Category Archives: Flowers

Love Will Turn You Around

April 25, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

You can run you can hide never let it inside
Keep livin” your life in the dark
But sooner or later that gentle persuader
Is gonna catch up with your heart
Make you a dreamer, believer
Believin’ in love

Right when a man’s doin” all that he planned
And he thinks he’s got just what he needs
Life will deliver a shock that will shiver
And drivin’ him down to his knees
Make him start givin’, livin’
Livin’ again

Well, it’s your mind, that tricks you in believin’ every time
Love will turn you around, turn you around
Well, it’s your heart, that talks you into to stayin’ where you are
Love will turn you around, turn you around

Out of the blue she reaches for you
And you tell her you don’t have the time
So you move away fast but you know it won’t last
‘Cause you can’t get her off of your mind
Thoughts are burnin’, turnin’
They’re turnin’ around

How do you know when to stay or to go
And how do you know when it’s real
You don’t need a sign to make up your mind
You got your heart at the wheel
You want to start sharin’, carin’
Carin’ again

Well, it’s your mind, that tricks you in believin’ every time
Love will turn you around, turn you around
Well, it’s your heart, that talks you into to stayin’ where you are
Love will turn you around, turn you around

Love will turn you around, turn you around
Love will turn you around, turn you around
Turn you around
-Written by David Malloy, Even Stevens, Kenny Rogers, Thom Schuyler
-Performed Kenny Rogers

Just another great love song from Kenny Rogers. The last one I’m going to use as a journal entry title… for now at least. This great song was the theme song for the cinematic masterpiece SIX PACK. Which to this day is by far the greatest racing movie ever made. I’m not even sure why they have even made racing movies since then. The artform had been perfected. Move on Hollywood.

SIX PACK is also notable for starring a young Diane Lane and even younger Anthony Michael Hall. They attempted to spin-off the movie into a television show starring Don Johnson, Markie Post, and Joaquin Phoenix. Yes… Joaquin Phoenix. But without Kenny Rogers, what were they even trying to do?

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session took place in my yard. There are a couple of bonus deer picture included:

I have another collection of flowertography images to share. Now that flowertography season is starting to be in full swing, I might have to up the number of flower posts I post a week!

Art, Beckham, Candid Portrait, Derrick, Evie, Flowers, Harrison, Jen, Layla, Road Trip, Still Life

Eclipse Road Trip – Day 1

April 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

The last total eclipse to be visible from the United States for the next 20 years was on April 8. Unfortunately to see the 100% totality, I had to leave my beloved Cyclone State. I originally perused a few options. A spot in Missouri. A spot in Illinois. A spot in Arkansas. A spot in Kentucky. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do. Cause I knew that hotels in the areas were outrageous. I was considering driving to like the Quad Cities on the Sunday before the eclipse and then driving the rest of the way in the morning. Then driving back that night. Then the most magical thing happened. I had a trip just kinda fall into my lap.

The Gorshes are well-known eclipse fiends. They went to New Mexico for an eclipse last year. They were going this year. Travelling to Indiana to camp on Jen’s Aunt Linda’s land. They were going to drive all the way through on Sunday. Watch the eclipse on Monday. Then drive back to Illinois and stay in a hotel in Normal. Then drive back to Iowa on Tuesday. They graciously offered to let me 7th or 8th wheel it on their trip.

They were pulling a camper behind Derrick’s serial killer van* with 2 adults, 4 kids, and a dog. As roomy as the van was I elected to take the RAV4 to the Sycamore State cause for 1 person, I pack a lot of stuff. I think the offer was on the table for me to sleep in the camper as well, but I decided to pack a tent and an air mattress and sleep the way the pioneers did. In a tent. On a queen sized air mattress. With electricity for their CPAP, cause I still haven’t hit 3 months and I have to average over 4 hours a night for the old insurance company to kick in some ducats. Also electricity to charge their cell phone and listen to their sleepy time podcasts. Also electricity to charge their fitness watch. Those steps don’t count if they aren’t tracked! Some real old-timey pioneer stuff.

However, a couple days before we were set to leave, Jen texted me and let me know that I had been upgraded from the tent to Linda and Pete’s camper. With the only caveat being that it was still winterized, so there would be no running water. Me? An old-timey pioneer camper? I don’t need no stinking running water! I could brush my teeth in the rain. Or with the water in my Owala water bottle. Just like the pioneers did. And I had already planned on a whore’s bath for Monday anyways. You know. Pits and… well you know.

According to the Google maps, it is a nearly 8 hour drive from my domicile to Linda’s house in Gosport, Indiana.

I don’t want to brag, but we made it in a touch over 12 hours. That is without accounting for the time zone change.

I didn’t take many cell phone pictures on Day 1, but I took a few and here they are:

Stop 1. They also had a bathroom with running water, but in case you wanted the ambiance of a port-a-potty, “To The Right”. The capitalization of every word on this sign disturbs me and haunts my dreams.

Stop 2. This gas station was very serious about not letting backpacks in their store.

It was in Davenport.

And they brook no nonsense from kids.

I think they aren’t really sorry for the inconvenience. We stopped at virtually the last gas station in Iowa because it was very important to not buy gas in Illinois cause it is apparently very expensive there.

Stop 3 – Sweet insect exhibit at an Illinois rest area.

All rest areas should have giant rubber bugs. This is not open to debate.

Bug needs to work on his arms. Needing a condiment cup to hold himself up. Do you even lift bro?

I am such a sucker for taking pictures of where I am.

This rest are had a sweet lookout and somebody actually wrote a Joe Dirt quote on the railing.

Do sex drugs own the rock-n-roll? Is this person really into rock concerts sponsored by Viagra?

Stop 4 – Another Illinois rest area. I told you I’m a sucker for taking pictures like that.

This rest area was a dump. Just filthy. No urinals. The only positive was these cherry blossoms.

This thing was cool too. While there Harrison had a meltdown in the restroom because he refused to wash his hands. This standoff lasted like 10-15 minutes. I don’t blame him. It was a bathroom that was so dirty that your hands were probably dirtier after washing them. In retrospect, I should have just offered him some of my Bridgerton scented hand sanitizer. Perhaps Bridgerton Study. They have a light scent. Easy on the nose. I’ve never heard anybody claim they are way too strong and demand that I leave their immediate area, shortly after using one. That seemed like an oddly specific denial.

I’m not sure which stop this was. We stopped at a gas station in Crawfordsville. Then we stopped at a Steak ‘n Shake, also in Crawfordsville.

The Steak ‘n Shake had this weird thing. Weird to me, maybe some of you will look down your nose at me and call me a country bumpkin, but I had never seen it before. When you ordered (which by the way the only option to order was via kiosk – which super boo! Shouted this old man at the clouds.) Your receipt also printed out a QR Code. You had to scan this QR Code to use the pop machine. It only activated the pop machine for so long, so you better act fast AND it only worked like 3 times.

When we got out of the restaurant, Derrick’s van wouldn’t start. Neither us have jumper cables (I keep mine in the Camry) so I had to give him a ride to Home Depot to buy a set.

We got his van going and were on the road again. Willie Nelson would have been proud.

Turns out, Linda and Pete didn’t really live in Gosport. We drove through Gosport and then 10 miles more through 3 different towns before getting to their house.

They live closest to Paragon. But they have a Gosport mailing address because that is the only post office in 3 counties. Also, that is the toilet.

Layla teaching the boys the globalist lie.

When we pulled up to our home for the night Linda approached me and asked me if I played the lottery today. The answer is of course not. I don’t play the lottery. It is a self-imposed tax designed to move the tax burden from the wealthy to the poor, uneducated, and the just plain bad at math.

But what I said was, “No.”

She told me I should have because it was my lucky day. I had been upgraded to sleeping in the house, in the guest bedroom. Not only that, I would have my own bathroom. Suck on that whore’s bath! That might have been an unfortunate turn of phrase but no turning back now.

I got a bed, inside a house, with access to all the running water my heart could desire and all the electrical outlets a true pioneer man could use. I should have brought other things into charge, just cause I could. I should have just sat there flushing the toilet. Cause I could. Brushed my teeth 10-12 times. Cause I could.

But I didn’t. I eventually called it a night and drifted into a nice sleep listening to a Cyclone Fanatic podcast. Tomorrow was a big day after all.

*It isn’t really a serial killer van. It has too many windows. But I like to pretend.

Animals, Flowers, Macro, Nature

She Believes In Me

April 18, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

While she lays sleeping
I stay out late at night and play my songs
And sometimes all the nights can be so long
And it’s good when I finally make it home, all alone
While she lays dreaming

I try to get undressed without the light
And quietly she says, “How was your night?”
And I come to her and say
“It was all right, ” and I hold her tight

And she believes in me
I’ll never know just what she sees in me
I told her someday if she was my girl
I could change the world
With my little songs, I was wrong

But she has faith in me
And so I go on trying faithfully
And who knows maybe on some special night
If my song is right
I will find a way
Find a way

While she lays waiting
I stumble to the kitchen for a bite
Then I see my old guitar in the night
Just waiting for me like a secret friend
And there’s no end while she lays crying

I fumble with a melody or two
And I’m torn between the things that I should do
And she says to wake her up when I am through
God, her love is true

And she believes in me
I’ll never know just what she sees in me
I told her someday if she was my girl
I could change the world
With my little songs, I was wrong
But she has faith in me

And so I go on trying faithfully
And who knows maybe on some special night
If my song is right
I will find a way
While she waits
While she waits
For me
-Written by Steve Gibb
-Performed by Kenny Rogers

Just another great love song from Kenny Rogers. The line “I could change the world, with my little songs… I was wrong” always kills me. Especially when it goes on to “But she has faith in me”.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography collection took place at the Iowa Arboretum.

I actually joined the Iowa Arboretum last year. So, go ahead and feel jealous. I would go on about how my membership there gets me free admission into all sorts of gardens and arboretums all across Iowa and the United States, but I can feel that you are already turning green with envy!

Next week’s flowertography session will return to the confines of my yard.

Flowers, Macro, State Fair

Through the Years

April 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I can’t remember when you weren’t there
When I didn’t care for anyone but you
I swear, we’ve been through everything there is
Can’t imagine anything we’ve missed
Can’t imagine anything the two of us can’t do

Through the years, you’ve never let me down
You’ve turned my life around
The sweetest days I’ve found, I’ve found with you
Through the year, I’ve never been afraid
I’ve loved the life we’ve made
And I’m so glad I’ve stayed right here with you
Through the years

I can’t remember what I used to do
Who I trusted, whom I listened to before
I swear, you’ve taught me everything I know
Can’t imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had
I’ve always been so glad to be with you
Through the years, it’s better every day
You’ve kissed my tears away
As long as it’s okay, I’ll stay with you
Through the years

Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong
I know that I belonged right here with you
Through the years, I never had a doubt
We’d always work things out
I’ve learned what love’s about, by loving you
Through the years

Through the years, you’ve never let me down
You’ve turned my life around
The sweetest days I’ve found, I’ve found with you
Through the years, it’s better every day
You’ve kissed my tears away
As long as it’s okay, I’ll stay with you
Through the years
-Written by Martin Panzer & Stephen Hartley Dorff
-Performed by Kenny Rogers

Just another great Kenny Rogers love song!

But Thursdays are for flowers and this flowertography session consists of pictures taken at the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair.

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will consist of flower pictures taken at the Iowa Arboretum.

Flowers, Macro, State Fair

You Decorated My Life

April 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

All my life was a paper
Once plain, pure and white
Till you moved with your pen, changin’ moods now and then
Till the balance was right
Then you added some music
Every note was in place
And anybody could see all the changes in me by the look on my face

And you decorated my life
Created a world
Where dreams are a part
And you decorated my life
By paintin’ your love all over my heart
You decorated my life

Like a rhyme with no reason
In an unfinished song
There was no harmony, life meant nothin’ to me until you came along
And you brought out the colors
What a gentle surprise
Now I’m able to see all the things life can be, shinin’ soft in your eyes

And you decorated my life
Created a world
Where dreams are a part
And you decorated my life
By paintin’ your love
All over my heart
You decorated my life

Written by Bob Morrison/Debbie Hupp
Performed by Kenny Rogers

Just another great song from Kenny Rogers!

Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session took place in the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair.

Still plenty more flower pictures from the Iowa State Fair left to share!

Christianity, Flowers, Holidays, Mom

Lady

March 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is Maundy Thursday, so I wish all of you a happy Maundy Thursday with the following picture:

Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples. The Last Supper was a Passover meal and so we continue to celebrate that through communion with unleavened bread and a grape drink. Jesus wasn’t a Christian. In fact, one of my favorite shirts has Jesus on it, riding a motorcycle, with the words “What the (fudge) is a Christian?” I don’t own this shirt, but I have admired it from afar.

My picture to commemorate the Last Supper is a (rather weak admittedly) imagining of Jesus’ Last Supper if he was not only a Christian, but a Methodist. A good Methodist meal would consist of a casserole. But Jesus’ status was “single” or maybe it was “It’s complicated” depending on who you listen to and how you want to interpret relationship status. So I figure Jesus wouldn’t have made his own casserole. He would have picked up a frozen one by Marie Callender and popped that in the oven. He definitely wouldn’t have had wine with it. He would have had grape juice. But not just any grape juice. It would have to be Welch’s grape juice. Or as it was originally called, Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine.

You still might be wondering where the Maundy in Maundy Thursday comes from. Maundy is short for the Latin word mandatum which means command. Maundy Thursday also celebrates Jesus giving us the new commandment:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).

On these holy holidays I like to share a devotional. This one was written by Rev. Dr. Luz E. Maldonado.

Maundy Thursday

Trimmed or chopped

Scripture: John 15:1-11, CEB
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me.I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.

“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete.

Meditation
In the Bible we find the use of similes (indirect comparison) and metaphors (direct comparison). God uses them to bring to His people the teachings of what the kingdom of God is like and what He is like. He uses well-known examples to teach the people in these comparisons. The potter, the carpenter, in this case he uses agriculture-the growing of grapes. Whenever a seed is sown it is done in the hope that it will grow and produce its fruit. But there is a care to be taken so that the harvest is properly reaped.

Jesus teaches us what He and the kingdom of God are like by pronouncing the seven “I am’s.”

In John 10:11-14 I am the good shepherd; John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life; John 6:35-48 I am the bread of life; John 8:12; 9:5 I am the light of the world; John 10:7 I am the door; John 14:25 I am the way, the truth, and the life. And in the reading, we have chosen for today’s meditation: John 15:1-5 I am the true vine. The vine is a grape plant, it is a vine. It has a root, a trunk, branches, shoots, leaves and fruit. Jesus compares himself to that plant “He is” and my father is the vineyard keeper, He is the owner and caretaker. He is the one who takes care, who cleans, who prunes. The use of agriculture to explain the kingdom of God, and its care.

He talks about trimming: What is it and why is it necessary? It is to clean, to cut, to pull up, to remove dry leaves, dry branches. Pruning is a sign of love, God is concerned about us. He takes care of us, He removes what is not necessary, He removes what is not productive, what is not useful to us. When God is closest to us, it is when He is trimming us. When a vinedresser goes to prune, He always has the branch in his hand. God has not let you go, you have always been in the hollow of God’s hand. Pruning is not the absence of God, on the contrary, it is when He is closer than ever. John 15:2 he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit.

To be cut off: John 15:2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit; the branch is a new shoot. The danger of not being attached to Christ is that this new shoot will dry up. In other words, the danger of not congregating, of not being in a church, can dry us up, it does not allow us to grow, mature and bear the fruit that is expected of us. The Lord gives us a piece of advice, a commandment or recommendation in John 15:4 “remain in me, and I will remain in you”. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. He is speaking of a relationship, a friendship and fellowship. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches” is giving us identity. He is also giving us a promise John 15: 5b “he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit”. He is telling us that we need him in order to go forward, John 15:5c “for apart from me you can do nothing”.

For reflection
Trimming is the evidence of something new in our lives. Usually when something goes wrong or we are in a time of trial we get desperate. We tend to worry too much and try to solve. The pruning in your life has as a goal that you bear fruit as it says: Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.”; 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control”. So do not stray from the vine and allow whatever the vineyard keeper desires to do in your life to be done, for the result will be a blessing.

Prayer
Blessed God, thank You for revealing Yourself to our lives with examples from our daily lives and with them help us to understand Your plans and purposes in our lives. Help us to stay attached to You and continue to work in our lives, take away what You need to take away, add what You need to add so that we may remain united to You and bear much fruit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you want to worship an awesome God, you are welcome to join me at Boone First United Methodist Church. Our Maundy Thursday Service is at 6:30 PM tonight. And I promise you will be home in plenty of time to watch the Iowa State game.

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Lady
I’m your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am, and
I am yours

My love
There’s so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more

You have gone and made me such a fool
And I’m so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won’t you believe in my song?

Lady
For so many years
I thought I’d never find you
You have come into my life and
Made me whole

Forever
Let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly
In my ear

And in my eyes (In my eyes)
I see no one else but you (I see no one else but you)
There’s no other love like our love
And, oh, girl I’ll always want you near me
I’ve waited for you for so long

Lady
Your love’s the only love I need
Oh, and beside me is where
I want you to be (I want you to be)
‘Cause, my love
There’s somethin’ I want you to know
You’re the love of my life
You’re my lady
-Written by Lionel Richie
-Perfected by Kenny Rogers

This week marks the 3 year anniversary of my Mom’s passing. I selected this song because she loved this song and she loved Kenny Rogers. She loved Elvis. She loved the Beach Boys. I’m not sure which was her absolute favorite, but this was one of her absolute favorite songs. And objectively, it is one of the greatest songs ever written.

I got to see a Kenny Rogers concert at the Civic Center with my Mom. It is one of my favorite memories and favorite concerts I’ve ever attended. Life, as they say, is made up of memories. Not possessions. It is a great memory.

This Thursday’s flowertography is a collection of flower images taken in my yard. I know I said I was about to finally leave my yard for the flowertography session, but then I stumbled upon this collection of flower images that I had somehow missed. I’m glad I found them.

Next Thursday we will finally leave my yard again.

Can you believe that it is almost flowertography season. I will be heading down to Pella in a couple of weeks to take some tulip pictures. The peak tulip bloom is going to be about 2-3 weeks early this year. So I’ll probably head down there in the middle of April. Let me know if you are interested in going, hitting their bakery, and probably eating some good food.

Basketball, Flowers, Lensbaby, Naima

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

March 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

There are only 3 hours left to get your picks in.

If you are a basketball fan, or are just interested in having fun, click on the link below to join my pool:

Roundball Oracles – Year 19

The rules are as follows:
Round 1 = 1 point + seed
Round 2 = 2 points + seed
Round 3 = 4 points + seed
Round 4 = 8 points + seed
Round 5 = 16 points + seed
Rounds 6 = 32 points + seed

The Play-in Games (AKA the First Four) don’t matter. You can wait for those games to complete before filling out your bracket. The deadline to fill out your bracket, is tip-off of the first game on Thursday. Roughly 11 AM.

Under special circumstances, I will allow you to turn in a paper bracket to me. So, don’t be afraid to ask.

Yes, your child can fill out a bracket. Your dog, no.

There were 37 competitors in 2023. A 1 person gain from 2022. Hopefully there is continued growth in participation this year, but I don’t know that I have 1 more friend than I did in 2023. It is possible I have gained even more friends since 2023. I might be a pretty great person.

*You have to be 14 years or older to win “The Sara”.

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Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I’m so lonesome I could cry

I’ve never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind the clouds
To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die
That mean’s he’s lost his will to live
I’m so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I’m so lonesome I could cry
-Written and Performed by Hank Williams

Hank Williams. The Hillbilly Shakespeare. Another American tragedy. Also the subject of what I consider to be the worst biopic ever made… I SAW THE LIGHT. Trust me, don’t watch it. It is dreadful.

However the song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Certainly one of the greatest country songs ever recorded. It has been covered by Leon Russell. Elvis Presley. Jerry Lee Lewis. Johnny Cash. Connie Stevens. Bill Monroe. Al Green. Little Richard. Glen Campbell. Willie Nelson. Charley Pride. Waylon Jennings. Cowboy Junkies. John Waite. Keb’ Mo’. Townes Van Zandt. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. Volbeat. Heck, even Terry Bradshaw covered it. Yes, Terry Bradshaw. The quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers covered it. Lynda Carter? Yes, even Wonder Woman has covered it.

However, Thursdays are for flowers. There aren’t many in this session. I took these flower pictures on July 23. There is a bonus picture of Naima in the mix.

Next flowertography meetup will involve many more flower pictures. We will begin looking at flower pictures I took at the Iowa State Fair.

Flowers, Lensbaby

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

March 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a bright summer day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

I wonder if you’re lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world’s a stage and each of us must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweetheart
Act one was where we met
I loved you at first glance
You read your lines so cleverly and never missed a cue

Then came act two, you seemed to change, you acted strange
And why I’ve never known
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I’d rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you

Now the stage is bare and I’m standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won’t come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down

Is your heart filled with pain
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

-Written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman
-Made famous by Elvis Presley

Another great Elvis song and a song with an interesting history. I think everybody knows that Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager, was a complete piece of trash. However, if he did one good thing in his life, it was to suggest to Elvis that he record this song.

From the Wiki:

In the final months of his service in the United States Army, Elvis Presley began experimenting with new material in anticipation of his return to recording. His first recording session was scheduled for March 20, 1960, and RCA’s Studio B had recently been equipped with a new three-track recorder. To improve the recording of Presley’s voice, engineer Bill Porter had Telefunken U-47 microphones installed. A follow-up session was scheduled for April.

During the selection of material for the sessions, Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, suggested “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”. The favorite song of Parker’s wife, Marie Mott (who knew the song from Gene Austin’s act, since he was also managed at the time by her husband), it was the only time he intervened in Presley’s choice of repertoire. Presley returned to the studio with his band, consisting of Scotty Moore, drummer D. J. Fontana, pianist Floyd Cramer, guitarist Hank Garland, bassist Bob Moore, percussionist Buddy Harman, and backing vocalists the Jordanaires, on April 3.

After the eight songs Parker needed for Elvis Is Back! were recorded, Presley moved on to his manager’s request. At 4 am on April 4, the singer began recording “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”, accompanied by acoustic guitar, drums, bass, and the backup group. He asked everyone else in the studio to leave the session, told Chet Atkins to turn the lights out, and performed the song with the spoken bridge. After the second take, Presley said to producer Steve Sholes, “Throw that tune out; I can’t do it justice”. Sholes told engineer Bill Porter to ignore Presley’s order and asked the singer to do a new take, explaining that the Jordanaires had bumped into their microphone stand while recording in the dark. As a result, Presley performed the song once more, and that take became the master for the single.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session was taken in my yard with a Lensbaby Velvet lens. I think it lends a lonesome effect to the images:

The next flowertography session will probably still be from my yard.

Flowers, Macro

Can’t Help Falling in Love

March 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Wise men say
Only fools, only fools rush in
Oh, but I, but I, I can’t help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?
Would it be, would it be a sin?
If I can’t help falling in love with you

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things, you know, are meant to be

Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
For I can’t help falling in love with you

-WRITTEN BY HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE, & GEORGE DAVID WEISS
-PERFORMED BY ELVIS PRESLEY

I watched PRISCILLA on Monday night and now I’m in a bit of an Elvis mood. Even though Elvis doesn’t necessarily come across great in the movie, I don’t think he comes off completely terrible. I think Elvis has demons, we all do, and his got the better of him because I think after his mom passed away, I don’t think he had anybody in his life to act as a moral compass. It might have been Priscilla, but there were too many other factors pulling him in too many other directions. I think Elvis’ life was a tragedy. A true Shakespearean tragedy.

The positive is he left so much great music behind. I don’t know that “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is my favorite Elvis song, but I bet it is a Top 10 song for me.

The song was written in 1961 for the album “Blue Hawaii” and was featured in the movie by the same name. The B-Side was “Rock-A-Hula Baby”. For a long time it was the song Elvis closed his concerts with. It was the last song Elvis performed live at his final concert in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977. He died less than 2 months later at the age of 42.

But Thursdays are for flowers! Today’s flowertography collection was taken in my yard:

Can you believe it! It is almost flowertography season!

Animals, Flowers, Macro

I Walk the Line

February 29, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine,
I keep my eyes wide open all the time,
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

I find it very, very easy to be true,
I find myself alone when each day’s through,
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

As sure as night is dark and day is light,
I keep you on my mind both day and night,
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side,
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide,
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine,
I keep my eyes wide open all the time,
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds,
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.
-Written and recorded by Johnny Cash

I figured since I spent some time bashing the Patsy Cline biopic SWEET DREAMS, I should at least reference what I consider to be the best biopic made about a musician, the 2005 movie starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, WALK THE LINE.

To be honest, a biopic about a musician has to be pretty bad for me not to enjoy it. Most of them are pretty middling at best, but I’ll still watch the heck out of them because if the music is good enough, I don’t care that much about the story.

Johnny Cash recorded “I Walk the Line” in 1956 and it was his first #1 hit. It remained on the charts for over 43 weeks. In June of 2014 Rolling Stone ranked it as the greatest country song of all-time. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Johnny Cash isn’t known for romantic songs. Most of his songs that are romantic are mostly sad. His ode to fidelity might qualify as his most romantic song. In its strange way.

I actually don’t consider SWEET DREAMS to be the worst musician biopic. That is a movie about the Hillbilly Shakespeare and I will reveal that in due course.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This Thursday’s flowertography images were taken in my yard:

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.