Outside #AtoZChallenge #SkywatchFriday

 What can you find Outside that demonstrates the beauty of our land?

Could it be a sunrise (April 14)?

An eagle flying overhead? (We see them occasionally near a local river).

Some outdoor art?  Eagle statue, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge near Seneca Falls, New York. 

Old Bennington, Vermont, moose art.

On top of the Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington, Vermont.

Joining with Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday, and also:

O day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  Beauty of our Land.

North (Carolina) #AtoZChallenge

Today, I turn to places or things associated with the beautiful United States state of North Carolina, located in the Southeast United States.

A foggy morning near the border between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina.  This area can get some bad fog.

Trees in bloom, Raleigh, North Carolina, March of 2015.  Raleigh is the state capitol and this was a sight for winter weary New York State eyes.

On the grounds of the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina.

North Carolina operates four state farmers' markets.  This is the one in Raleigh.  I've also been to the one in Asheville a couple of times, although I haven't been through North Carolina since 2023.
 

North Carolina Duke Homestead Smokehouse and Scuppernong grapes

N day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme: Beauty of our Land. 

Tomorrow, we stay Outside for O day and Skywatch Friday.

Meme (Garden Bloggers Bloom Day) #AtoZChallenge #WordlessWednesday

 Today, you get three Memes for the price of one.  

Wordless Wednesday, brought to us by Sandee at Comedy Plus.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (in its final year), brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. This is where flower gardeners from all over the world post what's blooming in their yards and/or homes on the 15th of each month.

Finally, the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, brought to us by some intrepid bloggers and many devoted participants.

My A to Z theme is Beauty of our Land, and today I celebrate the beauty of spring and my flower gardens. with all three memes.

So, without further ado, let's explore the beauty of spring by exploring what is blooming in my yard.  Yes, spring is here.  My flowers are back in my zone 6a Southern Tier of New York garden, as we are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures this week and flowers are popping faster than I can keep track of them.  Sadly, this means they will be gone too soon, also, but at least we have them.

First, a spring ephemeral, a native plant called bloodroot. It's called an ephemeral because it blooms for perhaps four days and then is gone.  So why grow it?  Because.  I used to have more but only one little patch remains.  And yesterday, it was on day five.  So, I am counting it for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day because it's precious.

What else? 

Species tulip.

Brunnera thrives in my shady backyard - perhaps too well. Its blue blooms are welcome in early spring.

Jonquils. They started blooming about 10 days ago.

White hyacinth.

Pink hyacinth.

Grape hyacinth.

Purple Lenten rose.

My early (some years too early) white Lenten Rose (on its way out). 

My first daffodils opened yesterday. 

Finally, one of my pansy baskets.  I made up two of them this year.

Do you have flowers blooming in your home or yard? 

Join me again tomorrow for the letter N.

M Day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  Again, my theme:  Beauty of our Land.

Louisbourg's Louisbrick Legos #AtoZChallenge

We visited the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Side on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada in July of 2024.

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a reconstruction (along with some ruins) of what was once a large French town and fortification. It existed from around 1719 to 1758, when it was destroyed.  It was a victim of wars between the British and French.

In 1961 a decision was made to reconstruct at least part of the fortress and town, and this was accomplished during the 1960s to 1980s.  In fact, the tour guide who took us to the site and showed our tour group around worked on the reconstruction when he was in college.

An entrance.

I have more pictures of reconstructed Louisbourg but what I wanted to show you today was something called Louisbrick, which is a reconstruction model of Louisbourg's Island Battery made entirely from Legos bricks.

The harbor area.

There were a lot of people there and this wasn't taken at a great angle.

Buildings. Again, remember, these are all Legos.

Gardens.

I don't think it was meant to be a permanent exhibition but it was donated and can still be seen today online if you can't make it there in person.

Have you ever built anything with Legos?

L Day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  Beauty of our Land.

Tomorrow, join me for M day, which is also Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, for some more personal beauty.

Kings (County) #AtoZChallenge

If you are looking for my Music Moves Me post, please click here.  But I hope you'll stay for this King of posts. (Well, not really, but it starts with K.)

The borough of Brooklyn in the City of New York is also known as Kings County. Fun fact:  New York City is composed of five counties:  New York County (Manhattan), Bronx County (The Bronx), Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens County (Queens) and Richmond County (Staten Island).

I wonder how many people reading this post today can trace some of their ancestors to Kings County?  I can, as per the above  Some estimate (and this is not proven) that one in seven Americans, or some 50 million people, can.

If true, it's not surprising.  Before its merger with New York City, the city of Brooklyn was the third largest city in the United States, and many immigrants passing through Ellis Island settled there, at least temporarily.

My father's father was one of them, and my grandfather settled there permanently.  He was a small business owner, operating a candy store business in the Ocean Hill section of Brooklyn, where my father was born and grew up. along with his several siblings.  My grandfather closed his business in the 1950's but I have a vague memory of visiting him there at least once.  I still have some family in Brooklyn/Kings County.

When my father's younger sister died, the funeral procession wound its way through Brooklyn to pass by the building where she lived as a child.  It was a beautiful tribute.  Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of my father's childhood neighborhood, but here are some pictures I took in Brooklyn over the years while visiting family and friends.

Entrance, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 2018.

A Tree Blooms in Brooklyn, 2013. 

Brooklyn brownstones, 2018.

Street art advertising a business on their windows, downtown Brooklyn, 2018.

This is the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower (modern name One Hanson Place). Opened in 1929, this 41 story building was the tallest building in Brooklyn until 2009. 

Roses.

Grave of Louis Comfort Tiffany, a King of decorative arts, Green-Wood cemetery, Brooklyn.

Hopefully, if you ever visit New York City, you have the chance to visit Brooklyn. 

K day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme: Beauty of our Land.

A Titanic Playlist #MusicMovesMe

It's Sunday, it's an off day for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and it's time for music!  I normally don't music blog on Sundays, but this is a day of rest in a blogging challenge I'm participating in. 

 

If you are looking for my Shadowshot Sunday post please click here.

 

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.  

Music Moves Me is brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie, and myself.  Why not join us?  You don't have to sing, or play an instrument.  All music lovers are welcome.   

This week's theme is:  April 15 marks the anniversary of the Titanic tragedy 114 years ago. With that in mind, build your song picks using ships, icebergs, big band music, … for your playlist this week.

The Titanic has fascinated many of us and I was fortunate enough to have known one of my spouse's aunts, who was born in 1912 and lived to age 107.  Obviously, she was not old enough to remember the Titanic but, to me, she was a link to history.  She was a baby when the Titanic went down, taking anywhere from 1,490 to 1,635 souls with it.  The exact death toll is still unknown.  

Why not start with music popular in 1912?  Here are two such songs.

Al Jolson covered the popular 1912 song Waiting for the Robert E. Lee in 1947.

Irving Berlin wrote music and lyrics for his song about the loss of his dear wife from typhoid fever.  They had only been married for five months.  Here is When I Lost You, covered by Bing Crosby.

A number of songs are associated with this tragedy.  From the movie Titanic, Celine Dion and My Heart Will Go On.

From the Irish Rovers, The Titanic.  I love the video.

And that's a wrap.

Join me again next Sunday or Monday for another episode of #MusicMovesMe.

January vs June #AtoZChallenge #ShadowshotSunday

January - the time of snow and cold where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

June - warm, sometimes hot, full of plant life.

Let's compare the beauty of each in the area where I live.  Is there a winner? 

It's J day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I am also joining Lisa at This and That:  A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday. Yes, it's Saturday but why not?  Please enjoy the shadows in some of these pictures.

These photos are mainly from years past. 

Shadows on the ground on a January day, complete with male Northern Cardinal on feeder (the little red dot in the middle)  and reflections on the ground.  Sorry for the window reflection spots. 

June, same yard but with a woodpecker. 

January 2020, snow squall, downtown Binghamton, New York. 

June, Broome County Courthouse, downtown Binghamton, New York.

January, snow on a bush. 

June 2024, flower in same yard.

But it's April now, and flowers are back.  Jonquils, April 5. 

All is beautiful. 

J day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  Beauty of our Land.