From Mr. Hyde to Mr. Hyde

The transformation is complete. The old classic blogger template is now converted to the the New blogger. I preserved almost all of the old blog template format and style. The new blogger widgets afforded me to categorize my posts as intended. Another nice functionaliy in the new look is the archives. There is no longer a static display of a long list of post dates. The blog reader can now expand or collapse the blog archives by year and by month.

Thus far, I am rather pleased with the changes.

Love Labels Lost

It's occurred to me not all of my labeled posts are displayed when searched. The browser displays only one screen-page of posts. Maybe it has to do with my not using the new widgets in my page element layout and other stuffs.

It seems one has to switch to the New Blogger layout to take advantage of the new widgets. I will do so and see what comes of it.

Silverdreamer.be - - is a Spammer

Be on the lookout for this spammer. On blogs he's visitied, he would leave some flattering remarks such as:

"I visited your site…and I was very impressed!
Beautiful work…congratulations.
Take also a look at my website…thanks and kind regards.
www.silverdreamer.be"

Spring, 2007

Spring

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1918)

Nothing is so beautiful as spring -
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. - Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Moon Over Miami

Joseph Burke
American pop music composer
(18 March, 1884 - 9 June, 1950)

This MP3 Selection Expired on 03-20-2007:

Buddy Clark (1936)
Moon Over Miami (Burke & Leslie)


Moon Over Miami (1935)
Theme song for the 1941 movie of same

Muisc: Joseph Burke
Words: Edgar Leslie

Vocal: Buddy Clark (1936)
Orchestra: Henry Hall BBC Dance Orchestra

Moon over Miami
Shine on my love and me
So we can stroll beside the roll
Of the rolling sea

Moon over Miami
Shine on as we begin
A dream or two that may come true
When the tide comes in

Hark to the song of the smiling troubadours
Hark to the throbbing guitars
Hear how the waves offer thunderous applause
After each song to the stars

Moon over Miami
You know we'll waiting for
A little love, a little kiss
On Miami shore

Step Aside, Three Tenors!

Here are the world famous new Country sensations, The Allen Trio! They hailed from Oklahoma. Here they are, folks, Thunderstorm and the twins, Whiskers and Joy!

The Allen Trio

Thunderstorm

Elizabeth holding Whiskers, and Elizabeth's Mom with Joy.

Quiet Village

Les Baxter
American band leader, composer, and vocalist
(14 March, 1922 - 15 January, 1996)

This MP3 Selection Expired on 03-17-2007:
Les Baxter (1963) - Quiet Village (Baxter)

The Psalter for the Formation of the Soul

For three thousand yeas the Psalms have been the song book of the Jews and, for two thousand years, the song book of the universal Christian church. The Psalter is still very much the focal point in today's worship.

The Holly Taylor Coolman's eight-page article on The Psalter for the Formation of the Soul is far more articulate in thought and learned advocacy than my four-part blog discussion in 2005.

Coolman's embrace of the Psalms leads us back to the 4th B.C. Christian epistle, The Letters of St. Athanasius to Marcellinus on the Interpretation of the Psalms.

Our church is now doing a weekly review and introductory study of the Psalms, with the recording of Sir Laurence Olivier reading the biblical texts. Whether we are sad, joyful, surrounded by obstacles, lonely, or thankful, there is one or more Psalms from which God speaks to our mind and heart.

Sarasate, 2007

Pablo de Sarasate
Spanish violinist and composer
(10 March, 1844 - 28 September, 1908)

This MP3 Selection Expired on 03-14-2007:
Itzhak Perlman (violin)
Introducton & Tarentelle, Op.43 (Sarasate)

Little Peggy March

Margret Annemarie Batavio (aka Peggy March)
American pop vocalist
8 March, 1948 -

This MP3 Selection Expired on 03-11-2007:
'Little' Peggy March (1963) - I Will Follow Him

Life's First Answer

Neither singing the beauties of this world, nor savaging God for perceived inequities to the self or the world should detract one's first answer to life's question. That is, to know God as God (Job 38:4) and not what we want Him to be. It is He who appoints a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). And the earth is His and all it contains (Psalm 24:1).

Harbingers of Spring

The early March sun still glows slumberous and golden in its winter deportment. Even in the afternoon, the splendid lavish light and blue canopy clear but not bewilder the eyes. Synchronies of bouquets are now on exhibit in prideful home gardens. Farther out in the country, the early blossoming almonds have thrown over the sun warmed orchard with veils of blush coral. Like confectionary, the fallen petals are sprinkling over the new sprung herbs and grass in merry mirth.

Fragrant as sweet water this past few days have been. It was good to be home and have snatched a precious respite from the strife and worries of the day.

"Oh, que j’aime la solitude
Que ses lieux sacrés à la nuit
Éloignés du monde et du bruit
Plaisent à mon inquiétude
Mon Dieu! que mes yeux sont contents
De voir ces bois qui se trouvèrent
A la nativité du temps
Et que tous les siècles révèrent
Être encore aussi beaux et vert"
-- Marc-Antoine Gérard de Saint-Amant

Somewhere, My Love

This MP3 Selection Expired on 03-08-2007:
The Ray Conniff Singers
Somewhere, My Love
(Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago)
Click in its stead my YouTube:

The Ray Conniff Singers (1966)
Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme) Video
Click here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.


Somewhere, My Love

The music of Maurice Jarre
Lara's Theme from "Doctor Zhivago" (1965)

The Ray Conniff Singers (1966)

Somewhere, my love
There will be songs to sing
Although the snow
Covers the hope of spring

Somewhere a hill
Blossoms in green and gold
And there are dreams
All that your heart can hold

Someday we'll meet again, my love
Someday whenever the spring breaks through

You'll come to me out of the long ago
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow
Till then my sweet
Think of me now and then
God speed my love till you are mine again

Lara my own, think of me now and then
God speed my love till you are mine again