Garden Bloggers Bloom Day February 2026 and #ShadowshotSunday

 Two memes today for the price of one.

First, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, where, on the 15th of each month, bloggers from all over the world post the flowers that are blooming in their yards or houses/apartments.

In my Southern Tier of New York zone 6a small garden, it's been cold.  In the last 30 days, we reached a low of -3F (-19.4 C) although outlying areas reached as low as -26F (-32.2 C) that morning.  Either way, that's cold. 

Here, in a cold winter, I have nothing outdoors to show you but snow. However, when the snow started to pile up, I had an early Lenten Rose plant with buds on it.  Right now, it's still covered with snow and I hope the snow sheltered it from the freezing cold.  We'll see.

Indoors, I don't have much to show you, either. 

The one Phalaenopsis I have is dropping its flowers.  These are all that are left.

My spider plant is trying to have baby spider plants.

Finally this blurry pink flower belongs to my Tradescantia.

Thanks go to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for keeping up this 15th of the month meme for all these years. Sadly, this will be the last year Carol will be hosting this meme, and I thank her.  GBBD, as we fondly call it,  has caused me to keep a sort-of gardening journal, at least for one day of each month.

Now, I'm switching to Shadowshot Sunday, brought to us by Lisa at This and That: A Blog.  I decided to use a flower theme from a warmer time.  Here's a camellia at Bok Gardens near Lake Wales, Florida, taken in January of 2018.

I love camillias.  I even tried to grow one where I live (back when we were zone 5b), and the story is told in several posts over the years.  Here's one of them.  Will I try again?  

Hopefully, next month, I'll be able to bring you other flowers.

Only 33 more days before spring!
 

Valentine's Day Eve #SkywatchFriday

Yesterday the friend I call my guest photographer sent me these two pictures.  I loved them so much, I just had to post them.  I'm not sure when she took them but we'll call it Valentine's Day Eve.

No sky here, but wine and love go together, too.  This picture was mine, taken in 2015.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

It's Cold Out #WordlessWednesday

Someone I know who lives about an hour away from me sent me a picture of their outside temperature reading Sunday morning.

This -26F is -32.2C, for my readers who use Celsius. 

Either way, it's cold. (And no, we weren't that cold, but we were still cold.)  Still, the weather is warming up and I hope we are done with this cold wave.

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Three in a Week #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and it's time for music!  Sadly, it's also time for a Rock and Roll Induction - actually, a triple induction. 

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?

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.)   We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice.  Why not join us?  You don't have to sing, or play an instrument.  All music lovers are welcome.  

Today, our theme is:  You Pick.  Three more greats have joined Rock and Roll Heaven, and it's time for a tribute.

First, Chuck Negron, co-founder of Three Dog Night, who died February 2 from heart failure and COPD at the age of 83.  I loved his distinctive voice.  What I didn't know is that, like me, Negron grew up in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.  

Originally singing doo-wop, he also performed several times with the Rondells at the age of 15.  Subsequently, Negron joined up with two fellow college students to form Three Dog Night in 1967.

We may hear the Three Dog Night hit Joy to the World a lot this week.  Let's listen to a some other songs first.

A pre-Three Dog Night recording of Negron, who went by the name of Chuck Rondell for this recording.  The song was arranged by David Gates, who went on to his own fame with Bread.

 An Old Fashioned Love Song, from 1971. 

One of my favorite Three Dog Night songs:  Out in the Country. from 1970.

And now, the song you've been waiting for with Chuck Negron belting out the now-famed beginning about a certain bullfrog.  Here's Joy to the World. 

Next:  LaMonte McLemore, actor, photographer, vocalist, and founding member of The Fifth Dimension, died February 3 at the age of 90 after suffering a stroke. 

Let's travel back to 1969 with The Fifth Dimension cover of Age of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In. 

1967's fun Paper Cup.

 
Finally,  Brad Arnold, founder and lead singer from 3 Doors Down died Saturday at the age of 47. The cause of death was kidney cancer.

Their breakout hit from 2000, written by Arnold when he was 15 and in math class, Kryptonite, is still perhaps their most known. 

And that's still another sad induction wrap. May these three musicians rest in peace.

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me. 

January Snow Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Since it's too cold and windy to go outside this weekend, I am using three picture from late January for today's shadows.  I did go outside yesterday to try to do some snow removal, and gave up because the wind kept blowing it back at me. Some days are just like that. 

I can't wait for spring, when the snow will be replaced by plants sleeping underneath their winter blankets.  Right now, though, it feels like winter will last forever.

We are under a extreme cold warning until 1pm today due to wind chills. 

Joining Lisa at This and That:  A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.

 

Blue Hour Sunset #SkywatchFriday

Today, I decided to mine my archives for a sunset post.

I found these pictures from November that I didn't use (at least, I hope I didn't use them.  Memory doesn't always work right nowadays).

Call it a blue hour after-sunset. 

I love those cloud(?) rays.

A slightly different angle. 

I love the blue hour (which really isn't an hour long)  but it isn't always visible here due to our cloudy cold weather climate.

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

A Rural Bakery #WordlessWednesday

 I can't wait for the first daffodils to bloom.  It won't be for a couple of months.

Back in November, my in laws took me to a rural bakery in the countryside where they live.  I bought a chicken pot pie from the bakery, and it made for a great couple of suppers.

This appeared to be a mother and daughter team, and were they ever working hard in the tiny space.  The chicken pot pie is a Friday special for them.  Great timing!

Almost sold out, and deservedly so.

The Daffodil Hill bakery is only open limited days in January and February.  Hopefully, I can make it back sometime this spring.  I'll be waiting for those daffodils to bloom.  The weather doesn't say spring yet, but Nature is giving out signs.  Small signs, but I know it will be spring one day.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.