I took a short walk around the neighborhood the other day and to say that fall is in full swing here in Northwest Arkansas is an understatement. We have had just the right amount of rain during the year and the cool temperatures recently. The result is an explosion of color. enjoy.

2018 Homecoming – Vol II

Last week I posted a few images of the local high school kids at the park taking photos of friends and family. After that event, and prior to dinner and the dance, a few of the kids from our church ventured over to the youth building for one last photo-op. The youth building is named Studio 412 and the inspiration comes from the Bible, 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love in spirit, in faith, in purity.” The example is one that we could all aspire to.

The girls are always up for a little more photo antics than the guys, when adults are around.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week is a “your choice” week so I am going to use it as an excuse to post another dance video. As a young adult I was a huge fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival and I still enjoy the work of John Fogerty as a solo act. I believe the only artist that I had more music of was Sir Elton John. Anyway, back to the dance floor. While looking for CCR videos I ran across this jewel. The dance genre here is the Carolina Shag. Enjoy.

While I loved the hard driving sounds of Fortunate Son and Travelin’ Band, one of my favorite CCR recordings was Lodi. I think all of us have felt like we were stuck in a Lodi at some point in our life.

By nature I am not a political animal. I am currently worn out with politics, but I like the message that John evoked in this tune as a solo artist. Sometimes status quo just isn’t good enough. We need a gunslinger.

As a bit of a sports fan and one of millions of American youth that grew up playing baseball, my all time favorite John Fogerty tune is…you guessed it, “Centerfield”. And yes, that is a guitar in the shape of a baseball bat. Have a blessed week.

 

2018 High School Homecoming – Junior Year

Fall is in the air, football season is in full swing and that means that high schools around the country are having homecoming celebrations. Our youngest grand daughter is a junior this year. Yes, I know, where does the time go? There is a local tradition for many of the kids to meet at a local park in the after noon for photos. The park is filled with parents, grandparents and hundreds of kids. It is a fun tradition and everyone seems to enjoy it. Now there are several locations that kids and their parents meet so the crowd is a little more spread out than in the past.

It seems that many high school students don’t date the way we did, back in the stone age. Many of them just meet a large group of friends and hang out at the dance that evening. I think they may actually have more fun than we did. Good for them.

The photo session starts with the grand daughter, then a friend is added, then a small group, and finally…

the whole crowd of friends get involved. Oh to have that much energy again.

Monday’s Music Moves Me.

The theme is music featuring unusual instruments. My choice isn’t based so much on the unusual instruments as it is their use. When was the last time you heard a bluegrass band play classical music?

This group performed at our church Friday night and the crowd loved them. Southern Raised is a family bluegrass band that specializes in gospel music. The three sisters and their little brother are all classically trained in piano and violin. However, their love of gospel music and the genre of bluegrass music led them into the southern gospel industry.  Occasionally, they will give a classical number a new sound. If you hear of these young adults playing at a church near you, go give them a listen. You will not be disappointed.

Here is an example of what they do most. Enjoy. Have a blessed week.

Garden Shed

Okay, so this is more than the average backyard garden shed/greenhouse. This is the greenhouse of the Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It sits on the grounds of the historic Snedden mansion. During the early part of the twentieth century oil was discovered in Oklahoma and vast fortunes were made. Tulsa became the oil capital of the world and there are a lot of magnificent estate homes that bear witness to the wealth that was present in this city. I took this photo in 2011. I was looking through some of my old files and found it so I thought I would share it with you. It is an awesome building. Have a blessed week.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Gather ’round boys and girls. This week is a free choice week at Monday’s Music Moves Me so I thought I’d take the opportunity to introduce you to some of the more eclectic tunes in my play list.

First up in Nathanael Rateliff and the Night Sweats. I first heard this band on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. I immediately went to my computer and downloaded the album with this tune on it. Enjoy.

There has been a movement to return country music to it’s classic roots. The genre is called “Red Dirt” music because the bands that originated the sound came out of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. If you have ever been west of Oklahoma City you will know why it’s called red dirt music. One of the groups goes by the name Red Dirt Rangers. Close your eyes and you can almost see Hank Williams Sr., Ernest Tubbs, and Bob Wills Texas Playboys. Here ya go.

Another “Red Dirt” band is Cross Canadian Ragweed. I don’t know much about them other than I like their sound. I can hear a little Nitty Gritty Dirt Band influence here and Lord knows we’ve all been sick and tired of being sick and tired.

A group that I just discovered is Dead South. I really like some of their work. There’s a little bluegrass, red dirt, and folk rock going on with these guys. Here the guys cover a classic from the sixties, House of the Rising Sun and to say it’s a little on the quirky side is putting it mildly, but I like their wardrobe, their musicianship, and the artistic video. They are the complete package.

Okay, let’s close this session out with a return to some classic blues/rock music. Virtually all of the original masters of blues are gone now and the baton has been passed to the current generation. Few people possess the guitar skills of Joe Bonamassa. Here he covers the BB King classic, “The Thrill is Gone”. Have a blessed week all.

 

We have a red hibiscus in a large pot on our patio and some of you may have seen earlier photos of the blooms. Friday evening I noticed these volunteer mushrooms growing in the same pot so I snapped a couple of images with the intent of posting them for a Wordless Wednesday meme later this month.  Saturday morning I got up to take our cocker spaniel, Lucy, outside and I was reminded just what can happen in less than 24 hours. Here is what the mushrooms looked like then.

Have an Awe…some Monday and a blessed week.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Theme for this week’s Monday’s Music Moves Me post is songs with hand claps or finger snaps. Since I am a few days older than dirt, I thought I would start this post with a blast from the past, “Finger Poppin’ Time”.

You may notice a very close resemblance to another tune from the era. The show is American Bandstand, the audience provides the hand clapping, and Chubby Checker introduces us to “The Twist”.

Digging even deeper into the archives, we find the incredible baritone voice of Tennessee Ernie Ford singing 16 Tons. The record sold over 20 million copies and I am sure that Ernie’s fingers were worn out before this song exited the top 40.

Well, as long as we’re lost in the 50’s, we might as well do a little finger snappin’, hand clappin’ and toe tappin’ to “Willie and the Hand Jive.”

Later Alligator!

Monday I posted a few hot rod photos and nothing says vintage hot rod like a flat head V8. I love the simplicity of these engines and the concept that almost any “shade tree” mechanic could work on them with a few wrenches and screwdriveres. Now, you need thousands of dollars of computerized equipment to tell you what is going on inside those new motors.

Original Image

 

Variation I

 

Variation II

 

Variation III