Summer tanager and Starry Rosinweed! The bright red bird is the summer tanager, and starry rosinweed is the flower. (We thought it was a whorled sunflower but a botanist friend identified it for me as a starry rosinweed, so I am happy with that.) The flower is still blooming in our backyard but the Summer tanager visited our bird bath for water this morning. We were THRILLED to see him! (And I say "him" because it is most certainly a male. We think we have seen the female before, it is a solid yellow.)
Richard didn't have his camera with him at that exact moment, so I have gotten this photo for you off the internet. Same thing for the starry rosinweed, but hopefully, R. will be able to get one of his great photos for you sometime in the future.
It has been a sad day to read all the tributes for Brian Wilson today. So many people loved him! He was a musical genius for sure but a very kind, gentle man who will be deeply missed. I have spoken of my love for music and in particular, songwriters, so you know, this hits home for me. Do you remember my post from 2023 when our son got married? The Mother/Son song that we danced to was the music by Brian Wilson, he wrote "Surfer Girl", and it made for a great lullaby for my son, with "Surfer Girl" changed to "Chris-to-pher" and with the lyrics about loving my baby, with no mention about surfing! Honestly, I think Brian Wilson would have approved. That's the great thing about music, it can be anything you want it to be! Many great melodies can be changed into lullabies, just don't try to make money off them! Now, my son didn't tell me in advance this is what he wanted the DJ to do, wasn't that a sweet thing for him to think of doing?
Hope you are all doing well, my friends! We continue to have stormy weather here, it seems that on our weather forecast we are shown a cloud every single day with the chance of rain. Remember I told you about the tornado that ripped a young man out of his house just in the next county over from us? He is recovering but it was very serious. I saw a video, let me see if I can get it on here for you...
There, I hope you can see that. What a nice family! Hope you all can either pray or send along positive vibes for him! Oh, you know that makes me think of a great song. Brian Wilson, may he rest in peace and music.
"God Only Knows" - A great cover by Evan & James. Enjoy!
Wow, that bird is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt really is beautiful, and the birdsong is beautiful also. We have heard it on the trails where we walk but to see it in our own backyard, that is special.
DeleteThat is a beautiful bird We don't get them here.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the Beach Boys, their songs make me think of summer.
The Beach Boys remind me of 3rd grade and riding my bicycle with my hair flying behind me and racing home and watching "Where the Action Is" and "Shindig"! (I think those TV shows are right, too lazy to look them up. LOL).
DeleteSo sad about Brian Wilson. I loved the Beach Boys, and the songs have been going around in my head the past 24 hours. They were the tunes of my teen years, so happy and uplifting. He was a complete genius. The red bird is so pretty, and now I know the red Cardinal has some competition!
ReplyDeleteYes! You know I thought of you when we saw this gorgeous red bird, I knew I had to make sure my "Red Cardinal" friend in Australia saw it! I knew you would know the genius of Brian Wilson, you are so knowledgeable about all kinds of music.
DeleteYou have a rich variety of birds over there. We have the male crossbill,( a large finch) which can be a bright red/orange and the European Jay which is very colourful as well but in all my decades of walks I've only glimpsed both very briefly from a distance as they are very shy forest birds that disappear as soon as humans enter a wood.
ReplyDeleteHe had a good innings Brian Wilson and his music remained popular which is all any artist can ask and be proud of achieving. A good life.
The Summer Tanager is also not very often seen and that is why it was so exciting for us to see it up close by our back patio door! We love our birds and it's funny how the birds are able to find the fresh water we put out, a little birdie must have told them. LOL!
DeleteBrian Wilson left a rich legacy of music for us all to enjoy. RIP
ReplyDeleteA rich legacy of music, yes that is certainly true.
DeleteThe bird and flowers in your back yard are very colorful.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to lose a great musician, isn't it. You're always left wondering what more s/he would have done, given more time.
I will most certainly be praying for this young man's recovery.
Thank you, Mimi, for your prayers for Malachi Chaney. And if you read of Brian Wilson's life, he had drug problems and problems with people taking advantage of him (including his own father) but he tried his best to rise above all of the tribulations with grace and humor. He was very talented, and it was good to see that he was much appreciated by fellow artists.
DeleteThe Summer Tanager is gorgeous. My tribute to Brian Wilson is on my blog. These torandoes are terrible. I hope the young man will be okay.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thank you, Janie! You wrote a lovely tribute to Brian Wilson. I wish I could have seen him live! And thank you for your kind thoughts about Malachi Chaney (the young man's name). I think he got well wishes from all the world.
DeleteI already commented on Yorkshire Pudding's post about Brian Wilson but gladly repeat the words here: Yes, he was a musical genius. Steve loved him, and I seem to have known the Beach Boys' songs from since before I was born (which is probably true, as I was born in 1968 and I am sure my Mum heard them on the radio during the months before my birth).
ReplyDeleteThe bird is so pretty, and to imagine the female is solid yellow - what a beautiful couple they must make! Nothing like that in my part of the world, of course.
Believe it or not, but in Ulm (an hour's train ride from where I live) there has been a "mini tornado", according to meteorologists. Southern Germany is not usually Tornado country, but we have been having some high winds and heavy thunderstorms, and one of them had a small tornado in its wake. Lightning hit Ulm Minster (the highest church spire in the world), and the storm ripped the roof off a house where an elderly couple were just getting ready to go to bed. Thankfully, they weren't hurt, but their house is inhabitable for the time being.
Ah, your Steve loved the Beatles AND the Beach Boys, just like me! I do wish I could have met Steve.
DeleteGuess what, just last evening, as the sun was setting, Richard heard birdsong and we went out and there was a pair of Summer tanagers, and we saw them both! Now, they were high in the trees and it was almost dark so Richard couldn't get a photo! I got a shot of the female but it was very blurry but at least, we could make out that we were correct in our bird ID! Bright red male and bright yellow female! Exciting!
Also, I looked up Ulm Minster and spent quite a while lost in words. Ask me anything, I know all about it now! LOL!! I found an article saying that Ulm Minster might not have the highest spire in the world soon, that one is being built in Spain that will be slightly higher. I loved the article, saying they are not that bothered by the height. Ulm is special, and that is that!
https://parametric-architecture.com/ulmer-munster-lose-its-title-tallest-church/
Yes, I have heard about the attempts to top Ulm Minster... but no matter what, to me, it will still be the tallest one, and just like Ripon Cathedral, a place very close to my heart.
DeleteIt's been a while since I last climbed those 700+ steps to the top, though... In 2014, I blogged about it:
https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-tallest-church-spire-in-world.html
You are so lucky to be able to see such beauty! And able to climb all those steps too! Of course, in 2014, I could climb Stone Mountain and not think one thing about it either. LOL! You are still able to walk/run great distances!
DeleteYou are lucky to have such birds in your garden. Sad re Wilson, but he was 84. Good 1960s music.
ReplyDeleteYes, living into your 80's is most certainly "good innings", as you say over there. I really like good music from any decade but the 1960's, that is my childhood, so it is special for me.
DeleteYou have a full blog today. I will only mention
ReplyDeleteBrian Wilson. It seems as if the most brilliant stars have the most troubling lives. And his was certainly troubled.
Yes indeed, see my comment to Messy Mimi above. I really liked the book that I mentioned, "The Nearest Faraway Place" by Timothy White is really good.
DeleteHi Kay
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I'm hijacking your blog as I emailed Richard a couple of days ago and, like many others, it has bounced back to me. Please thank him for his message and tell him I'll try to figure out a way around this.
I love that bird photo by the way. I'm a keen birdwatcher and will be heading off to Yorkshire soon to spend a couple of days looking at puffins. I can't wait for that but will try to re-establish communications before I go. Hope you're all well.
Dave
Hey Dave!
DeleteSo sorry about the email problem. It is frustrating since we get every piece of junk email in the universe!
Now, we are very glad that you love the birds too! You should see Richard in our backyard feeding the birds and putting out the fresh water for them. (He reminds me of St. Francis, shh....don't tell him I said so!) He also has a bird app on his phone and we like to use it on our walks to identify the birds we hear! Puffins in Yorkshire? I didn't know! Have fun! Perhaps you and Richard will be able to communicate soon!
The Bempton Cliffs! Just looked it up, wish we could go too.
DeleteThanks Kay. Please tell Richard that I've tried to contact him via his other email address and also by an old one of mine that has rarely been used. Hopefully, one of them will have got through.
ReplyDeleteD
Will do! Once again, I am thankful for my blog, not just to write what I want to but a place to reconnect with friends.
DeleteRIP Brian. I like that tananger. Pretty red. You do live in a nice though stormy area. Stay dry and safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks, GIgi! Aloha to you and David. 🌼 🌸
DeleteWhat a colourful bird! Never seen one like it even online, I think!
ReplyDeleteIt is SUCH a pretty bird, you wouldn't believe it, even prettier than the photo. Honest! Hey! So happy to see your comment here! Take care. x
DeleteThe Tanager is wonderful, amazing colour.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed Beach Boys music.
RIP Brian Wilson.
All the best Jan
Hey Jan! So nice to see your comment here! As much as I loved the Beach Boys and appreciated the genius of Brisn Wilson, I think my son did even more. And the Summer Tanager fits right in now, today is first day of Summer! Hope you have a good one. x
DeleteThe bird is so beautifully RED! Yes sad day for music lovers.
ReplyDeleteHey Diane! We were very excited to see that bird so close to us, it is truly a beauty. I was surprised at my sadness over the passing of Brian Wilsin, as if I had lost a dear friend. xx
DeleteR.I.P . Brian Wilson x
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your comment, Tony! I see you live in Yorkshire. I very much would like to visit there one day. Me, and everyone else, I am sure you are thinking!
DeleteThanks for visiting my Blog the Church Explorer, comes out each week on Sat evening. When I looked at your post I noticed your Husband and son, my first reaction was he came from England (he just looks like he does). You son was born the same year as my youngest and I just love the fact you married your penpal that is so romantic. I grew up with the Beach Boys so I do find it sad that all the music stars I used to listen to as a kid are now passing away some far to young at the time. The Beatles and the Monkees were some I loved back in the 1960's and though I never saw ether band I did see Paul McCartney's Wings at Wembley. George only live at Henley on Thames a few miles up the road. On band I saw at Oxford Poly Tec was lynyrd skynyrd they were awesome, a short while later most were killed in an aircrash. One good thing is their music will live on so will the memory
ReplyDeleteHey Billy Blue Eyes! So great to see this comment! I also loved The Beatles and The Monkees! (When I married Richard, my cousin said "Well, you finally got your Davy Jones!". I saw Paul McCartney and Wings on their "Band on the Run" tour. Richard saw Lynyrd Skynyrd too, they were the opening act for Earring! Also, last time we were in London, we went to 8 churches in 1 day, would have seen more if my feet had held out. And Richard is most certainly English, and even though he has been here since 1983, he still has his lovely accent. It is amusing for our son to say he was born in the 1980's, he loves that decade's music, as he does so many other decades! Indeed, music lives forever and I am thankful.
DeleteI never rated Golden Earring that much I’m supprised Skynyard opened for them.Itwas Band on the Run I saw as well but I also saw ELP there as well. Best band at Wembley has to be the Stones followed by U2 though I have seen many others though the worst act IMO was Michael Jackson who I took my lads to see. I also have seen David Bowie and Phill Collins. If you come back to the uk get out of London there are a lot more Churches to see. I feature the first of the Oxford ones Ian visiting ATM. Funny thing is I met a family from Arizona on the top of the spire you will see in the blog.
ReplyDeleteSo funny you say that about Golden Earring, Richard said that Lynhrd Skynrd just blew them out of the water! You should have a blog about music!I know there are so many churches to see in the UK! One of those we had to see in London was in Holburn, the church where his Dad was baptized, where his grandparents were married! It is Church of the Holy Sepulchre.First public drinking fountain in London, I think it said, just beside the church.
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