The Caverns

The Caverns, Pelham Tennessee

an underground music venue, the home of 

Bluegrass Underground on PBS

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band!

we actually saw them in concert about 44 years ago 

An awesome venue, and a great way to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary!

rainy day playlist

the thunder rolls

as morning has broken

here in the beach house

watching Pandora pong

back and forth on the tv

a modern day mixed tape

listening to a playlist

based on our favorite artist

thank god he's a country boy

I wonder what John thinks

of sharing air time with the rocket man

and piano man and sweet baby James

lyrics that were written back

when songs told stories

maybe he is smiling down

along with Croce and Harrison

glad that their tunes

are still alive and well

morning has broken

as the thunder rolls

listening to snippets of old songs

makes me smile

and sad at the same time

some good ones gone too soon

if only I could save time in a bottle

or sail through the changin' ocean tides

or feel the sunshine on my shoulders

look! here comes the sun

greens of summer

You give us those nice bright colors 

You give us the greens of summers 

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah! 

I got a Nikon camera 

I love to take a photograph 

So Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away 

~Paul Simon 1973

13 playlist

So I inherited an I-pod after Buddy got a new one the other day, I never really wanted an mp3 player, I like to listen to the radio, see what's new out there, station-surf while driving. But lately there seems to be nothing to listen to, all talk, or the same old songs over and over.

Now I have this new technology, and started loading it up, there are about 300 songs on there so far. When looking over the list, there are a lot of oldies, guess that is who I am, an oldie. A few new things, some songs from my favorite movies.

I love the old lyrics, some songs make me smile from the picture in my head.

Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce - our first apartment in surburbia of Atlanta, Jim Croce on the stereo - there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them

Young and newly married we went to concerts - Elton John at the Atlanta Stadium in his electric suit, Three Dog Night, and of course John Denver - I've been lately thinking about my life's time, all the things I've done and how it's been

Our first dog was named after John Sebastian - Do you believe in magic?

Great beach songs: Kokomo by the Beach Boys - Aruba, Jamaica ooh I wanna take ya to Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama,and Bobby McFerrin's Don't worry, be happy, and a newer one, Toes by Zac Brown - I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand, not a worry in the world

Fun movie tunes - Summer Love from Grease with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and again John Travolta dancing to Chain of Fools in Michael, and that young Tom Cruise in Top Gun - You've lost that lovin feeling

Our traditional family vacation traveling song - On the road again just can't wait to get on the road again by Willie Nelson

Songs that tell stories like Don McLean's American Pie - A long long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile, and Let it Be by the Beatles - When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, Harrin Chapin's Taxi, and Cat's in the Cradle.

Throw in some John Mayer, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow and the list is starting to round out nicely.

New music? Some Zac Brown, Sugarland, Taylor, Kenny, Brad, maybe someday these new songs will bring back memories, but for now the oldies are in my head and on my playlist.

What's on your playlist?

Music makes pictures and often tells stories
All of it magic and all of it true
And all of the pictures and all of the stories
All of the magic, the music is you ~John Denver

Thursday 13

slow down

It is hard to go back to work
after a long holiday weekend,
so just take it slow.

No rush today,
one thing at a time,
multitasking is overrated.

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.


I've come to watch your flowers growin'.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?


I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.


Simon and Garfunkel said it best, lyrics here

~photos 7 July 2010 in the yard

let it snow

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let It Snow!

Let It Snow!

Let It Snow!


Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

We were surprised with a first snow of the season on the first day of December, not much accumulation but pretty nonetheless. The road over the mountain was solid ice, though, and folks that did have a place to go had to go 'round the long way. Folks like me that work at home kept the delightful home fires burning and said Let it Snow!

~Let it Snow lyrics
~photos from around the house 1 December 2008

my bags are packed...

all my bags are packed
I'm ready to go...

cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
don't know when I'll be back again

Vacation time!

Hopefully the next pictures posted here will be ones we take. Off to Canada for a few days, celebrating our soon to be 35th wedding anniversary!

That song has been in my head for a week, now it is in yours too! We can sing it together along with John here!

~lyrics John Denver's Leaving on a Jet Plane

~photo of Banff Avenue from wiki

collections

It is time to think about Spring cleaning,
lifting the layers of winter dust,
uncluttering the clutter,
out with the stale, in with the fresh Spring air.




They say our homes are an extension of ourselves,
looking around this old house, I see

the still hands of the cypress clock,
seashells from Florida, posters from vacation,
collections of books, coins, mugs, cobwebs




school yearbooks, half finished craft projects,
quilts, bears, boxes and albums filled with pictures,
files of paper, dust, record albums, movies, souvenirs




photos on dusty shelves of dead relatives,
pictures of prom, homecoming, families, babies,
walls filled with handmade treasures


Material possessions just waiting for the next generation.

You know what else they say - you can't take it with you...

You don’t bring nothing with you here
And you can’t take nothing back
I ain’t never seen a hearse
with a luggage rack
~lyrics by George Strait


~inspiration for Spring cleaning - a great list of 56 things you can toss out now

~disclaimer - the list is real, stuff actually seen here at the house, the photos were taken July 2007 at Mentone Springs Hotel, Alabama

high school 101

Last night was 'introduction to high school' meeting for 8th graders and parents. Wow, high school! Granddaughter Sarah is headed that way. Melissa and Sarah attended, now they are all pumped up and ready to start!

money talks - to get parents and kids to attend this meeting, gift cards were given out to lucky students, parents, even the teacher with the most students there.

no slackers - New state requirements - all diplomas will be college-prep.

directing traffic - Everyone has a Graduation Coach to steer you in the right direction - (we used to call them guidance counselors).

driving force - 10 unexcused absences = no drivers licence.

just do it (or don't) - advice from me - someone who has been there, done that:

do get involved
do be yourself
do your homework
do play sports

don’t stress out
don’t be late
don’t give in
don’t forget to have fun




This for all you girls about 13
High school can be so rough
Can be so mean
Hold onto, onto your innocence
Stand your ground
When everybody's givin' in

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are

This one's for the girls
Who loved without holdin back
Who dreamed with everything they had
All around the world

lyrics This Ones for the Girls ~Martina McBride, singer / Aimee Mayo songwriter

don't blink

All together now - ahhhhh....

What a difference 7 years can make! Came across this photo of the grandkids in 2001, they look a little different now!


Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap
and you wake up and you're twenty-five
and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you'll pray that God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

Don't Blink, sung by Kenny Chesney
lyrics by Casey Beathard

cold nights in Canada

Canoes on Moraine Lake
Banff National Park
Alberta, Canada

This year will mark 35 years of marriage, and we are looking into potential vacation destinations. The Canadian Rockies are at the top of the list right now, maybe a self driving tour on the Icefields Parkway, a ride on the Banff Gondola, and take a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier.

Looking into dates, pricing, accomodations etc., if anyone out there has made this trip, all advice and suggestions are welcome!


Cold nights in Canada and icy blue winds
The man and the mountains are brothers again
Clear waters are laughing they sing to the sky
The Rockies are living they never will die

Up in a meadow in Jasper Alberta
Two men and four ponies on a long lonesome ride
Rocky Mountain Suite by John Denver

~photo of canoes on Lake Moraine by photographer Adam Jones (photo found at allposters.com)

More spectacular photos of the Banff area by Ron Niebrugge here.

happy trails

Over the years we have made trails on the property, for hiking and riding 4-wheelers. They would get overgrown from our lack of use.

BUT since the grandkids started riding the 4-wheeler, the trails are staying busy and cleared of undergrowth. Pictured is the trail that goes by the treehouse.

Sure, I worry about them getting hurt, but I love to hear them having so much fun - good old country fun!

I usually am too paranoid about walking in the woods alone (bears and snakes and poison ivy oh my), but with these nice wide clear trails, and the cooler weather, I believe I will start walking again. Care to join me?


Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you 'till we meet again.

~Music and Lyrics by Dale Evans-Rogers

back home again

Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old house feels like a long-lost friend…


It sure is good to be back home again, this old house has been like a friend now for over 30 years.



I missed filling my flower boxes this year, and am considering getting some fall bloomers.


I missed sitting on the screened porch.



I missed my daily walk down the driveway to the mailbox.

It’s the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you
It’s the little things that make a house a home
Like a fire softly burnin’ supper on the stove
The light in your eyes that makes me warm

Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long-lost friend
Yes ’n’ hey, it’s good to be back home again


Back Home Again - words and music by John Denver