tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81992701589272846162024-03-18T18:44:48.029-04:00Ramblin' with AMWelcome! I hope I bring a spot of calm and happiness into these uncertain times. I blog about flowers, gardening, my photography adventures, the importance of chocolate in a well lived life, or anything else on my mind.bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.comBlogger5253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-39835368410316261402024-03-18T00:10:00.003-04:002024-03-18T00:10:00.300-04:00Not All By Himself #MusicMovesMe<p>It's Monday, and it's time for music.</p>
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<p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Let's introduce the Music Moves me bloggers:<span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join!<span style="color: red;"> (<i>Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please! Otherwise, your post may be removed, or may be labeled "No Music".</i>) </span> <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Our head host is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://newxmasdolly.blogspot.com/">Xmas Dolly, </a>and our co-hosts are Cathy</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b>from <a href="https://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy</a>, joined by </span></span></span></span></span>the knowledgeable Stacy </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">of<i><b> </b></i><a href="http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/">Stacy Uncorked</a> and, last but not least, me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Every other week, we have a theme. On alternate weeks, like this week, we can blog on any music theme we want.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Today, it's time once again to recognize and pay tribute to a music artist who has entered Rock and Roll Heaven. Today's inductee is Eric Carmen, the former lead vocalist and guitarist of the Raspberries, who was also successful as a song writer and solo artist. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Carmen's death was announced March11. He died at the age of 74. No cause of death was released.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Carmen showed musical talent by the age of two. At age six, he took violin lessons from an aunt who played violin for the Cleveland [Ohio] Orchestra. By 11, he was playing piano. Although his musical training was classical, he fell in love with rock music and started self-teaching himself guitar at age 15. He was playing in bands as a sophomore in high school.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R5u25XGGo-E" width="320" youtube-src-id="R5u25XGGo-E"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite Raspberries song - from 1972, Go All The Way. For a change of pace, it's the woman in the relationship who is asking, not the man.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YurknWQ4fUU" width="320" youtube-src-id="YurknWQ4fUU"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">From a 2007 reunion tour, Ecstasy. The drumming on this song reminds me so much of Keith Moon of The Who.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EzoazPPC7b8" width="320" youtube-src-id="EzoazPPC7b8"></iframe></div><span style="font-size: small;">Now the songs get softer. Eric the solo artist - from 1976, All by Myself.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yc40EasXz18" width="320" youtube-src-id="Yc40EasXz18"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Eric writing for others: 1984's Almost Paradise, from the movie Footloose, co written by Carmen, sung by Ann Wilson of Heart and Mike Reno of Loverboy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ssCL292DQA" width="320" youtube-src-id="2ssCL292DQA"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Another movie hit - 1987's Hungry Eyes, from Dirty Dancing. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/emZP9LHKqSI" width="320" youtube-src-id="emZP9LHKqSI"></iframe></div><span style="font-size: small;">Eric Carmen also wrote several songs recorded by country singer Louise Mandrell. Here Eric sings a duet with Mandrell of As Long as We've Got Each Other.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ARkj12Y6Uh4" width="320" youtube-src-id="ARkj12Y6Uh4"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">I will end with the last Raspberries song that charted, a song ironically entitled Overnight Sensation, from 1974.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">And that is a sad wrap, as we continue to lose some of our older rock and roll greats with each passing month.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, one more thing.... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">Before I go, a note: I am participating in the month long April Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Some of my April posts may be going live on Sundays. So, if you don't see me on Monday, look for me the day before. Thank you for your continued readership.<br /></span></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-55888827425448255752024-03-17T08:33:00.000-04:002024-03-17T08:33:34.922-04:00Church Shadow and St Patrick Fountain #ShadowshotSunday<p>Happy St. Patrick's Day to my readers!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud0r9LC2SH21RKbqHWsMq0nBLLf2aTmRob8Kzzmk3JZGx5AocPfd-Fl0mTayKQNaSZ3JhkISJu1E2j6BVddy5XOqIOIAWwh004v5OiKGndW-GBOjB7Tj0rQidljT1l15w31eheuFe65ogTYjY6ajnqzE16N9YV-rYBz05CUZWD7QY-i-B-Is9ibZABW0/s640/Johnson%20City%20Church%20Shadows.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud0r9LC2SH21RKbqHWsMq0nBLLf2aTmRob8Kzzmk3JZGx5AocPfd-Fl0mTayKQNaSZ3JhkISJu1E2j6BVddy5XOqIOIAWwh004v5OiKGndW-GBOjB7Tj0rQidljT1l15w31eheuFe65ogTYjY6ajnqzE16N9YV-rYBz05CUZWD7QY-i-B-Is9ibZABW0/w400-h300/Johnson%20City%20Church%20Shadows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was in the car with my spouse the other day in Johnson City, New York, stopped at a light. We were stopped at a light and I saw these shadows on the side of a church. Bush shadows, a shadow of a streetlight on the ground, and even reflections of clouds on the windows. I took this picture as the light was changing.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnppo69ueXYGJOq9QrEEboT-UwL954xJW1cE1DPqVzSg_IyHOxdhVLu0bcjDEgOfb5svpnQBjgL0Upe3FDsSZ4Pjof5jt6F1LbXfmh_789U0sEPounnamiiMGwui-wNbfIZJcaW08V4zlcRIVtAcTyjUrWooZmUEPId1mll4S33d2xB-_7gYW3PmxGc8/s640/Johnson%20Square%20Fountain%20Savannah.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnppo69ueXYGJOq9QrEEboT-UwL954xJW1cE1DPqVzSg_IyHOxdhVLu0bcjDEgOfb5svpnQBjgL0Upe3FDsSZ4Pjof5jt6F1LbXfmh_789U0sEPounnamiiMGwui-wNbfIZJcaW08V4zlcRIVtAcTyjUrWooZmUEPId1mll4S33d2xB-_7gYW3PmxGc8/s320/Johnson%20Square%20Fountain%20Savannah.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> (taken March 12, 2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>In March of 2013, we visited Savannah, Georgia. Another Johnson - here, the fountain in Johnson Square, with the water colored green. <br /></p><p>Joining up with <a href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2024/03/shadow-shot-sunday-march-17-2024.html">Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures </a>for #ShadowshotSunday.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-52489869726002605872024-03-16T16:04:00.005-04:002024-03-16T16:04:40.702-04:00Chipmunk vs Feeder Round 1<p>Yesterday, I sat outside and read, but I was so distracted by an Eastern chipmunk's antics that I decided to take some pictures. My spouse has been battling this chipmunk, which is determined to feast on the seeds we intend for our local birds.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV0FRvpo6laGc6Qxct2FlG5a6KYc7eAlZD1a31dAXhvlzlQitIN5bTcMtlcqpVTDuEbQVrz5UVs4ACBBUXgilbpVLqDWl0Wyuajc67aaiqNykkE5XhirJCkaQlaSFKb9J5jj6qhVjNd2LPja_x_FiYPJziT-RDMlbnXDo6FTgjO_e2kMxwxwcO2qvOSk/s927/Chipmunk%203-15%20on%20ground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="927" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV0FRvpo6laGc6Qxct2FlG5a6KYc7eAlZD1a31dAXhvlzlQitIN5bTcMtlcqpVTDuEbQVrz5UVs4ACBBUXgilbpVLqDWl0Wyuajc67aaiqNykkE5XhirJCkaQlaSFKb9J5jj6qhVjNd2LPja_x_FiYPJziT-RDMlbnXDo6FTgjO_e2kMxwxwcO2qvOSk/s320/Chipmunk%203-15%20on%20ground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The chipmunk makes his approach.<br /><p>Our feeder has been protected by a store bought baffle but it didn't seem to be working so spouse tried to make his own. </p><p>Let's see how that is going to work out. The homemade baffle is that shinymetal thing on the pole. The feeder is at the top right of the photo.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH1w6v4In8DjWIlGSo_6_C-sGtRcFoVrvTTNT4vAt9FlCH_x_ne1yBXRuB0yN0NWCMZKjQwcNHcTJqGrRRZwfQW76S3b9s1gelUJGQX1lq4GoUXz-1Xr89BBwM45hDZOMmwVKBmb40Qltt2Y4wlm_8Nel_vUfCszED-JZVOpd-RVkkYdNePDf5pTHxKM/s640/Chipmunk%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH1w6v4In8DjWIlGSo_6_C-sGtRcFoVrvTTNT4vAt9FlCH_x_ne1yBXRuB0yN0NWCMZKjQwcNHcTJqGrRRZwfQW76S3b9s1gelUJGQX1lq4GoUXz-1Xr89BBwM45hDZOMmwVKBmb40Qltt2Y4wlm_8Nel_vUfCszED-JZVOpd-RVkkYdNePDf5pTHxKM/s320/Chipmunk%202.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Mr. or Ms. chipmunk eats some seeds scattered by the birds. I'll call him a male.<br /><p></p><p>He thinks. These creatures are smart and persistent.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeEeXUNbbYW21dTfvM_D1b33lvs4Cx_Yo_8t3s4da4oBET8nQa67cQNtACu5Ip8IyzJy13NplRcRowt2RRQWzNNaeAb1J676LGGJoYZxc_gnvs6j1sN1Tf45zUEiAedNxqDTVpf6LL_w_0i9uy__CD-tI0dKQYDDQJ9-4XbQQ0ed-fobx1CZMNPNt5tQ/s640/Chipmunk%203-15%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeEeXUNbbYW21dTfvM_D1b33lvs4Cx_Yo_8t3s4da4oBET8nQa67cQNtACu5Ip8IyzJy13NplRcRowt2RRQWzNNaeAb1J676LGGJoYZxc_gnvs6j1sN1Tf45zUEiAedNxqDTVpf6LL_w_0i9uy__CD-tI0dKQYDDQJ9-4XbQQ0ed-fobx1CZMNPNt5tQ/s320/Chipmunk%203-15%203.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>What if I jump up and hit the baffle, Mr. Chipmunk wonders. Some birds are such sloppy eaters that they shovel seeds onto the baffle. Yes, his logic works. A shower of seeds await him when he hits the underside of the battle. But finally, he runs out of seed showers.<br /><p></p><p>After several rounds of hit the baffle, he finally figures out how to get up to the feeder.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID6hG8pruypIRkzfUjOELciDa3VuMMRNbLltCZsa9AVcAQB0Ub38Zvr04JIfSuaVTrFtEBrkiY5XjSwK7iu73ykRTmsjK4lARLR7H0GUUa7aGyldUWDMYUTOYVKQjvZkCGpWbqR92SSh5_juR64LwPoifZZyFlNEW9FaZ4JpHAdNrJEugEa8pufLJLoQ/s640/Chipmunk%203-15%20last.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID6hG8pruypIRkzfUjOELciDa3VuMMRNbLltCZsa9AVcAQB0Ub38Zvr04JIfSuaVTrFtEBrkiY5XjSwK7iu73ykRTmsjK4lARLR7H0GUUa7aGyldUWDMYUTOYVKQjvZkCGpWbqR92SSh5_juR64LwPoifZZyFlNEW9FaZ4JpHAdNrJEugEa8pufLJLoQ/s320/Chipmunk%203-15%20last.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>Chipmunk 1 spouse 0.<br /><p>But no worries, sports fans. The battle was rejoined today with a second baffle a foot or 18 inches above the first one. It is far from elegant but so far it seems to be working.</p><p>But, as the newly awakened from winter slumber chipmunk knows, the season has just begun.</p><p>Let the chipmunk or squirrel vs. bird feeder battles begin.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-13639004720010742802024-03-15T08:01:00.000-04:002024-03-15T08:01:00.473-04:00Flowers and Skies #SkywatchFriday #GardenBloggersBloomDay<p>Today is Friday, March 15. It is the Ides of March, and time for two memes: the 15th of each month <a href="https://caroljmichel.com/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-2024/">Garden Bloggers Bloom Day</a> hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens, and the every Friday <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/2024/03/skywatch-friday-14-march-2024-edition.html">Skywatch Friday, hosted by Yogi.</a></p><p>Where do I begin? How about with the sky, and then to the flowers? Nothing to beware of, either way.<br /></p><p>Like so many others in the United States, our winter has been mild, and we have things blooming that shouldn't be blooming.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDN2Trao8PKvjkUz6KB3LpK417u7fjlAJtjFrMdrL3EIJwlIUz4vJ8ULOk_kLnb66tQ0NYFlG8RG6QkaeunY_EWmt42dJP5kBcRJk30MA4A1aoq5_9CrYCde2zNcXu6BTmT-uAmaTawmcPd-siIX5iS5CLvXExlmZMjKIlsgsaez6qz-P0v2YxyzgVP4/s640/Tree%20Blooming%203-14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDN2Trao8PKvjkUz6KB3LpK417u7fjlAJtjFrMdrL3EIJwlIUz4vJ8ULOk_kLnb66tQ0NYFlG8RG6QkaeunY_EWmt42dJP5kBcRJk30MA4A1aoq5_9CrYCde2zNcXu6BTmT-uAmaTawmcPd-siIX5iS5CLvXExlmZMjKIlsgsaez6qz-P0v2YxyzgVP4/s320/Tree%20Blooming%203-14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Like this tree on a local walking trail.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXY359zzL8p_nCoM9Pe_TvsU88gh0ahkJdGVj9AdttQIphaFIv3pkV9aNgpJjm_OYJ1QIh9IweCsVIeS_ebbai8O76a8pFz3bXHodWpwa1K8zgSS6MHx7ZzFWSPxmkv3IJwpAMkv7bbmPWaL7-JySUetvp14pqoK2zIdbXjda3zU3493RSlxrjDiutTU/s2016/Sky%20Otsiningo%203-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="2016" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXY359zzL8p_nCoM9Pe_TvsU88gh0ahkJdGVj9AdttQIphaFIv3pkV9aNgpJjm_OYJ1QIh9IweCsVIeS_ebbai8O76a8pFz3bXHodWpwa1K8zgSS6MHx7ZzFWSPxmkv3IJwpAMkv7bbmPWaL7-JySUetvp14pqoK2zIdbXjda3zU3493RSlxrjDiutTU/s320/Sky%20Otsiningo%203-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We have skies that aren't the usual skies of mid-March.</p><p>For the flowers, the winter has been kind to my zone 6b (it is going to take a while for me to get used to this reclassification) garden. For today here are my flowers, both inside and out.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj872gr2jsiNBQ6tBAb8Ff7j3_6FwqJiu5hzL4pYCPTQizEm84rn-hUB1MOG6C1kzUChc3SJS_D_WwQE-DJltdhlY8UdeIaffEXXzckKsYEiAToXSimpz0Xrlr-Ps6cA-23yrSjBxASxVNd993_zcTBziQSzt2Y7S9VoHMrs1HanHQdMtYXaghXdTtOyTA/s640/GBBD%20Purple%20Crocus%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj872gr2jsiNBQ6tBAb8Ff7j3_6FwqJiu5hzL4pYCPTQizEm84rn-hUB1MOG6C1kzUChc3SJS_D_WwQE-DJltdhlY8UdeIaffEXXzckKsYEiAToXSimpz0Xrlr-Ps6cA-23yrSjBxASxVNd993_zcTBziQSzt2Y7S9VoHMrs1HanHQdMtYXaghXdTtOyTA/s320/GBBD%20Purple%20Crocus%203.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Purple crocus.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9hNDjjY71Yyu85jjFIXmjn1sbIXZqrv9lI_GcDghtYmwQZpjTzA-fAxha-H7KClBBu1fL5Sh1U0Oec5j9E8bHFjx0_nWc7-e9L3ZdsY2cx1GMqeGal630XkXSbirHB06E4vZloPjFrpnZ_d-uX-C6CwbE2SvfjyOd4ebsIPhJJRXzisUIShsc6hWmwI/s508/GBBD%20White%20Crocus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="508" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9hNDjjY71Yyu85jjFIXmjn1sbIXZqrv9lI_GcDghtYmwQZpjTzA-fAxha-H7KClBBu1fL5Sh1U0Oec5j9E8bHFjx0_nWc7-e9L3ZdsY2cx1GMqeGal630XkXSbirHB06E4vZloPjFrpnZ_d-uX-C6CwbE2SvfjyOd4ebsIPhJJRXzisUIShsc6hWmwI/s320/GBBD%20White%20Crocus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>White crocus.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pVC-tsI6xmj-bAqFt2tbFKgdtoduYcASXtX7wGWsidtkUcQ55CMUuk0B7d7eQmQ3z_qhKtNFX2WCOQQFSgfNGt0QUpdMbAE0bLrJZjdg0qSqZdvaxY3pZ8rSE5KgJEOvMAWJimpCohO_bQbbrFPOlZ8TnsMMJjILXXD3w52ELl-zrDVH-rfLcnyQOqs/s531/GBBD%20Yellow%20Crocus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="531" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pVC-tsI6xmj-bAqFt2tbFKgdtoduYcASXtX7wGWsidtkUcQ55CMUuk0B7d7eQmQ3z_qhKtNFX2WCOQQFSgfNGt0QUpdMbAE0bLrJZjdg0qSqZdvaxY3pZ8rSE5KgJEOvMAWJimpCohO_bQbbrFPOlZ8TnsMMJjILXXD3w52ELl-zrDVH-rfLcnyQOqs/s320/GBBD%20Yellow%20Crocus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yellow crocus.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx_STtXLG0jZbQU9jMrU2SNaON3Ap8jnFO45kQQeSITO6wgN7_hue_OeG7GCJmm4tNELeZT-ZsRxydjUnInE_vwB3Srocz25vN3JKIBqTNXeQmoHCKVkr4UMicvCtMLZNg-2LTS476P6udKQOwFR-0lS7MsqMcBa2PdYJ9gfSIusSRDAyaFZocU9Q80c/s640/First%20Vinca%203-12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx_STtXLG0jZbQU9jMrU2SNaON3Ap8jnFO45kQQeSITO6wgN7_hue_OeG7GCJmm4tNELeZT-ZsRxydjUnInE_vwB3Srocz25vN3JKIBqTNXeQmoHCKVkr4UMicvCtMLZNg-2LTS476P6udKQOwFR-0lS7MsqMcBa2PdYJ9gfSIusSRDAyaFZocU9Q80c/s320/First%20Vinca%203-12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Perennial vinca.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FCXITe1-fXwkiw38NAOXwumBKkmYomXLLv6KxvQUVowpo5IE1YBbAbxRxwPBRRVXUrG_QxD23Lnp37Q7Yh2uC6jtekOsbiJBes3UGETjklXgz8gJLITwa41RP94NNsweXlHbckspxCHBGc0bxYmAI3q8LZI_XC984MbRrZKYNj3lFi_CRPS82rdLAEM/s1099/Gbbd%20Viola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="994" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FCXITe1-fXwkiw38NAOXwumBKkmYomXLLv6KxvQUVowpo5IE1YBbAbxRxwPBRRVXUrG_QxD23Lnp37Q7Yh2uC6jtekOsbiJBes3UGETjklXgz8gJLITwa41RP94NNsweXlHbckspxCHBGc0bxYmAI3q8LZI_XC984MbRrZKYNj3lFi_CRPS82rdLAEM/s320/Gbbd%20Viola.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><p></p><p>A couple of tiny flowers. First, a viola that survived the winter in a pot which was dug into by squirrels is putting forth one tiny flower. It opened yesterday.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOx2JFDY8xKdUPc5T-eDlWeg9rSxJ-_lNWjVNydx-eoEdH9n9Nyqc2FCSwCWp43yq-bxWroArAbG1XXgkxH2UDabSVlF0fHIYABgrdHPYPZ_eJRTx877BFxIw8-R_Qqt0NJKlNUTjVV2g-iHjnCqufpw3JKZJlAl5PnJsqRZ3TKjCMCrKS4R7TrGaZSs/s640/Speedwell%203-14%20my%20front%20yard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOx2JFDY8xKdUPc5T-eDlWeg9rSxJ-_lNWjVNydx-eoEdH9n9Nyqc2FCSwCWp43yq-bxWroArAbG1XXgkxH2UDabSVlF0fHIYABgrdHPYPZ_eJRTx877BFxIw8-R_Qqt0NJKlNUTjVV2g-iHjnCqufpw3JKZJlAl5PnJsqRZ3TKjCMCrKS4R7TrGaZSs/s320/Speedwell%203-14%20my%20front%20yard.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><p></p><p>And a wildflower, speedwell. Does that count? I'm counting it. It's in my flower garden.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOcFsLBjjlF_5cL3Xb0P9q9aCNOOeEvl1dsP1fiILqi2P6BRjg0T0_XoEQ2kcGXI0IRYh5l8BAFzY3sV21BXmWLmyZZ8cRoU5S2zBH06nLx9x2jEr1C9bzfFw-ymILl-yux37Spo53Uz16AGfexEBeXCRlM_qUOFIkxypnFHvF0h5Ceum0tmBLFfkleM/s538/GBBD%20Impatien.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOcFsLBjjlF_5cL3Xb0P9q9aCNOOeEvl1dsP1fiILqi2P6BRjg0T0_XoEQ2kcGXI0IRYh5l8BAFzY3sV21BXmWLmyZZ8cRoU5S2zBH06nLx9x2jEr1C9bzfFw-ymILl-yux37Spo53Uz16AGfexEBeXCRlM_qUOFIkxypnFHvF0h5Ceum0tmBLFfkleM/s320/GBBD%20Impatien.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><p></p><p>Last but not least, the impatiens I rooted and kept alive indoors.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUhpDQB_VcgQl3tuh7hfAtaZ_SmNNLPLamhnr76kgJyIHFBcOtfk-slZbCbhOZ0AJ5VhqvtD7qaTNl-qk-zLhdm9B3yWJa_PyEM8mt_2U_GFZodTXOvIZWnmD8WOr8QrH-BJIZyv1d1gg8dL2Tbne4j1oIIIsyqk_5ofyyiWd9Z7DGZ22xeIq0FPCpWg/s640/GBBD%20Yew%20I%20think.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUhpDQB_VcgQl3tuh7hfAtaZ_SmNNLPLamhnr76kgJyIHFBcOtfk-slZbCbhOZ0AJ5VhqvtD7qaTNl-qk-zLhdm9B3yWJa_PyEM8mt_2U_GFZodTXOvIZWnmD8WOr8QrH-BJIZyv1d1gg8dL2Tbne4j1oIIIsyqk_5ofyyiWd9Z7DGZ22xeIq0FPCpWg/s320/GBBD%20Yew%20I%20think.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Bonus - my yew (I think) bushes are flowering. From what I understand, this is a male flower. Yews have male and female plants.</p><p>Sadly, winter will return early next week, but did I ever enjoy the sneak preview Nature gave us over the last couple or three days. <br /></p><p>So that wraps up the Ides of March and Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and Skywatch Friday.</p><p>I hope you enjoyed them.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-90474685506935223952024-03-14T08:14:00.000-04:002024-03-14T08:14:42.280-04:00Pi Day 2024<p>Today is Pi Day, 3.14 as we write the date in the United States. </p><p><a href="https://www.piday.org/">Pi Day, March 14,</a> 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. <br /></p><p></p><p>It also would have been <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/albert-einstein-facts">Albert Einstein's birthday.</a> (March 14, 1879). 145 years ago today.<br />
<br />
Pi Day honors the number representing the ratio
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. And it is always a constant - each and every circle, no matter its size, has that same ratio.</p><p>That ratio had been calculated by ancient mathematicians with good accuracy. With our supercomputers, we've <a href="https://www.piday.org/">computed Pi </a>out to over 62.8 trillion digits (it may be more now). Try memorizing that. Some people have. I've read that <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-pi-places-memorised">the record for memorizing the value of Pi</a> is around 70,000. digits. <br /></p><p>In the United States, Pi Day has become an unofficial celebration of all things circular, especially pies and pizzas. Pizza parlors and bakeries run specials.</p><p>Today, we are not going to bake any pies, but I'm thinking of some pies of my spouse's youth. <br /></p><p>My late mother in law used to make two types of pies for Easter - what she
called a "grass" pie, and a "pizza rustica". These are both savory
pies. When she was younger, she hand made these. In her older age she bought from bakeries where she used to live near New York City. She traditionally served them for Easter.<br /></p><p>
The grass pie, may I reassure you, is not made from grass. In Italy, it is known as <span class="st"> "torta pasqualina". The green is usually swiss chard.</span><br />
<br /> <span class="st">Easter is coming early this year
and, as rarely happens, doesn't coincide with Passover, so I can
actually eat these savory pies at the Easter table. So I'm trying to talk my spouse into making at least one of these pies. They are work intensive but I'm hoping he will do it. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span> Of course, he probably remembers the first time we (joint effort)<a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2016/03/pizza-rustica.html"> tried to make a Pizza Rustica.</a></p><p>We'll see what happens. <br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-34387618915862797622024-03-13T05:23:00.000-04:002024-03-13T05:23:56.967-04:00Spring a Week Early #WordlessWednesday<p> After a couple of days of winter weather, including a snow squall warning, spring returned to the Southern Tier of New York yesterday.<br /></p><p>Yesterday, after work, I sat outside. All the birds were out celebrating: downy woodpeckers, mourning doves, white breasted nuthatches, American crows, tufted titmice, house finches and black-capped chickadees. I heard a red bellied woodpecker. A male Northern cardinal sat placidly on a fence next to a common grackle before the grackle took off. The song of male red winged blackbirds filled the air. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1CLyO0ImMjHr7gIm3svbDpwjAElbf_27mdfRymftUgf9UMEvidYTjDHk65gSAslrzW_8mkEX06GR8eSE-gh405wQu1Z39MsOsp8L7fbFy6jdl4AaE47Lqz2R3k2ZOF6QwTOYU-dW2w6JIQ5fxJu_CzShO3NzGN1XWB6bFdeT0Hy6rqXAXDvNgGhJusw/s499/Purple%20crocus%203-12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1CLyO0ImMjHr7gIm3svbDpwjAElbf_27mdfRymftUgf9UMEvidYTjDHk65gSAslrzW_8mkEX06GR8eSE-gh405wQu1Z39MsOsp8L7fbFy6jdl4AaE47Lqz2R3k2ZOF6QwTOYU-dW2w6JIQ5fxJu_CzShO3NzGN1XWB6bFdeT0Hy6rqXAXDvNgGhJusw/s320/Purple%20crocus%203-12.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><p></p><p>We have some crocuses blooming. Here's two of them.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOa9zD5RFIixxPqPgQ7NM7nC8VtaaAbk2FQvjVslwyIg1aOcq11R506b2hvOvX0CugIbSbaXrzgL7JPcXHgx7KxelQr49TViczbKQaWr4lPj-GtTQHNsbaqNtxHzSPxX2Ko47UZnSX5c6bis9mdCNx_iMUyqSDQF338uoPOJbqLAr6Em9t1btmrtkD9G8/s640/Chipmunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="640" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOa9zD5RFIixxPqPgQ7NM7nC8VtaaAbk2FQvjVslwyIg1aOcq11R506b2hvOvX0CugIbSbaXrzgL7JPcXHgx7KxelQr49TViczbKQaWr4lPj-GtTQHNsbaqNtxHzSPxX2Ko47UZnSX5c6bis9mdCNx_iMUyqSDQF338uoPOJbqLAr6Em9t1btmrtkD9G8/s320/Chipmunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not taken yesterday<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>My spouse also saw his first chipmunk of the year.<br /></p><p>Could it be spring for real this time? Well, no - it's back to winter next week. But I'm enjoying this while I can.<br /></p>
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<p>Joining <a href="https://comedy-plus.com/wordless-wednesday-347/">Sandee at Comedy Plus</a> for her #WordlessWednesday.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-29290929492533868022024-03-12T06:43:00.002-04:002024-03-12T06:43:09.283-04:00Lost in Translation<p>I admire people who can speak and write in more than one language. It's a skill I have never mastered, although I am told that my maternal grandfather spoke six languages, and several of my paternal cousins and an uncle are bi-lingual. Additionally, my father was bi-lingual, and my mother spoke two languages fluently and had some knowledge of a third. My mother in law was also bi-lingual.<br /></p><p>I took Spanish in junior high (now called middle school) and one year in high school but it never stuck. </p><p>Something that has always fascinated me are instructions for a product manufactured in another country. Often enough, the English instructions have obviously been translated from another language, and enough times, something was lost in translation.</p><p>Here's one recent example.</p><p>I wanted to purchase a couple of collapsible bottles to take on trips. Amazon was having a lightning deal on a two pack of collapsible silicone water bottles. Perfect! But I didn't read many of the reviews, and I should have. A lot of them complained about the smell.<br /></p><p>I ordered them and they came the next day. I took them out of the packaging, opened one up, and was almost knocked over by the smell.</p><p>It was....not pleasant.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-1eifrsMZBEJMZ_LH-SdiOgfmJZDGMDNe7y3a9UdKaTnU42ac9fnibHnHg7GP_V0Bnjje6qhjq9THhiwGKdvIDUoiGGscnQHJ22qB3EU_rbKGqMsE_9iByyJ-aMcSYUvQRyB09lPqZ4nwoUc4hp8-pi_m9jgmRYB1DzNYt-gLiHGSyDo23Cq8uvs4Ew/s3230/Smell%20instructions.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2361" data-original-width="3230" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-1eifrsMZBEJMZ_LH-SdiOgfmJZDGMDNe7y3a9UdKaTnU42ac9fnibHnHg7GP_V0Bnjje6qhjq9THhiwGKdvIDUoiGGscnQHJ22qB3EU_rbKGqMsE_9iByyJ-aMcSYUvQRyB09lPqZ4nwoUc4hp8-pi_m9jgmRYB1DzNYt-gLiHGSyDo23Cq8uvs4Ew/w400-h293/Smell%20instructions.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The manufacturer was obviously aware of this, because the above smell removal instructions were enclosed. I wasn't able to get a good picture but it reads as follows:</p><p>"Due to our bottle is made of platinum silicone, its normal That there may exsit slight natural silicone smell. We suggest below method to improve if you don't like it:</p><p>1. Boil the bottle in hot water for 5 minutes, dry it and then smell removes.</p><p>2. Fill the bottle with 2 gram or more red or green tea and at least 80% of 90degrees C or higher hot water.</p><p>3. Close the cap and seal the bottle for 2 hours, discard tea and water try it naturally. Then smell is basically removed."<br /></p><p>Leaving the translation issues to one side, I can either boil the bottle (I was a bit leary to do that, although the website description says it will take temperatures up to 200C (392F) ) or use the tea method. I had green tea in the house. Red tea, I assume, is roobios, and I do not have it in the house.<br /></p><p>We in the United States aren't metric, unlike almost all of the world. So, at the risk of losing all of my readers, some math: a cup of water is 240 grams, which is also 240 milliliters. (Why can't our system be logical like this?). I am supposed to put two milliliters of liquid, which is about .40 teaspoon, into this bottle. A 20 oz bottle can hold about 120 teaspoons. I'm terrible in math, but I have a feeling I'll need a lot more green tea than .40 of a teaspoon to remove the odor.<br /></p><p>So what am I doing now? I went online and saw a recommendation for filling the bottle with half white vinegar and half water for "a while". Some reviewers used this method with varying results. <br /></p><p>If that doesn't work maybe I'll try filling it with hot green tea.</p><p>It's interesting, too, that the instructions suggest green tea and the product is made in China. But I also feel like something was lost in translations.<br /></p><p>The instructions made some kind of sense after several readings and translations of metric to our outdated system. I think.<br /></p><p>Wish me luck. </p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-49911108156334491342024-03-11T06:42:00.000-04:002024-03-11T06:42:15.510-04:00#1 Songs For the Week Storytime #MusicMovesMe<p>It's Monday. And it's time to enjoy some music!</p>
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<p><br /></p><p><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: small;">Let's introduce the Music Moves me bloggers:<span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join!<span style="color: red;"> (<i>Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please! Otherwise, your post may be removed, or may be labeled "No Music".</i>) </span> <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Our head host is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://newxmasdolly.blogspot.com/">Xmas Dolly, </a>and our co-hosts are Cathy</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b>from <a href="https://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy</a>, joined by </span></span></span></span></span>the knowledgeable Stacy </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">of<i><b> </b></i><a href="http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/">Stacy Uncorked</a> and, last but not least, me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p>Today, it's time for musical creative writing. Our guest host for this week, John at The Sound of One Hand Typing, suggested this theme: write a (clean) love story and use the names of two or three (or more!) songs from the Top 40 on Valentines Day of some year. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Imprima; font-weight: 300; outline: 0px !important; text-align: justify;"><span style="outline: 0px !important;">Here’s an<span> </span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" href="https://thesoundofonehandtyping.com/2022/02/14/mmmm-maggies-top40love-story-challenge/" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" style="color: #6190bf; outline: 0px!important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">example</a> John did for another challenge to help get you going. </span></span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Imprima; font-weight: 300; outline: 0px !important; text-align: justify;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; outline: 0px!important;"><br /></strong></em></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>I'm going to do a slightly different take on this theme. Since today is March 11, how about I do something with number one hits on this date in 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988? I will use any list, including United States, UK, rock, R&B, country, or whatever else sounds good, for the #1's. <br /></p><p>First, my little love story. <br /></p><p>"Don't". I gave my husband a look when he suggested a busy day of adventure on our vacation.</p><p>"Sitting on the dock of the bay is all I want to do today", I explained. "Why can't we just relax and watch the tide roll in?" But there was that look in his eyes. The "love is blue" look. He really wanted to do something special with me. Awww, how can I resist those eyes?<br /></p><p>So I agreed. After all, love is higher than a mountain. Some even say love is thicker than water. </p><p>My husband's face immediately brightened. "Never gonna give you up!", he laughed, as we made our way down the street, and into a new music adventure.</p><p>And now, the songs. Interesting that they all have love as the subject, in some way.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q6UO6YcT3PE" width="320" youtube-src-id="q6UO6YcT3PE"></iframe></div><p></p><p>For 1958, I chose Elvis and "Don't", a song I heard for the first time in researching this post..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTVjnBo96Ug" width="320" youtube-src-id="rTVjnBo96Ug"></iframe></div><br />For the #1 song of March 11, 1968 I came up with two great great songs, and so I am going to use both of them. (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay from Otis Redding was the #1 R&B song.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y_tPE3o5NWk" width="320" youtube-src-id="Y_tPE3o5NWk"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Love is Blue from Paul Mauriat came up on a different list. I always love a good instrumental, so I'm using it. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qAwvUZCgo7o" width="320" youtube-src-id="qAwvUZCgo7o"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p>For March 11, 1978, Andy Gibb and "Love is (Thicker than Water)".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dQw4w9WgXcQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="dQw4w9WgXcQ"></iframe></div><p></p><p> The March 11, 1988 Never Gonna Give You Up selection gave rise to a practice called "Rick rolling". But no matter; I love this song. It's gotten more than one billion views on You Tube.<br /></p><p>And that's a story well told wrap.</p><p>Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.</p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-13353470427458789752024-03-10T09:50:00.002-04:002024-03-10T09:56:20.858-04:00Blogging From A to Z Reveal 2024 #AtoZChallenge #AtoZReveal<p>It's March 10, and time to reveal my theme in the annual <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2024/03/theme-reveal-atozchallenge-2024-bloghop.html">Blogging from A to Z Challenge.</a></p>
<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><img alt="AtoZChallenge theme reveal 2024 #atozchallenge" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUCCyRxgpSQnVJaLOokIXDPjr8RwuSkXl8JB8j74ECAzZzWRy61oyEzHU4HijXCspw_5fd8auT2vox_8SAJyixoIwX_R86-vS-0OJkjrNvq3fNEqheXjilGvCM9nVKs4lwxxxM4fYSJGTahwVNucXC_W5pspHrRSDmyqoALu4OPrPvVZaAsPI1EDIB6aD/s320/theme%20reveal.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<p>I always start out as a "no, I've done it enough." Then, a little voice says to me, "You know you want to do it."</p><p>Well, OK, little voice. I'm going to do it. <br /></p><p>Before I reveal my theme, a bit about my blog and what I've done for past challenges. <br /></p><p>I
started to blog in 2009, and started to blog daily in 2011. I blog
about music on Mondays, a Wordless Wednesday on Wednesday, Skywatch
Friday on Fridays, Shadowshot Sunday on Sundays, and, on the 15th of the month, Garden Bloggers Bloom
Day. I
will keep up this schedule as much as possible in April.<br /></p><p>I've taken the A to Z Challenge every year since 2015. Last year, it allowed me to extend a blogging streak (I've blogged daily, starting from May of 2011) because I pre wrote blog posts. It allowed me to coast during part of April, when I was not feeling well due to COVID.</p><p>If you aren't familiar with the Challenge, we blog something starting with A on Monday, April 1. On April 2, we start with B, and so forth, until we end Tuesday, April 30 with Z. We have Sundays off. 26 days, 26 letters, and some letters are a real challenge. (X, I'm looking at you!)<br /></p><p></p><p>Most
all my previous themes have been related to travel. As my regular readers know, I am a confirmed
photo hoarder. As of today, I have 50.3 GB of photos on my phone.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p>
Wherever I go, I take pictures. Pictures of things. Quirky things.
Historic things. Plants. Flowers. Sunsets. Graves of famous people.
I weave some of these into my daily posts and will this April, too.<br /></p>Here are my past themes, and you can see a pattern
here: <br /><p>2015: <a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-great-reveal.html">America the Beautiful</a></p><p>2016: <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-great-reveal-2016.html">Days of our Lives</a> (no not the soap opera)<br /></p><p>2017 - <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2017/03/traveling-through-time-and-space-a-to-z.html">Traveling Through Time and Space</a></p><p>2018 - <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2018/03/sunshine-atozthemereveal-musicmovesme.html"> Florida Outside the Theme Parks</a> (this may have been my favorite one)<br /></p><p>2019 - <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2019/03/blogging-from-to-z-reveal.html">Finding America Through Photos</a></p><p>2020 - <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-time-has-come-to-to-z.html">America the Beautiful</a> (I never realized I repeated my 2015 theme!)</p><p>2021: <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-great-reveal-2016.html">New York State</a></p><p>2022: <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-to-z-reveal-for-2022-atozreveal.html">From Florida to Vermont with Stops Inbetween </a></p><p>2023: <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2023/03/blogging-from-to-z-theme-reveal.html">Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.</a></p><p>For 2024, I looked back at 2023. I visited gardens, historic houses, and local libraries that presented me with the unexpected. Not only that, but I have photos on similar themes from previous years. How best could I use these photos? </p><p>With that in mind, I announce my 2024 theme (drum roll): <span style="color: red;"><i>Gardens, History, Art and The Unexpected.</i></span></p><p>I reserve the right to deviate from the theme, but I hope not to do that too often. I may even repeat a post from years past that will hopefully be new to you. For "C" I have a yearly theme and on Wednesday, April 3, you'll see why.<br /></p><p>I look forward to reconnecting with previous bloggers, and meeting some new ones. We'd love to have you. </p><p>If you’d like to sign up for the Theme Reveal, after you’ve written your post, go <a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="10" href="http://thesoundofonehandtyping.com?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=3f916d918ffdd141cd432ace046acbf2e3164a9d691617b3fb13228ec43eb021&blog_id=16917333&post_id=51208&user_id=0&subs_id=17047309&signature=23096cf1ab0acc43dd12229a5191d75e&email_name=new-post&user_email=alanamautone@hotmail.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9mb3Jtcy5nbGUvWUxuSGtqMTZyRGg3cnpaUjk" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #0675c4; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">here</a>
and fill out the form. A general signup sheet
will go live on the Blogging from A to Z home page two weeks from today, so if you have no theme, or if
you hadn’t planned on announcing it just yet, you’ll have another opportunity
to join us on April 1.</p><p></p><p>See you there, starting April 1 with the letter "A".<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-40753711094235798392024-03-09T13:26:00.003-05:002024-03-09T16:31:15.655-05:00Earliest Crocus #ShadowshotSunday<p>I'm posting my #ShadowshotSunday on Saturday, as I'll be posting something else tomorrow. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPXizg8N6QzQSIemMdtIigjYlLcUPjPG9FMEcmesUvuDr6oVlUrkiXWH6ReX1ASfF1NRHcfVTTR6X427k6e9kv8dFAXJXj7_Tr12d2SyF_hL_UdLknLyo5Qo-85JUKWwKw1vcKgOsdKE8UV3pM9h6YUdnZXMx7U3hmvFUrGZYOeBNLsIq6ZzXoFfi8_8/s598/Otsiningo%20Gate%20shadow%203-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPXizg8N6QzQSIemMdtIigjYlLcUPjPG9FMEcmesUvuDr6oVlUrkiXWH6ReX1ASfF1NRHcfVTTR6X427k6e9kv8dFAXJXj7_Tr12d2SyF_hL_UdLknLyo5Qo-85JUKWwKw1vcKgOsdKE8UV3pM9h6YUdnZXMx7U3hmvFUrGZYOeBNLsIq6ZzXoFfi8_8/s320/Otsiningo%20Gate%20shadow%203-8.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><p></p><p>Shadow of a gate at a local park.<br /></p><p>Meanwhile, my crocus are coming out. This is, I believe, the earliest blooms ever for me. These pictures were taken yesterday, when we almost reached 60F. Today, we are under a flood watch and will have heavy rain changing to snow at some point. Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH1KCpAzqhJqvIFoJgkRo-vmabIzIdf13yL7ycmPhWv63MOzi6HngQDab3xztTwW8D6W8mBEohGSbAaR-8tB2kDIdM9aSK4vN6mql9CJ0FRkNCeViD9fwNtcYrChFm23m_tAj86VWp2o6ACVOjlxvDzRlc6webLKm0kNdpck8j735dO455HaZoTdO_P4/s640/White%20Crocus%20with%20small%20shadow%203-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH1KCpAzqhJqvIFoJgkRo-vmabIzIdf13yL7ycmPhWv63MOzi6HngQDab3xztTwW8D6W8mBEohGSbAaR-8tB2kDIdM9aSK4vN6mql9CJ0FRkNCeViD9fwNtcYrChFm23m_tAj86VWp2o6ACVOjlxvDzRlc6webLKm0kNdpck8j735dO455HaZoTdO_P4/s320/White%20Crocus%20with%20small%20shadow%203-8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Spring, please come back. In the meantime, some white crocuses.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVZHMUmI-jsKi9JTFuwOV07Zn8MAhVJk2TvcVF24yHl6WJhiRghq9zx6gzHvHlkLPS3_V_Je12hbSZukV9TAPnZUrB3Ox8PkVzc9s5SArLWNbpZU_bWlQt3KIY1_Qdl3S0U0IQN9J5_e5FWB0kfZHoCTJ54Yi5TJyPU3OTq0McNNwmr7_eJqLWK3guU/s640/Yellow%20Crocus%20with%20small%20shadow%203-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVZHMUmI-jsKi9JTFuwOV07Zn8MAhVJk2TvcVF24yHl6WJhiRghq9zx6gzHvHlkLPS3_V_Je12hbSZukV9TAPnZUrB3Ox8PkVzc9s5SArLWNbpZU_bWlQt3KIY1_Qdl3S0U0IQN9J5_e5FWB0kfZHoCTJ54Yi5TJyPU3OTq0McNNwmr7_eJqLWK3guU/s320/Yellow%20Crocus%20with%20small%20shadow%203-8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Yellow.</p><p>Also, we have two purple ones but they aren't open yet (and won't be in this gloomy weather).</p><p>Have a great weekend. </p><p>Joining <a href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2024/03/shadow-shot-sunday-march-10-2024.html">Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures </a>for #ShadowshotSunday. Why not come out of the shadows and join us with a shadow picture of your own?<br /></p><p></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-65191607052617683102024-03-08T06:15:00.000-05:002024-03-08T06:15:01.973-05:00January Puddles #SkywatchFriday<p>Now that it's almost spring, I should post these January puddle and sky/reflection photos before it's too late. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nkGbT0i-Hs4XA9QJFkkjIESfBHhQJV0VHLm5AB2USjfhFwoU2_h03YE5pKwVFB4tBN1tkwmxSEp6z49YDyNzpxEynEeDu7vUspMI9cHoiCGL_ThPzIrZgjVIAqokDkCZxnxLvX9-PJsIcrjhetqZyW5Po7P8kP85qgY9CZI9Q7kzt8hHE0WllmiSrPU/s583/1-26%20sky%20puddles%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="583" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nkGbT0i-Hs4XA9QJFkkjIESfBHhQJV0VHLm5AB2USjfhFwoU2_h03YE5pKwVFB4tBN1tkwmxSEp6z49YDyNzpxEynEeDu7vUspMI9cHoiCGL_ThPzIrZgjVIAqokDkCZxnxLvX9-PJsIcrjhetqZyW5Po7P8kP85qgY9CZI9Q7kzt8hHE0WllmiSrPU/s320/1-26%20sky%20puddles%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, one doesn't expect to see puddles in late January. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCo_CwJWrWMjZOoXcHuBPy_hO11gTu6kdWPrkcA-h6-ET-Bm-oGmigKtR3t_XDORYYP0XwnPQNkT_5O_bn3cpWA9CxIpTUGjwIWGg9j6G3lLWE8KnFXZMOrg5xv9YIWt9-n9-lNFuQ1C_q4ScBPtpisaSPOWsqXpK409qCFFerVIKLeU8xtKK5iZQnLc/s640/1-27%20Park%20Sky%20and%20river.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCo_CwJWrWMjZOoXcHuBPy_hO11gTu6kdWPrkcA-h6-ET-Bm-oGmigKtR3t_XDORYYP0XwnPQNkT_5O_bn3cpWA9CxIpTUGjwIWGg9j6G3lLWE8KnFXZMOrg5xv9YIWt9-n9-lNFuQ1C_q4ScBPtpisaSPOWsqXpK409qCFFerVIKLeU8xtKK5iZQnLc/s320/1-27%20Park%20Sky%20and%20river.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Green grass is a welcome treat. No snow, either. Just reflections.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BqY72lzNrBbjy4u59YvRrPyOl11unYh7jqa6pPUIymkWC0MGt5opyk61wU3BcwoeTToFOUnuNkLlDxHMO09yJeVRvUqGMLI83Ns70EBLVfSQjXjB-36MWDlm869U_L6xptCvboxFR5TlAmseFrAYt2fyKi_Kjv9EENdaV2RpqA8ttuGjSY6mN6exCAU/s640/Sky%20blue%201-26%20rail%20trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BqY72lzNrBbjy4u59YvRrPyOl11unYh7jqa6pPUIymkWC0MGt5opyk61wU3BcwoeTToFOUnuNkLlDxHMO09yJeVRvUqGMLI83Ns70EBLVfSQjXjB-36MWDlm869U_L6xptCvboxFR5TlAmseFrAYt2fyKi_Kjv9EENdaV2RpqA8ttuGjSY6mN6exCAU/s320/Sky%20blue%201-26%20rail%20trail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>You don't expect to see these flashes of blue in the sky, either.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVWIfcYX_XFsvpdm2AvYDgK1_c5sTK6BgaDnkSK_vZj8TBU7ehXaWM1K2mUjshSriq5u90fZBy_eeJYAioulD0nNiLpQ8-cfVMOtn5SErMMWshWfF4FYsosdcxb582xe438bA-9JnlKRqN-3aovayXIpIIdcLohkqjRos2nIs8qlCq5SjA7h1y_kWu0c/s575/Sky%201-26%20puddles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="575" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVWIfcYX_XFsvpdm2AvYDgK1_c5sTK6BgaDnkSK_vZj8TBU7ehXaWM1K2mUjshSriq5u90fZBy_eeJYAioulD0nNiLpQ8-cfVMOtn5SErMMWshWfF4FYsosdcxb582xe438bA-9JnlKRqN-3aovayXIpIIdcLohkqjRos2nIs8qlCq5SjA7h1y_kWu0c/s320/Sky%201-26%20puddles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Or a line of puddles with blue sky reflections.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP4bCBz_6Jvdpd8QJM13GzKotdtwgPj9VrZIHfE6yoxdhpB5Bbx9CjIXvCeQ1idx52NFHX49Ja7Ct_U-svTBgo5sCOAaKsJT62ul75XAjDt1CU-L-TiZtwEMUGtxapR8ba0nseDoAKdNS-lLnc9bhRkU4imMGMK3rYzmp2LRDFdGp93AOWoSFb0bSU5s/s602/Jan%20puddle%201-26%20with%20power%20lines.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="602" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP4bCBz_6Jvdpd8QJM13GzKotdtwgPj9VrZIHfE6yoxdhpB5Bbx9CjIXvCeQ1idx52NFHX49Ja7Ct_U-svTBgo5sCOAaKsJT62ul75XAjDt1CU-L-TiZtwEMUGtxapR8ba0nseDoAKdNS-lLnc9bhRkU4imMGMK3rYzmp2LRDFdGp93AOWoSFb0bSU5s/s320/Jan%20puddle%201-26%20with%20power%20lines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another puddle, with reflections of power lines.</p><p>The weather has been so Topsy-turvey. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ7PIp15NLi7Wz5bV2NCHJBrJWxk9aqHbYrDIDqJgNfdC-XvwpuAOg-mzihyphenhyphensj00sJNyMGpw8XMtDenPA5yFWThApwju_Mwi4LZFV0YYiBYs2hmYznnLqoBUV5Xj96auJALJll1jJVc_aLODoUdnLzfquPXsu7Y3Gx7S3PyREgkIaLcoe_yXl59aHzDk/s640/Sky%201-16%20colors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ7PIp15NLi7Wz5bV2NCHJBrJWxk9aqHbYrDIDqJgNfdC-XvwpuAOg-mzihyphenhyphensj00sJNyMGpw8XMtDenPA5yFWThApwju_Mwi4LZFV0YYiBYs2hmYznnLqoBUV5Xj96auJALJll1jJVc_aLODoUdnLzfquPXsu7Y3Gx7S3PyREgkIaLcoe_yXl59aHzDk/s320/Sky%201-16%20colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But now it's time for the sun to say goodnight.<p></p><p>Joining <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/2024/03/skywatch-friday-7-march-2024-edition.html">Yogi and other skywatchers </a>for #SkywatchFriday. Yogi calls Skywatch "A gentle corner of the internet where never a discouraging word is heard.". If you like photographing the sky, or anything reflecting the sky, why not join us? We all need a gentle corner of the internet where never a discouraging word is heard.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-29422435081562021252024-03-07T08:41:00.020-05:002024-03-07T08:41:00.264-05:00The Ever Repeating Post<p> Today, it's time to repeat a semi annual tradition on my blog. My regular readers have seen (and read) this before.</p><p>Yup.</p><p>It's almost that time, here in the United States, to spring ahead.</p><p>Almost time for many to suffer a couple of days
of disorientation. (I'm one of them.) </p><p>Time again for people to beg,
"Someone make it stop! Why don't they make it stop?"</p><p>Yes, it is time to spring ahead an hour to
Daylight Saving Time. (Side note, it is Daylight Saving Time, not
Daylight Savings Time).<br /></p><p>I do a variation of this post twice a year.</p><p>Oh, does Daylight Saving Time bring back memories.</p><p></p><p>I
remember too well how, on January 6, 1974, we had Emergency Daylight
Saving Time implemented. It was supposed to be for 16 months, due to the
energy crisis. I don't have fond memories of stumbling to my 8am
college class in the dark. It was so unpopular that<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/30/the-year-daylight-saving-time-went-too-far/"> the 16 month idea was abandoned.</a></p><p>Also,
there were the several car trips we took through Indiana in the 1970's and
early 1980's, when we weaved back and forth between Eastern time on
Daylight Saving Time, Eastern time on Standard time, and ditto for the
part of the state in the Central time zone. (This was before the day when one's phone would automatically show
the correct time.)</p><p><a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/latest-updates-daylight-saving-time-legislation-change#what-is-the-status-of-state-level">Sleep experts tell us </a>year round standard time would be the best solution.<br /></p>Right
now, in the United States, it is legal for a state to not implement
Daylight Saving Time (which is why Hawaii, and Arizona outside the Navajo Nation can
do it), but that is the only deviation that is permitted. Yet, a number of states have passed legislation mandating daylight saving time, ready for the day it might be allowed.<br /><p></p><p>Although most Americans (some 60%, from what I've read) oppose
the spring ahead/fall back practice, no one can seem to agree on exactly how it should end. Should we have year round daylight saving time or year round standard
time? Or, should we go back a half hour so no one is happy?</p><p>Federal legislation would be needed if we want to go to year round daylight saving time. (We don't need federal legislation for year round standard time, as stated above). Should we have state referendums? Should we throw darts at a dartboard or spin a wheel? Should we sacrifice a clock and examine its innards?<br /></p><p>It's like we are stuck in some horrible quicksand, unable to move, unable to legislate anything. Hmmm, come to think of it, that's a familiar occurrence in our country right now.<br /></p><p>So around and around we go. As the saying goes, where it stops, nobody knows. We've been doing it for years.<br /></p><p>Get ready. </p><p>Sunday, March 10, at 2am, we do the time change again. We'll complain for a couple of days and then forget about it.</p><p>That is, until we go back to Standard Time Sunday, November 3.<br /></p><p></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-75049198582459132062024-03-06T08:32:00.000-05:002024-03-06T08:32:09.261-05:00Hidden Snowdrops #WordlessWednesday<p>A year or two we found a patch of snowdrops in our local park.</p><p>These early spring flowers are not native to my United States but naturalize easy. I wondered how they got there. <br /></p><p>Back in the fall, the park flooded. Some trees had fallen (apparently helped by beavers) and there was a lot of natural debris where the patch was.</p><p>Would the snowdrops come back? <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUs9XXpQMHY52qvKSn8sCPZf0LoDwFhaqjHGhJ7XOgHb1SmlMcHPEMEoH4gZ5Yi5XPJbtVQmTO_QTiC82OC1AqlKMODHouMKQC8pYKWFSYhm7DJbSIZspCfo7upeA4tpuoLF9MCCQl8Tx4955TNXY73E7AQ4JTBKFkGHfyYTm4nAjuwEkuEMQLZhCOXU/s640/Snowdrops%20in%20park%203-4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUs9XXpQMHY52qvKSn8sCPZf0LoDwFhaqjHGhJ7XOgHb1SmlMcHPEMEoH4gZ5Yi5XPJbtVQmTO_QTiC82OC1AqlKMODHouMKQC8pYKWFSYhm7DJbSIZspCfo7upeA4tpuoLF9MCCQl8Tx4955TNXY73E7AQ4JTBKFkGHfyYTm4nAjuwEkuEMQLZhCOXU/s320/Snowdrops%20in%20park%203-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the center of the photo-it was as close as I could get with the debris<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Monday, we had our answer. <br /></p>
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<p>Joining <a href="https://comedy-plus.com/wordless-wednesday-346/">Sandee at Comedy Plus </a>for her #WordlessWednesday.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-442107538214002362024-03-05T07:23:00.000-05:002024-03-05T07:23:40.434-05:00Crocheting the Temperatures - March Report<p>I'm making progress with my 2023 temperature afghan. </p><p>I <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-temperature-afghan.html">first blogged about crocheting a temperature blanket</a> on November 17, 2022. On January 25, 2023, <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-temperature-record-in-yarn.html">I told my readers I was underway.</a> </p><p>For accountability purposes, I told you, my readers, that I would report every month on my progress. Here's my report for February.<br /></p><p>To recap: A temperature blanket uses colors to record highs and low
temperatures (more on that later) over a certain period of time. They
can be used to record temperatures for a year, perhaps a calendar year,
or the first year of a baby's life (to be presented as a birthday
gift). Some knit these, some quilt these. Some make scarfs or
sweaters. The variations are endless.</p>So, in other words, Nature determines the colors and patterns of your work.<p>I recorded the high and low temperatures for
every day in 2023 and my plan was to crochet one row for each day's
high using its assigned color yarn as follows: </p><div style="text-align: left;">0
F (-17.8 C) and lower: Pale Plum. It would be most unusual where I
live
to have a high less than zero F, and, in fact, 2023 did not offer such a
high. But we did have a low of -5F (-20.5 C) one night so I decided to
include a strip of low temperature color and high temperature color for
that day.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are the rest:<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">1-21F Dark orchid</div><div style="text-align: left;">21-32F Royal blue</div><div style="text-align: left;">33-43F Turquoise</div><div style="text-align: left;">44-53F Spring Green</div><div style="text-align: left;">54-66F Kelly Green (think of St. Patrick's Day, coming up soon)</div><div style="text-align: left;">67-77F Bright Yellow</div><div style="text-align: left;">78-88F Carrot orange</div><div style="text-align: left;">89-99F Pretty in Pink<br /></div><p>100F (38C) and above - Fruity Stripe (shades of pink - a variegated yarn) I didn't have to use it. </p><p>On January 30 (my last report), I was working on the row representing May 3 2023. <br /></p><p>So, as of today, March 5, I have gotten up to: (drum roll) May 21, 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvT5em-f7qUxKxlc3WV_xNRCcuwVhwtSoBvp0j6u3NZMRXEvip_WfjpnICSLtRjP21ezGxoO4Au2x7aLznTEbXXMD2gm8a81B6vCg4X338JJzy23oBuKMjdwgPAN8QyKTI51NbgiSX8zSNg8PJqn1btBs_NXyB4mmiwgkHOCMMAo5nuepyPmu8P2jUyc/s637/Temperature%20Afghan%203-3-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="637" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvT5em-f7qUxKxlc3WV_xNRCcuwVhwtSoBvp0j6u3NZMRXEvip_WfjpnICSLtRjP21ezGxoO4Au2x7aLznTEbXXMD2gm8a81B6vCg4X338JJzy23oBuKMjdwgPAN8QyKTI51NbgiSX8zSNg8PJqn1btBs_NXyB4mmiwgkHOCMMAo5nuepyPmu8P2jUyc/s320/Temperature%20Afghan%203-3-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>January is on the left and the most recent is on the right. The last row is yellow; if you see some red on the extreme right it was part of what I was trying to rest the afghan against when taking its pictures.</p><p>It's going to be fun figuring out how to photograph the afghan next month because it is getting big.<br /></p><p>I'm racing against time in a way right now, because I normally don't crochet during the warm months. I don't want it to languish. <br /></p><p>Let's see how far I get by the end of the month.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-44956737511226045892024-03-04T00:04:00.000-05:002024-03-04T00:04:00.142-05:00Pretty Fly for a Monday #MusicMovesMe<p>It's Monday and it's time for music.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Let's introduce the Music Moves me bloggers:<span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join!<span style="color: red;"> (<i>Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please! Otherwise, your post may be removed, or may be labeled "No Music".</i>) </span> <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Our head host is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://newxmasdolly.blogspot.com/">Xmas Dolly, </a>and our co-hosts are Cathy</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b>from <a href="https://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy</a>, joined by </span></span></span></span></span>the knowledgeable Stacy </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">of<i><b> </b></i><a href="http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/">Stacy Uncorked</a> and, last but not least, ME.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I was thinking of a couple of songs. A slang meaning of the word "fly" can mean attractive or sophisticated. Of course, it can also mean to travel in the air.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">So how about some songs with the word fly?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r81AviZECUE" width="320" youtube-src-id="r81AviZECUE"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I am required by law to start this set with Gonna Fly Now from Bill Conti, better known as the theme from Rocky. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now, that we are in the mood to fly, let's get going.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QtTR-_Klcq8" width="320" youtube-src-id="QtTR-_Klcq8"></iframe></div><p>Let's start with The Offspring and Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) from 1998.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/usPkL2EQPYo" width="320" youtube-src-id="usPkL2EQPYo"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Weird Al Yankovic has done a couple of songs with the word "fly" but I'm inspired to use his parody of Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) called Pretty Fly for a Rabbi, from 1999.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-cmo6MRYf5g" width="320" youtube-src-id="-cmo6MRYf5g"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Here's the song that started my train of thought running. Curtis Mayfield and his 1972 hit Superfly. Back in the day, we owned the vinyl album. And no, we've never watched the movie.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcFXq5-XFeE" width="320" youtube-src-id="vcFXq5-XFeE"></iframe></div>How about a song from 1987? Pink Floyd and Learning to Fly.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yOzEeJZ92X8" width="320" youtube-src-id="yOzEeJZ92X8"></iframe></div><p>Let's end with a classic - Frank Sinatra and Come Fly with Me.</p><p>And that's a wrap!</p><p>Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-50902138304679911742024-03-03T09:00:00.000-05:002024-03-03T09:00:44.183-05:00Fencing with Shadows #ShadowshotSunday<p>Joining up with Lisa at <a href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2024/03/shadow-shot-sunday-march-3-2024.html">Lisa's Garden Adventures for #ShadowshotSunday.</a><br /></p><p>Good fences make good shadows. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3d75XIcgLyWFySPcWrBYdmk1yrHhNfpQch6pwyWVZIE01Iw__nmpRa5T7FWcWIac5qcMLAAkMT64C1IbY1Fjw2a5tvVP_00pM6jecAWVUIymwPGjc1CDkh2tcW9SrKxP1i7nhCtzy79H45Xv1MJNFDNKDG6HkmK5IlLJp7JyxcW45FtRCUnfdoAJ7ZQ/s640/Fence%20shadows%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3d75XIcgLyWFySPcWrBYdmk1yrHhNfpQch6pwyWVZIE01Iw__nmpRa5T7FWcWIac5qcMLAAkMT64C1IbY1Fjw2a5tvVP_00pM6jecAWVUIymwPGjc1CDkh2tcW9SrKxP1i7nhCtzy79H45Xv1MJNFDNKDG6HkmK5IlLJp7JyxcW45FtRCUnfdoAJ7ZQ/s320/Fence%20shadows%201.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>We had some sun this week. Not that usual for late February into March.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7gyt7Ou892w4QONzlPX-V1AMmC9Y5zTSArzh0KzEy0_rvQnqacIoI_BByY6FV8yV3HgBTvXGe9GreD8aeBzTVgev4wA5FR-7LiaVVnYOq8GRfq_RJdQeLfIcc0mUNxkQfMTfh3pSYpzrjvpe5UgWgXmmm8Ph7QtmN1O6Oo2Jm4un52KetYNuIw128k4/s640/Fence%20Shadows%202-25%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7gyt7Ou892w4QONzlPX-V1AMmC9Y5zTSArzh0KzEy0_rvQnqacIoI_BByY6FV8yV3HgBTvXGe9GreD8aeBzTVgev4wA5FR-7LiaVVnYOq8GRfq_RJdQeLfIcc0mUNxkQfMTfh3pSYpzrjvpe5UgWgXmmm8Ph7QtmN1O6Oo2Jm4un52KetYNuIw128k4/s320/Fence%20Shadows%202-25%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Why not come out of the shadows and join in on the fun, as we march into spring?<br />bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-83868081702850492622024-03-02T13:28:00.000-05:002024-03-02T13:28:07.476-05:00Spring in Winter Continues<p>After a spell of weather which included us setting a record heat for one day of 65F (18.3 C), we went on a walk yesterday to get pictures of crocus.</p><p>We had <a href="https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2024/02/unseasonable-snowdrops.html">already seen snowdrops </a>the week before.</p><p>Our own crocus are not out yet, but the unseasonable weather has them blooming early. We had seen crocus on one of our walks this week (our crocus aren't out yet, probably because where they are planted is a northern exposure) but it was too far away to photograph. That was in late February.<br /></p><p>On our walk yesterday we saw two spots of yellow crocus, but they were too far away to photograph.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAqI62EJ3K3PPp6b3GS9W9RfPxuthW7qDx1FY45waOS4gyodjrds92j3o53FjlCpKGBmN4etnuXnty7afMN-KY_OLohMDehQFYsmnxgD_wNkaEKVkSGuo6ryslQhO0m48fgxB1T49A7PeRXfLxk-AtoWBg10f3viMx1UndS5QpbUY_fjo9yZ4oLc4UZg/s640/First%20crocus%203-1%20not%20our%20house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAqI62EJ3K3PPp6b3GS9W9RfPxuthW7qDx1FY45waOS4gyodjrds92j3o53FjlCpKGBmN4etnuXnty7afMN-KY_OLohMDehQFYsmnxgD_wNkaEKVkSGuo6ryslQhO0m48fgxB1T49A7PeRXfLxk-AtoWBg10f3viMx1UndS5QpbUY_fjo9yZ4oLc4UZg/s320/First%20crocus%203-1%20not%20our%20house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>But then we saw this. I took two other pictures but they were too blurry to use.</p><p>I thought we were done, but Nature had one more surprise for us. My spouse pointed it out to me.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Ybr7QqKyP-Emrh1GLQYnL7fDDz98kmp87qpQ0Vmpq5Blqw_NpwQVOEyqi_sjU-TjiRFHaFs1wQxUGTnDwHI7y9dDsGnm1Jdz09Mxf8mIFmkg9WeHeusksVa_zzKtMGO_BQiOYvwXZgkTnr6602l4uqM_b7WOHJLKV_Py1h7zsxBUoXEtAxF6TNaQek/s346/Crocus%20and%20Bee%203-1%20shadow%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8Ybr7QqKyP-Emrh1GLQYnL7fDDz98kmp87qpQ0Vmpq5Blqw_NpwQVOEyqi_sjU-TjiRFHaFs1wQxUGTnDwHI7y9dDsGnm1Jdz09Mxf8mIFmkg9WeHeusksVa_zzKtMGO_BQiOYvwXZgkTnr6602l4uqM_b7WOHJLKV_Py1h7zsxBUoXEtAxF6TNaQek/w296-h400/Crocus%20and%20Bee%203-1%20shadow%202.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><p></p><p>A bee.</p><p>There have been other signs of spring. Our local birds seem, in the middle of February, to start singing again. We've noticed this same pattern for years.</p><p>I heard the first Northern cardinal songs around February 21. <br /></p><p>On February 26 we heard our first blackbirds and spouse saw our first common grackles. I know that they will socialize with each other during the winter. So none of this was a surprise.</p><p>But the crocus blooming the end of February isn't . This is reminding me a bit of 2016 when we had an early spring. And then we had a snowstorm.</p><p>We never got forsythia blossoms that year. The cherry blossoms were out and died. Many magnolia blooms did, also. Daffodils drooped to the ground, never to return that year.<br /></p><p>It was the year of <a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2016/04/dawn-of-dead-cherry-blossoms.html">what my spouse called droopodils.</a></p><p>We are in an apple growing area, and we've had two years recently with big failures due to early flowering and late frosts. I do not deny climate change. It's all around us.<br /></p><p>The year of the droopodil was heartbreaking. I hope it doesn't happen again. <br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-56739788578427393082024-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:002024-03-01T06:00:39.648-05:00February Sky Lines #SkywatchFriday<p>It's March, finally. Oh, that extra day! Where I live, we had a record high temperature on Tuesday and then, Wednesday night, a powerful cold front came through. Thursday was uncomfortable. We had periods of snow squalls and some peeks of blue sky in between the lake effect snows. </p><p>Today is supposed to be better. </p><p>Speaking of blue skies...<br /></p><p>For this first day of March I'd like to show you four views of the same sky as we walk along a somewhat circular path in our local park.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-XuL97gT9Vs1E0_cMxhUXUia06y2WZdUKIWl3QEQQyeqO7hJBPfwXMxNNUAnIpA16XNOd5Civ4gcKK_IRYAUYeFdP50btTi2lLYCZIEzR0wRDn0H73fh6sRAHOUZ7OdKKOiVTmFEJ7qfCdsxjpn_ikP4rd10vUgz6xDmyPP6In26wZA1XJ4KbAHsx30/s640/Sky%20lines%202-26%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-XuL97gT9Vs1E0_cMxhUXUia06y2WZdUKIWl3QEQQyeqO7hJBPfwXMxNNUAnIpA16XNOd5Civ4gcKK_IRYAUYeFdP50btTi2lLYCZIEzR0wRDn0H73fh6sRAHOUZ7OdKKOiVTmFEJ7qfCdsxjpn_ikP4rd10vUgz6xDmyPP6In26wZA1XJ4KbAHsx30/s320/Sky%20lines%202-26%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I was struck by all the contrails in the picture.<br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TawqpVyudB89aXNuI6gA3Pd9bKwYcp1G7Slt1RtRJU62hoCkj-2s5MKp7TtyQhpf_r5htuF1Mf52AZATjMfK4rdNa81T2csyjnc8TjZyXBEdd86U0BTI19K2Yx3WZxRVkUqLciR27-riMjpVYn-qC7PF6vysaZ3xnlzPUGgNmitEVQKkotrhslZQrhA/s640/Sky%20lines%202-26%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TawqpVyudB89aXNuI6gA3Pd9bKwYcp1G7Slt1RtRJU62hoCkj-2s5MKp7TtyQhpf_r5htuF1Mf52AZATjMfK4rdNa81T2csyjnc8TjZyXBEdd86U0BTI19K2Yx3WZxRVkUqLciR27-riMjpVYn-qC7PF6vysaZ3xnlzPUGgNmitEVQKkotrhslZQrhA/s320/Sky%20lines%202-26%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Some interesting clouds underneath the darker patch. I didn't see the dark patch with my eyes but that is what my iPhone 13 mini camera showed me. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ypQ860FXYsKoZsBUvH0oEeaocVSmaDhUaxUpQ95Rsk93eMGwo4TiWfolG4Vqs9zESjWGJsq55VMMGP2usKX61lNuWewI69XaNSqDhidNhxGs7fy7i9cYRShv2IIpM_wF7mGHJrTX9Fw_9rt23-Agwh_-nhyphenhyphenu0TSkG1sYhtYNAfrKG4rjks8GEqIp7fo/s640/Sky%20Lines%202-26%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ypQ860FXYsKoZsBUvH0oEeaocVSmaDhUaxUpQ95Rsk93eMGwo4TiWfolG4Vqs9zESjWGJsq55VMMGP2usKX61lNuWewI69XaNSqDhidNhxGs7fy7i9cYRShv2IIpM_wF7mGHJrTX9Fw_9rt23-Agwh_-nhyphenhyphenu0TSkG1sYhtYNAfrKG4rjks8GEqIp7fo/s320/Sky%20Lines%202-26%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Moving along... <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8ZB9hDkG9xbMwHPPU-qQ2sSXjJrOhVv_EXPPbiL1D_By7FNxUW3aVFJElyrkm4G0HrxdGIJnJ3folS6DuXoCjcQnNLoEHILSWM2rxO_xYG-L7Q2ra6QIwbAXlCJOxL-KOCWOgXKslWd3eWA8XqBkON1bS3ysSU820TubeQ7BvfdsiNR_7l1oltyhXws/s640/Sky%20Lines%20great%20color%202-26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8ZB9hDkG9xbMwHPPU-qQ2sSXjJrOhVv_EXPPbiL1D_By7FNxUW3aVFJElyrkm4G0HrxdGIJnJ3folS6DuXoCjcQnNLoEHILSWM2rxO_xYG-L7Q2ra6QIwbAXlCJOxL-KOCWOgXKslWd3eWA8XqBkON1bS3ysSU820TubeQ7BvfdsiNR_7l1oltyhXws/s320/Sky%20Lines%20great%20color%202-26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This last view is pointing towards the sun. What a difference the lighting made in this angle.<br /></p><p>Joining <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/2024/02/skywatch-friday-2024-leap-day-edition.html">Yogi and other skywatching bloggers </a>each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-35089829490971684252024-02-29T08:30:00.014-05:002024-02-29T08:30:00.147-05:00Leap Day Birthday?<p>Leap years. The day that only comes once every four years. Let's start this post, then, with something totally unrelated. <br /></p><p>I know someone who was born on July 4. </p><p>Here in the United States, July 4th is our Independence Day. It's celebrated with fireworks, outdoor BBQ's, and parades (not necessarily in that order). In my youth, most people had the day off. It's a national holiday.</p><p>I asked this person once, how old were you when you first realized all the celebrations weren't to celebrate your birthday? She just chuckled. Maybe she's been asked that a lot.</p><p>It makes me think, every February 29, about all those born on February 29. Technically, they only have a birthday to celebrate once every four years. It's kind of the opposite of the Fourth of July. No fireworks. No bonfires. No parades.</p><p>They only get to celebrate their true birthdays once every four years.</p><p>So, what about these people?<br /></p><p>Some <a href="https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/29_celebrities_who_were_born_on_leap_day_020124/s1__31421132#slide_3">talented people were born on February 29.</a></p><p>So what happens if you are born on February 29?</p><p>Congratulations! You have the rarest birthday a person can have. There's only a<a href="https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/leap-year-babies-celebrate-rare-birthday/"> one in 1,461 chance</a> a baby will be born on February 29. The link in the last sentence also explains why a leap day every four years in our Gregorian calendar.<br /></p><p>Most people born on that date celebrate (except in leap years) either on February 28 or March 1. </p><p>February 29 remains your legal birthdate for official IDs.</p><p>But you don't age 1/4 as fast as the rest of us.</p><p>And you have restaurants and other businesses celebrating with specials - <a href="https://www.boston.com/travel/travel/2024/02/15/leap-day-food-and-travel-deals-that-will-save-you-money/">like these. </a><br /></p><p>So, if today is your birthday, celebrate it in style. You are special! (<span style="font-size: x-small;">although maybe not as special as someone born on July 4th....only kidding!)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">And if any of my readers happen to have a birthday today - happy birthday!</span><br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-27341549688570078782024-02-28T07:18:00.000-05:002024-02-28T07:18:29.486-05:00Is Pluto a Planet? #WordlessWednesday<p>Last year, a Planet Walk was installed on our local Rail Trail. They managed to fit in all the planets over its span of 3.8 miles (6.12 km), including one that has an interesting back story.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoqs0uaFscyQxR7tqQBICWq0lG1muIl9tLHDUC35nBhH4mfWnrXZet8qNefKZ92914q7pao6f76thhu3eMZM3mrav3t60ZWbq9kyTNMdQtpllPteuOeMGOCshcfdIDDzWjRiiRNFNJO8yPbga6NmafbVFB7_nbvD5DvWD8xz_PyyBI6reN5AbvGufQ28/s1610/Pluto%20sign%20vestal%20rail%20trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoqs0uaFscyQxR7tqQBICWq0lG1muIl9tLHDUC35nBhH4mfWnrXZet8qNefKZ92914q7pao6f76thhu3eMZM3mrav3t60ZWbq9kyTNMdQtpllPteuOeMGOCshcfdIDDzWjRiiRNFNJO8yPbga6NmafbVFB7_nbvD5DvWD8xz_PyyBI6reN5AbvGufQ28/w251-h400/Pluto%20sign%20vestal%20rail%20trail.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p>Yes, Pluto. The planet that suddenly wasn't a planet. Except, maybe for Rail Trail purposes.<br /></p><p>Pluto was discovered in 1930 and <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/dwarf-planets/pluto/facts/">was named by an 11 year old girl.</a> All through my childhood, I was taught that Pluto was the furthest away of the planets and the last discovered.</p><p>But times have changed. Pluto was demoted to "dwarf planet" in 2006. People were upset. Really, many people were upset. But we've all had time to adjust now. And maybe that's how Pluto ended up on the Planet Walk.<br /></p><p>Yes, it's small. But it has at least five moons. It just hasn't "cleared its orbit", whatever that means. I read that, except for that cleared its orbit thing, it meets all criteria for being a true planet.<br /></p><p>Come on, how about it? How about reinstating it to true planet?<br /></p><p><br /></p>
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<p>Joining <a href="https://comedy-plus.com/wordless-wednesday-345/">Sandee at Comedy Plus</a> for her #WordlessWednesday. <br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-15350959203212642932024-02-27T06:47:00.005-05:002024-02-27T06:47:53.364-05:00The Annual Pondering<p></p><p>Last Tuesday, I <a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2024/02/aging-with-grace.html">blogged about Aging with Grace</a>. In that post, I blogged a little about blogging:</p><p><span class="NA6bn ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span class="NA6bn ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">I've also
thought about cutting way down on blogging. Several bloggers I know have
either quit in the last year, or cut way back. I hope it is for good
reasons.... <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="NA6bn ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><p><span class="NA6bn ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"> I've
blogged daily since May of 2011. In a way, my blog has become an
online journal. It's a fragile journal, one that could go "poof" at any
time if Google decides to discontinue the platform. But, for now, daily
blogging serves my purposes. It's a journal I can look at any time I
have an internet connection.</span></span></p></blockquote><p>There were some interesting comments from fellow bloggers. I thank everyone who commented on that post. Here are two of the comments, edited for length:<br /></p><p>From reader Liz at <a href="https://lawsofgravity.blogspot.com/">Laws of Gravity</a>: "Lately I've begun to think of my grandfather with regards to blogging.
He had a CB radio...My
brother and I would sit with him when we were kids in the '80s. But
looking back, CB radios would have had their heyday in the '70s. I think
blogging is becoming that. It's still here, but people are falling away
from it as newer social media has come in and shortened our attention
spans (yet again)." </p><p><span class="NA6bn ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><p></p><p> And Yogi, who heads the Friday sky watching meme I participate in at his blog <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/">Skywatch Friday,</a> commented: "I posted daily on my blog for years. Now it is three or four times a
week. You see it with everybody else with the decreased number of people
participating in the various memes....And I think we have lost lots of bloggers. It seems to be
an older person's passion. Some people just go dark and I don't know
if they have passed away or just tired of it all."</p><p>They both make good points. <br /></p><p>I wonder what I am going to find when it is time for an April blogging challenge I've participated in since 2015 to have its signup. Signup is starting on March 10 for the 2024 <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/">Blogging from A to Z Challenge</a> (A to Z for short). </p><p></p><p></p><p>This
challenge started in 2010 and continues every April for the entire month. Bloggers who
sign up (and some who don't) start April 1 with a post whose title and
subject begins with
"A". This year, "A" day will be Monday, April 1. Tuesday is for "B", and so on, except for Sunday. We follow this pattern all the way to Z on the last blogging
day of April (a Tuesday). So,
26 blogging days, 26 letters of the English
alphabet. Some letters are easy. Some are hard (think Q and X.)<br /></p><p></p><p>But each year, it seems fewer people participate and I get less eager to join up. Last year, especially, a number of blogs never even started (and didn't explain) or quit midmonth without even a "Thank you, and goodbye".</p><p><a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/what-is-blogging-from-to-z.html">Some statistics:</a></p><p>2010 (the first year) nearly 100 participants.</p><p>2011 - nearly 1300.</p><p>2012 - nearly 1700 </p><p>2023 - if my math is correct, 231.</p><p></p><p> A to Z turned out to be good for me last year when I contracted COVID, had a few days of feeling crappy and tired, and even a day when I would have been hard pressed to remember my own name, never mind read any blog. My blog posts, prewritten, posted on automatic pilot, so to speak.</p><p>Years ago, I was introduced to some great bloggers (like Liz of one of the above comments) and I think an A to Z Blogger led me to Skywatch Friday. An A to Z blogger also invited me to join the Monday Music Moves Me I participate in.</p><p>A fellow Music Moves Me person also co-hosts A to Z, and I respect this person highly. Actually, I respect all the co-hosts: this is a LOT of work. I don't want to waste their time.<br /></p><p></p><p>I agonize each year about signing up, I know. And, truth to tell, I already have a theme in mind.</p><p>But...do I still have the ambition? Is it still right for me? Have I done it too long? Is the joy gone?<br /></p><p></p><p>Will Blogging from A to Z be for me this year? Or will I take a Leap (this is a leap year, after all) of faith and seek something different?<br /></p><p>It's the hour of decision.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-14008313916934582092024-02-26T00:13:00.001-05:002024-02-26T00:13:00.139-05:00Pistachio Music #MusicMovesMe<p>It's Monday. It's time for music!</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Let's introduce the Music Moves me bloggers:<span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join!<span style="color: red;"> (<i>Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please! Otherwise, your post may be removed, or may be labeled "No Music".</i>) </span> <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Our head host is</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://newxmasdolly.blogspot.com/">Xmas Dolly, </a>and our co-hosts are Cathy</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b>from <a href="https://curiousasacathy.com/">Curious as a Cathy</a>, joined by </span></span></span></span></span>the knowledgeable Stacy </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">of<i><b> </b></i><a href="http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/">Stacy Uncorked</a> and, last but not least, ME.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We have a guest host this month-<a href="https://www.jinglejanglejungle.net/">Mary Burris from "Jingle Jangle Jungle". </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">For today, we have a choice of themes: either (since it is National Pistachio Day) spelling Pistachio using the first letter of song titles or artists/bands or, since this is a leap year, choosing songs with Leap or Jump in the song titles. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Let's give Pistachio a try, since I love these nuts so much. I have ever since I was a small child. So, in honor of that, I will also try to include some songs that mention food or have a food in the title, even if the song itself isn't about food.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">For my first song, I've had this on my blog before, but I thought of this right away. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzZSsCKfLvM" width="320" youtube-src-id="rzZSsCKfLvM"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><b>P</b>opcorn, from 1972 - a cover by Hot Butter.<p></p><p>Next, from 1983, a song from "Weird Al" Yankovic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/beTsDOBRs8I" width="320" youtube-src-id="beTsDOBRs8I"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>I</b> Love Rocky Road. (Not sure Rocky Road is only an American thing, but it is a flavor of chocolate ice cream with nuts and marshmallow).<br /></p><p>For S, a song from 1967.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/10LSq_J5ol4" width="320" youtube-src-id="10LSq_J5ol4"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>S</b>trawberry Fields Forever from the Beatles.</p><p>For T, I am going to choose an artist's name: Taco, who is an Indonesian-Dutch singer, actor, and more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YsGjFh1ke44" width="320" youtube-src-id="YsGjFh1ke44"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>T</b>aco with his 1983 hit Puttin' On the Ritz, which was a cover of a 1930 song written by Irving Berlin. Super duper!</p><p>For A, let's choose an instrumental. This is a 1960 song by Bobby Scott, who also co wrote the song. On this particular video, the song appears three times during the total of eight or so minutes of music written for the Broadway version of the British play from 1958. Later, this was famously covered by Herb Albert (and sped up). <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxSPwF7CLJM" width="320" youtube-src-id="nxSPwF7CLJM"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>A</b> Taste of Honey - Bobby Scott.<br /></p><p>For C there were many choices but only one song I could pick. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJi4bln-hHQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="OJi4bln-hHQ"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>C</b>heeseburger in Paradise from Jimmy Buffet.</p><p>The next song, from 1972, has a double meaning, and one of them isn't about food. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AhDWvIHjU6o" width="320" youtube-src-id="AhDWvIHjU6o"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>H</b>ot Potatoes from The Kinks. </p><p>Now we need some wake up music. How about another song with a double meaning?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i2RKWJD5ops" width="320" youtube-src-id="i2RKWJD5ops"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b>I</b>ce Cream Man a cover of a John Brim song by Van Halen.</p><p>Last but not least, for O, a duo by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. For this 1969 song, I Omitted the "The" in the title but I really want to end this post and go eat some pistachios. <br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ElC4UwYVuA" width="320" youtube-src-id="6ElC4UwYVuA"></iframe></div><br /><b>O</b>nion Song.<p></p><p>And that's a wrap!</p><p>Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.</p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-60140238208201811672024-02-25T09:07:00.000-05:002024-02-25T09:07:07.292-05:00Snow and Sun #ShadowshotSunday<p> After a day in the deep freeze, we are going to be back above freezing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5QFFNeogVayziLcJLd8Y5Vq51e8wbcfiyMNQxYT4mdDXs5gTckpGUy_c3C2qXjuVWdUuMizUcaO9IMjeiuJOQEapUtwdRDVFE6jBzKilWlfygD-49usKw4LqnfWfrvE_nKkIgRxZdFD5SeqgZhfF4skIFMDvBXaEuYfsCfVJiAvlHXf5G8Rpu5PHvJY/s640/Plants%20in%20snow%20shadow%202-17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5QFFNeogVayziLcJLd8Y5Vq51e8wbcfiyMNQxYT4mdDXs5gTckpGUy_c3C2qXjuVWdUuMizUcaO9IMjeiuJOQEapUtwdRDVFE6jBzKilWlfygD-49usKw4LqnfWfrvE_nKkIgRxZdFD5SeqgZhfF4skIFMDvBXaEuYfsCfVJiAvlHXf5G8Rpu5PHvJY/s320/Plants%20in%20snow%20shadow%202-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Plants from my flower garden covered in snow, February 17.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieca7Hj4iteYBtk7d7qps7LzMPM4X55PG0LPix_A79WUwLm-ni1H-d8fPzrZ-zqDS1ejl423ec5MSZ3s5RMUJ_k7G_glDdV3NgarfsAhKEcADWGZtw5TgulnPrl1e83ur81-am31oNoVdxepB6jFVD2RN_zaxzx4ejLpkpsCcl9ilrAWdeqTL0IYZIUBA/s640/Shadow%20of%20Gene%20on%20Rail%20Trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieca7Hj4iteYBtk7d7qps7LzMPM4X55PG0LPix_A79WUwLm-ni1H-d8fPzrZ-zqDS1ejl423ec5MSZ3s5RMUJ_k7G_glDdV3NgarfsAhKEcADWGZtw5TgulnPrl1e83ur81-am31oNoVdxepB6jFVD2RN_zaxzx4ejLpkpsCcl9ilrAWdeqTL0IYZIUBA/s320/Shadow%20of%20Gene%20on%20Rail%20Trail.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Several days later, shadows on the Vestal Rail Trail. Our snow is almost all melted.<br /><p></p><p>Joining <a href="https://lisasgardenadventureinoregon.blogspot.com/2024/02/shadow-shot-sunday-february-25-2024.html">Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventures</a> for #ShadowshotSunday. Why not come out of the shadows, if you have one or more shadowy pictures, and join us?<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-46641740586025955832024-02-24T11:49:00.000-05:002024-02-24T11:49:30.429-05:00Unseasonable Snowdrops? <p>Snowdrops, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, are more a<a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2017/03/spring-things-crocuses-bees-and.html"> late March or early April </a>bloom. </p><p>But, more and more, our climate is shifting. <br /></p><p>The plant zone people have noticed this too, with the recent changes in the zone maps. Our area has been a zone 5b (minimum temperatures -10F to -15F or ) and now it is 6a (minimums -5Fto -10F or -20.6 to 23.3C). The climate zones represent averages. It's not a reason to run out if you live in New York State and buy a, say, palm tree. </p><p>But back to this winter. Our low so far has been 10F (-12.2C). <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ID5E-2J7mSNwhj6eFj3to2BZEpzKIm0REdgSXbPLZJE3eASIOeCa5odc4zdVlNquRsVxTM6DUT2bnQZE_7gkmeK5-OTQTjlPTdnoVx8BjWTqgByVmS1gLRIsOTYMx-XFIqktRwavevLQQZit2oLtzxwG0DB9KMaURse3pjOb6dgoCCmsVztK5FBehBI/s640/Snowdrops%202-22%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ID5E-2J7mSNwhj6eFj3to2BZEpzKIm0REdgSXbPLZJE3eASIOeCa5odc4zdVlNquRsVxTM6DUT2bnQZE_7gkmeK5-OTQTjlPTdnoVx8BjWTqgByVmS1gLRIsOTYMx-XFIqktRwavevLQQZit2oLtzxwG0DB9KMaURse3pjOb6dgoCCmsVztK5FBehBI/s320/Snowdrops%202-22%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>These pictures were taken February 22. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJImSV8VT7nE08ouFuAXJ8-1WLQ9Twt7UwKkH53QhtR1WD7ZbktK2cAb1-wmQNJtFlzD0Hbx0at9fLKoWqYX6lGtcRaAjiiGGioaLmnPr_RgmW2l42esCs1dhp3Nwl5q70celWUD4tTYcuE20NJnkrBkE4TVkFcXtU3ugC8byIbJ-wFznSIkU_HdAoq0/s640/Snowdrops%202-22%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJImSV8VT7nE08ouFuAXJ8-1WLQ9Twt7UwKkH53QhtR1WD7ZbktK2cAb1-wmQNJtFlzD0Hbx0at9fLKoWqYX6lGtcRaAjiiGGioaLmnPr_RgmW2l42esCs1dhp3Nwl5q70celWUD4tTYcuE20NJnkrBkE4TVkFcXtU3ugC8byIbJ-wFznSIkU_HdAoq0/s320/Snowdrops%202-22%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>These aren't my snowdrops, but are on a busy residential street in Binghamton, New York. </p><p>No crocuses yet for us but a Facebook friend in New York City had crocuses blooming a couple of weeks ago. And yes, he's in a different climate zone.</p><p>Climate zones are an interesting topic to gardeners. This is an interesting discussion about <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/17wglne/ive_just_been_upgraded_from_zone_5_to_zone_6a/">someone being reclassified.</a><br /></p><p>True, we've had early springs before. <a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2012/03/winter-wednesday-twilight-zone.html">There was 2012, when snowdrops and crocuses were blooming the first week of March.</a></p><p>True, we've had <a href="http://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2017/02/local-saturday-spring-ends.html">bloom before in February. </a></p><p>But it isn't everything.</p><p>Still, when I first moved here in the 1980's, I never would have imagined snowdrops in February. <br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199270158927284616.post-3133177942887789832024-02-23T06:40:00.000-05:002024-02-23T06:40:38.497-05:00February Drama Skies #SkywatchFriday<p>During this past month, the up and down weather we've been experiencing here in the Southern Tier of New York has continued.</p><p>This made for some interesting skies. The first three are from February 18.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKoOw0xe7IBhTowjRAmrKTdpMiIeU-h1HDYqwc4IWpeS5jhviT-NyWU-2ynC1bm4whDukO0Ts2BgoX-5ImHgC7Byor0vBGuLEFlMGP4UocKVs5yy_hDp_kDA_TaUpfbJgQFL83QHHK2z4oCb58lHYtWbitjouJ37SHcbi5OOPnOJk-hLKv3p3GxiGxFU/s640/Sky%20with%20Sun%20and%20Snow%20Rays%202-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKoOw0xe7IBhTowjRAmrKTdpMiIeU-h1HDYqwc4IWpeS5jhviT-NyWU-2ynC1bm4whDukO0Ts2BgoX-5ImHgC7Byor0vBGuLEFlMGP4UocKVs5yy_hDp_kDA_TaUpfbJgQFL83QHHK2z4oCb58lHYtWbitjouJ37SHcbi5OOPnOJk-hLKv3p3GxiGxFU/s320/Sky%20with%20Sun%20and%20Snow%20Rays%202-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Between the ground and the first level of clouds, you can see some ray like things, which my spouse told me was snow falling that wasn't reaching the ground.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQWYnXpGqotOtU6kciEGI2ATxPOHBBmoDqs5vqzELjvHEXRzgz_MDYg0VtCSnLB7xrrM2oCy5wHBXcWacfD4sXfnVY_m-zSz70zRrlZ2sl0F3KIt_vTL4GEwuwVTjm9p8e9uwMq4v8lDu34Xl5TZTxKu50lAPc350dJxzNtKs3s_q35tc-fz_Neye7ts/s640/Sky%20with%20Sun%20and%20Snow%20Rays%202-18%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQWYnXpGqotOtU6kciEGI2ATxPOHBBmoDqs5vqzELjvHEXRzgz_MDYg0VtCSnLB7xrrM2oCy5wHBXcWacfD4sXfnVY_m-zSz70zRrlZ2sl0F3KIt_vTL4GEwuwVTjm9p8e9uwMq4v8lDu34Xl5TZTxKu50lAPc350dJxzNtKs3s_q35tc-fz_Neye7ts/w400-h300/Sky%20with%20Sun%20and%20Snow%20Rays%202-18%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>We walked to where we could get a better picture and zoomed in a little. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7aYxPcnxk_komDZNkNwkzfwgEHhiDgPrlEWDUt-6IB9WNJ6oKQHuZDgoxjnv6GW53L8Xy2atLOA2RD1ETom4tT7zWMs-O8Kck7VtV9eo2yw7koMzj1i1hWD7cODSKTkUzwtk01vqZ6HC42DrmQaf5VBWrT5nQZHQS41ItQ7Y_PFVGIZF228fyzhIbcU/s562/Sky%202-18%20Starlings%20in%20tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="562" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7aYxPcnxk_komDZNkNwkzfwgEHhiDgPrlEWDUt-6IB9WNJ6oKQHuZDgoxjnv6GW53L8Xy2atLOA2RD1ETom4tT7zWMs-O8Kck7VtV9eo2yw7koMzj1i1hWD7cODSKTkUzwtk01vqZ6HC42DrmQaf5VBWrT5nQZHQS41ItQ7Y_PFVGIZF228fyzhIbcU/w400-h336/Sky%202-18%20Starlings%20in%20tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We walked still further and passed some trees which were loaded (the small dots towards the top of the trees<br /><p></p><p>These last two pictures were taken in the same park on February 9.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dP3NSpWjFoi9UIOBgiPCt4E2mZlfuyT9Q39Pi7p4U7yt_b3r8_Wi3e-JlfHMwwHGLKEbyHjQbIdOTwwKZrykrLQxgXU5Z1coJ6YquznOqsr3RZr1ajhhF2zHQEAXZFF6jkypLk7G9EBZkZlDSJfbF0uimRXqpi96-JQxLNUOPcHL4lH3r_iHH8ErSiM/s1179/Geese%20flying%202-9%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1179" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dP3NSpWjFoi9UIOBgiPCt4E2mZlfuyT9Q39Pi7p4U7yt_b3r8_Wi3e-JlfHMwwHGLKEbyHjQbIdOTwwKZrykrLQxgXU5Z1coJ6YquznOqsr3RZr1ajhhF2zHQEAXZFF6jkypLk7G9EBZkZlDSJfbF0uimRXqpi96-JQxLNUOPcHL4lH3r_iHH8ErSiM/s320/Geese%20flying%202-9%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Two Canada geese flying, towards sunset, to their night time sleeping places. They are the dots in the center right. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX1raCk3EJsXap-NXy4Ww3hlLGsKyZgV1t9QYLX9Ktdr8-vX3G9MBhpQPRPjFM2yqAKj85cf9WnkUpscTcDg92c-JQleKFEF8X_x0X_aBnUjOR7b0k3sDDHFW4kf5DHFR29ZkHkr9SRlIDS_h6y91HtS_9pMZBhsiSQSBcz_kxbWWVMy9umShQy2vGOs/s1706/Geese%20Flying%202-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1706" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX1raCk3EJsXap-NXy4Ww3hlLGsKyZgV1t9QYLX9Ktdr8-vX3G9MBhpQPRPjFM2yqAKj85cf9WnkUpscTcDg92c-JQleKFEF8X_x0X_aBnUjOR7b0k3sDDHFW4kf5DHFR29ZkHkr9SRlIDS_h6y91HtS_9pMZBhsiSQSBcz_kxbWWVMy9umShQy2vGOs/s320/Geese%20Flying%202-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Four more in flight.<p></p><p>And to all, a good night.<br /></p><p>Joining <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/2024/02/skywatch-friday-22-february-2024-edition.html">Yogi and other skywatching bloggers </a>for #SkywatchFriday.<br /></p>bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589840841266507266noreply@blogger.com15