Age is Only a Number #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?  We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join!  We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.  

Why not join us? Here's our optional theme for this week:  You Pick.

I saw a meme on Facebook the other day that had a list of recording artists who were 70 or over and still recording and/or touring.  I decided to feature several of these artists and a past or recent song of theirs.

Willie Nelson, age 93 (April 29, 1933) who is currently touring. Dream Chaser, the song above, was released in May of this year.

Smokey Robinson, age 86 (February 19, 1940), touring in his "Legacy of Love" tour, is both a singer and a song writer. I chose his hit with the Miracles, Tears of a Clown, which he co-wrote.  This song was released on an album in 1967 and as a single in 1970.

Bob Dylan, age 85 (May 24, 1941) currently touring in his "Rough and Rowdy" tour. I chose the song that introduced me to him in 1965, Like a Rolling Stone, which was also written by Dylan.

Ringo Starr, age 85, performed in New York City last October and two of my in-laws went to see him.(They loved the concert).  It Don't Come Easy, from 1971, was co written by Ringo, with George Harrison. 

Steve Miller age 82 (October 5, 1943)will have a short residency in New York City in October (Steve Miller Rocks Rose Theater). I chose his 1976 hit Fly Like an Eagle, which Steve Miller wrote.

Finally, despite a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease made public last month, and also a diagnosis of breast cancer, 83 year old Carly Simon (born June 25, 1943) released new music in June.  That album included a song called Howl, co-written by Simon.

And that's a wrap!

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

Hydrangea and Pepper Shadow #ShadowshotSunday

 Today, a couple of photos of hydrangeas I took in a nearby town. 

It seems these are more popular as ornamental plants each year. 

Finally, here's a photo of a pepper display at a local farm market.

Soon, the veggies that say "autumn" to me will arrive at that same market.  There will be pumpkins and other winter squash of all varieties, early apples, Concord grapes, and pears.

Eventually the summer veggies: the sweet corn, the summer squash, the tomatoes that burst with flavor, will dwindle and eventually disappear.  

The wheel of the seasons continues to turn, as the days grow shorter and we approach winter, one humid day at a time.

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.

Puddles, Mural and Skies #SkywatchFriday

After the rains of last week where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, we cooled down a little but the past three days we returned to the heat and humidity.

July 30, puddles on the road after a deluge.

August 5, hot weather sky and a mural in a Southern Tier downtown.

August 6, mid day skies taken at same time in two different directions.

Yesterday, the weather report called for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. They passed to the north of us, but I took these pictures right before it started to drizzle.

Joining Yogi and other skywatching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday

Portland Parking Apology #WordlessWednesday

Seen in Portland, Maine, July 2024. 

Refreshing honesty. 

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Note:  If my blog disappears, Blogger is having a massive problem with them (or their AI?) taking down hundreds of  blogs for malicious content that doesn't exist.  They are trying to fix this, but if my blog disappears, you will know why. 

Heroes #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?  We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join!  We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.  

Why not join us? Here's our optional theme for this week: 

"The first sandwich was allegedly made on August 6, 1762, and was given the Lord of Sandwich’s name.  The dish consisted of meat placed between two slices of bread, which he requested because he was in the middle of a gambling game and did not want to interrupt it.

This week’s prompt is sandwich. Build a sandwich (acrostic) with your favorite song picks, find song titles, lyrics, or band names with sandwich or items found on a sandwich. This is a lite assignment, the object is to have fun!"

There is a type of sandwich that has many names here in the United States, depending on where you live. It's a sandwich made with a long Italian or Italian style bread, and can contain deli meat, tuna, meatballs, or other sandwich fillings.  In New York City, these sandwiches are called hero sandwiches (at least, that's what we called them in my New York City childhood.)  Just north of New York City, where my spouse grew up, they are called wedges. In New England, grinders.  Others call them hoagies.  Much of the country now calls them subs.

I'm going to go in a different direction for my first four songs.  These are songs mentioning the names of these sandwiches, although they aren't written about them.

Hoagies (a commercial) for a maker of deli meat and cheeses. You'll see what the sandwich looks like, and the song is...well, listen to it.

A live performance of Heroes - David Bowie.

We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) - Tina Turner, released in 1985 as the theme song for the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.  

Turning to subs:

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles, originally released in 1966.

For grinders, Judas Priest and Grinder, from 1980.

 Finally, a song mentioning bread: 1964's Bread and Butter - the Newbeats

And that's a wrap!

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

Milkweed Shadow #ShadowshotSunday

Today, I am digging into the near past archives for this milkweed photo.

Taken July 4 at a local park.

Although this doesn't have shadows, I wanted to share it with you today because it is important.

I wasn't able to get close to this monarch butterfly so it isn't the best quality but it is the only one I've seen this year.  I took this picture July 26 and cropped it as much as I dared.

I can only hope there are more butterflies out there.  I see fewer and fewer butterflies each year.  My small yard can't support milkweed, but milkweed is so important to them.  If you do want to plant milkweed, you may be interested in knowing that some types of milkweed grown in warm areas can be dangerous to monarch butterfly migration.

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday.
 

Two Sides of the Sky #SkywatchFriday

On Wednesday, our area got a lot of rain.  We broke a rainfall record where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, but it was nothing compared to the Hudson Valley of New York.  Our state capitol, Albany, received almost seven inches (17.78 cm) of rain, in two days, and many roads and areas were flooded.

Meanwhile, yesterday, we had intermittent rain showers.

It was interesting, if you faced different directions, the sky looked so different.

This was so much like a winter sky - this is a color picture, not B&W.

Now turn around and see the mostly blue sky.

Well, the mostly blue sky.

Joining Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday.

 

 

 

 

 

Wildflower Variety Pack #WordlessWednesday

For today's Wordless Wednesday, I bring you assorted wildflowers near where I live in New York State.

Wildflower bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace (white) and what I assume is purple loosestrife (an invasive plant).

Taken July 26, my phone identifies this as Canada goldenrod.

Taken July 28, chicory.

Yellow jewelweed.  I wouldn't be surprised if poison ivy was growing nearby.

Finally, my phone identifies this as swamp milkweed.

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
 

Plas Johnson #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music! I also apologize for the assortment of font sizes.  I don't know why this is happening but, not knowing html, I can't seem to fix it.  Anyway...

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?  We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join!  We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.  

Why not join us?  Our theme this week is "You Pick".  So, sadly, it is time for another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven.  Today we celebrate jazz musician Plas Johnson, who passed away July 15 at the age of 94, six days before his 95th birthday.  This talented musician played flute, clarinet , tuba, and saxophone.  He started out, as a youngster, singing with his father's family music group and, when given a soprano saxophone as a gift from his father (a professional saxophone player) taught himself to play it. 

You can find out more about his career, and listen to some of his jazz pieces at this site. 

He was perhaps known for his sax sol in 1963's Pink Panther Theme.  He performed on several other movie soundtracks and a number of rock songs (some of which I feature below).

Johnson was a session musician for over 20 years.  Here are some of the songs you can hear him on.

Help Me Rhonda - Beach Boys, from 1963, with Johnson on tenor saxophone.

1966's Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys, from the iconic album Pet Sounds. Johnson also played tenor sax here.

The Platters - The Great Pretender, 1955, with Johnson on tenor sax.

Lowdown - Boz Scaggs from 1976.  Johnson on tenor sax and contributed to the horn section.

Aja - Steely Dan from 1977, with Johnson on flute and tenor sax.

And that's a wrap! But first a bonus track:  The Pink Panther Theme. Note, you will have to go to You Tube (following link within the video) to play this. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

More Lily Time #ShadowshotSunday

Some lily shadows from the past week today for your pleasure.

Two of my daylilies, July 19. 

A neighborhood lily, July 24. 

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday. 

Puddle Before and After #SkywatchFriday

 It's been a while since I've posted puddle pictures, maybe because it's been a while since I've seen a puddle.

But these aren't just any puddles.

Last week, we, along with a lot of the United States, were dealing with bad air from wildfires.  But help was on the way July 18, in the form of a powerful cold front that brought rain, wind, and a possible F1 tornado to our area.  My neighborhood wasn't that impacted (except for small branches down) and s we were a lot more fortunate than many.  So, here are two puddles, one rain apart.

After rain number one, during which the bad air was still greatly impacting us, I was mystified to see a puddle with strange white bubbles.  Here is a picture.  You can barely see the sky, over to the left, as it is still so clogged with the bad air.

What is that white stuff?  Its residues from the wildfire smoke, brought down by the rain. When the rainwater hits the ground (so I've read), the water combines with oil from the road, breaking surface tension and resulting in that white stuff.

After the second rainfall, with better air behind it, I went out and took this picture.  Finally, we could see clouds again.

So much better!

I don't think I've ever had a puddle before and after.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers today for #SkywatchFriday.  You'll note the URL for the linkup is different - Yogi had to use a different website and hopefully, the linky will work.

Have a good week ahead. 

Mystery Ghost Sign #WordlessWednesday

Ghost signs (signs of long ago businesses no longer in business that were painted on the sides of buildings back in the day) have always fascinated me. 

Here is one of them, on the edge of the Court Street historic district of Binghamton, New York.  The district consists of some 87 buildings, most of which were commercial buildings built between 1840 and 1939. 

It's sad to see history fade away like this.  I can't make out enough of this building to know what business it was advertising.  I know there is another ghost sign not far from this building, which is in much better condition.  Strangely, I didn't remember seeing this one until I saw it in late June of 2026.  

I wonder if that sign has something to do with storage.  Perhaps I'll never know.

Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Hot Summer Music And Another Induction #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?  We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join!  We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.  

Why not join us?  Our theme this week is "In ancient times, “Dog Days of Summer” was connected with bad luck, mad dog attacks, unexpected thunderstorms, heat, and drought.  These days gained the “Dog Days” name because they are connected with a star in the Canis Major (Greater Dog) star system known as Sirius. Nowadays, “Dog Days of Summer” is associated for summer’s long hot days. Based on these interesting tidbits use your imagination to find music that’ll make us howl on the dance floor!"

Summer always makes me think of several songs dating back from my New York City Childhood.  I've had them on my blog before but I hope you enjoy them as reruns.  But before I do, it's time for another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven.

Freddie "Boom Boom? Cannon died July 17 at the age of 89.   

I best knew him for his 1962 hit Palisades Park.  Palisades Amusement Park was a now-closed amusement park in New Jersey, which I went to several times growing up in New York City. They were famous for a huge salt water pool and their musical entertainment, which included famous Big Bands, and, in the rock era, the Four Seasons, Bill Haley & the Comets, the Jackson Five, Diana Ross & the Supremes and yes, Freddie Cannon .  The property is now occupied by high-rise condominiums but New Yorkers of my age fondly remember it. 

Nothing says "summer" like amusement parks for many people. 

N

His first hit was Tallahassee Lassie". 

And now, to our theme.

Summer in the City - a 1966 hit for The Lovin' Spoonful. 

Dancing in the Street - a 1964 hit for Martha and the Vandellas.

Two more, from the 1970s:

 Hot Summer Nights - Walter Egan, best known here for his 1978 hit Magnet and Steel. 

I almost didn't include this, as I'll bet others include it, but here's a song from the movie Grease, Summer Nights, sung by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.  This was a big hit in the summer of 1978.

Tell me more?  No, I'm fresh out of words. 

And that's a wrap!

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

Still More Day Lilies and their Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Here are some day lilies in my garden for your Sunday enjoyment. 

This was taken July 14.  This photo is actually on its side because I liked how the shadow looked.

The next three were taken July 8.

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog for #ShadowshotSunday. 

Here We Go Again #SkywatchFriday

Like so much of the United States, our skies for the last two days have been blanketed by wildfire smoke.

 I missed photographing the sunrises and sunsets.  Wednesday, especially, I didn't even want to go out there.  The sky looked yellow (at least it didn't look red) and it smelled like a campfire.  Someone told me the Thursday sunrise was nice and red.  I was sleeping at the time.

Thursday, around 8pm, I took this picture.   I'm thankful that it wasn't bright orange like it was for so many people in the Northeast.

I hope we can return to this kind of sky soon. 

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day July 2026 #WordlessWednesday

It's another two memes for the price of one day - Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and Wordless Wednesday.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day has been a years old meme. hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens.  On the 15th of each month, flower gardeners from all over the world take pictures of what is blooming in their yard and/or houses.  Carol is retiring from this meme the end of the year, so this is the last July installment.

In my zone 6a Southern Tier of New York, it's hot and dry.  Today, we are also enduring a bonus - wildfire smoke.  I feel for all those affected.  Fire is a terrible thing.  So most of these blooms are from yesterday.

My astilbe didn't make it until today, alas.  And, I also have a confession.  In the last two years, my flower gardens have been neglected (long personal story why) and are a bit out of control. I'm going to have to pay someone to help me get it into shape, but not this hot week.

Much of the blooming in my gardens is from the humble daylily, and I'll be sharing some of my daylily collection in a minute.  But first, some non-daylily blooms.

Bee balm, leaves wilted but the flowers still beckoning bees.

Yellow million bells.

Yellow loosestrife.  Lesson learned from this plant:  when buying a plant from the local extension service plant sale and they warn you, "this is aggressive", believe them, no matter how pretty the plant is.  I started from one plant.  I don't want to count what I have now.

Ditto for these perennial sweet peas, which we grew from seed, and now wish we hadn't.

One of several hosts.  

Now the daylilies 

This is my oldest daylily.

I bought this at the same time, I think.  It was from a mail order nursery.

Thankfully, these beauties don't mind heat or little water.

 

These are my tallest dallies, and good thing, as they are competing with other plants.

I'm going to call it quits now, because I'd like to visit some of you, so have a Happy Wednesday filled with joy.

Linking up with Carol at May Deam Gardens for her #GardenBloggersBloomDay

Linking up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

A Total Eclipse of My Heart #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?  We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join!  We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.  

Why not join us?  Our theme this week is "You Pick" .  

It's my sad duty to conduct another set of inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven. 

Bonnie Tyler, Welsh musician, passed away July 8 after having been in a medically induced coma after emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal back on May 6.  She was expected to recover but it was not to be.    Tyler had a long musical career, including three Grammy Award nominations.

These are the three songs I know from her.

1983's power anthem Total Eclipse of the Heart was Tyler's biggest hit in the United States and I have to admit, as a total eclipse of the sun watcher (three successfully, one unsuccessfully) that this song has been played to death in connection with eclipse coverage.  As for me, I never tire of it.

1984's Holding Out for a Hero, from the Footloose movie soundtrack, subsequently was covered in at least two other movies, Shrek 2 and The Super Mario Bros. movie.

Finally from 1978, It's a  Heartache, was subsequently covered by Rod Stewart. For this tribute, though, I am using Tyler's original.

My next induction is for someone who died way too young.  Lauren Bennett, singer most famous for being included in Party Rock Anthem, died May 29 at the age of 36, but her passing was just recently announced.  Sadly, she had suffered from mental health issues and her father claims she never got the proper help. She leaves a six year old daughter. 

 I loved Party Rock Anthem.  Years ago I took water Zumba classes and nearly every session, we danced to this song.  Here is LMFAO, feat. Lauren Bennett. 

Finally, Paul Wheatbread,  the original drummer for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, died July 6 at the age of 80.  Causes of death were Alzheimer's and complications of kidney failure.   Here is their hit "Over You" from 1968.

So many heartaches recently, as the rock musicians of my youth and young adulthood pass away. 

And that's a wrap!

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

Silver Spotted Skipper #ShadowshotSunday

My bee balm plant is in full bloom.

On July 8 I saw a lovely butterfly on it.  I followed it around as it went from flower to flower.  

Thank you for visiting! 

I think this is the first time I've ever seen one of these butterflies.  Or are they butterflies?  I looked them up and, at least at the present time, the skipper family is considered a type of butterfly.  

Joining Lisa at This and That:  A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday. 

 

Saturday In The Park #SkywatchFriday

On July 4, my country (the United States) turned 250 and my spouse and I decided to have a quiet day.

We didn't go to any live fireworks shows.  We sat back, watched TV, had a simple dinner, and watched the sky.

Except for the last photo, these were all taken during a walk at a local park. 

I went out again about 9:10 pm.

A bit surprisingly, we didn't have as many unofficial (as I call them) neighborhood fireworks shows., but the vanishing light after the sun sent down created layers of beauty.

 It was a nice Saturday In the Park.

Joining Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday.