Catchin’ Snowflakes

Catchin' Snowflakes

Would you believe that even though we’re entering the second week of January, I’ve only seen one honest-to-goodness snowfall? And the snow didn’t even stick on the ground! Personally, I am not a fan of winter weather at all…but my students are, which is why I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll have a chance to make this song come true very soon.

I have Listen & Learn Plus! member Nell H. to thank for this week’s song topic. It’s such a fun idea — what child doesn’t enjoy catching snowflakes on his or her tongue?


I don’t think we’re going to see much snow in the next few days, considering the forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s. We’ll just have to keep waiting, I guess — and enjoying the warmer weather in the meantime!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

Today sure is one of them…at least, where I live. But contrary to the lyrics of the Carpenters’ song bearing that same title, they don’t always get me down. In fact, sometimes they motivate me to buckle down and get to work. The sound of the rain, mixed in with my typing, makes for a pretty good soundtrack!

Another song on that soundtrack is my go-to “Rainy Day” tune, which I use with my students when we sing about the weather. I’ve been humming it ever since venturing out into the rain this morning, and thought I’d pass it along to you :)

(If you haven’t already, you can join the Listen & Learn newsletter and get the entire Weather album for free.)

After a weekend away, I have plenty to do to keep me busy on this rainy Monday. Aside from laundry and housecleaning, I have emails to return, videos to make, and presentations to prepare. Better get back to work!

Friday Fave: A Blue Kind of Day

Blue Kind of Day

Today is the first completely and utterly BLUE day we’ve seen in months. When I say blue, I don’t mean blue skies; I mean blue as in clouds and pouring rain. A real bummer of a day, truth be told.

So why in the world is this the topic of today’s Friday Fave? Well for one, we really needed the rain. And two, this blue day gives me the perfect opportunity to participate in Music Sparks’ Blue Challenge!

I’m always putting together playlists to suit or shape my mood (for example, here are 10 songs that just make me feel good), so why not make one for a blue day like today? I have a long list of projects to work on before my first student arrives this afternoon, so here are the tunes that will serve as my soundtrack:

  1. Set Fire to the Rain (Adele)
  2. Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
  3. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
  4. Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
  5. Rainy Days and Mondays (The Carpenters)
  6. Blue (LeAnn Rimes)
  7. Rain Roll In (Eilen Jewell)
  8. Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)
  9. Rain is a Good Thing (Luke Bryan)
  10. Singing in the Rain (Gene Kelly)

It’s funny, but as I listened to these songs, I actually started to feel less and less blue. Surprising, considering every one of these songs has either the word “blue” or “rain” in the title! What songs are on your “blue day” playlist?

Fellow bloggers: you should participate in the “Blue Challenge” over at Music Sparks, too. You still have two days to do so! A big thanks to JoAnn Jordan and Laura Crum for coming up with such a fun idea.

Friday Fave: Heat Wave!

Egg Frying on Sidewalk

It seems like all anyone can talk about this week — both on Facebook and in person — is how darn hot it is outside. Here in central Illinois, we’ve been under a heat advisory since Sunday…but the truth is, I don’t mind one bit.

Yep, I’m one of those people who likes it hot. It came as no surprise to anyone that I chose to attend college in Florida, and as hard as it was to adjust back to winters in the Midwest, I like the summer heat here. I can even handle the humidity, as long as there is a pool nearby!

All this heated talk has got me thinking about the songs revolving around that same topic. So if you’re currently experiencing a heat wave, too, here are some tunes to serve as a soundtrack:

  • “Heat Wave” from White Christmas
  • “Summer in the City” by Lovin’ Spoonful
  • “Hot, Hot, Hot” by Buster Poindexter
  • “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas
  • “The Heat is On” by Glenn Frey
  • “Too Darn Hot” by Ella Fitzgerald

Are you melting over in your neck of the woods? And what songs would you add to my list? (For more children’s tunes about summer, take a look here.) Have a good weekend…and stay cool!

Friday Fave: Here Comes the Sun

Picture of the Sun

You’d think that by this point in April, I’d have already enjoyed quite a few sunny days here in central Illinois…but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.  Although we’ve been spared the terrible storms and tornadoes that have devastated many other states, this spring will NOT go down in my book as a pleasant one, weather-wise.

But I’m hopeful that will change as we approach May, and this morning’s sunny sky is a good sign.  It comes at an especially good time, because my family is weathering some cloudy skies as we prepare to say goodbye to my husband’s grandmother, who suffered a stroke last week and is now in hospice.  But we’re thankful for her long, happy life (she’s 92) and all that she did for her family — especially my husband, to whom she was especially close.

Sunny days are a nice reminder of all the good things to come, like summer vacation, my birthday, weddings, and lazy days by the pool (though I don’t get as many of those as I used to).  Just a little over a month until I get to enjoy all four!

Sunny days also give my students and I an opportunity to sing the “Sunny Day” weather song!  Since it hasn’t happened often so far this year, we make the most out of every chance we get to do so.  Today is one of those days:

Sun-sun-sunny day, lalalalala,
Sun-sun-sunny day, yes sir!
Look outside and what do you see?
The sun is shining down on me.
Sun-sun-sunny day, lalalalala,
Sun-sun-sunny day!

The air is warm, and the sky is blue.
A beautiful day for me and you.

Sun-sun-sunny day, lalalalala,
Sun-sun-sunny day, yes sir!
Look outside and what do you see?
The sun is shining down on me.
Sun-sun-sunny day, lalalalala,
Sun-sun-sunny day!

I hope your Friday is shaping up to be as beautiful as mine promises to be. Thank you so much for sharing part of it with me!