'Twas a most bittersweet Fourth of July... (Tuesday's Truths WK 187)

It was a bittersweet Fourth of July what with the coronavirus pandemic still in place, keeping everyone on their guard, but also it was a strained time because of the political unrest in the United States over how issues related to race were handled (or not handled) in bygone years.

Therefore, I was grateful to see that a neighbor who lives in the building across my courtyard (and who has participated in many #ClapBecauseWeCare sessions), did not allow any disparaging feelings about our history stand in her way of expressing appreciation, which she did by hanging up her American flag (as seen in the image atop this entry).

A Three Dog Night Moment Re-Visited

Last year I spent part of my Fourth of July with the three lovely girls seen in the image atop this entry and in a blog post (published on 7-6-2019) I mentioned that I had a "Three Dog Night" moment (as some of you know Three Dog Night is the name of a pop music group) in Central Park and that I thought of their 1972 song (Black & White) when I saw these three young children playing.

A Three Dog Night Moment

On the fourth of July I had a "Three Dog Night" moment in Central Park (which can be seen in the photograph atop this entry).

FOURTH OF JULY 2019

Today is The Fourth of July and the only fireworks that I plan to see are the ones (featured in the photo directly above) who are in in my indoor succulent garden. How about you, dear reader?

Do you plan to see any displays of them?

If so be safe and do remember this type of extravaganza can be very stressful on wildlife. I realize that I have published a number of blog entries re various displays of fireworks but this does not mean that I am not fully aware of their consequences on members our wildlife community, which is a topic I've addressed in the past.

For today, I'll leave you with photos of our avian community who happen to be red, white or blue and ask that you be mindful of them during this holiday and beyond.

OTHER CARDINALS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

The Fourth of July in the Year 2018 (ETC)

In honor of the 2018 July 4th holiday, I've posted a copy of a comic strip (that I received in my In Box) atop this entry. As any reader of this blog must surely know, I am a big Mutts fan (the name of this strip). Over the years (nearly nine) that I've been on Blogger, I've included them within my entries. Additionally, I've written about the Fourth of July holiday on many occasions. However today, I cannot offer any new musings on the subject, I can only refer you those posts from bygone years, as I must put all my efforts into finishing volume three of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

VOLUMES ONE AND TWO

The deadline for me getting materials (images and text) to my editor, Chris Deatherage (who is also the book's formatter) is approaching, and as it does, I will be blogging less frequently until my third volume is complete (I have a heads-up re this matter in a previous entry, June 3rd 2018).

In any event, however you celebrate this holiday, dear reader, I hope it's safe, relaxing and happy.

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

Hardcover versions of Volume One, Two and Three can be found wherever books are sold.

MY BOOK SERIES

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books. Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2021:

When the third volume of the hard-cover version of Words In Our Beak was released, I withdrew from promoting my former versions of Words In Our Beak. 

The very first one is an iBook and went into Apple's book store in 2015.

This was followed by an ePub version...

... that is available on Amazon and was also published in 2015.

Subsequently, Words In Our Beak's digital versions were published as a soft-cover book (with slight variations) by MagCloud in 2017.

Its press release can be read by clicking here.  

Now with the release of BIRD TALES....

... I've been advised to make mention of my early versions of volume one of Words In Our Beak, they do vary ever so slightly in content from the hard-cover version of volume one.

As of this addendum, I do not intend to create digital or soft-cover versions of Words In Our Beak Volume Two or Words In Our Beak Volume Three.

"Uncle Sam's a reminder of the great risks & personal sacrifices endured by generations of Americans in the quest for liberty." (Wednesday's Wisdom)

An exhibit at The New York Historical Society which paid homage to the history of iconic Uncle Sam ended ten days ago on September 3rd 2017. Banners announcing the exhibit, such as the one seen in the image atop this entry, are still flying from street lamps on NYC's Upper Westside.

A web-page for The New York Historical Society states that "since the 19th century, the familiar figure of “Uncle Sam,” with his beard and stovepipe hat, has represented the U.S. in recruitment posters, political cartoons, and advertisements. But long before he first appeared, artists drew upon a visual tradition stretching back centuries to depict America as an evocative woman."

Wednesday's Wisdom:Walk Just for Pleasure

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is known by New Yorkers as the Central Park Reservoir.

It is a decommissioned reservoir in Central Park. This reservoir stretches from 86th to 96th street. A partial view of it can be seen in the image atop this entry.

A number of years have passed since the last time that I walked around the reservoir, but, yesterday, which was The Fourth of July, I walked around it with a friend whose husband passed away a short time ago. I rarely take a walk for the sake of walking because I walk almost everywhere I need to go in the city, but I wanted to give the time to my friend, as it was her first Fourth of July holiday without her husband.

In my doing this, I was reminded that walking merely for the sake of walking releases endorphins; is relaxing; and, it causes one to take note of their surroundings as opposed to walking when you have to be somewhere at a certain time.

Tuesday's Truths WK 47-B: It's Independence Day (And Many Figurines Are Celebrating!)

Welcome to the forty-seventh week of my Tuesday's Truths. This day happens to be Independence Day and a number of my figurines are celebrating!

In the photograph atop this entry, all of my firework-themed figurines (dressed in red and white) can be seen rehearsing with two directors. One of them will be the mistress of ceremonies. She is wearing a red skirt and a blue top with white stripes. Her hand is clasping a baton that's been decorated to resemble a firework, and she is standing towards the left/center of the first row.

Her partner, the master of ceremonies is wearing a red jacket and white pants with blue stripes. He is also holding a baton that's been decorated to resemble a firework, and he is standing towards the right/center of the first row.

Their intention is to have the fire-work-themed figurines perform immediately after the completion of a vow renewal ceremony, where all the guests in attendance are wearing patriotic outfits. They can be seen in the bottom half of the aforementioned image, and many of them are ones you might recognize from prior posts here on Blogger.

Another figurine (pictured below) dressed as Lady Liberty,

is doing her own thing, by carrying an apple to honor NYC, which as you probably know is often called The Big Apple. She has also appeared in prior entries on Blogger (without her apple)  including ones that you may reference by clicking here as well as here.

And this year, I have two newcomers! They can be seen in the next image.

Each figurine has his/her own agenda, however, they all share one thing in common: Every one of them joins me in wishing you and yours a safe as well as celebratory Independence Day!

The Inspiration of Holocaust Survivor, Mathilde Freund (And Other News)

I have been away from my cyber-venues tending to matters related to the accident that I had this past May. Whenever I stray from the momentum of my writing, I always find it difficult to begin again. But I'm sure this idiosyncrasy of mine is of no real interest to anyone, and so I'll just begin my reentry into cyberspace where I left off, which was with a post I made on July 4th, 2016, — one week and four days ago.

In the aforementioned entry, I wrote a little bit about Mathilde Freund, a holocaust survivor who lives in my hood. I stated that Mathilde and I "spoke about Elie Wiesel, the holocaust survivor who died in his NYC home this past Saturday, July 2nd. Mathilde knew Mr. Wiesel because he was in the same camp (Buchenwald) that her husband had been in. She told me that she was in hiding at the time, but her husband was killed at Buchenwald two months before it was closed. She recalled that her husband was twenty-five years old at the time and that Elie Wiesel was much younger. She also remarked that the man who was pope at the time “turned the other way,” and she is quite impressed with the efforts of the current pope. She is someone who is most thankful for what Independence Day is SUPPOSED to represent, and is truly an amazing lady! I’m always grateful when I see her!" 

Since the publication of that blog post, I came across a YouTube Video that includes Mathilde. It is produced by Fordham University and I've posted it atop this blog entry. If you view it, dear reader, I'm sure you will see why I'm always grateful to see her. Moreover, I dare say I believe upon viewing the clip, that like myself, you will find her attitude toward the tragedies in her life uplifting and inspiring.

July 4th 2016

It's a rather quiet Fourth of July for me as I'm still recuperating, but progress is being made. In bygone years I've gone to NYC's Macy's Fireworks, but this year I'm laying low. However, I do have the company of my patriotic figurine-friends. Placing them in my kitchen (photo one), where I also have my succulent garden (photo below) makes me feel a little like Laura in Tennessee William's play, The Glass Menagerie.

The activity of putting these characters in strategic places in my kitchen as well as my main living area (photo below) helps me to keep my creative juices flowing and distract me from my woes.

What FLORA Knows RE Time Passing

Once upon a time I saw a Mary Englebreit greeting card where the text read, "Time flies whether you are having fun or not." And indeed time does fly, calling to my mind, two of my favorite quotes invloving the passing of time.

Dr. Seuss's "How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?," is one of them.

The second quote re time passing that I appreciate is Kermit's quote: "Time is fun when you are having flies." 

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2013

I will return to Blogger after the July 4th holiday weekend but if you'd like to read a "story" about the Independence Day glasses pictured below, please click 
here.

HAPPY 1/2 YEAR FROM UNCLE SAM & ME!

HAPPY 1/2 YEAR, DEAR READER!

Today, July 1st 2013, marks the beginning of the 1/2 year mark for this year! And in bygone years, I have honored the occasion on Blogger with posts that reference the first six months of a given year in entries which you may refer to by clicking here for my 2010 posting, as well as here, here, and here for 2011 posts; and here for my 2012 post.

This year Uncle Sam (pictured above) has come to my succulent garden to celebrate this occasion, as well as to join the cast of characters that are here to perform on Independence Day, which is this coming Thursday, July the Fourth!

And, dear reader, you may be familiar with some of the characters as I referred to them the last time I posted here on Blogger as well as on hometalk.com and on in two entries on tumblr which you can refer to by clicking here and here.

But getting back to my newest succulent garden's guest, Uncle Sam, he has asked me to clarify a matter regarding his identity as he feel misunderstood! He wants to make it clear that he is not just an icon for the ready to eat Uncle Sam Cereal, which according to WIKI is a "breakfast cereal, first introduced in 1908 by U.S. Mills of Omaha, Nebraska. The company relocated to Needham, Massachusetts sometime after the 1970s. Attune Foods out of San Francisco acquired Uncle Sam Cereal in 2009."

Soon it will be Independence Day!

One of the musicians in residence in my succulent garden has been very busy conducting dress rehearsals with the cast of characters, who arrived this past Sunday, to perform with him on Independence Day, the Fourth of July, which is this coming Thursday!

Finches Want to Catch a Glimpse of the Fireworks!

Some visiting finches who have recently come to my urban (NYC) garden (and were recently featured on TLLG's tumblr Pages) and I are now sneaking in this off-schedule blog post, dear reader, as we are taking the opportunity to wish you a meaningful July 4th. It is very hot where I live, and tonight's Macy's Fireworks are sure to be one of those hot-time-summer-in-the-city CROWDED events! 

As it was last year, the Macy's Fireworks will be on the Hudson River, near to where I live, and the river is the direction that the visiting finches are facing in the image at the top of this entry. Their "stance" leads me to believe they have the best seats in the house for this annual fireworks event. Moreover, the finches knew it was "protocol" to arrive early in the morning to guarantee seeing the fireworks — even though they don't start until sundown!

"If it's Tuesday, it must be . . ." tumblr. Week Six

Tuesday is here again, and you know what that means, dear reader — if it's Tuesday, it must be tumblr. However,  before I send you there, I would like to share a few thoughts about November, since today is also November First.

This past Thursday, when I was walking home to my studio apartment in the Upper Westside of Manhattan, the rain was falling heavily, and even though it was only somewhere between five-thirty and six in the evening, it was quite dark, prompting me to think that soon we'd be changing the clocks  (fyi, the date to do this is the second Sunday in November to leave daylight savings time), and that it would be getting darker much earlier in the evening.