Nancy Avritt: News

The playlist is growing!  I've added 7 songs from my albums "Heartening Songs for Critical Times" (2005) and "New Earth Beats" (2006).  Enjoy!

Don't miss the Pics page under "Out West" and "Great Smoky Mountains."

Now you can hear the entire album, "Songs of Hope for Stormy Times" on the flashplayer.  Of course, there are also several "Web of Life" songs and one or two from "New Earth Beats." Also, there are a couple of new songs that are not on an album, just for you to enjoy!

Why does the site keep changing the look??? Why not?  A wise person once said:  "There is nothing as constant as change."   . . . . think about it. . . .

Did you miss the perigee moon?Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. It is an ellipse with one side (perigee) about 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other (apogee)  This was taken in my front yard just before 6am March 20, 2011. This was the biggest Perigee moon since 1993.

In a rare occurrence, two members of my staff were caught actually getting along.  Here's the photo to prove it!

Okay, so let me know what you think. . . just sign the guestbook! And be sure to scroll through the Photos.  I've added a section entitled  "Critter Tracks."  I have a fascination with animal and bird tracks. . . maybe because I mostly look down when I walk. . . who knows??

The weather was picture-perfect in Carmel and in Monterey, California when I went in January!  Please enjoy the photos of the beautiful Pacific coastline and some of the critters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Click on the Photo page, of course!

You may now go to the Videos and Music page to hear 30-second clips from my new CD, Songs of Hope for Stormy Times. This music is available for purchase exclusively through www.stoopsmanufacturing.com  However, you can listen to just a little of each song right here.  Let me know how you like it!  The guest book is open for comments!

Be sure to check out the new photos posted under Guest Photography.  They were sent in by my friend and artist Cheryl Sasser.  Enjoy!

These beautiful creatures appear to be traveling east to west as they enter and exit my yard, with no exceptions.  Their destination is either Mexico or southern California. Their presence signals that autumn has indeed arrived!

My new CD, Songs of Hope for Stormy Times, is now available exclusively through Stoops Manufacturing Company.  Please call to order at 800-235-3536 or visit their website:  www.stoopsmanufacturing.com

My new CD has encountered a few production snags, primarily because of infighting.  Yes, the staff is at it again, with their usual artistic differences. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of slapping and hissing.  We hope to resolve the conflicts soon and will have the new CD available in the next few weeks!  Keep checking!

Sadly,  Pensacola Beach was hit today with ugly oil from the BP spill.  We went out to take a look this afternoon, and were stunned, especially since the beach was absolutely pristine only a few days ago.  I was able to photograph this with my cell phone while standing on the walkway.  Some workers were watching us to be sure we didn't get too close.  The smell was strong, and in the waves we could see red-brown oil rolling in relentlessly.  It took 65 days for the oil to reach our sugar-sand beaches, but it looks like it is here to stay for awhile.

On the photos page you will see a group of outstanding pictures sent in by my guests.  If you have any contributions, please send them (along with a detailed description) to my e-mail:  navritt@nancyavritt.com

Yesterday was Earth Day, a day that has been set aside since 1970 to think about our care for the Planet.  Of course, we should do that every day! However, I did take a little time out of my day to visit some gentle creatures at our local Zoo, and I have added a few new photos to my gallery for you to enjoy.

The Gulf Breeze Zoo is now under new management and is open for business!  Our precious animals have been well cared for during the months of closure and are now greeting visitors once again!

Some fans of Heartening Songs for Critical Times have asked if I had any part in the new songbook which was released at the "Keep on the Watch" Conventions this year.  The answer is no.  Perhaps the publishers thought my staff would be too difficult to work with. . . maybe they don't like cats. . . maybe my "Roadie" looked a little too ferocious. . . anyhow, I was completely unaware of a new songbook until its' release last June. . . and that's the truth!

The former Zoo Northwest Florida will reopen in late winter or early spring as the Gulf Breeze Zoo under the ownership of a company that runs a drive-through animal park in Virginia, according to zoo founder Pat Quinn.

This is certainly welcome news to those of us who love our local Zoo! 

Plagued by financial troubles since Hurricane Ivan struck the area in 2004, the Zoo closed on Sunday, August 16, 2009, awaiting the decisions from the governments of two local counties to provide $125,000 each in funding. Zoo officials said that if they could not secure the funding by Friday, August 21, then closure will be permanent.

On Wednesday, August 19, Zoo officials announced that the closure of the Zoo would be permanent. However, the Zoo's website says it's temporary. 

I will try to give more updates as they become available.

You may now go to the LISTEN page and get a free download of "Whatever Things," a song based on Philippians 4:8, 9. This song was included on my first album, New Earth Songs, which is no longer available. I hope you enjoy the new version, and if you have any comments on it, please leave them on the Guestbook page or e-mail me. Enjoy!

Yes, and this time our travels took us to Germany and Austria, so check out the photos of the Web of Life, European style!

Special thanks to John Hodgson for submitting the beautiful photo of the Golden Eagle in Canada.

Also, a few photos of my staff are now available, including my arranger, piano tuner, editor, and critic: actually just two not-so-ordinary tabby cats! Enjoy!

If you want to play along with my music or create your own version of what I do, just put in your request by e-mailing me. I will send a copy of my song(s) for your personal use, free of charge. You may request songs from "The Web of Life," "Heartening Songs for Critical Times," and "New Earth Beats." So, come on. . . start singing and playing my songs yourself and help spread some good music around!

Can't believe I've actually seen them here in Florida, soaring right over my head, but I have, several times in the past six months. The first time, back in September, there were four or five together, and I immediately noticed white heads. I remembered learning in grade school (many moons ago) that we would probably never see a bald eagle in the wild because there were so few left. Thinking it was just too good to be true, I doubted myself and wondered if they were ospreys. However, unlike ospreys, these guys were making a lot of noise. And they were HUGE. So I went to the National Geographic webpage on Bald Eagles, and it had a recording of their cry, and it was exactly what I had heard: very unusual, and unforgettable. Wow! What a thrill to see this marvelous creature come back from the brink of extinction! Sorry I have no photos. By the time I run for my camera, they're gone. I guess that's not surprising that they fly faster than I run . . . but I'll keep trying!