No Flower Left Behind

For the past twelve (I think) years, I've participated in a monthly, 15th of the month meme called Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, where gardeners from all over the world show what is blooming in their homes or yards (or patios, or other living spaces) on the 15th of each month.

Each spring, there are flowers that just never make it to the 15th of the month, and this year, I am going to pay tribute to some of mine, especially one that I've misidentified for years.

I don't want to leave any flower behind this May.  What a beautiful spring it has been so far.

These are all gone now, not to be seen again until next year.

This tree, for years, I thought was some kind of late blooming cherry tree.  We had gotten in years ago as a small sapling from the Arbor Day Foundation.  Now that I have an iPhone with a built in plant ID app, that app tells me that what I have is a Japanese crabapple.  I guess that explains why this tree blooms at the same time as crabapples in my neighborhood.  Oh well.  It's still beautiful, as you can see from this May 2nd photo.

Closeup, May 6.  Due to a cool down, the flowers lasted longer than usual.  Ditto for the below tulips.

Here's a small cluster of tall, thin tulips, taken May 2.

Taken May 6, open. 

My favorite tulip, May 6.  Love those fringes.

Red tulip, May 6.

Last but not least (and who knows, it may bloom again on May 15) a wood poppy we purchased from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello some years ago blooming on May 6.

May your spring be beautiful (for those of us in the Northern hemisphere).

Join me for more flowers Monday, May 15, when I link with Carol at May Dreams Gardens for her 15th of the month Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Flooded Park Skies #SkywatchFriday

On May 1, our area experienced localized flooding.  This local park has flooded a lot worse, but it made for some interesting sights.

Let's check it out.

Nice, puffy clouds,  Center bottom of the photo is a walking path leading into what had become the river.

Canada Geese (in the distance, look like dots) were enjoying themselves.

No one is going to park here (the bottom part of photo is the parking lot).

This picnic has been cancelled.

Later in the week, clouds gathered again, but the flooding was done.

One more view as the waters receded.

 By May 5, mud on the paths it had dried and left interesting patterns.  For a few weeks, this mud will be hazardous for walking if it's wet.

We escaped the worst.

 Joining Yogi and other skywatchers every Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

These Modern Times

Yes, I'm late posting today.  I just couldn't bring myself to write a perfect post about something that happened yesterday, so let's just leave it at the bare facts.

I only found this out from a co worker who lives near our public school complex.

She texted me about 2:45 yesterday saying that the high school apparently was on lockdown.  The school buses weren't being released to take students home; the entrance was blocked by police and she saw five police cars go up into the entrance area.

I wasn't at home at the time, and I didn't know anything about this.  She texted back advising she was going to contact another co worker whose daughter is a teacher in another district.

She texted me back a few minutes later.  Apparently there had been a bomb threat on social media.  The students were being released from lockdown.

All in a day's work.

I can't seem to find media reports of this incident.  Maybe that's what we've come to - this happens so frequently that it is no longer news.  When I used a search engine, I found reports of so many bomb threats. 

We do know what gets into the news.  The community I used to work in until COVID is one of many, too many, communities that have suffered mass casualty shooting events in the past few years.  Ours was in an adult classroom for immigrants.  The shooter was a former student, also an adult.

But there is a lot more just underneath the surface of calm.

I have several relatives who are teachers (none in this area) and a couple of more who are retired teachers or paraprofessionals.  My spouse also has a cousin or two who are teachers.  

I don't even know what to say or think anymore.

They are in the thick of it, along with people I know who have school aged children.

Perhaps, for today, I'll just post a picture of a male Northern Cardinal in my yard, taken on May 8th.  And, Monday, it will be Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  I'm going to spend this afternoon transplanting bedding flowers into planters.  Good, happy things that will keep me busy.

Things that will take my mind off the grim things on this beautiful spring day.

I've also been trying to stay off of social media, so if it takes me longer to approve comments than usual, I hope you'll understand.

I will be back tomorrow with a timely post for Skywatch Friday.

Tree Topping #WordlessWednesday

 Our local hospital is having a badly needed addition built.

 

This is what the building under construction looks like.  Do you see an evergreen on what will become the roof?  Maybe not - it's tiny in this view (taken from the road) but it's almost in the center of the photo.

Let's crop the photo and see the tree better.

My spouse wondered why the tree was there.  I knew the basic facts, but wanted to learn more.  Turns out this is called a "topping tree".  Hoisted with the top beam, it indicates the building has reached its final height.

Turns out that topping a building with a tree is an old custom, dating from at least 700 CE.  Some builders believe it will bring luck to those inhabiting the building when it is completed.

Since this will be occupied by a hospital, let's hope so.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday

A Saturday Farmers Market Post on Tuesday

 Several times a year, I do posts on what is being sold at our local farmer's market.  I usually do those posts on Saturday, but this weekend I was putting my hanging baskets together, plus spouse and I had to go to our community garden orientation.  

So, my Tuesday readers are being treated to what would have been my Saturday post.  Not only that, but this is from the market of April 29, so I'm a little behind.

This is the time of years where some special local foods appear in the Saturday morning Binghamton, New York year round indoors farmer's market. 

Fiddleheads.  These are the tightly coiled fronds of a fern, and are said to taste like asparagus.  They are only available at this time of year.  I had them once and I wasn't fond of them.  Oh well.

The other local delicacy is ramps.  This one we don't eat because of my spouse (I do like them).  They are a type of wild onion.

Both of these normally come from the wild, and can be overharvested.  

The rest of these we are more familiar with.

Mushrooms.  Alas, their season will be over soon.

Carrots.  We love these big, thick carrots.  My spouse cuts them into french fry size and shaped pieces, and cooks them in the air fryer from time to time.
 

Asparagus.   Their season is limited, too.

As much as I can be saddened by the brief seasons of some of these delights, I also know that other veggies will be arriving as their season comes.  We will soon pass our last frost date, too, and my spouse will be busy working in the community garden now that it is open.

Do you frequent farmer's markets?

Gordon Lightfoot RIP #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and today, it's time for another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven on my blog.

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   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 Yours Truly.

Why not join our music loving folks?  It's so easy. All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video.  No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.   

Today our theme is "You Pick" and I am going to pay tribute to Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who passed away May 2 at the age of 84 from natural causes.  He had cancelled a tour about a month ago due to unspecified health related conditions.  Lightfoot had been awarded 13 JUNO awards, plus the Companion of the Order of Canada award, which is awarded for "outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large."

Where do I begin?  It's hard to pick a favorite to start with.  His voice is so gentle and he was a master storyteller.

How about Carefree Highway, from 1974?  Yes, it's a real highway in Arizona, and the Arizona Department of Transportation has a blog post discussing the song.

If You Could Read My Mind, from 1971. 

1974's Sundown was his only #1 hit.

Rainy Day People, from 1975.

And last, but not least, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a song which reached #2 on the Billboard charts. I know this isn't everyone's favorite song, but, although it is not 100% accurate, it is one of my favorite songs. (In 2010, he made minor changes in the lyrics performed live, from more recent research done on the incident).  And, if you like a spooky postscript, someone wrote on the song's You Tube page that a spring squall passed through Northern Michigan the night Gordon Lightfoot passed away.

The wreck took place in November of 1975 and the song came out in 1976.  In a 2010 interview, Lightfoot said this is the song he was most proud of.

Rock and Roll Heaven is enriched by the induction of this new member.

And that's a wrap!

Join us again next for another episode of Music Moves Me.

Beast Mode #ShadowshotSunday

 Today was the annual (except during the pandemic) Binghamton (New York) Bridge Run.  I don't run but we decided to take a walk (long after the race was done) in one of the run neighborhoods this afternoon because the spring foliage is so pretty.

There were a couple of turning signs I saw, with affirmations to motivate the runners.

 This one says "Beast Mode" and it has my shadow in it.  It made for an interesting contrast.  What if there was a real beast going after the runners?  Now, that would be motivation.

So I'll show you the other one.  "I Will".   As in "I will escape the beast!"

Joining up today with Shadowshot Sunday.

A Moment of Nature

Nature has so much to offer us, if only we spend the time to watch.  I'm guilty of not watching enough.

Today, we were getting in our car to go to a charity car wash.  Spouse noticed this beautiful butterfly on one of our lilac bushes.    Here in the Southern Tier of New York, the lilacs are opening up.

I think this is a male eastern tiger swallowtail.  I followed it as it flew to another lilac flower.

One more view before it flew away.

In our local park, we were delighted to see this Virginia bluebell in bloom.  There was only one small patch and it was a little bit off the trail, so this is a little blurry.

Another view.

Finally, I was able to capture a grey catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) singing on the Vestal Rail Trail the other day.  I published one photo yesterday but remembered I had another one.  Here our little feathered friend is.   The other photo was better - you will barely see our friend in the center of today's photo.  

These birds are full of personality and we immediately put out a cut orange out just in case one was returning to our yard.  We had a pair last year and they tend, I understand, to return to the same territory year after year. (I know I wouldn't like them as much if I grew fruit, because they love fruit.)

What a beautiful spring day, and I need to get out and enjoy it.

Spring Green and Catbird Grey #SkywatchFriday

Spring color has come a little early to the Southern Tier of New York State.  Our up and down weather seems to be evening out a little.  Although high temperatures recently have struggled to make it out of the 50's (13 or so degrees C), I have plenty of spring color and skies to show you.

Let's take a walk.  No worries, although I used an AI assist for yesterday's Star Wars day blog post (and disclosed that), I was less than impressed, and this blog post is 100% human written and photographed.

During the week of April 27, the tree leaves were coming out in shades of spring green, and cloudy skies threatened rain.  Earlier this week, in fact, this park partially flooded for a couple of days.

Green, blue and white with purplish hills beyond.

Clouds by the river.  Doesn't this look peaceful?

Finally, some clearing.

And today, on another walk, we saw our first grey catbird of the season.  Our summer feathered visitors have returned or will return soon. Yes, spring is really here.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

May the 4th Be With All of Us

Today, May the 4th, is Star Wars Day (May the Force (be with you)).  This has become a day for Star War fans to celebrate.  But could any of us have foreseen the sudden appearance on the scene of AI?

We may need The Force sooner than we think.

Up to now, I've resisted playing with AI.  But yesterday, I got a message from the Bing search engine, a search engine I rarely use.  I know it is using AI now, and it encouraged me to chat, or ask a question, of it.  I decided that May the 4th might be a good day for the Bing AI to write a blog post about Star Wars Days, and I asked it to.  This was its response (below, in red.)

It came with footnotes and links - I'll give it that.

I'm not a professional writer (and I don't intend to use AI to write future posts - if I experiment further I will fully document what I did).  AI concerns me a lot, as an almost lifelong reader of SF.  So, I will simply ask my readers, some of whom are professional writers.

What do you think of AI?  What do you think of this fully AI written post? This is what one expert thinks about AI.  

One of the things he suspects is that AI may already (as in "right now") be smarter than us humans.

It wouldn't surprise me at all.

May the 4th be with all of us. 

The rest of this is the AI generated post.

May the 4th Be With You: How to Celebrate Star Wars Day in Style

If you’re a fan of Star Wars, you probably know that May 4th is a special day for the galaxy far, far away. It’s Star Wars Day, a pun on the famous phrase “May the Force be with you” that has become a global phenomenon. But how did this unofficial holiday start, and how can you join in the fun? Here are some facts and tips to help you make the most of this epic day.

The Origins of Star Wars Day

The first recorded use of the phrase “May the 4th be with you” was in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became the prime minister of Britain. Her party placed an ad in a newspaper that said "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."¹

Since then, Star Wars fans have adopted the date as a way to celebrate their love for the franchise. The popularity of Star Wars Day grew with the help of social media and fan events. In 2011, the Toronto Underground Cinema organized the first official Star Wars Day festival, featuring costume contests, trivia games, and screenings of fan-made films.¹

In 2013, Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, officially recognized Star Wars Day and began hosting annual events and promotions at its theme parks and online platforms.¹

How to Celebrate Star Wars Day

There are many ways to show your appreciation for Star Wars on May 4th. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Watch your favorite Star Wars movies or shows on Disney+. You can choose from the nine-chapter Skywalker Saga, plus two spinoffs (Rogue One and Solo), or binge-watch the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels. You can also catch up on the latest live-action series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, or watch the new trailer for the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series.²³
• Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character or wear some themed clothing or accessories. You can find a variety of options online or at your local stores, from T-shirts and hoodies to hats and
• socks. You can also check out some of the new products released for Star Wars Day, such as Orbitkey’s key holders inspired by X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Millennium Falcon and Death Star², or Native Shoes’ footwear collection featuring classic and retro designs⁴.
• Cook some Star Wars-themed food or drinks. You can find plenty of recipes online for dishes like Hutt Twins Rice Balls, Grogu’s Favorite Soup, Fruitsabers and Jedi Dip, or Porg Potatoes. You can also try some blue milk, a staple drink in the Star Wars universe, or make some Mandalorian macarons.⁵
• Play some Star Wars games or puzzles. You can choose from a variety of video games, board games, card games, or LEGO sets that feature Star Wars characters and stories. You can also challenge yourself with some trivia questions or crossword puzzles to test your knowledge of the franchise.
• Read some Star Wars books or comics. You can explore the expanded universe of Star Wars through novels, graphic novels, manga, or magazines that cover different eras and aspects of the galaxy. You
  • can also check out some of the new releases for Star Wars Day, such as Marvel’s Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1 comic book², or Sobel Westex’s Antithesis Pillow that features Darth Vader on one side and Luke Skywalker on the other⁶.

  Why Celebrate Star Wars Day

  Star Wars Day is more than just a fun way to geek out over your favorite franchise. It’s also a way to connect with other fans and share your passion for a story that has inspired generations of people around the world.

  Star Wars is not just about spaceships and lightsabers. It’s about hope, courage, friendship, family, and finding your place in the universe. It’s about facing your fears and overcoming your challenges. It’s about learning from your mistakes and growing as a person.

  Star Wars Day is a reminder that we are not alone in this journey. We have a community of fellow fans who support us and celebrate with us. We have a legacy of storytellers who inspire us and challenge us. We have a force that binds us and guides us.

  So whether you’re a Jedi or a Sith, a Rebel or an Imperial, a Mandalorian or a Tusken Raider, a Wookiee or a Droid, you can find something to enjoy and appreciate on Star Wars Day. It’s a day to express your creativity, have some fun, and honor the legacy of George Lucas and his amazing creation.

  May the 4th be with you, always. And remember: this is the way.

 ^{Credits:  1. en.wikipedia.org    2.  usatoday.com   3.  msn.com  4.  abcchicago.com  5.  starwars.com  6.  cnet.com}

Free to Blog About Spring #WordlessWednesday

A blogging challenge that took up almost my entire April is over, and I'm excited to show you some of the spring beauty of my area in the Southern Tier of New York. Yes, I'm free to blog about spring!  (And, I am going to try to make this somewhat wordless.  I'm tired!)

Unless otherwise stated, photos are from my flower garden.

From a tiny sapling obtained from the Arbor Day Foundation, what I believe is a wild cherry.  It blooms at about the same time as our neighborhood crabapples, but the fruit is not crabapply.  The birds avoid it until (I'm guessing) they are running out of other food in late winter/early spring.  This was taken May 1.

From April 30, late daffodils that have several flowers on each plant and a sweet-ish scent. 

My red tulips, May 1.  They are starting to fade away with all the rain we've had recently.

I don't know the official varietal name of these small, thin tulips but they always delight me. 

A pansy.  Yes, that face is looking at you!

I thought these late daffodils had died out.  I still have one on the side of my house.  But now, one has opened in the front. 

Last, but not least: This is a mystery tulip (either that, or my memory is fading).  I have red tulips and a handful of bright yellow tulips with fringes on top.  This year, after both had been up for a week or so, this showed up in between them.  Did the red and yellow tulips have a baby?  I wonder.

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

A to Z Reflections 2023 #AtoZChallenge

Welcome to my Reflections on the 2023 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. 

Along with hundreds of other bloggers, I participated in a blogging challenge this past April which involved blogging about something beginning with A on April 1, all the way to Z on April 30, with breaks only on Sunday (except April 30). (26 letters = 26 days of posts). My theme was "Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States."

I have a love/hate relationship with this Challenge.  I always make up my mind to do it at the last minute.   I was planning to take a trip in mid April for an event several hundred miles away, so had to scramble to write posts in advance.  Fortunately, I had the time (and energy) to do that.

I usually don't write all posts in advance, but this year I did, and it's the only reason I was able to stay in the Challenge.

In our Reflections post, we are supposed to reflect on the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge we just completed, and let the A to Z team know what worked, what didn't work, what our experiences were.  But I hit an unexpected bump in the road, although I was able to finish.  More on that shortly.

I'm just fortunate that I picked a good theme, enough to (mostly) carry me through.  I took a trip to South Carolina in February of this year, and I would have taken more (and some different) pictures I knew.  Fortunately, I had South Carolina pictures from past visits. 

As you've probably figured out by now, photography is a large part of my blogging.  I hope you enjoyed what I did.

It always seems, though, that I do variations of the same theme year after year.  Travel and pictures.  Rinse and repeat.  A part of me wants to be original.  Another part just plain likes what I am doing, variations and all. Next year?  As someone I love likes to say "I'm not worried about that".

Part of the fun of this challenge is finding new blogs, and rediscovering blogs I read during previous challenges.  I'm not going to name any blog in particular because I don't want to inadvertently leave anyone out.

To you all, I offer a virtual bouquet (not my tree) of cherry blooms.

In past years, we were expected to visit as many participating blogs as possible.  This year, we had the choice of  visiting only blogs that had visited and commented on our blog. I know the latter choice factored into the decision of one blogger who had stopped participating to participate (and she finished).  I chose the latter, too, and it was a good thing I did, because....

The Real Challenge of April Wasn't A to Z but....

On April 6, spouse and I both tested positive for COVID. Both of us were symptomatic. And, I had a rebound so I had double the pleasure, double the fun (NOT!)

I will spare you the details, but they were both (medically) mild cases and we both are fine now. I already had posts written so was able to stay in.  Thank you, participants who wrote short posts or had mostly pictures.  You saved me on the several days I couldn't concentrate enough to read longer posts.

The experience reminded me that life doesn't always go as planned, and you just have to do the best you can under what life throws at you.  So, if anything, that is the best lesson this year's Challenge had for me. 

At least two blogs I already knew and liked had to drop out for varying reasons.  Sometimes, life is like that, too.  Another lesson we can all learn:  be flexible.

Statistics? 

Didn't check.  So, if you followed me or read me a lot, I want to say "Thank you".

If you did find me, I did reciprocate, though -I hope. See "The Real Challenge of April" above.

Now, let's give a shoutout to those who comprise the Blogging from A to Z team:

Arlee Bird (founder)Tossing it Out

J Lenni Dorner (captain) of Blog of Author J Lenni Dorner

Zalka Csenge Virág of The Multicolored Diary

John Holton of The Sound of One Hand Typing

Jayden R Vincente (spreadsheets) of J. R Vincente Erotica Writer (note, this links to an "adult" website.)

Finally, the unknown Graphic artist who decided to remain Anonymous (graphics) (and A to Z is looking for someone for 2024)

If you discovered my blog through A to Z, either this year or previous years, and are still here reading this, I thank you.

Last but not least...I hope you'll stay and keep reading my blog

I've been blogging daily since 2011 (I started blogging in 2009) so I hope you'll stick around and check out my regular programming:  Music Moves Me on Mondays, a Wordless Wednesday (not that wordless) on Wednesdays, and Skywatch Friday on Friday.

THANK YOU, MY READERS, NEW AND OLD.  I WOULD NOT BLOG WITHOUT YOU. 

Doctor My Music #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for Music!  (If you are looking for my Blogging from A to Z Reflections post, it will be published tomorrow.)

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   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 Yours Truly.

Why not join our music loving folks?  It's so easy. All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video.  No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.   

Today our theme is borrowed from Tom at Shady's Place:

"Music is medicine for the soul.  Build a playlist with songs that are emotionally soothing or pick song titles or bands relating to medicine."

I've picked songs that mention doctors or ailments, but first, let me choose a song that has made me feel good since I first heard it (and fell in love with it) back when I was barely starting school.

On April 25, singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte died from congestive heart failure at the age of 96.  Here is perhaps his best known hit, The Banana Boat Song (Day-O), from 1956.

 Peggy Lee's classic "Fever" from 1958, a cover of a song that first became famous as sung by Little Willie John in 1956.

How can I not include the 1985 parody of a Madonna hit by Weird Al Yankovic - Like a Surgeon?  Laughter is the best medicine, after all.  (This is a 2022 version of the song).

David Seville - Witch Doctor, from 1958.  Love is the theme again and the witch doctor is the cure.

Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne, from 1972.  Despite the upbeat music, this is not an upbeat song.

Let's end with 1979's Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) - Robert Palmer

And that's a wrap!

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