Hibiscus – Variations on a Theme

 

Image converted to B&W in PhotoShop Elements 15 then post processed using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 filters.

Soo…what did you do last week-end. I got the yard mowed, took care of the two grand-dogs and hung out around the house. Our youngest granddaughter decided to “Conquer the Gauntlet” in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Conquer the Gauntlet is a timed event that is four miles long, laced with twenty-five obstacles and multiple changes in elevation and water hazards. It is not for the faint of heart and is a favorite activity of many serious cross-fit enthusiasts. This ladder run is something that I remember from basic training in the Army. The granddaughter is the one on the ladder on the far right

No gauntlet race would be complete without a few water hazards. They also serve to cool down the competitiors. Again, the youngest granddaughter is on the far right.

Over the course of the four miles, every muscle and fiber in your being is tested. There is a vertical wall to scale and there is this inclined obstacle that is conquered by means of a rope.

Lexi has been working with her dad at cross-fit as a means of staying in shape for spring track and soccer. This was the first time she has ever competed in this type of event. How did she do, you ask. Well she finished 2nd in her age group. Did I mention that she is 16. She finished 13th among 1600 women contestants and she finished 72nd against all 2600 male and female participants. Somehow the phrase “tough as nails” comes to mind. Have a blessed day.

The youngest granddaughter is pictured here with her parents. Saturday afternoon and evening the local high school celebrated the new school year by having “Tiger Pride”. The event is held at the football stadium. All of the fall sports teams go through fifteen minutes of scrimmage and all of the spring sports teams are introduced. This spring the ladies track team won the state championship. Our granddaughter was the conference champion and runner-up at the state meet in high jump. That is her state championship ring that was presented to her and other members of the team at Tiger Pride.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week is an open week and I am torn between two choices. I could pick up where I left off with the female country vocalists or I could reveal a bit more of my edgy side from the late sixties. What to do, what to do. Maybe a couple of each.

It is no secret that Linda Ronstadt and Trisha Yearwood are my two favorite female vocalists from a country background. Although Ronstadt crossed over into folk rock similar to the Eagles, her roots were firmly planted in country. The first song that Don Henley and Glenn Frey wrote together was covered by Ronstadt and like all of her arrangements, she made it uniquely hers…Desperado. 

Trisha Yearwood, like Ronstadt, can sing anything and like Ronstadt, her voice is timeless. She can take any song and put her stamp on it. There is no mistaking that voice when it comes on the radio…I mean, Everybody Knows!

As a child of the sixties I grew up with The Beatles, Mowtown sound, and The Beach Boys. Near the end of the decade the music had taken on a more serious lyric and complex sound. I’m sure the Vietnam war and other national events contributed to the influences on the music of the day. I listened to Cream, Blind Faith, Santana, Steppenwolf and bands like Emerson Lake & Palmer, but I also liked Sir Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival and groups with a bit of blues in their soul. The story of Cream is all wrapped up in this video and their most famous song, “Sunshine of Your Love”.  For me the most special thing about Cream was Eric Clapton…nuff said.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer continued the tradition of great instrumental play and complex arrangements to move rock forward into the decade of the 70’s. One of my favorite bands. “Lucky Man”

Carlos Santana has been a rock/blues legend since the mid-sixties. Along with Eric Clapton he has always been one of the premier guitar players of all time. Santana’s inital mega hit was Black Magic Woman. The very first time I heard this song, I was hooked.

Now you know about my edgy past. Have a blessed week.

Final blooms of summer rendered in color and  B&W. Fall is just around the corner.

Any day with Lucy in it is an awe…some day.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme is songs/artists with animals in the title name. As a child of the 60’s the first thing that popped into my head was “The Animals – House of the Rising Sun”! BOOM! The Animals were on the first wave of the British Invasion of the early 60’s. The Beatles led the assault and were soon followed by the likes of Chad & Jeremy, Herman’s Hermits, etc. But it was The Animals that brought an edge to the music from across the pond and paved the way for groups like The Stones.

Speaking of the Stones, another song comes to mind…Wild Horses.

A blast from the past and the early days of rock n roll gives us the Everly Brothers and “Bird Dog.”

Now we head out to sea where we find a swimming predator, “Barracuda” by Heart. Have a blessed week.

It’s been a while since I last posted updated images of Lucy, our “House Princess”.

Lucy is now nineteen months old, stands about thirteen inches high at the shoulders and weighs in at a slim and trim seventeen pounds. She is a black and white parti-colored American Cocker Spaniel. The parti-color means that she is at least two colors and one of them must be white. Lucy was only ten weeks old and a tiny five pounds when she came into the family.

This is a pretty common pose. She spends a lot of time with her eyes and nose to the ground looking for a new adventure that might be found in a worm, bug, or any moving object. She loves people and other animals. New construction in the area has brought a lot of bunnies into the neighborhood. Lucy will chase them across the back yard. She is very disappointed when they slip under the fence because she just doesn’t understand why they don’t stay around a play.

Lucy has her quiet moments too. After a game of fetch, she will find a cool place to lie down and rest.

Of course with this profile, Lucy believes that she needs her own FaceBook page.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Since our house princess is the subject of the first part of this post, I’ll stay in the gender and switch to female vocalists…female vocalists in country music to be exact. I have a few favorites and I know that I will leave out some worthy voices but here goes. Country music has always had it’s “Queen of Country Music”. That title is currently held by Reba McIntire. It has previously been given to Loretta Lynn and one day will probably be included in any introduction of Carrie Underwood, but the first “Queen of Country Music” for me was Patsy Cline. Her vocals are timeless and there is nothing fake about her sound, Many of today’s male country artists seem to work very hard and a fake country drawl and singing through their nose while many of the female artists jump at the chance to add a pop sound to their arrangements. Patsy was pure country without any window dressing. I could post a dozen songs by her but I will limit my choice to a song that defines country music of the 50’s. Female vocalists often sang about broken hearts and this one is one of the best ever.

While she crossed over and became a classic rock legend, much of Linda Ronstadt’s early music had a definite country sound to it. Linda is probably my all time favorite female vocalist. She could sing any genre of music and the unique Ronstadt sound. Linda is one of only a handful of female vocalists that can take a classic country song that was originally recorded by a legendary male country artist, Ray Price, and make it her own.

Next on the list is my second all time favorite female vocalist, Trisha Yearwood. Like Ronstadt before her, Trisha can sing the phone book and make it a hit. If you have never heard her Christmas Album (The Sweetest Gift) then download and give a listen to “Take a Walk Through Bethlehem”. I think I like Trisha because I can hear the Ronstadt influence in her music but her voice is just pure and simple and can cross over into any genre she chooses.

And yes, the last female vocalist on my list is CarrieUnderwood. A small town Oklahoma girl went to an American Idol audition and wound up being a super-star. While much of her current sound has a pop flavor to to it, her country roots shine through and her inspirational songs that have been featured on the CMA awards are jaw dropping, standing ovation master pieces.

Yes, I know I have left out  Tammy Wynette, Reba, Dolly Parton, Martina Mcbride, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert and others, but I think these four are may all time favorites and space just doesn’t allow for me to include everyone. Have a blessed week.