spring colors

Spring Colors

May 8, 2013

Lew picked this week's Headbanger's theme.  We are going with "Spring Colors."  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

For me, Forsythia is what does it.  It has become to me the official announcement that Spring has arrived.  This started some years ago when I learned that the right time to put the first application of lawn product is when you see the Forsythia bloom in the same region.  That's how you know what's happening under the turf with the insidious Crabgrass, and you can catch it before it grows up and chokes out the good grasses like Fescue, Rye and Kentucky Bluegrass.  I used a polarizing filter for the header shot, because I wanted to show the deep blue in the sky in contrast to the gorgeous Forsythia in full bloom.
 

Spring offers a lot of options for this theme, and here are some other ideas.  I hope you like them.

a neighbor's tulips just before sunset

a pretty pixie hides among paper flowers

Periwinkle experiment with selective B&W

a Magnolia tree's first bloom

Crocus buds emerging from rain-drenched soil

I'm fond of this one--it's a juvenile (American) Robin up close and personal

choir boy

Early Sunday morning, I found a space where I could be alone, I bowed my head and tucked my chin down to touch my chest for eight counts or so. Then I tilted my head waaaay to the left. Then of course... waaaay to the right.

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Next, I relaxed and sounded a long, steady, smooth, low note with my voice, paying special attention to produce the air from deep in my gut.

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After that, I did scales. They were not loud. I tried to keep the throat relaxed the whole time. Our choir didn't warm up as a group, so I hope my efforts were of some help.

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After that, lots of hot tea--no sugar. Cough drops. I grabbed some bottled water from the case--room temperature... not chilled.

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During the past few weeks, I have been trying to build up vocal endurance by singing (hard) in the car on the commute to and from work. Last Monday's choir practice left me hoarse, and I could barely get through the ending on the last song. Sunday morning, my throat was still a little sore from Saturday night's rehearsal, and I had to find a way to make it through morning rehearsal and then two worship services!

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When we got through with the first four songs, the choir got a break, so that the regular team could do their song. I remembered someone's advice, so I went back into the church office. There, I found some olive oil that we use for anointing. Using a plastic spoon, I measured a quarter-teaspoon and swallowed it. (Not so tasty.) They say it lubes the throat, enabling singers to last longer. I rinsed the stuff off my tongue but didn't gargle. Finally, I prayed, that the Holy Spirit would carry me through, so that --at the very least, I would not be a distraction.

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Easter songs are triumphant. I believe they need to be sung with a certain... gusto! I held nothing back. But between all the hot teas, sips of water, cough drops and swigs of (shudder) olive oil, thank the Lord that I made it through the whole way without crashing horribly.

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Whew! Choir is done, and now I can go back to being the sound guy and hide behind the booth. No bruised uvula or sprained larynx... I think.

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I hope your Easter Sunday was amazing and wonderful, and that you can experience the uncontainable joy of celebrating the Lord's rising from the grave.

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