It's that time of year again when I take out my beloved Bonanza Christmas CD. I have had one of these for about 11 or 12 years. I think I am on my second or third copy having worn out the first one I bought at a Tennessee Kroger store long ago.

These albums feature the singing talents of Lorne Green, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon. They are both marvelous. Have a listen and you'll be back at the Ponderosa in a flash!

Hawaiian Eye

Do you remember this classic from 1959-63 made the most of  our fascination with our newest state as well as the Tiki Lounge craze.  Several years ago, I bought this CD and have loved it!  Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens are marvelous.

I love the genre of music that emerged from this era:  Arthur Lyman and Martin Denny defined the tropical Tiki sounds that made the craze so memorable.

Music Listening

I can't get over how things have changed just in the last few years with regard to music listening. Growing up with records and cassettes and then CD's, I couldn't have imagined how things were yet still to change. Our daughter introduced us to Pandora: all you have to have is your computer or Kindle or whatever other device you carry. You can type in almost any artist or genre and hear song after song that matches your tastes. Unbelievable. There are other such services that she and the boys like. Rather than cable, we use Amazon Prime; the Prime Membership gives us access to the "Amazon Cloud Player." Any music we have purchased from them is on it and we can listen to it on out computers, etc. Last night I purchased a CD by The Seekers. From the moment I clicked "Buy It" I had access to the cd on the computer as I await physical delivery of it.  Unbelievable. 

Now, here is the other side of all of this discussion:  look at the happy couple in the picture above. Do we do this?  With all of the easy access to beautiful music, do we actually sit down intentionally to listen to music anymore? I don't think so. I wish we did. I think the world would be so much calmer!

From the Vintage Record Shelf to the Vintage TV Set

I posted on Lost in Space recently on my other blog, but thought a post on this site would be fitting. In out home, we try to be careful about what we watch. We have very limited cable and rely heavily on dvd collections and classic tv show outlets. One of my favorites growing up was this marvelous show.  I have always preferred the color episodes because they were in color. I loved the outfits they all wore and how they seem to have been color coordinated!

Recently, I have been watching the black and white episodes from the first season. The picture posted above is first season, although the photo is color. These episodes are so different! Dr. Smith is not the comic relief--he is malevolent and threatening. The story lines do not center around him, but around the perils faced by the family. The special effects are quite good, and the dangers the Robinsons faced seem quite real!

Now, here is the real kicker: there are a number of references to "giving thanks." In one episode when the family narrowly escaped complete disaster, Maureen handed John what was obviously a Bible, he read it and they knelt in prayer. How can you beat that? Now, we were not privy to what he read aloud from the Bible, but the message was there--their characters were thanking God for His deliverance and provision.

I am going to go through these episodes and make a note of all of these references (I can do this while folding clothes or cleaning the kitchen).  What would happen today if a character was portrayed in a positive light giving thanks to God?  Anyway, if you get the chance, revisit these marvelous early episodes! God bless and keep you all this day!

Ed Ames

Ed Ames! What a voice! We all grew up watching him on Daniel Boone with Fess Parker. This versatile actor and singer has had quite a career through the years. I have a CD of his greatest hits, and it is just beautiful. Yesterday, I had a lot of work to do and was on my feet in a very warm kitchen much of the day. His lovely voice helped lighten the work load quite a bit.

Daddy's Hi-Fi

I think that this model is the one Daddy had for so long.  I really just stumbled on it after looking for it some tme ago. This was quite a bit of money for the 60's (quite a bit of money to me now).The speakers fold back along the sides and the player itself folds back up into the cabinet. Pretty "spiff" as my mom would say!

WOW!

Recently, my much-more tech-minded children informed me that all of the CD's I have purchased on Amazon were now available on my Amazon Cloud Player. "What is that?" They explained to me that I can go on any computer or my Kindle and listen to anything I have purchased from them!  Whoa! I have been purchasing my CD's from Amazon for about 10 years, and have quite a collection of favorites:  Ed Ames, Percy Faith, Henry Mancini and endless soundtracks from movies and Broadway plays!  I can't believe it. At work, I can just click onto any one of them and listen as I grade or write. And it is all FREE! I still can't wrap my mind around it.