LadyD Books: January 2014

A Norah Jones Sunrise

"Sunrise" is the first single of Norah Jones' multi-platinum album Feels like Home. I just love her style.

An amazing sunrise for January looking eastward toward a local mountain range. The palm tree and avocado branch add that special touch, reminding me of country living here in SoCal.

Lyrics to Sunrise by Norah Jones

Sunrise, sunrise
Looks like mornin' in your eyes
But the clocks held 9:15 for hours
Sunrise, sunrise
Couldn't tempt us if it tried
'Cause the afternoon's already come and gone

And I said hoo...
To you

Surprise, surprise
Couldn't find it in your eyes
But I'm sure it's written all over my face
Surprise, surprise
Never something I could hide
When I see we made it through another day

And I said hoo...
To you

Now good night
Throw its cover down
On me again
Oh and if I'm right
It's the only way
To bring me back

Hoo...
To you
Hoo...

Chords to Sunrise

Intro:

(play it with low notes)
Cm Bb Eb


Bb Cm7
Sunrise, sunrise
G#          Eb
Looks like mornin' in your eyes
Cm7  G# Eb
But the clocks held 9:15 for hours
Bb Cm7
Sunrise, sunrise
G#       Eb
Couldn't tempt us if it tried
Cm7         G#  Eb
'Cause the afternoon's already come and gone

     Cm7 Bb   Eb    G#  
And I said hoo...  hoo...hoo...hoo...
Fm
To you


Bb Cm7
Surprise, surprise
G#       Eb
Couldn't find it in your eyes
Cm7  G#           Eb
But I'm sure it's written all over my face
Bb Cm7
Surprise, surprise
G#          Eb
Never something I could hide
Cm7           G#      Eb
When I see we made it through another day

  Cm7 Bb   Eb    G#  
And I said hoo...  hoo...hoo...hoo...
Fm
To you

(solo piano)


F   G
Now good night
   F
Throw its cover down
 G
On me again
F         G
Ooh and if I'm right
F
It's the only way
G
To bring me back
 
Cm7 Bb   Eb    G#  
Hoo...
Fm
To you
Cm7 Bb   Eb    G# 
Hoo...

SoCal Sunset

sunset with palm trees in the distance: LadyD Books

Lyrics to Fiddler On The Roof: Sunrise Sunset

(tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried,
Is this the little boy at play?

(golde)
I don't remember growing older,
When did they?

(tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty,
When did he grow to be so tall?

(golde)
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

(men)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly flow the days.

(women)
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

(everyone)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laiden with happiness and tears.

(tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?

(golde)
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.

(perchik)
They look so natural together.

(hodel)
Just like two newlyweds should be.

(perchik and hodel)
Is there a canopy in store for me?

(everyone)
Sunrise, sunset (x2),
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laiden with happiness,
And tears

Photos for Skywatch Friday

As we celebrate the last day of January, I'm amazed at how lovely our weather has been on a winter's day in Southern California... while the rest of the U.S. has experienced such cold frigid temperatures. This morning I woke up to dew on the grass, so this is a good sign that rain is a-coming our way.

I hope you have a warm day, filled with many happy memories!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Review: The Dash Diet

The recent studies show that blood pressure (development of hypertension) may be lowered with the help of simple diets and reducing sodium (salt) intake, besides, the ration of special diets promotes to lower effectively the arterial pressure that had already been raised.

The DASH diet can lower blood pressure and can further reduce blood pressure. That is why people with high blood pressure will take advantage of following the DASH diets.

This Diet is based on research from the National Institutes of Health.

In this book you'll find all that you need to know about Dash Diet and to improve your health.

The Dash Diet: Lower Blood Pressure And Improve Your Health

My Review

I love the organization of this book, especially addressing what and how questions. Three examples from the chapters are: What Does High Blood Pressure Mean?, What Is Dash Diet? and How To Follow Dash Diet. What I gleaned from the heart of the book's content is understanding a balance of healthy product combination that lowers blood pressure and facilitates control over its level. Basically, know that a lack of magnesium can contribute to the pressure. So, eat 4-5 portions of veggies, along with nuts, seeds, and beans 4-5 x's daily. Plus, fats and oils and eggs take 2-3 times per day. What I especially like are the charts, graphs, and recipes. The zucchini lasagne and chicken with Spanish rice look good. This is a great overall diet. in addition, the author encourages one to celebrate your success doing pleasant things for yourself, along with increased physical activity and keeping a diary. I like it!

4/5 stars. Recommend it.

The Friday 56

"You may use fresh or dried fruit. To become a healthy part of your diet or just a snack the majority of fruit require minimum culinary influence. Just like vegetables they contain a huge amount of dietary fibers, potassium and magnesium; with the exception of coconut and avocado all fruit are low-fat." -- Lyubomyr Yatsyk

Recipe: Chicken with Spanish Rice

1 c. chopped onion
3/4 c. sweet green pepper
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 c. tomato sauce
1 tsp. chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. crushed garlic
5 c. white rice boiled in unsalted water
3 1/4 c. diced chicken breasts (without skin and bones)

1. In a big frying pan fry in oil onions and green pepper for 5 mins.
2. Add tomato sauce and spices.
3. Add boiled rice and chicken meat. Cook till ingredients are ready.

Serves 5, serving size 1 1/2 cup.

One serve contains:

Calories - 406
Fats - 6 g
Saturated Fats - 2 g
Cholesterol - 75 mg
Magnesium - 57 mg
Potassium - 529 mg
Calcium - 45 mg
Sodium - 367 mg

Although this one is different from my usual Spanish Rice recipe, I just may give this one a try with some additional ingredients. Do you have a family recipe for Spanish Rice?

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

100+ Book Challenge: Freda's Voice

Neurologists say there are 4 basic steps to changing a habit.
1. Identify the habit loop.
2. Figure out the cue.
3. Experiment with different rewards.
4. Have a plan.

Identifying the habit loop:
Every habit has three components: a cue, a routine, and a reward.

Figure out the cue:
Cues are almost always a specific location or time of day, a particular emotional state, the presence of certain other people or a behavior that's become ritualized. Notice what's going on when the habit strikes.

Experiment with different rewards:
Are you hungry? (In which case an apple should work as well as a cookie.) Do you need a break? (So take a walk around the block, instead of the cafeteria.)

Have a plan:

Write your resolution as a formula... When I see a CUE, I will do ROUTINE, in order to get a REWARD.

"It takes some willpower at first, but according to studies, over time, that pattern will become automatic, and new, better habits will be born." -- The Power of the Habit by Charles Duhigg

The above explanation is why I'm going to 2 Bible studies per week, working out at the gym 3 times a week and reading 100 books in a year! Plus, playing the piano, gardening and enjoying photography!

Freda's Book Challenge

The goal is to read at least 100 books. They can be e-books, print or audio. There is no page limit, though it has to at least be a short story/novella to count. List your books as you go and be sure to add each review to the Linky that I provide each month. I am thinking of surprise gifts based on those reviews!

So the rules are as follows:

1. Create a post, but list as you read, either a blog or GoodReads, somewhere I can see it, and leave your url to that post in the Linky below.
2. Read some books. Any books. No limit in pages, even the phone book counts if that is your fancy. Just read!
3. That's it!

Sign Ups for the book challenge closes April 1st, so hurry!

Books I've Read in 2014

1. Daily Rituals

2. Legends Icons Rebels

3. Healthy Eating Vegetarian Diet For Beginners

Hope you reach your reading goals. See you there!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Meet Rhina: The Guitarfish

The guitarfish are a family, Rhinobatidae, of rays. The guitarfish are known for an elongated body with a flattened head and trunk and small ray like wings. The combined range of the various species is tropical, subtropical and temperate waters worldwide. They often travel in large schools.

elongated body of the guitarfish: LadyD Books

Guitarfishes have a body form intermediate between those of sharks and rays. The tail has a typical shark-like form, but in many species, the head has a triangular, or guitar-like shape, rather than the disc-shaped formed by fusion with the pectoral fin found in other rays. More information can be found at Wikipedia

The shovelnose guitarfish has an unusual body shape, intermediate between that of a shark and a ray, and is named for its long, pointed, shovel-like snout and broad disc, with wide pectoral fins that give the body a distinctive triangular shape. The tail is relatively thick, with a moderately large caudal fin that lacks a distinct lower lobe, and there are two equal-sized dorsal fins located towards the tail. A row of thorny projections runs along the mid-line of the back and tail. The shovelnose guitarfish ranges from olive to sandy brown in color, with white underparts, and a clear, somewhat translucent area on either side of the snout. More information at Shovelnose Guitarfish.

I just happened to be taking a stroll out on the Oceanside pier... watching the fisherman bring up their daily catch is always exciting. This time, I wasn't quite sure what I was looking at. One of the locals told me that the shovelnose is always hanging around the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and most guys release them back into the water. I was fortunate to get a few photos of this guitarfish. I think he or she is appropriately named. I have called her, "Rhina."

Have you come across a shark or two? I've heard that some folks eat the tail while others fillet the fins for good eating. I've eaten thresher shark before but not this particular fish.

Photos for Skywatch Friday

Here's an interesting read on The Biology of Sharks and Rays

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind." -- Matthew 13:47

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Review: Healthy Eating Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

Healthy Eating - Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

Book Description

Becoming vegetarian can be a difficult life change but now it doesn't have to be. Nicky Smith has simplified the process so that you can not only improve your health but improve your life.

In this Healthy Eating edition you will:

- Discover the reasons for becoming vegetarian
- Get clear on which vegetarian diet to embark on and how you can create your own rules to follow.
- Find tips on how to transition easily from your current diet
- Get advice on dining out and dealing with others opinions
- Learn how to stand up for yourself and your diet choice
- Discover vegetarian 101 like where to shop, what to buy, important nutritional information and health concerns.
- Gain inspiration & motivation
- Get access to further FREE resources that will help you on your vegetarian journey

Review

Eating better and following a vegetarian diet, along the disciplined path of plant-based foods, will definitely improve your life. Whether you have the land and can grow your own food or perhaps have the opportunity to shop at local farmer's market, it's important to have a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. Having some vegetarian staples in the pantry will also provide many options for you to create meals easily. Health concerns about vitamin intake are discussed in the book, along with learning some strategies in going about communicating your feelings on being a vegetarian. The author encourages the reader in taking a slow transition of not eating meat gradually. You'll find a list of quotes is in the front while websites for vegetarian resources is listed in the back. I found it to be informative but I missed photos and recipes.

4/4 stars. It was good but not great...

Review posted on Goodreads and Freda's Voice 100 Book Challenge

The Friday 56

"We've been practicing turning a blind eye to what we know if wrong for so long, that it's become automatic to the point of invisibility." -- Nicky Smith

Author, Nicky Smith offers a list of helpful sites at the back of the book:

The Vegetarian Resource Group

Vegetarian Dining

Green People

Vegetarian Society

Healthy Eating - Vegetarian Diet for Beginners

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Review: Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed The World

Exclusive insights from a celebrated musician and passionate industry insiders, two accompanying CDs of legendary tracks and beautiful packaging make for a book with broad appeal -- one that will captivate fans of Robbie Robertson and music lovers of all ages.

About The Authors

Robbie Robertson is himself a musical legend. He has won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee. He was the primary songwriter for the critically acclaimed group The Band, penning Americana classics like "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek" and toured with Bob Dylan. After The Band bid farewell to performing in The Last Waltz concert, filmed by Martin Scorsese, Robertson followed his long-time fascination with film. He was a Creative Executive at DreamWorks and has scored and/or been an executive music producer on a number of Martin Scorsese's films. He has also acted in and written and produced other major motion pictures.

Jim Guerinot owns and runs Rebel Waltz Management. He manages a client roster that includes No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, The Offspring, Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor, and Robbie Robertson. In addition to band management, Guerinot was the General Manager and the Sr. Vice-President of Marketing at A&M Records, supervising the Marketing, Promotion, Sales, Publicity, and Creative Services departments. His influence figured in the development and success of such A&M acts as Soundgarden, Sheryl Crow, and Blues Traveler. Guerinot is also the owner of indie label Time Bomb Records.

Jared Levine played in bands throughout college. After, he moved to Los Angeles where he was hired by Geffen Records to coordinate the Robbie Robertson record Storyville. Since then Jared has worked in the music business as an artist manager and A&R man. He has managed such artists as Robbie Robertson and Fishbone, and has signed artists including Cracker, Soul Asylum, and Gin Blossoms.
Music has always been central to Sebastian Robertson's life. He has played in several bands and appeared on the album Music For The Native Americans. He has composed over 3,000 pieces of music in television and film. He also served as the musical director on the acclaimed documentary series Playing For Change. Sebastian is currently writing a number of children's books and is developing a cable television series. The author lives in California, USA.

The Friday 56

"WhenI first heard the sound of Lady Day, I thought her voice told more stories than one life can live. I had never come across anything quite like that before. A voice that could dazzle you with smoke and tears." -- R.R.

My Review

The book shares 27 short profiles of legendary artists and their music that changed the world, including my life. It's a great reference book, like an encyclopedia for young musicians. You'll take a look at a timeline of mega-gifted artists who shared strong cultural messages of the day while others communicated from their own personal challenges. You can easily pick up the book and read anywhere about the cutting edge of performance from the sounds of rock and roll, jazz greats, folk icons and country stars. I can totally relate to the music here, from great grooves to unforgettable lyrics.

All in all, I was blown away by the awesome contents because I learned so much. The breath-taking illustrations are stunning and the awesome sounds on the two CDs had me on my feet singing and dancing. I have such a fondness for smooth vocals from Ella, Billie, and Frank. Great piano work by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Carole King.

You'll love the book and wish you had another copy to give to a friend. It's that great... I highly recommend for the young and adults, too. If you're passionate about music and it's history, get the book. Thanks for the wonderful memories, guys. As an educator, I proudly share it in my studio with all my students, their parents, and my grandchildren. Appreciative of your great work here. What a gift!

5/5 stars. Highly recommend.

LEGENDS, ICONS & REBELS with 2 CD Set: Music That Changed the World: by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson

Tracklist for Legends, Icons & Rebels

Disc One
1. Chuck Berry Johnny B. Goode
2. Johnny Cash Get Rhythm
3. Aretha Franklin I Say a Little Prayer
4. The Beatles Here Comes the Sun
6. Bob Marley Three Little Birds
5. Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World
7. Buddy Holly Peggy Sue
8. Joni Mitchell The Circle Game
9. Ray Charles & The Raelettes Hit the Road Jack
10. Elvis Presley Hound Dog
11. Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions People Get Ready
12. Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off

Disc Two
1. Little Richard Lucille
2. Hank Williams Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
3. Frank Sinatra Fly Me to the Moon
4. Marvin Gaye I Heard It Through the Grapevine
6. Sam Cooke Wonderful World
5. Carole King So Far Away
7. Louis Jordan Caldonia
8. The Beach Boys In My Room
9. Ella Fitzgerald A-Tisket, A-Tasket
10. James Brown I Got You (I Feel Good)
11. Patsy Cline Crazy
12. Otis Redding That’s How Strong My Love Is
13. Nat King Cole It’s Only a Paper Moon
14. Stevie Wonder Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
15. Bob Dylan Forever Young

LEGENDS, ICONS & REBELS with 2 CD Set: Music That Changed the World: by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson

Skywatch Friday

"From absolutely heartbreaking to explosive - I saw Otis backed by Booker T. and the MG's with the Memphis Horns. You couldn't help thinking, 'That may be it. That may be the most magical musical experience you will ever witness.' -- R.R.

I'm linking my review to http://www.fredasvoice.com

I am blessed with a beautiful view and some mornings just start off in a magnificent way!
Have a lovely weekend...