Okay i've worked real hard all day and I'm all showered and clean. Got myself a cup of coffee and I settle into a lawnchair in the middle of my growing garden. Next slide a classical tape into the recorder, Peer Gynt, Pachelbel, or maybe the New World Symphony. Now just let myself go as the music mixes with the sights and smells of our glorious lifestyle!!!! Okay, allow me to be a little corny amoung friends! Ha!

This is what I like to do sometimes. While I'm working or gardening I sing out a wild rendition of Beatles oldies!!! The wild critters flee the scene but soon forgive me and come back.

Anyone else like music with their homesteading? Whatcha like and whatcha sing?....See ya in a few days....Kirk

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Answers

Hi Kirk, I like to take the windup radio out to the garden when I'm working out there. Also I like to listen to soft celtic music and Native American flute music. I guess the plants like it 'cause they sure are growing. Don't do much singing to speak of.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Years ago, I saw a cartoon type story about Johnny Appleseed and he sang this song:

"The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord..."

"For giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed"

"The Lord is good to me"

I sing that one sometimes, or just listen to all the other critters and the wind singing to me. I was out in the berry patch with some neighbors on Sunday and a hen started carrying on - one of the kids wanted to run over there, sure that something was after the chickens. Instead, the poor old hen had an audience as three little noses were pressed to the glass door to watch her lay an egg! Now that's music to my ears!!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Polly, we sang the Johnny Appleseed song in elementery school when I was a kid. My favorite music is the sound of the bluebirds, orioles, rose-breasted grosebecks, song sparrows, robins, cardinals and wood thrushes all singing at the same time as I walk through my garden in the morning. I do like classical music for just sitting and staring and watching, and also old irish and scottish flute, bagpipes etc. I frequently sing old hymns when I am joyful in the garden.(luckly I have a VERY isolated garden spot)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

What I listen to depends on my mood at the time.

I tend toward more 'alternative' rock groups like Pearl Jam, Smashmouth, Crash Test Dummies, Barenaked Ladies, and Fastball. But I also like groups such as REM, U2, Phil Collins, Indigo Girls, etc.

For more quiet, reflective times I like instrumental music from the likes of David Lanz, Tingstad & Rumbel, Wayne Gratz, Nightnoise, etc.

I'm sure the plants and wildlife appreciate the 'new age' instrumental music much more than the alternative rock, seeing as the 'new age' music is much more sedate and doesn't require any 'singing' on my part. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Actually, I talk to myself while in the garden. Never take a radio out with me. Hubby says that I might as well talk to someone intelligent!! BUT----in the ouse doing housework t's oldies rock and roll (esp. Elvis) asloud as my stereo can stand it!!!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Johnny Appleseed...I think I remember that one.

I do remember a song that used to be on Captain Kangaroo a lot...it was a little cartoon with some fruits singing "The peach pit said to the apple core, the color of our skin doesn't matter anymore..." I guess an early introduction to how similar we all are under our diverse skin colors!

Anyway, I sometimes listen to the radio in the garden. Lately, it's been the Mariner's baseball games in the evenings. On weekends, it's NPR. Mr. S likes "Alternative Radio" on Saturday afternoons, but then he's a pinko homo card-carrying socialist atheist. Still, he is kind of cute with dirt on his hands....Ahem! Anyway. I would rather listen to the sounds of outdoors than most music b/c I can't really hear all of the depth of it with it spreadin' out all over the hillside, etc. Exceptions are air traffic and highway noise (sometimes in the spring before the trees leaf out.)

Hammock sounds good though! Okay, back out to get the beans in (corn and squash went in today...)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Diane, I sometimes hum/sing old hymns out in the garden too. Do you have any that seem to pop up often? I usually end up with "Be Thou My Vision" or "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," or something...Oh yeah, "His Sheep Am I," for sure ("waters cool, in the evening...")

okay, later all!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

...but then he's a pinko homo card-carrying socialist atheist...

Huh. Him too, eh?

Nice to know that I'm not the only one out there... maybe he and I can do lunch?

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Bluegrass!!!!! When I'm working on building projects or cleaning,but not in the garden.

Tenessee Stud,Bughler,Old Blue,Tenbrooks and Molly,Little Maggie,Will the Circle be Unbroken,Rank Strangers to Me,Amazing Grace. Lots others.Flat N Scruggs,Bill Monroe,Stanley Bros.

After all,I am a born again hillbilly.

Also hillbilly rock and ballads-Byrds,Emylou Harris,Linda Rohnstat,Woody Guthrie.

And Hank Williams (NOT Boseefus) the true King.

Old blues-John Lee Hooker,Ella Fitzgerald,BB King,Roberta Flack

Hey Jim-does Ruth know???? You been misleading her?

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Music is a huge part of my life....I cannot imagine life without it, in all its indescribable diversity and brilliance...........Did some 'singing in the band' when I was young, and was one of those orginal Beatlemaniacs.

I love most all kinds of music, but at the present my most passionate response comes when listening to my own sweet daughter tripping the light fantastic on her guitar......she is simply amazing.....

Went to a blues jam last night; she as usual wowed the crowd and did me proud.......hey,,,,I'm a poet!

When I got back to the farm this morning, I stood awhile outside my van, listenin to all the birds singing........I was kinda paralyzed by the natural symphony of it; and wondered once again how much I will miss the expansiveness of this place....will I get claustrophobic? Never mind.........must get on with it.............

Might surprise some folks to hear that I often sing hymns too; they are so ingrained in my brain that they are definitely a part of me, whether I identify with the lyrics or not. I also remember lots of those old sunday school tunes, and like to drive my kids nuts singin them in the garden (although *sob* I don't have a garden this year.....yet.)

Hey, sheeepish, I didnt know Mr S was a homo! Must be a bummer for ya! :)

Jim, I am not familiar with much of your list (you are kinda in that inbetween age when I was too busy with my little kids and I kinda checked out of popular culture!) I do love the Indigo Girls though; I really think they're brilliant,and am excited by new groups who actually are musically gifted AND politically active! So few and far between!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

I like playing a Chieftains CD on the PC while working in the attached greenroom or snoozing in my bachelor days recliner Lynn made me stash out there.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

I love to crank music up when I am working, I can't do it outside cause I live too close to other people, but I sometimes visualize turning up whatever appeals to me at the moment outside (once we get out somewhere). Classical, oldies rock and roll, celtic, country as in Patsy Cline, and I do love those old baptist hymns (even though that's about all baptist I have anything to do with, being the non- christian that I am). I played a Kingston Trio tape so much in my car to and from work that it broke and of course I sing along. And then I also like quiet too. I found some really wonderful old stuff when napster was up and running. I have over 1600 songs downloaded. Now I just have to get a CD burner to copy them. I figure it will take about 60 cds.

Namaste,

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Oh, well..."Let's Do The Time Warp" "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" "An Asteroid Named Rest Stop"

and try this one --

http://www.geocities.com/OldiesHeaven/away.html

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Hey Jim-does Ruth know???? You been misleading her?

Well heck, Sharon, I've been called pretty much everything else on Sheepish's list by one person or another - might as well add 'homo' to it, too. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

...I have over 1600 songs downloaded.

Holy cow! That makes my 165 mp3's look pretty pathetic in comparison.

Yep, I logged into Napster just the other day to see what was happening... it's pretty much dead now.

I miss Napster! Wah! :-(

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Well Duh! Isn't homo short for homo sapiens? I always thought so!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Earthmama:

Did some 'singing in the band' when I was young, and was one of those orginal Beatlemaniacs.

I'm envious of those who can sing. I love music and love to sing but can't carry a tune to save my soul. :-(

I love most all kinds of music, but at the present my most passionate response comes when listening to my own sweet daughter tripping the light fantastic on her guitar......she is simply amazing.....

Went to a blues jam last night; she as usual wowed the crowd and did me proud.......hey,,,,I'm a poet!

Cool! Does she have anything recorded in mp3 format? Would love to hear her music.

Jim, I am not familiar with much of your list (you are kinda in that inbetween age when I was too busy with my little kids and I kinda checked out of popular culture!) I do love the Indigo Girls though; I really think they're brilliant,and am excited by new groups who actually are musically gifted AND politically active! So few and far between!

Yep, I love the Indigo Girls. Their first album is my absolute favorite - especially the song Closer to Fine. That one gets played *really* loud. :-)

Dang! Gotta go... I hear thunder rumbling in the distance and don't want this new modem to go the way of the last one!

Talk to you guys tomorrow. Great thread, Kirk!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001

Earthmama...no not a bummer with Mr. S being the flamester! As you know, all it takes is some good education (the best kind is dogmatic, intolerant, and preposterous) and you can turn those depraved sickos right around.....bwahahahahahahah! So yeah, I've turned him into a wild hetero...but of course, he never tells me what he's *thinking* of when we...umm, well, you know....wink wink. LOLOLOL

Actually, there have been times when I wished he were gay! All his old college sweethearts have been hounding him for the last couple of years. Guess they're divorced now and want to see how he's doing! Yeah, right...

Anyway, if I ever *am* listening to outside music, it's usually old Beatles (can sing along) Sly and the Family Stone (can sing along) old Grateful Dead (ditto) old Neil Young (even he can't sing to his songs!)

For country, I like Doc and Merle Watson and old Hank W, too. I also really like old Roy Orbison. I also sometimes really get into Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, and Perry Como....I really like listening to "The Swing Years and Beyond" on KUOW-FM radio Saturday nights (you can listen online.) The music is what my parents listened and danced to and it makes me feel so good to hear it all. Sometimes, Mr. S and I sock dance around the kitchen. Slow-slow, quick-quick (dancing, of course!)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Oh my sheepish,now you behave yourself! Feeling your oats ,are you?

I like forties swing tunes too.Western swing is good as well.I dance around to everything.Usually with the dog. Yep,they learned to dance with me. Nick can,but won't. Mental block from his teen years.Well,he'll waltz to the Tennesee Waltz every so often,if I make him. Stinko. Maybe I'll get rid of him he don't get dancin'.You think?

Hey Jim,your choice of music is ..well...interesting (choke,gag,ack). Let's just leave it at that. Apparently,we part company in the music dept.

However I'm sure we could make beautiful music together. Uh oh,since you have now confirmed that you are still a flaming hetero,I'd better clarify that to mean SINGING. Mine voice happens to sound close to goose farts. How about yours?

And I sing along with everything,anyway. Nick don't care('course he is hard of hearing) and the dogs love me, so they do put up with alot. No neighbors nearby,so I don't have to feel too embarassed.

Aunty E.M.,by the way,I hate you. Hate,hate,hate,hate,hate. Well there, I feel better,anyway. Glad I got that off my chest. Good to let all that anger out,you know. So,you can actually sing,can you? Man,I still hate you. I am sooooo jealous.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Sharon, I couldn't carry a tune in a well bucket, but I do love to sing. When my sons were little they would just about do anything to keep me from singing. My husband loves me so my singing doesn't bother him.

Namaste,

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

My musical tastes are ecclectic, to put it mildly. David Lanz, Loreena McKinnet, Clannad, Wolfstone, Garbage, Blaq Lily, Godsmack, and Marilyn Manson are just a few of my favorites, as well as those good old 70's & 80's rock bands like Journey, Styx, and Meatloaf. I usually don't play music while I'm outside though. I try to spend my outside time detoxifying from man-made sounds and just listening to the birds, the wind, etc.

I still like singing the hymns I learned as a kid too. Maybe you old- time hymn singers can help me remember the words to one. It was my Grandma's favorite hymn, my sisters and I used to sing it for her in church on the Sunday closest to her wedding anniversary every year. (Sorry Sharon, I'm another one of those singing types). I think that it's called "In the Garden". All I can remember of it is this:

I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses...... (big chunk in the middle that I can't remember)....He walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

Ring any bells with anyone?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Just because we can't sing, doesn't mean we won't try, my Dad always said, "If you can't sing well, sing LOUD." At least you'll get credit for effort and trying! So that's what we do here, just sing loud, not well, after all, no one will hear but the deer, coyotes, turkeys, and farm dogs and cats and chickens,and the horses really don't care!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Sherri, heres the part missing: "...and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the son of god discloses....."

Jim, no, she doesnt have anything on the internet yet that shows her guitar playing. She's got an old mp3 that she made with a bunch of total amateurs, and before she started voice lessons,and has almost no real guitar stuff on it. She's not a strong singer at all, and IMO should stick to guitar and songwriting, but she is driven and will not be deterred, and I do believe she can do anything she sets her heart on.

Sheepish, I dunno, maybe you should pay closer attention to Mr S. If all these women are wantin to get cozy....could be a sign......you know what kinda guys make a woman's best friends, dontcha?

Ah Sharon, I will light a candle for you tonite and do a little dance to rid you of your envy issues. Make that three candles.......green candles.......and then I will SING REAL LOUD IN MY BEAUTIFUL VOICE!!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Sherri, that was my Granny's favorite also...it is one of them that I still find myself singing in the garden!!!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

Earthmama! Oh no! Never thought of it. Guess I had better start going through his drawers! ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001

This has been so wonderful to read. All these thoughtfull peoples perspectives.! Thanks Kirk.! Yes! Yes! Mmmmuuuuussssic!There must be music! I think that we are pretty diverse in our Music here. Our favorite at this time is to listen to Below the Salt, a PBS program that comes on Sunday mornings here. They play alot of Bob Dylan, Gordan Lightfoot. They have different themes every hr. making it very interesting, and we hear alot of new stuff, we just love it, Thats where you will find us on Sunday mornings, on our front poarch, reading the paper,listening to the birds, watching the sunrise, drinking coffee , having strawberrys and shortcake, and listening to the radio. Hmm. Happiness!

Then as the day goes on, we float out onto the lawn, and towards our Wedding garden, turing the music up a bit. The birds love some of our music and sing all the louder. I have alot of Indian flute music, Celtic, Have some chinese folk music that I love. Jim can really get into the classical stuff, has Boch and Beethoven, I'm not crazy about that stuff though, it makes me nervous , too exciting, I guess. but then Jim will turn around and play The Doors, or Karen Carpender, or Oh well, we like alot of stuff.

I could go on and on. But mostly out side we listen to mellow stuff, music that blends in with the birds, and on Sunday mornings, the churchbells chime in.

Jim, I was a Napster download freak too, I learned alot of music, it was so fun! Jim are you serious ,do bands with names like Pearl Jam, Smashmouth and Barenaked ladies, do they really sound good?? Man, it is hard to imagine. I don't know if I can get past their names! Mercy!!

Polly, Dianne, and Sheepish, I'm gonna look for that Johnny Appleseed Cartoon and or song, so's that I can get it's tune. That is sooo cool, funny how those things stick in your head.

when I was young I used to watch a cinderella movie, which I have since discovered was Rogers and Hammersteins Cinderella staring Lesley Ann Warren often I find myself humming the songs from it,

"Impossible for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carrage,Impossible for a plain country bumpkin to join a prince in marrage, and 4 white mice will never be four white horses. Oh fiddle de ra, and fiddle de de of courses.Impossible , its possible, because the world is full of Zanys and Fools, who won't believe in semsible peoples rules, And won't belive what sensible people say, And because these daft and dewey keep on building up impossible hopes, It's possible, things are happening everyday. It's possible, for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carage." I just love that song.

Hey guys, I'm a hymn singer too. All those childhood years spent on a wooden Free Methodist church pew, gotta show up somewhere! Often I lift my voice in praises, out under Gods sky in the garden, and the famaliar tunes, of Blessed Assurance, blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine, Or Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. Theres lots of em, just lying around in my brain, one of my favorites is I walk to the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, , and the voice I hear as I wonder there, none other has ever known, and he walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own.

Often while in the garden, praises, songs and poems will rise from me to my creator, as effortlessly and as tempory as the butterflys flutter on the air.

Johnny appleseed had it right! " The lord is good to me, and so I thank the lord, thanks for sharing that guys!

Oh yes the birds are such music arn't they! There arn't any Whipperwills here and I miss my Missouri ones, but we have come up with a communication system, and have a few Whipperwill Mockers here, If the girls don't know if I am out in the garden, or out to the barn, or at the laundry line or where! They will whipperwill for me , and I will whipperwill back, it's so much easier then yelling, sounds better too, and we all have our own sound, Lea makes the whipperwill sound with her voice, I do it through cupped hands and Jim and Bre whistle it, so that helps with locating the right whipperwill mocker! We may have to diciper one more whipperwill mocker though as I swear the Cat bird was singing our tune the other day!

Gotta Go, Bye everybody! TRen

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2001

Jim are you serious ,do bands with names like Pearl Jam, Smashmouth and Barenaked ladies, do they really sound good?? Man, it is hard to imagine. I don't know if I can get past their names! Mercy!!

(grin)

Yeah, with all that "jamming", "smashing", and naked ladies running around it does give the impression that these bands might be violent or misogynistic but that's not the case. Trust me, Tren.

Maybe someday you and I could do some mp3 music swapping using Aimster and I could then introduce you to the wonderful sounds of alternative rock music. Who knows, you might like it... :-)

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2001

In the 70's and early 80's I was heavy into music. Back then it was Eagles, Pure Prarie League, J Geils, America, Neil Young, Moody Blues, Dire Straits, Quicksilver, Joan Baez, and Traffic. These days I rarely listen to music but when I do its Eric Satie, Ennea, some Celtic music(Group?) Now and then I hear something on public radio I like but I'm not as motivated about it as I was then.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

Well,Aunty E.M.,your 'cure' seems to have worked (yeah sure).Now do you have something that will negate the effects of way too many sore throats,so I can sing pretty again,too?

My one friend was a music major and fanatic in college.They needed a chick singer for their band's gigs and he wanted me to do that,bc I had a passable voice but mostly bc I had more passable boobs,let's face it. Another one of those things that has fallen by the wayside (pun intended). Hey you have any cure for that too? HAHAHAHA.

But I was way too shy.So I applaud your spunk.You must have been hello on wheels. Well,maybe I'm still just a little jealous.

Hey John-Low Spark of High Heel Boys? John Barleycorn Must Die? What do ya think? I still love Traffic.

Hey,ever listen to something you once liked alot and think "gawd how awful.I can't believe I listened to that crap,let alone thought it was good!" One that comes to mine is Deep Purple. Smooooke on the waaaters den den den.... den den.. den den. Gawd how awful.I used to listen to that over and over. Yeah I was stoned.

Nick thinks most of what I listen to is awful,although he seems to be warming up to my bluegrass a little.As far as he is concerned,the music died in the early sixties.Everything since has been just noise. Well,I have a few opinions on his tastes, too! Naturally.

And all you folks that like Celtic, well where do you think bluegrass came from? Come on, give my state's homegrown music a try. It's catching,I tell ya. Got a free concert coming up here. Wanna go?

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

At Christmas, I dug my old turntable out of the shed for the kids; they went through my collection of 70's and 80's albums with glee. Eagles, REO, Steve Miller Band, Styx, Aerosmith, Dr. Hook, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.....

They laughed and laughed at the old Bill Cosby comedy routines, but didn't think Cheech and Chong were nearly as funny - I told 'em you had to be there...

Now, on those rare occasions that the radio is on, I listen to the moldy oldy station that plays songs from the 60's to 90's. If Jes is in the car, more often my finger is poised to hit the off button!!

I will admit that we listened to the Nascar race out in the berry patch Sunday. Sigh...it just ain't the same without the Intimidator.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

What a great thread. Sharon, I still love Traffic, too. I like my quiet times, but if I'm in a music mood, I like Nickel Creek, Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder, Shawn Mullins, and we have a great program Fri, Sat, and Sun PM's on public radio called Back Porch. Lots of folk, world music. I've taken all my Celtic and "New Age" stuff to the office (massage), so I haven't been able to listen to them at home lately, but enjoy them too.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

sharon, love blue grass, when is the concert??? Do you have sunshine???

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

Did you guys catch that on-air article about apples on NPR this week? Seems that Johnny Appleseed was very popular....and it was very important for pioneers to take their bare root trees and seeds with them on their quest west. Reason? CIDER!! Well, that just explained everything to me!

Anyway, the whole piece was really interesting. Check the NPR archives for it, I guess.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

What sheepish? You trying for the mother of all thread drift? Well,you"ve been sucessful!

diane....I'm sure on any given day we will have sun,as well as rain, more sun, more rain, and sauna-like conditions.That is pretty much de rigeur for E Ky in summer.

I think the concert is next weekend.I forgot to go down and get the local paper today, so I'm not sure.The mailbow is pretty far away and easily ignored. Anyway it's local talent,and people here are pretty darn good.Still a very strong musical tradition.I know one 19 yr old who plays 36 different instruments (according to his wife) ,all self taught. Amazing.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2001

ok I just got up from rolling on the floor, tryin to recover from sharon's comment about sheepish's comment....... btw, sheepish, where in blazes DID the apples in your head come from? ok,,,,,i'm gone again........actually ROFLMAO...

allrighty then...........

Sharon, I love bluegrass, and all kinda hillbilly music. Do you know Hazel and Alice?

Loved your story about your opportunity at stardom; shoulda gone for it, IMO; coulda been the boobs woulda got ya in the door. Or whatever. But whatever do you mean about 'too many sore throats'? And 'sing pretty again'? What's the story there?

If I had a cure for falling you know whats......I'd sure as heck be the first one in line and selling some on my website!

However, about your young fella who plays 36 instruments, according to his WIFE? Well that sounds about right for down in your parts I guess. Course round up here most 19 year olds have about 36 galfriends and play ONE instrument, also self taught, usually pretty bad.

BTW, I LOVE celtic music, anything remotely Irish,have no idea why,and Native American too. Goin to listen to Loreena McKennitt now.........

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2001

Sheepish "Guess I had better start going through his drawers! ;-)"

Better you than someone else!

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2001

Jim,, sounds good, you never know you could change my mind about those bands, it's possible, things are hapening every day"! TREn

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2001

Well, at least I didn't mention pooting!

Isn't this the "Johnny Appleseed thread?" Where the hell am I? ROFLeverybody'sAO!

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2001

Hey, any of you Kentucky folks remember a band from the mid-80's called "Government Cheese"? Their song "Come on Back to Bowling Green and Marry Me" was written about my best friend.

-- Anonymous, June 09, 2001

I've been trying not to have music on that much. I always seem to have to have the radio going in the truck, every store you go into has music on, the banks, everywhere. I used to have music on in the house pretty much all the time, and I realised it was like having a soundtrack to my life on all the time. I started to feel manipulated when I couldn't get some tune from the supermarket out of my head. But yeah, after a chunk of work in the garden or on the house, sit out with my tea and a book -- that's the time for classical music. Opera arias, even.

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Oh, also, jazz from the 30's & 40's, big band stuff, is absolutely the best accompaniament to washing the truck!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001