Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

We have a pair of 4’x8′ raised bed gardens, placed about 4′ from our fence, in our back yard. One was used to grow cucumbers and okra while the other was all about tomatoes. One tomato plant and a dozen okra plants are all that are left. I caught Rocky Squirrel peeking over the fence to see if I had put out my bird feeders yet. After all, it is August and all the stores have Halloween gear and pumpkin spice everything, so where are my feeders? I typically don’t put them out until the first frost and the birds become more dependent on the supplements. Rocky is just going to have to wait a couple of months.

Meanwhile, the hummingbirds have finally arrived! They are usually here by May or early June, but I have only seen a coulple since June. Last week there have been several at my feeders so I am in full hummingbird photo mode.

They are great fun to watch and a bit of a challenge to photograph.

Patience is the key to getting your best image of the day! Have a blessed week.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Some of you may know that I have been rebuilding or adding to my collection of vinyl records the past couple of years. I got rid of my entire collection a couple of decades ago as well as my original stereo system. About three years ago I decided I wanted another component stereo so I scoured flea markets, FaceBook market place and pawn shops to assemble a budget friendly system. The results meet my needs quite nicely. I now have nearly a hundred vinyl albums ranging from the 1960’s to the latest release from Red Clay Strays. Last week a found Sir Elton John’s Honky Chateau album and a Marshall Tucker Band offering. Since this week is a “whatever music moves you” theme at 4M, I’m going to share a couple of tracks from each. Enjoy.

Bonus track!

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

This past month I picked up two awesome lenses for my DSLR camera. One is a major upgrade in the telephoto department. I shoot a Nikon D500 camera, which is an awesome camera but not one of the latest mirrorless models. I just can’t see rebuilding my photo equipment at my age. I mean we’re talking thousands of dollars for the new generation of cameras and lenses. My newest lens is a pre-owned 150-600mm lens for sports and wildlife. Let’s just say, “It allows me to get up close and personal with the critters while maintaining a safe distance.” That’s important when you don’t want to spook a deer or a hawk. It certainly works for butterflies.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

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

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

If a hot dog can be considered a type of sandwich then onions are an item found on that sandwich, especially a chili-cheesedog. They might even be Green Onions!

Hamburgers are one of the most popular sandwiches in the country and there are regional favorites. I have learned that in one region of Michigan the Olive burger is a big deal. Personally, I don’t see how green olives can be a compliment to a burger. In Oklahoma charcoal grilled burgers over hickory wood is the flavor of choice for many diners, including myself. In the southeast slaw is a favorite condiment. According to the Kentucky Headhunters you can find slaw burgers at Dumas Walker.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

We have two raised bed gardens in our back yard and each one is 4’x8′. We grow, three varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, and okra. The okra is just now beginning to produce and we had some with dinner recently. The Roma tomatoes and cucumbers produced bumper crops so my wife made Bread & Butter pickles and I made a spicy smoked salsa. I love the pickles on burgers and the salsa is a great compliment to any Tex-Mex dish. I smoked the onions, tomatoes and jalapenos on my pellet grill prior to blending them with spices, cilantro and lime juice. It really makes for a great flavor combo. I think everything tastes better when you grow it at home and make the product in your kitchen.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This is a whatever music moves you, freedom of choice week at 4M so let’s give a listen to some up and coming talent in country music.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Dog Day Summer Blooms

In ancient times, “Dog Days of Summer” was connected with bad luck, mad dog attacks, unexpected thunderstorms, heat, and drought.  These days gained the “Dog Days” name because they are connected with a star in the Canis Major (Greater Dog) star system known as Sirius. Nowadays, “Dog Days of Summer” is associated for summer’s long hot days. Based on these interesting tidbits use your imagination to find music that’ll make us howl on the dance floor!

Arkansas is entering the “Dog Days of Summer” this week. In Northwest Arkansas the air temperature will reach 97 while the heat index will climb to 105. The Southern part of the state will experience temperatures approaching 105 with a heat index exceeding 110. Rain will become scarce while irrigation and air conditioning systems will be working over time. That brings me to my take on music. Here we go.

There is nothing more pleasant after a long hot summer day than a cool evening Summer Breeze. Originally recorded in 1972 by Seals and Crofts, Keith Urban brought the song to the 52nd American Music Awards.

It is the middle of July and the kids are enjoying their summer break from school, but back to school activities are just around the corner. The kids may have to sing this song just to remind themselves it is still Summertime, summertime.

For the urban dwellers, there is something unique about Summer in the City. The Lovin Spoonful gave us the top 40 hit, but Joe Cocker also had a video with his arrangement of the song.

Normally we think of baseball when we hear about The Boys of Summer, but there are those summer romances that happen and The Boys of summer are a component.

I have to admit, one of my all time favorite “Dog Days of Summer” songs comes from The Drifters. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

A few months ago I planted a package of random perennial flower seeds in a small flower bed on the east side of the house. The past few weeks the blooms have begun to appear and, to be honest, they’ve been a little underwhelming. A couple of days ago I checked the progress and this stunning bloom greeted me. I immediately went in the house, grabbed my camera and tripod to capture a stunning image and this is the result. As I write this post I have discovered that this is apparently very desirable bunny food as most of the blossom has disappeared and only one petal remains. Our neighborhood is filled with little cottontail vegans and this became a victim. I’m just glad I have this image to enjoy.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Welcome to Monday’s Music Moves Me! This is a whatever music moves you week. I haven’t posted much inspirational music recently, however that is not because I don’t have a reason to be thankful to the Creator. In fact, this past week has given me another reason to Praise the Lord.

I have persistent Afib. My pacemaker is working over 95% of the time. Recently the remote monitor indicated to my cardiology team that something wasn’t working exactly as it should and they were going to have to make a revision to my device. That’s doctor talk for outpatient surgery. It turns out that the “revision” was to remove and replace my pacemaker with a new one and run an additional lead into the other side of my heart by placing it in a vein and running it through that vein until it reaches the wall of the heart, then attach it. I cannot begin to understand or explain how that is even possible or the skill required to do such a thing. But we live in a country with such great medical care that it is about an hour out patient procedure and you go home the same day.

I am thankful the technology exists to monitor my device 24/7/365 remotely. I am thankful God has given surgeons the equipment and skills necessary to do such a procedure. I am thankful my cardiology team is very proactive at monitoring my situation and taking action quickly. I am thankful God blessed me by placing me in these United States at a time in history when these things are possible. One of the greatest blessings in this life is to be born, raised, educated, and live my life in this time, in the greatest country on earth. I serve and AWESOME GOD!!! Thank you Jesus! Have a blessed week.