In Real Life/ "King of Kings"

 

It is most useful to do my little puzzles that I enjoy. Not just to keep my brain ticking over but also, to learn certain phrases and words that I might not otherwise know.  Here are just three things that I learned recently....

1.  IRL...  

This means "in real life". It refers to life outside the internet. It is often used in texts or DM. (Direct messaging).  I had to know this for the Mini Puzzle in the New York Times.

2.  Baize...

     A coarse woolen cloth, often used as a covering for gaming tables such as pool, snooker or billiards.  Upon further reading, I discovered that stately homes often used baize upon doors as wool is a fire retardant and also would deaden noise. (How can woolen cloth be so interesting? It is!)

3.  Flexion...

This means the act of flexing or bending.  The definition of this came home to me when I spent a lot of time raking up leaves in my yard! (Some trees hang on to their leaves and only drop them in the Spring, just before the new leaves emerge. This retention of leaves in the winter is called marcescence.) 

 

When we stopped at a supermarket on the way home from walking at a trail, I saw a pretty bed of flowers at the edge of the parking lot. Guess who had to jump out and walk over to admire the flowers? Yep, that would be me! (Had to block out that bright sun with my gigantic head but hey, anything to get that red tulip shot!)

We have granite outcrops beside some of our trails here in Rockdale County. The diamorpha smalli is bright red.   In April, this will have the starlike white flowers on top. (I have shown you photos of this before from Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain, but the same plant life exists on many of these rock outcrops also. That bright red is just beautiful! Look, let's get closer...

Just found out today that there will be an animated film coming out on April 11th. "King of Kings". (Not to be confused with the 1961 film with the same name.) This is based on a short story by Charles Dickens, which he called "The Life of Our Lord" about the life of Jesus.  Isn't that interesting? Apparently, he wrote it for his children and would read it to them every Christmas, but he never wanted it published.  (It was eventually published in 1934, the publication being delayed until the last of the Dickens' children had died.)

 I have a trailer here for you. There are several trailers, but I hope I have chosen the one for you that doesn't have the Broadway type song in the background.  Oh dear, sometimes music enhances a film and sometimes, it does not!  I have some very strong opinions about what kind of music should be in the background of films or TV shows.

What do you think? I think I would like to see it. (Please Lord, forgive them if they have a very trendy song which is jarring to the subject matter!)

Did you know that Handel's Messiah has been performed at The Royal Albert Hall every Good Friday since 1876?  Isn't that wonderful?  It was first performed on April 13, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland.  Ladies were asked to wear "dresses without hoops" so as to "make Room for more company".

I started this post to tell you about words and phrases that I learned recently.  I learned more but...now, I have forgotten them. Ha ha, such is life! 

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Hope you are all doing well these days, my friends!  In the Atlanta area, our pollen count today is very high. There are clouds of yellow pollen just floating in the air, it looks like yellow powder has been dusted by a giant hand. We are hoping for a wonderful cleansing rain tonight. Wish us luck!

Oh, I almost forgot! Here is a photo that Richard took of the Eastern Towhee, which was just beside our walking trail, and he was singing his heart out! (And this looked like a male bird to us, the male has very dark feathers on his head whereas the female is more a dark brown color.) Hey, we love our birds! 

You Can Say That Again!

 

As time goes by, I realize that there are words and phrases that are no longer in use. Recently, I was sure about something, and I said, "If this doesn't happen, I will eat my hat!".  It reminded me that I have not heard anyone say that in a very long time. Can you think of more?  (Even the title of this post, "You can say that again!" refers to what one used to say when someone made a statement, and you were in total and complete agreement.) 

                     "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it". 

                                (243 steps across, I counted!)

                    This photo is of a pleasant canitude.  (Meaning whiteness or greyness).

               "Fences make good neighbors".  (From a poem by Robert Frost, I think)

I know that I told you that the title of this post reminded me of what we used to say when we agreed with someone but what really brought that to mind was the birdsong we heard on a walk.  You have heard of the mockingbird, it is called that because it repeats the songs of other birds.  It normally repeats three times.  If you hear a bird repeating TWICE, then you are hearing the brown thrasher!  It was the brown thrasher that we heard, such clear beautiful sounds.  And I wanted to say, "You can say that again!".  

The brown thrasher is also very welcome in our back yard! Look at that tail! Such a gorgeous bird. I think I have told you before that all the states have their own state birds. Georgia is the only one that chose the brown thrasher. I read somewhere that it was chosen by Georgia schoolchildren in the 1920's.  I don't know if that is true, but I like that story and I hope that it is.

We normally drive a few miles to get to a walking trail. Recently, some wild turkeys were beside the road.  I snapped a quick photo, but I asked Richard if he could take a few shots from his side of the car.  Since there was no traffic, he did so....

THIS was my favorite!  Isn't it wonderful?  You can say that again!

Chas & Dave! I have told you my admiration for them before. Sadly, Chas died a few years ago.  Dave Peacock seems to endorse this cover band, The Rokney Rebels.  I really love to see young people do great covers, don't you?  

Chas & Dave Tribute | Rockney Rebels - The No.1 Chas & Dave Tribute Band | Leeds

Of course, Chas & Dave can still be found on YouTube! Don't forget!

The following song lyrics for you:

"Mustn't grumble, you cry and you cry all alone. Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry all alone."

"Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink.  The years go by, as quickly as a wink.  Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!"

We are trying to go through lots of "stuff" we have accumulated over the years. A LOT of it is associated with our son! But honestly, it was all so doggone cute! Just look at this Wallace and Gromit toothbrush holder!  

Hope you are all doing well, my friends.  March is marching on by!

Love Will Steer the Stars

  See the planets all lined up tonight!  

Seven of the planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune (along with the Moon!) will align in the night sky just after dusk today.  (February 28th).  Isn't that wonderful?  This might be a bit later in other parts of the world, I think it is next week for Europe. Check out your part of the world to see when you may see this viewing!

Now, did this make anyone start singing a song? You know I did!  

"When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, Then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars". 

"Age of Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" was a huge hit in 1969. It spent six weeks at number one on the charts in the spring of that year. The song came from the musical "Hair".  Anyone else remember this? The 5th Dimension was the group behind the hit.  Two of the singers from that group, Billy Davis, Jr and Marilyn McCoo married and have been together for fifty years. Isn't that great? 

Reading just a bit about this couple, they released an album in 2021, "Blackbird Lennon -McCartney Icons". Just as the title suggests, they are singing songs by the Beatles!  Of course, you know that means that they have good taste. Just an aside here, I once saw them on a plane in the early 1980's.  We had stopped in Las Vegas, just for a stopover and they got off the plane in Vegas!  (I was on a plane headed to Reno. The only time I ever went there, and I got to see Lake Tahoe. I think that lake might be the prettiest lake ever- the clear, deep blue of that water! I have never forgotten it.)

Just a few sky photos for you above.  Hey, the planets don't have to align for me to look up.  I find the skies amazing all the time!

 (Another sky photo for you - it is a picture of a circumhorizontal arc! You may see it just here! It is from my blogging friend in Germany!)

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  Oh, that peace would guide the planets and love would steer the stars! 

When All the World Is a Hopeless Jumble ( Songs!)

 

(Not one but THREE videos here!)

You all know the lovely song "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" sung so wistfully by the young Judy Garland with her little dog Toto with her.  Did you know that the man who wrote the lyrics (the marvelous Yip Yarburg) also wrote an introductory verse that began with "When all the world is a hopeless jumble"? It is sometimes included in some theatrical productions of "The Wizard of Oz". Several artists have also recorded it with this verse and is in the original sheet music.  (Anybody remember sheet music? I do.)

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a song by a British band that I really like a lot, Keane.  The song "Somewhere Only We Know" was released in February 2004 as a single from their album, "Hopes and Fears".  The album was released in May of 2004 and went on to become one of the UK's best-selling albums.  You can spend a lot of time listening to covers of this song. (Ask me how I know!) I will save you a lot of time and tell you that one of my favorites is one that I have shared with you above.  All those dear children!  Did you know I love kids? I do!  I want to take every one of those kids home with me! There is a great feeling of hope that you sense when you listen to them sing.  (And I also loved those playing the piano, guitar, drums and violin in the background, also kids!) 

Did anybody watch the 50th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live?  It was 3 HOURS LONG.  We recorded it to watch later. Of course, it must have run over its allotted time because we didn't get Paul McCartney at the end!  Oh well, there's always YouTube!

Am I the only one to think that the show was mostly terrible? I didn't find any of the skits funny. I am old and perhaps a fuddy-duddy but I am okay with that.  I think maybe even using the word "fuddy-duddy" might just show you my personality. I just had my hair cut and the hairdresser cut my hair shorter on one side. It might not have been her fault. I think I am just looking at the world askance just now.  ("Askance- with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval.  Yep, that's me!)

Sir Paul McCartney's performance from the SNL 50th.  (We used to say our words but now "Saturday Night Live" is "SNL".) Gotta roll with the times and abbreviate everything now, I keep telling myself!

"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why, can't I?"

So nice of these bluebirds to visit us just so I can have them in this post!

Keane from Glastonbury 2024.  You know I had to have this on here. The lead singer, Tom Chaplin, has such an amazing voice! And the crowd singing along!  Wish I could have been there.  I would have been singing too! 

HOPE you are all doing well and making it through February!  It is very cold here in the Metro Atlanta area today, it MIGHT make it above freezing! Supposed to be in the 70's next week though! Hoping that forecast is correct.

Hope is such a lovely thing, don't you agree?

The North Wind Doth Blow (And There Shall Be Snow)

    

The North wind doth blow

and we shall have snow.

And what will the robin do then, poor thing?

He will sit in a barn and keep himself warm

and hide his head in his wing, poor thing!

Mother Goose was a favorite of mine growing up and sometimes phrases come to me unexpectedly!  We are experiencing snow in the South for the second time this month.  This second snow, we didn't get nearly as much snow in Georgia as they did in Louisiana or Florida! (Did you see the photos from Pensacola Beach, Fl and New Orleans, La? Wow!) Still, because we had that cold, cold air already, once the snow fell, it made our roads in the Atlanta area very dangerous. Our temps have not gotten above freezing for the past 72 hours. We are being told to stay indoors here in our county as some roads that are very icy have been closed. 

So, what to do? Why, feed the birds, of course! And enjoy their antics! And that poem about the robin being cold?  Well, I am sure you all know that birds keep themselves warm by FLUFFING up their feathers! I remember seeing a robin in England that was so puffed up, it reminded me of a tennis ball! 

Still, this cold weather makes it difficult to do our outdoor walking, so it seems that January has lasted forever. (We have walked in below freezing weather with a stiff wind upon us, and THAT is what made me think of that Mother Goose poem!)  Now, is there something that defines January going on for a very long time?  Surely there must be!

Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November.

Unless a leap year is its fate

February hath twenty -eight.

All the rest hath three days more,

excepting January,

which hath six thousand,

one hundred and eighty-four.     

Ha! Isn't that funny?  I swear that would not have made me laugh any other January except this one in 2025!   The poem is by Brian Bilston and he is a Brit! Personally, I think we need to find more things to make us laugh these days.  (Or at least giggle and guffaw a bit!)  Tee hee, if you look up that poet on his website, on the "about" section, he simply states, "I write poems".  There, enough said! Here is his website:   Brian Bilston   His list of unpublished poems is pretty funny.

These are photos of the first snow we had which was much better at making a snowman!  This poor guy was melting after 2 days in the sun but I bet he looked great when he was new! It was fun to drive past all the yards with the snowmen proudly still standing! You can just imagine how much fun the kids had in making them. 

I even made a very small snowman with sunflower seeds for eyes....

Can you see that the cardinal has found the "eyes" of the snowman? "Thank you!", the female cardinal seems to be saying!

Do you need to paint something white? I think "snowman's bone" would be very white, don't you? 

                          Stay warm!  And January will be over soon! 

Hey! I wrote a post in 2017 about the most snow that I had ever seen. We drove through a blizzard in South Georgia in 1973. You may read it just  here!

With Love and Respect -Jimmy Carter, Our 39th President

 

The State Funeral was held for Jimmy Carter today at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  I found it to be very moving.

 In case you missed it, it is on YouTube from several sources. I have it above for you. I think it was just over 3 1/2 hours, but it is absolutely worth watching every minute, I promise.  If you don't have time to watch it all, just go forward until you are at the 2:44 time.  That is when Andy Young delivered the Homily.  Please, be sure and listen to that. (For some reason, the camera is mostly on the ex-Presidents at that time, but it is Andy Young that I want you to hear.) As one of the TV announcers pointed out afterwards, Andy Young spoke most eloquently and without looking at any notes.

As you all know, Jimmy Carter was from Plains, Georgia. (Although he really was from a place even smaller, a community about 3 miles from Plains called "Archery".)  He wrote of his upbringing during the Depression in his book, "An Hour Before Daylight". I highly recommend it!

                  Washington, D.C.  -  Jan. 8, 2025  (When Jimmy Carter was lying in state at the Capitol) Richard got this photo from the TV because I asked him to take it! Look at the heavenly sunset.

With love and respect, that is one of the phrases that I remember from this service.  It is with love and respect that I will remember him. He is our longest living U.S. President and the only one from my home state.

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There was another service that they showed on the local Atlanta station this evening. It was from Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he taught Sunday School for many years.   Jimmy Carter will be laid to rest in Plains, Georgia, beside his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter.  (I am thankful that all these services happened before tomorrow as Georgia will have a "weather event".  Snow is predicted!  Wish us luck, Southern folks can't handle snow.)

"Let There Be Peace on Earth (And Let It Begin with Me").

Can I hear an "Amen"?  AMEN!

Good Things! Happy 2025!

 

Had an eye exam lately? No? Well, you should!

I recently had one and was asked if I wanted to pay extra for a digital test to get a better picture of the retina. The machine is called "Octomap".  You know I said "yes"! (You look into the machine and have to push a button when you see the green light. I think I am remembering this correctly!)

The company that makes the machine is "OPTOS". It was invented by a man from Scotland named Douglas Anderson after his son lost all vision in his left eye in 1990.  Interesting to me, Douglas Anderson had nothing to do with the medical field. (His background was in industrial engineering design.)  He had been told by his son's doctors that with the available tests that they were able to get "only a glimpse" of his son's eye. Mr. Anderson is in the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.  You can read more about him here.  I also have a video for you!

I love finding out about people who have brought good things into the world.  I find it interesting that the company founded by Robert Anderson is based in Dunfermline, Scotland.  When I read that it rang a bell for me...isn't there someone else associated with that town? I looked it up, Dunfermline also is the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie! (I hope you know who he is, I have written about him before!)

Along with the theme of good things in the world, I'm sure you all must have heard that Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. What good work this former President of the United States has done! Perhaps all that he has done is not that well known in other countries, but it should be now that he has passed away. (Why do we never highlight a great person's life until they have left us?) I am very proud to say that he is a fellow Georgian, just like me. I thought he and his wife were just wonderful people. Wish we had more like them. 

We are almost into the new year now. I am wishing all of you good things.  I just read the last post I did last year, and I will echo that and say, "Here's to 2025 and all who sail in her!"

A few photos for you that Richard took at Christmas....

Good things? Custard creams really are!

My favorite ornaments: Joseph's Coat of Many Colors and Jacob's ladder that Christopher made at Sunday school when he was only 5. The little red bear came with a potholder but it didn't have a face. I sewed one for him! And I crocheted quite a few snowflakes too! (The black tea ornament is brand new this year from a dear friend.) 

Note: I have a plaid blanket as a tree skirt and at the top of my tree is a "glitter" ink pen! They have very expensive "bits" that you can buy to go around the base of the Christmas tree, called "collars". I used bright red foil paper that stands up very nicely! Anybody wants to know how to save money, just ask me! HA!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Like Mr. Peanut says, "Let's SHELL-ebrate" and have "a nut to celebrate"!

OH!  Before I forget, the Wallace and Gromit film will be on Netflix on this Friday, January 3rd!  PLEASE, don't miss it!  I think I have read that it has gotten a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That is an amazingly rare thing!  (Those of you in the UK have already gotten to see this, you lucky people!)

If I can't bring good things into the world, it is my job to point them out!