Storm Country ...

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.”

        ~ Louisa May Alcott

           ~ 1832-1888

An artistic view of an approaching storm that eventually passed by on a beautiful July afternoon overlooking a cornfield adjacent to Covered Bridge Park, Orefield, Pennsylvania.

Shank Of The Evening ...

It’s the shank of the evening! But when is that, exactly? This phrase typically suggests that the night is far from over, shank being an old word for something, straight, or the tail end of something. But as the Dictionary of American Regional English notes, in the South, evening is considered “the time between late afternoon and dusk.”

The lyrics “In the shank of the night,

When the doins’ are right

Well you can tell 'em I’ll be there …” are part of “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of The Evening,” music by Hoagy Carmichael & lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1951

It’s the shank of the evening as the moon is illuminated by the last hues of the setting summer sun as the sky segues to twilight on July 1, 2020 at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

I just love the phrase “shank of the evening,” and was very happy to take a photo that showcases it!

Carolina Evening Shade ...

“Southern nights

Have you ever felt a southern night?

Free as a breeze

Not to mention the trees

Whistling tunes that you know and love so

Southern nights

Just as good even when closed your eyes

I apologize to anyone who can truly say

That he’s found a better way

Southern skies

Have you ever noticed southern skies?

Its precious beauty lies just beyond the eye 

It goes running through the soul

Like the stories told of old

Old man

He and his dog that walk that old land

Every flower touched his cold hand

As he slowly walked by

Weeping willows would cry for joy

Joy

Feels so good it’s frightening

Wish I could

Stop this world from fighting

La-da-da-da-da, da-la-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da

Mystery

Like this and many others

In the trees

Blow in the night

In the southern skies

Southern nights

They feel so good it’s frightening

Wish I could

Stop this world from fighting

Da-da-da-da-da…”

      ~ “Southern Nights”

     ~ written & recorded by Allen Toussaint (1938-2015) from his 1975 album “Southern Nights,” and later recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell (1936-2017). It was the first single released from Campbell’s 1977 album “Southern Nights” and reached number one on three separate U.S. charts.

  

The lyrics of “Southern Nights” were inspired by childhood memories Allen Toussaint had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods, which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies. When Campbell heard Toussaint’s version, he immediately identified with the lyrics which reminded him of his own youth growing up on an Arkansas farm. In October 1976, Campbell recorded the song with slightly modified lyrics.

The light of the looming autumn sunset dances on a pine tree that provides some lovely evening shade on a beautiful late October evening in the Lowcountry of Beaufort County, South Carolina.