Good Canine Citizen!

For 10 weeks Red (and I) have been going to obedience class. During that time we have learned the building blocks to make a “a good canine citizen” Every Saturday we have met ,rain or shine to learn ten areas that we would be tested on. Then ,during the week we practiced like mad to try and master all of them.
Today was test day. We arrived at the training area early to prepare (which means getting red tired out) to help him concentrate. Well, concentrate he would not! There were probably 20 other dogs there to make sure he was really distracted! After all the weeks of drilling, he would not pay one bit of attention to me. As we entered the test area I was muttering “This is hopeless”But when we started he went through everything flawlessly! Other dogs had balked on one phase or another but not Red!

So here we are in our moment of glory! Now we have just two weeks until the next level class starts AAAIIIIEEEE!!!!!

Latest Change in our Garden

WILL IT EVER BE THIS GOOD AGAIN?

Rowan Atkinson---Genius!

Early Jazz Greats

Sharon and I were married here 36 years ago April 10

Another Blast form the past

What a sound!

Re forestation Progress

For a few years now Sharon and I have been working to restore the forest on our second acre next door . The front of it had been cleared over 10 years ago to improve the ocean view. Since then it developed into a real mess of tangled vines and weeds. After weeks and weeks of pretty intense labor (not to mention a rash that took quite a while to clear up) it was cleared. We since have added native plants and over time have roughly worked out planting areas and even some paths! Maybe one day we will even figure out what we are doing! Even if we don’t we have achieved a fairly good record of keeping plants healthy. This is more rewarding than I ever imagined!

Weaver of Dreams Sonny Rollins1959

Illusion

Monday night just as I was getting ready to go on line our power suddenly went off . It seems that some nitwit had been speeding nearby and knocked down a power pole. The power company replaced the pole and power was restored in a respectable 4 hours. The rural area where we live is pretty independent. I guess having a volcano erupting nearby is a part of that. Many areas are “off the grid” meaning no power , phone or public water supply. Our house has power,phone and catchment water .Water runs from the roof to a 10,000 gallon tank. It is then filtered and pumped into the house . Back to the power outage. When it happens not only does the power go ,the water does too ,because the pump will not work . This situation always makes me think how interesting it is that One minute you have all that energy brings - tv – stereo –computer- internet etc - etc and the next you have candle light . Makes me wonder at the illusion of it all!

SF REVISITED

STRANGE BUT LIKEABLE

Cathedrals and Minsters in England

JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ

Coltrane's The Wise One

More Portmeirion

A legend in Jazz

Louis Armstrong was one of the first great Jazz soloists and one of its most creative innovators. Throughout the many years of his career thousands were inspired by and tried to emulate his playing. He increasingly came to represent to the world the spirit of American jazz and its international appeal. Daniel Louis Armstrong started his musical career several years before he actually played the trumpet. At the age of seven he and a group of friends would sing on street corners for pennies and nickels. On December 31, 1913 he celebrated New Year’s Eve by shooting his step-father’s gun in the street. He was arrested , and while at the waif’s home in New Orleans he began playing the Trumpet. There were four salient features which made his an outstanding player-his superior choice of notes to shape unique melodic lines, his outstanding tone quality, his sense of swing, and his famous repertory of vibratos. His music had the make-up of any great music experience – expressive fervor, intense artistic commitment ,a natural sense for structural logic and superior instrumental skill . In the early 1900’s jazz was just coming into being. The public’s attitude towards the “new music” was unfavorable. Generally speaking ,jazz, including Armstrong’s playing was being heard in red light districts. There were many players but no outstanding soloists. Louis Armstrong was the first. His trumpet playing was not the only factor in his success. His unique singing also played a major role. He had a charm with his audience that was unsurpassable. Later in his career his singing became as important as his playing. He had become a complete entertainer. As his popularity grew, appearances abroad became frequent. Also in addition to his music, he was active in movies, Television, and even Broadway. He was a giant star.
Louis Armstrong ; a legend In Jazz.