Capital Fourth Favorites #MusicMovesMe

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 above). 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.)   

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, and this is one of those weeks. Today, our theme is "You Pick".  But first:

I had mentioned needing dental work in an earlier post.  Last week, my dentist extracted what was left of a molar, one that had a root canal and crown years ago.  A couple of Fridays ago, the crown had come off while I was flossing.  The tooth also broke and the dentist took out what was remaining, which turned out to be a little complicated.  He also needed to do a bone graft.

 

At the end of next week I get the sutures out and then I will have the fun decision of getting either a bridge or an implant.  

 

So, in honor of my dental issues, here's Weird Al Yankovic and Cavity Search.  I can't believe this song, released in 1996, is almost thirty years old.

 

Meanwhile, on July 4, our PBS network celebrated the 45th anniversary of their coverage of A Capital Fourth, the musical/fireworks celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  Some of my favorite groups/singers have performed, and I thought I would share some of my favorite songs of theirs.  The Temptations video is not from A Capital Fourth but the others are.

 

The Temptations, with their 1972 hit Papa Was A Rolling Stone, starts my set.  I'm posting the full version, all 11 plus minutes of it, way too long for a Capital Fourth.   If you don't have the time, please just listen to the musical introduction, which is about three minutes thirty seconds long.  You won't be sorry.

 

The Beach Boys performing a medley of their hits with Jimmy Buffet and John Stamos, from the 2018 Capital Fourth. 

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, at the 2014 Capital Fourth. (There are several songs here:  Grease, Can't Take My Eyes off of You, Let's Hang On).

 

Finally, it's an abridged version, but a tradition at a Capital Fourth is the War of 1812 Overture.  You might think:  what does an 1880 musical piece composed by a Russian to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon by the Russians in the war of 1812.  Well, as they like to say, it's complicated. (note, this link has some political commentary but most of it isn't). What I like about this is that it's a full choral version of the last four or so minutes complete with cannons - and fireworks!   It's a wonderful way to conclude today's post.

So that's a wrap!

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

 

 

 

 

Daylily Display in the Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

My shadow pictures today are more day lilies blooming in my yard taken yesterday and the day before.

I love daylilies.  I wish I had a larger yard (and a bigger budget).

Some of the names are on my blog from when I bought these but I am too lazy to look.

Almost all of these were purchased from a daylily grower in rural Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

This is one of my favorites.

This spider is, too.

I hope these pictures brighten your day.

Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventure for her #ShadowshotSunday.
 

Late June Sky Colors #SkywatchFriday

It is Independence Day where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.  Tonight, many in our country will be looking towards the sky at fireworks shows.

We had ours though, yesterday afternoon, when a severe thunderstorm came through our area, downing trees, raining hail down on us, and disabling landline 911 (emergency) services. The building our year round farmer's market is located in was damaged and there will be no farmer's market Saturday.  Many county facilities and parks are closed until further notice.

We were fortunate; our power never went out and the pieces of tree branches that fell on my property were small.

I wasn't about to go out in that storm and take pictures, so these are from last week. 

The sky has its own colors, especially at sunrise and sunset.

For example, last week I was too late for the sunset, but not for the after show.

After sunset, the sky started its own show.

The trees learnt their own color.

 

Happy Independence Day to my readers living in the United States.

 

P.S. I had mentioned needing dental work in an earlier post.  Two days ago, my dentist extracted what was left of a molar, one that had a root canal and crown years ago.  Friday before last, the crown had come off while I was flossing.  The tooth underneath the crown had already broken in half (which I had never felt because of the root canal) and the dentist took out what was remaining.  He also needed to do a bone graft yesterday partially due to the complication.  In two weeks, I get the suctures out and then I will have the fun decision of either getting a bridge or an implant.  But again, it could have been worse.

 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Bear with Me #WordlessWednesday

The friend I call my guest photographer looked out her window the other day and saw this:

Stretch....

No, it wasn't Yogi Bear.  

Bears are commonly seen in the countryside here in the Southern Tier of New York, and sometimes  in urban areas.  Years ago, another friend once saw a bear while walking in her neighborhood.  Fortunately the bear did not approach her.

I am having a dental procedure today, so I may not respond to you right away.  But I will. 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Celebrate and Remember #MusicMovesMe

 It's Monday, and it's time for music.  This Friday is also our annual celebration, here in the United States, of our Independence Day.

 

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). 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.)   

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, and this is one of those weeks. Today, our theme is "National Day", and it is also my sad duty to blog about another two inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven.  Perhaps we should call this a national day of rock remembrance?

But first, let's celebrate our Independence Day with a little Ray Charles and his cover of "America the Beautiful". We have such a beautiful country.  I've been to 46 states and have so many fond memories of travel within our United States.

And now, the musician tributes. 

Bobby Sherman, when I was growing up, was a teen idol, but he was also a singer and actor.  Sherman died June 24 at the age of 81, but I want to remember him as the young man he was once.  

Here's a fun clip with Bobby Sherman and also the Monkees featuring the song "Easy Come, Easy Go" at about three minutes into the clip.

From 1969, "Little Woman".  

In Sherman's later life, he became a paramedic and a medical training officer for the Los Angeles, California police department.  Here (with another clip of him singing "Easy Come Easy Go" towards the end) he appears on a talk show discussing that career. 

Also, Mick Ralphs, guitarist, vocalist, song writer, co-founder of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, died June 23, also at the age of 81.

Here is one of the songs he wrote - "Ready for Love" as performed by Mott the Hoople (it was also recorded by Bad Company).

And that's another sad wrap.

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

Shadow Daylilies of Late June #ShadowshotSunday

My day lilies started to bloom about a week ago.

If you like these, there will be more to come. In fact, I checked my blog and I am slightly behind where I was last year.

From Lamberton's Brookside Daylilies in the small town of Thompson, Pennsylvania.  They were supposed to be going out of business three years ago (the owners are in their 80's) but they are still open for limited days and hours.

Also from Lamberton's; daylilies do get into your blood.

The other two are from before I found Lamberton's. 

This one is putting on quite the show.

My only sure rebloomer.  This may be a Stella de Oro; not sure. It does not bloom continuously once it starts.

I've gotten my day lilies in various places. Some were bought at a combination of plants sales including our local Cornell Cooperative plant sale, a plant sale we lucked into years ago in Charleston, and a wonderful day lily business in Penn Yan, New York (Finger Lakes region) called Grace Gardens.  Sadly, Tom Rood, who ran this wonderful business after the death of his wife in 2020,closed at the end of last year.  At his age (he's now 87) he also found he could no longer keep it up.

Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures for her #ShadowshotSunday. 

 

End of Heat Wave Skies #SkywatchFriday

Our heat wave has broken, but not before breaking a couple of all time records.  And I'm so happy it was short, because I had a dental emergency and a doctors appointment I had to travel to.  I also had two appointments for my spouse that I had to accompany him to. So I wasn't able to stay at home as much as I would have liked, but, in the end, it was all good.

It rained Monday and yesterday, at least. 

Wednesday, the last hot day, the humidity had improved to where you no longer felt like you were wearing the air, and I went outside to take some sky pictures. 

It was nice seeing those clouds and blue skies.

These were taken at three different times during the day.

 I like "Mt. McCloud" in the last picture.

Even though our hot is still below what some other parts of the country would consider hot, I'm glad it's over (until Monday, anyway).

And, yes, it's going to rain again this weekend.   I think that makes 32 weekends in a row with either rain or snow. Or, maybe 33? 

Nature, whatever you are trying to prove, I think you proved it.  How about a precipitation free weekend?  Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.