Toddlers & Tadpoles

About a week or so ago, my younger niece, her boyfriend, and almost 3 year-old daughter came for a visit from Idaho.

Bella, my niece's daughter goes full tilt most of the time, like any normal toddler.  The last time she visited my parents' place, she was fascinated with the piano, and spent most of her time playing on it.  This time when she got to their house, it was no different.  She remembered the piano and made a beeline for it as soon as she was in the door.

After a little bit, she decided to check other things out, and looked out to see birds on the porch. The birds would swoop down, hop under the bushes and disappear.  Bella wanted to know where they were, so I told her they were probably playing hide and seek.  After that, every time she'd see a bird, and it would disappear, she'd yell, "seek, seek, birdy, seek!"  When they'd come out, she'd yell, "hide birdies!"

During all this a chipmunk decided to show up.  Bella didn't know what it was, but figured it was playing hide and seek with the birds.  I told her it was a chipmunk, and asked if she could say that.  Well, she did her best, for her age, and me, well, I'll never see a "chipmunk" ever again; instead, they will forever more be known as "chigga-munks".

If that weren't enough, a deer decided to show up also.  Bella decided she needed to be on the porch for a better look; so out we went.  For about 5 minutes or so, Bella and the deer just watched each other, then, they evidently both got bored with staring, because the deer wandered off, and Bella was ready to go in the house.

After that, it was back in the house and the piano.  Sometime during the day, my mom had given Bella two Disney books about cats and dogs.  Bella went to the piano with her books and started singing about them.  My son, Josh, happened to have his camera ready, and shot the cutest video of Bella playing and singing; until she noticed he was there!   What a fun day we had!

A few days later, Josh noticed that my parents' waterfall pool had tadpoles in it.  Not surprising, since he'd already discovered at least one frog there about a month ago.  Evidently there were at least two, since there's plenty of tadpoles now!

Ever the wildlife photographer, Josh decided he needed at least a picture of the tadpoles, and proceeded to try and get some good shots.  He then decided to put the lens of his camera into the pond and try videotaping the tadpoles.  He got a pretty good video of it, and fortunately didn't hurt his camera!

It's going to be fun when all these little tadpoles grow up to be froggies!  It's just too bad we didn't notice them when Bella was here; I'm sure she'd have loved them!

Of Life & Death

Today's post is in honor of two of my favorite recording artists. One is celebrating 70 years of life; the other, I'm remembering a life that ended seven years ago.

March 9, 1942, Mark Allen Lindsay was born in Idaho.

For those not familiar with the name, Mark was the original singer for Paul Revere & the Raiders. He was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the sixties.

I first saw Mark on TV one summer when I was nine years old. It was the show, "It's Happening", starring the Raiders. Even at nine, I was like many girls from that era, instantly taken with Mark's good looks and voice. I was further intrigued by the fact that the Raiders were from my home territory, the Pacific Northwest.

Over the years, because of the music, Mark and the local connection, I've been a loyal fan of the man and the band.

Happy 70th birthday Mark!

On a sadder note, it was seven years ago today that rodeo champion, and country singer Chris LeDoux passed away.

Known mostly for rodeo and singing, there were other facets to Chris' life that most didn't know. For instance, he was also an artist, working in metal sculpturing. His work was beautiful, and reflected his passions in life.

LeDoux was one country artist that both my son and I just had to see whenever he was playing nearby. Chris put on a show that was always excellent and worth seeing.

I remember when he first became ill, needing a liver transplant. Many automatically assumed Chris was a heavy drinker, and that's why the transplant was needed. In reality, he had a rare liver disease that had nothing to do with alcohol. Fortunately, a donor was found for LeDoux, and he was afforded a few more years on this earth.

The remission ended though, and on March 9, 2005, so did Chris LeDoux's fight for life.

I remember where I was, and how I found out Chris had died. Some friends and I were at the Ponderosa Lounge in Portland, Oregon, waiting to see David Lee Murphy. During the concert, David Lee mentioned that Chris had passed away that day, and told about Chris recording a song he'd written. He then sang the song, "Scatter the Ashes", in tribute to Chris.

I don't have a version of the song by David Lee Murphy, so I'll add Chris' version here, in tribute once again to a life ended too soon.