What Makes the Muskrat Guard His Musk? (COURAGE)

  

You know that song lyric, don't you? It is from "The Wizard of Oz" and is sung (or spoken) by the Cowardly Lion.  Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion were searching for a home, a brain, a heart and the "noive" which is as close as I can type to that marvelous actor's accent! (The nerve or courage.) Now, if you think about it...we all have a home (hopefully), a heart, and a brain but it is the courage that we sometimes might have to find in life.  That brings me to the wonderful word- ENCOURAGEMENT, which means "the action of someone giving support, confidence or hope.  It seems quite simple, doesn't it? And yet, it can make all the difference in world!

From writing this blog over the years, I can promise you that had I not received such kindly encouragement, I would have stopped after my first post! My blogging friend in Germany talked me into starting my blog with wonderful encouragement. (Thanks, Librarian!) And it was John in England who gave me the great encouragement to continue it.  Now, John has passed away and I am very much saddened by this. You wouldn't believe how much he taught me about nature- trees, flowers, butterflies, beetles and mushrooms! I was also lucky enough to be included in the circle of lucky people who received his lovely post-cards, with the perfect stamp to go along with the photo on the card, along with his carefully chosen words. Today, I have several of his cards lined up on my mantel- one is of the famous gate at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. Have you ever seen a photo of it? It shows these words "You'll Never Walk Alone", it is from the song that the fans sing.

There, I hope you can see that image above!  And of course, that brings me to the song that you must hear also!  (I have written about this before. Many think this is from the Bible, but the words are really by Oscar Hammerstein, one of my favorite lyricists!)

John's brother, Graham has written a post about his brother. You can read it just here.  Graham, I wish I could do a better job at honoring your brother! He has been not just a friend to me but also to my husband and son. We will miss him and his encouraging words.

Just one more song- it is by "America". The song has just this one line that always has stuck in my head- "Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn't already have". Even though that is a double negative, in songwriting terms, it makes perfect sense. (You all know my love and great respect for songwriters!)  The rest of the song, I'm not very sure of its meaning, but then, that is music for you, don't be so concerned about understanding every little thing, just enjoy it and if something encourages you or makes you smile or feel better about life, take it into your heart. You know you have one! And if someone needs courage, help to supply it.

 The beech trees hold on to their leaves all winter.  In the sun, they are a lovely shade of bronze and when the wind blows them, they make a lovely sound.  For years, I admired this tree and when I mentioned on my blog that I wondered what they were, John told me- beech trees. I will think of him whenever I see one. 

Happy 2024/ Evan & James

  

 

Hello to all my friends out there! Happy 2024! Hope Santa was good to you all! 

Do I have anything musical to tell you? You know I do! Guess what I learned this Christmas? The man who wrote "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was an Englishman! Yes, his name was Tommie Connor! I wish I had known that when I changed the lyrics to that song and sung it to my English in-laws! We had seen Hailey's Comet at Beachy Head and that is what MY song was about. Don't you change lyrics to tunes that you know for other people's entertainment/annoyance? You know I do!! LOL!

The other musical news that I have you is that I found a couple of young men who do fantastic covers of Beatles songs! Oh, they are very good singers and guitarists and to hear those wonderful harmonies just does my heart good.  Evan & James (evanandjames.com)

Christopher Evan and Andrew James!  I hope you were able to hear this video.  It is "I Should Have Known Better".   Remember John Lennon's playing his marvelous harmonica on this record? This young man plays that bit on his guitar! Listen to it and you will recognize that part, I'm sure. Hope you like them too!

So lovely!

Oh, deer!

We are often surprised by white tailed deer when we walk at the Monastery. Looks like we startled one ourselves! 

  The monastery is a place of great serenity.  I once suggested to a dear neighbor to visit it, someone who had heard of it but never seen it.  When he did visit it, he told me later, "I felt my spirits lift as soon as entered the gates, my worries just fell away from me. I felt real peace".  I am wishing that kind of peace to all of you this year.

Here's to 2024 and to all that sail in her! God bless you all!

Tis The Season (For Music!)

 Just in case you missed my last post, I told you that our friends had treated us to "A Christmas Cabaret" here in our small town which was put on by The New Depot Players.  Lots of songs!  One of them was sung by a petite young woman but like Brenda Lee, she really belted it out! (She sang and then, went around the little theater imploring the gentlemen to "please come home". After all, they are actors!)   This song is being played a lot and by many singers but listen...the one we heard right here in Conyers, GA was wonderful! Can you guess which song it is? If I say I "love" it, can you guess?  "Baby, Please Come Home for Christmas"! (Big hit for the wonderful Darlene Love!)  

Another song that I keep singing/humming (and I really might be driving even myself nuts with it) is a song by someone from....England!  Oh yes, it has been covered by many artists now but the original was a great vocal and I am happy to say that he is also the songwriter! Sadly, George Michael is no longer with us but this song will remain, "Last Christmas".   In the show that we saw, the young women singers combined their voices to sing this song and it was most effective. 

As much as I love Christmas songs, I also love the anticipation of Christmas, the quiet season of Advent.  The two CD's that I listen to leading up to Christmas are the ones that I have shown you above! The music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "The Nutcracker Suite" by the London Philharmonic Orchestra are my favorites! (It is interesting to read about Charles Schulz and how he had to not only work on letting the network agree to this music from a jazz artist but also to allow him to quote from the King James Bible.)

 

Let's see, I have given you four videos here! Now, go wrap some presents as you listen to these tunes!  Take care, everyone! And remember music is for all! Tis the season! 

Please Come Home for Christmas

 

Just a few photos here from Conyers, Georgia! In that last photo, I am on a bench with Santa in front of the old train depot which is now used as a welcome center.  (Can you see the train tracks behind the fence? No passenger trains now, but freight trains rumble through on a regular basis!)  At one time, the depot was in danger of being torn down, but a group of citizens banded together, and it was saved. (It has been used in quite a few films. I was pleased to recognize it in a movie with Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman. It was "Identity Thief". Watch it when you can! It is very funny!) Also, the theater group here used to have plays in the depot. When a train came through, the actors would freeze in place until the train has passed! That always got a round of applause! Now, the actors have their own little theater in town, and I am pleased to tell you that our friends gave us tickets to see a performance- A Christmas Cabaret! (By the New Depot Players.)

I have been driving everyone crazy humming the songs ever since the show. Want to know some of the songs? 

A group of the men were grouped around a bar, and they started singing a great song that was a big hit for the Eagles!  I found a video for you which I think you will really like! (Please bear with me on this video, there is some talking at first but it's well worth the wait for the song!) "Please Come Home for Christmas".

Don Henley mentions the songwriter's name is Charles Brown. I found ANOTHER video that has Charles Brown himself singing his song!  I find it interesting that not very much was changed when the Eagles did it.  I don't blame them. It is a great song!

So, I have only told you just ONE of the songs from the concert! I have more! To be continued....  Happy Christmas to all!

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!