Aug 17th August is the Abundant Harvest of Vegetables month. CoolKidFacts says these veggies are in abundance this time of year tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and peas. Use these for inspiration or go with vegetables in general found in artist/band name or song title/lyrics.
In Northwest Arkansas, and for a great part of the country an intense heat wave is burning crops up at a very rapid pace. Our tomatoes and cucumbers are done. Okra is the only thing still producing and I used “Green Onions” last week in my 4M post. I’m still going to try to abide by the rules this week, even though I am tempted to go in a different direction, but I will add fruits to the harvest. Have a blessed week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Driller's Place 