Sing Me a Song, Steve Earle, Steve Earle

Thank goodness, I was paying attention. If I had blinked, we woulda missed it. We only had three-days' notice!

Horrid photos--haven't quite figured out the new Sony for live-music shots. 

Obviously.

Despite the faux pas with my little camera, I'm feeling pretty good about hearing and seeing the man play live. I think Jack White has something when he says to leave your cameras and phones at home. Fiddling about with technology definitely takes away from the show. Oh well. Will continue to bring my camera if I'm allowed. It's in the blood. Still, it irks me that I didn't get one good shot. 

 I'm not so happy about seeing this guy showing up at Riverside's front door either. 

Ugh.

Labels: Alabama, Cameras, Hurricanes, Music, Riverside

Date Night

Yay, I'm glad the weekend is here. Today, I found tiny, bite-sized chocolate cupcakes complete with a pearl on each. Too cute to eat (NOT!). I only bought six. Ya think they'll last until Sunday?

The hub and I had a date night tonight. We hardly ever get out by ourselves and it was nice. We went to the pub around the corner and had dinner (and a pint).

I'm not sure if it's all of Tennessee or just Middle Tennessee, but a few months' back the restaurants had to decide 1) If they allowed smoking in their establishment, it had to be 21 and over or 2) No smoking and anyone can come in. Well, of course, our little pub went with the smoking so we can't take the kid with us any longer. I love their food, but it's rare that the hub and I go out without the kid. So tonight was just us. We got in before the crowds arrived and got a seat away from the bar area (where everyone is smoking).

The hub and I have been anticipating the new Coen brothers' film Burn After Reading. It opened tonight so we even got a movie in! I never go to the movies, hardly. Like most Coen Bros. films, I need to see it a couple of times before I can appreciate their humor. I loved watching all scenes filmed in Georgetown though. I looked for our old row house on Q Street (that we rented when we were first married), but it never appeared. Oh well. It was fun seeing my old stomping grounds regardless. And who doesn't love George? The thought of him running around DC while I wasn't there just makes me crazy jealous! ha.

It seems so early yet it's already after 10 p.m. I told you I wasn't used to going out! Guess it's mamma jamma time. I have a feeling I'll be up late tonight. (Probably should have skipped the coffee at dinner time.)

Hope everyone stays safe in Texas with Ike approaching. That thing is huge. Scary stuff.

Take Me and That Oak and a House You Will See

I'm getting that nesting feeling. Blame it on the rain, the slightly cooler temperature, the not-having-to-close-the-blinds-to-shield-from-the-sun open-to-the-outside windows. I am actually feeling a little fall in the air. While I haven't been out yet this morning, the sky is gray which is a welcomed site.

Yesterday, with the rain, I went outside and did a little walk about the southern side of the house; something I never do when the sun is blaring because it is just spot-on sun and hotter than the dickens. With the lovely drizzle, I could walk around and enjoy the last of the flowers, the leaves and even spied a bunny. Who doesn't love a bunny sighting? (I had to quickly chase it as I had let Dave our earlier!)

My hydrangea still chugging along.

And it won't be long before the maple leaves begin to turn those brilliant colors before falling to the ground.

The slowly fading echinacea.

Dripping with the moisture, the berries on the nandina.

Leftovers from the clematis. Isn't it amazing even without the petals?

I then headed to the other side of the valley to hit my favorite florist in the area. This is heading down into the valley next to ours. I love this new road that takes you straight through a mountain. It's only been here for a couple of years now; and I am still in awe every times I take it.

Here's one of my favorite little shops. I picked up a couple of small arrangements which I will share later. (They are sill in the car!)

And look at who I saw fluttering about. A real beauty.

Returning home, I stopped at the lookout. Oy! Look at this poke! I used to have this weed growing abundantly in the back yard of the hub and I's first house. The berries make a beautiful fuschia die. I remember reading somewhere the native Indian women would use the die to pinken their cheeks. It is a beautiful shade. This plant doesn't show it's red berries though.

A view of the valley next to ours.

Heading back home.

And Abby waiting patiently in the guest room with her usual excitement to see me home.

I was so happy to hear this morning that Peggy and her peaceable kingdom at Hidden Haven Homestead were spared by Hurricane Hannah coming through. These storms are something, and I hope everyone on the east coast stays safe. Now we, in the Gulf, have to look out for Ike. Ooof.

The clay house at the top was made by Asia Mathis.

Calm Before the Storm

We went for a walk along Mobile Bay Saturday night. It was as still as I had ever seen it. Barely a ripple in the waters. It's just so beautiful here. I've heard from our friends in Mobile that the Bay only got a 4-5 foot surge as Gustav hit during a neap tide (neither high nor low). Looks like we dodged the bullet this time. PTL. We're still not sure about flooding along the Fish River and will find out more tomorrow or Wednesday when our friend goes by Riverside to check things out. They are still having tornado warnings around the area, so we're still not out of danger yet. I still feel for the Louisianians who are taking the brunt of the storm.

The kid and the hub on the beach.

That beautiful Spanish moss with a local pier on Mobile Bay in the background.

Fire ants. Ew.

One of my favorite spots.

A monument overlooking the Bay.

As we went about gathering supplies for our first "evacuation" on Sunday, we spied all the oil- rig helicopters evacuating the little Fairhope airport. That's never a good sign. You can see the clouds beginning to roll in.

And so, we shut down and closed up Riverside and took to the roads North. With vivid memories of the "parking lots" before Katrina, we made sure we had extra gas, lots or water and nibbles in case we were stuck on the road for more than our usual six hour ride home.

Even Bella was covered with a litter-box-in-the-making, just in case. Wink wink. Isn't she just precious?

I would say 90% of the cars were from Louisiana and Mississippi. Clouds looking heavier as we crawled onto I-65 North.

Thank you for all your concerns. When I checked my email via the hub's phone half way home, I knew I had to make a quick post letting everyone know we were on our way home. And thus, why it looks like such a crude post.

safe and heading home

we had a mandatory evacuation in our area so we closed riverside up, shut down electricity and headed north. Traffic has not been too bad but sad to see all the LA and MS plates on the road. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

2005-BAD/2006-GOOD

As the New Year began, I could feel in my heart and soul that this will be a better year. Isn't that what we tell ourselves each year? Well, not really. Last year I didn't--only because 2004 WAS a good year and I suppose I took for granted that it was. So, 2005 sucked. The hub began his "every-couple-of-years I hate my job mentality" which drives me absolutely crazy. I wait for the moment when he says (again), "Ok dear, we're packing up, selling the house and moving"-- you know that primal instinct men have to migrate to find a better watering hole, more fertile ground, whatever it is that they're looking for. So, over the years (20 to be exact), I've learned to ignore my fear of those infamous words being said and I stay positive through and through.

With the beginning of 2006, I did something that will absolutely ward off "Bad 2006." For the first time in my life, I made black-eyed peas. Well, let me tell you, coming from a mother born and raised in Georgia and a father born and raised in Texas, the Southern blood line runs deep in my veins. So, it goes without saying, but I will anyway, my mother always made black-eyed peas for New Year's. I can remember as a child, "honey, just eat one for good luck." The taste almost nauseated me, but I did, and it seems that luck has always been on my side. (My brother used to spit it under the table--his luck, not so good.) Well, to make a long story short, my mom moved in with us several years ago, let's see, Labor Day 2003. She's 82 years old. And with her age, she no longer cooks for us.......pout. So, last year, New Year's 2005, NO black-eyed peas. Thus, a BAD year.

The money was tight, which usually isn't that bad; but 2004 was, as I said, a very good year in more ways than one, but yes, monetarily. So, you feel the pinch coming off a good year. That doesn't bother me much, but it drives the hub absolutely NUTS. I grew up with my father owning his own businesses. Yes, it was feast or famine, that was completely natural for us. You learn to take both with stride. But watching all the natural disasters was tough. Having moved to Nashville in the summer of 2001 from DC, it was heartwrenching to watch from afar the destruction of 9/11. I grew up about a mile from the Pentagon; my hub's family all in the NYC area. I was guilt ridden for a long time not being there to help. It was really a strange feeling. I was truly missing my homebase. So when the hurricanes continued to pound the Gulf Coast, which we frequent each summer, I knew I had to help this time. I volunteered at the local shelter that opened up and housed over 100 evacuees. I felt good. I was giving back and making a difference. Good for me, but still very bad for all the people who had to endure the wrath of those hurricanes.

Well, as far as my bleeding heart goes, I suppose you can say it's a bleeding heart to a fault. Let me explain. Mid-way through the year, I opened my house to a childhood friend with Bipolar Disorder. She lived with us for over 2 months with her adult son. No episodes. I felt I was helping her escape her horrible home life. We took her on vacation to the Gulf with us. No episodes. It was as if we were sisters. We had known each other since we were two. So, when she became manic, I continued my support. I was helping her with her medication, taking her to her new found doctors, keeping her calm with our quite boring family life here in "little Nashvul." She was doing ok, until one night she flipped and pulled a hunting knife on me and my son which ended in me having to call 911. True friend (idiot) that I am, I didn't tell where she was, who she was and I didn't want to press charges. Since she has yet to fess up to her doing any wrong doing, I still fear that one day she may return. Perhaps it's time to get that alarm system in tip-top shape, eh? Anyway, 2005--BAD.

I will continue in 2006 to be a bleeding heart, I guess. (Could that be the primal instinct for women?)