Rockwells #AtoZChallenge

The works of American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell, who died in 1978, have been a part of my memories for many years.  

Rockwell knew what his life work was to be at an early age, enrolling in art school at age 14. He was born in New York City, later moving to the New York City suburban city of New Rochelle. Eventually, he became an illustrator for the Boy Scouts publication Boys' Life, and for the Saturday Evening Post magazine  He drew for the Saturday Evening Post for some 47 years.  His career ended with the defunct Look magazine, which my mother read when I was growing up.

I don't know how well Rockwell was known outside the United States, or by young people worldwide, but I hope that you still enjoy this post. 

Rockwell lived for a time in Arlington, Vermont and used their residents as models for many of his illustrations.  The Sugar Shack in Arlington has a (free!) Rockwell exhibition in the back of the store, but do try their maple cremees (a rich soft serve ice cream) if you are into dairy products.  They also produce their own maple syrup. I've visited Arlington several times in the past six years and have enjoyed visiting the Sugar Shack for a maple fix.

There is also a museum dedicated to Rockwell's works in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which I visited in 2024.  In fact, let's start with the entrance to that museum. 

What a beautiful setting.

On the grounds are sculptures by Norman's son Peter Rockwell.

Information about Peter (sorry, it's too small to read),  Peter Rockwell spent much of his adult life in Rome.  He passed away in 2020.  

A wall full of Norman Rockwell magazine covers. 

Some samples of art and photos of the actual townspeople who posed for his pictures.

More photos.
 

Finally, a self portrait.

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

Queens #MusicMovesMe #AtoZChallenge

Today, you get two memes for the price of one.

First, Music Moves Me.

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?  Our theme for this week is You Pick and since this is Q day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I'm picking a couple of groups whose name began with Q.  

First up:  Quicksilver Messenger Service. 

Here is their 1970 hit Fresh Air. 

Next, Queen, and, from 1975, Bohemian Rhapsody.  This song is considered one of the top songs in rock history.

From 1981 their collaboration with David Bowie - Under Pressure. 

And now that you've enjoyed some music, I bring you, for Q day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, some beauty I've found in the New York City borough of Queens.  I am a native of Queens although I only lived there for the first five months of my life.

If you think I'm going to post pictures of skyscrapers, well, I'm not, because Queens is not a borough of skyscrapers.  Although, in the neighborhood of Long Island City, there are several. No, instead, I will bring you these sights:

Alley Pond Recreation Area, Bayside, Queens.

There are several remnants of the 1964 World's Fair visible in Corona Park, another Queens neighborhood.(I have to explain here that if you address a letter to someone in Queens, you usually use a neighborhood name - not "Queens, NY" but Astoria, Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, Little Neck, and so forth.) 

Above are two of them visible from the highway.  I think the first picture is part of the New York State pavilion and I know the second was the Unisphere. I went to that fair several times as a preteen, once with my grade school class and the other times with my parents. These pictures were taken in 2018.

Queens Botanical Garden.  Welcome to the rose garden. The morning I was there, a lot of Asian families were out admiring the roses. 

More roses, Queens botanical gardens.

 Greenery.

Finally, the yellow structures, I'm guessing, are where the Queen bees live.
And that is a wrap!

Join me tomorrow for R day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  And, I hope you'll join me again next week for more music at Music Moves Me.

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

Spring Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

We are back to cold weather and possible snow, but most of the last week was glorious (except for the almost late day thunderstorms and winds). But I took a couple of nice shadow shots yesterday and the day before yesterday while the good weather lasted.

Grape hyacinths. 

Tree shadow at a local park. 

Young redbud tree in bloom at a local park.  This was planted several years ago as part of an initiative  called Trees for Tribs.  You can see some of the other trees in the background.

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

Today is a day off for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I resume tomorrow with my Q post and also participate in Music Moves Me. 

Pretty #AtoZ Challenge

I was going to do a post for P day on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge based on Petunias, Pansies and Phlox but it has been so Pretty lately during our unusual 80 plus degree temperatures this past week, that I decided to post some local Prettiness, too.

It does fit with my theme of Beauty of our Land, right?

These Bradford pears (I know they aren't called that anymore, but calling them callery pears doesn't make them any less invasive, in my humble opinion) are pretty.

Daffodils in my yard, April 17.  

Downtown Binghamton, New York, April 14.

Another downtown Binghamton street scene.

White tree next to medical building.

I can't resist flowers, though these aren't from this week.

Petunias planted in a roundabout, downtown Binghamton, New York, 2020. Only the decreased traffic during COVID allowed me to safely take this picture.
  

Pansies, 2023.

 Finally, one more local scene, April 16.

 

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

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.