Always Spring

Opryland Hotel Nashville, TN.... where it's always a balmy 70 degrees, even if it's snowing outside...

Glorious Evening

Nashville Night

Lit up over the Cumberland..... Nashville, Tennessee

My fave landmark.... The Bat Building --- Bellsouth Tower

Roses

Part of the Mother's Valentine's Day...she got a pretty good bunch o' stuff all in all...

Ahhhhh....

Always on my itinerary when I visit home....Tristar Vineyards and Winery is just minutes away from the house. This place has some of the best wines, jellies, and cheese you have ever put in your mouth. And of course, Elaine is always ready to pop that cork for the taste test (which in my case goes straight down the wine list everytime I visit...love that buzz!! hehe). No pics of the vineyard, because it is still cold, the vines were dormant. There is a wedding scheduled there in June, and I am going to try to be around near that time. The place is beautiful!

..........and the wine is amazing.

boing...boing...boing...

Ever seen the commercial where the Jack Russell is bouncing all over the place? Weeellll, they reallllllly do. Meet Sammie, the next door neighbors Jack Russell mix (heavy on the Russell). He is living proof...

Late Afternoon Chorus

Springing up everywhere.....

:::Deep Breath:::

Groundhog be damned! Spring is coming.....

Dress Rehearsal

            

                   Because I believe in everything this girl does....

                                      Because she is my hero...

             Because she is as sweet and genuine as they come....

    Because her talent is astonishing and never ceases to amaze me...

I am adding her newest video here for anyone who wishes to see it, because it has not yet been released in the States (only Canada). Even though I rarely use words in this journal, just photos, to get my passions across, this woman's talent has amazed me since the first time I heard her sing in a small bar in Nashville. Before the publishing contract. Before the record contract. I followed her everywhere she played. Her music hits very close to home with me, and has helped me through the darkest of days. Isn't that what being a singer/songwriter is all about? The human connection? Definitely connecting. Thank you, Carolyn. You amaze me on a continual basis.

                                                   "Dress Rehearsal"

                                       Windows Media Player or Quicktime

Have a safe trip and an absolute blast in the UK next week, CDJ....Blow 'em away, girl!! Lovish!!!

                               

Basking....

Shhhhhhhh....the bad kitty (Kansas) is very quiet....he is sweet when he's asleep....

Soaking up the 6am rays....this probably felt good after the chillish night we had last night.

.................hmph.  "#&%$*&!!! Just HAD to wake me, didn't you??!!??"

Almost Dark

Nature's Palette

Happy Valentine's Day, All

Took some Valentine's photos of a friend's wedding rings today....and thought the same would be cool with my mom and dad's rings. The rings above belong to my friend Jennifer and her husband.

And these well-beaten rings show the love and devotion and companionship that my parents had for almost 60 years. My father's ring, as you can see, is very scratched, dented and bruised. He worked on mechanical engines and installed propane gas tanks for a living---and as you can tell by the dings, he NEVER took his ring off. Mom's is somewhat shinier and has more of a dainty look, but it is not perfectly round...those dings and bends show true love over the years....all wrapped up in a tiny gold band. I had the bottom photo matted and framed for the Mother today, and she absolutely adored it.

Tennessee Dusk

Sun setting over a walking horse farm.... This is halfway between Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, and some of the prettiest farms around (right on US 431!!!). I had to stop on the side of the highway and just breathe this in for a few minutes...I think I took the sight for granted when I travelled this road every day to work and home, but not on visits....gotta take these mental snapshots to keep....

Happy Birthday, Sweet Google!

Look who's two!!! Happy Birthday, my Shelby girl! I love you!

        

Playing hard....

Blowing out the candles....

True Love x 3....

Out sick...ack

Out of work for two days.... nothing like TWO inner ear infections and a sore throat to make you feel dizzier than usual and just plain "ack".  Been fighting it off for a couple days, and it got the better of me last night. Leaving you with a special friendship prayer and see you in a couple...

Geese

Canadian geese chillin' in a pond on a walking horse farm in Deason, Tennessee

CDJ

Saw CDJ (Carolyn Dawn Johnson) at the Grand Ole Opry this past Saturday night...she put on a stellar show as always. Can't get enough of her music...

Jammin'.... this girl ROCKS the country stage---if you haven't seen her, you should..."This ain't no Dress Rehearsal"....

January Red Hat Trip

Went out with those mad red hatters again the other day, and (of course) had a blast---laughed my ass off, actually. They are SUCH the trip.

This was the site of the latest invasion, Remington Hall on Fort McClellan. It is simply gorgeous out there.  Since it has been closed to the military and opened to the public, we are free to roam the place over. It's very interesting, as a lot of the old barracks and housing (etc) are still there, but abandoned. They are re-vamping the whole place...

Grins before lunch...

Congregating outside the hall for last goodbyes... Thanks for having me along again, you guys. You never cease to entertain...

I am off to Nashville for some R&R and live music... <sigh> There's no place like home.