STORMY WEATHER

I love, love, love the rain. The " pitterin', patterin', beatin', spatterin' " sound of rain against my window comforts me. 


And when I watch a spooky, scary, ghostly movie, stormy weather makes the perfect companion. 








STORMY WEATHER ~ 2024 ACRYLIC ON ARTIST'S CONK






STORMY WEATHER ~ ETHEL WATERS 1933





Stormy Weather


Don't know whyThere's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather Since my man and I ain't together Keeps rainin' all the time Life is bare Gloom and misery everywhere Stormy weather Just can't get my poor self together I'm weary all the time, the time So weary all the time When he went away, the blues walked in and met me If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me All I do is pray the Lord above will let me Walk in the sun once more Can't go on All I have in life is gone Stormy weather Since my man and I ain't together Keeps rainin' all the time Keeps rainin' all the time I walk around, heavy-hearted and sad Night comes around, I'm still feelin' bad Rain pourin' down, blindin' every hope I had This pitterin', patterin', beatin' and spatterin' drives me mad Love, love, love, love This misery is just too much for me Can't go on Everything I had is gone Stormy weather Since my man and I ain't together Keeps rainin' all the time Keeps rainin' all the time

SWEPT AWAY TO ANOTHER WORLD - IS THERE LIFE ON MARS?

SWEPT AWAY TO ANOTHER WORLD - IS THERE LIFE ON MARS?

The crashing waves on a hot summer's day playfully mix with the crescendos of Life on Mars that's playing inside my head. Dreaming under a shy sun, we have been swept away: to another world. Is there life on Mars?

WIP  

★ LEFT SIDE OF PAINTING IN THE SAND SPELLS BOWIE ★

"HE IS NOT DEAD HE IS LIVING ON MARS"@niallooo

"Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see." 

A mother/daughter Ghostly Adventure, writing together for the first time about their favorite subject, the supernatural.

♥️ Annabelle & M ♥️ FLORENCE BLUME -MERRICKVILLE

© 2023

LIFE ON MARS


It's a God-awful small affairTo the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling, "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man, look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man, wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?



It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns

But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on



Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man, look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man, wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?


- DAVID BOWIE **** "HE IS NOT DEAD HE IS LIVING ON MARS" @niallooo

 

ART, CATS, GHOSTS, WITCHES AND WOLVES WIP OIL ON CANVAS

I believe in God and so for me what the lyrics in this song mean is that God loves everyone and has no favourites. My daughter is a Supernatural fan and she saved the last season until now. My husband and I are watching it with her and with every episode I find myself looking up songs they played on the show. This one,hubby beat me to it. Someone behind the scenes has excellent taste in music, lol. Love SUPERNATURAL and will be watching reruns for some time and of course the new spinoff. 

MAGGIE THOUGHT I WAS DOING A CAT PHOTOSHOOT, LOL

GOD WAS NEVER ON YOUR SIDE ~ MOTORHEAD

If the stars fall down on me
And the sun refused to shine
Then may the shackles be undone
May all the old words cease to rhyme
If the sky turned into stone
It will matter not at all
For there is no heaven in the sky
Hell does not wait for our downfall
Let the voice of reason shine
Let the pious vanish for all time
God's face is hidden, all unseen
You can't ask Him what it all means
He was never on your side
God was never on your side
Let right or wrong alone decide
God was never on your side
See ten thousand ministries
See the holy, righteous dogs
They claim to heal, but all they do is steal
Abuse your faith, cheat, and rob
If God is wise, why is He still
When these false prophets call Him friend?
Why is He silent? Is He blind?
Are we abandoned in the end?
Let the sword of reason shine
Let us be free of prayer and shrine
God's face is hidden, turned away
He never has a word to say
He was never on your side
God was never on your side
Let right or wrong alone decide
God was never on your side
No, no, no!
He was never on your side
God was never on your side
Never, never, never, never
Never on your side
Never on your side
God was never on your side
Never on your side

Songwriters: Philip Campbell / Micael Delaoglou / Ian Kilmister

WORKING ON A WITCH AND THEN WILL BE ADDING THE WOLF

 Motörhead- God was Never On Your Side Supernatural -  Road So Far) p.s. The music video is amazing. Love it

GOD WAS NEVER ON YOUR SIDE - MOTORHEAD (SUPERNATURAL-THE ROAD SO FAR )

The Bogmen- Oceans Apart

MAGGIE MAY & BATMAN

Our sweethearts, Maggie May & Batman are all snuggled and cozy and ready for bed. Maggie May's nickname derives from the Rod Stewart song of the same name. Maggie is a little princess and loves human companionship. She loves to cuddle and kiss and can't be left alone.

And Batman, well, Little Bat and his sister were orphaned and left in the cold. The little cat that looked more like a tiny teeny bat fought the odds and lives today with a passion for studying the wildlife in our front yard.

Goodnight Sweehearts♥️❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾♥️❤️


For The February 5th Happy Caturday Theme - Nicknames

HAPPY CATURDAY♥️❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾❤️♥️



Goodnight Sweetheart - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians , Carmen Lombardo Vocals 1931

BLUE MONDAY 💙

NEW ORDER BLUE MONDAY

Lost in space somewhere between Earth and The Milky Way.

Somewhere between the Past and the Future. 

The Present is New Order Blue Monday.

"And still, I find it so hard To say what I need to say But,
I'm quite sure that you'll tell me Just how I should feel today."

Chopin Spring Waltz 1 hours ~ SNOWED INN

SNOWED INN

When the north star twinkles, expect stormy weather.

We are snowed in but not by snow but by an invisible enemy.

Home is where the heart is. Our focus is on family, friends, furry friends, and watching the birds visit the feeders you filled. In keeping positive, trying to understand life, we wait for Spring.




Peace... can only be achieved by understanding.

~Albert Einstein

Heal the Pain Last Christmas 2019

Finished watching "Last Christmas" 2019 with Emilia Clarke and Emma Thompson
Heal The Pain sung by Madison Ingoldsby
Heal the Pain
George Michael
Let me tell you a secret
Put it in your heart and keep it
Something that I want you to know
Do something for me
Listen to my simple story
And maybe we'll have something to show
You tell me you're cold on the inside
How can the outside world
Be a place that your heart can embrace
Be good to yourself
Cause nobody else
Has the power to make you happy
How can I help you?
Please let me try to
I can heal the pain
That you're feeling inside
Whenever you want me
You know that I will be
Waiting for the day
That you say you'll be mine

for KING & COUNTRY - amen (Official Music Video) Amen ♥️🙏

Amen ♥️

Amen ♥️
for KING & COUNTRY
Count to three and say a prayer
Down for love and up for air
Underwater, overjoyed
Water for a thirsty soul
Water for a thirsty soul
Baptize me into Your love
Oh my spirit's overcome
Body, mind, and skin, bone
Love Him, wanna make it known
Love Him, wanna make it known
I'm comin' alive with You
I'm comin' alive with You
I was livin' a lie 'til you
I'm comin' alive with You
All the people say
Amen! Amen!
All the people say
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Yeah!
Resurrection day is here
Bells are ringin' loud and clear
Caterpillar to a butterfly
Risen to another life
Risen to another life
Yeah, I'm comin' alive with You
I'm comin' alive with You
I was livin' a lie 'til you
I'm comin' alive with You
All the people say
Amen! Amen!
All the people say
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Yeah!
Amen!
From death to life (Amen!)
From dark to light (Amen!)
I'm singin' out tonight (Amen! Amen!)
You're in my blood, my veins
In every word I pray
You gave it all for me
I'll give it all for You
Oh, I'm in love with You
Overwhelmed by You
And if the world is listenin'
This is my confession
You are my obsession
All the people say
Amen! Amen!
All the people say
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Yeah!
Amen!
From death to life (Amen!)
From dark to light (Amen!)
I'm singin' out tonight (Amen! Amen!)
Yeah!

SIXTY SECONDS TO WHAT? POOF, OUT LIKE A LIGHT! 💤 HAPPY CATURDAY! THE FELINE ART OF ZEN 🐱🐾🐾🐾

September 19th theme ~ The Feline art of Zen

SIXTY SECONDS TO WHAT? POOF, OUT LIKE A LIGHT! 💤

A hypnotic melody, say like, The El Indio Theme with music box included, sleep comes in seconds. At least it did for Bat.

Cats love art, cats love music, and cats love to sleep.
They sure know how to seize the moment. 

"Every second is of infinite value."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

For A Few Dollars More Soundtrack ~ El Indio Theme ( expanded)

In England 🇬🇧

It was in the summer of 1977, the year of HRH Queen's Silver Jubilee, and Queen was playing in London the night we arrived in England.
We never bothered with reserving a room at a hotel, and by the end of the evening, we still had not found an affordable place to sleep.
Finding something to eat tho, was less of a challenge: Fish and Chips wrapped in newsprint was perfect for our very first meal in the UK, and the unexpected extra that came with the dinner helped us find a place to sleep: under the park bench of where we earlier sat and ate our meal.
What we didn't expect was on company joining us that evening.
A young fellow who had attended the Queen concert earlier that night had missed the last train home and asked if we could share one of our sleeping bags with him: of course, we girls obliged.
Strangely, in the wee morning hours, he was gone.
England, already, was being spooky.


The following night we arrived in Scarborough, again with no reservations. It wasn't too long before someone spotted our Canadian flags on our backpacks, two fellows from a neighboring karate school who graciously offered us a room for the night but, that didn't turn out too well when their coach walked in with the rest of the class and canceled our room. So we resumed our search. Walking past a nightclub closing its doors for the night, Grace Jones singing La Vie En Rose drifting in the night air, I felt a hand pat my backpack: it was a policeman. We had finally found a place for the night, the local police station. They felt sorry for us Canadians and put us up for the night.
The morning came early with a hot cup of coffee; I took one last look into the large glass mirror in the room before heading out, paused, and then wondered. Naw!


Side notes:
I love keeping old things in small, glass cases reminding me of the past. I bought this pin of the Union Jack when I was in England and pinned it to what I believe to be a Royal Navy WW1 Petty Officers Cloth Bullion Cap Badge. Might be British or Canadian, either one, I love the fact that I now own one.


And this song was playing all over the airwaves in the late seventies. It always takes me back to the night we spent in Scarborough, England, the time of The Queen's Jubilee, and the room with a two-way mirror? lol


Grace Jones classic '77 track 

"Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose" Edith Piaf

"Come September " ~ 1961 🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🇮🇹

"Come September " ~ 1961 

One of my all-time favorite movies of the sixties " It's September 1st, 2020, wish I was back in 1961, well maybe, a little later since I didn't see this movie until I immigrated to Canada in 64, but Italy was always on my mind. This movie brings back so many sentimental, happy memories.

" I don't *have* to make sense! I'm *Italian*!" 🇮🇹🍕🍝😊


Love Grows ♥️🌱Autumn Clematis covered in buds is just about to bloom. Do you see the heart? I didn't plant it this way.🍀💚

" COME SEPTEMBER "~ 1961 

STARRING ~  ROCK HUDSON, GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA, SANDRA DEE, AND BOBBY DARIN

IN ANOTHER LIFE I WAS LESTAT ~ HAPPY CATURDAY! 🖤

“None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are.” ― Anne Rice.

Bat "When I could play Franz Joseph Haydn's Sonata in E flat on the piano.Ooh, how much I miss it."

Lestat: Listen, Louis. There's life in these old hands still. Not quite Furioso. Moderato? Cantabile, perhaps.

Claudia: How could it be?

Lestat: Ask the alligator. His blood helped. Then on the diet of the blood of snakes, toads, and all the putrid life of the Mississippi, slowly, Lestat became something like himself again. Claudia ... you've been a very, very naughty little girl.

HAPPY CATURDAY!

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN SONATA IN E FLAT 

 ON THE PIANO ~  ROB WRIGHT

My Dark Romance 🖤

A cat named Bat and a little red wine to keep my sanity while @home. In all seriousness, I'm not much of a drinker but I do enjoy a little red wine with pasta or gnocchi, part of being Italian. KEEP SAFE 🙏♥️ 

and a little music of course... RED RED WINE UB40

Photo by M

"Close your eyes. Listen, Nothing’s missing." Maxime Lagacé

Spring 🌱 fogging this morning, all is calm and quiet, the cats are sleeping, just the way I like it and perfect to enjoy some beautiful music with the earmuffs on ☺️....still listening to this gorgeous piano piece.


Mariage d'Amour written by Paul de Senneville

known as "Chopin's Spring Waltz" which is incorrectly titled.

"Close your eyes. Listen, Nothing’s missing." Maxime Lagacé

Listen 🎶

Mariage d'Amour - Paul de Senneville || Jacob's

Piano




or here if you want to look at some beautiful images of spring







P.S. Don't forget to wash your hands ☺️♥️

Blue, Blue , My World Is Blue 💙

... in a room with no view

Maggie usually sits and watches me paint and when she tires of doing that she looks out the window of the room but these days, Emma has a cat video camera set up in front of the window. Nothin to see😿💙

PAUL MAURIAT ~ LOVE IS BLUE  

                 ~ L'amour e blu

                              

This song was #1 on February 28th, 1968 


Photo by M Three Cats A Dog and A Camera 

NINE LIVES 🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈

*** My latest painting *** "Nine Lives " ***

Bat and "Nine Lives", sure hope this little fella will live all 9! 🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈
I must confess, I do have a favorite pet, Bat! Why, well because his story is so special but that's for another post.

I've become the crazy cat lady in my senior years but I do love them a bunch, all three of them, Bat, Maggie, and Karson! Still, I miss our Grace but for the time being, will wait a bit longer before we get another dog, life is too busy at the moment.

Under the willow, the cat's tomb sunk a little further into the old tree. Only, in the ghostly glow of the moonflowers, could one see the tombstone dimly appear from the dark crevices of the ancient monolithic trunk. 

So, I paint and listen to my music and the words in a song, in a man paint a picture in my head. 

 *********

"So long ago, I don't remember when

That's when they say I lost my only friend

Well, they said she died easy of a broken heart disease.

As I listened through the cemetery trees."

My art is inspired by Living Life and Art.

 Movies, Books, spoken words and Music 

Art imitates Life, Life imitates Art.

The song "One Headlight", The Wallflowers ~ written by Jakob Dylan, was discovered one night when I heard it played in a movie starring Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro in "Excess Baggage "... Thanks, M for getting me to watch this movie, loved it! Of course, Bat kept me company while I painted. I think he was a painter in another life.

I think I like "Nine Lives " better in black and white. I believe my favorite color is black.

Deceased cat to her paramour: 

"Nine lives lived...

" I know that the ones who love us will miss us". 
I miss you too, my sweetie". 

    

Hubby gave me the title "Nine Lives " when I asked him what he thought of the title I had "Miss You". Then, later I read an article in The New Yorker on Keanu Reeves and his thoughts on death. I'm sure our furry friends feel much the same and so I used Reeves words for the kitty cat. 

Once in a while, a star really shines brighter. Keanu Reeves is one of our very, favorites, especially so for my aunt, Anna in Italy. 

p.s. Anna, 

I thought you might like this bit of information on Keanu Reeves : )

Ghost cats and Bastet,  guardians of Willows Cemetery.

Original in color

Enlarge the image and you'll discover there is more to see besides Bat : ) Hint: look at the trees, sky, and moon and maybe a tombstone, too : )

Hope you like "Nine Lives" and Bat, well I think most do.

LILIES OF THE VALLEY

When at the end of spring I pick for the last time
My favourite flowers— a yearning fills my breast,
And to the future I urgently appeal:
Let me but once again look upon the lilies of the valley.
Now they have faded. Like an arrow the summer has flown by,
The days have grown shorter. The feathered choir is still,
The sun more charily grants us its warmth and light,
And already the wood has laid its leafy carpet.
Then when harsh winter comes
And the forests don their snowy cover,
Despondently I roam and wait with new yearning
For the skies to shine with the sun of spring.
I find no pleasure in books, or conversation,
Or swift-rushing sledges, or the ball's noisy glitter,
Or Patti, or the theatre, or delicate cuisine,
Or the quiet crackling of smouldering logs on the fire
I wait for spring. And now the enchantress appears,
The wood has cast off its shroud
And prepares for us shade,
And the rivers start to flow, and the grove is filled with sound,
And at last the long-looked-for day is here!
Quick to the woods!—I race along the familiar path.
Can my dreams have come true, my longings be fulfilled?—
There he is! Bending to the earth, with trembling hand
I pluck the wondrous gift of the enchantress Spring.
O lily of the valley, why do you so please the eye?
Other flowers there are more sumptuous and grand,
With brighter colours and livelier patterns,
Yet they have not your mysterious fascination.
Where lies the secret of your charms? What do you prophesy to the soul?
With what do you attract me, with what gladden my heart?
Is it that you revive the ghost of former pleasures,
Or is it future bliss that you promise us?
I know not. But your balmy fragrance,
Like flowing wine, warms and intoxicates me,
Like music, it takes my breath away,
And like a flame of love, it suffuses my burning cheeks.
And I am happy while you bloom, modest lily of the valley,
The tedium of winter days has passed without a trace,
And oppressive thoughts are gone, and in my heart in languid comfort
Welcomes, with you, forgetfulness of trouble and woe.
Yet now you fade. Again in monotonous succession
The days will begin to flow slowly, and stronger than before
Will I be tormented by importunate yearning,
By the agonizing dream of the happiness of days in May.

And then someday spring again will call
And raise the living world out of its fetters.
But the hour will strike. I shall be no more among the living,
I shall meet, like everyone, my fated turn.
And then what?—Where, at the winged hour of death,
Will my soul, heeding its command, soundlessly soar?
No answer! Be silent, my restless mind,
You cannot guess what eternity holds for us.
But like all of nature, drawn by our thirst to live,
We call to you and wait, beautiful Spring!
The joys of earth are so near to us, so familiar—
The yawning maw of the grave so dark! ~ PYOTR LLYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Spring is late this year but on a good note, it gave me a chance to pick my favorite flower...LILIES OF THE VALLEY and I was ☘️ to find this painting "Lady of Shallott" by Waterhouse.

"SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME" 1984

“Somebody’s Watching Me “ “People say I’m crazy. Just a little touched. But maybe showers remind me of “Psycho” . Always loved this song by Rockwell and Micheal Jackson from 1984. So perfect for 🎃👀🎃 I saw this image on Pinterest so I made one for our haunted house👀

GARY BUNT THE LONG WAY ROUND and BY THE GRACE OF GOD

****

Either one loves art or doesn't. It's a matter of choice.


What one approves, another scorns,
And thus his nature each discloses;
You find the rosebush full of thorns,
I find the thorn bush full of roses.
                                                     ~ Arthur Guiterman



"Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self. ~ Jean-Luc Godard

While some mortals seek answers to earth's creation, others revere in it; in it's colours and hues, study it's contours and moods and observe the awesomeness of it's beautiful being. Some of the others are the painters who after examination of their world in every detail channel their singular interpretation through their painted landscapes. They emphasis the subtleties of nature that most of us often miss to notice. They remind us just how wonderful life is and never loose sight of its magnificent wonder.

I was so thrilled when I came across the artist Gary Bunt that I left him a message on his biography video on Youtube Gary Bunt Painter & Poet expressing my admiration for his work never really expecting any sort of reply from him only later to be pleasantly surprised in receiving an email from the artist himself. He graciously offered me two of his books and asked if I was interested in reading them. I couldn't believe my luck and of course I said yes! So, patiently I waited.

Finally, last Tuesday I received one of his books "Gary Bunt ~ The Long Way Round" a compilation of his paintings and I was beyond words and excitement. Not wanting to sound unappreciative and hoggish I wondered if that was the one and only book I’d be receiving since at the back of my mind I remembered he had mentioned 2 books. I asked my daughter what her thoughts were and she replied, "From his letter mom, it really sounds like there are two books coming your way."

By Wednesday morning, on our way in to town my husband stopped at the post office and soon after walked outside with another brown package that looked quiet similar to the one of the day before. He smiled and said "I think your artist kept his word, it has the same shipping address as the first one.

This time I received "By The Grace Of God Paintings and Poems By Gary Bunt. Again, I was a very happy gal with more books to read!

Gary Bunt's whimsical paintings of old folks and their pets, serene pastoral landscapes untouched by time, quaint old villages by the sea are some of the landscapes we wish for and dream of. I connected with Mr. Bunt's artwork because it simply revealed a lot of my old secret loves. I have found a friend who truly lives a life I love.

I have a favourite book I keep close on hand and from time to time read it to review all of it’s beautiful messages it tells. The book is by E.B. White called "Charlotte's Web".

Gary Bunt sent me along two very lovely books, each beautiful and magical like "Charlotte's Web" for they too hold special stories of love, faith, friendship and affection, life and miracles depicted and interpreted through his paintings and poetry.

I shall keep these books close by and when I feel like visiting a gallery featuring the works by Gary Bunt I only need to open the covers of these books and not worry about the vanished dream of the morning for it is already inside the pages of these books. Thank you Mr. Bunt for the gifts.

I shall treasure these books forever and pass them on to my kids.

Please do check Gary Bunt Painter & Poet  on Youtube.



NOTE BENE:

In the morning (easier in focusing) I will add a few pictures of Gary Bunt's art work and poetry for you but I think these books should be in one's own library to be fully appreciated for their eternal beauty and message.

Annabelle