Mormon Tabernacle Choir

About this time in 2007, George's sister gave us tickets (8 of us in the Adams' family) to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert in Nashville. WOW---what an incredible concert!!! I could have sat there and listened to them sing for hours and hours and hours. It was truly awesome, and brought back so many memories of my younger days singing in choirs like this one.


They sang one of my favorite songs, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." They even sang the exact same arrangement that I used to sing and that I love so much!!!! I was in heaven!!!! SO---on this day BEFORE the Fourth of July, I can't think of a better way to wish you a wonderful 4th --than to close this post with the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."


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"The Battle Hymn of The Republic"
Words by Julia Ward Howe and Music by Phillip Simonds


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword.
His truth is marching on.


CHORUS: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.


I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps.
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps.
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.
His day is marching on. (Repeat CHORUS)


ln the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea.
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free.
While God is marching on. (Repeat CHORUS)
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UPDATE: Mom and Dad Brown Thrasher are still feeding the babies constantly---back and forth ALL day long!!!! They won't let us anywhere near that Jasmine bush right now. See that delicious lunch in the Thrasher's mouth... Those babies are crying for THAT... Think I'd rather have a burger!!!!! We're going to be out-of-town today ALL day---so I'll bet the birds fledge while we're gone. Darn!!!!!


Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!!!! May God Bless You--and God Bless America!
Hugs,

Birdies are Entertaining ME!!!!

I've taken quite a few pictures of our backyard birds recently... There's alot happening right now ---so it keeps a girl busy!!! Forget the housecleaning... I have birds to WATCH!!!! ha


I've mentioned that we have four little bluebird eggs in the Bluebird nestbox. I will check the box about July 7 --and hopefully there will be four tiny birdies in there!!! Mama is incubating the eggs now. (This is their 2nd brood---and besides Mom and Dad, the last group of fledglings are also helping. And to think----I saw these juvies when they are first born!!!)


AND---as if that is not enough, we have the Brown Thrasher babies (3 I think) in the front yard in our Jasmine bush. I put some suet out front for them yesterday since they love our Suet feeder. (Hopefully the chipmunks don't get to it first.) The babies are still in the nest---so I'll keep watching for them to fledge!!!!


We have many other birdies---so I will share a bunch of cute pictures today!!!! Above is a Bluebird at one of my feeders. This is the first year the Bluebirds have come to the feeders so I am excited. They enjoy fruit including raisins. I haven't purchased mealworms yet--but I might sometime!!!! Below are more pictures.









Our Bluejays are plentiful this year, but so far, they don't seem to 'bother' the other birds --like Bluejays sometimes do. What I wish would happen is that the jays would start chasing away the squirrels like they did last year!!!!! ha









Here's a gorgeous Goldfinch at our hanging Niger feeder.. We have LOTS and LOTS of Goldfinches and House Finches this Summer, but nothing like the numbers of Pine Siskins we had in the winter.









Our Cardinals frequent the feeders also... They are the first in the mornings and the last at nights. I love seeing this beautiful female. Last year, Daddy Cardinal brought his babies to the feeder. So far this year, I haven't seen any baby Cardinals at the feeders--but maybe I will sometime this summer.









The Downy Woodpeckers love the suet feeder (in addition to our Brown Thrashers, the Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers). By the way, I saw my first (of the summer) Red-headed Woodpecker yesterday morning --at the feeder next to the computer window. I tried to get a photo---so IF it comes out, I'll feature this beautiful Woodpecker later.









Our two Mourning Doves love to clean up the deck floor ---after the other birds finish making their messes.









Here's a beautiful male House Finch. I know these finches are 'common'--but I still love seeing the colorful males.







Mama Bluebird is protecting her nest... Look at that serious look on her face!!!!









Another picture of Mama Cardinal.. I love hearing the Cardinals CHIP when they are at the feeders.









One more shot of the Downy --enjoying his dinner!!!!









Finally, here's one more photo of one of our beautiful male Goldfinches. Hope you have enjoyed seeing more of our backyard birds. All of these pictures were taken recently. You can see how busy I have been keeping up with all of 'my' birds!!!


Hugs,

P.S. I saw my first hummingbird yesterday .. Hopefully this is the beginning of us having MANY of them here!!!! Yeah!