The Springdale Tornado

This is the last day of blogging before the Blogging from A to Z Challenge begins.  A month of blogging the alphabet, from A to Z, with Sundays off, will be occupying my mind.

Today, though, my mind dwells in the city of Springdale, Arkansas, in the wake of a tornado that hit the city on Wednesday just after four a.m.

Springdale has changed a lot in the years since I lived there, early in the 1980's, for a year.

Back then, Springdale had a population of around 23,500.  As of 2019, the population is a bit over 89,000. The growth of Wal-Mart fueled an explosion of population in Northwest Arkansas, including the counties (yes, counties) that Springdale is located in.

Springdale is located within two counties.  The southern part of the city is in Washington County, and that Springdale allowed retail alcohol sales when we lived there.  The northern part of the city was in Benton County, which was dry (no retail alcohol sales) although the county had a reputation of being the "wettest dry county in Arkansas". 

In 2013, we returned to Arkansas for the first time since the mid-1980's and found Northwest Arkansas had changed, sometimes dramatically, in the 30 some years since we left.  One change was the fact that Benton County was no longer dry (as of 2012).  Beer and wine were sold in supermarkets, and the Benton County part of Springdale had a liquor store.

A Springdale liquor store - photo September of 2013

One thing that hasn't changed from the 1980's is the scariness of a tornado that strikes at night.  Spouse and I  experienced one.  Hearing, yesterday, about the tornado brought back memories.

Imagine, waking up in the middle of the night, tornado sirens wailing.  We had lived in tornado country (Kansas) before moving to Arkansas, so we knew just what to do.  The thing about the middle of the night, though, is that it is dark.  You can't see what is happening around you.  You don't know if there is a funnel bearing down on your house as you hear the winds, hail, and the pounding rain.  

Where we lived did not have a basement.  We ran to the bathroom, with blankets, and got into the bathtub, pulling blankets over us. "Anxious" didn't begin to describe how we felt.

The storm passed and we were untouched.

What we found out that morning (as we recall) is that a small tornado had passed over another part of Springdale, but hadn't touched down where we lived.  I don't remember how far away it was.  We did see some of the damage.

The citizens of Springdale, Wednesday, weren't as fortunate, with their EF-2 (UPDATE:  now it's considered EF-3) tornado.  No deaths were reported, but a school was damaged and its gym was destroyed.  If the tornado had been several hours later....

People don't think of Arkansas as being in a tornado belt, but it is.  And, with weather being what it is, tornadoes may be coming to a place near you, even if you aren't in an official tornado belt.

Today, a weather system will give us here in the Southern Tier of New York warm, but windy, weather, and the possibility of storms.

I hope you will join me for Blogging from A to Z, starting tomorrow, when I explore several areas of our country through photos.

Spring Snow Squall #WordlessWednesday

I've published posts on snow squalls several times, including earlier this year.  But this weather system was a surprise - a deadly surprise for some.  It's spring, but that doesn't mean anything here.

We had mild weather earlier in March, but winter returned this past weekend with a vengeance.  We had wind chills approaching zero F, and snow squalls, which are sudden bursts of snow that cause near zero visibility with little warning.

This is a picture I took in my back yard Sunday with a snow squall and a bird caught in it.

This was not the same squall that caused the tragic 50 plus car/truck pileup on I-81 in Pennsylvania on Monday, killing at least five and injuring at least 24.  (Warning, clicking on that link gives graphic details).  It gives me chills to realize my spouse and I drove on that highway at the same spot some two weeks ago.

I like to feature beautiful scenes in my Wordless Wednesday posts. Snow squalls can be beautiful from afar, but dangerous if you are driving or walking in them. 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

One other note:  I will be participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge again this year for the month of April, but no worries.  I'll still be posting in Wordless Wednesday. 

An Outlawed Disappointment

A week or so ago, I picked a book in a St. Patrick's Day draw at a local library.  The book I chose, along with several others, was wrapped and only had a tag identifying the genre, and a quote from the book.

The genre was given as "historical fiction" and the quote was "Knowledge can be very valuable...but only if people want it.  If they don't, it can be worse than useless."

The luck of the draw gave me a book to read called "Outlawed" by Anna North.  Because my next month is taken up with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I wanted to review the book.  True, I'm a bit less than halfway through the book, but I'm ready.

I don't know what to make of the book, so let me blog about it a little.

First, it isn't historical fiction.  It takes place in an alternate history.  In this history, the United States (and maybe the world) suffered a terrible flu in the 1830's, which killed off most of the population.  The United States crumbled, independent cities and towns arose,  and the dominant religion became a type of Christianity where the Baby Jesus was worshiped after one Mother Mary had a vision where Baby Jesus offered help to end the pandemic.  The Bible was supplemented by a work by "Burton", which was in everyone's home.

The role of women, by the 1890's (when the story takes place) has become one of reproduction and not much else.  (Given the need to repopulate, that might not be a surprise.) Women are married off in their teens.  If they don't become pregnant within a year or so, the unlucky women become outcasts.  If some one becomes ill, if a woman miscarries, if a baby is born with defects, the barren woman can be blamed, and can be executed.  Or, if more fortunate, driven out of town to die. 

At best, a barren woman can hope to join a convent, where she will be (relatively) safe.  Maybe.

I was eager to read more of the book.  Historically, barren women had not had an easy time of it.

The book centers around such a woman.  Ada, daughter of a midwife, wants to follow in her mother's footsteps.  Instead, she is married off at 17, doesn't become pregnant, and suddenly is fighting for her future as a barren woman.  She joins a convent, but ends up dissatisfied and goes off to join a gang the Mother Superior tells her about.

The opening sentence of the book grabs you:  "In the year of our Lord 1894 I became an outlaw".  There are flashes of great writing in this book, like the quote that chose me to pick this. (I don't own the book, by the way.  I have to return it in another two weeks.)

But then, after a few chapters, I started thinking that the novel has lost its way.  I wonder if part of the problem is that it tried to be too much - a dystopia, a pandemic book, an alternate history, an LGBTQ+ novel, a Western.

The best parts of the book describe Western landscapes and elements of skills a cowboy/cowgirl must master.  But the rest?  I haven't quite given up on it but I have a feeling things aren't going to improve.

It's too bad.  This could have been so fresh, so powerful.  

I don't think it's going to get better.  I hope I'm wrong.

But I don't mind.  That draw introduced me to a new genre: the alternate history Western.

Have you ever been disappointed by a book?

Songs That Tell Stories #MusicMovesMe

 It's the last Monday of the month, and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Here are our co-hosts.  First, is the incomparable XmasDolly, who has not been feeling well - please keep her in your thoughts.  Next are the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, the artistic Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and little ol' me.   Finally, a shoutout to all those bloggers who participate in Music Moves Me!

We'd love more music lovers to join our fun group.  All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video).  That's it!

Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. For the month of March, our guest conductor has been Xmas Dolly, Marie, herself! For today, Xmas Dolly chose this theme: Our choice!

I'm starting out with a relatively new artist to me, someone who I discovered several months ago on a satellite radio station.  Jason DeFord, better known as Jelly Roll, grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, with hip-hop his preferred musical genre.  He spent his teen and early 20's battling drug addiction and spending time in and out of jail.  Now, he has come to a better place, and is leaning more now towards country and rock music. 

His music tells stories, some of them harrowing, and this song, Dead Man Walking, is no exception.

This inspired me to find other songs that tell stories.  There are so many that I can only choose a few.

A Day in the Life, from the Beatles, tells the story of a day in the life.  Part of the song was written by John Lennon and part by Paul McCartney.  The first time I heard this song, I was so amazed; it was like nothing I had ever heard before.

Thanks to AARP (an American interest group that focuses on issues faced by people over the age of 50), I was able to listen (virtually) to a Rod Stewart concert on Friday - it was fantastic seeing Rod (who is 77 now) perform.  His voice isn't what it used to be, but are any of us who we used to be?  One of the songs he performed, from 1971, was a story song called Maggie May.  I chose a live version.

1970's The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel.  I've chosen the live version from their Central Park concert, as it contains a verse missing from the original album recording.

American Pie - Don McLean, from 1971, has references that are still being debated, over 50 years later. 

And finally, another favorite of mine,  1979's The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band.

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week.  For the month of April, I will be the guest conductor, and I am also participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  This should be interesting, and I may end up cheating from time to time and posting on Sunday, which is the one day of the week the A to Z Challenge doesn't include.  We'll have to see.

I hope you'll join me next Monday to Celebrate.

RIP Taylor Hawkins

 Over the weekend, another inductee into Rock and Roll Heaven joined, with the sudden death of Foo Fighter's drummer Taylor Hawkins.  He died Friday in Bogotá , Columbia, at the age of 50. Investigations into cause of death are ongoing at this time.

Because I already had my Monday Music Moves Me post written, I am going to do a short tribute to Hawkins today.  

Here are a couple of live performances that highlight Hawkins' talents on the drums.

This live performance of Stacked Actors includes a great drum solo.

Here, Hawkins proves he can also sing, which he does when John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page join the Foo Fighters to perform the Led Zeppelin classic Rock and Roll.  (David Grohl is on drums for this song.)

Taylor Hawkins, RIP.

An Early April Fools Joke

Last week, it was warm, with a couple of days in the 60s and 70s F.

This week, our first crocuses (yellow) started to bloom.  These pictures were taken March 24.

Then the white crocus joined in.

My Lenten rose, which waited patiently since January with buds, is blooming now.

The purple Lenten rose is budding and will be opening soon.

Locally, this is the second of two weekends of New York's Maple Weekend.  We are at the transition point between winter and spring.

But now, we are realizing that this beautiful spring weather in mid-March was an early April Fools joke.  Yesterday, the weather changed.  Today, it's only going to be in the 40's.  Tomorrow, Sunday, snow showers. By Sunday night it may get down to 14 F and we may have wind chills below zero F.

Monday we will barely get into the 20s F and another night in the teens.

Blurry Tree Peony Buds

We may need to cover our Japanese tree peony, which has buds.This is only the second year that plant will be blooming so we want to see it bloom once again.   I tried to take a picture of the buds, but the wind was blowing and I was trying to avoid bulbs coming up where I would need to step to get a nice shot.  We have to figure out how to protect them, though, because it's also going to be windy when the temperature drops into the teens.  If it was calmer, we could have tried a plastic garbage container (the suggestion of a peony grower online).  

Not funny, Nature.  Fortunately the apple orchards in our area (which aren't in the river valley we live in) shouldn't have any issues.

One thing I do know is that March isn't done with us yet.

The Frozen River #SkywatchFriday

What a difference six weeks makes!

 

I had forgotten to post pictures from a walk along the Chenango River in the Southern Tier of New York spouse and I took on February 11.  Come walk with us...

This path brings us under several highway overpasses. 

The Chenango freezes over easily since the water is so shallow.  At its deepest (not here) it's only about six and a half feet (just about two meters) deep.

I like how the scenery changes as we walk.

This looks like one needs to duck, but there is no danger of hitting your head - it's higher than it looks.
 

One more overpass photo, and some open water.

The path ends (one day it will be lengthened, I believe) and time to turn back.  It's also time to return to spring.  Let's bid the frozen river farewell.

Joining, as I do each Friday, Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.  Is it really Friday already?

Historic Paper Mulberry Tree #ThursdayTreeLove

The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, loved trees.  He planted over 160 species at his home, Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia.

This  is one of those historic trees.  I don't know if this tree was alive when Jefferson was alive (he passed away on July 4, 1826 at the age of 83) but it wouldn't surprise me.

I've been to Monticello three times, the last time being May 1, 2019, when I took a picture of this paper mulberry tree.  Sadly, a lot of the labor at Monticello was performed by enslaved people (slavery was legal during Jefferson's lifetime and for years beyond), and, possibly, this tree may have been one that witnessed the sufferings of those people.

There are a number of mystery plants in the history of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello, as detailed in this article.

Joining up with Parul at Happiness and Food for her #ThursdayTreeLove, held the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Please note, due to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April, I will resume Thursday Tree Love posts in May.

Groundhog Days #WordlessWednesday

On March 19, the last full day of winter, spouse and I took an exercise walk on the Vestal Rail Trail.

Didn't the groundhog in Pennsylvania say we would have six more weeks of winter?  That was on February 2 and six weeks later, we had our first taste of spring.

The snow had mostly melted last week, revealing a groundhog burrow in front of a remaining patch of snow.  The entrance looked freshly dug.

The groundhog peeked out.  Was it safe? It drew back in as we approached.

But then, it came out.  I wonder what it is predicting.

Is spring here for good?  I don't see a shadow, but, nevertheless, winter is back .  We are back to the cold weather.  For now, anyway.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

The St. Patrick's Day Mystery Luck of the Draw

We are fortunate here, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, to have several local libraries to choose from.  My library card allows me to use libraries in a four county area, but I like to stay local.  Within what I consider local, there are four libraries I can visit.  And I do.

A library visit can be an adventure.  You never know what you might find, be it a book you want to read, or a little mystery.

Last week, at the library in Vestal, New York, we saw this display.

The sign said:

Luck of the Draw

The Library Leprechaun is loose.

He has hidden these titles from view.

While all appears golden and glittery,

some books may be sad, filled with misery.

Will you take a chance and hope that you're lucky?

Don't blame us if your book is quite yucky.

 

The tags gave only the genre and a quote from the book.  Based on this quote, I chose this book.  The flip side of the tag above said my mystery book was "historical fiction".

I took my chances and this is what I got.  This book isn't mine to keep, but it is one I never would have taken out if it wasn't for the Luck of the Draw.  I only have one slight quibble, which is that (after looking the book up on Goodreads) this isn't historical fiction.  It's more something taking place in an alternate history, which is, fortunately, a genre I enjoy.

Luck?

Once I finish my current book, we'll see if this is good, or yucky.

Have you ever taken a chance on a book?

Back to the 70's #MusicMovesMe

 It's Monday and that means Music!  It's time for Music Moves Me.

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Here are our co-hosts.  First, is the incomparable XmasDolly, who has not been feeling well - please keep her in your thoughts.  Next are the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, the artistic Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and little ol' me.   Finally, a shoutout to all those bloggers who participate in Music Moves Me!

We'd love more music lovers to join our fun group.  All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video).  That's it!

Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. For the month of March, our guest conductor will be none other than Xmas Dolly, Marie, herself! For today, Xmas Dolly chose this theme: Music from the 50s-70's: choose a decade or mix them up.

Here are some songs I enjoyed in my college years (early 70's) and  beyond.  I am going to concentrate on 1972, both because it's been 50 years now and because, musically, it was such a good year.

But first, a good one from 1971 - Joy, by Apollo 100.  Or, should I say, 1723?  This is based on Johann Sebastian Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring", and proves that good music never goes out of style.  It just changes with the times.

From 1972, let's begin with Deep Purple:  Smoke on the Water.

Also from 1972, America and Only in Your Heart.  America had a number of hits in the 1970's, such as Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway and A Horse with No Name, but this is my favorite of theirs.

The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly Wow. 1972 again.

All right, we have to move on, so how about one more from 1972?  Curtis Mayfield and Superfly, from the movie of the same name. 

 

From 1976, one of (my opinion, of course) the prettiest songs of the 1970's, Al Stewart's Year of the Cat. 

I will end with two songs from 1978.  First, the song that introduced me to Van Halen:  1978's Running with the Devil.

Finally, Boston's Don't Look Back.

I could have picked so many other groups - Steely Dan, Three Dog Night, and so many others.  Maybe another time.

And that's a wrap.  See you again next week, same time, same place,for more music!

Saying Hello to Spring

 Spring begins today in the Northern Hemisphere at 11:33 AM Eastern Time.

My first bloom of the year! I present to you a plant that has waited with buds patiently starting in January, just as the snow started to fall.  My early Lenten Rose has opened its first bud.  It's raining and in the 40's F now, but I don't care.

Farewell, winter.

 

Hello to spring.  I am greeting you with this song - not quite a spring song but this song expresses how I feel about you.

(And you, dear readers, are welcome to join me tomorrow, for more music.)

On the Cusp of Spring 2022

Tomorrow is the vernal equinox and spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere at 11:33 am Eastern Daylight Time.

But the weather has been giving us a sneak preview.  Where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, gardening zone 5b, we've been in the 60's and 70's F. Yesterday, our high was 72 F (22.2C) at our house. 

Spring bulbs are starting to poke out of the ground, although none of them are blooming yet.

But we had a small sneak preview of spring on Wednesday, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about four and a half hours by car.    On the campus of Gettysburg College, spouse and I saw flowers.

 

Daffodils.

More daffodils. 

There was also a forsythia just starting to open its buds (not pictured).

A lenten rose in an alley in downtown Gettysburg completed the spring show.

We are on the cusp.  Winter on one side, spring on the other.  The birds are singing and finding mates.  The sap is flowing in trees.  The weather changes almost daily.

Soon...soon...

Winter Is Almost Over Skies #SkywatchFriday

It's the last winter Skywatch of 2022...well, until the last week of December, anyway.  

A small collection of this past week in the sky.

Snowstorm March 12.

Noontime March 14, there are ripples in one part of the sky.

And this in a different part of the sky at the same moment.

March 15 afternoon sky.

 

A puddle reflection March 16.

What a week!

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Music for St. Patricks Day - The Dropkick Murphys

Today is St. Patrick's Day. Time for corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, beer, and maybe a party or two. It's also time for the Dropkick Murphys' annual Boston concert.  

Who are the Dropkick Murphys?  They are described as a Celtic punk rock band, and here is more about them.  All I know is that I am not a huge punk rock fan, but I like them.

Here's a taste of their music - first, Rose Tattoo.

 Shipping Up to Boston.

They will be livestreaming a St. Patrick's Concert - for free.  Here are the details.  It's actually a fundraiser and donations will be accepted (see the link above for details).  Best of all, there will be an audience, like the previous two years.

Just as a bonus, I am linking to a blog devoted to chocolate and some brownies (no I haven't tried them) you can make for St. Patrick's Day.  If you aren't into brownies, how about cheesecake?

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! (And Happy Birthday to someone in my life whose birthday is today.)

Dove Footprints in the Snow #WordlessWednesday

It's warming up now, but we aren't forgetting the snow we had last week.

Mouring doves like to visit my backyard, and I captured some of their footprints in the snow.

I like the patterns the shadows made.

These birds don't seem to mind the snow at all.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day March 2022

It's March 15 and the year is almost one quarter over.  Eventually, winter will be over, too, but my zone 5b garden in the Southern Tier of New York is buried in snow.  It's all melting, though.

At least it's warming up again.  What a strange winter it's been.  This is also the Ides of March, made famous by one Julius Caeser.

This March, I have flowers to show you.  I didn't have to scour my house the way I usually do in March.

With one exception, this is almost a rerun of February.

Impatiens.  I have two plants, started from cuttings I took before last year's frost.

The other plant.

I have two kalanchoes this month.  First is a single flowered one, which comes from cuttings I've taken over the years.  The plant is originally one that a sick neighbor (who later passed on from brain cancer) gave me when he could no longer care for it.

This is the sole bloom of my double flowered one, which was from a gift kalanchoe my late mother in law received in the last months of her life.  It hasn't bloomed since 2018.

My airplane plant is just about finished blooming.

My Blossfeldiana cerinthoides "Bubblegum" is still blooming.  This is grown for foliage, not flowers, but I read this flowers when it is happy. 

Two African violets.   This first one is a specialty one that was supposed to have variegated leaves.  The flowers are small.

A more usual African violet.

I also have a couple of flower buds (not shown) on my Easter cactus and (also not shown) one bud on a Thanksgiving cactus. 

The primrose I bought in a supermarket in early January is finishing up, finally. 

And, guess what's outside! I took this picture March 11 knowing that snow was on its way.  This is my early Lenten Rose, which has had buds on it since January. 

The early daffodils on the side of my house are up, also.   Because of shade, they hardly bloom anymore but they still come up.

Can spring be far behind?

Today, once again I join Carol at May Dream Gardens for celebrating the 15th of each month with flowers.  Why not check out her blog and also some of the other bloggers participating this month in Garden Bloggers Bloom Day?

Pi Day Spinach Pie

 Looking for my Music Moves Me post for this week?  Look no further - click here.

Today is Pi Day, 3.14 as we write the date in the United States.  It is time to make a different spinach pie, one that is one of my son's favorite dishes. 

Pi Day, March 14, is a day to celebrate mathematics. In the American method of day numbering, today is 3-14:  March 14.  Or, the first three digits of the mathematical value "Pi".  3.14

It also would have been Albert Einstein's birthday. (March 14, 1879).  143 years ago today.

Pi Day honors the number representing the radio of the circumference of a circle to its radius.  Pi is an infinite number: it goes on indefinitely, but, not only that, it is a non repeating decimal.  

No pattern to Pi has ever been found.  This website shows Pi computed to 100,000. digits.

To several decimal points:  3.14159265358979323846....

Many people celebrate Pi Day by eating pizza, and that's what we are going to be doing tonight - a frozen pizza.  Others celebrate with sweet pies.  Let's go with a savory one today.

Let's make a somewhat unusual spinach pie.  Or, as we will call it today, Spinach Pi.

Years ago, we lived for several years in rural Northwest Arkansas.  We had gotten into some wild foods, including lambs quarters, and wanted to see if we could make a "spinach" pie out of these nutritious wild greens a pen pal told me about.  But there were no filo leaves to be found anywhere local.

But we could find egg roll wrappers, and that's what we ended up using.

We haven't eaten wild greens in years, but the recipe remains.  Our son grew up on this spinach pie (OK, technically, not a pie) and, as I mentioned, it is one of his favorites.

This makes one eight inch square cake pan's worth.  Yes, a true Pie for Pi Day should be round but...well, this is our tradition.  You should also be able to make this in a pie pan.  One other note, this is so simple a child who enjoys cooking could help with this.

Ingredients

1 1/2 frozen chopped spinach (10 oz each) blocks

About 7 or 8 egg roll wrappers

6 oz feta cheese, crumbled (you can buy a block and crumble it yourself)

1 tbsp light butter style spread such as Olivio or real butter, as you prefer

1 tbsp (approximately) of breadcrumbs

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (I think Celsius folks would use a 170 degree oven.)

Defrost the spinach.  Melt the spread.  In an 8 inch square cake pan, lay down a wrapper and brush with a small amount of the spread.

 

Spread some spinach, then some crumbled feta cheese, top with another wrapper, and brush with the spread, similar to how you assemble a lasagna.

 

End with a wrapper, brush with spread, sprinkle with small amount of breadcrumbs.
 

Here is the assembled Pi.  I suppose you could make this "round" if you are a stickler for Pi Day celebrations.

Bake at 350 degrees F (170 C) for about 45 minutes. 

 

Serve warm or at room temperature.

One more note - this 8 inch cake pan belonged to my mother, who passed away back in 1965.  It is one of my most prized possessions.

Other Pi day posts

Memory Pie.

Several Pi Day links to other bloggers' Pi Day efforts.

Links to two other savory pi's my spouse has made.

Songs for a Strange Time #MusicMovesMe

It's Sunday, and it's time for music.  Again, I'm posting a day early (which kind of reminds me of the idiom "a day late and a dollar short" for some reason) because tomorrow is Pi Day, and you may want to check out my post tomorrow celebrating (as we write it in the United States) 3/14.

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Our head is the incomparable XmasDolly.  Her co-hosts are the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, the artistic Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and little ol' me.  Joining us also is Sandee from Comedy Plus, who hosts several weekly memes on her blog, including the Wednesday Wordless Wednesday meme I participate in.  Welcome, Sandee!  And a shoutout to all those bloggers who participate in Music Moves Me!

We'd love more music lovers to join our fun group.  All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video).  That's it!

Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. For the month of March, our guest conductor will be none other than Xmas Dolly, Marie, herself! Today, Xmas Dolly has chosen "You Pick" - we do whatever we want (musically, that is).

I'm in a bit of a strange mood this week, and some of my songs will reflect that. Most of my selections are going to be deviating from my normal.  These are songs I like when I am in strange moods.

First, the Rolling Stones, with Street Fighting Man.  Fun fact, this song was not played by a number of stations because of its lyrics.

If I have the Rolling Stones I have to haveThe Beatles.  Here they are with Revolution.

I grew up in New York City listening to WABC radio and the station wouldn't play the last two verses of this song, possibly because they made the song too long.  Or maybe for another reason?  Or both?  This song was a groundbreaker in 1965:  Bob Dylan and Like a Rolling Stone.

Push is a song by the Christian rock group Thousand Foot Krutch. This is not worship music, but it is inspirational in its own way.

 Bring Me the Horizon is a British group whose musical styles have changed over the years.  This first song is from 2020, but it was written, as I understand, pre-COVID-19.  Still, the lyrics are oddly prescient.  And chilling.

My final selection is Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold.  The last two minutes of the video is silent, so it isn't as long as you think.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a wrap.

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

The Snowstorm for the Birds

Hopefully what we are getting is our last snowstorm of the season. It is miserable outside with gusts of wind impacting visibility.  Fortunately, we didn't have any reason to venture out.

Last night I spoke to a cousin about three hours from us, who was also going to be getting this snowstorm. He's put a bird feeder in his yard to entertain his indoor cat.  The cat loves to sit and watch the birds.

As for my spouse, who tends our bird feeders, he can spend a long time watching the birds, too.  Today, I joined him.

How were the birds dealing with the snow and wind? Quite well, and I think they were happy to have our feeders.  We saw a lot of birds today.  Our usual dark eyed juncos, sparrows, house finches, Northern cardinals, mourning doves.  Now, male red winged blackbirds have joined them, fresh from their migration. The starlings and grackles they like to hang out with are less welcome guests to our feeding area.

The juncos will be leaving us soon to go up north.  Believe it or not, they migrate from the north to spend the winter with us in the Southern Tier of New York.

I took some pictures with my phone, and I can't zoom in much but if you look in the center left, you will see a red Northern Cardinal male.  You can see the snow coming down against the fence.

Two goldfinches (in their drab winter colors) on a yellow finch bag.

More birds waiting their turn.  I promise, I am working on my picture taking situation so I can get better pictures for you.

Not too much visibility.

I am amazed at these little puffs of joy.  They may only weigh a few ounces, but they shrug off the weather as long as they have enough food.  And, they bring us joy.

What will bring me joy?  The promise of warmer weather in the coming week.

Soon, I hope, this snow will only be a memory.