sarahillis's blog

Yes, it's that time of year again, a time brimming with festive traditions big and small. One of those traditions for many people is listening to the wonderful Christmas albums by the Carpenters. So if that's your particular cup of hot chocolate, then why not join me, Sara Hillis, at noon Eastern time on Christmas day for a two-hour journey through the Carpenters Christmas Collection? We'll hear A Christmas Portrait in the first hour, and then it's onto An Old-fashioned Christmas in the second hour.

It's almost time to wasail our bells off, because two days before Christmas, (that's this coming Saturday,) it'll be Christmas once again on Come by the Hills! Yes, we'll have traditional carols done in a Folky way, some humour, including a look at the tradition of Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland, and yet another version of "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas, this time performed by Canadian actor Cedric Smith with musical interludes by Loreena McKennitt.

Well hello! On this decidedly balmy December day here in my neck of the Canadian woods, I'm here to tell you what's happening this week on Come by the Hills, Mushroom FM's Folk and Celtic music show!

Hello! Here I am again with another Folkish feast for you on Come by the Hills, Mushroom FM's Folk and Celtic music show! This week, I've got songs about trains, songs about winter, songs about snow and songs about rain, and of course a few holiday tunes to spice things up with the musical equivalent of ginger, cloves and nutmeg. I hope you can join me!

Well, things are getting a little bit festive around Mushroom FM, and Come by the Hills is no exception! Not only will we be honouring Saint Andrew's Day this week which takes place on November 30, but we will be kicking off the festive fun for the holiday season as well! Now that our holiday countdown has been well and truly launched with votes coming in already, I'll be telling you all about it and playing some seasonal folky favourites to get us all in the voting mood, including some of my own prospective number 1 choices.

Greetings! I'm back from the land of lost voices with a brand new, and live, episode of Come by the Hills this week, in which there will be songs about coming, songs about going, songs about trees and flowers, and one song about the road not taken. I'll also have a very special request to fulfill, and right near the beginning of the show, I'm going to play a really cool bit from Joni Mitchell's recent live album which we played a few weeks ago, but which I just think is an amazing bit of communal performance. In fact, I'm rather obsessed with it at the moment.

Hello! I'm still fighting this respiratory thing which is robbing me of much of my voice, but for the next few days, you'll get three whole hours of Jonathan Mosen, as he will be filling in for me as well as doing his own thing at his usual time. Thanks very much to Jonathan for helping out, and thanks to you for listening!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. (Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen)

Hello! I'm sorry to have to tell you that there will be no Sara Smiles show on Friday due to illness. I'm hoping this thing will be short-lived and that I'll be back in the saddle on Monday, but I will keep you posted.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for understanding!

Yes, today I have an encore presentation for you of Come by the Hills, the Folk and Celtic music show on Mushroom FM. We'll be revisiting November the 5th, 2022, as my husband and I are having friends over today. I'm sorry I can't be with you for a live show, but I hope you'll enjoy this one. And just a heads-up for next week, I'll be playing some songs in honour of Remembrance Day, so if you've got any requests, do feel free to get in touch.