Endings and Beginnings 2024-2025 #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for the last Music Moves Me of 2024.

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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

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.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2024, and that means music about endings and new beginnings.

I have had this song before but I love it so, here it is again.  Rod Steward and Auld Land Syne (Live at Stirling Castle).  This song makes me want to spend New Year's Eve one day in Scotland.

Chicago - Beginnings. It's not about New Years Eve but it is about the beginnings of a relationship.

U2's 1983 classic New Year's Day is a political song but I am also including it because of its title.

And that's a wrap, as we look ahead to 2025.

Wishing all of my readers a Happy New Year.   May it be better than 2024.

Boxing Day Snow Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

 Shadows on snow at a local park December 26.

The sun made an appearance.  You can see a lot of sledding tracks plus tree shadows.

But when I was there, the park was empty.

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

A December 17 Sunset #SkywatchFriday

For the last Skywatch Friday for 2024, I am choosing a sunset from December 17.  I am also (due to circumstances) publishing this post on Thursday instead of Friday.  Hopefully, I'll be back to my normal publishing schedule next week.

We had blue skies with puffy clouds that day.  It was also mild for a December day.

The end of an unusual day.

A reverse sunset.

Back to the sunset.

The end.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for the final #SkywatchFriday of 2024.

Happy New Year to all my skywatching friends.

A MacKenzie-Childs Christmas #WordlessWednesday

For this Christmas Day's Wordless Wednesday, we go back earlier this year to a visit to MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora, New York.  

 They had a room set up for Christmas, although Christmas was (at that time) several months away.

Checkerboard heaven.

Enjoy.

So hard to believe this is the last 2024 #WordlessWednesday, brought to you by Sandee at Comedy Plus,  Time has gone too quickly.

Today is special to both Christians and Jews, and so:

Merry Christmas to my readers who celebrate Christmas.  And Happy Hanukkah to my readers who celebrate Hanukkah.

May today be a special day for all of my readers.

When Holidays Collide #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for more holiday 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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

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.

Christmas begins in just three days, and, this year, so does Hanukkah (on the evening of December 25).

So let's celebrate both holidays in this post, although I will concentrate on Hanukkah.

 An all time Christmas favorite of mine - The Pogues and Fairytale of New York. I can't get past the first verse without crying although I am not of Irish descent. "I can see a better time when all our dreams come true...."

And now to Hanukkah.  The a capella group Six 13 does a song parody based on something modern each year.  This year's song is A Wicked Chanukah and it's a bit more serious than some of their previous offerings.

From 2005, a modern classic - Saturday Night Live's Christmastime for the Jews, sung by the incomparable Darlene Love.

And that's a wrap....wait, before I wrap, there's this modern Christmas classic from the 1980's.

The Waitresses and Christmas Wrapping.  And now that's a true wrap.

To all my readers who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas.

To all my readers who celebrate Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah.

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

Oh Christmas Trees #ShadowshotSunday

Today, my Shadowshot is from a previous year, since I was not able to go visiting my two favorite places that are decorated for Christmas.

So, from a past display, this is one of them.

This is part of an annual celebration of the Holidays held at the Roberson mansion (now a museum) in Binghamton, New York.

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

Dam Diner Skies #SkywatchFriday

Yes, it's Thursday, but I may not be able to comment much tomorrow, so I am posting this today. 

This is the next to last Skywatch of 2024.  The year has gone by so quickly.

Wednesday was an incredible day - sunny skies and temperatures in the 50's F (10C)

A friend took me out to lunch at a diner that has windows overlooking a dam called the Rock Bottom Dam located on the Susquehanna River near its confluence with the Chenango River.  This dam has quite a history (some of it quite tragic) but it also makes for a great (safe) view from the windows of this diner.  There was once a bridge, too, long gone now.

Oh, did we enjoy the view, and the skies. (My friend, incidentally, calls the diner the Dam Diner).

Downtown is on the other side of the river.

A closeup of the dam with some reflections

Now, the cold weather is back and this weekend it's going to get bitter cold.  By then, of course, it will be winter, so what do I expect?

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Santa Bearing Gifts #WordlessWednesday

Saw this Santa in a facility we were visiting earlier this month.

May you have the gift of joy, companionship and good health this holiday season.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

The Old as New #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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

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.

Today, I want to feature some older Christmas songs, but done in a different way with a couple of modern performers.

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo, from 1996, was my introduction to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO).

What Child Is This, from a live performance of TSO last month. 

Finally, Carol of the Bells, from Lindsey Stirling.

And that's a nearly Christmas wrap.

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

Long Shadow Time #ShadowshotSunday

We have had two consecutive days of sunny weather.  Celebrate!  That only happens if it's cold, and it was. Cold but the sun was so welcome.

For Shadowshot Sunday, I took this picture outside about 3:15 pm (about 1 1/4 hours before sunset).  It's the season of long shadows and I look like I'm walking on stilts.

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

Friday the 13th Sunset #SkywatchFriday

Are Fridays the 13th unlucky?  Perhaps, but for me, I'm hoping not.

Here are some sunset views from today's sunset.

A closeup.

Finally, a temporary frozen pond due to a lot of recent rain (yes, rain).  We were so fortunate compared to other parts of New York State.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Keystone Theater #WordlessWednesday

The Keystone Theater in Towanda, Pennsylvania was built in 1886 as Hale's Opera House and had its grand opening in 1887.

It is Northeast Pennsylvania's longest continuously operated theater.  Various famous performers have graced its stage and you can learn more about its history and renovation here.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Christmas Laughter #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 below). 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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

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.

Today, I'd like to concentrate on making this holiday season a little less stressful with some funny songs.  Also, I'd like to include a song that will make us think.

A favorite from years ago - Bob and Doug McKenzie with their take on the Twelve Days of Christmas, originally from 1980.  There really isn't a Bob and Doug McKenzie; they were characters played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.  I don't know if I should apologize to my Canadian readers but I love this.

This is billed as the Funniest CHRISTtmas Song ever.  Let me know what you think.

The Dropick Murphys and The Season's Upon Us.  I think I've had this on my blog before but it's worth another listen.

This is funny, but also food for some thought, and it's sobering that this song is some 66 years old now.  Give a listen to Stan Freberg and the 1958 classic Green Chri$tmas. (Thank you, John Holton, for introducing this song to me.)

Finally, I can't resist this classic:  the original 1958 recording of The Christmas Song (Christmas Don't be Late) from David Seville and the Chipmunks.  ALVIN!  This was so popular when it came out in my childhood.

And that's a wrap!

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

Corvette Shadow #ShadowshotSunday

From the archives, a picture of a Chevy Corvette (year unknown) at a car enthusiast gathering at a local supermarket parking lot in May of 2023.

We have gone into our "rare to see shadows" time of the year.

I may have known the year of this beauty at one time but that fact is..um, lost in the shadows of my mind.

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

Sunset Glow #SkywatchFriday

I didn't even attempt to take a walk yesterday, especially after all my devices started screeching at me about 10am with a Severe Snow Squall warning.  Fortunately, we escaped the worst of the snow squalls where I live in the Southern Tier of New York. (And yes, we escaped the huge snow dumps some other parts of New York State were subjected to.  Whew!)

So instead, please enjoy these pictures, taken on a walk December 3.  This was another rare day when we saw blue sky.

I got there just in time. The sun was getting ready to disappear.

That tree is brown, but it was glowing in the golden hour light, as was the grass.  My photo doesn't do it justice.

A few minutes later, the sun is behind the hills and the clouds glow in the light.

Now, the snowy white skies are back, alas, and this is just another memory..

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

A Checkerboard Christmas #WordlessWednesday

This past September, my spouse and I had the opportunity to visit the MacKenzie-Childs property in Aurora, New York.  Their store is a checkerboard fantasy, and had a section devoted to Christmas.

So, of course, I had to take pictures.

Enjoy.

Here's to a checkerboard Christmas, as I join up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Music That Makes Me Think of Christmas #MusicMovesMe

What makes you think of Christmas?  This is the theme of this week's Music Moves Me.

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky below). 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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

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, but we consider it as a suggestion, not a mandate.  But I got to thinking about what makes me think of Christmas, and, for me, it's the onset of winter.

Snow!  Some years we get over 120 inches where I live and I hope this year isn't one of them.  Here's Darlene Love with her 1962 cover of Winter Wonderland.  I like snow, as long as it is in a video and not in my real life.

Christmas specials on TV.  Here's the Vince Guaraldi trio, singing Christmas Time is Here, from 1965. To me, this song is so soothing.

Let it Snow! is another Christmastime classic, and who can sing it better than Frank Sinatra?

Lights in windows and on houses is another thing that makes me think of Christmas, because so many of our December days where I live are overcast (if not white from snow).   The lights relieve the drearyness of our Decembers.  Here's a song that celebrates the season of lights:  Coldplay and their 2010 song Christmas Lights.

And finally...eggnog, because eggnog comes but once a year.  My favorite is Purity, a regional beverage made in Ithaca, New York.  What a shame that they don't have it in small bottles because it is so rich and perfect.  

And yes, I found a song about eggnog.  Here's The EGG NOG song, from Grant Kirkhope.  I fell in love instantly with this song.

And that is a holiday wrap.

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

November Tree Grove #ShadowshotSunday

Time is rushing by.  It's Sunday and it's time for #ShadowshotSunday, brought to us by Lisa at Lisa's Gardening Adventures.

Here's a small grove of trees and their shadows on a partially cloudy day before our spell of colder weather.

We welcome you to come out of the shadows and join us for #ShadowshotSunday.  The link to join is on the link at the beginning of my post, above.

Hope to see you there on this first day of December.

And tomorrow is all about music.  Hope you will join me again tomorrow.