evening walk

FFTD: Pale Green

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Update:
As it turns out, thanks to Pl@ntNet, this is an Iberis Umbellata or, Globe Candytuft. I think it may have already bloomed and the center colors are all that is left. It appears to be the same thing as my previous post.

This looks like a tiny bird nest with eggs. If anyone knows what this is, let me know. ~Vic

Grean & Lavender Image
07-01-2020

Flower for the Day

Foto Friday: Sky Gazing 5.0

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These are companion shots to my POTD: Sunset post, as well as previous Sky Gazing posts. This town can have some of the most glorious sunsets and quirky cloud formations. ~Vic

Eno River Sunset Image One
Standing on the bridge over the Eno River.
06-24-2020
Sunset Over Garage Image Two
Walking up to the parking garage.
Sunset Over The Trees Image Three
On top of the garage and the colors develop.
Sunset Over The Building Image Four
Sweeping over the adjacent building.
Sunset Over The Town Image Five
Looking out across the town.
Sunset In Full Bloom Image Six
Breathtaking rich colors and contrasts.

Song Sunday: Africa (Toto)

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Discogs Toto Africa Image
Image Credit: Discogs

Update:
The blog continues to evolve and Song Saturday has changed to Song Sunday. ~Vic

“It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you…”

Changing things a bit. I’ve got Music Mondays and I’ve had Tune Tuesdays (I may return to that) that showcase music by release date, in five year increments (if I can). Early on, I listed number ones, only. There was also my jump into the 30-Day Song Challenge back in December 2018. Now, I’m stretching Saturday out a bit for some music, too…an idea I got from the Nostalgic Italian. I might even stretch it to Sunday, if I take a notion to. It just depends upon my mood. All blogs evolve and, I’m always looking for new and different things.

This is a song on my playlist on my phone. I have a lot of music on my phone…things that I love to hear when I go out for my afternoon and evening walks or, just sitting in my Adirondack chair, watching the sunset. ~Vic

This song came out in the US in October 1982 and is the tenth track from the album Toto IV. Written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, it made it to number one for one week in February 1983.

From Mix Online:

Paich recalls writing Africa on his living room piano.

“Over many years, I had been taken by the UNICEF ads with the pictures of Africa and the starving children. I had always wanted to do something to connect with that and bring more attention to the continent. I wanted to go there, too, so, I sort of invented a song that put me in Africa. I was hearing the melody in my head and, I sat down and played the music in about 10 minutes. And, then, the chorus came out. I sang the chorus out as you hear it. It was like God channeling it. I thought, ‘I’m talented but, I’m not that talented. Something just happened here!'”

Paich, then, proceeded to work on the lyrics for another six months. He brought the skeleton to drummer Jeff Porcaro with the idea of having percussion being an integral part of the composition.

“Jeff got out African sticks with bottle caps that his dad (Joe Porcaro) and Emil Richards (both percussionists) used on National Geographic films. He brought in a marimba and a wooden xylophone kind of thing. This was pre-synthesizer. We didn’t have samples back then. You’re hearing bass marimba, that other instrument and you’re hearing, probably, one of the first loops that was ever done.”

Sadly, Jeff Porcaro passed away nearly ten years later.

Lyrics

POTD: Old Hydrant

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This comes under the heading of “things you don’t see everyday.” I was out on a walk around our old cotton mill complex and stumbled across it. I have no idea how old this thing is but, it appears to have been manufactured in Tennessee. ~Vic

Tennessee Hydrant Image
01-25-2020

FFTD: Hellebore

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Early blooming Hellebores. My leap year submission. The next one will have to wait for 2024. ~Vic

Hellebore With Water Drops Image
Evening walk after a rain.
02-13-2020

Flower for the Day

Shutterbug Saturday: Animal Friends 2.0

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Update: I am changing all of my headings from wildlife to Animal Friends. ~Vic

More of our local cutie pies. All photos are my personal collection ©.

Animal Friends 1.0

Doe Image One
On an evening walk.
07-03-2019
Buck Image Two
I see you.
Cute Pair Image Three
Cute pair.
Buck & Doe Image Four
On our way…

Thanksgiving 2019

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Riverwalk Sunset Image One
Riverwalk Thanksgiving sunset this evening.

As I type this, I am nearly comatose from the tryptophan overload. I’m glad I went for a walk before I ate as I would never have been able to get off the couch. I didn’t prepare a full size turkey as there was only three of us eating. I slow cooked a turkey breast in my crock pot. I did have the usual mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and my lumpy mushroom gravy. With a small gathering, no traditional dressing but, stove top stuffing instead. I’ve struggled for years to make non-lumpy gravy. It just ain’t happening. *sigh*

Many well wishes and, safe travels to family and friends. The weather is a mess in many parts of the US. *yawn* ~Vic

Riverwalk Thanksgiving Sunset Image Two
I was actually trying to capture not only the sun setting but,
the crescent moon as well.
Crescent Moon Image Three
You can just see the crescent moon in the center.
Just below it, hard to see, is Venus.
It’s a truly slim crescent but, my phone always blurs Moon.

POTD: Jupiter

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My stupidphone actually captured Jupiter. ~Vic

Jupiter Image
The white dot, top right, is Jupiter…believe it or not.
10-02-2019