St. Paddy's

 Pesky little fellers, aren't they? They certainly left their mark while we slept. I'm still sweeping up.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day!

Labels: St. Patrick's

Memphis in the Meantime, Baby

Somehow I was able to snag some pre-sale Jack White tickets for his show in Memphis. I can't tell you how crazy excited I was; and holding on to them for over a month just about drove me crazy! He's out on his own now--no Meg, no Dead Weather, no Raconteurs--just Jack and his new back up bands. He has two. An all-female one and an-all male one. He's been mixing it up between shows. Gotta love his spontaneity and pure love for music. You never know what's going to happen at his shows which makes them even more exciting. At first, there were only five shows--a private show in Nashville at Third Man, and then he was on to Chattanooga, Birmingham, Memphis and Austin. Wish I were in Texas right about now. He seems to keep adding more shows to SXSW.

Memphis is a three-hour drive from Nashville, not too bad at all. As excited as I was, the drive was nothing. As soon as I arrived, I checked into the hotel the hub had arranged for me and then I was off exploring. The first thing I wanted to do was find the venue since I was going it solo for the evening. Wanted to be able to map my way back after the show! Meanwhile, it was right around the corner! Yay. No worries, then. Above must be the "old" Daisy. Isn't she beautiful? Wow. But we were across the street at the "New" Daisy. Ha. That's where they put us heathens! 

Will-call didn't open until 7 p.m. so I killed some time and walked around Beale Street and listened to some live music for a while, enjoyed people watching and clicked some photos before I headed off to dinner.

I thought twice about going to BB King's for some que but thought, well, we have one of those in Nashville. And, so, off to the Rendezvous it was--famous in its own right. Had to check it off the list, ya know.

Finding the place was no easy task. It's literally located in an alley and this is the little sign above the door. Okey dokey.

What a kooky place! Paper plates and plastic silverware but white cloth napkins! Go figure.

Not being a rib person, I ordered the beef brisket. Not Texas style, mind you, but still good. It had a nice crunchy crust on it.

They serve up a lot of food and FAST! It was on my table likety split. And yummy, it was.

Of course, I had to take a stroll through the gorgeous Peabody Hotel, yet another infamous Memphis landmark. We had stayed there years ago when the kid was still quite young; and he loved the ducks, of course.

And looky at what time it was!! The ducks had already marched out from the elevator (they live in their own "penthouse" on the roof) so I was in for another treat. Schweeeet! That would never happen again in another million years! There was some good mojo flowing in Memphis on the 13th, let me tell you!

After heading back to the hotel and changing; I could hardly contain my giddiness. I waited until about 7:30 to let the rush get through. I wasn't about to get into the CF with all of those youngins'. I had an extra ticket that I was going to just hand to someone who was looking to get in; but then I found out the Daisy just "crossed" your name off the list as you went in. Ugh. I had to literally "walk" in with a person. A Stranger. Lawds. So I had to walk into the street and yell, "Anyone need a ticket?" Ha! Now y'all know how shy I am!! But I wasn't about to let a JW ticket go to waste. Lord forbid. Next thing I knew, this kid walks up to me and says his dad was looking for a ticket. Brawhahahahaha!!! (All I could think of was the kid doing the same for me--"My mom would SO MUCH LOVE TO GO SEE JACK WHITE but couldn't get a ticket.") Bless his heart.

Long story short, we waited for his dad to drop off his little sister at a sitter's and then wait for him to find a parking spot! (giggle) Poor guy came running up like a bat out of hell. When he asked how  much, I just said "pay-it-forward." (Remember when I got the RAK in the mailbox? Yeah baby. Boom, I'm good!) And damned if he didn't get it! Loved that! And, we all had the best time. Of course, all three of us were were up at the stage by encore! (Almost got kicked out tho in doing so--ooooopsy. Nasty, big bouncers at The Daisy!) But never you mind about that! 

There were no cameras allowed so I left mine at the hotel. These are all from Jack's site. And let me tell you sir, they were not fooling around. People were being escorted out left and right! Oooofy. I didn't even make my normal "concert" calls on my cell!

Alright, let me just say . . . Oh MY GOSH! This was the best show EVER. Honestly. I have to put it right up there with Bob Marley and the Wailers back in the day which I've always said was a phenomenal, once-in-a-life-time experience.  Now I have two of those. Pinch me.

He was KRAZY good. It truly makes a difference when you love what you do and do what you love. He was enjoying himself as much as we were, I think.  I'm still buzzing with excitement when I look at those pictures. 

Jack is absolutely brilliant.

Sigh.

Labels: Memphis, Music, Tennessee

Weekend Work

The kid and I had a busy agenda this weekend. Both of us have spring fever so we planned a visit to the local nursery on Saturday. My girlfriend Pam, originally from AZ and transplanted to CT, is a big succulent and cacti fiend.  While we were there last fall, I admired all of her indoor succulent plantings and said to myself, "I'm gonna do that!." Well, I'm finally getting to it. 

Our favorite nursery has a lot of interesting nooks and crannies to meander through. I love these old stained glass doorways. Aren't they fab!

After we loaded up our wagon with all kinds of goodies, we headed home and got to work.

Do you think I have enough succulents in this basket? 

We found this old jar laying around the house and made a little terrarium. (Thanks, Pam!) Remember way back when they were all the rage? Well, they're back!

I'm still working on this glass container. Can't quite figure out what to do. I need my Pammy here. Hep!

I had these tiny, vintage vaseline-glass pots, so I planted some little hens and chickens. Can you believe I've never grown them before? Pfffft! Mom used to call them cats and kittens. Awwww, precious.

 A small kitchen window planter.

And, of course, I couldn't leave the nursery without a few delicate plants that I will kill off soon. Hey, I have to keep myself in check, right? Just when is St. Patrick's day? I'm ready!

Then, on Sunday, the kid and I had planned a day on the Natchez Trace. Well, we should have switched days. Saturday was bright and beautiful while Sunday turned out to be chillier and more cloudy that we had expected. (You'd think "the meteorologist" would have checked the weather!) It was a bit nippy up there! But, it was beautiful just the same. And, duh, I forgot my camera's extra battery so I was only able to  click off a few photos before it died. Doy. 

Rain today, but I'm loving it.

Labels: Pam, Flowers, Tennessee

Oooopsy

I left the French doors open the other day and the wind blew not one but TWO of my pysanka off the dresser. Oooopsy.

Well, it is Lent. Suppose I should bring out the ol' supplies and get to work. I can't remember the last time I made any. Hmmmmmm?

Time to go buy some eggs.

(Or as my momma used to say--"them ol' hen ehhhhhygz.")

Labels: Pysanky

Music in the Ol' Bones

 

Here you see why my brothers and I are so enthralled with music and photography. My father, Bill Ivey (above right) was a professional photographer who took photographs of country stars as a hobby. Here, one of my favorite photos of him, he's with Freddy Fender. (Y'all see what happens when I start looking for something -- like my resume!? I come up with something all together different.)

Stuffed in a drawer (and other places), I found a box of my father's photos that mom had saved.  As you know, one thing leads to another and long story short--over the years, I've had several requests to put together a book of my father's photos. Well, now that I have them all out (and my brother Jim has all of the negatives), what better time than now? This is one of my favorites of mom with one her faves,  Faron Young.

A lot of my parents' love of country music stems from a very dear friend, Tom 'Cat' Reeder, a local DJ and MC back in DC. During the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, they spent most weekends together at various country shows; my father the unofficial photographer and bartender. (He would keep a full "bar" in his trunk; and once he pulled up, the trunk would open and the party would begin!) There is a story where George Jones got so drunk before going on stage, they wouldn't allow him to do the show! Oooopsy. Oh well. Don't know if it's true or not, may have to check into that story! Anyhoo, my dad was always passing out photos at every show and never asked for a penny for any of them. I can only imagine how many hours he spent in that dark room. Yea, this is way-back-when--before digital cameras. But I know it brought him so much joy. It was his passion. Tom 'Cat' above with Ray Price.

Mixed in with the old photos, I found some programs that mom had also saved from the day. I had no idea that my father's photos were ever used professionally. I'm happy he did get credit, at least. Oy, teenagers don't pay any mind, do they. I never did, anyway. Couldn't care less. Shame.

His photos were used throughout these programs over the years, like the one of Tom and Jerry Lee Lewis to the right (not the Harrison/Dylan/Russell photo, unfortunately!). Wow, what memories these Top Ten lists brought back! Yup, that's about what I was listening to.

I was never allowed to stay at home with my teenager brothers, Lord forbid. So, yes, I spent many a weekend sitting in the back of my daddy's Cadillac listening to Three Dog Night, Alice Cooper, and the Top Ten. I don't know how I never wore the battery down, I often think about that. I'm talking HOURS with the radio on, probably A/C too!  Country music was not cool in any way or form according to me. Well, I guess I did come out of the car every once in a while because that's me with Faron Young (obviously before I became a moody teenage girl). One of my fondest memories around this time is dancing with my dad at some honky tonk; and Johnny Cash and June Carter came on (not live, mind you) singing "Jackson." Up until a couple of years ago, I thought the words were "We got married in a beaver" which I thought was a euphemism for a VW Beetle! HA! Lawds, help me.

Well, you know of course I did come out for the Killer! Always did like a bad ass! (Of course, I had to hide the photo of ME and Jerry Lee somewhere SAFE--which means I cannot find it to kill me. It's probably with my resume!)

I wonder if mom or I took this photo as there is dad on the right. He must have liked Jerry Lee also. He hardly ever got in front of the lens.

Love, love love! Mom with Hank Williams, Jr.. Just look at that baby face! Wow. And mom's beautiful smile. Aw. I'll never forget when Hank had his horrible accident and almost died. Tom got a phone call in the middle of MCing a show; and he left right then and was on the next plane out to be with him.  Now, that's friendship.

Here Tom is with another bad boy, Merle Haggard. Wonder why he's wearing sunglasses??? lol

Mom looking good with good-looking Conway Twitty.

Beautiful Loretta Lynn smiling for the camera. Talk about Angelina being skinny!

Tom with my brother Johnny and Grandpa Jones. Great pic of Johnny.

George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Check out the lamé outfit. Oooooohweeee. George and I go to the same optometrist! Next time I see him, I'll ask him if he remembers the "trunk incident!" NOT!

Mom with Hank Snow. Wonder if that suit is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. What a beaut!

The sweet Mel Tillis.

And take a look at these youngins'--Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. LOVE Porter's boots! Oww! Now those babies could crush a roach in the corner, as we used to say.

And, here's mom and Mac Wiseman yuking it up about something.

I can't begin to tell you what memories have been flooding my brain today as I've scanned all of these orginals. It's sad that so many of these folks are no longer with us, including my parents and brother Johnny. Tom 'Cat' has had some recent medical issues and it breaks my heart. He has brought so much joy to so many over the years and has always been a decent man.

I dedicate this post to him. 

Get well, Tom 'Cat'!

Labels: Music, Dad, Mom, Brother John, Friends