Zooming (In on the Birds of Spring) #WordlessWednesday

As today will be a busy day for me, I decided to depend once again on my guest photographer and her great pictures of birds.  These were all taken in the last couple of months in the Southern Tier of New York State.  Thanks go once again to my guest photographer, who has a DSLR, for these excellent captures.

Ruffled Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) .

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). 

Finally this bird is not well loved by those of us who have backyard feeders, but you have to admit that in the right light, they do have a certain beauty.  They also have an important role in our local ecosystem as both an eater of insects and a prey bird.  This is the common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, a bird that is actually considered in near threatened status despite me seeing them all the time where I live.

On a side note, I participated in the annual  Blogging from A to Z Challenge for nearly 10 years.  I was unable to this year since I can't blog daily at this time, but, on days I did post I followed the alphabet letter of the day.  This is the final day (Z) of the Challenge. I hope you enjoyed my April posts and have the time to check out some of the 2025 A to Zers.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

XC Birthday #MusicMovesMe

It's spring, and it's Monday.  It's time for some 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.  This week's theme is  "You Pick".

And I'm picking an XC (90 in Roman numerals) birthday - Herb Alpert, who celebrated his 90th birthday on March 31 - while on a tour.  Yes, he's still playing trumpet, and is still touring with a new Tijuana Brass.  He's also been a successful businessman as co-owner, with Jerry Moss, of the former A&M Records.

Here are some favorite songs of mine, along with a song that has become viral on Tik-Tok (which I do not use).

The Lonely Bull, from 1963. 

A song given to Herb by Burt Bacharach - This Guy's in Love with You.  This 1968 song became Alpert's first #1 hit single, proving Alpert's versatility.  Here, he sings lead vocals.

Another #1 song for Alpert - Rise, from 1979.   In other words, he reached #1 for both an instrumental performance and a vocal performance on the top 100 charts.  I'm not sure any other artist has done that but I'm sure I'll be told if it has been done since.

Tijuana Taxi.  Honk!

One last song.  I promised you the song that has gone viral on Tik Tok and here it is - Ladyfingers from 1965.  How wonderful that new generations are finding this song, and Herb Alpert.

And that's a wrap!

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

The Shadows Know It's Spring #ShadowshotSunday

Taken this past week and proving that the shadows know it is spring.

Daffodils in early morning light.

More daffodils. 

Tulips.

With our spring skies, it's nice seeing shadows outside once again.

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

Vroom (Goes Spring) and Violets #SkywatchFriday

Spring has sprung and wow has it sprung where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.  In fact, it's almost too hot (dare I say that, after having had snow flurries last week?) I suspect our spring flowers will be rushing - vrooming if you will - through their bloom time.  I just want to yell "stop" and freeze them in time.

Our skies have been beautiful.  These picture were taken April 23.

This isn't just an evergreen tree.  It's an evergreen tree with a nest in it.  And if you have really keen eyes, you may even see an eagle, but don't get eyestrain trying to do it.

I can't zoom on it too much more but the eagle is in the far right of the photo, about in the mid line between top and bottom of the photo.

To rest your eyes, here is a flowering quince.

A friend drove me to a place I needed to visit yesterday, and on the way home, we passed these Bradford pears.  I didn't realize that I had also caught a sky reflection on the hood of her car.

Beautiful!

Look to the sky.
 

Let's close this out with one more picture, as I love violets so much.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.

 

 

Thankful Today #WordlessWednesday

Spring has arrived, and I am so thankful, today and every day.

These pictures were taken yesterday.

Forsythia.

Some of my daffodils.

More of my daffodils.

My pink hyacinths just opening up.

To finish this up, violets and a dandelion.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Ready - Spring Colors #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.  This week's theme is "Spring Colors".  And am I ever Ready for them!

A sample of my daffodils, taken yesterday

Where I live, spring explodes in a symphony of colors.  There is the purple of crocus and Lenten rose, the yellow of forsythia and daffodils, and the red of primrose and tulips.

There is the green of newly sprouted grass, and the light green of newly unfurled leaves.  Meanwhile, we welcome back birds that have overwintered in warmer climes.

So today, as I listen to the trilling of red winged blackbirds, I am choosing some songs mentioning spring or color.  

I know so well the feeling of finally seeing blue sky again after our dreary winter white/grey skies.  Here, from 1977, is ELO's Mr. Blue Sky.

On the sunshine theme, how about Pink (it's a spring color!) and her daughter Willow Sage Hart in 2021's Cover Me In Sunshine?

In the early spring, wild onions sprout.  Here's an instrumental:  Green Onions, from Booker T and the M.G.'s from 1962.

 

How about another show song - Ethel Merman and Everything's Coming up Roses, from the 1959 musical Gypsy.  OK, no color in the title or lyrics but - roses.

Speaking of red roses, how about Bobby Vinton and his 1962 hit Roses are Red, (My Love) which mentions both red roses and blue violets?

 

I'll wrap today's set with Bobby Darin's 18 Yellow Roses.

 

 

Easter Decoration #ShadowshotSunday

Seen recently at a restaurant in our area.

 

This is perfect for an Easter #ShadowshotSunday.

Why not come out of the shadows and join up with Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventure with your shadow picture? 

Peaceful Puffy (Clouds) #SkywatchFriday

Finally, we are out of the bleak sky season where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.  True, we don't have puffy clouds every day, and we even had snow flurries on Wednesday, but we can actually see the sky once again.

How about a puddle picture?

Oh, those blue skies.

Wait...the clouds seem to be getting ready to block the blue out.

I'd better enjoy this peaceful scene while I can.

Oh well, it's still pretty.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers each week for #SkywatchFriday.

Neighborhood #WordlessWednesday

Here are some signs of spring I've found while walking recently in my neighborhood, even as winter returns today for a hopefully brief visit.

Forsythia. 

Field speedwell.

The underappreciated dandelion.

Daffodils

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Meme Garden Bloggers Bloom Day April 2025

It's the 15th of the month, and time for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Spring has arrived (more or less) at my zone 6a garden in the Southern Tier of New York.

I am going to start with my last crocuses.    My crocus bloomed late this year and yesterday I still have blooms.

So I'm counting it.

Here are the other plants announcing spring at my home. First my shady back yard.

My reliable purple Lenten Rose.

Vinca, which is trying to take over parts of my yard.  I really need to get after it. 

This other Lenten Rose has been struggling for years not far from the purple plant but this year it decided to put up a bloom.  

 Look quickly!  This is bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, a spring ephemeral, meaning a flower that only blooms for a brief period.  Indigenous people used the red juice from the underground stem aa a dye.

Finally, my brunnera are starting to bloom. I have three types.

Let's move to the front of the house.  My jonquils started to bloom several days ago. My other daffodils should be starting to open soon, but not in time for today. 

Speaking of opening soon, this hyacinth is giving me a flower bud today.

My first tulip.

Primrose.  I think these plants came originally from my mother in law's property, years back. 

Meanwhile, inside, I also have a couple of blooms to show you.from indoors.

 First, my Plectranthus.  I've had this plant for years now but it normally blooms in the fall.  No matter.  I have three of these on a northern windowsill and it's the oldest one that is blooming.

Finally, one of my three African violets, which has been blooming for months now. 

Sadly, the weather is turning winter like again.  We may even have some snow Wednesday.

Now that you have enjoyed my blooms, I invite you to visit Carol's blog and see what else is blooming all over the world for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Laughing #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.  This week's theme is "You Pick".

I think one thing we need in these uncertain times is Laughter.  Hence, I am picking some songs with laughter in the title, although some of these songs mention crying more than laughing.  And then, there's rain.  Laughter, rain and crying.  What a combination.

1969 brought us Laughing from the Guess Who.

Laughing in the Rain - Neil Sedaka, from 1974.

Laugh Laugh - Beau Brummels, from 1965 (released December 1964).  This song was promoted in the Flintstones cartoon series in December of 1965.

Here's the song itself.  I didn't know, until researching this post, that this song was produced by Sly Stone.

Let's dive into the archives now, with Billie Holiday and Laughing at Life from 1940.

 Finally, this song doesn't mention laughter in the song title but you can hear Sting laugh toward the beginning of the video.  So I will end this set with Roxanne by The Police because I like this song.

And that's a wrap!

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

Hearts on a Bench #ShadowshotSunday

Taken on a recent sunny day.

Two hearts, one shadow.

The matching seat.

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

Just (in Time) For Sunset #SkywatchFriday

I was walking at the end of a busy day on April 7, and I realized that, despite the clouds, I was about to see a sunset.  I was just in time.

Somehow, the photos ended up being posted in reverse order (in other words, the last photo I took is the first one posted below and the first photo I took is the last one in this series.  I guess you can consider this a true reverse sunset, as I don't have time to straighten it all out.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

Hark it's April Flowers #WordlessWednesday

I have to celebrate spring today although our weather recently has not been spring like.  We had a dusting of snow yesterday.

But spring still progresses.  Some flowers are a bit earlier than usual.

A local forsythia.

Cinquefoil.
 

Lenten Rose.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.