Laurie's Dream Cottage
You remember the 1980 musical/romance film, Xanadu, with Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly.
Xanadu—where time stops and the magic never ends.
Xanadu has come to represent the ideal, Nirvana, or paradise. The photograph in this post is of my dream cottage located in the extreme northern Highlands of Scotland. It represents my idea of utopia; my Xanadu.
Geographically speaking, where is your Xanadu?
By the way, Xanadu—the song by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra—was ELO’s first and only #1 hit. The song has been touted as being the only song in the Billboard Hot 100 to begin with the letter “X”.
Laurie Buchanan
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
© 2010 Laurie Buchanan – All Rights Reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Pingback: Tweets that mention X is for Xanadu « Speaking from the Heart -- Topsy.com
Laurie,
What came to mind was the film and book Lost Horizon:
for some reason I connect the two Xanadu and Shangri-La.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Horizon of course Sam will most likely pick up on this theme somewhere along the line.
I have not located my Xanadu/Shangri-La as of yet, I think the South of France yet I have never been.
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff – I had completely forgotten about Shangri-La! Yes, Like you, I hope that Sam Juliano will share more with us about that. If you’re thinking your Xanadu is in France, maybe it’s at Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village.
YAY X. I knew it would be a good one. My Xanadu is not any one place. Because my wanderlust makes me always wants to see what’s around the next corner and the next corner…I want to travel to all parts of this planet!
Hey I participated in the Grandmother’s call on Saturday. Wondered if you had hear about them? http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/
Beth – You are, indeed, a Gypsy Queen! No, I’m not familiar with the Grandmother’s Council – I’ll follow the link – thank you for providing it 🙂
I remember the song very well. I loved ELO and had a crush on Olivia Newton John. (Who didn’t!)
Princess Gail and I saw the stage production of Xanadu in NYC a couple of years ago. It was very cute. The music was all from ELO and Olivia Newton John.
My personal Xanadu right now would be on a mountain cottage in Black Mountain, North Carolina. I’m working with the universe to make that happen!
Ferd – Welcome to Speaking from the Heart, I’m glad for your visit and comment and hope you’ll come back again. I’ve been in the Carolina’s – that’s where I fell in love with Southern Yellow Pine. I’m confident the Universe will set you as a jewel in the crown of Black Mountain.
Xanadu—where time stops and the magic never ends.
I thought of two things:
A cottage similar to yours in Ireland and
The Convent of the SSND of Mankato Minnesota…..www.SSND.org…..so see my blog site….a
Kim – I followed the link, beautiful!
I Laurie, I guess I would have to say I’m already here, the red clay hills and blue ridged mountains of North Georgia. I have gone and been, seen a lot and come Home again. You can call me Dorothy and I’ll just smile….
Now, on the other hand, oddly enough and you’ve heard this from me before, I want to go to Findhorn, Scotland. It’s cold, rainy and windy, but I want to go to learn what these people know. How to integrate it all, Body, Soul, and Nature. Sure, I can lay back and roast my bones on the Sugar Sands of Destin or Panama City, Florida, but what would I learn? How to shake the sand out of my towel? I want to go where it will make a difference in my life. And maybe others as well.
Sandi – The blue ridged mountains are, indeed, beautiful. But when you say Findhorn, Scotland — well, now you’re really talkin’ my language! Here with my dad in Encinitas, California for the past few days you’d think I’m right there – it’s raining pitch forks and little green frogs and just keeps on and on. Similar to Scotland where there’s only three types of weather:
It’s getting ready to rain
It’s raining
It just finished raining
My Xanadu, Laurie, is where my loved ones are. Anytime. Anyplace.
Barbara – yes, Yes, YES!
Hi Laurie
I’m living in my Xanadu – here in Kaikoura, as the last of the lunar eclipse disappears. A scorcher of a day here today.
I remember the “Neutron Bomb” (she could knock all the blokes dead, and leave the buildings standing).
I was also privileged to attend an ELO concert at Western Springs in Auckland NZ, it some of the best musicianship and stage presence I have ever seen.
We just gotten home from the Lions Club Christmas Party, and the sense of community and fellowship was/is great.
Time to take the girls (Huia and Sandy) out for their late evening walk.
There are so many choices…but I remember walking for hours through the village and forest of Portmeiriron, Wales. The gilt, the statuary, the trees and lakes, the fallen flower petals turning the pathways into different colors…it was as close to paradise as I’ve ever been.
Aubrey – Thank you for visiting Speaking from the Heart; you’ve painted a beautiful word picture.
Yep, Laurie I see and appreciate the connection Jeff Stroud makes above with Xanadu and Shangri-La, and only hust early this week I commented at another site defending that magnificent fantasy film to the hilt. I even thought the unfairly maligned 1973 Ross Hunter musical was a lovely adapation of Hilton’s novel as well. And that would surely be the ultimate refuge from difficulties and demands of modern society.
I guess my own Xanadu (like several above) would be precisely where I am now. I’d certainly prefer a different home, but being in the shadow of the Big Apple yields all the opportunities a culture lover could possible want. Once you get a taste of NYC it’s tough to downsize. Yet, I know a number of people who rightly detest the rat race aspects as well.
I must say Laurie, your Scottish dream brings to mind the locale of many a memorable places in English literature, and at least on some days I am of that same mind-set.
Hey Sam could you link us to your reviews of these films?
Jeff
Sam – We knew you’d be able to shed some light on Shangri-La. Thank you!
I can well imagine how living a gnat’s whisker from New York city would provide fuel for your sheer delight in culture. And that’s a boon for the rest of us who get to read about your adventures in your Monday Morning Diary over on Wonders in the Dark.
I trust that YOU and YOURS are enjoying the holidays and an extended break in school. I picture a household buzzing with teenaged activity – somewhat akin to the beehive of activity portrayed with hilarity in the 1968 movie, “Yours, Mine and Ours” with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.
Jeff:
Here is a link to my pal Jason Marshall’s feature on LOST HORIZON, which he rates here as the “most overrated film of 1937.”
As we are friends of course, I politely disagreed at length in the comment section below the review, including why the film is such a great classic.
http://moviesovermatter.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/lost-horizon-the-most-overrated-movie-of-1937/
I have not yet written a full review of either version of LOST HORIZON at WitD, but I’d love to get to this. Thanks very much Jeff!
Ha Laurie!!! I know that Lucilel Ball film well, and we have a copy of the DVD. Lucilel has always loved it! And yes, that is exactly what the house is like this week! Today was actually the last FULL day of school until January 3rd when classes resume. We do have a half day tomorrow.
We took the family earlier tonight to our local multiplex to see the Coens’ TRUE GRIT, the western re-make of the 1969 John Wayne film. All in all, exceptionally made with cinematographer extraordinaire Roger Deakins as the real star! But Jeff Bridges and that spunky girl Heilee Steinfeld are stupendous. Let’s say it comes very close to making my Top 10 of the year list.
Laurie, thanks again for your always flattering references to Wonders in the Dark! They are greatly appreciated.
Sam – I had a sneaking suspicion that I was right about your wonderful household being similar to the one in “Yours, Mine, and Ours.” I’m so glad that you’re all on break, creating fond memories, until January 3rd. I’m glad for your recommendation on “True Grit.” I’ll need to take my dad – he’s a huge fan of westerns and John Wayne – I can well imagine that Jeff Bridges does a fantastic job!
I don’t know if I have one external place that could be Xanadu. It feels more like an internal place of centeredness, of heart, of connection. When I’m centered and realizing Oneness with Spirit, that’s Xanadu. Then any external place becomes magic.
Kathy – I love what you shared here, “When I’m centered and realizing Oneness with Spirit, that’s Xanadu.” Ahhhhhhh, yes!
Laurie or Grannie B,
My island Xandadu found me over 30 years ago in the midst of the triangle where my soul resides, Eleuthera, Bahamas! It doesn’t get any better. http://www.bahamabliss.com
Lisa – I knew, Knew, KNEW you were going to say that:) As you know, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being in your Xanadu on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. Ahhhhhhhhh