Sunday, November 21, 2010

Blue Moon on the Rise



It appears another myth I have long ascribed to our night sky has been debunked, depending on one's perspective or personal preference. Tonight is the night of the full moon, as well as a blue moon. I always thought a blue moon is the second full moon occurring in a given month, something that happens now and then in our lunar cycles. It turns out there's another explanation. A blue moon occurs when four full moons appear in a given season, the third one being the blue moon. At least that's what the Maine Farmer's Almanac of 1937 put forward as the explanation. Here is a link that describes these two definitions and how they came to be:
http://www.space.com

It doesn't appear to matter which explanation you choose. I'm sure all cultures have given it their own definition and perhaps with a more romantic if not metaphysical connotation. I'm going with the romantic. And, just to add to that notion tonight it's rising in my sign, Taurus.

When I was a child, I danced around the living room to Patsy Cline and, "Blue Moon of Kentucky." I would sing along with all the practiced twang I could muster there in the Minnesota north woods. In honor of tonight's blue moon, here's Patsy ...



18 comments:

  1. Lovely way to start my day, this tune will be with me for the rest of the day. 'Once in a blue moon' was a saying I grew up with.

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  2. Hello Teresa! I love the romantic blue moon ! And Patsy Kline's special voice. What a beautiful photo of the moon and the blue planet. I went out on the terasse to look at the moon, but it has failed me tonight. The sky is over-clouded. ´(
    On your sideboard: Vermeer was a great painter. Love his Music Lesson.
    Grethe `)

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  3. Thanks, Teresa, for your beautiful comment. We're soul sisters forever, girl! I worried sick last year when you were driving from NM to Minnesota! Happy you're home and safe this year.

    Didn't know why a blue moon came to be so be. Thanks for the info...gonna take a look in a sec. As for Patsy Cline, well, she's the gold standard. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and your funny bone (which is there, right?) XOXO Kittie

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  4. Marilyn, Yes, I grew up with it, too. And, that song attaches itself, doesn't it?

    Grethe. I'm afraid it's cloudy here, as well. Not much possibility of seeing it, but we know it's there... :)

    Kittie, I thought of that recently, your kindness at that time... Thank you so much.
    My funny bone is on the mend... almost good to go... :)

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  5. Here's to a wonderful blue moon evening, love the boufant hairdos too. What a hoot, happy thanksigiving to you.

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  6. Hi Linda! Weren't those hair-dos great? And Happy Thanksgiving to You!

    Cheers to the Blue Moon!
    Teresa

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  7. This is a fun song ~ and isn't it fun looking at the old hair doos and clothing way back then? I guess people will be laughing at our styles in 50 years ~ of course ~ we are already making fun of the 1980's and all that big hair! haha!
    xo Catherine

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  8. Thanks for visiting, Cat. Have a good week!

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  9. Dear Teresa,
    Just now had time to read your post. Blue Moons and Patsy.... Two of my fovorite subjects. I love you Dear Little Lamb for always bringing to light such loving subjects! I had always gone with the five in a month moon definition, too. Oh, well!!!! My whole family loves Patsy. I grew up on the SD/MN border (Big Stone Lake) so I spent a great deal of time in SD too. I have some real authentic good stories of Patsy when she used to sing in parts of SD. My son's 16 yr. old Border Collie just died and she was named Patsy, after our one and only. Patsy now RIP up on my ranch in Helena.

    That vid from YT is the most precious thing. That song isn't commonly known.
    There's another old Blue Moon song that comes to mind. Don't remember the singer.... would have to look it up. It goes... "Blue Moon, You saw me standing alone, You knew just what I was there for, Someone I really could care for." etc.

    Thanks for this post. I missed your last one entirely. Poke me when you change. My life isn't my own these days. Some days I don't even get to the computer.
    Loving thoughts for a happy and grateful Thanksgiving.
    Manzi

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  10. Manzi, I thank you for your dear, kind words. They mean a lot to me. Patsy is a big part of our family, too. I was so happy to find this video of one of my favorites of hers. I would love to hear your Patsy stories sometime. I feel a kinship with her, but then, she affected so many that way.

    The other Blue Moon was originally done by the Marcels, in 1961, and then covered by many others. My favorite may be Dean Martin's version, but then, I am a huge Dino fan!

    You probably don't want more email stuff, but there is a place on the sidebar to subscribe to my posts where you'll get a head's up in your email when I post a new one.

    Wishing you and your family a truly Happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for, every day of the year, but it's nice to have a day set aside as a special reminder.

    Lovingly,
    Teresa

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  11. Thanks for the clarification of that other popular Blue Moon. I too, googled it after the song hit my brain. I had the words a little out of sequence but.....it's been a long time. LOL I liked the Ella F one too. Ella was another favorite of mine. But... can't hold a candle to the Patsy video you put on your post. I'm gonna go listen to it again... so long for now. Thanks, I'll sign by email.

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  12. During my university days there was the Blue Moon Inn, where we would go occasionally on the weekend for a drink or two. The term has a pleasant connotation for me to this day.

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  13. It is nice, isn't it? It has similar connotations for me. Henry James said, "Summer afternoon...the two most beautiful words in the English language," but blue moon must be awfully close.

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving Teresa E. Have been catching up on wonderful posts.

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  15. I like these infrequent things: blue moon, eclipses. Let's me know that things aren't always the same. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  16. Thank you, Joan, and Thank you, Jack, for your Thanksgiving greetings and well-wishes. It was a very nice day . I was able to make a holiday meal for my sons for the first time in nine years, since before I moved to Santa Fe. It's good to be where I can enjoy their company at these times.

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  17. Patsy Cline was one of a kind, wasn't she? Good song.

    Also loved Blue Moon by the Marcels...that's the one that comes to mind for me.

    I'm so happy you had your boys with you for the holiday.

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  18. Cheryl, Yes, she certainly was. And thank you, ever so much. It was a really wonderful day.

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