Randy's Dandy

It looks like it is snowing outside. When over a dozen blossoming apple trees and a strong wind meet, that's the effect I am seeing out my windows.

I'm out of time again, sorry to say, so I'll post some music . I'm off work tomorrow so will have a regular afternoon posting which fits much better with me.

I haven't had Randy Newman for a while. Here's Feels Like Home and Lines in the Sand. I could have used the second song for today's Shutterchance post. It would have been perfect for several this week. Randy's website is down but here's a Wikipedia article on him.

We Love Spring Rain

I had a wonderful time with my little break yesterday. I planted sweet peas in pots though I'm not finished. I took 39 photos of the cats on the garden wall. A friend dropped in for a visit and I felt satisfied with the day. I had gone to town in the morning to run errands and outdoors was such a call when I came home. It's hard to confine me for too long. I've told you that one of my favorite all time songs is Don't Fence Me In. I've got tons of versions of the song and I've linked my favorite.

We're having wonderful spring rain this afternoon. It didn't start here till right before noon but I heard all morning on the radio that it was raining in Charlottetown. It's funny how many locations have their own micro-climate. We're just across the water from Ch'town and they get so much more rain and snow. The grass has greened in the last couple of hours and the daffodils have grown higher. I have quite a few open now and some forced forsythia in bloom as well. I trimmed back a huge forsythia bush and have a huge bunch taller and bigger around than me in a florist bucket that I will give to friends when it is in bloom. The bunch I have blooming, I cut a week ago.

Had to have a little break here. Windows Media Player was stuck in Limbo somewhere, necessitating a restart of the computer. It may be complaining of too much use or something. All seems well now so I can proceed with today's music. I Think It's Gonna Rain Today is my favorite Randy Newman song. Here's a version by David Grey, one by Nina Simone, and one from the great Randy Newman himself. Didn't realize those were up already. Madeleine Peyroux's live version is here too and here's some new songs for today; Karen Dalton with one version of Little Bit of Rain and one by Fred Neil. I was reminded of Karen Dalton because in this song I think she sounds like Madeleine Peyroux.

Never Letting Go

What a gorgeous, gorgeous day we had today. I got out walking and the fresh air and sunshine does a lot to enrich the soul so I am feeling enriched. I visited a few friends who can't get out walking like I can. We sat outside and watched the melting around us.

Tomorrow night we are supposed to have a massive ice storm. I have to pay careful attention to the forecast as I have to be in hospital at 7am on Monday. Yesterday, the forecast said that the freezing rain would be lasting till Sunday. If this is so when do I go to town? It is a play it by careful ear situation. I have a place to stay if I want to go in early and my son is flying in on Sunday and he has tons of places to stay so we're not worried about that. It is driving from the country that is the problem.

Randy Newman always has the right music. Real Emotional Girl pretty well describes me lately. I just have to Roll With the Punches so that's the plan. Only three more sleeps. Van Morrison always has the right music too. Contacting My Angel is of course at the top of the list of what I'm doing. I want her to See Me Through. Phoebe Snow knows the truth though. I'm Never Letting Go.

Good Weather For Mushrooms

Click to Play:
I Think It's Going To Rain Today - Randy Newman
I Think It's Going To Rain Today - Nina Simone
I Think It's Going To Rain Today - David Gray
Buckets of Rain - Bob Dylan
Buckets of Rain - Jimmy LaFave
Buckets of Rain - Beth Orton & M. Ward
Eighteen Inches of Rain - Ian Tyson

Snows and Woes

We are having our first wintery weather. It snowed an inch, turned to rain and it seems to have stopped with a half inch still on the ground. It was supposed to turn to freezing rain but we may have missed that step in the bad weather.

I went on a short walk today and not my usual Tuesday hike. I am having car problems once again and the car had to be taken to the shop. I had to get a ride home with a friend before the forecast freezing rain. The walk was to a lovely spot. It is a bird sanctuary with a series of pretty ponds and a dam. Very nice except that it was snowing quite hard so visibility was not great.

The car is probably going to be expensive as the mechanic thinks it is the starter and there's something specific about Toyota starters that make them so. Oh, dear! Everything is starting to break down in this car but what can you do? You Roll With the Punches. That's what Randy Newman says. You could also buy a new car. Geoff and Maria Muldaur say to get a Chevrolet but I kind of like my Toyota. Funny that I sent you to a website yesterday to hear Geoff and Maria Muldaur not knowing I would be playing them today.

Three

Just signed up for a blog action day on the environment. Participants post something on the environment on Monday. My photos are primarily of our environment and I should be able to write something that fits.......if I remember.

I'm sleepy right now. I got up at three, went back to bed at four-thirty but never got back to sleep so rose again, at the usual five-thirty, to start the day. I had been on a normal schedule for about a week so am disappointed that this is starting again. I have to be to work very early tomorrow morning so will get to bed early and sleep. Even if I wake early tomorrow, I'll be well rested.

Any chance to put up Randy Newman is one I'll grab. This was already up at one time but is gone. I Think It's Going To Rain Today is a wonderful song that describes the day here and we have three versions. Randy Newman, Nina Simone and Madeleine Peyroux. Which one do you like?

I seem to be getting later and later with my postings. Busy, busy, busy. There is always a chore to do, a meal to make, a visit to attend to, or many other things. I had to bake today and make salad for a party tomorrow. I made a large blueberry-peach crisp for the gathering and a small one for myself. It is yummmy!

I'm not going to hike in the woods tomorrow but am going to have a long beach walk. It's so important for me to get those endorphins flowing. It makes you feel so incredible.

It is certainly garden harvest time around here. Everyone is passing me vegetables of every kind and they're so delicious. I have to get ready for some pickle making soon. I have two people offering me cucumbers. I haven't made any for myself for three years though I was still making them for the former workplace. This year will fill the pickle cupboard again.

My aunt called and told me to expect a hand delivered gift in the next week. They always send me cool packages but this one is hand delivered. My two other aunts are coming east in a month so it will be nice seeing them twice in the same year.

I've loved Randy Newman since he did the soundtrack for the movie Ragtime in the seventies. I never saw the movie but had the tape and pretty well wore it out. I haven't played anything by him in a while. I'm a Real Emotional Girl and My Life Is Good. Listen to those numbers of the same name.

The Latest Look

Not much time to blog today so here's a couple of links.

Sneaker Freaker - I don't wear sneakers. I have a pair of skateboarder type sneakers that I bought in 1996 that I still wear if I have to but when I came across this site, I wished I did wear them because of all these cool lacings.

Dark Roasted Blend - In-flight photograpy is their simple description. I have always loved the views from an airplane and this site shows some wonderful photos taken by a pilot/photographer.

Simpler to link a couple of songs than upload some so here is Spectacular Surprise One and Delightful Surprise Two.

Eating For One

It is still odd after cooking for large families my whole life that I now cook for only one. I don't cook any differently really, but I certainly eat differently. I cook only every couple of days and eat the same foods two or three days in a row. I like it in a way; it's less work and it certainly costs less but it is less satisfying in it's own way. I'm a pretty darned good cook and like feedback about it, which having kids and younger siblings was always built in. I miss that and it makes eating less satisfying somehow. I feel like I wasted all this good cooking but at the same time know that I deserve, more than anyone, to benefit from the skill. I do eat well!

Music: Keep the Coffee Coming is a music and more blog that I visit every day. The writer, Kat is just discovering Randy Newman. Here are a couple for her: You Can Keep You Hat On, a live version, and You've Got Friend In Me. Many people think he's corny but I really love Randy Newman. I love his voice but mostly his timing. He's a very good singer that way. He is very prolific too, very good at soundtrack writing. I must look to see if he's up to anything new. God Bless Google.