Through the Tree Sunset #SkywatchFriday

The other day, our local power company came by to trim trees that were growing too close to power lines.  They are only concerned with cutting away offending branches, and their trim jobs are rarely, shall we say, pretty.  But at least it's on their dime (which, really, is our dime, but whatever).

Earlier this week, after the job was done, I saw a beautiful sunset in progress.  I knew I didn't have enough time to go to my local lookout spot, so I took pictures through the tree. 

I've seen too few sunsets recently.

I did like the view, though.

I need to take time out to watch more sunsets.

Joining Yogi and other sky watchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

Why Buy Art? #WordlessWednesday

 Seen at the Colorscape Chenango Arts festival in Norwich, New York last September.

"Buy some art to stare at in case your phone breaks".

Colorscape (which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this September) takes place each year on the weekend after Labor Day.  It's free, and it's fun.

And you really shouldn't be staring at your phone. 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day July 2025 and Wordless Wednesday

Is it already the 15th of July?  This year is rushing by and I just want to yell "stop! stop!".  It seems like fall will arrive in the next two or three days and, as much as I don't like the heat where I live in the Southern Tier, zone 6a, I like winter even less.  

And why is my Wordless Wednesday post on Tuesday?  

It's because today is the 15th day of the month, and it's time for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  On the 15th of the month we show what is blooming in our yards or homes.  And, my time is limited this week (meaning also that I may not get to your blogs right away, and I apologize).  So I can't do both a Tuesday and a Wednesday post.

But please stop for a minute, breathe deep, and admire Nature's beauty below. 

July, in my front and side yards, mean day lilies, and I have so many I can't even show you all of them. So first, some of my other flowers. 

Yellow loosestrife, which is trying to take my yard over.  A lot of this will have to be ripped out, alas.  Time and other priorities have made that impossible as of right now.

Sweet peas, which reseeded all over the flower bed.  These are also, shall we say, vigerous. 

Same for these cranebill geraniums.  Is there a pattern developing here?  

Bee balm.

Hosta.  I also have white blooming ones, but I didn't get around to taking their pictures. 

Onto the day lilies.  The names are buried in the mists of time (and, probably, my blog, but I don't have time to look.  And I have lots more but I don't want to overwhelm this blog.  Right now I don't have software for a collage.

I've had this one for many years.

My tallest one.

Possibly the one I've had the longest - possibly more than 20 years.

I love ruffled day lilies.

My one spider day lily.

Last, but not least. 

 

Besides Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (go to Carol's blog, link above, to see what others are posting) I am joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

 

Sailing #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and it's time for music. 

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme, and this is one of those weeks. Today, our theme is "The Bikini debited in 1948 this month.  Let's celebrate the occasion with song picks about swimwear and/or water fun."

I've traveled to cities and towns in the Finger Lakes region of New York State a number of times, and when I see the sailboats in various of the Finger Lakes, I think "I wonder how I would like being on one."  I'm prone to seasickness, but still, there is  just something about a sailboat that seems so fun and so peaceful.

Or perhaps it's about the dream of getting on a boat and just escaping all your responsibilities. 

So today, I am going to make my theme sailing or songs that have the word "sail" or "sailing" in them.  Maybe I'm deviating from the theme today but it's what moves me. 

First up - Enya and her 1988 earworm "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)". 

Styx and their 1977 hit "Come Sail Away"  True, this song is not about sailing, but space travel, but it has the word "sail" in it. 

We can't neglect Christopher Cross and "Sailing" from 1980.  

Or Crosby, Stills and Nash and "Southern Cross". 

Finally, a song more about surviving life's storms, here are the Beach Boys and Sail On Sailor" 

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.  I hope it moves you, too. 

Lawnmower Nonpersistance of Memory #ShadowshotSunday

I have a battery powered electric lawnmower for my small lawn.  It's nice, but it's also a pain.

There are two battery compartments.  One is for the battery in use, and the other is a place for a spare in case the battery in use dies while you are mowing. 

For some reason, I find it difficult to install the batteries and I can never seem to remember how to place them.

So I ended up taking a couple of pictures.  

 The next time, I'll have photos of how to place them.  

And, as a bonus, both pictures have shadows.  So now I have them on my blog, too.

Just in case. 

Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures for #ShadowshotSunday.

Tranquility #SkywatchFriday

Today, a little variety pack of recent skies.

The first two pictures were taken July 8. 

On top of an area hill.

These look so peaceful, but there's a story in that sky.

These last two pictures were taken about four hours before a destructive storm hit our area on July 3.  Many think we had a tornado but the weather service has determined it was a microburst.  Trees down everwhere, lots of hail damage, many people without power for a day or so.  I know someone whose car was totalled and another person who suffered a lot of damage to her home. They mentioned our area briefly on the national news that night.

I know what happened was minor compared to what has happened in several communities since, and I, myself was fortunate - only minor damage for us.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Blueberry Pie Oreo Yea or Nay? #WordlessWednesday

It's been a while since I've done a Yea or Nay on my blog for interesting flavors of Oreo cookies. 

This has been brought back by popular demand, although I don't even remember them.  I loved Oreos as a child.  I rarely buy Oreos anymore, but these intrigued me.  Not enough to buy them (still hurting from my dental work last week) but I love blueberry pie.

So, all you have to do is vote:  Yea or nay. Although feel welcome to say more if you are moved to.

Here are a couple of other Oreo posts:

Fireworks Oreos 

Peeps Oreos 

Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.