This past week the temperatures have dropped into the teens and we have had two dustings of snow. Last Friday morning the temperature was twelve degrees when I got up. I wandered out to the fence and refilled the bird feeder. It wasn’t too long before the first feathered friends arrived.

Cardinals are always a welcome sight. Four years ago we moved from a wooded area into town and the variety of birds to watch and photograph diminished significantly. There are several pairs of cardinals though.

Not everyone is a fan of the sparrow. They are plentiful and harmless enough but they just don’t provide much color for a photograph.

Starlings on the other hand are very colorful, but also very annoying. They will swarm a feeder like bees around a hive. They kick out more of the seeds than they eat and will not allow other birds near the feeder until they are finished plundering. They are little more than feathered pigs in my opinion, but they do make good photo subjects. There are two birds that will run them off. Mocking birds and Bluejays will not tolerate starlings and will send them running for cover.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme is “Your Choice”. As a teen/twenty something of the sixties and a long time resident of Tulsa Oklahoma I have decided to feature one of the city’s favorite sons. The musicians of Tulsa developed their own Tulsa Sound and artists like Jim Webb, J. J. Cale, Elvin Bishop, Dwight Twilly and David Gates called Tulsa their hometown. But the musician that many of us remember most fondly was none other than Leon Russell. Sir Elton John credits Leon as one of his idols. Leon’s musical career began at the age of 14 playing in local nightclubs. Since Oklahoma was a dry state so there were no liquor laws per-se and that allowed Leon to earn his living at a very early age. He moved to L.A. and became one of a group of A-List session musicians known as the “Wrecking Crew”.  His list of session credits include playing on recordings by Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Leon enjoyed a solo career that spanned from the late sixties into the late seventies and then drifted back into sessoin work. He renovated an old church into a recording studio in Tulsa and it is still around today. The likes of Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney have played with Leon in that studio. Leon passed away in 2016 and the music industry lost an iconic talent while Tulsa lost a favorite son.

Leon wrote “Delta Lady” for Joe Cocker, but you haven’t heard this song until you hear Leon do it.

Another song authored by Leon was “A Song For You”.

As I mentioned earlier, Sir Elton John considered Leon one of his idols. After years (decades) in obscurity, Elton lead the campaign that put Leon rightfully in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They collaborated on an album The Union and went on tour. The album is worth adding to your collection. Here is a cut from the dynamic duo.

One last cut from the best Rocker to come out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Have a blessed week and “Rock on!”

Sunday afternoon at church, the Trail Life boys held their annual Pinewood Derby. It is like a scale model soapbox derby. The fathers and sons build the cars to certain specifications and go racing. This year I volunteered to help any youngster who came from a single parent home or was without a father for some reason. A 10 year old young man was assigned to me and we built the neon green spiked racer on the right.

Registration started at 3:00 pm and it didn’t take long for the pit area to fill up with racing machines. There were those built for speed and those built more for show.

Certainly the most clever design was the Star Wars “Walker”. The legs are simply the base for the car to  rest. The upper section with the wheels lift off of the base and go racing. This car was not the fastest in the field, but it was certainly one of the most popular.

The cars were divided into age groups, plus an “Outlaw” class. The outlaw cars were allowed to have additional modifications and anyone could enter, so I put together the TIGERS machine. These outlaw cars are built for speed.

So, how did these two first-time racers do? Well the neon green machine finished 4th in the young man’s age group and the TIGERS Wedge finished in the middle of the outlaw pack. I’ve already got a few ideas for next year’s outlaw machine because you’re never too old to go racing! Have a blessed day.

Last week the weather was generally mild for January. Temperatures rose into the 50’s and the days were mild and sunny. Then, Friday night a cold front moved in, the temperature dropped into the 20’s, a light snow covered the yard and the winds blew. It was a miserable weather day on Saturday. I put some food out for the birds and I had plenty of diners, but only this one cardinal.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

I have to admit, when I saw the theme for this week was “Shadows” there was just one song that came to mind “Me and My Shadow” but I really wanted to do something different. So, I headed to YouTube and did a search. I found this video that is not only a great piece of music, but a truly entertaining video. Have a blessed week.

Not in Our House!

I said, “No!”

Ground Game

Defense!

Defending the Paint

It’s indoor track season!!! The youngest grand daughter, seen here, is lost in her thoughts preparing for her first high jump competition of the season. I love watching and photographing high school sports, so indoor track season is the beginning of my winter/spring photo activities. Here’s is hoping for a great season ahead for this young lady.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Last week the theme was Elvis and music by other artists of his era. I chose only one Elvis song done by another artist. This week is your choice, so I think I’ll stay in the fifties and recall a couple of artists that I liked during my late pre-teen years. My music tastes have always included songs just outside the mainstream.  The first album I ever bought was Ray Charles, “What’d I Say”. I followed that purchase with his classic album, “Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music”. Here is the title song from “What’d I Say”.

I was also a fan of the Everly Brothers. This duo put out some classic sounds and their harmonies are priceless. “Wake Up Little Susie” tells about a date that lasts a little too long. Simple tunes for simpler times.

While Elvis may have been “The King”, there was another hearthrob that could be seen every week on the Ozzie & Harriet situation comedy television show. For several seasons their youngest son, Ricky Nelson ended almost every episode with a song. Here is one of his biggest hits from the era.

That wraps it up for a glimpse into the past. see you next week.

 

Warbird

One of our local residents owns this WWII warbird and it is now on display in a new hanger/restaurant at the airport. It is still operational and can be seen flying  over our house several times a year. The pilot also owns a P-51 Mustang. The Mustang and this British Spitfire are considered by many to be among the most beautiful war planes ever designed. I must admit, there aren’t any bad angles to view this plane from.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. May 2019 be your best year ever! Nana, Papa & the grandcrew.

The newlyweds! Our oldest granddaughter and her husband.

The grandcrew with the newest addition, a grandson-in-law.

Our daughter, her husband and their whole gang.

And, as they say, “That’s a wrap!” Another Christmas Music Marathon is in the books. I’m going to take a short break, maybe break out the camera for a few non holiday images, and get ready for the new year. Until then, may the hope that is Christmas shine in your life and may the New Year bring new blessings to you and yours. See you in January.

Christmas Eve is upon us. For some the celebration has already begun. Not all families can be together at the same time so some people visit family members over several days and celebrate Christmas at each stop. The first Christmas was somewhat of a multi-day affair. It is highly unlikely that the shepherds and the wise men arrived on the same day. In fact, the wise men may not have seen the Christ child until several weeks or months after his birth. Still, the only appropriate response was worship and praise. Hallelujah!!!

Most everyone enjoys Christmas lights. We decorate our homes and businesses for the holidays. Some are very simple while others are very elaborate and computer controlled light shows. Still, the most important light show of all was provided by God to show the shepherds and guide the wise men to the place where they could worship the King of kings. The star of Bethlehem no longer shines in the sky but is glows in hearts of men. God has left us His Word and it is that Scripture that leads and guides men to the Savior. Have a blessed day.