Finding April Shower (Songs) #MusicMovesMe

 It's Monday and it's time for music!

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is "Rain Showers".  Silly me, I thought it was "April Showers" so that's what I blogged about.  I guess the recent rains we've had made me read the theme that way.

There are lots of songs out there about rain, but not that many about April showers.  So let's start with a song called April Showers, which was originally written for a Broadway play in 1921. I remember it still being popular when I was growing up in the 1950's and 1960's.  It's been covered by many artists but I'm choosing this 1921 recording from Al Jolson.

April Showers. 

 Little April Shower from the Disney movie Bambi.

March Winds and April Showers - Teddy Joyce and His Orchestra, from 1935.

Some songs hat may or may not be specifically about April showers:

Here's a cute children's song: The Kiboomers and April Showers Bring May Flowers.

Rain, from the Beatles. 

 I'll wrap up with Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, a 1969 hit for B. J. Thomas.

 And that's a wrap!

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

 

 

Early Spring Flowers #ShadowshotSunday

Spring has come early to the Southern Tier of New York.  I'm hoping it stays that way and that we don't get a late snowstorm.  That has happened before.  These pictures were taken April 4.

Forsythia. 

My favorite violet.

Flowers, of course, must be pollinated. Just guessing this is a bee ornament.

Joining Lisa at Lisa's Garden Adventure for her #ShadowshotSunday (even though it is Saturday, as I will be busy most of tomorrow).

Desiring Spring Skies #SkywatchFriday

 It's nice to see some clouds besides the usual winter gloom, although we are still getting some of that, too.  Yes, spring has arrived where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

I liked the look of this particular sky.

First nice puddle picture in a while.

Clouds and river.

 

Bonus picture from my guest photographer.

One more for the road - snowdrops in a local park, also taken March 29.  No sky, just Nature's beauty.

Have a great week.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Bald Regal Eagle #WordlessWednesday

Today, I am borrowing from my guest photographer's portfolio. Because my friend has a DSLR and lives in a rural area, she can capture a lot of bird pictures that I can't with my iPhone 13 mini.

While visiting Owego in mid-March, someone pointed out a tree to us that had a bald eagle nest.  With a little patience my friend got these pictures of one of these majestic eagles.

Bald Eagle looking Regal.

Yes, I'm talking to you!

Stop staring at me!

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

April Fool Classics

A Tuesday post from me.  April Fool!

(No, this is a real post.)

After some eight years of doing the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I've had to skip doing it this year, due to circumstances beyond my control.  But I can bring back a previous tradition on my blog today.

Before I joined A to Z, I used to post an annual April Fool post. 

So today, on April Fools Day, I want to talk about The Good Old Days.

April Fools Internet pranks are fun to find each year but if you think about it, enough of the top hoaxes of the last hundred years (including the famous BBC Spaghetti Tree Harvest Documentary) predate the Internet. 

But, thanks to the Internet, I can also bring you this classic hoax from 1957. 

And I can bring you another classic - the flying penguins of 2008.

 It isn't just the fine folks at the BBC that can create hoaxes.  We Americans got hoaxed but good on April 1 1996 when Taco Bell bought one of our great patriotic symbols - or did they? 

Here are some other hoax ads.

 But we used to have a lot of fun "in the old days" with April Fool's jokes in magazines - including special TV supplements published in TV Guide magazine.  I wonder if anyone else remembers this, because I can't find anything online about these April Fools issues except, perhaps some people selling said magazines on eBay. 

Back then, before cable TV systems had online TV programming information, and before cable TV further homogenized the weekly TV listings, a weekly magazine called TV Guide published the listings.  They had tens of of regional editions and I loved to collect them when I went traveling.   Just think of how much work this all took. I still have some of them, too.

At least twice in the early 1960's I remember the issue that would have contained listings for April 1 having a special section, with hoax TV shows and other non-information. 

This, of course, was part of a distinguished April Fools tradition of hoax magazine articles. I just think it would be so cool if anyone else remembered what TV Guide did - and if I could even see some of those issues.

But now, in our modern world, I'll have to rely on an online site tracking the 2025 April Fools jokes.

Let me wrap up by wishing all my readers participating in A to Z a wonderful month to come. 

When We Were Young #MusicMovesMe

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

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is "You Pick".

Earlier this week there was another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven, with the death of Jesse Colin Young, songwriter, vocalist, and founding member of The Youngbloods, on March 16.  He was 83 years old.  The cause of death was "complications of cardiac, atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease".

"Get Together" brings me back to a time when life seemed to be...dare I say it, less complex?

All we would need to do is smile on our brothers, get together, and try to love one another right now.  So, without further comment, here is the 1967 hit song "Get Together" by the Youngbloods.  Now that I hear this song as a senior citizen, the lyrics call to me once again.

It made me think, too, of these songs. 

Richard Chamberlain, an actor that I remember from the TV show Dr. Kildare, died March 29 at the age of 90 after having suffered a stroke.  But did you know that he was also a singer?  Here he is with the song "They Long to Be Close to You" (no parenthesis) in 1963. I never knew Richard Chamberlain was the original singer of this song, which later became a hit for The Carpenters.

The Beatles and "Yesterday".  When this came out in 1965, it was instant love for me.

1988's "Forever Young" from Rod Stewart.

1984 and Alphaville's "Forever Young" (a different song). 

The Carpenters and "We've Only Just Begun".  It's so sad hearing this song and knowing that Karen Carpenter died when she was only 32 years old.

Do I dare to close with The Who's "My Generation" with its infamous line "Hope I die before I get old"?  Now, Roger Daltrey just turned 81 on March 1, and Pete Townshend is 79. Has anyone asked them recently about growing old?

And that's a wrap, on this last day of March.

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

Chicken Stir Fry #ShadowshotSunday

Friday, I took a picture of a chicken stir fry I made, and I said to myself, why not use this shadowy picture for a Shadowshot Sunday?

Chicken Breast strips with California Blend frozen vegetables, served over spaghetti.

I was given this spur of the moment recipe by a family member after I found a boneless chicken breast in the freezer that needed to be used up.  If anyone is interested in the recipe, I can post it (perhaps) next Sunday.

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

Feathery Skies of March #SkywatchFriday

On Wednesday, it snowed.  Fortunately, despite Winter's best efforts, it ended up melting.

 On Thursday, this was the sky. 

A few feet away.

And framed by tree branches. 

It's so nice to see blue skies again.  

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

March Flowers #WordlessWednesday

Spring has arrived in my front and back yards. Finally!

The crocuses have arrived.

More crocuses.

Finally, my purple Lenten rose.

I know these aren't the pictures I promised last week but I am so excited to finally have flowers. These pictures were taken Tuesday.

 

Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday 

Is It Spring? #MusicMovesMe

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

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is "Spring Time Again"

Of course, where I live, I would have to say "not so fast!". The weather in March is so variable - spring one day, winter the next, lots of wind - but my crocus are blooming, the birds are singing, and I'm counting the days until winter leaves for good.

So, how about some appropriate music?

The Association and "Windy", from 1967.

 April in Paris, from 1932, here here done by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1956.

A Johnny Cash song from 1965 - When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's 40 below), a duet with June Carter.

For musical lovers, here is It Might as Well be Spring, from the 1945 film State Fair.

Let's wrap it up with a song that makes me think of spring - The Rain, the Park, and Other Things, from the Cowsills.

And that's a wrap!

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

Early Spring Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Many of our native trees are blooming.  Soon, leaves will appear and you won't find shadows like this.

Bare trees have a certain beauty, as do their shadows.

And, the crocuses are blooming.

This is the nice parts of spring.

But, our changeable weather struck again - a handful of hours after I took this picture, it clouded over, rained, and the temperature dropped.  Winter still won't let go but at least there were no severe weather events.  We've been fortunate so far.

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

False Spring Skies #SkywatchFriday

Where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, it takes several weeks for winter and spring to fight it out.  True, spring officially began at 5:01 AM yesterday, but that doesn't mean anything to the weather.

Wednesday and yesterday, we had blue skies.

Wednesday, I went for a routine preventative test.  The hospital where it took place used to be a Catholic hospital and the new, secular owners have kept this grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary.  I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Later on Wednesday, I was in Owego, New York.  Last week, I had become aware of a bald eagle's nest near the Susquehanna River.  A gentleman  pointed it out to me, and I took this picture.  You can't see it, but it's in the evergreen tree on the right, about two thirds of the way up.  I'm thinking there is a nesting pair in there as there is an eagle occasionally flying back and forth.

Finally, a blue sky from Thursday morning. 

The one bad thing about this weather - fire danger. Breeze and dried leaves are a bad combination. In fact, on Wednesday, there was a brush fire a few miles from here and several roads had to be closed for a time.

So why did I call this post False Spring Skies?  Because our short series of beautiful spring days ended yesterday, and winter has made a comeback.  It's going to be winter probably all next week, too.

It was nice while it lasted.  Hopefully, Spring will return soon for another try.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Hooded Merganser #WordlessWednesday

Today, I am borrowing a photo from my guest photographer, who (unlike me) has a high quality DSLR. 

She's taken some great bird pictures lately.

Hooded mergansers are a small fish-eating duck.  I have never had the pleasure of seeing one (knowingly) but my guest photographer, who lives out in the country, got this capture earlier this week in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.

Enjoy!

Next week I hope to feature other of her photos.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

St. Patricks Birds and Spring #MusicMovesMe

 It's Monday, it's St. Patrick's Day, and it's time for music!

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is "You Pick".

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am going to start with some Irish/Celtic singers/groups.

The Pogues and the Dubliners with The Irish Rover. 

I can't resist the Dropkick Murphys - my selection is I Wish You Were Here".  You may want to have tissues at the ready. 

Now, let's lighten the mood.

U2 and Beautiful Day. 

Dexy's Midnight Rummers and Good Night Eileen in the song's TV debut on, of all things, a children's show.

Couldn't resist a short Irish Spring commercial.

Finally, time for something different.

 It's also near spring, and the birds are singing.   

The land is coming alive where I live and I can't resist something Disney with a song from my childhood - actually it predates it, as the song was written in 1932.

Finally, speaking of Disney, how about this vintage commercial combining the original Disneyland in California and the advertising song Come Alive! 

I'm counting the days to spring.

And that's a wrap!

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

Shadows On the Street #ShadowshotSunday

Spring is almost here, and I know this because our gloomy sky days are diminishing.

 

Shadows are reappearing, like this tree shadow.

And shadows across the road.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day - would love it if you join me tomorrow for some musical selections. 

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day March 2025

Beware the Ides of March, as the saying goes.  Well, hopefully not here in my zone 6a garden in the Southern Tier of New York.

The weather has swung from spring to winter to back again, as it does in March, but today is supposed to have beautiful, spring like weather.  Today is also Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the 15th day of each month, and is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Gardeners from all over the world show what is blooming in their yards and/or homes.

The most important thing about today is that I have both indoor and outdoor flowers to show you.  Again, I don't have much, but I think April will solve that issue.

Outdoors, my early white Lenten Rose is still blooming with new flowers opening up (top flower).  

In a few days, our purple Lenten Rose will join with its blooms. Right now they are only buds.

On the side, early daffodils are coming up.  Sadly, these rarely bloom as they are in almost full shade now (they came with our house, almost 40 years ago).  They need to be dug and relocated. Our crocuses should be coming up any day now, too.

Indoors, an African rose is putting out occasional blooms.   

A couple of the impatiens I rooted last fall are also still blooming but none of the flowers are open right now.

Hopefully, there will be a lot more to show you in April.

If you want to see more flowers from all over the world, why not click the link above, go to the linky and see what else is in bloom?

Just Ordinary Skies with no Pi? #SkywatchFriday

On this Pi Day,3-14 (as we write dates in the United States) I have no pie or Pi) to offer you, only skies.   (But if you click on the link, you'll see a recipe).

Maybe to you these are ordinary skies, but to me, they announce the coming of spring and the end of ceaseless (or almost ceaseless) gloomy days.  Enjoy these pictures from earlier in the week.

Wispy skies.

Trees and river.
 

Trees in a row.

Sometimes, ordinary is so welcome. 

Happy Pi Day to all who celebrate.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Beautiful Mystery Cat #WordlessWednesday

Any guesses what breed this cat is?

 

This 13 year old cat, owned by someone we know, is possibly the friendliest cat I've ever experienced, coming right up to people, asking to be petted.  Doesn't eat plants.  Doesn't rip up furniture.  I met him or her (I forgot which!) for the first time on Saturday.  They also told me the weight, which I forgot.

 But this cat's servants don't know the cat's breed. 

I did not take measurements and, unfortunately, this picture doesn't show the tail.

My cat identifier function on my iPhone guesses either Norwegian forest cat or Maine Coon Cat.  

My dear cat loving friends:  any guesses?

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

 

Shades of Green #MusicMovesMe

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

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is "Shades of Green".  Although we don't have much green where I live, at least the ground isn't covered with snow.  So for my flavors of green, here are my selections.

Let's start with a singer, Al Green, and his biggest hit.  From 1972, here is Let's Stay Together.

A group name:  Green Day, with their 2004 hit Boulevard of Broken Dreams.  I love this song.

Creedence Clearwater Revival and Green River, from 1969.

 Green Tambourine, a 1967-68 hit from The Lemon Pipers.

 Finally, from 1975, The Outlaws with Green Grass & High Tides.  I love this song.

And before I go, here's a photo I shared yesterday that fits this theme exactly.  This really is the time of year where you look for green everywhere.

And that's a wrap!

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

St. Patricks Day Shadow #ShadowshotSunday

A St. Patrick's Day display at a local restaurant.

Is it too early to celebrate?  Our area's St. Patrick's Day parade was yesterday, so I would say "no".

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