Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Break It To Me Gently)

 December 5, 2023- Brenda Lee is at the top of the Billboard Top 100 with "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"! It is 65 years since it was first released.  Just last month, Brenda did her first music video ever, lip syncing the song with her friends Tanya Tucker and another Georgia Girl, Trish Yearwood. (Yes, Trish Yearwood is from just down the road from me, Monticello, Georgia!)   I saw the clip on TV where Brenda Lee was given the news that her song was at number one!  Of course, that reminds me of a song....

Recently, when our son visited us at Thanksgiving, I asked him if he knew a certain song. The answer was in the negative, so I was happy to share it with him.  After hearing it, he looked at me and said, "That was perfect".  Now, instead of good news, think of being given bad news. You would want it broken gently, wouldn't you?

The lyrics to "Break It To Me Gently" were written by a woman, Diane Lambert. (Of course, they were!) I think that Brenda Lee is not only a great singer but a great actress as well to portray the kind of heartache in this song. She married at the age of 18 and is still married to the same man.

 "Little Miss Dynamite" indeed!

Just in case you haven't seen the music video that she did of "Rockin", here it is!  (It was the first one she had ever done.) Brenda Lee has also spoken recently about the SONGWRITER of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Johnny Marks! Brenda is a woman after my heart reminding us of songwriters!) Johnny Marks deserves a post of his own, stay tuned!

Happy December, everyone!

Georgia Girl With a Heart for The World

 

The memorial service for Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady was shown on live TV here in Georgia, her home state. Did you see it too? I found it to be very moving. I loved the hymns (''Blessed Assurance", "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", "What Wondrous Love" and one that we had when Richard and I married -"Morning Has Broken".)  I loved it when the grandson welcomed all the First Ladies who attended the service and especially the two of them with "their lovely husbands"! (This was referring to Bill Clinton and President Biden who were also there.)  I noticed that Bill Clinton didn't hear that remark at first and had to ask Hillary to repeat it but then he chuckled wholeheartedly! 

  When I was thinking of a title for this post, I couldn't help but think that Rosalynn was a woman from a small town in South Georgia but that she truly did have a heart for the whole world. I am also thinking of another "Georgia Girl" with a heart for the world who also died this month of November- Jimi Bowen Forward.  You may read her obituary just here.   

I worked for Jimi for almost twenty years at Bowen's Travel, the travel agency owned by Jimi. (At a time when not too many companies were women-owned).   I have so many memories! Back in the 1980's, you could just jump on a plane and Jimi certainly did that.  She liked to take groups to New York City from Atlanta, just for one day! We would leave on the first flight of the day and then come back on the very last flight returning. She would do this on the first week of December and we would be able to see the Christmas lights and do a bit of shopping. Very exciting for Conyers folks! She met up with me when I was in London and we had tea at the Ritz. (She insisted on paying, you know she did, that was Jimi.) When our son was almost 4 years old, she made sure that we were able to go on a Disney cruise! (Wish you could have seen Christopher's face when he first saw Mickey Mouse round the corner! He ran into his arms!)  Jimi was once married to a man from Wales, so that is something that we had in common, both married to Brits! Jimi remarried and the gentleman was one of those who always asked for Jimi to book his trips.  Sadly, he died a few years ago and I think it is recognized how much that can affect the health of the remaining spouse.

I am in awe of those who can write so well and give such a great tribute to someone who has died.  I find it very difficult. Jimi's daughter, Allie might read this blog and if she does, I hope she knows that I am sincere in comparing her to Rosalynn Carter.  I think it is fitting.

Both of them such strong, kind, beautiful, intelligent women! May they both rest in peace. They make me proud to be from Georgia.

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Statue from The Monastery here in Rockdale County with 
Fothergilla bush -In the spring, it has lovely white flowers but, in the autumn, lovely colorful leaves.

 

Not sure if this will stay on my blog for long, but I have the part of the service where her grandson spoke....

The Dimpker Brothers/Amazing Autumn

 

Since I wrote my last post about "Now and Then" by the Beatles- I might as well write some more about it! Did you know that it is now number ONE in the charts in the UK? Not only that it is the fastest selling single of this year in the UK. It has broken a record for being the longest gap between the first and last number one single for any musical artist/group.  Isn't that wonderful? Even better for me is the thought of young people hearing it and liking it too. The Beatles are for all generations!

I hope you can hear the cover version by The Dimpker Brothers. They are actual brothers from Sweden, and I think they are really good. Just them singing and playing on their guitars, nothing fancy just a beautiful melody with amazing vocals. Have you heard of any other covers of this song that you like? Let me know!

November has been amazing with our autumn colors! The hickory trees are golden, the sourwoods are a lovely red or peach color, and the red maples are the brightest red you can imagine! (I don't blame you Canada, I would put that on my flag if I could!)

Aren't Richard's photos just gorgeous? You know I love them too! I must admit that I do ask him to take several shots, including this last one from the Kroger parking lot....

Hope you are all doing well and finding joy in nature and wherever you can!

"Now And Then"- (I Miss You)

 

You all must have now heard the song that is called "the last song of the Beatles".  The official music video is above.  John's vocals at the beginning of this song just really tears at your heart. (What a beautiful voice he had besides his amazing songwriting skills!)  I have to say it right here- I love the Beatles and always will! Seeing them on The Ed Sullivan Show as a child in 1964 was like the world coming into color. It is as simple as that. 

If it is sad for us to watch this video, you also have to think what this must have been like for the remaining two to have produced this- Paul and Ringo. George did his guitar part back in the 1990's when Yoko gave them the tape. (Love you for always, George.) At that time, they could not isolate John's voice but with the technology available now, they did a great job. I, for one, am very glad to hear it.

                  "Tangerine trees and marmalade skies".

We didn't need this song to remind us how much we miss John and George, but it truly brings it home to us.

Stephen Sanchez (and Sourwood Trees)

 

Hey!

Just found this young American singer, his name is Stephen Sanchez! Hope you like this song, " I Would Never Fall In Love Again".  He is young (his birthday is in just a couple of days- Nov. 4th and he will turn 21.) I read just a bit about him and besides liking Elvis, he also admires the vocals of The Ink Spots! (Who Elvis also really liked.)  He played at Glastonbury Festival in June 2023 performing this same song with Elton John. The above video is from the BBC from one month ago. (You know I have that English connection!)

Anyway, it is November, and I am hoping that you are all doing well and enjoying the autumn.  October had its ups and downs but hey, it's a new month now, right?  Gotta stay positive-you don't have to but it really does help in life! Oh, and laugh a lot and listen to music! (Did y'all see that comedian I told you about- Nate Bargatze was on Saturday Night Live this past weekend? So funny!)

Sourwood trees- if you don't know them, you should! 

Stephen Sanchez- if you don't know HIM, you should! LOL! 

   

"This Too Shall Pass" -Listen to This Song!

  I have told you about our son's musical talent on this blog.  Now, for the first time on YouTube, "This Too Shall Pass", written and performed by Christopher!

This Too Shall Pass - YouTube

There!  Oh, I do hope you will be able to click on that link above and hear his song! He wrote the song, played the instruments, is doing all the singing (including harmonies) and also arranged the song himself.   When we were in Nashville before we went to see Ringo Starr in concert, we went to a local bar where a young man was singing and playing his guitar.  After he finished one of his songs, he looked over at Christopher and said, "I was trying not to sing too loudly, since I wanted to hear your harmonies". (C. was singing right along with him, of course!)   See? I am not the only one who appreciates Christopher's great voice! 

All these photos are from a local park here in Rockdale County, where we live.  All made by my husband, Richard!  He is also a great musician too.  Where do you think our son gets his talent? From me? HA! No way!  

Yellow

 

Color me happy! You can see me smiling amongst the Yellow Daisies at Arabia Mountain.  They bloom every September and we are always glad to see them. (They are called daisies, but they are in the sunflower family: Helianthus porteri.)

We also have Yellow Daisies in our own backyard!  Here is a photo of what they looked like....

Look carefully at those petals above...do you see the petals are rather rounded? And the plants themselves are not that tall. These are the Yellow Daisies that have re-seeded themselves from last year! 

  There is another yellow flower that blooms in October rather than September and it is the Swamp sunflower (or narrow leaved sunflower) and for the first time this year...we have it in our own yard!

Ta-DAH!!  It is also in the sunflower family:  Helianthus angustifolious! 

In Greek, "helios" means "sun" and "anthos" means "flower". Therefore, anytime you see the word "Helianthus" you know it is in the sunflower family!

Isn't it a beauty? We have it in a pot.  Back in the Spring, we were walking down Main Street in our town of Conyers and there was a woman selling plants from her front yard. She had a sign saying "Swamp sunflowers" but when I asked her about it.... she said she was sold out.  She must have seen the disappointment on my face because she THEN said, "Oh, but let me go and dig some up for you!". Well, you can bet that made me smile! For $2.00, I have this lovely flower blooming just now! It can grow very tall; we just saw some today that must have been 10 feet high! 

Both of these sunflowers that I have shown you are NATIVE to this area!  We have seen all of them growing wild, either near the trails where we walk or just growing beside the roads.

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"Yellow Submarine"!

 Richard and I were treated to a wonderful gift from our son and daughter-in-law.  They gave us tickets to see Ringo Starr!  Oh my goodness, it was most enjoyable! We saw Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium at the end of September.  As lifelong fans of the Beatles, I can't tell you how special this was for both of us!  You know I waved at Ringo, and he waved back at me! HA! My son will tell you that is the truth!

 So wonderful to hear a big crowd sing along to "Give Peace A Chance", although it made me feel a bit sad thinking of the two Beatles that are no longer with us, John and George.  

My friends, I do hope that you are all doing well.  October is flying by now and the colors of the leaves are just beginning to change and today I even had to wear a jacket while we walked! And if you ever get a chance to see Ringo, wave to him and say I told you go!