Madras, Oregon's Art in the Park, choirs and bands

Many of the different grades in our local schools sang some songs for us.  

And the bands played. I was amazed at how good these kids actually were.

 

This band totally wowed the crowd.

This band is not kids but kids at heart. My favorite local Central Oregon band, "Three quarters short"

Our own local grown boy Mark Mobley who got up and sang with "three quarters short". He sings with another of my favorite bands that is known all over the Northwest, Countrified.

Another group sings for us.

A blue grass band made up of local players and singers.

This was an amazing day, so much talent for such a little community and such diversity. I could not stay the whole day or you would have had even more to look at.  Next I will be loading up some of the different styles of dancers.

Madras, Oregon Arts in the Park "Native American Dancers"

This year an "Arts in the park" was held in Madras, Oregon to show the different types of performing arts that might use the new center they are building.  It was an amazing day and boy does Madras have a lot of talent available.

It was so much fun seeing all the different things the kids in this community are capable of doing. So many times the public is only aware of the sports activities and we enjoyed this venue.

We started off with an eagle dance from one of our Native American kids. This is a rare privilege and so enjoyable.

Next came a grand entry by some of the Native Americans showing the different styles of dances they do, such as Traditional, Fancy, Jingle etc.  There is an order they have to come into the arena on a Grand Entry which is led by royalty.

Some examples of the different dancers.

If you ever get a chance to go to a Pow Wow you should as watching these kids is amazing. If you don't think it is a lot of work get up in the Won-a-bee dance and see how much work it actually takes to dance.  A heritage in Central Oregon I am extremely proud to see. 

Countrified's Mark Mobley

Countrified is one of my favorite bands and has been for years. One of the reasons they are so much fun is that they have so much fun it is contagious.

Mark was exhausted this night as he had been branding and working cattle on the ranch and then went up and worked at this wife's nursery then down here to Gino's to play music.

As tired as he was look at how much fun he is having. Almost the smile.

Since there was only the two of them tonight Mark being the cutup and showman he is he was playing the tambourine with his foot.

And laughter erupts from all and he never missed a beat..

The laughter continues and he just keeps right on singing away.  Maybe he is part comedian too since he can do stuff like this and not crack up with the rest of us.

So you think he practiced this before hand or has done it before?

Friends joined in for a song or two.

A request was put in on a song that Mark did not know the words too or this was the solution. A guy looked up the words on this cell phone and then stood by Mark and scrolled the words down while Mark sang. Now that is dedicated to giving the fans what they want.

After all the work he did that night and singing for quite a while the man still had energy to goof off where everyone had a good time.

Thanks Mark we had a blast!

Hearing and the elderly

I took my mom to the hearing doctor (can't spell the proper name) and learned a lot about hearing and the elderly.

Most of the time the elderly do not have damage per say it is that the hairs in the ear get brittle and stiff. She said hearing is a lot of work for the elderly.

I know my mom used to say "I am sorry I was not paying attention. She said she had to concentrate sometimes to hear if there was back ground noise.

She explained it was like going to a class and trying to learn a hard subject and only hearing part of the speakers words. She said it wears you out mentally and physically to try that hard to hear.

I had just got done the night before doing a laws and liability class that I had to mentally stay alert to be able to learn as it was so complicated and I was exhausted at the end of the day.  She said that is how every day is to the elderly.

She said if you are going to talk to the elderly you should be within 10 feet of them as after 10 feet the sound drops off.

The reason speaking slower works sometimes is that they have to work so hard to hear you that it gives them more time.

She said to always be within 10 feet and to speak a little slower and to make sure you get their attention before you speak. She said they are exhausted by the end of the day from working so hard mentally as it is a hard job to concentrate that hard all day long.

Mom is getting hearing aids now and I am so glad. Before I was glad because now she could hear us and we could converse with her. Now I am glad she is getting them where she can relax a little and not have to work so hard.

Some stuff to think about. Maybe we should all fill our ears with ear plugs and see just how hard it is for them and then maybe we would be a little bit better.  I know making my kids live the life of a person with a problem for a day sure made them understand more. I think we should all get our ear plugs and try it for a day and not take them out because something comes up that you really had to hear. Remember they don't get to take theirs out.

I will keep you informed on how this goes. She goes in again in 2 weeks to have her fittings and then she has 75 days to see if she likes them or gets a full refund so it is mistake free until they find a pair that works for her.

Relaxation techniques

In this modern days of no time for anything we need ways to relax.  We rush to everything and when we relax it is sitting in front of a TV set where the noise and bustle of life still continues. We watch the news, which is stressful and depressing. We watch high drama shows which get our adrenaline up. We watch reality shows and get caught up in who is going to win.

We need to go back to the "good ole days", yes there was some good in those days.  I love to sit outside and listen to Gods music, the frogs croaking, the birds singing, the wind in the trees.

The beauty of a bird, this Mourning Dove was walking through the flower bed and stopped right under some fake flowers in a patch of sunlight and kinked her head up to listen to some unknown sound that I could not hear. She was so still and poised you would think she was also as fake as the flowers.

Here she is joined by her mate. Do you think that might have been what she was listening too earlier? If you are not real quiet the birds fly away so it is a very peaceful time.

Right above them hang the feeders. They are probably getting the seeds that were knocked down from the feeders to the ground. This is a favorite place for the doves and the quail to gather.

I also have a sock feeder with thistle in it that the little finches just love. The males are a really bright yellow but the females are not highly colored as this shows while they feed on the sock feeder.

I must have moved and spooked them

This 15 minutes I sat here relaxed me more then watching an hour of TV. Such a peaceful feeling when you are in touch with nature.  Peace and quiet, many would pay a fortune for that.

Native American Fancy Dancer Flowers

I got these flowers just because they remind me of the fancy dancers at the Native American Pow Wows. They are such colorful fun dancers.

If you ever get a chance to go to a Pow Wow you should go. The dancing is amazing and so much a part of their life and religion.  I love these flowers but I don't know what they are called. To me they are just my Fancy Dancer Flowers.

Tulips galore

I love tulips and mine bloomed so pretty this year.

I am not sure what it is about a flower but it sure can raise your spirits when you are depressed. I know why it became where you got your girl flowers when she was mad at you because it is hard to be mad or sad when flowers are around.