Today is the last day of October, and I decided to feature skies and fall color from the last week of October rather than have a Halloween-themed post.
Yesterday, it rained. Today we are under a high wind warning. By tomorrow, these leaves may well be mostly gone. Another fall foliage season gone.
The nursing home where my mother in law spent her last months had a koi pond. The three of us (spouse, me, and mother in law) sometimes sat in the summer and watched the fish.
My spouse had an appointment in the area yesterday so I walked over and spent a few minutes with the fish.
I don't remember this explanatory sign posted in three places by the pond. It reads, in part, "Koi fish become sluggish in cold water because their muscles and organs slow down. They may float or rest at the pond bottom for long periods without much movement..." I apologize for not having a better picture of the sign.
It's so peaceful watching these fish.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
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.) 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.
Today's theme is "You Pick". Today, I continue to cover inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven. Sadly my posts are continuing to almost write themselves.
Dave Ball, co-founder of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell, died in his sleep October 22 at the age of 66.
I love this song so: 1981's Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go. It was years before I knew that both songs (not just Where Did Our Love Go) were covers.
Sam Rivers, a founding member, bassist, and backup vocalist of Limp Bizkit, died October 18 at the age of 48. He had received a liver transplant in 2017, needed due to excessive drinking. I have to admit, one of their songs is an absolute favorite of mine, even though the genre (nu metal) is not my favorite. Here is Limp Bizkit's Nookie.
After that song, we need something mellow and I turn to Michael Eugene Archer, better known as D'Angelo, a neo-soul singer, songwriter, and musician. Sadly, he had led a troubled life touched by alcohol and drug abuse. He influenced many artists, and some consider him one of the greatest R&B singers of all time.D'Angelo died October 14 at the age of 51. Here is his cover of Smokey Robinson's song Cruisin'.
Thommy Price, age 68, died October 10. He played drums as a session drummer on albums for various groups including Blue Oyster Cult, Debbie Harry, and Ronnie Spector. He played with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for some 28 years. I'm not 100% sure he played drums on the Billy Idol song Rebel Yell, but he did drum for the Rebel Yell album so - yeah, maybe.
Welcome to Rock and Roll Heaven, inductees. Things must be getting crowded there.
But before I leave, there is one more tribute I need to play. June Lockhart, a marvelous actor, passed away October 23 at the age of 100. Those in my generation will remember her as the Mom on Lassie and Lost in Space, but she actually started her acting career at age eight, performing with her parents (who were both actors).
And that's a wrap.
Join me again next week for hopefully not another rock and roll induction.
Today's picture is shadows of a tree on a garage.
Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for #ShadowshotSunday.
Where I live, our fall color is peaking, and I am going to treat you to some pictures I took yesterday. The skies were a bit moody. Some like fall colors when the sun is out. Others prefer the muted look. Yesterday gave us a little bit of both.
For the first picture, I chose an early morning picture of a church I was passing by on the way to an appointment.
I had to brighten this up a little but the tree (a red maple?) was nearly yes, that red.
Last but not least.
Alas, by next week, these colors will be gone. I hope you enjoyed my selections.
Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
I received an order from a large online retailer the other day.
And speaking of large....
The blue box contains what I ordered. The corrugated cardboard box is what it came in.
Maybe they wanted it well protected, but still....
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday.
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.) 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.
Today's theme is "Halloween/Spooky themed songs or artists". But, something sad is happening this year. Day by day, more music artists leave us.
Today, I'm going to pay tribute to three of them. But first, a classical spooky song to fit our theme: Bach – Toccata & Fugue in D Minor.
This is the perfect music for a horror movie, is it not?What is even more spooky (to my way of thinking) that we don't know when it was first performed. It was first publicly performed in 1840. It may have been written as early as 1704.
And now, to our tributes.
First, Ace Frehley, founding member of Kiss, who died October 16. He was with Kiss from its 1973 founding to 1982, and also had a solo album after leaving the group. (He later rejoined).
Detroit Rock City, from 1976, is perhaps my favorite Kiss song.
Space Truckin', a Deep Purple song, was covered by Ace Frehley in 2020.
Next, John Lodge, vocalist, songwriter and bassist for the Moody Blues, one of my favorite all time bands, died on October 10. Where do I even begin?
Isn't Life Strange.
Gemini Dream.
Finally, someone I had not yet paid tribute to. Majorie Latzko of The Chordettes died August 22 at the age of 96. Active from 1946 to 1963, the group had two famous hits, Mr. Sandman and Lollipop.
Here is one of them - Mr. Sandman.
There are more tributes in the wings, which will wait until next Monday. It's so sad when your posts practically write themselves.
And that's a wrap.
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
October lighting produces many opportunities to see shadows. Here are three of them.
Yes, in October, shadows are everywhere. I may store some up for the upcoming gloomy skies of November-April.
Joining Lisa at This and That-A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday. Why not come out of the shadows and join us, too? All you need do is post a picture of a shadow, enter your link on the linky on her post and link back to Lisa's blog!
It's mid-October, and the skies are changing.
Some days, the sky is so clear and cloudless that the sharpness of the view almost hurts the eyes.
Other times, the dreary skies of November through April try to assert themselves.
Today, I bring you clear and cloudless skies, and some fall foliage, taken yesterday.
Joining Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday.
Today, two memes I participate in, Wordless Wednesday (hosted by Sandee of Comedy Plus) and Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens) collide.
I hope my Wordless Wednesday readers enjoy the remnants of my outdoor flowers. Garden Bloggers Bloom Days, the 15th of each month, is a place where gardeners from all over the world share what is blooming in their yards and/or homes.
In my zone 6a Southern Tier of New York garden, not many flowers are left. We've dodged three frosts/freezes at my house (many around us weren't as fortunate) and it is going to get down into the 30's tonight.
This October, I took some of these pictures on Saturday, not knowing if we'd have a storm Sunday and Monday. It turned out to be just some rain for us.
Anyway, I've said enough. Onward to the flowers!
Taken Saturday, this was a pleasant surprise daylily.
Last but not least, I also took this picture Saturday because I knew, with a heavy rain, it wouldn't look like much by today.
Thank you for stopping by!
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.) 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.
Today's theme is "You Pick" and it's time for still another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven. I decided to pick some hit songs co-written by the late Robert Luke Harshman, better known as Bobby Hart. Hart passed away September 10 at the age of 86. Teamed with the late Tommy Boyce (born Sidney Thomas Boyce), Boyce and Hart wrote songs for the Monkees, among many other artists. They also recorded some of their songs on their own, apart, and others with Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones of the Monkees.
Here are some selections from their over 300 song songbook.
Come A Little Bit Closer - Jay and the Americans
Theme song to the soap opera Days of our Lives, which has been on television now since November of 1965.
Boyce and Hart singing I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight, which reached #8 on the Billboard charts in 1968.
Not a Top 40 hit, but a commercial for Coca-Cola.
Finally, speaking of the Monkees, here are two of their songs. First is their 1966 hit Last Train to Clarksville.
(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
Taken at the Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn (New York City), subway station, December 2018.
Enjoy these pictures from the last 10 days.
The October 6 Harvest Moon. I know, not the greatest picture, but I also had to edit out the blue dot that kept showing up in my pictures.
Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.
We are under a freeze watch. Early tomorrow morning, at our house, we will probably have our first frost. All things come to an end, and our growing season is no exception.
Farewell, fall flowers at the local botanical gardens.
Farewell, bee on sedum.
Farewell to basil in the yard. Farewell, little cherry tomatoes that haven't ripened yet.
And, farewell to a mystery mushroom, growing at a local botanical garden.
Fall has truly arrived.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
It's Monday once again, and it's time for music! Welcome to Music Moves Me.
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.) 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.
Today's theme is "Song picks that say "now That it's Autumn, what are you looking forward to?" But I am going to start with (sadly)I still another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven. Today's inductee is the late Chris Dreja, who passed away October 2 at age 79 from unknown health complications. He was a rhythm guitarist and co founder of the Yardbirds, and co wrote many Yardbirds hits. This band also launched the careers of Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, but Dreja chose a different road.
When Jimmy Page invited him to join Led Zeppelin, he chose instead, photography. One of his portraits ended up on the back of Led Zeppelin's debut album. Later, he joined a group called Box of Frogs, and also reformed the Yardbirds but had to abandon that after a series of strokes in 2013.
Some of the songs he co-wrote.
From 1965: For Your Love.
From 1966, Over Under Sideways Down
And now, things I look forward to in fall. Although I dread winter where I live in New York State, fall can be such a wonderful time. This year, we've had morning sweater weather, but this weekend it was so mild and beautiful.One thing I love about October, as someone who likes to take pictures, is the sun angle. It can almost be like a perpetual golden hour, that time before sunset that makes for perfect lighting.
Here's Kacey Musgraves and Golden Hour.
In October we have art trails, farm trails and more. Some years, we take advantage of these seasonal road trips.
James Taylor and October Road.
Finally, there are the leaves that turn from green to their true colors, before falling to the ground and exposing their winter look. Fall is a time of change, and we have no choice but to accept it. Here's Simon and Garfunkel and Leaves That Are Green.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
We have entered the season of sun angles making for some interesting shadows. Here are two.
Plants made shadows along this siding wall.
Joining Lisa at This and That - A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday.
Today I bring you assorted sky and fall-related skies from where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.
Finally, a fall foliage sneak preview, taken September 30. This is only the beginning.
Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.
Today, enjoy these colors of fall, taken September 24.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.