading Yesterday was weird

When people say "What's your favorite season", I usually come up with something traditional like "spring" or "fall"... the trouble with that, though, is that those answers are constantly changing. I don't know what my favorite natural season is. However, what I really have to bite my tongue to keep from saying when asked that… Continue reading My favorite season

We have worship twice a day here -- at 9am before work and at 9pm at the very end of the day (things change in winter, but that's the routine for most of the year). I'm finding it very important to me to have the day framed by worship and prayer, even on the days… Continue reading Worship at the Iona Community

1. Yesterday in the grocery store: "unsmoked joints" 2. A week ago in staff conversation: "where can I get some rubbers?" "There are lots of them in the cabinet in the front office. Help yourself." 3. Last time I was here in my words... oops: "Wait just a moment. I need to go get my… Continue reading Language Casualties (warning! adult content and language…)

I've been thinking lots about babies lately... One of my friends is struggling with having lost a baby and all the grief that means, another of my friends is newly pregnant, another of my friends is very much wanting a baby but being able to have one seems unlikely. And there is a cute little… Continue reading Babies and choirs

Funny you should ask... another good question that I seem to be getting a lot lately... The answer is, I'm not sure. I am the first musician they've ever had stay through the winter, so no one is quite sure. I do know that one possibility that I'm trying to work out is for me… Continue reading So, what does the musician do in the winter, exactly?

Funny you should ask... I seem to be getting this question a lot... 😉 Here's what I've figured out so far: 1) Arrange music for all services each week -- 2 services a day, 13 a week that require music 1a) that means accompanying hymns myself and / or get someone to fill in for… Continue reading So what does the musician do, exactly?

So you realize just how isolated island life can be when the power goes out... The winds have been very strong -- 60-70 miles an hour (and fairly sustained... no wonder there are few / no trees) and they have been from the south. South winds are a problem because they mean that the ferries… Continue reading Winds of change on a small island