Next crochet project? Add it to the list... Spring Fling pillow

Spring Fling pillow, pattern by Red Heart

Lambchop slippers -- to make

Vicki encourages us to wear socks over our taps backstage because 1) it's quieter, and 2) marble floors are awfully slippery. Haven't made these yet but "in my free time"...
Sheepy Slippers pattern, by Red Heart.

I'm sure the word "lambchop" is copyrighted, or trademarked, or patented, so I'll include a photo of some lamb chops, just to hedge my bets.


source: Food Network

Maybe I'll make some of those, too.

Slouchy Beanie -- add it to the list of projects

Slouchy Beanie

Homegoing

Go Down Death, by James Weldon Joyce, read by Wintley Phipps


There are few things more glad-sad than a homegoing. A friend's mom was laid to rest today, but we know she was greeted with, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And when the service¹ tells of a life lived to love and serve Jesus, and points others to the same, that's legacy.

¹ Wintley Phipps didn't actually do the reading at the service. But there were at least three different Gaither Homecoming pieces. That's legacy, too.


source: ILikeToQuote

Independants

source:Nana Leonti

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Malvin & Cobbes

source: Fashionably Geek

Happy Independence Day!

May I make a confession?
And this is a bit sacriligious as a Murlander.
If I got to choose our national anthem, it sure wouldn't be The Star Spangled Banner.

There are so many great patriotic songs out there to choose from!

Don't just listen, sing along. Yes, you! I don't care if you think you can't sing well. Crank up the volume, and belt it out with as much enthusiasm as you can muster. Great attitude is contagious. Sing as long as you know the words and hum or harmonize those you don't. And listen thru. See how much depth there is to the later verses.


I have so many favorites. How to choose? But if I were forced to pick one for national anthem, I think I'd go with O Beautiful.

Although Ray Charles sings verse 4 first, I think he has the best version. And hey, learn verse 4! It's a good one!


I've always loved Irving Berlin. What an immigrant success story! What an incredible volume of work¹, and did you know he only played on the black notes? He devised this under-piano modulation lever, no midi in those days, to accomodate different vocal ranges.

So his God Bless America is a very close runner-up for me. And when Kate Smith was looking for something appropriate to sing in this setting, he pulled it out of a drawer where it'd been abandoned by him years ago. And Irving Berlin has never claimed a cent of royalties off it; they all go to a particular nonprofit that, back then, was much less controversial than it has been of late. (Don't comment on it. Just enjoy the song.)

¹ Arrivals at Ellis Island are greeted by Lady Liberty, who bears a plaque engraved with The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." Irving Berlin wrote a song for that one, too, but although the words are stunning, the music's pretty terrible. Oh well. Not everything's a Blue Skies kind of a hit.

Then there's The Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic
I think part of why I like this version is because there are such strong harmonies. Once an alto...


And that great Woodie Guthrie classic, This Land is Your Land, sung here by Peter, Paul, and Mary.


Ah, patriotism swells in the heart of the American bear.


And, although lyrically lacking, Stars and Stripes Forever remains the most singalongable of all of Sousa's marches. In this particular version, watch and see how the backdrop changes to reflect the varied interests of the lead singers.


So, how about you? What would you choose for the national anthem?

Happy Canada Day!

O Canada, our home and native land...

Happy Canada Day to my Canadian cousins and friends!

I love that Canadians sing along with the national anthem without being prompted. I love that! I'm a big proponent of singing along with the national anthem, but in the States, people look at me as though I'm weird for singing along. Really?




And to wrap up, a Muppet's Salute to Canada. Bet you didn't know any of these new facts that Sam the Eagle vetted!


Now have some Poutine with the Swedish Chef.