White Christmas in May.

    You may find this inappropriate, depending on your personality. It is scorching hot outside. Not a speck of snow to be found, thank goodness!
    Yet, I stayed up one night and watched "White Christmas." Must admit it, I am addicted to old school musicals! The vibrant colors, the music, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! So I couldn't just wait until Christmas. Tell you the truth, it's not extremely Christmassey. Not a word. Life is too short for boring words!! Glitter! Sparkles! Phantasmagorical! Supercalifradulisticexpealadociois! Or how ever you even spell those words. Words that make you laugh, is what we need!
   "White Christmas" was released in 1954. The story of two Army buddies who go into show business after the war, played by Bing Crosby as Bob and Danny Kaye as Phil. They meet Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera Ellen) who are a sister act, doing the song "Sisters"! When Phil tries to play matchmaker for Bob, they end up heading to Vermont with the sisters,  for a White Christmas.
   Upon arrival there is no snow, much to their chagrin. Bob and Phil also run into their old General who is in financial trouble with his inn. What happens? Will the duo assist their General? Will there be snow in Vermont? Go check it out for yourself! So what if it is May?
    Lots of great tunes in here. My favorites besides, the ultra milky smooth title track, are "Minstrel Show/Mandy" and "Choreography." Vera Ellen was a fantastic dancer. If you watch "Choreography" she does this wildly fast tapping thing with her feet, hard to explain! It's great! Plus, "Choreography" is great for one Mister Danny Kaye, who is on my list. The man maketh me guffaw. He bringith the hardee har har. I drag myself to digress.
   You can watch this movie any time of year, it's not specifically Christmas like "It's A Wonderful Life", we watch that one once a year. But we do watch other Christmas movies year round. "Christmas With The Kranks." The "Santa Claus" movies.

  So, have you seen "White Christmas"? Have any favorite Holliday flicks? Let me know! Also, found photo on Moviegazetteonline.com

"London Town" by Wings.

     For the last few weeks, I have been doing album reviews. Those of you who are not in the Facebook Group "Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story", you may see a pattern, all of the album's I review have Jimmy McCulloch as a guitar player on these albums! I write my reviews for the group, and whoever else wants to read!
    Today, we are doing "London Town" by Wings. Now THIS is one album I have in my physical record collection! No YouTube needed here! I bought this a few years ago at an antique store. I had the poster at one point, but not sure where it is. We have rearranged the house so many times, you lose track of things, which is very unfortunate.
   Let's get cracking!
1: "London Town": The title track! "Silver rain was falling down upon the dirty ground of London Town". This song paints a beautiful picture, it takes you on a walk through London. You can see all of the characters in your minds  eye. It is fantastic.
2: "Cafe On The Left Bank": The opening piano kind of reminded me of "Pressure" by Billy Joel, and then Jimmy starts to play! He has some great bits on this one. Could listen to him play forever. Another song where we are transported.
3: "I'm Carrying": This is a soft, pretty, acoustic one. All strings and guitars. It feels as if it could fit into an old movie, it is that perfect. But what is he carrying? I've never really given it much thought. Any ideas on this?
4:"Backwards Traveller": Back on the street for this goodie. For your road trip! "I am the backwards traveller, ancient wool unraveller"... it gets to be a funky instrumental jam near the end.
5:"Cuff Link": And I realize, the funky jam was actually this song, it just went right into it! Very cool.
6: "Children, Children": Gosh, I love this. Every time, "Give it up for Denny!" This is very mystical, some neat fiddle playing. "I know a tiny waterfall, a magic little place, we can play together, watch the fishes race", Just a magical little song!
7:"Girlfriend": First time I heard this, I actually did not think it was Paul! It is such hard competition between the Wings version and the one  Michael Jackson did for his "Off The Wall" version. Vocally, I will go with Michael. Musically, Wings. Plus MJ left out the "Til the river stops a flowing" part. There is this really nice part that Jimmy plays here, I  have always liked. I want your opinions on this.
8:"I've Had Enough.": Punchy! He's had enough! It's a good rocker. A good one for when you've seriously had it, build the soundtrack to your life! I like how abruptly it ends. Then we are ready for side two.
9: "With A Little Luck": The keyboard sounds that Wings employ are amazing! Always wondering what they will come up with next. It's an optimistic goodie. "There is no end to what we can do together."
10: "Famous Groupies": Was never too big on this one, but I am not knocking it! My least favorite Wings song may be someone else's all time favorite, so I want to be considerate. Tis a song of those famous groupies!
11: "Deliver Your Children": This is one of my favorite Denny songs. This is another story telling song where our hero snaps when his truck breaks down. Listen, can't you just feel the dark, all of that rain?
12: "Name and Address": The sound seems to be intentionally muffled. It has a 50s rock song feel to it, from the echo in the vocals, right down to the guitar playing. Almost Rockabilly!
13:"Don't Let It Bring You Down": The flutes on this are totally killer, a slightly medieval sounding song. The album has variety.
14: "Morse Moose and the Grey Goose": A very interesting title! Seeing the context with the song, some of the music sounds like Morse code! Morse Moose is a crew member, The Grey Goose is the boat he is on. It is a 6:27 minute song, the longest on the album, it's great. In the beginning and end, you can faintly hear snippets off a radio.
  This was Jimmy McCulloch's last album with Wings. The liner notes have Linda McCartney credited for vocals, keyboards and percussion, I wonder what type of percussion she put on this. This is a great album!
   Which is your favorite on here? What are your opinions? Comment below!

Project Updates

  Alright, I'm back. I'd love to write every day, but I want it to be interesting! For some reason, some days don't contain anything interesting to write about!
   Hope you guys enjoyed Memorial Day and took the time to remember some of the wonderful men and women we have lost fighting for our country. But then, you shouldn't just be thinking about them on Memorial Day! They do so, so, so, so, much to keep our country safe, a thing for which I am grateful!
   One of my upcoming projects is to make hats for veterans. I wanted to do something to help, my Cousin Joe said this would be a good place to start. I am waiting for my pattern to come in a book at the library. It is the only knitted hat pattern I can pull off, I have not graduated from straight needles yet!
   As of right now, I am at my desk, I have a pair of circular needles in front of me (in the caddy between masking tape and Project Linus labels) and thinking: "To circular or not to circular? That is the question!" I guess I am nervous about joining and the whole twisted stitches thing. But, one of these days!
   I am still working away at another blanket for Project Linus. I sent Wyatt his blanket, he loves it a lot! So happy to be able to help out and make him smile, and he has such a cutie pie smile too. He's in his second round of chemotherapy since Friday. Our family had a lot of fun going out and picking out fun things for his care package! My Mom has great ideas.
   We are going to see him in July. Can't wait! Looks like I should start marking the calender soon.
   What kind of projects are on your hooks or needles or anything else? Let me know, comment below!

Messin' With PicCollage.

    There is an excellent free app in the Amazon App Store called "PicCollage". It's purpose is obvious, it allows you to take your favorite photos (from your life or the internet) and put together digital collages! Plus, you can use fonts and stickers. It's utterly fantastico. I'm going to put some here. Please note that I do not own, nor do I claim to own, any of the photos from Google. I give credit to Google.

 This is the first one that I made on PicCollage. Wyatt Scott, his brother and parents, love this boy, he is fighting hard, going through his second round of chemotherapy today.

 

This one is dedicated to all of the people who went purple for Wyatt, Thank you Aunt Deb, Aunt Susie, Mom, Dee, Eva and Aly. Also, a big thanks to the whole team! GO TEAM WYATT!

One for my sister, Darien (aka Dee or DD12) I really love my sister. She is a great person, very talented and funny.

Decided to indulge just this once, made a collage for the kid with the blog (note to self, do not speak to yourself in the third person, you are not Jerry Lewis!).

Been watching some cool old Danny Kaye movies as of late ("Inspector General", "White Christmas") so, here is my fun ritzy collage, because he's Danny Kaye, Darling!

The "Gotta Dance!" Collage, "Gotta Dance!" Were the words sung in "Singin' In The Rain". Top left, first column going down: Gene Kelly (duh), Donald O'Connor, Fred Astaire. Row two: A still from "West Side Story", Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, Audrey Hepburn and Liza Minnelli. 3rd row: Gene Kelly with Debbie Reynolds, Debbie Reynolds and a rabbit, Vera Ellen, Rita Moreno. I love old Hollywood musicals!

My first Danny one that I did (surprised it came out decently, I did it one night before going to bed, was very tired.) Parts of a poem type thing that I wrote. I stay up extra late watching old movies, my Danny Kaye collages clearly state, "Go To Bed, Banana Head." "White Christmas" was de lovely, need to do a collage on that.

A collage dedicated to my favorite number uno cookie. Thank you, Wally Amos for putting happiness in a box and giving it to the people! My cookie line up goes like this: Famous Amos, Nilla, Keebler and Oreo. In that order.

   The app is lots of fun, you should go try it out! :)

"The Dukes" by The Dukes

     Hi Everyone! Sorry if I am a little late with this, Thursday is always crazy busy. Today's Youtube adventure features a 70s band called The Dukes! They were Miller Anderson,  (vocals, guitar) Jimmy McCulloch, (vocals, guitar) Ronnie Leahy (keyboards) and Charles Tumahai (bass, vocals
     Their first self titled album was their last. This record was put out in 1979, I've always looked for it, but never found it! The only song I know by The Dukes is "HeartBreaker." Let us remedy that fact!
  1: "Hearts In Trouble": The album takes off like a plane, fueled by a really powerful number, that would fit in any arena! You know for sure, this could have fit in really well on the radio here in the States. Right in there with Boston and REO Speedwagon, The music was perfect for it's time and it is excellently catchy! A great way to start.
    2:" Leaving It All Behind": This has sort of a funky disco type feeling to it. The keyboards are fantastic, love some of those 70s keyboard settings, makes me want to learn to play piano! There is a great Jimmy solo in here, any song with a Jimmy McCulloch guitar solo deserves two thumbs up and both of your big toes as well!
   3: "All In A Game": More rock and roll goodness, each song equally as catchy as the first, sign of a great album, I think!  " But I have had some good times and that's what keeps me here, on this rock and roll railroad,leading on to who knows where", that is a great line!
  4: "Billy Niles": This is a cool jam about a talk show host ("Big Talker With A Well Known Face") who gets in trouble on the air. The effects on "Billy Niles" remind me of one of those fantastic old arcade games. Billy Niles is a pretty good name for a talk show fella.
  5: "Crazy Fool": I dare you not to feel something when you hear this, it is a perfect power ballad, and it has a lot of power and feeling put into it. It might make you misty, or maybe it's just me, it doesn't take much to make me get all misty!
   6: "Who's Gonna Tell You": A really bouncy number with wicked keyboards and some grooving bass. Every thing on this album could have been fantastic on the radio.
   7: "Time On Your Side": Charles Tumahai is an amazing bass player! I can't believe that I had never heard of him before today. Some wicked guitar parts by the one and only Jimmy McCulloch. This song Is kind of like something the Edgar Winter Group might do, somebody should tell Edgar that he should consider ressurecting this gem!
   8: "I'll Try To Help": Parts of this song have a bits of a Motown feel, but as they say, the rest is rock and roll, and very good at that.
   9: "Heartbreaker": Oh. My. Gosh. I am looking down at my feet, they used to have socks. They are gone. If you listen to this, you will see, your socks will disappear too! It's the best on the album, and I am not just saying that because Jimmy sings it.
    The first time I heard "Heartbreaker", I was ten years old, after Dad introduced me to Wings. Now, this song by the Dukes was by far the heaviest thing I had ever heard, and liked before! "What is this greatness?" I must've thought! It was way heavy for me at ten, it still is!
   This is a great album, for sure. Go check it out on YouTube, tell me what you think, comment below!

Genealogy Fun.

    As of the last few days, I am embarking on a new project journey, a journey into genealogy! Just for safety reasons, I am not going to disclose any last names or locations in this blog, we go on a first name basis!
   Ok, so I was laying in bed one night, thinking of genealogy, a subject my Mom and I discussed a few times. I thought, "The royals know who they are. Their family can be traced accurately for centuries and centuries. But who am I? Where did I come from? What's the story here?" I was reminded of it when I was talking to my Aunt Lois on the internet. Through her and my cousins Joe and Denise, I am finding out so many things that I never knew!
  I am part Swedish, my great great grandma was born in Sweden.
My great uncles were coal miners in a town that I have been to and always had a fascination and an attachment with. But get this- I did not know that they had lived in this town before yesterday! No wonder I had felt something!
My great great grandpa was a train engineer, my great great grandma was a milliner, how cool is that?
   There is only one photo in existence of my great great grandparents. My cousin messaged it to me yesterday. Dee and I held up the picture and studied each other, looking for resemblance! I think I have great great grandpa's eye brows, which is pretty cool, my eyebrows were the only thing I like about my face. I have really bad self esteem.
   So, these are some wicked facts, I really look forward to learning more and learning more about how to properly conduct research. My note paper is full of scratches and stuff, I need to learn the assembly of it!! It is sure to be an excellent and an informative adventure. So, how far do you go back? Have you ventured into the World of Genealogy? Let me know!

70s Goodies and Team Wyatt Pins!

I have a few things to show you today!! The first photo contains one of the beautiful pins that Cousin Jessy made! We are all wearing them to support Wyatt. Wyatt is doing quite good by the way, he was walking today with the help of a nurse! I will be wearing my pin every day!! Thanks, Jessy!

Second, Aunt Susie sent me a big box of crochet and knitting magazines!!Most of them are from the 70s and 80s, lots of amazing patterns! The headband I am including here is the fruit of one of these patterns! Retro gold!

It took a long time to put together (ok, sewing the blue part to the green part took two episodes of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", the rest was pretty quick) this headband will be sold at the yard sale to benefit Wyatt. Go Team Wyatt!

"HOLLYWOOD DREAM" BY THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN.

    Today, I am going on another YouTube adventure, to review the album "Hollywood Dream" by Thunderclap Newman. Thunderclap Newman is a pretty awesome name for a band. The album came out in 1970. The band consists of Speedy Keen on vocals, drums and guitar, Andy "Thunderclap" Newman on piano and Jimmy McCulloch on guitar. Jimmy was 17, very talented!
    Let's roll!!
1: "Hollywood #1": from the minute it started, I knew, I was going to dig this album! This song seems to be about Hollywood in the old days, I love how they say "Film star" instead of "Movie star" because they don't watch movies in the UK, they watch films! Or if you are Jerry Lewis, you just call them pictures. This song has a very cool piano solo, very old Hollywood, very honky tonk, I can see the tap dancers now! A great opening to an album.
2: "The Reason": This is a song that could make it on classic rock radio, why it is not on the radio right now, I don't know. This would not be out of place on a Who album! Interestingly enough, Kit Lambert and Pete Townshend helped to put this band together. There is a harmonica on this song, very cool, I can't remember the last song I heard with a harmonica. Also, another Jimmy McCulloch guitar solo that produces so many chills, they can feel it in Texas on 112 degree day!
3: "Open The Door, Homer": A Bob Dylan song. This has some pretty neat high sounding organ (at least, I believe it is an organ) in it throughout. I like how the middle of the song changes over to that honky tonk piano for a moment and then goes back into guitar to bring the song out! The extra parts included make the song extra memorable. Now it's in my head!
4: "Look Around": Here is one to take on your road trips! Song for the restless. Gotta love it. There are many different piano sounds on this record, which is pretty groovy, and lots of tambourine and Maraca power bringing it home on this one. This song sounds oddly familiar, where did I hear it?
5: "Accidents": This song is about a man who ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time-repeatedly. There are many great sound effects in this nine minute goodie! There is also an instrumental period in the middle, including some guitar that just EXPLODES!  I believe that you could make a short film to this, they could've done it as a promo film back in the day!
6: "Wild Country": More jams for the road trip (can you tell I want to travel so badly?) As you drive through the country, with the wind in your hair, sun blinding you through the wind shield, blast this one out as you wave to some Amish. You miss them when they look at you curiously.
7: "When I Think": This is a really pretty one. One great thing about music from the 70s is the fact that they used brass and woodwinds in pop and rock music! Mostly everything now is electronic.
8: "The Old Commill": This is a cool song. I could not understand a lot of the words, but it was groovy. It sped up near the end, like a plane taking off! By the way, what is a commill? Let me know!
9:" I Don't Know:  This one has some great lyrics, a great solo, and naturally , that high organ! My favorite line is: "In all that time I've had so many fights to fight, I see the light, I could be wrong."
10: "Hollywood Dream": We have reached the title track! This is the 2nd song about Hollywood on this album, and is an utterly fabulous instrumental. It sounds like they put pedal steel in this, I've never heard pedal steel outside of country music, or even in Brittish music!
11: "Hollywood #2: This. Is. Beyond. Awesome!! Between 1 and 2, 2 is my favorite. It has a bunch of delicious changes and that opening is real dynamite. This goes on my list of best songs about Hollywood or best songs in general-speak of the devil, I really need to write that list.
12: I am surprised that I have never heard it! This was their big hit and it is fantastic! I am putting the video up here, along with a photo I found of them on Wikipedia. You can also see Jimmy 's brother Jack on drums! I always thought that Speedy Keen looked like Denny Laine, I wonder how many others think the same!
This was a great album!! Naturally, "Hollywood #2" is my favorite, what is yours? Let me know! Thanks for stopping by!

A Letter To My Two Year Old Self.

       A letter to my two year old self.
       Dear Raven,
                         How are you? I am your future 16 year old self. By the time you are ten, you won't even picture being 16, you won't think you are going to make it. But we did, you won't believe how surprised I was when I lived another year.
       You are two years old. You are a very cute little kid! Unfortunately, bad things are about to happen, In a couple years. It rips my heart into ten million little      pieces to know that you don't know this. You just play with your toys and learn things. Mommy and Daddy don't know it eiether. I'd give anything to make it so that you will not have to experience the horror that you will. I would take it on myself to save you, but then, I already did.
    But you are strong. A lot of times you won't be aware that you are this strong, but you are!!  Every kid who fights this is a warrior, and it is going to take you 12 years to realize it. You can do it, kid!
      A lot of things are going to happen along the way, you are going to get angry and sad a lot, but things look up. It's all   going to make you cry "WHY??" But listen! Of course you are going to get sad a lot, this I know, but there is going to be a lot of good days!! You are going to develop talents and abilities! You are going to help others!
     Other people and helping them will be very important to you, and that is special. Think of this, helping other people makes you feel all warm inside, like you have a purpose! Plus, what's better then helping another person? Never let go of it.
    I don't have to tell you to walk a straight path because I know that you are going to be a straight ahead kid, Mom and Dad are going to see to that. Of course sometimes you are going to question their motives, it will all turn out for the best. It will take time to get it together, but what is growing up for? Getting it together of course!      
              Well, I'm going to close for now, you can go back to watching TV or playing with your toys. You probably don't understand this crazy letter anyway! Be strong little Raven, you can do it. Know that I love you. And God, I miss you more then anything right now.      
                                                            Love,
                                                                  Raven, age 16. YOU.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE!!!

      I know more about "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" then I should. In fact, I am almost an expert on it. I've only seen it twice in a week.
   My Dad got me into horror movies. Dad, Dee and I watch them together, it is kind of like a horror movie watching club! My Mother wants nothing to do with it. She has never seen "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", she never will.
   Ever since I was about seven, my Dad would tell me stories about the production of this crazy movie. It was made like No movie had ever been made. It was hot. It was Texas. The rooms in the old house were filled up with bones from veterinary bone yards. It smelled. The prop mistress accidentally injected herself with formaldehyde. Gunnar Hansen could not take off the LeatherFace outfit to be cleaned. Edwin Neal said it was worse then Vietnam, he fought there in the year 1969. The movie was released in 1974.
    After all of these years of lore, I finally decided to rent it from the library. It was the first time for Dee and I. For my Dad, it had to be the millionth.
  A group of teenagers go road tripping to a cemetery (Marilyn Burns as Sally, Paul Partain as her brother Franklin,  Allen Danziger as Jerry, William Vail as Kirk and Teri McMinn as Pam) to see if Sally and Franklin's grandfather's grave has been dug up. Graves were being robbed and a corpse was erected in the cemetery in a very crude way.
    They pick up a hitchhiker along the way (played by Edwin Neal) and eventually kick him out of the van for being nuts. I won't tell you what The Hitchhiker did, that would be a spoiler alert! The teenagers end up at a gas station with no gas and they go to their Grandpa's old place. It is abandoned. Pam and Kirk go off in search of a swimming hole. They see an old farmhouse and decide to go there and ask for some gas.
   They reach the farmhouse. Kirk knocks, no one answers, he enters the house. Who enters someone else's house if they don't answer the door? Especially a creepy old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere? STUPID. Inside, Kirk hears some crazy pig squealing. Being the law bending youth that he is, he goes towards the noise. THEN!! Out comes LeatherFace and---I won't tell you! Go see the movie! But it turns into a complete nightmare.
  Who dies? Who gets away? The gas station owner and the Hitchhiker may be involved? And why does the gas station owner look like Milton Berle? Who the heck is LeatherFace (played by Gunnar Hansen) ? This and more you can find out by watching the movie. IT'S INTENSE!
    This may be one of the scariest movies I have seen and it is not even laden with CGI! This movie is notorious and one of the best. I suggest you see it, but don't eat anything whilst watching it. It is not gory, but it has it's disgusting parts! Plus, you can almost smell the rotting bones in the Texas heat!
   So thank you Dad, for introducing this great movie to me, I dedicate this post to you.
   Ok, have you seen this movie? If so, what did you think? What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? If you see this movie, will you blog about it? Let me know, comment below! PS, here is the YouTube trailer. Remastered.

Life Would Be Better As A 1940s Musical.

      Here is a thought I have been entertaining. Wouldn't life be so much better in musical form? I'm not talking gritty musicals such as "Rent", even though it's soundtrack is darn good. I grew up on it too.
     I'm talking the classic 1940s/1950s musical. The lavish numbers. The glorious Technicolor. Every player a triple threat, (singer/actor/dancer) everything happy all of the time.  Nothing bad ever seems to happen and if there is, it's only a lover's quarrel or a slight misunderstanding-always resolved.
  I've dreamed about the movies for years. I had always wanted to be an actress. I was in several plays, no big name ones though. Just for church and such. As of earlier this year, I am retired from acting. I know what you are thinking. "She's 16, how can she already be retired?" Well, I have found these reasons:
1: To hard a profession to get into.
2: It wasn't about saying the lines to me. I actually wanted to BE the movie! Live it as life!
3: I have bigger fish to fry. My goal is to help others, I intend for it to be my life's work.
    But I will never stop singing and playing the Bass! The only time you might see me acting is on YouTube, doing funny movies with my family. I digress.
   Things were just so cute in the 1940s musicals! There were many cute musicals, all the way down to the 60s. I would love to have lived in "Singin' In The Rain", possibly one of the best and cutest musicals ever. You break out singing. You tap dance like mad. You run up the wall! You Moses Supposes!
   When you watch a musical, you get these good feelings inside. And you end up with feelings of awe! I mean, Donald O'Connor's mad tap dancing skills? Is it a crime that I paid more attention to him then Gene Kelly? No offense to Kelly, who is fabulous in his own right. I'm bananas, I saw past him in his own starring vehicle!
     Does anything truly sad happen in musicals? Well, beside "West Side Story", which had me crying and shaking my fist at the unfairness of the whole situation. Is any one going to be terrorized or get horribly sick in a  Mickey Rooney picture? I think not.
     That is why I would like to live in a musical. Nothing to worry about. No looking over your shoulder, no walking with a fist clenched. No hospitals. No needles. No pain. No evil people. Just colorful happiness, sweet dresses, and dancing with Donald, even though I can't dance. But this is a musical, so I automatically can. No biggie. And if I couldn't even then, there would be a wacky musical number where I learn how, and quickly, ala "The Rain In Spain" from "My Fair Lady", another great one.
Who wouldn't want to live in a classy and happy World? I'd take it in a heartbeat and dance all memories of an evil World as far as my tap shoes can kick it. What say you? Are there any alternate worlds you would prefer to live in? Let me know!

TEAM WYATT PROJECTS/AUNT DEB GOES PURPLE!

 

      Here are the projects I promised you! The first one is a turquoise blanket with a soft green trim. This is for Wyatt. I used a "Lion Brand" pattern for this. I ventured outside my blanket comfort zone with this, it was a lot of work, but I am so proud of it!! 

     The second one is a quilt. I did not make this, a Project Linus lady did! It has tractors on it! This will also go out to Wyatt, two blankets to keep the little warrior nice and toasty in the chilly hospital.

   I laid out some projects on my bedroom floor for my sister to photograph. These are projects old and new, knit and crochet. A ridge rib scarf, four crochet boxes, a knitted headband and a measuring spoon book Mark. I found the pattern at this blog!http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/2009/02/pattern-for-good-measure.html

    This is a photo of me modeling the headband. My eyes look quite puffy, I've been putting in many late nights to get things done! All of the floor projects are going to the benefit yard sale. 100% of the proceeds will go to Wyatt!

     Next, we have my Aunt Deb (Wyatt's Grandma) going purple with the Purple Eyeshadow Challenge! Go Team Wyatt!

Mom And Aly Go Purple!

      There is more then enough purple to go around! Here we have my cousin Aly wearing purple eyeshadow! You may recall in one of my past posts, her Mom, my Aunt Susie did it too! Thank you for the support, pretty ladies!
         Next we have my Mother wearing a purple shirt and make up. Surrounded by some of my brothers and sisters. We are a big family! Looking good, Mom!! Thanks for going purple, guys!
   Our little fighter's tumors have not spread! This is a good thing! They have not found any new ones on the tests. Chemotherapy should take care of them! Keep on fighting, Wyatt!! Show Cancer who's boss!!
    I will have some project updates tomorrow (or tonight if I am feeling another burst of blogging zeal!) But I will tell you now, it has been one of the most difficult projects of my life, but I am so proud of it!! I can't wait to show you.

Venus And Mars by Wings.

     Hello Everybody!! Sorry that I have not written in the past two days, things have been very busy, been working on more ways to support Wyatt!! Even thinking of more ways to go purple! (See this article for more about that:   http://www.bringtheneedledown.blogspot.com/2015/05/purple-eyeshadow-for.html  )

      Today, I am reviewing an album called "Venus And Mars" by Wings. I will tell you more about them after. I found it for a dollar!! I also want to show you this nice review banner that a cool lady named Roberta made for me!! She is in the Jimmy McCulloch fan page (Jimmy was in Wings!) Thanks, Roberta!!!
       Away we go!!
    1;"Venus and Mars": It is like a beautiful prelude to rock! You feel very much like you are in the stands of an arena, (as the song states)  waiting for something beautiful to happen. Unfortunately, my record player gleefully skipped half the beginning of the record. I really think it likes that a little too much.
     2: "Rock Show": Greatest rock song ever!! This is according to my Dad, it is so true. It is a real rocker. It really flies and has tons of intricate parts that make it special. It has a lot going on. "What's that man moving across the stage? Looks a lot like the one used by Jimmy Page" and "They was louder at the Rainbow", are my favorite lines!! I believe Jimmy was mentioned because Denny Laine played a double necked guitar in concert, just like Jimmy Page!! I've been listening to the live version for so long, I forgot about that spoken ending!
     3: "Love In Song": It is so cool how these songs merge together. This song is new to me, it is very beautiful. Not only that, but it makes for lovely reading on the back cover! Very nice poetry. It pretty much starts our with just acoustic guitar, but it progresses with great procussion and strings!!
    4: "You Gave Me The Answer": Oh, this is so so good. It has the effects put on it to sound almost like an old 78 record, like New Vaudeville Band did for "Winchester Cathedral"! It also reminds me of the old musicals.
     5: Magneto and the Titanium Man": This is a really cool song. If I am hearing this right, the lyrics have a twist ending!! I like the live version a little better though. It rocks a little harder and it's more raw. But look at the title!! Gosh, isn't it so magnificent!! And any time Jimmy McCulloch plays a solo, you just have to freeze to take in the greatness of it.
     6: "Letting Go": The most superior song about letting go, if ya know what I mean. More great Jimmy guitar and those horns. I found one thing that Jimmy and I had in common, we like a lot of brass!! "Ah, she looks like snow, I want to put her in a Broadway show", that is a groovy line.
     7:"Venus And Mars Reprise": The echo on this is haunting. This is my first time hearing it. There is harp in this!! Wow! And what was that cool synth like sound? I think I like this better then the first one, it's like we as listeners are floating in space, with otherworldly vocals! Like the interlude to a play, it ends, we move right into:
      8: "Spirits of Aincient Egypt": Denny Laine! People may think that Paul is the star of this unit (and most people see Wings only for Paul McCartney) But I listen mainly for Denny and Jimmy. You can hear Linda pretty good doing backups for this. She is not a bad singer! "You can take a pound of Love and put it in a stew" , beautiful. That was a cooking tip brought to you by Mister Denny Laine!! Here comes another good one.
    9: "Medicine Jar":Jimmy McCulloch! This is one of my favorites. Jimmy is a great singer and this is a great showcase for him! We also get another great solo from Jimmy here. I remember seeing "Rock Show ", the concert movie on YouTube. I was a big Beatles fan. My Dad said "Raven, you have to see Rock Show." I was 9 then. So I checked it out. I was amazed by this Jimmy guy!! I wondered to myself, "Who is this guy who has more cool then anyone can handle?" Back then, there did not seem to be a lot of Jimmy stuff on YouTube. But now, you can find a ton!
       10: "Call Me Back Again": This almost has a blues feeling. I think this is that tale of liking someone and them not liking you back. "I've called your name, every night since then, but I ain't never heard you calling me. Come on and call me back again". It's about that one sided lonely feeling. This is an excellent jam!! More gold!
    11: "Listen To What The Man Said": Who is speaking at the beginning of this? I don't think it is on the radio version, because I've never heard that. This has never really been one of my favorite Wings songs, maybe because they play it a lot. But of course, it is still a great song. Now, reading the lyrics, I now know what the man says. I always get confused when Paul says "He said" and goes into instrumental. When I heard this when I was little I thought "Maybe it is like the grown ups on Snoopy! Maybe we are only supposed to hear the man in music, like the parents with the horns?" Crazy kid!
     12: "Treat Her Gently-Two Lonely Old People": This is a gorgeous song, but it is also sad, it's making me tear up right now. It reminds me of my Abuelita (grandma in Spanish) who died of Alzheimers last year. "Treat Her gently, treat her kind, she doesn't even know her own mind". I miss her so much. The beat in this song kind of reminds me a little of "Go Now" by the Moody Blues. Denny was in the Moody Blues. He would play "Go Now" at Wings concerts, Linda liked that song a lot!!
    13: "Crossroads Theme": Jimmy showcase!!  It is really pretty and it shows off his talent, easily my favorite song here, I've played it thrice, it was too short!! It could go on for another 30 minutes, I wouldn't mind, and I know a lot of people who might just be feeling the same way. Jimmy McCulloch playing guitar against an orchestra, 1:01 mins of pure goodness. It fades out and someone (Paul?) Says "That's it, clear" and it is all over. This would be a perfect song to fly to. Sadly of course, you can't physically fly, but planes are the next best thing!! If they don't let you bring any kind of music playing device, just hum it and drive the person next to you CRAZY!!!
     Wings consisted of Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English. This is such a great record, I recommend giving it a listen. Wings is so much more then their radio hits!!
     I really love the inside cover. The band is standing in the middle of the desert with mountains in the background. It does not look hot, they all wear jackets, Paul has a blanket around his shoulders (a rather nice blanket at that!!) Linda, Jimmy, Joe and Paul are engrossed in checking out some rocks and showing them to each other. Denny stands a distance away, looking on at them. Perhaps he is thinking "They've been looking at rocks for the last fifteen minutes. Let us just get back in the bus and find a place where they have good disco fries." Or whatever Denny wanted to eat that day!! How about you write some fun captions!
      Have you ever listened to this album? Tell me what you think? What is your favorite song? How do you feel about Wings? Comment down below!!
   

DD12 & Eva Go Purple/ Audrey's Birthday!

Wyatt's MRI shows that a majority of his large tumor has been successfully removed! The rest is going to be taken care of with the chemotherapy that he is getting twice a day. Tomorrow, he is getting an MIBG scan to see what other tumors there are. His mom says that there are two more that the doctors know of. His breathing apparatus will also be taken out and he will be taken off sedation! GO TEAM WYATT!

       This purple business has spread beyond just eyeshadow!! Today, we have two other ladies supporting Wyatt by going purple. Those feet belong to my sister, DD12!! Purple socks for that girl!!
   Next, my UK friend, Eva, is wearing purple lipstick!! I also need to give her some of that extra credit, she is wearing a Ramones t-shirt!! You know and I know, the Ramones rock!! We lost Johnny and Joey to cancer. Prostate and lymphoma, respectively.
       I also want to mention that it is Audrey Hepburn's birthday. We lost her to Appendiceal Cancer, which goes to show you that nothing is fair. Audrey did so much to help people, she knew what it was like to suffer, so she decided to help others in need. The woman was awesome!! She would've been 86. I chose a purple tinted Audrey photo I found on Google, to stick with the theme here. But I know, she probably would've gone purple too, because Audrey was an awesome and very helpful person. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Hepburn!
     I will include a link to a website, you can learn about what her foundation does, who they help and what Audrey did for UNICEF!! It makes me misty to read of all the wonderful things she did, as I get misty anytime I read about any truly helpful person who decides to make a difference!! http://www.ahepburn.com/ahcf.html
 

Aunt Susie Goes Purple!!!

   

For today's blog, I am going to introduce you to my Aunt Susie. She did the Purple
Eyeshadow Challenge with me!! Isn't she beautiful?? Anyone who does this will get to be on my blog! Aunt Susie is an awesome lady!! Thank you Aunt Susie!
You rock!!
      Here is a crazy fact, taken from a website, I will include the link below.
"In the richest nation with the highest standard of living, the greatest World power, the country that went to the moon, we have to rely on lemonade stands, cookie sales, running marathons, and parents shaving their heads to fund research to stop the number one killer of our sons and daughters."
    End quote. People, what is wrong with this picture? Riches abounty? Check. Great world power? Check. The MOON? Check. How hard would it be to support those with cancer? Making it one of the number one priorities? Why don't they?
http://curechildhoodcancer.ning.com/

PURPLE EYESHADOW FOR CANCER/NEUROBLASTOMA FACTS.

        Today, I am wearing purple eyeshadow. I usually wear blue, but I will only wear purple from here on out, purple eyeshadow is the eyeshadow with meaning!! Purple is the color for C.ancer awarness. I am wearing purple eyeshadow to support my cousin, Wyatt Scott!! I will wear it until he gets better!! On Facebook, I have already nominated some people to take the Purple Eyeshadow Challenge!!
        I was just on the Ronan Thompsan Foundation website. He was a three year old boy who passed away from Neuroblastoma. From this website, I found some Neuroblastoma facts, it is always good to be informed.
   Neuroblastoma is common and difficult to treat.
    It is the most common cancer in infancy.
   About 600 children are diagnosed each year.
   It is the most common tumor found in children younger then a  year old.
   Neuroblastoma develops in nerve cells, it commonly arises into around the adrenal glands, they are similar to nerve glands and sit on top of the kidneys. But they can also develop in other nerve cells around the body. It begins in neuroblasts which are nerve cells that are immature that a baby makes in its development process.
    When the fetus matures, these neuroblasts form into fibers and nerve cells. In Most cases, they mature or dissapear, in this case, they form a tumor, which is neuroblastoma.
    If you would like to learn more, please click the link. If you would like to do the Purple Eyeshadow Challenge, post photos in the comment box!http://www.theronanthompsonfoundation.com/neuroblastoma

SPECIAL POST: My Cousin Wyatt Needs YOU

   

   Hello Everyone in blog land! This is a very important and special post. A few days ago, our family learned that our cousin, Wyatt Scott has cancer. He is 19 months old. He has been diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Cancer. This is a rare disease. You can read more details in the link I am about to post.
       With these new developments, he has been in the hospital, had surgery to remove a tumor, he is going to have to get chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, he also has to have a port put in as well.
   From the pictures, you can see that he is a very happy, smiley, innocent little guy, it hurts my heart in ten thousand ways to see that smile taken away, to see my little cousin in pain. His whole world is flipped upside down, it is a very hard time for his family (his Mom Jessy, Dad Mike and big brother Mikey) and they need lots of support and prayers.
     The link I am putting here is their GoFundMe account. They need all the help they can get, the road is going to be long, hard and painful. They appreciate any help they can get.  On this page is photos, Wyatt's story and how much money has been raised.
           If you can help, that would be AMAZING!! Please share this link on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or whatever medium of social media that you use. Thank you so much!! Please Keep this little man in your prayers, be a part of this army of Wyatt supporters!!!
http://www.gofundme.com/tfa7af7?fb_action_ids=1094248940603425&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=undefined&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B323405237783504%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22undefined%22%5D