I Really Meant To Go For A Hike

This was Ben's Saturday to work, so I decided to go over to Towsley Canyon for a hike. I got over to Towsley around 8:30 a.m. and parked the car then headed up the road towards the trail. I had hiked about one mile, heading for The Narrows when I realized I needed to go to the bathroom. We old people are like that (LOL). When we have to go, we have to go NOW! I was only about 1/4 mile from the restrooms in the Ed Davis Park, so I headed back down the trail to the park. After I did what I went there for, I noticed a sign that read "Nature Center Open Today". I had no idea they even had nature center there. It's a very small one in a room about the size of my living room. There was a very nice volunteer there and she greeted me and since I was the only there, we discussed all of the different displays they had. I stayed for about 20 minutes, looking at the stuffed animals, fossils and Indian relics. After leaving the nature center, I decided to head back down the trail to my car instead of continuing my hike to The Narrows.
As I headed out of the park, I snapped a few photos of what I thing was a black bird of some kind, a baby jack rabbit and some California Quail.

"I Was There" 09/11/2001

09/11/2001

A few years back Ben and I visited the WTC 9/11 Memorial at the Los Angeles Fire Dept. Training School near Dodger Stadium. They have a piece of one of the towers there. When I looked at the piece, I had this urge that I just HAD to touch it and when I did, tears welled up and I could not help but stand there and cry. ...Here is a photo of me in front of that piece of the tower.

Do You Remember Fats Domino?

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino was born in New Orleans in 1928.
Fats was one of the first "rock'n'rollers in the 1950's.
As a child his brother-in-law, who was twenty years his senior, taught him to play the piano.
He had hits like "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lot 'a Lovin'", and "I Wanna Walk You Home". His biggest hit was "Blueberry Hill".
Fats still lives in New Orleans.

Do You Remember June Carter-Cash?

A few posts back, I asked if you remembered Johnny Cash, well do you remember the love of his life June Carter?
Valerie June Carter was born in 1929 in Virginia.
She was a singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedian and author who was a member of the Carter Family.
June was born into music. She never thought that she was much of a singer, but she loved writing music and performing for her fans.
She married Johnny in 1968 (he was her third husband) and they had a son, John Carter Cash.
June passed away in 2003 of complications following heart valve replacement surgery.
Her best known song was "Wildwood Flower".

Do You Remember Connie Stevens?

The other day I asked if you remember Edd "Kookie" Byrnes and had a video of him singing "Kookie Lend Me Your Comb" with Connie Stevens.
Connie Stevens was born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia in Brooklyn, NY in 1938.
She starred in many "B" movies and on the TV series "77 Sunset Strip" with Edd.
Connie is still in the business today and works with the Screen Actor's Guild.

Hummingbirds In Our Back Yard

I've been watching all the little birds in our back yard today. A lot of sparrows, finches and two little hummingbirds. Got some photos of the little hummers.

Do You Remember Johnny Cash?

John R. "Johnny" Cash was born in 1932 in Arkansas. He was the second of 7 children.
At 5 years old, Johnny was working in the cotton fields, singing with his family as they worked.
In 1954, Johnny and his first wife Vivian moved to Nashville where Johnny wanted to become a radio announcer. He worked selling appliances during the day and at night he played guitar for the "Tennessee Two".
He finally got up the courage to go to Sun Records and record a song.
He finally recorded "Cry Cry Cry" and "Hey Porter". Both got radio air time and Johnny was on his way to stardom.
His second wife was June Carter of The Carter Family. They recorded many songs together.
Johnny passed away in 2003 from complications from diabetes.
Some of Johnny's other hits were "Folsom Prison Blues", "Boy Named Sue" and "Ring Of Fire". My favorite was "I Walk The Line".

Do You Remember Edd "Kookie" Byrnes?

Edd Byrnes was born in 1933.
He was best known for playing the character "Kookie" on the TV show "77 Sunset Strip".
He also appeared in several movies, but including the movie "Grease".
Below is a video of him with Connie Stevens (his co-star on "77 Sunset Strip").

Do You Remember Hank Williams Sr.?

Hank Williams Sr. (real name Hiram King Williams) born in 1923.
One of the biggest country stars of all time with songs like "Hey Good Lookin'", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Cold, Cold Heart".
Hank led a hectic life with booze and women. He died at age 29 in 1953 of heart failure.
His biggest hit was "Your Cheatin' Heart".

We Had A Visitor This Morning

We had a visitor this morning in our backyard. Sat on the wall for awhile and the swooped down into our neighbor's yard. I assume it had it's eye on something "tasty".

Do You Remember Paul Anka?

Paul Albert Anka was born in Ontario, Canada in 1934. His parents were immigrants from Lebanon.
He recorded his first song at age 14.
His hit song "Diana" was one of the best selling single ever by a Canadian singer.
Through the years, he has had many hits including "Puppy Love", "You Are My Destiny", "Lonely Boy", "My Way", and "Having My Baby", He has written many songs for other singer too.
Paul is still performing today.

Do You Remember Glen Campbell?

Glen Travis Campbell was born in Arkansas in 1936.
He was one of 12 children of a poor sharecropper.
Glen started learning to play the guitar at a very young age. At age 18 he moved to California where he was in the group "The Champs" who recorded the song "Tequila".
In the mid-1960's he was a member of "The Beach Boys" and traveled with them playing bass guitar.
In the 1970's he had his own television show "The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour".
Glen is still singing and touring today.
Some of his hit songs were "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "Gentle on My Mind" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".
His biggest hit was "Rhinestone Cowboy".

Do You Remember The Righteous Brothers?

The Righteous Brothers were Bill Medley (born in 1940) and Bobby Hatfield (born in 1940).
They got together in 1962 and their first hit was "Little Latin Lupe Lu".
Their career together lasted 40 years.
Bobby Hatfield was found dead in his hotel room in Kalamazoo, Michigan on November 5, 2003, half an hour before he was due to perform a concert with Bill Medley at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium. The cause of his death was attributed to cocaine and not simply, as first suspected, heart failure, according to the autopsy report.
Some of their other songs were "Unchained Melody", "Ebb Tide", "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" and "Rock and Roll Heaven".
Their biggest hit was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" which remains the most played song in radio history, estimated to have been broadcast more than eight million times.
Bill Medley is still performing.

Do You Remember George Jones?

George Glenn Jones was born in Texas in 1931.
He received a guitar on his 9th birthday and started singing on the streets for whatever money he could get.
At age 16, George left home and started singing on a Texas radio station.
George was married 4 times, but his most famous marriage was to singer Tammy Wynette, whom he recorded several songs with.
He had a bout with booze and drugs, but finally got his life straightened out.
George is still singing and going strong today.
Some of George's songs include "White Lightning", "The Grand Tour" and "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today".

Do You Remember Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon?

Freddy Cannon was born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. in 1939 in Massachusetts.
He grew up listening to Rhythm and Blues.
After graduating from high school in 1955, he recorded his first song "Cha Cha Do".
He became a success from his many appearances on "American Band Stand".
His hits include "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans",  and "Palisades Park".
Freddy is still performing today.
Note...I knew Freddy's little sister Mary Lou when I used to roller skate at the rink my dad worked at in North Hollywood in the 1960's. Never did meet Freddy though.

Do You Remember Dolly Parton?

Actually, since Dolly is still going strong, this is not really a "Do You Remember" because I think just about everyone knows Dolly.
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in Tennessee in 1946. She is one of twelve children born to a poor tobacco farmer and his wife.
Before she could read or write, she was making up her own songs. She got her first guitar at age 8 and by age 11, she was singing on a Knoxville, TN radio station.
The day after she graduated from high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville
In 1967 she had recorded her first two songs "Something Fishy" and "Dumb Blonde". Porter Wagoner heard hear and hired her for his TV show.
In 1974 Dolly left Porter to go solo and the rest is history.
She has recorded many songs, won many awards and has starred in several movies, my favorites being "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" and "9 To 5".
In 1986 Dolly opened an amusement park in Pigeon Forge, TN as a way to give back to her roots. The park is called "Dollywood".
Some of Dolly's biggest songs include "Coat of Many Colors", "Jolene" and the theme song to the movie "9 To 5". But her biggest his will always be "I Will Always Love You".

Do You Remember Annette Funicello?

Annette Joanne Funicello was born in New York in 1942.
At age 12 in 1955, she because one of the original Mouseketeers on "The Mickey Mouse Club".
Besides being on the TV show, she also sang and starred in some "beach" movies with Frankie Avalon.
Annette is now wheelchair bound due to multiple sclerosis and it was rumored in 2009 that she had died from her disease, however, the rumor was not true.
She never really had any "huge" hit songs as she was more known for being a Mouseketeer and her movies, however, here one song that did well was "Tall Paul".

Do You Remember Conway Twitty?

Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in 1933.
He was both a "rock & roll" singer (1950's) and a country singer (1960's to 1990's).
Conway had many hit songs during his career.
He teamed up with Loretta Lynn for several of his hits.
Conway passed away in 1993 from an abdominal aortic aneurysm while on tour.
Some of his hits included songs like "Hello Darlin'", "That's My Job", "Tight Fittin' Jeans", "Linda On My Mind", and "Slow Hand". My favorite was "It's Only Make Believe".

Nice Cool Summer Day

After a week of temperatures in the 100+ range, we finally had a nice cool summer day. Ben had to work today so I headed over to Placerita Canyon for a 2 1/2 mile hike this morning. Temps were in the mid-60's and the sun barely peeked out from the marine layer. Things are still dry and brown in the canyon, but it was nice to get outside since I've been cooped up the house all week with the A/C.

Sun Flower (Fall is on it's way)

Toylon (Christmas) Berries

Hikers ahead on the trail

"Layers" of mountains

More hikers ahead

I left my footprint

Rocky Cliffs

Do You Remember Bobby Darin?

Bobby Darin was born Walden Robert Perciville Cassotto in The Bronx in 1936.
Bobby started his music career by writing songs and later started singing his own songs.
He also did some acting.
In the early 1970's he had several heart surgeries and died of heart disease in 1973.
Among his many hits were "Splish Splash", "Mack The  Knife", "Beyond The Sea" and my favorite "Dream Lover".

Here's One For You Country Fans...Do You Remember Barbara Mandrell?

Barbara Ann Mandrell was born on Christmas Day in 1948 in Texas. Her family was a "musical family".
She was reading music and playing accordion by the age of 5.
Six years later, she was playing steel guitar for Joe Maphis in his Las Vegas act.
Barbara can also play the saxophone and banjo.
As a child she toured with superstars like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and many others.
In the 1980's she and her sisters Louise and Irlene had one of the highest rated TV shows of that time.
Barbara retired from the music business in 1997 to spend more time with her family.
She had many hit songs such as "Sleepin' Single In A Double Bed", "Crackers", "If Loving You Is Wrong" and "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool".

Flash Flood Warning

We are in a flash flood warning right now, but I don't think we will get any rain. It is raining out in the high dessert in some places. The wind is kicking up out there too. We drove up to Agua Dulce to look at the thunder clouds.