Gardening Still Another Year

With aging comes changing.  That even rhymes!

My spouse and I (my spouse doing about 90% of the work) have community gardened in Binghamton, New York since the late 1980's except for a couple of years when there was no community garden.

As certain musicians said once "it's been a long, strange trip." 

We've tried some gardening on our small back yard, but it's too shady.  Our front yard - well, it's my flower garden and more sunny.  But we've only had limited success, partially thanks to groundhogs and the fact that our front yard isn't fenced.   So we've been community gardening all this time.

We started out with two inground plots.  Several years ago, he downsized to one plot. Then I qualified for a raised bed, in which we grow tomatoes, peppers, and some other crops.  Last year, deer did a number on our raised bed (more than the inground, for some reason we don't know.)  It was so discouraging, and my spouse came close to quitting.

Last year we faced a decision, with physical issues both of us have:  stop gardening, or go all raised beds.

The decision was made, and our application was accepted just yesterday.  This year we will have one inground plot AND two raised beds.

Our current community garden was taken over in 2020 by an organization called VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments).   

Their mission is worthwhile.  The organization itself, I have nothing but the utmost respect for.  Without them, we might not have a community garden at all.

VINES has put in more raised beds and they try to reserve them for those with physical disabilities or limitations that need them.  It's a bit humbling to realize that my spouse now can't do all the things he did 40 years ago.  The two raised beds will help, but we are behind on preparing for the season, because we didn't know if we would get the raised beds and ingrown plot spouse wanted.

We've already ordered onion plants, one of the main crops we grow (we buy plants from a grower in Texas, Dixondale Farms, we've done business with for years.  They specialize in onions and do them well.  Their customer service is first rate.  Onions grow well for us.

For seeds, we are using a combination of locally bought seeds and some seeds we may mail order. We haven't bought any, though, and now that we know we are going to have the plots this year, we have to get our seed act together.

Incidentally, if you garden, you may ask your local library if they have a seed "library". And no, you don't have to return the seeds at the end of three weeks.   Our local library offers this service (limit of six packets per person).  Seeds are getting so expensive.

So, another year, another garden.  We hope to do this as long as we can.

We aren't giving up yet.

Deconstructed Baseball #WordlessWednesday

When I saw this lying on the grass in our local park, I thought it was a strange kind of sandal.

But my spouse knew exactly what it was.  It's part of the inside of a baseball.   The stitching should have given it away.  My spouse called it a "deconstructed baseball".

And I found how a baseball is made is pretty fascinating.  You may, too.

Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday.

January in Color - An Afghan Update

 I couldn't have picked a better year to crochet a temperature afghan.

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.

So, in other words, Nature determines the colors and patterns of your work.

This year has been so unusual (both in temperature and in lack of snowfall) and you'll see what happened as a result in a minute when I show you what Nature told me to crochet for January 2023, where I live in the Binghamton, New York area.

On January 1, I started to record temperatures.  I also did some reading up and found out there's a large temperature blanket community out there.  I avoided some mistakes through reading their experiences but made some of my own.

The picture I am showing you at the bottom of this post is the afghan showing the month of January, 2023, recording high temperatures only. Yes, I'm a bit behind but I don't work on it consistently.

My errors

1. I researched the approximate number of stitches I would need to use.  But because math isn't my strength, I made the blanket wider than I wanted.  I decided not to frog it (rip it out).  I'll just live with it.  It will just cost me some extra yarn to be purchased.

Also, I realized right away that if I did rows for both high and low temperatures, I would end up with one huge afghan.  I had to decide on low temperatures only or high temperatures only.  I made the decision to record high temperatures only with one exception - February 4, which had a low of -5F (-25.6 C) and a high of 19F (-7.2 C).  Both high and low will be recorded for that date.

2.  It's a little ripply - in other words, it doesn't lie flat.  I think it may have been because I made the foundation chain a bit too tight.  I'm hoping it will straighten itself out.  I feel like this is a beginner's mistake but again, I decided not to frog my work.  It won't keep me any less warm at night.

3.  It's a little harder than I thought it would be.  But I am not minding at all.   My spouse, who loves weather and picking colors, has participated in these selections and recording while I am doing all the crocheting.  It's become a team effort. 

Perhaps only where I live, there's a shortage of crochet hooks and yarn.  At the store I purchased yarn at, I was told that there has been a strong surge in crochet lately.

Although I've been crocheting since the fall of 1970, there is always something new to learn.

These are the colors I am using, based on a crochet chart developed by a yarn manufacturer for New York City.

0 F (-17.8 C) and lower:  Pale Plum.  It would be most unusual where Iive to have a high less than zero, but I had already bought this when I realized I wouldn't have room to record lows through crochet.

1-21F   Dark orchid

21-32F  Royal blue

33-43F  Turquoise

44-53F  Spring Green

54-66F  Kelly Green (think of St. Patrick's Day)

67-77F  Bright Yellow

78-88F Carrot orange

89-99F  ?

100F (38C) and above - ?

(colors for hotter temperatures not chosen yet- I probably won't need them until May).

So, what happened in January?  We had a lot of days where the high ranged between 33 to 43F (0.5 C to 6.1C) (turquoise) so there is a lot of turquoise.  This stretch of weather is not usual for us, but we had several short spells of even warmer temperatures, shown by the light (spring) green and darker (paddy) green.

February will have more variations in color.

Thank you, quilter displaying her temperature afghans at Salt Springs State Park in Pennsylvania for the Susquehanna Art Trail for talking to me at length about her work.  You started me on an interesting journey.

My Dream Music Festival #MusicMovesMe

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

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, who has now rejoined us and are we happy to have her back.  Let us also welcome Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and (last but not least) me. 

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.  Without a music video, the post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.  

Every other week is Free Choice, and on non-free choice weeks like this one, we invite anyone (that means anyone) to suggest a theme and be a guest host   That person could be you!

Today, our guest host is little old me!  Here's my theme:

Imagine you are putting together a four day music festival.  For each day you need a headliner, so who would it be (4 needed)?  You can include a couple of other artists, if you want, who would also perform.  Any genre; more than one genre if you want.  Living or dead.  Solo, duo, band.  Your festival, your choices!

Day 1

My headliner for day one is a duo who broke up years ago, but in my festival, they are back together again and better than ever.  Here are two men, both from Queens, a borough of New York City.  They met while in elementary school, back in 1953.  Between 1956 and 1958, as teenagers, they performed under the name Tom and Jerry.  Their first hit was in 1957, "Hey, Schoolgirl".  They became famous in the 1960's as Simon and Garfunkel.

The Only Living Boy in New York, from 1970.

Also from 1970, one of their biggest hits, Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Day 2

Ladies and Gentlemen, my headline group for today needs no introduction. They are an English rock group that is one of the greatest of all time.  I bring you THE ROLLING STONES.  So many hits, so little time to play them all.  I only have time for two:

From 1968 - Street Fighting Man.  I  love the ending of this song. 

From 1969 - Gimme Shelter.  Here's an article on this song.

Background singer Merry Clayton's performance made this song special, but remained anonymous for so many years.  Here's an article on her.

Day 3

Now, it's time for some 70's and 80's music.  This Canadian group fits the bill, and they have so many hits, it was hard to choose two.

I bring you - Rush!

Subdivisions is perhaps my favorite Rush song. I love the video, too.

The song Red Sector A was based on the concentration camp experiences of the late Mary Winerib (who passed away in 2021 at age 96), the mother of Geddy Lee, Rush's lead singer and bassist/keyboard.  It was written by Neil Peart, Rush's drummer, who passed away in 2020 from brain cancer. More than after, this is an important song that deserves more airplay than it seems to get.

Day 4

British rockers the Moody Blues were supposed to play at Woodstock but cancelled out.  But they were one of my favorite groups of the 1970's, and they haven't cancelled out of the last day of my music festival.

 First up is Nights in White Satin - this live version doesn't have the poem at the end but I wanted to feature it and not the studio version.

Go Now was originally released in 1965.  It's not in the style of their later music but I love it anyway.

It's time for three encores from other groups that participated in my music festival.  Please welcome these other three groups:

Foo Fighters:  Times Like These

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Under the Bridge.  

The Who and  Won't Get Fooled Again is just as relevant now as it was in 1972, and is a wonderful ending to my dream music festival.  This was one of my most loved songs from my college years.

Full disclosure, I've never seen any of these groups or duos in concert.  Alas.  (Perhaps I should do a post on groups and singers I have seen perform.  Maybe one day.)

Give all these groups one big, last hand as they take a final bow.  May those members of these groups who have moved on to Rock and Roll heaven always be remembered for their music and talent.

This is a longer post than usual and I hope you enjoyed the sets you listened to.  Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.

Strawberry Onions 2023

 Our strawberry onion shipment has arrived!

They are not cheap, but they are a luxury we look forward to.

We were introduced to strawberry onions in March of 2013, when spouse and I visited a Florida farmers market in Tampa and discovered them.

We were leaving Florida to drive home to New York State and bought two of the onions.  After we got home and tried them,  I said something like "If I knew how good they tasted, I would have bought up the vendor's entire stock." It was the end of the season, too.  We lucked into them.

So, in case you were wondering, strawberry onions are not a cross between strawberries and onions. Nor do they taste like strawberries.  Rather, they are a mild variety of onion.  They grow in strawberry fields in the Plant City, Florida area, which is a major strawberry producing area. (Plant City is in the same county as Tampa).

At one time, strawberry farmers believed that planting these onions on the perimeter of the field would ward off insects.  That isn't true, alas, but the practice continues.

They don't get their taste from their strawberry neighbors, but they thrive on the water and fertilizer given to the strawberry plants.  They used to be grown at the perimeter of the strawberry fields but production is growing, thanks to a growing demand.

Here's an article about them with a recipe.

In 2020, we discovered we could mail order them, and did.  We have mail ordered them every year since.  We even got two shipments this year.  The harvest begins in early February and stretches into mid to late March, depending, and this year, it appears the season may end early.

We ordered early, but somehow, our first shipment was delayed by the grower and, long story, we had to move the shipment date again because of our schedule, so we will only be getting this one shipment.

It's hard to see the ruler but trust me, these are big.

Big, and beautiful.  And delicious.

The Retreat of Spring

 Last week, spring showed up where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

On an exercise walk Thursday, I saw snowdrops.  It was such a welcome sight.

 

I also saw crocuses (mine aren't blooming yet).  Sorry about the blurry photo.

Alas, it wasn't going to last.  This was our forecast for yesterday evening.  When it started, it was sleet, hitting noisily against our house.  I think all we got was sleet.

 

This morning this is what greeted us.  At least it got above freezing, the ice disappeared from the street (and, with a little help, the sidewalk) and in the afternoon, we took a one mile walk in those ice cold winds.

Well, it could have been worse.

Spring, please make up your mind soon!

March 1 Skies #SkywatchFriday

March is here.  It hasn't quite come in like a lion, but I know it isn't going to go out like a lamb.  In fact, it's supposed to snow today.

Our up and down winter continues.  I've been working on a temperature afghan, so I'll have a record.  But up and down weather also means up and down skies.

All the pictures are from March 1.

A tree budding out.  It shouldn't be doing that yet.

By the river.

Then, it starts to clear up.

The sun comes out and I got a puddle reflection.

Reflections in a nearby creek end our walk.

Now, it's time to hunker down for the snow.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Blogging From A to Z - 2023 Thoughts

We are less than a month away from April now, and it's time to think about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (A to Z for short).  You may have noticed the new A to Z badge on my sidebar.

First, what is A to Z all about?

This challenge happens every April and lasts 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".  Sundays the bloggers rest, although there will be one exception this year. 

This year, "A" day will be Saturday, April 1. Sunday  will be an off day (although participants are free to post a non A to Z post on Sundays). Monday is for "B" Tuesday is for "C", and so on, all the way to Z on the last blogging day of April.  That's a Sunday but participants will have to blog.  So, 26 blogging days (including April 30), 26 letters of the English alphabet.

Some of the letters are easy.  Some are difficult.  That's part of the fun.

The final part of fun is meeting up with bloggers from previous years, and reading and commenting on blogs of blogs new to you. 

Many A to Z's have a theme for the month of April, which they will reveal starting Sunday, March 12.

They?  and not "we"? Well....

I've participated the last several years (and managed to finish the Challenge) but this year I wasn't feeling the love.  I've cut down on blogging challenges the past several years, and right now, A to Z is the only one I participate in.

I usually do photography based posts discussing past travel.  My favorite theme was probably the year I did "Florida Outside the Theme Parks" .

This year, I wasn't going to participate in A to Z, but last week, my mind started to churn. As I've explained before, my mind goes into a kind of blank state during the winter.  With increasing daylight and bird song, I awaken.  My mind yawns and stretches.  My limbs move.

I'm awake.  My mental winter nap is over.  (Am I the only person this happens to?)

For "A", I could do Art, I pondered.  For "B"...

But it's a lot of work, and I feel myself, in my 70th decade, slowing down, wanting to savor life.  I finally have time to read some of the books I've wanted to read.  There are birds to watch and learn more about. There is post pandemic travel, too. Walking.  And just lazing around.

I'm still not 100% sure I want to participate.  If the badge disappears from my sidebar, you'll know what my decision is.

Do you ever do this challenge?  Will you this year?

The Morning After #WordlessWednesday

Some pictures of snow from a storm that started the evening of February 27 and lasted till the morning of the last day of February.

 Let's great March with some backyard pictures.

It isn't much, compared to a normal winter. We are way below normal on our snowfall.

I have a feeling March may try to make up for it.  We are supposed to get more snow as the weekend approaches.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

A Book and Its Cover

How do we choose books to read?  One way, consciously or not, is the cover.

Thinking of book covers makes me think of a post I wrote back in 2012 and reran in 2015.  It follows, with some edits.

Book covers bring back memories of the first author who I consciously fell in love with (his writing, not the author himself.)

When I was 10 years old and growing up in New York City, I broke my leg roller skating.  I was treated at a hospital in the Bronx (a borough of New York City).  I had to go back to the hospital periodically to see the doctors during my recovery.   On one visit, at the hospital gift store, one of my parents bought me a book to read.  I don't know how or why, but they picked "A Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

It changed my life.

I don't know how many young people have heard of Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Even in my day (this was in the early 60's) enough children may have known Edgar Rice Burroughs mainly through Tarzan movies.  Reruns of old Tarzan movies featuring Johnny Weissmuller were a staple of weekend movie afternoons on non-network local New York City channels.

But this book my parent bought me was something different.  The cover attracted me immediately - an exotically dressed woman in peril, with a muscular man, holding a sword, defending her.  Although the book started slowly, I quickly got into the story once the hero, John Carter, reached Mars.  I ended up devouring the other 10 books of the series over the next few years.  Then, I went on to other series written by Burroughs - the Venus books, many of the Tarzan books, one of the Pellucidar books, and a couple of his non-series books.

I loved those book covers on the Ballantine and Ace versions of the Martian books from the 1960's.  In doing research, I found that other Edgar Rice Burroughs books were graced with unforgettable covers.  They really wanted to make you buy and read the contents.    Even after I grew up, the tradition of spectacular book covers continued.

Here, Burroughs himself writes about his experiences with illustrations of his books.

I don't know how popular Edgar Rice Burroughs remains, and I haven't read one of his books in many years. 

If you are interested in reading the Martian (Barsoom) books of Edgar Rice Burroughs, or some of his other books in the public domain, they are available for free online.

Time for Some Love #MusicMovesMe

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

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 hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and (last but not least) me. 

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.  Without a music video, the post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.  

Every other week is Free Choice, and on non-free choice weeks like this one, we invite anyone (that means anyone) to suggest a theme.   That person could be you!

Today is free choice, and I did some free form association in my mind.  I actually started with the last song, and worked backwards, because why not?

From the Australian group, INXS, The One Thing, from 1982.

From 1983, Howard Jones and What Is Love.

Depeche Mode - Strangelove.

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) - George Harrison

Under the Milky Way-The Church.

Last, but not least, "You Don't Own Me" was first recorded in 1963 by singer Leslie Gore, when she was 17 years ago.  It became her second hit.  Her real name was Leslie Sue Goldstein and she was from Brooklyn (a borough of New York City). Gore was a junior in high school, with no professional singing experience when she had her first hit "It's My Party".  But, she would outdo herself with her second hit. 

This song had amazing lyrics, considering it was recorded in 1963. 

 I consider it a love song, and am including it.  After all, if we don't love ourselves, how can we give love to others?

And that's a wrap.

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

Remembering George Harrison

Yesterday, after I had published my Saturday post, I learned that yesterday would also have been musician George Harrison's 80th birthday.

The Beatles were "the" group of my childhood, and George Harrison was one of who we called "The Fab Four".  Even after they broke up in 1970, they all went on to have individual careers in music.

Here's a Rolling Stones tribute to the man known as "The Quiet Beatle", who also was my personal favorite as a young girl growing up in the 50's and 60's.  Harrison died from lung cancer on November 29, 2001 at the age of 58.

Here are a couple of my personal favorites of his.

What Is Life

Here Comes the Sun (a live performance)

Join me again tomorrow for another episode of Music Moves Me, and even more music.

The War Anniversary

Yesterday (using the time in my Eastern Standard time zone in the United States) was the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

To honor all those who have died defending their country and their freedom, I feature pictures taken on Sacred Sunday, 2022, of our two local Ukrainian churches.

Outside the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Let's go in.

Beautiful artwork.

More beautiful art. 

Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church.   This wooden church was built in 1977.

 

Its interior.

Peace for Ukraine.

Members of both churches have been hard at work this past year to support the people of Ukraine as they suffer through this terrible war.

Before I forget, there is a woman living in Kyiv who I follow on Twitter:  Yaroslava Antipina.  It has become her war diary and I invite you to read it.  She also has a blog, if you are interested.

Today, there will be an Interfaith Service & Rally at 1:00 downtown Binghamton, New York at the Broome Country Courthouse.

We can hope that peace will come soon, but I am not optimistic. 

I hope I'm wrong.

 

February Contrasts #SkywatchFriday

The February winter sky can be so variable where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

Taken before our warmup of last week.  Snow and a river, taken February 5.

You really can't see it, but there is ice in the middle of the river.

Grass and snow.

And, a few days later, snow melted, sun out.

February 13, the sap is rising.

And we end with a February 13 sunset that was promising springlike temperatures the next couple of days.

Now, alas, we are back to winter, and the weather is still see-sawing back and forth.  What next?

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

1948 Crochet Annual

Before I begin today's post, I want to apologize to my readers who haven't heard from me lately.  It was a combination of a computer issue (now hopefully fixed), a problem I've had intermittently with commenting on some Blogger blogs, and a problem I had with one of my email accounts (now hopefully fixed).  I will need to catch up with visiting your blogs but it may not be today.

And now:

Some people like to collect vintage cookbooks.  

I, from time to time, can't resist vintage crochet books or magazines, especially if they are from the World War II era or the 1950's.

I have no idea where or when I bought this 1948 Women's Day Annual Crochet Paperback book, but I uncovered it while doing a tiny bit of decluttering recently.

It's in good (well, in my opinion) condition. considering it will be 75 years old this year.  It is stained, with wear, but it is all readable.  Apparently, these sold for 10 cents back in 1948 (yes, before my time) and I found one on eBay (sale ended, no longer available) for $9.74 plus $3.75 "economy shipping".

A lot has changed in 75 years, but crochet, in some ways, is still crochet.  Of course, the projects in this book reflect the fashions of the time.

As far as patterns, there are a lot of doilies in there, plus mittens, gloves, a sweater, and more.  I didn't look to see if the patterns are available for free online.

The inside page announces that this is Women's Day second annual Crochet Annual.  It mentions The Spool Cotton Company, a company I had never heard of.  I read online that they merged with Coats and Clark in 1952.

Coats and Clark, which also has an interesting history, still exists, as does Women's Day.  I remember both quite well from my childhood in the late 50's and early 60's. My Mom brought home both Women's Day and another women's magazine, Family Circle, each month.  She purchased them at the local supermarket.

I have been putting off (and putting off, and putting off) decluttering because so much I own has memories attached to this. 

 I definitely will not be giving away this paperback.

Do you like this kind of collecting?

Library Comfort Cabinet #WordlessWednesday

I've seen the library card catalog cabinets of my youth repurposed in various ways, but never quite like this.

I was visiting our local public library Thursday, and this cabinet was sitting in the entranceway.  I had never seen it there before.

The sign reads "Free dental supplies, laundry soap, menstrual products, and more.  Take what you need - no library card required."  No, I didn't check it out.

This same library had been gathering food for a nearby food pantry during October, November, and December of last year.

I talked to one of the librarians I'm familiar with (we enjoy chatting with each other) and found this is a project of one of the other librarians who wasn't there at the time.  In fact, it was only set up on February 15, the day before my visit.

A quick internet search revealed our local library is far from the first to offer personal hygiene supplies to the community.

I should not be amazed, but I am saddened that this type of need exists in our community.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Remembering the Peanut President

I am writing this the evening of February 20, which, in the United States, was celebrated as one of the most confusing holidays in our calendar - a federal holiday which is not recognized everywhere in our country. 

What is not confusing is that our oldest living former President, James Earl Carter, is in hospice care as I blog this.  At the age of 98, he has survived health crisis after health crisis and a number of falls.

One can disagree about how effective a President he was, but his humanitarian nature was never in doubt.  He has done extensive work with Habitat for Humanity and has served our country in many other ways. 

Here are a couple of posts I've written about Jimmy Carter or Habitat for Humanity over the years.  In 2010 I had the pleasure of visiting Americus, Georgia, which is located near Plains, where Carter grew up.

The Peanut President

My visit to Habitat for Humanity 

The strange thing is that, over this winter, I had a strong urge to visit Americus once again.  The trip may, in fact have happened this week, but the trip didn't happen. 

I wish President Carter a peaceful transition to whatever happens when we pass on.

Heaven and Beauty #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time to dance to the music!

Before I begin, I've been somewhat absent from the Internet the last couple of days.  It's a long story that involves needing a computer repair on my laptop (and its speakers aren't working, a side effect of the repair, that I can't attend to right now), having to change a password, some problems commenting on some Blogger blogs, and some other minor things.  If I am late to commenting on your blog, please excuse me.

Anyway.....

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 hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and (last but not least) me. 

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.  Without a music video, the post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.  

Every other week is Free Choice, and on non-free choice weeks like this one, we invite anyone (that means anyone) to suggest a theme.   That person could be you!

Today, our theme is is brought to us by some cats and a human, Granny:  "Celestial as in the sky/outer space or belonging to or relating to heaven or relating to anything supremely good/beautiful. Inspired by our friends at Angelswhisper2011"

OK, let's begin!  I'm not sure I am hitting the target here, but I'll give it a try.

From 1976, Tavares and Heaven Must be Missing an Angel.

Louis Armstrong and his 1967-1968 classic, What A Wonderful World.  This was a cover of a 1960 Sam Cooke song and the song has an interesting history.

Let's head to 1986 with True Colors from Cyndi Lauper.  This is such an inspiring song.

Beauty doesn't have to be straightforward.  This is from a 1980's group I've grown to love in recent years, Echo and the Bunnymen.  Here is "The Killing Moon", a song that so many are still trying to understand.

We'll end today's set with Knocking on Heaven's Door.  As much as I love Bob Dylan's original, I decided on a cover by Warren Zevon, who was dying from lung cancer when he made this 2003 recording.

And that is a wrap!

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

Hot Air Balloon

With all the fuss about balloons in the United States recently, I was a little surprised to see a hot air balloon floating in the sky on Valentine's Day.

 

It looks like a little dot in the sky, but I couldn't get a good picture of it with my iPhone 13 mini without blurring it.

Soon after, it floated away from us.

I guess they weren't worried about something happening. 

Fifth Dimension - Up, Up and Away.

Join me tomorrow for more music!

A River of Crows

During the winter, American crows will head to trees in late afternoon, before night starts to fall.

I observed this behavior back in 2021 as a beginning person interested in observing birds.

As I found out then while researching, it's a matter of protection, as crows are nearly helpless at night.  The crows gather in large numbers, sometimes in the hundreds, and jockey for nighttime position.  The unfortunate ones who are in the outer parts of the cluster are more vulnerable to night hunting birds such as owls.

I haven't seen too much of the gathering behavior since then - perhaps I was in the wrong place in the wrong time.

But, several times this month, I have seen groups of crows flying.  One clump (if I can call it that) flies overhead, cawing, on February 13.

Then another group.

And still another.  This Audubon article explains what I was seeing.

All you have to do to see amazing things, sometimes, is look up.

I love watching crows, but I'm not sure I would have been happy to have that river of crows alight in my back yard trees.