Persimmons

Bounties of the Fall

For anyone that has not tasted the delectable Persimmon fruit, if you love peaches, a Persimmon is actually sweeter when it is ripe.  The key word to that statement is ripe.  You will get the puckers if it is not ripe, and they will last quite awhile.  Below is the tree that I was picking from this morning; as you can see, it was not overly tall, but required a ladder to reach that delicious bounty. 

Below you can hear Ikuko Kawai - She also does a Persimmon Lullabye Song which I
was unable to find on tube for your listening pleasure. 

 

The Good, Bad, and Ugly (Part Two)

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Can someone please explain to me why there are children sleeping in a portable building in Waco, Texas that are two (2) years old, twins, ALONE?  Now to make matters worse, the story in a Dallas paper stated the mother and boyfriend were staying in a mobile home nearby, and that the children sometimes slept in the portable building that was once utilized for storage. A fire broke out in the portable building, and thanksgiving night the twins, just five days short of their third birthday, now no longer will be here on this earth to be in a storage building alive, alone. 

So if you are reading this, please do one thing, for the sake of those two and others, if you know of a family that does not have adequate living arrangements, or if you know children are being left alone like the two above, please do something, but please do not make situations worse for parents that are trying!  Times are very hard for people these days, the economy has left people in situations that they have not had to face before, and sometimes people are left without a home.  Instead of calling DFS, on parents that are trying and that are at least providing shelter, food and care for their children, go to your refrigerator, take out that block of cheese, that gallon of milk that you haven't opened yet, that box of cereal that your kids won't eat; or that extra box that will expire and go into the trash....  give it to a family that is trying!  Now, with that being said, if children are being left alone unattended, are in danger, then obviously stronger measures need to be considered.  The first step is looking into the situation in depth, know the "facts", please do not "do guess work", "guess work harms families that are attempting to do the right thing, and appearances sometimes are VERY misleading.  Make sure you know a child is in danger, unattended, etc.  Then, contact the appropriate agency in your area.  The first step should be to contact the local church to ensure that someone can be located to take in a child that is taken into custody, that will provide a safe home, if at all possible, until appropriate steps are taken by authorities. 

WIth the rise of Meth use in America, the toll that it has on children of the users is horrendous, once caring and doting parents are turned into seemingless "mindless people, with one thought, to attain that next "high in search of the same high that burned out their pleasure center in the brain initially".  (For those of you unfamiliar with this epidemic, please google and look at the effects on children, on the users, the signs, etc.  Be mindful of people around you that may have fallen prey to this dreadful addiction, and please help their children, because quite honestly, they are not capable of doing so. 

The two lives lost on Thanksgiving night, should be a reminder to all of us of our responsibilities towards other human beings, whether it is a child, adult, or elderly person or animal.  Kindness and caring .... without those you have the bad and the ugly!

It is never ok to look the other way........

This is what life should have been like for the two that perished....
Hat's off to Raymond --- He's found the "real meaning of life".....




If only the world could be as near perfect as Axel's. We'd have a Happy World.

The Good, Bad, & Ugly

Thankful for A Thanksgiving of Calmness

Over the years I have had alot of things to be thankful for, but these days, the one thing that I seem to find the most value in, is just calm and peace.  I have always been what people dub as "hi energy, (more negative comments include "high strung"; bat out of hell; dizzy blonde; chaotic; classy dasher; and what my favorite boss of all times called me "hell on wheels that keeps on steam rolling"".  (I'll forgo some of the ones that are less suitable for repeating.   LOL).  Well in case you think I digressed with this topic, no, for a change I didn't. 

As we get older, we either I think tend to start rushing to make up for all the things we haven't done that we wanted to do, or we start settling back and either decide life is for living in the "now", and for cherishing the things that we do; or else, we start reliving with regrets. 

Life should really be about living, not dying, and unfortunately I think the holidays seem to bring more of that aspect to our lives than living and enjoying the "days".  When the mountains seem to grow taller that we have to climb, our legs seem to get shorter, or in my case, my a$$ seems to get closer to the ground; sometimes I have to stop and step back and say well I might could cover a longer distance if I crawl instead of running headlong 90 miles an hour into the headwind, just to get knocked back.  However, one of the things I think we tend to forget is there is always someone there to uplift us and to care about us when it seems all hope is gone.  We all have one true friend if we accept that there is life after this one, and more importantly, we are given the promise of a life of eternity, if we only accept it.  This life, while it may seem like the only thing we need to worry about, isn't really what it's all about after all.  So, you get to be the judge of the way you want your life to continue.... life or death.... I don't know about the rest of you, but I think "eternal life" has a much better outlook than just the life we now have here.  So if you have a life that is filled with turmoil or despair, there's always hope, and hope knows only the bounds that you set. 

Today's song is just about that "Hope" -- In the words of someone far greater than me.... "Hope springs eternal".....  

From one of my favorite artists - Joe Cocker -- "Have A Little Faith In Me"  (I hope someday I can hug Joe Cocker's neck and tell him thank you for this song, it has the ability to restore harmony unlike no other song other than Amazing Grace, that I have heard in my lifetime). 

So, when that road is dark and you can no longer see; just look upwards, then go find someone that looks sadder than you do, ask if they need a cup of coffee, or a simple, "smile, and the words "tomorrow will be a brighter day", might just be the answer. (For the nay sayers that say well that doesn't pay their bills, bring back the person that died, give them their love of a lifetime.... no, it surely doesn't, but in this life maybe, just maybe it's about "the gift of giving something that we can't own in a tangible sense".... compassion, peace, love, hope, a sharing of happiness through just a little "faith".



 Joe Cocker - Have A Little Faith In Me




Lee Ann Rimes - Amazing Grace


Note:  This was the good part of the "good, bad and the ugly". 

Stay tuned parts 2 n 3 on the way... to your viewing station.

Free Music? Internet Radio Stations -

Well there is no such thing as a free ride when it comes to music, as I explained a few days ago to someone that was interested in starting their own internet radio station. 

The misconception that a stream to play music on residing elsewhere is not considered a "station", is essentialy flawed/false.  Look at it in basic broken down terms " a stream is the medium utilized, the internet is still involved, you are speaking and playing music on the internet - thus you have created "your own centralized localized radio station" when you stream.   It can further be broken down to point out that "central/localized is "YOUR PC". 
For those that listen to internet radio they probably have no idea of the behind the scenes associations with the recording industry at large; but for those that have internet radio stations and DJ online, the consequences are quite severe for not securing appropriate licensing or paying fees directly to the three major organizations. 

They are fortunately answers to that dilemna by legally licensing stations, and unfortunately some have not realized the consequences of operating with out the required licensing. There are alot of online articles generated on this topic, but I believe this one sums up the gist of the requirements and the fees associated with non-compliance. Whew, if one station had 500 listeners in a one month period w/o having obtained and appropriate licensing through a third party, fees of $20.50 x 500 would be quite the sum ..... thousands of dollars would accrue.  Internet Radio Licensing and Fees

From the article above: (Quoted within legal guidelines): To put these numbers in perspective, a streaming service that operates 24 hours a day and averages 10 songs per hour would pay a royalty of about $8 per month if it averages one listener during every hour of operation, based on the rates for 2007. If the service is playing 15 songs per hour, the monthly royalty would be in the range of $12 per average listener. By 2010, the monthly payments would rise to approximately $13.75 per average listener for the service streaming 10 songs an hour, and to $20.50 per average listener for a service which averages 15 songs per hour.

In my thinking, artists should get paid reasonable fees for their music, and if the music industry would look at internet radio as the "new median", and focus on the "good of internet radio relations, rather than the polarized "old school", then all could live in happy accord together. Internet radio not only provides a social environment, it PROMOTES the artists, the art of music, and creates an easy mechanism for the listener to purchase music through different means either by one song downloads; (i.e., a download service such as Amazon, I-tunes, and direct from the artists; in addition to providing avenues to purchase entire cd's or box collections. Let's face it, the internet is the "social meca" in today's world. Collectively, if we all work together to promote the industry in a fair and reasonable fashion, then the music industry and internet radio will thrive "together" as a united community. For those stations that do not follow the current compliance by obtaining third party licensing, or paying fees direct to the 3 Associations, I hope you do not hear the sound of KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK or see a certified letter in the mail; please prevent that by taking the appropriate steps to ensure you are complying.  I realize that everyone wants to enjoy music, and I whole-heartedly want that, what I do not want is for people to be harmed financially for non-compliance, and for the music industry to have further reasons to charge more for internet radio! 

Let's all attempt to work together and create a fair and united community; there is a place for all stations and listeners, and you know that HHR just wants you to dance :) - but let's all dance in accord, peace, and legally.   Peace Out!  

Can't Find Your Phone?

This service lets you dial your number for free - and no worries, you won't get spam from the website, it is run by a telecom company and they are reputable.  Just go to http://www.icantfindmyphone.com/  enter your phone number and it will dial it for you so you can hear it ringing and know exactly where it is (assuming it is nearby where you can hear). 

Here's today's song to go with the above theme. 
Jerry Reed - The Telephone Call Ray Stevens - It's Me Again Margret

Helen Clair Wilhoit "Lynn Moroney"

Helen Claire Wilhoit 'Lynn' Moroney, widow of Belo exec, dies in Dallas


An amazing woman, mother, friend, patron, singer, and the list goes on and on......
She was one of the fore-runners for women recording artists.....
I'm sure all of you have heard the addage about one's tombstone, the article below was written by Lynn Moroney's family, and I don't believe there would be enough room on her tombstone to put all the elements of her life, nor apparently her goodness.  In a world filled with sadness and despair, this is one family that appears to know what the true worth of a Mother really is. 

You can read their summary here:  http://www.filejumbo.com/Download/9055287F04FEDB57

Her Obit - http://www.filejumbo.com/Download/9055287F04FEDB57 

CMA - Country Music Association Awards 2010

EGADS, is the one word that comes to mind after seeing the fashion errors.  I think some of these people threw open the closet door and grabbed the first thing that looked "gawdy". 

Worst Worst and Worst -- Nicole Kidman - Less Was Not More.... The Hospital Gauze Tape dress or grandma's doiley dress did nothing for her and those shoes were not meant for that dress!  Well, it speaks for itself, you take a look just make sure you put on some Rose Colored Glasses before you do.  Awfuls of the Night

The dress that could have been the hit of the night, in my book, key word "could" - it was just the wrong colorings for Leighton Meester. 

Where was Gwyneth Paltrow going after the awards?  Maybe that would explain her attire. 

I just won't even venture to the male attire, except to say "love R. Flatts' music" but, I think they were on a trip backwards in time.  Hmmm, maybe this was an experiment for a new song?  "Back to get the groove on?
While I won't say I totally agreed with all the folks that won, there were some that truly did deserve their awards, others, not so much. 

Here is the list of nominees and winners:


Entertainer of the Year:   Brad Paisley   (Lady Antebellum  Miranda Lambert  Keith Urban  ZBBand)

Female Vocalist of the Year:  Miranda Lambert  (Carrie Underwood  Martina McBride  Reba McIntire Taylor Swift) 

Male Vocalist of the Year:  Brad Paisley (Dierks Bentley  Blake Shelton  George Strait Keith Urban)

 New Artist of the Year:   ZBBand (Luke Bryan  Easton Corbin  Jerrod Neimann  Chris Young)

Vocal Group of the Year:   Lady Antebellum  (Little Big Town  Rascal Flatts  The Band Perry  Zac Brown Band)

Vocal Duo of the Year:    Sugarland (Brooks & Dunn  Joey + Rory  Montgomery Gentry  Steel Magnolia)

Single of the Year:  "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum  ("A Little More Country Than That," Easton Corbin -- "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins  "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert  --  "White Liar," Miranda Lambert)

Album of the Year:  Revolution

"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"Play On," Carrie Underwood
"Twang," George Strait
"Up on the Ridge," Dierks Bentley


Song of the Year:  "The House That Built Me"
"A Little More Country Than That"
"Need You Now"
"Toes"
"White Liar"

Musical Event of the Year:  "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton, featuring Trace Adkins
"Bad Angel," Dierks Bentley, featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
"Can't You See," Zac Brown, featuring Kid Rock
 "I'm Alive," Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
"Till the End," Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack

Music Video of the Year:  "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert

"Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton, featuring Trace Adkins
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"Water," Brad Paisley
"White Liar," Miranda Lambert

Musician of the Year:  Mac McAnally, Guitar

Paul Franklin, Steel guitar
Dann Huff, Guitar
Brent Mason, Guitar
Randy Scruggs, Guitar

"The Secret to Living & Not Dying"

Caution:  Read @ Your Own Risk

Ike's Story Below:

The Auctioneer Song

and the Start of this whole trek .... "Thank God &Greyhound, You're Gone"

Anybody ante'd up my fifty dollars yet? 

(Red's dedicating this one to Doc) HAHA

It Pays To Pray

It Pays To Pray - Rodney Griffin - Legacy 5 / Greater Vision

I was cleaning and doing some chores today, putting recycling together and the mundane things, happened by the television, and since I had to be in that room for a few minutes and it was on, I grabbed the remote and hit a few buttons and on came a Gospel Show.  (For those of you that don't know me, I am not a tv watcher, it's a rare occurrence for me to watch television).   Now, I would be hard pressed to tell you the name of the show, because I was listening, not watching, but I heard Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision/Legacy 5) telling about a song he had written several years ago called "It Pays to Pray". The story went something like this..... he met and married a woman and her heart was burdened because he father had never really been part of her life and had never been saved. So Rodney made a new prayer list and everyday for 14 years no matter where he was, California, Georgia, Tennessee, etc., he prayed for his father in law; then one day God gave him the words to the above song and he wrote the song about what he wanted to believe in conjunction with his father in law. It happened that a week or so later his father-in-law was hospitalized with congestive heart failure and was told he needed surgery to save his life. During the long night before the surgery, he gave his soul to Jesus. Rodney had already written the song, but his faith and his steadfastness for 14 years is truly remarkable.



For those of us that struggle when God doesn't immediately answer our prayers, and start worrying that God has forsaken us, or that he's not listening, our faith and steadfastness leaves alot to be desired, but unlike that, Rodney steadfastly prayed and believed for 14 years, over 5,000 prayers and his was answered.


There's a word for someone like Rodney, I'm just not sure what it is aside from "True-Believer"; "Godly"; "Steadfast"; and a few more adjectives that would fit, but I will let you listen to the song and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed it.  I am sure, just like me, out there somewhere is someone that needed to know his story too.

Rodney Griffin " It Pays To Pray"




Well, I guess this post isn't finished yet, I was searching for a graphic to put on here, and along with that found this amazing story..... Praying Hands Story - The Artwork
Think that is much better than just a graphic. 


http://www.moytura.com/reflections/prayinghands.htm 


"be a friend to a friend".....

Billy Ray Cyrus - D I V O R C E

Photo Courtesy of StarPulse

Daughter Miley Photo Copyright Matt Symons

Billy Ray Cyrus -- Achy Breaky Heart Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus (shown @ the right), are apparently calling it quits after 17 years of marriage.  The statement issued from the two acknowledged it is a hard time for their family and they are attempting to work through some issues; additionally, their appreciation for thoughts and prayers.

Their daughter Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) has been enjoying a remarkable career over the past few years despite her young age.  One is left to wonder if the good girl image gone bad has anything to do with the relationship of Mom and Pop at home.