Welcome! I hope I bring a spot of calm and happiness into these uncertain times. I blog about my photography adventures, flowers, gardening, the importance of chocolate in a well lived life, or anything else on my mind.
Last week, we heard something moving around the outside of our living room air conditioner.
I went outside to investigate and it was a fledgling American robin, fresh out of the nest. (A note to my European readers, this is a totally different species than your European robin).
I tried taking a picture without getting too close. Look right in the middle of the picture.
But how had it gotten up on a window air conditioner?
I looked up and saw my answer (middle left).
I had never seen the nest, high up below our eaves. I had seen a robin's egg shell on our driveway, perhaps at the beginning of the month. This fledgling may have been the end result.
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! We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.
Why not join us? Our theme this week is "In the US, May is National Barbecue month. It’s time to go hog wild! Share music that make you think of a great cook out."
I saw this as two ways to go. One way, is songs mentioning barbecue, or, as many of us write it, BBQ. I've lived in several parts of the United States, and have experienced some of the various interpretations of what a sauce should consist of.
The BBQ Song from Rhett and Link gives us a rundown of those variations.
A favorite food at many BBQ's is sausage. Or, in our area, white hots. In many other places, hot dogs.
Next up is Hot Dog from Led Zeppelin from 1979, and it's not about the food. Fun fact, the album this came from (In Through the Out Door) is my favorite Led Zeppelin song.
Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffett because there is nothing like hearing Jimmy Buffett music at a BBQ.
BBQ's are all about having a fun time. From Ray Stevens, Barbeque.
As for the music, let's listen...Listen to the Music - Doobie Brothers
Finally, let's end this virtual BBQ with Whisker Brothers and Good Ol' BBQ.
Well, not so fast. Today, in the United States is Memorial Day, a day that was originally intended to honor the war dead of our 1861-1865 Civil War. Originally called Decoration Day, this holiday evolved into honoring the war dead of all wars. Sadly, this holiday has also evolved into a major shopping day.
So I will end this with a song from Freda Payne, Bring the Boys Home, from 1971. That was our wish then as it is now.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
I find many interesting things when I take a walk.
One of these finds were a bunny nest sign I saw earlier this week near an office.
The sign reads "Bunny Nest (with arrow pointing down). Please be mindful when mowing".
Rabbits build a shallow nest more like a depression in the ground. I think the nest was a depression directly below the arrow. It's hard to see in the photo. I didn't want to get closer just in case the little ones were still in the nest.
As much as I don't appreciate rabbits in my yard, they were there first. I'm happy someone cared enough to post this sign. Would you have?
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! We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie, and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.
Why not join us? Our theme this week is "You Pick". Any music counts.
Before I get into the Eurovision Song Contest, I've been featuring too many inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven in recent months. So, I wanted to pay a quick tribute to two musicians who passed away this May.
First, Dennis Locorriere, lead vocalist for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, died May 16 at the age of 76, from complications of kidney disease. Here is Dr. Hook's hit Cover of the Rolling Stone done live in 1980.
Clarence Carter, R&B singer, songwriter and producer, died May 13 at the age of 90. Carter had two (I believe) mainstream hits, but other songs were considered too ribald for mainstream music stations. He may have been best known for Patches and this song from 1968, Slip Away.
And now for the Eurovision Song Contest. Saturday, the finals were held in Vienna, Austria. This contest is a big
event for a lot of the world but I think a lot of Americans still have
not heard of it.
As I blogged in 2022:
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual contest which originated in the
aftermath of World War II, when Europe was struggling to recover from
the horrors of World War II. The idea was for various European
countries to cooperate with each other "through cross-border TV
broadcasts". The contest started in 1956, based on an Italian music
festival, with seven countries participating, and has expanded
into the largest world music event there is.
Until
last year, I had no idea that the singers Celene Dion and the group
ABBA, among
others got their start from Eurovision. I was aware that Riverdance had
its start as the "interval" act in 1994. (An interval act performs
after the last act in the final during the tallying of the votes, and
some of these acts have won their own brand of fame. Additionally, I
learned a new word, too, because "intervals" are what we Americans call
"intermission" in an event.)
Winners do not get cash prizes, but they do get the Crystal Microphone trophy, and (best of all, perhaps) exposure. Also, with a couple of exceptions, the host country for the following year is the country that won the year before.
I was introduced to the Eurovision Song Contest several years by a fellow participant in Music Moves Me. This is the 2026 winning song from DARA, with Bulgaria's entry, Bangaranga. It's catchy and it would be a great song for an exercise class. It's already getting millions of listeners on social media.
You have heard some of the songs of the Eurovision Song Contest, even if you think you haven't. Previous winners have included Céline Dion , Lulu (of To Sir with Love fame, but not with that song), and Brotherhood of Man. (Save Your Kisses for Me).
Here are the performances of two previous winners. First, from 1974, perhaps the most famous Eurovision Song Contest performance: Waterloo, by ABBA, competing for Sweden.
Finally, in 1997, Katrina and the Waves. won with Love Shine a Light, competing for the U.K.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
In the United States, where I live, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
Last Sunday was the day. My son always gifts me with a hanging basket.
This year he gifted me with the large basket above, filled with fuchsias. I hope I can get to see hummingbirds visiting it. I also hope I can keep it alive. It's large!
