On Sunday I took a look at my back yard and found these.
And, my early blooming white Lenten Rose has buds hidden under the leaves.
A joyful moment. It won't last long - snow tomorrow.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
Note: I may be late in responding but I appreciate your comments and readership and I will respond when I can.
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 below). 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 may be labeled "No Music".)
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. On alternate weeks, we can blog on any music theme we want. This week's theme is picked by Xmas Dolly and is: a winter related theme to build our music around. Think cold weather, sports, snow, snuggling with your friends, or anything that says winter to you.
As my regular readers know, I hate winter, which is why I live in a place where winter is long and cloudy.
Winterlude - Bob Dylan, from 1970, is more than a song about winter.
The Bangles and their cover of the Simon and Garfunkel song "Hazy Shade of Winter." As a Simon and Garfunkel fan, I have to admit I like this cover better.
What could be the opposite of winter? Well, dreaming of something warmer. Here are the Mamas and the Poppas with their 1965 hit California Dreaming.
Now for a brief intermission.
This doesn't, but it supposedly is from 1897. "Snowball Fight".
Back to our theme, with the Doors and Wintertime Love, from 1968.
Finally, a tribute to the Winter Olympics, here is Andrea Bocelli at the Turin 2006 closing ceremony singing Because We Believe.And that's a wrap!
Remember, I may not get to you right away, but I will. Eventually. Thank you for your patience.
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
Some shadow pictures taken yesterday.
Have to love the blue skies and warmth. Today, it got up to 53F (11.67 C).
Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures for #ShadowshotSunday.
Two memes for the price of one today, as our unusual fall continues. First, the skies.
Here are skies from two different days in November. They are alike, but similar.
The clouds of November have arrived. At least it isn't the slate grey we'll see almost all the time later in November.
November 5.
November 11.
We are under a high fire danger where we live. So far, no fires have been near us. I only hope that continues.
Next, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.
Our outdoor gardening season in my zone 6a gardenis over, even if temperatures are trending above average. All my outdoor flowers are done, and this is all I have to share with you today.
Kalanchoe-a beautiful plant given to me by my brother in law and sister in law. It's almost done blooming.
Finally, an impatien cutting I have in water waiting for me to have the time to pot it up is blooming. I apologize for the blurring.
To all my skywatching and GBBD friends, due to a personal situation I may not get back to you for a while, but I promise I will get to you.
Joining two memes today:
Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens for #GardenBloggersBloomDay.
It's time for tea at Your Home Library in Johnson City, New York.
For the second straight year, it's time for tea at Your Home Library in Johnson City, New York. The drawers that once stored catalogs now store giveaway seeds in the spring and tea and cocoa in the fall.
Time for tea, and time to support your local library by enjoying one of their programs.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
It's Monday. In the United States it's Veteran's Day (what many other countries call Armistice Day), 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 below). 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 may be labeled "No Music".)
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. On alternate weeks, we can blog on any
music theme we want. This week's theme is "You Pick". But before I begin, an announcement.
I am decreasing my footprint in the Blogosphere and once again trying to avoid social media, which is becoming more and more toxic. My time has also become more limited. So this will be a short post, and I may be delayed in visiting your post.
So, some musical selections today, both upbeat and sad.
Let's begin on an American patriotic note. The Stars and Stripes Forever, performed by the United States Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus. This is a song whose tune can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of where they were born or live.
Ray Charles and America the Beautiful.
Written by a Canadian soldier in 1915 upon the battle death of his friend in Flanders, Belgium, during World War I, by a soldier who, himself, did not survive World War I, it is one of the most poignant poems I have ever read. Here it is:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
And that's a wrap, as I honor all veterans of war today, including those in my family.
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
Two fall foliage shadows for your consideration, as I join up today with Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures for her #ShadowshotSunday.
November 3, some of the last of the fall color.
November 5.
The leaves keep falling and we keep raking.
Speaking of shadows, history also has shadows. This is the anniversary of Kristallnact, the Night of Broken Glass, that took place November 9-10, 1938 in Germany. Here is a description of that event, one that echoes into the present as we face increasing hate in our world.
Let us insure that this history and other histories of hate (so many of them) never recede into the shadows of our memories, to be ignored, denied, or forgotten.
