A Weekend of Holidays #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music.

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.   

This week's theme is:  "Yesterday was the “Idles of March” and tomorrow is St Patrick’s Day. Based on these find song picks to express whichever occasion inspires you."  I'm going to take a slightly different tack today.

There is a rock group called the Ides of March, and my spouse has a combination CD of a studio album and a live album. This band has a long history, first getting together in 1964 in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. They took a hiatus and regrouped in 1990.  They still tour.

 I did a Google search and found out that the four original members are still touring, and they've been together for some 60 years. For a time, they broke up, and one of their members, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter  Jim Peterik, ended up founding the group Survivor.

So, for today, some music from the Ides of March. and one from Survivor, to celebrate the Ides of March.  But before I start, a lighthearted song about Pi Day, which was Saturday, March 14.

Vehicle, their only hit.  I chose a live performance from 2014.

From 1971, a minor hit, L.A. Goodbye, written by Jim Peterik.  I've chosen a live version here, too.

As a bonus, here is Vehicle as covered by Leonid & Friends, one of the best cover bands (in my opinion) that there is.

Moving to Survivor, here is their 1982 hit Eye of the Tiger, from Rocky II, co written by Jim Peterik.

As for St Patrick's Day, this calls for the Dropkick Murphys, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a residency in Boston.

Some consider this song the theme song of St. Patrick's Day.  Here is the 2005 song I'm Shipping Up to Boston.  This song has an interesting history.  It was originally a poem/unfinished lyrics written by Woody Guthrie.  Guthrie's daughter asked the Dropkick Murphys to finish writing the song.

I'll end today's set with another Dropkick Murphys song, The Boys are Back.

And that's a wrap!

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

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day March 2026 and #ShadowshotSunday

Once again, memes collide.

It is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Brought to you the 15th of each month by Carol at May Dream Gardens, garden bloggers from all over the world gather to show what is blooming in their gardens, their greenhouses, their houses, or wherever their flowers reside. 

But, as they say, "Beware the Ides of March".

The weather has swung from winter to spring to winter again.  Last week was false spring where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, zone 6a.   Some early native trees are blooming, and I have bulbs coming up. Yesterday, I woke up to a dusting of snow.  Winter does not loosen its grip easily.

I even have outdoor blooms to show you. 

Yesterday, my first crocus bud appearedin the front yard.  The foliage wasn't even up three or so days ago.  Boom!

Two views of my backyard white Lenten rose, which has been waiting patiently since late December. 

My purple Lenten rose isn't blooming yet, but buds are visible. 

Other bulbs are peeking through the ground, wondering if the time is right. 

I looked at my post from March of 2025 and we were a little bit further along, but that's OK.  Nature has announced that Spring is Really Here.

 

Inside, an African violet blooms. My inch plant is blooming too, but I can't get a good picture with my iPhone 13 mini.

That's it for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

For #ShadowshotSunday, brought to us by Lisa at This and That: A Blog, a picture taken Wednesday in a local park. I was hoping to get a garden shadow picture from today, but, so far, no shadows.

Hoping your Ides of March is happier than Julius Caeser's was for him. 

Trees and Clouds on a False Spring Day #SkywatchFriday

The weather was springlike earlier this week where I live in the Southern Tier of New York. 

March 9 sky, with tree blooming.

 It was a false spring, though, and the sky told the story on March 10. 

Blue skies were rapidly replaced by clouds.

The blue sky managed to escape briefly through a hole in the sky,

Sure enough, a cold front came through early yesterday morning, and soon, the temperatures dropped into the 30's F (3.3C) with brisk March winds.  In fact. at 1pm yesterday it was 41 degrees colder than it was at 1pm Wednesday, as per a local meteorologist.

It snowed some yesterday evening. 

Spring won't be back for a while, no matter what the calendar says. 

Joining up with Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

2026 Blogging from A to Z Reveal#AtoZChallenge

It's that time again!  Are you surprised to see two Wednesday posts from me?  Don't be surprised. 

For several years, I participated in an April long blogging challenge called Blogging from A to Z.  In 2025, though, I didn't have either the time or the ambition to participate in A to Z.  I did it somewhat unofficially, though - I didn't sign up and I didn't blog daily, but when I did blog I followed the format of the challenge, and read a number of blogs participating in the Challenge.

I was thinking, on and off, about trying to participate this year, when I suddenly (thanks to a blog I read) discovered that it was theme reveal time.  It's also past time to reclaim my blogging life.  There are several blogs I discovered in previous A to Zs, which I still read and enjoy (you know who you are).  This challenge has enriched my life in the past.

I decided to listen to my inner voice, and see if I can blog every day in April, AND, visit and comment on the blogs of other A to Zers (an integral part of the Challenge).  If you are interested you can find out more at this website.

So, my theme.

I have an extensive photo library of the last nine or so years.  Why not take advantage of that?

My theme?   Beauty of Our Land.

My photo library has many memories wrapped up in it.  It has photos of travels, everyday life, a cruise I took a couple of years ago, skies, and many, many flowers.  Most pictures were taken in the United States.  Some were taken in Canada.  

Let's go exploring together.

Hope to see you in April!  

Flowers in Winter? Part 2 #WordlessWednesday

Last week, I blogged about a Lenten Rose that had budded out in late December before being subjected to our winter weather.  Snow protected it from cold temperatures but when the snow disappeared, I wasn't sure if the buds had survived. 

It was springlike yesterday and the day before where I live in the Northeast United States, so I investigated the plant yesterday.  Yesterday, in fact, it got up to 74F (23.3C).  Sometimes, that happens where I live but this is not that common.

So, what did I see?

Happy dance!

The only problem is, winter will be returning later today. Early next week, in fact, the temperature is expected to dip into the teens F (approximately -7 C).

So the saga isn't over yet.  I can only hope for the best.  

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

 

It Might as Well be Spring #MusicMoves Me

It's Monday, and it's time for music. 

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.  

Last week, our theme was: "the early Roman began the calendar year with March because it brought the first day of spring and new beginnings. The approaching changing seasons with the evidence of life’s return is visible in our area and perhaps where you live, too. Pick songs that reflect the mood of sunny spring weather."  I am a week late, but, hey, today we are even closer to spring where I live.

Ah, if only we had sunny spring weather in my area, but many of the signs of spring being just around the corner are here.  We've had unseasonable warm weather the last two days, but it will all end by Thursday, when the cold weather returns.  But it will be back!  So, on to the music.

1965 brought us Feeling Good from Nina Simone. This is a cover of the song from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, but Nina Simone's version is what many think of when they hear this song.

It Might as Well be Spring was a song in the 1945 film State Fair and has been covered many times.  This is from Frank Sinatra.  

April in Paris, from Count Basie and his Orchestra. 

The birds are singing once again.  Cosmo Sheldrake created an album based on the songs of endangered birds in Great Britain.  This is his Dawn Chorus. 

And that's a wrap!

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

Snow and Grass #ShadowshotSunday

Late February and March weather, where I live, is changeable.  

Take these two selfies, taken a day apart.

March 1.

February 28 (near to where the first picture was taken).

We briefly hit 60F (15.5C) yesterday.  It may be in the 70's (21C) by Tuesday.  The snow is almost melted.

Then, back to the freezer, and maybe snow showers by Thursday.  Meanwhile, I'll try to recover from the change to Daylight Saving Time.  

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

Blood Moon Fail #SkywatchFriday

Weather is not the friend of someone wanting to see celestial events, especially if you live in the Southern Tier of New York.  And, it's the winter.

I've been clouded out of meteor showers, eclipses of the moon, and even a total eclipse of the sun. 

So, March 3 around 6:33 am, there was a blood moon, a total eclipse of the moon that was setting as totality began, and a sunrise, all at the same time.  A once in a life time event.  

For some people, anyway.  Here, the sky was (surprise) white.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Afternoon of March 2.  Looks promising, doesn't it?

"Enjoy your clear sky while you can", the sky seemed to say.  "You know what's going to happen next, don't you?"

That night...yes, there come the clouds. 

The almost full moon is the big white dot.  The small blue dot is an iPhone thing and you can ignore it.

It was darker than it looks.  I had to leave my porch light on because I have poor night vision.  I somehow knew that the following morning would be an epic fail.
At least I got some good sky pictures and some fresh air. 

I hope someone from #SkywatchFriday, brought to us each week by Yogi, was able to take some pictures.

Did you get to see it?