Yuletide Blessings

Alfie the Christmas Tree

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree?
Who just didn’t want to change the show
He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels
He liked bicycles and snow

He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears
And critters and creatures that crawled
Why bugs were some of his very best friends
Spiders and ants and all

Now that’s not to say that he ever looked down
On a vision of twinkled lights
Or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes
And a thousand other delights

And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer
And a jolly old man in a sleigh
Full of toys and presents and wonderful things
And a story of Christmas day

Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas alright
He was full of Christmas cheer
All of each and every day
And all throughout the year

To Him it was more than a special time
Much more than a special day
It was more than a beautiful story
It was a special kind of way

You see some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring
And they’ve never heard of Santa Claus
They’ve never heard the story of the Son Of God
And that made Alfie pause

Did that mean that they’d never know of peace on earth
Or the brotherhood of man
Or know how to love, or know how to give
If they can’t, no one can

You see, life is a very special kind of thing
Not just for a chosen few
But for each and every living, breathing thing
Not just me and you

So in your Christmas prayers this year
Alfie asked me if I’d ask you
Say a prayer for the wind and the water and the wood
And those who live there too

From the Album John Denver and the Muppets a Christmas Together

Til next time ~May nothing but happiness come through your door ~JP

Thoughtful Thursday – November Playlist

So, today I am stuck inside, windows closed, air filters running. The AQI (Air Quality Index) is a good deal higher than my safety zone allows due to forest fires. Sometimes I feel like I’ve spent my whole life running from fires *shrug* so today I’m feeling a little sorry for myself (stupid fires, grumble, grumble) and nothing lifts my little heart and soul like music. Here is my November playlist filled with songs of celebration and home.

Under a Violet Moon – Blackmore’s Night

A Pirate Looks at Forty – Jimmy Buffet

Book of Days – Enya

Jesus and Mama – Confederate Railroad

Home Again – Blackmore’s Night

Colors of the Wind – Judy Kuhn

Medicine – Rising Appalachia

Kentucky Woman – Neil Diamond

Easy Come, Easy Go – Bobby Sherman

I Have a Dream – ABBA

Moon River – Andy Williams

Back Home Again – John Denver

If you’d like to listen on Spotify, click here.

Til next time ~ Music is a window to the soul ~JP

Walkabout Wednesday – Through the Glass

Terri has given us a Sunday Stills prompt this week of “glass.” Glass, now there’s an interesting photographic challenge. Let’s dash about the archives shall we.

Thin(ish) layers of glass are all that separate me from the sky. Looking out at Hawaii on approach at Lihue.

And, of course always reflections in a looking glass. Here at Larnach Castle, Dunedin, NZ

And, china is kind of a glass, here serving up my favorite beverage in my favorite shop in Kyoto, Japan

And then there’s stained glass. This rescued piece on display in the Wellington Museum, Wellington, NZ

And, finally, no reflection on glass would be complete without a classic by Peggy Lee, one of my all-time favorite voices.

Empty Glass

Close the door and pull the blinds
Fill your glass, but don’t fill mine
Here’s to you now for the last time
Here’s to me your sometime past time
Here’s to love, an empty glass

Feeling low, but it will pass
With some coffee, demitasse
Black and strong and very bitter
I can think of nothing fitter
For a lover, second class

Deep inside I guess I knew
You were too good to be true
Still it rocked me to discover
You would kiss and run for cover
When I started loving you

Nothing could have made it last
Say goodbye and say it fast
Here’s to you now for the last time
Here’s to me your sometime past time
Here’s to love, an empty glass

Songwriters: Luiz Bonfa & Dick Manning

~ all lyrics are the product of my memory. Any discrepancies or divergences from actual fact should not be viewed as errors but as all natural variations proving that I did, in fact, live through the 60’s.

Til next time ~Here’s to the no-longer empty glass ~JP

Thoughtful Thursday – October Playlist

Some spooky tunes for October.

digital collage from my polyvore collection

I put a spell on you – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Magic Man – Heart
Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked – Cage The Elephant
Zombie Jamboree – The Kingston Trio
Monster Mash – Bobby Pickett
Swamp Witch – Jim Stafford
Witchy Woman – The Eagles
Sky Fire (Mandragora) – Llewellyn
Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band
Demons – Imagine Dragons
Thriller – Michael Jackson
Black Magic Woman – Santana
Crystal – Fleetwood Mac
Hanging Tree – Blackmore’s Night
Autumn Leaves – Ed Sheeran

Listen on Spotify here

Til next time ~Peace Peeps ~JP

Thoughtful Thursday – September Playlist

I’ve come to the conclusion that music is absolutely, positively essential to this Spoonie’s morning routine. I skip the tunes and I’m dragging around like a half-dead-out-of-the-water Scyphozoa. Yep, gotta have the tunes. Here’s what I’m listening to on September mornings.

Something Wild ~ Lindsey Stirling
Passionate Kisses ~ Mary Chapin Carpenter
Happy ~ Pharrell Williams
Uneasy Rider ~ Charlie Daniels Band
Knock Three Times ~ Tony Orlando & Dawn
Human ~ The Killers
Wild Thing ~ The Troggs
The Little Old Lady from Pasadena ~ Jan and Dean
Time After Time ~ Cyndi Lauper
See You in September ~ The Happenings
September ~ Earth, Wind and Fire
September ~ The Shins
Changes in Latitudes ~ Jimmy Buffet
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Wake Me Up When September Comes ~ Green Day
Moonlight Feels Right ~ Starbuck

So, let’s fire up a player and get goin’. If you’d like, you can listen on Spotify here.

Til next time ~Thank you for the music ~JP

Friday Flashback – An Empty Glass

From September 16, 2018

When I was a young girl, my father loved to listen to Peggy Lee. I grew up on that glorious, sultry voice. Although my personal favorite will always be “Is that all there is?” I understood “when he left, I thought I’d die, but I didn’t. And I thought to myself ‘is that all there is … to love?” Oh yeah.

That being said, as I grew up, “An Empty Glass” became more and more significant. “Deep inside I knew, you were too good to be true.”

An Empty Glass – Peggy Lee

Lyrics courtesy of my memory (which is often faulty) any discrepancies should not be viewed as flaws but as all natural variations and proof that I lived through the sixties. 😉

This post inspired by Fandango’s Flashback Friday
originally written for Song Lyric Sunday prompt Glass
enjoyed on youtube An Empty Glass

til next time ~Peace Peeps ~JP

Friday Flashback — If

Welcome to another Fandango’s Flashback Friday. Ahhhhh, flashback thy name is “70’s” Here a bit of nostalgia from the greatest decade … like EVER dude. Originally posted September 9, 2018 for Song Lyric Sunday prompt of “Picture/photograph.”

IF — Bread

The quintessential love song, so much meaning, exquisite melody and rich vocals. David Gates was once quoted as saying it was the best song he had ever written. To me “If” and Bread in an esoteric kind of way was the very soul of the 70’s. Underneath it all, it was an era of love and beauty.

If a picture paints a thousand words
Then why can’t I paint you?
The words will never show
The you I’ve come to know

If a face could launch a thousand ships
Then where am I to go?
There’s no one home but you
You’re all that’s left me too
And when my love for life is running dry
You come and pour yourself on me

If a man could be two places at one time
I’d be with you
Tomorrow and today
Beside you all the way

If the world should stop revolving
Spinning slowly down to die
I’d spend the end with you
And when the world was through
Then one by one the stars would all go out
Then you and I would simply fly away

Songwriter: David Gates

lyrics courtesy of my memory, any discrepancies or variations from fact should be viewed as all natural by-products of having actually lived through the 70’s. 😉

Til next time ~Peace Peeps ~JP

Friday Flashback – Part of the Plan

Time for Fandango’s Flashback Friday, this song expresses my whole philosophy on life in 13 words. “Love when you can, cry when you have to. Be who you must.” 😉

Part of the Plan

Dan Fogelberg

I have these moments
All steady and strong
I’m feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know
I’m all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble

The meanings get lost
And the teachings get tossed
And you don’t know what
You’re going to do next
You wait for the sun
But it never quite comes
Some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message comes through

And it says to you. . .

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival
And one day we’ll all understand

I had a woman
Who gave me her soul
But I wasn’t ready to take it
Her heart was so fragile
And heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might break it

Your conscience awakes
And you see your mistakes
And you wish someone
Would buy your confessions
The days miss their mark
And the night gets so dark
And some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message shoots through —

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival
And one day we’ll all understand

There is no Eden or
Heavenly gates
That you’re gonna make it to one day
But all of the answers you seek
Can be found
In the dreams that you dream on the way

Songwriters: Dan Fogelberg

Til next time ~Love when you can ~JP

Thoughtful Thursday – July Playlist

As I continue finding fun things to do this summer while NOT spending a lot of money, or going out of the house much *grumble grumble stupid COVID* I’m utilizing my music resources much more effectively than I have in years past and I’m having fun curating my own playlists which I play via a little off-line music player called Musicolet. Here is what I’m listening to for morning motivation for July.

July Playlist

Brighter Than the Sun – Colbie Caillat
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Long Time Sun – Snatam Kaur
Colors of the Wind – Judy Kuhn
Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Our Song – Taylor Swift
I Feel Lucky – Mary Chapin Carpenter
Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
What is Life – George Harrison
Summer Wind – Michael Buble
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Changes in Latitudes – Jimmy Buffet

If you’d like to give the whole thing a listen on Spotify, you can find it here.

Til next time

~May your Mondays be short and your weekends be long
may your memories be sweet, and your coffee be strong ~JP

First Line Lyric Thursday — Colder Weather

First Line Lyric Thursday where I take a line from a song and make it the first line of a poem. Today’s poem is brought to you by Zac Brown Band — Colder Weather — see video at the end of the post

A Gypsy Soul

Got a gypsy soul to blame
my heart was born
to dance and sing
my feet were made to wander

I have sailed the oceans blue
far from meadows’ verdant hues
The path I walk is mine alone
walked for the sanity of my soul

I have climbed red mountains
beneath brilliant azure skies
and I’ve beheld the milky way
with naught but my own two eyes

I was born to wander
far from whence I came
I can’t help but wonder why
Got a gypsy soul to blame

Til next time ~stay wild moon child ~JP