More 2026 Shadowy Scarecrows #ShadowshotSunday

Here's another collection of scarecrows from our area's annual Scarecrow contest in a local park.

Independence. 

I should know these characters, but I don't.

It's all in fun.  A lot of these entries come from non profits, and spectators get to vote on their favorite.

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

Foliage and Sky #SkywatchFriday

Today, I am featuring fall foliage and skies from the morning of October 14.

Foliage up against our hills. 

From a slightly different angle.

Framed.

In the afternoon, our skies cleared up.

Saturday we will have winter weather, but it's supposed to warm up again (a bit more seasonably than the last few days) by Monday.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday. 

 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day October 2026

Welcome to the 15th of the month and Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. 

In my zone 6a garden in the Southern Tier New York, we are on the verge of our first frost, which may also be our first freeze.  

We've had warmer than usual weather, but that is going to come to an end.  We will probably have our killing frost early Sunday morning. 

This will be the last Bloom Day with outdoor flowers.  So let's get to it.

In my shady back yard:

Japanese Anemone.

Heuchera.

Cuphea "Torpedo"  I bought it from Select Seeds due to its unusual shape but I think next year, I will stick to the tubular varieties sold locally.

Finally, a sunpatien.  I love these plants more and more each year.  So versatile.

Now for the front yard.

Sedum.

A garden victory-pansy. This is the first time I've brought pansies through an entire summer to have several plants still alive and reblooming.

Million bells.

Last, but far from least, Geranium Apple Blossom Variegata, a plant with variegated leaves, also from Select Seeds.

I finally broke down and hired someone to weed and do some thinning out of my front and back flower beds.  It was way overdue.   Now, it's time to put the gardens to bed until spring.  I may or may not have indoor flowers to show for November and December.

Thanks go once again to Carol at May Dream Gardens for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, a monthly meme that she has hosted for years.  She is retiring her meme at the end of this year.  If you click on this link you will be taken to her blog post, where others will post their links.  Why not spend part of today in beauty?

Anything blooming for you?

Scarecrows in the Park 2026 #WordlessWednesday

Welcome to the 2026 Scarecrow Contest at a local park.  Many of these entries were made by nonprofit organizations.  Some are spooky.  Some are just plain fun.  Best of all, admission is free.

Let's take a walk along the path where the contestants have staked (no pun intended) out their entries.

The best fortune is early detection (breast cancer). 

If you are wondering why the stylized dinosaur in "Fish BC Parks" it's because the late Johnny Hart, creator of the comic strip BC, grew up in this area.   Some of his artwork is used by our county's parks department, and also our transit system. 

The Statue of Liberty.  

Last one for today - skeletons.

I post on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, if you want to see more of the entries. 

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Oktoberfest #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.  

Today's prompt is:  This week’s prompt is Oktoberfest. Traditionally, it begins mid-September running through to early October. It was interesting to learn the first festival was in 1810 with Prince Ludwin of Barvaria and Therese, the princess of Saxony-Hildburghausen celebrated their marriage.  You may find inspiration on your song picks by reading about Oktoberfest traditions or simply wing it by doing your own thing.

When I read through the 10 traditions the below link educates us on, I was surprised to learn that a favorite song at German Oktoberfests is...

...John Denver's Country Roads.  So I will start off with that song.  What I learned in researching is that this American song is very popular in Europe. After all, the yearning for home spans all nationalities. There are videos of crowds singing it in Germany on You Tube but I will post the John Denver original.

Another tradition is the Chicken Dance. Yup, it's the same chicken dance we have in the United States.  And here it is at Cincinnati's Oktoberfest.  You can skip the first two and a half minutes or so of the video to get straight to the music.  

Oktoberfest is all about the beer, and here's the song that is sung several times an hour in the German tents.

Ein Prosit, here sung by the Polka Brothers.  Short and sweet.

Let's end with a celebration of beer in music.  Here are two songs featuring beer.

In Heaven There is No Beer covered by Frank Yankovic (no relation to Weird Al).

ZZ Top and Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers.

Finally, an advertising song from the 1960's from Schaefer Beer.  I don't know if this beer was sold countrywide, but it dates from 1842 and was popular in New York City, where I grew up.  The license was eventually sold to Pabst (a major American beer corporation).  I understand Schaefer is still sold in parts of New York State, although I've never seen it in the part of New York State where I live.

And that's a wrap!

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

Scarecrows in the Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Last week, we visited our annual Scarecrow contest in a local park.  Many of these entries are created by various nonprofits.  I haven't been able to find a list of the names of the entries so your guesses are as good as mine.  I especially enjoy the more creative ones and found it hard this year to pick a favorite to vote on.

I assume this is Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors.  

It was a good day for shadows.

An Italian chef? 

From our extension service, so either a farmer or a gardener.

A nice shadow display.

Today, we are getting the fringes of the former Hurricane Isaisi and no shadows will be seen. 

Voting (in person only) ends October 24 and the winners will be announced October 26.  

I'll upload some more pictures before voting ends on my Wednesday, Friday and Sunday posts.  I won't be able to do all of them - there were over 50 entries this year. 

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

The Start of Color #SkywatchFriday

I visited a local park on Wednesday to see the entries in the annual Halloween Scarecrow contest.  On the way there, I saw some trees that were turning, but the best is yet to come. 

These skies with puffy clouds and blue will be increasingly uncommon as the month progresses.  We've already had some gloomy days recently.  Gloom is the color of winter and late fall skies here.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the color as I see it here and there.

It will be a while longer until we hit peak color.

As we walked along this pond, I viewed what I think is the Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae).  They are common in the fall where I live in the Southern Tier of New York. 

Speaking of the scarecrows, I'll be featuring some of them from time to time on my blog.  I normally post on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.   

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers on Fridays for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Wooly Bear #WordlessWednesday

Yesterday, I took a picture of what we call a woolly bear caterpillar in my back yard.  It's the second one I've seen locally this fall and both looked about the same. 

These larvae of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) are held by folklore to be predictors of the coming winter.  

Unlike those of previous years, this one has a larger brown band. That's supposed to mean a milder winter, although science would disagree.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Sass Jordan and #1 Hits of October 1976 #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.  

Our theme this week is: You Pick.

Before I want to dig into my theme for today I want to pay two tributes.  The first one isn't music related, but honors Italian actor Peppino Mazzullo, the voice behind the mouse puppet Topo Gigio, who died on September 30 at age 100.

I remember these skits on the Ed Sullivan show from back in my childhood.  A number of them are on YouTube.  Hope you enjoy this one.

Now, it's time for an induction into Rock and Roll Heaven.

A Canadian blogger I read, Debbie Doglady, reported the death of singer, songwriter, and former Canadian Idol judge Sass Jordan. Jordan passed away October 2 at the age of 63, surrounded by her family.  As of this writing the cause of death hadn't been revealed.

 

The name didn't sound familiar and, listening to her music, I was saddened I had not discovered her before her death because she had quite a voice.

Here are two of her hits. First, from 1992, Make You a Believer.

 

And, Tell Somebody.

 

I had preplanned the rest of this post, which features songs that hit number one on the Billboard charts in October, 1976.  Each week had a different number one song.  I'm still going to go with it.

 The first one, Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry, I had on my blog recently but it brings back a number of memories and I'm going to play it again.  This was the #1 record of the first week of October, 1976.

Here are the others:

Week two:  A Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band.  This is part of the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, disco style.

Week three, a novelty song:  Disco Duck by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots

The final week of October: If You Leave Me Now by Chicago

And that's a wrap!

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

Office Chair #ShadowshotSunday

 I've had this chair for years, long before I was sent home at the beginning of the New York lockdown in 2020.

It has served me well.

I bought it years ago when I started to have back issues, and it is still almost like new.  

Oh, and I love this chair.

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

The Gloom of Early October #SkywatchFriday

The last day of September checked the calendar, and decided gloom season had started where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

But first, it permitted some color before the last sunset of September. 

 

October 1, though, the gloom lasted most all of the day. 

 

But some early fall color still shone through. 

More color (and hopefully some blue sky) to come.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Honey Locust Time #WordlessWednesday

Fall has arrived where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.  Trees are just starting to turn.  The sun is disappearing for longer and longer.

These two pictures of honey locust trees (I think) were taken yesterday, accompanied by our fall gloomy skies. 

These trees, though, already had leaves starting to fall.  I took these pictures with a small shower of yellow leaves fluttering around me.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

A Pirate's Life? #MusicMovesMe

Ahoy there, mateys! 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.  

Our theme this week is: Sep 28th Recently, was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a fun modern holiday.  It would be fun to see where the seven seas take each of you as you share with us songs relating to pirates.   

Aye.  Let's run that again through the Pirate Speak Translator:

Our theme this here week be: Sept 28th recently, been international talk like a gentleman o' fortune day, a fun modern 'oliday. It would be fun to see where the seven seas take each o' ye as ye share with us songs relatin' to gentlemen o' fortune 

Well..it be time to turn to, of all things, Disney.
 
First, a couple of tunes from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. As pirates would say: If ye like instrumentals, the followin' two songs be fer ye.

He's A Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean theme song).  

Davy Jones (Epic Version). 

Finally, one more Disney song, As we non-pirates would say, Yo, Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate's life for me. This 1967 song was written for the opening of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.  If you recognize a certain deep male voice, it is that of Thurl Ravenscroft, who voiced Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's commercials and was the deep voice of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in the famous cartoon.  

Now, let's move to some non-Disney songs.  

Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest, from Great Master

2009's Alestorm and Keelhauled, part of what some call pirate metal. 

Last but definitely not least, the Dropkick Murphys and and the Celtic Punk anthem Shipping Up to Boston.  Fun fact, this originated as a five line lyric fragment written by Woody Guthrie which was expanded. Maybe not so much about pirates, as true maritime grit, but it's a great song.

Or, as pirates would say: It be a jolly song.  And that was a jolly theme.

And that's a wrap!

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

Last Full Day of Summer Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

On a gloomy Sunday day, here are some shadows from this past Monday, the last full day of summer.

Let's take a walk in a local park.  These trees, planted several years ago, have taken a great leap forward in their growth this year.

Today, we are getting the fringes of the nor'easter that hit the East Coast of the United States.  For us, all we are getting is some drizzly rain.  Let's hope it stays that way.

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

First Day of Fall Variety Pack #SkywatchFriday

As summer drew to a close on Tuesday where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, I watched the sky change in the matter of a couple of hours.

These first two pictures were taken right after noon on September 22.
 

About 90 minutes later, the clouds were gathering.  The sky was saying "fall is just a few hours away and so it is time for a weather change."

Sure enough, it got into the mid 40's F (7.2ish C) at night Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Soon those will be our daily highs, before we fall off the cliff into the W word (winter) and its gloom and snow. For me, winter is something to endure.  Fall foliage and the delights of fall foods do not make up for it.  

Alas the days of sitting outside and blogging will be over soon.  Even now, I'm wearing a light jacket.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Pampered Eggs #WordlessWednesday

It was Saturday at the local farmer's market, and I came across this sign next to a booth selling farm fresh eggs. 

24 hour music from the 1960's? Pictures hanging in the coop?  Well, there is evidence that calm music may make hens less stressed and, perhaps, more willing to lay.  Who knew?

The last line before the name of the farm made my day.

Joining with Sandee at Comedy Plus and her #WordlessWednesday. 

Rock and Roll Heaven Again #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music - and time for Rock and Roll Heaven to build a new wing.

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.  

Our theme this week is:  You Pick.  Sadly, this week will again be inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven.

 Rosalind Ashford, founding member of Martha and the Vandellas, died September 15 at the age of 83.  The cause of death was given only as natural causes. 

I loved all of the hits of Martha and the Vandellas.  I'm choosing the first of their songs that popped into my mind.   Here is "Nowhere to Run", recorded in 1964 and released in 1965.

Musician and songwriter Duncan Sheik also passed away on September 15, several days after he was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.  He was only 56. His song "Barely Breathing" from 1996 was his best known but he was also a Tony Award winner and composed soundtracks for movies.

Finally, Gerrit Graham, stage, television and film actor, screenwriter and songwriter who co-wrote a song called "Victim or the Crime" with Bob Weir for the Grateful Dead, also died September 15 died at age 76 from lung disease.

 

I'm not done with songs yet so here is another from Martha and the Vandellas, 1964's Dancing in the Street.

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me which, hopefully, will be happier. P.S-I may be late catching up with my blog reading/commenting today and tomorrow, but I will be visiting. Thank you for your patience!

Carrot Cake Recipe Shadow #ShadowshotSunday

While decluttering the other day, I came across this cutout from a woman's magazine.  This recipe coming out of the shadows of my life was one of the first from scratch cakes I ever baked.  I believe the recipe would have been published in either the late 1960's or early 1970's.

I baked this now and again in my college years for the fellow student I've been married to for the last 52 years.  Right now I'm not into scratch baking but as the weather gets colder I think I might just make it again.  It really was a good cake.  Nowadays I might want to add some crushed pineapple but I'm not sure how it would affect the recipe.

And no, I didn't frost it.  I'm really not into frosting that isn't chocolate.

 For the sake of nostalgia, I wanted to take a photo just in case I lost it again, and, since there is a shadow, I'm sharing with my fellow shadow photographers.  

Joining up with #ShadowshotSunday, brought to us by Lisa at This and That:  A Blog.

Last Skies of Summer 2026 #SkywatchFriday

On September 15, the sky where I live in the Southern Tier of New York featured one of my favorite cloud types.

 But rain was on its way, and as September 16 progressed, the sky became overcast. 

By September 17, rain.

Next week, fall begins, and the temperatures will start to fall, too. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday. 

A Tribute #WordlessWednesday

A friend's sister, N, passed away Friday, after a years long battle with various medical issues.  

I had only seen her in person a few times (the last time, I think, was 2020), but years before that, she had become my go-to for wildflower ID and she shared my love of history.  We emailed each other on and off when I traveled.  

Years ago, I did a Wildflower Wednesday feature on my blog, and N was a great help to me.  I will miss her knowledge.

I know N wouldn't want any fuss over her due to her passing, so, instead, I will post some pictures of wildflowers in and around my yard.   Unfortunately, I have to depend on my iPhone camera app for wildflower ID and it doesn't always get it right.  Unlike N, who was so knowledgeable.

Several years I bought some plants from a wildflower nursery and they gave me a wild aster as a thank you gift.  This may be a calico aster but it isn't in the place where I planted that gift aster.  I apologize for the blur.

White snakeroot.  I definitely did not plant this, which I found the other day on the side of my house, and I'm thinking of removing it as I understand it is an aggressive grower.  I don't need anymore aggressive growers in my small yards.

Last year I had one of these woodland sunflowers pop up in my back yard.  This year there's a bunch of them.  I hate to get rid of native plants, but...aggressive. They spread via underground rhizomes.

Finally, a mystery I know N would have solved easily.  We planted a lilac bush several years ago. It didn't bloom until this spring.  What we thought was a lilac had small flowers this year that died after only a couple of days.  These berries have now appeared.  Lilac berries?  Didn't know they made berries but the iPhone camera plant ID says this is a lilac.  I'd love to know more.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.