Country Living with wood, goats, chickens, gardening, climate impact, nature,barns...
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
MONDAY MUSINGS: MILESTONES
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
TUESDAY TUNES: DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT
This weather hasn't even been for the birds but yesterday we saw sunshine for the entire day and it was blinding. I also realized I had missed seeing the moon due to those overcast skies and light pollution.
Imagine staring in the sky and being reminded how beautiful the moon and its light were living in the End of the Rainbow Valley. It's probably why this morning's exercise selection brought forth more wonderful memories of DANCIN' IN THE MOONLIGHT. ENJOY.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
TUESDAY TUNES: UNA CAMISA NEGRA
One never knows what memories come across one's feed, especially in those singing competitions from all over the world... This is a song I taught my University students in their 4th quarter of Spanish by a heartthrob named Juanes.
Music plays a big role in culture... and symbolism doesn't hurt to interpret lyrics. I wonder how many of my university students still remember this song. Many a tear was shed during my office hours, not due to their grade but more importantly, a broken heart...
Letra( Lyrics)
Tengo la camisa negra
Hoy mi amor está de luto
Hoy tengo en el alma una pena
Y es por culpa de tu embrujo
Hoy sé que tú ya no me quieres
Y eso es lo que más me hiere
Que tengo la camisa negra
Y una pena que me duele
Mal parece que solo me quedé
Y fue pura todita tu mentira
Qué maldita mala suerte la mía
Que aquel día te encontré
Por beber del veneno malevo de tu amor
Yo quedé moribundo y lleno de dolor
Respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós
Y desde que tú te fuiste, yo solo
Tengo
Tengo la camisa negra
Porque negra tengo el alma
Yo por ti perdí la calma
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
Te digo con disimulo
Que tengo la camisa negra
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Pa' enterrártelo cuando quieras, mamita
Así como lo oyes, mi'ja
Tengo la camisa negra
Ya tu amor no me interesa
Lo que ayer me supo a gloria
Hoy me sabe a pura
Miércoles por la tarde y tú que no llegas
Ni siquiera muestras señas
Y yo con la camisa negra
Y tus maletas en la puerta
Mal parece que solo me quedé
Y fue pura todita tu mentira
Qué maldita mala suerte la mía
Que aquel día te encontré
Por beber del veneno malevo de tu amor
Yo quedé moribundo y lleno de dolor
Respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós
Y desde que tú te fuiste, yo solo
Tengo
Tengo la camisa negra
Porque negra tengo el alma
Yo por ti perdí la calma
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
Te digo con disimulo
Que tengo la camisa negra
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Tengo la camisa negra
Porque negra tengo el alma
Yo por ti perdí la calma
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
Te digo con disimulo
Que tengo la camisa negra
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Uno por pobre y feo, hombre
Here's the English...
Tengo la camisa negra
Today my love is in mourning
Hoy mi amor está de luto
Today I have a sorrow in my soul
Hoy tengo en el alma una pena
And it's because of your spell
Y es por culpa de tu embrujo
Hoy sé que tú ya no me quieres
And that's what hurts me the most
Y eso es lo que más me hiere
I have a black shirt
Que tengo la camisa negra
And a shame that hurts me
Y una pena que me duele
Mal parece que solo me quedé
And all your lies were pure
Y fue pura todita tu mentira
What damn bad luck is mine
Qué maldita mala suerte la mía
that that day I found you
Que aquel día te encontré
Por beber del veneno malevo de tu amor
I was left dying and full of pain
Yo quedé moribundo y lleno de dolor
I breathed in that bitter smoke of your goodbye
Respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós
And since you left, I alone
Y desde que tú te fuiste, yo solo
Tengo
I have the black shirt
Tengo la camisa negra
Because my soul is black
Porque negra tengo el alma
I lost my calm because of you
Yo por ti perdí la calma
And I almost lost my bed
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
I tell you discreetly
Te digo con disimulo
I have a black shirt
Que tengo la camisa negra
And below I have the deceased
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Pa' enterrártelo cuando quieras, mamita
Así como lo oyes, mi'ja
Tengo la camisa negra
Your love no longer interests me
Ya tu amor no me interesa
What yesterday tasted like glory to me
Lo que ayer me supo a gloria
Today it tastes pure to me
Hoy me sabe a pura
Miércoles por la tarde y tú que no llegas
Not even showing signs
Ni siquiera muestras señas
And me with the black shirt
Y yo con la camisa negra
And your suitcases at the door
Y tus maletas en la puerta
Mal parece que solo me quedé
And all your lies were pure
Y fue pura todita tu mentira
What damn bad luck is mine
Qué maldita mala suerte la mía
that that day I found you
Que aquel día te encontré
Por beber del veneno malevo de tu amor
I was left dying and full of pain
Yo quedé moribundo y lleno de dolor
I breathed in that bitter smoke of your goodbye
Respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós
And since you left, I alone
Y desde que tú te fuiste, yo solo
Tengo
I have the black shirt
Tengo la camisa negra
Because my soul is black
Porque negra tengo el alma
I lost my calm because of you
Yo por ti perdí la calma
And I almost lost my bed
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
I tell you discreetly
Te digo con disimulo
I have a black shirt
Que tengo la camisa negra
And below I have the deceased
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Tengo la camisa negra
Because my soul is black
Porque negra tengo el alma
I lost my calm because of you
Yo por ti perdí la calma
And I almost lost my bed
Y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
Cama, cama, come on, baby
I tell you discreetly
Te digo con disimulo
I have a black shirt
Que tengo la camisa negra
And below I have the deceased
Y debajo tengo el difunto
Monday, January 22, 2024
MONDAY MUSINGS: MIDWEST WEATHER WREAKS HAVOC HERE TOO...
Remember I also have lived off the beaten path where downpours could wreak havoc. Besides not being able to see where you were going, roads could be washed away. Those of you who have known me through a1000 yr flood know I have also been iced in, stuck in a ditch and seen more snow in one winter than these Southerners will ever see in their entire lifetimes...
Today a new session of classes begins for LifeQuest's Spanish For Travelers since last Monday was MLK day, and of all things, ice is expected with the extra moisture and another cold blast of Nordic temps which plagued us with 2+" of snow this past week.
I know you up North and down here will appreciate the following truths...
"If you are new to Arkansas, we are about to experience “Arkansas Winter”. This is 6 or 7 days of cold, maybe some ice and snow. It may snow, it may not…could be 10” could be 1/2”. It doesn’t matter how much snow there is, we’ll all freak out because we don’t see snow often. The media threat of snow (or ice) is your prompt to head to the grocery store and buy milk, eggs and bread. It doesn’t matter if you need these items. It’s just what we do. Everyone in town will be there. You’ll also need to make a mad dash for faucet covers. Finding them and getting out of the store will be like an episode of The Hunger Games. You’re in the redneck district now. Don’t look for a sled. You won’t find one. In the rare chance we get enough ice or snow to sled, grab some cardboard or a trash can lid and go find the nearest hill. Just go with it. You’ll be fine. We don’t have equipment to handle the winter and weather. The roads will be a mess and even though the state has been telling you for a week they’re ready, they’re not and it won’t work. Just stay home if you can and if you can’t just come to terms with the fact that nobody here knows how to drive in snow and ice. Whatever you do, DO NOT talk about snow tires. If you happen to slide off the road or get stuck, turn your flashers on, take a deep breath, and wait. Two guys in a four-wheel drive truck will be along in no time to offer assistance. Don’t try to help them, they live for this stuff and will do what they can to get you back on the road. If either one of them screams “Hey y’all watch this” just get back and get your phone out and start recording, you’ll probably have a viral video. Also of note, when they offer you beer and deer sticks, don’t be rude, take them and smile. No matter what you do, don’t talk about how they did it back home in any of these scenarios. Nobody cares. You live in Arkansas now. When we act like we’re going to die and start to complain about the 7 days of winter just shut up, we’re serious….You’ll be back in shorts and flip-flops in a week to ten days and it’ll be nice until right around Easter… Arkansas's“second winter” will be around Easter, usually the week before or the week after. This will hit right around the time you plant flowers and a garden. We know you’re not from around here when we see you’ve planted flowers before Easter and before the “second winter” has hit. This is why all the people at the nursery don’t sound like us when you’re shopping for plants. We know better. During the second winter it’ll go from 70 to 25 and you’ll experience all four seasons in one day. This too shall pass, get used to it and when the second winter is over you can enjoy the 3-4 weeks of “spring” before summer gets here and it’ll melt your face off hot until sometime around Halloween..." Welcome to my new life.
Friday, January 19, 2024
FOTO FRIDAY: DESK UNFINISHED BUT FREEZER STOCKED
I hate to admit the goal of finishing cleaning off my Arkansas desk is still incomplete despite good intentions. Instead of a photo of the half finished desk renewal, life happened. Telephone calls, a quick grocery store run and then this project took some of the desk efforts...
TRUTH: I polished off that one while tasting and stirring and having a huge serving for dinner. The remaining three quarts will head to the freezer today. I sure hope it freezes as well the melting snow outside is and if you are lucky, you'll get to taste it. The soup that is...
Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was THE TRIO.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
TBT: 2017 : INSPIRATION OF SNOW
TBT:Back in Wisconsin in 2017 we had a couple inches of snow that iced us in the back End of the Rainbow Valley. Can this also be great incentive to encourage me to work on another desk 7 years later here in Arkansas after a couple inches of snow?
BEFORE January18th 2017...
AFTER
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
MIDWEEK MUSINGS: ANOTHER SET OF BENT WINGS & TILTED HALO HANDED OUT...
In the meanwhile both our men did what they wanted inbetween treatments and repercussions doing the things they enjoyed. A camper helped my friends visit nearby parks while Colleen collected new subject matter for her painting as she embraced the plein aire style and became prolific during his illness. 100 paintings in 100 days. She joined new art friends as they created together...
I am so glad I got to visit the two last March when I went up for Irv's yahrzeit. I will miss Eric's dry wit and demeanor. I loved how he supported Colleen's art. Did he have a choice? LOL.Eric's angel wings might be a bit bent and his halo will always be tilted in my memory of him. But here's my promise to Eric, I will make sure Colleen and I create some future mischief in our artistic endeavors.
Cross my heart...xoxo
May Eric's memory always be for a blessing.
Colleen's show this weekend will go on as Eric would have wished.
Please support her work and go to her show for me..."where she will also share a collection of paintings of Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in book form. Twenty pages with over 40 images of her original oil paintings.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
TUESDAY TUNES: KISSING COUSINS
HOW perfect to have this find on MLK Day when we should be finidng similarities rather than differences.
Lady Antebellum drew the comparison of country music and R&B being Southern cousins. Listen to their reasoning and admiration for one of their heroes- Lionel Richie... and watch him swell with pride for his first solo hit sung by Lady Antebellum Truly
Monday, January 15, 2024
MONDAY MUSINGS: ARIZONA THIS AIN'T
I had to make a grownup decision again. I just hate when that happens.... I was supposed to be on the dance floor as I type this at Leor and Brittini's wedding at the Secret Garden venue in the Arizona desert... I certainly didn't want to miss this fun of sharing the family nachas and dance floor. I truly miss seeing everyone.
I lucked out seeing this posting and my heart swelled:
Leor & Brittini. Mazal tov you two! Come do a rotation in Little Rock. You know you have a place to stay...
Now look what I had to enjoy instead, a much rarer sight in Arkansas.
10 degree weather to boot too.... A nagging cough and missed hours of shuteye dictated otherwise. I had been burning the candle at both ends and high winds blowing in real winter weather indicated there would be either delays/cancelled flights. In fact, my first host returned from her most recent jaunt with a lingering cough too. It just wasn't meant to be. My packed bag still sits awaiting warmer weather which it will probably not see this winter. I'll unpack eventually.
I have been taking a lot of naps and completing overdue projects. I am caught up with thank you notes...
Hugs to the newlyweds...
Saturday, January 13, 2024
FOTO FRIDAY: THE TRIO
Thursday, January 11, 2024
TBT: Hail, Hail the Gang's Almost All Here
TBT: HAIL. HAIL THE GANG'S ALMOST ALL HERE
TBT: Hail, hail the gang's all here... Well, almost. COVID made our photo minus two as one of my Dallas nephews and his Mom stayed back in Texas and watched the Celebration of Life from there via Zoom. (And Toddler Grandson Jacob stayed in Atlanta with his Zayde David... )
We all donned bowties to honor my Dad.
Friday, January 5, 2024
FOTO FRIDAY: HOW COULD IT BE A CELEBRATION WITHOUT ...
Thursday, January 4, 2024
TBT: GRANDCHILD's MILWAUKEE BAR MITZVAH
TBT: Another plus of working on this weekend's Celebration of Life for my Dad is perusing the family photos from my childhood home. There was no doubt you would see us all at different life cycles including his last great-grandchild's baby naming in Atlanta which unfortunately he didn't have the stamina to make last April.
But this oldie (2000) from my youngest's Bar Mitzvah in Milwaukee with our Patriarch in the center of course flanked by Mom (z"l) and me...
Thanks for the memories Dad...
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Dad loved rewatching all the classics... oh Bob Hope... I can hear Dad singing along.
Remind me if you need the Sunday Zoom link for 2pm Central Time.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
tUESDAY tUNES:down to you
tuesday tunes;I don't know about you but I learned a lot in 2023 and am looking forward to 2024. I know I need people who can meet me where I am at... No need for toxicity, so get ready for a lot more aphorisms. If you really listen to these lyrics we all can identify what positivity can do... Here's Kelly Clarkson's : down to you