Gearing up for A to Z

 April is just around the corner. Last year I didn't participate in the challenge because I spent the month in Belize. I am turning last year's excuse into this year's theme. It was not your normal trip to Belize it was quite the adventure! A whole lot of Crocodiles, culture and in the end a handful of great new friends. So stay tuned as I write about my month in Belize.

Here is a little geography to get you ready:

Blogging from to Z April Challenge: Z is for Zoos for Reptiles

 A zoo by definition "is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation or display" according to the dictionary on bing. Most zoos or zoological parks have a collection of reptiles. By the definition above Alligator Farms would be considered a zoo.

In fact one of the oldest if not the oldest alligator farm the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm is now branded as a zoo.

Below is a virtual tour..

I have been there several times and would recommend it. Closer to me is an Alligator Farm called Alligator Alley in Summerdale, Alabama.

Me playing with a Carpet Python there, and holding an Alligator

Well until next time see you later Alligator

  

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: Xenosaurus

 Xenosaurus sounds like a dinosaur. Well it might be a distant cousin. Sharing reptiles like real live dragons, giant sea turtles and tortoises a dinosaur wouldn't be too far off. However, Xenosaurus is a mere genus of lizards native to a small area in Central America.

A video of some kept as pets...

Two more left to go! 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: Q is for Querétaro dusky rattlesnake

 No matter what the topic some letters are tougher than others in the A to Z Challenge. Have no fear I did find a reptile for Q. The Queretaro dusky rattlesnake which makes it's home in the highlands of central Mexico.

A short video on the snake...

They are not  huge snake growing just over two feet in length. Well I will be back tomorrow with another reptile.

Blogging from A to Z: M is for Milk Snake

 

Red Milk Snake picture Mike Pingleton, Wikipedia

The Milk Snake is a colorful, non venomous snake that has 24 subspecies. They are opportunistic eaters but mainly eat rodents as adults.

A look at someone's pet milk snake...

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: B is for Box Turtle

 

Photo of Florida Box Turtle by Jonathan Zander

Continuing my way through my A to Z reptiles edition. Today representing B for Box Turtles. Box turtles were once quite common but their numbers have been on the decline.

Here is a short documentary on the Eastern Box Turtle...

The box turtle is a turtle that is terrestrial and is the one any of us have stumbled upon in wooded areas. Hopefully future generations can enjoy Box Turtles as well.

Stay tuned Saturday for my C post.  

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: A is for Anole

 

Picture of a Green Anole (photo by Michael Spain)

Below 6 Facts about Green and Brown Anoles

Green Anoles can change colors from green to brown. The Brown Anole is an invasive species from Cuba and now outnumbers the Green Anole in Florida.

Thanks for joining me on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge my theme this year is Reptiles.

Monday's Music Moves me; songs that Start with J

It's Monday, it is time for Monday's Music Moves Me, so lets rock, dance, laugh  and enjoy as I pick some songs that fit today's theme.

Well I am gonna start things out with The Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash"

I went live and vintage on that one.

John Cougar Mellencamp "Jack and Diane"

Paul McCartney and Wings "Jet"

Johnny and June Cash "Jackson"

Dolly Parton "Jolene"

Continuing with classic country Hank Williams with "Jambalaya"

 

"Johnny B Goode" may have eaten Jambalaya, give it a go Chuck Berry...

I'll wrap up with a fun one. Rick Springfield "Jessie's Girl"

Thanks for visiting! I will see you soon.

Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2019: Theme Reveal

I have been doing the A to Z Challenge since year two. Most of the time I just wing it coming  up with a new post each day. Most of my posts relate to entertainment, mostly music. I throw in some movies, theatre news, celebrity birthdays and deaths. I sprinkle in some sports an book posts from time to time. Maybe a creative writing piece or something personal once in a while. That is how my blog is the other 11 months, I just follow the alphabet in April.



This year I am going to have a theme to my A to Z Challenge. My theme will be about my Mom using primarily my usual content with a few twists. I may stray from my theme from time to time but we will see.

Only a few days until the start of the challenge! If you are doing the challenge I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to leave a link in the comments and I will check out your blog in April!

Battle of the Bands: December's Children, Tears, Covers

I know it is December and everyone is thinking the Battle of the Bands is going to be filled with Holiday music. I'm not quite ready for Holiday music. Well the Rolling Stones are going on tour and they had an album December's Children (And Everybody's). I am picking one of the singles from that album because it is December.

The song "As Tears Go By" by The Rolling Stones...

It is a short one so you will still have time for your Holiday Shopping!

                                                Contestant One: Marianne Faithfull

Contestant Two: Melanie

                                               

The contenders are both ladies. Vote in the comments on what cover you like best. I will total them up and have the results posted in a week or so. Hope it is fun and I will be back soon!

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs about Easter

This week's episode of Monday's Music Moves Me features the theme related to Easter.

Well I heard the Easter Bunny is all ears! So let's do this..

I'll start off with a pre-Easter, Lent season hymn....

The song is certainly related to Easter. It is powerful, emotional with a lot of feeling. All those ingredients I find make a great song to my ears! Tatiana with the version above.

Below is "The Easter Song" by The 2nd Chapter of Acts..

Way back from 1974, some classic Christian Rock.

Speaking of classics Gene Autry taking us out with "Peter Cottontail"..

Well I hope you enjoyed my 4M post. This week I will be continuing the A to Z Challenge with 6 more posts and next Sunday I will have my Battle of the Bands post so a lot happening here!

Blogging from A to Z 2018: Goals

I am really busy today and away from a computer so my A to Z post is being done on my phone. My topic today is goals, specifically to the A to Z Challenge. Obviously the first goal is to complete the challenge. My second goal is to stay active inn my other blog hops. So far so good. I only have two so not that bad.

I want to make 300 visits to other A to Z blogs this month. I also want to visit some new blogs as well.

Well thoae are my goals!

Battle of the Bands and A to Z Challenge: Mr. Big versus Maxi Priest

It is a Blog Hopping double helping at my blog today. Today marks the halfway point of April. In addition to my Battle of the Bands entry this post will also be my post in the A to Z Challenge. Today's letter is M.



I am doing the Battle of the Bands because this is what I would do on any first of the month. I like the blog hop. My blog isn't changing for the A to Z challenge. What you see during the challenge is just how my blog goes.




Since more readers may be popping in it is probably even more important for me to explain what is going on and who else has battles!

Regular rules, listen to the song clips in the blog post. In the comment section vote for the one you like the best. Feel free to explain why you voted the way you did. The battles take place on the first and 15th and winners will be announced on the 7th and 21st. I will normally post the winner in the comments. Of course have fun and enjoy!

The below list is edited to welcome some new battles and unfortunately some battles have taken a break. If you are still looking for more musical fun after you vote, you can check out these sites for more battles:

Tossing it Out

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

 'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Book Lover

This Belle Rocks

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

A to Z visitors please check out my friends above, they post some pretty neat stuff! 

Since today's letter is M so I picked a song by the artist formally known as Cat Stevens and now going under the name of Yusuf Islam. The simple reason the song is a masterpiece. I am going to mix it up with my contestants.

Here is the original, which is not eligible to win.

Let the fun begin! 

Contestant One Mr. Big

In my younger days I really enjoyed this band. Of course their is an M in Mr. so the band fits today's theme as well.

Contestant Two Maxi Priest

I stated I was going to mix it up. Going from a rock groups ballad version to a reggae version by Maxi Priest is certainly mixing it up. M in Maxi makes this choice fit the A to Z: Challenge. 

Testament to a great song that it can be  performed by different artists and still come out sounding great!

So which version did you like the best? Please vote for Mr. Big or Maxi Priest in the comments! Winner will be announced soon! Please feel free to share your thoughts! Thanks for visiting and I will be back soon with another A to Z post.