Christmas and AAA

Merry Christmas To All.

We had an interesting Christmas Eve. When going to pick up Grandy and Grandpa my car died in the middle of a very busy intersection. It was where we pull out of Apple Village and enter Hwy 193. To make a long story short, we called AAA and had to wait about 40 minutes in the dark and cold for a tow truck. The two guys that came were wonderful. Thank you to AAA. And, 5 separate people stopped to ask if we needed help. Luckly, Mom and Kayla came and picked up Grandy and took her home to get warm. Dad and I stayed with the car until it was towed to a mechanic near home. I think it's something in the fuel system but we'll find out more tomorrow or next week. We ended up missing church and eating a cold holiday dinner.

On a happier note, we still managed to have a nice time, especially with Zoe.

She got a new pink doll.



And a new car to push.



Mom and Dad reading their cards to each other. They're doing very well. They are very careful when walking on the sidewalks and driveways because of the snow and ice.



You might recognize these two wonderful Moms.



This is the bear Bentley.



And the new dolly.



Look at all these fantastic goodies Dawn and Wade sent us. Mmm, Good. Thanks you guys.



We had are having a wonderful holiday and consider ourselves very lucky. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Zoe is having fun at grandma's house

Zoe seems to be having fun a Grandma's house. Here's some proof.

She likes sitting in her highchair and eating with the big people.



She likes having a picnic on the bed while she watches Barney.



And she likes playing with her new holiday friends.



Happy Holidays!

Nashville

Last weekend we flew to Nashville (we got on all the flights we wanted except one, yeah) to see Alisha, Cory, Noel and Ellie. By the time we arrived it was dark and late so we were hungry, We drove out to one of Nashville's' food icons, The Loveless Cafe. As soon as you sit down, those nice folks with the Southern hospitality bring you a big plate of the homemade biscuits and jam they're famous for. You can see Noel can't wait to have one, or two, or three. Loveless has been around since 1951, serving fried chicken and biscuits. They serve mmm, mmm, good side dishes like fried okra, green beans, and creamed corn. Ya gotta give it a whirl! They've even been featured on Food Network.



Here Cory is devouring half a BBQ'd fall off the bone chicken. Now you know the second thing that makes him happiest.



Alisha's girls are so cute. We went to Opry Mills Mall, with is attached to the Opry Land Hotel. All Noel could talk about was the Princess Store. Here she is looking like the princess she is. Do you know what the Princess Store's real name is?



And here's happy Ellie along for the ride. She is such a content, happy, funny little girl.



We walked through this long, huge mall, turned a corner and there before our eyes was a store filled with more guitars I've ever seen in one place. It turns out to be the Gibson Guitar store, and, they make some of the guitars right there. This is part of the display.



Needless to say I got very excited and asked the guy to show me the coolest guitar in the store. Here it is, a Gibson Signature Jimmy Page Double Neck. Now, I asked the guy if I could take a picture of it, he said only if I found someone to hold it.



We were lucky enough to spend to nights at the historic Hermitage Hotel downtown. It's a beautiful building with lots of history. Noel like the deep soaking tub and couldn't pass up the chance for a bath. I guess we're introducing her to the finer things of the world and how to pamper herself. Afterwords, she cuddled up in the big bed.




Ellie and Cory seemed to be enjoying themselves too.



This is the skylight over the lobby.



And here's the lobby. My photos didn't turn out as nice as the ones on the hotel's web site.



So far, we've had a great time with our kids and our little grand daughters, we've eaten some great food, Loveless, the Pancake Pantry, the Waffle House (no trip to the South is complete without a visit to a Waffle House), and Demo's. What's left to do in little old Nashville?

After all, it is called Music City USA. You've probably heard of Music Row.

Here's a little history:
Music Row in Nashville developed in the 1950s as a center of the recording industry. According to the BMI History Book, "Nashville was rapidly becoming one of the nation's major music centers. Business was so brisk that when WSM announcer David Cobb casually referred to Nashville as 'Music City U.S.A.' during a 1950 broadcast, the term stuck. Furthermore, while it has become common to think of country music as antithetical to rock & roll, it is not only one of its main roots but mutually supportive of its development in many ways. Elvis's signing by RCA Victor was facilitated by Julian and Jean Aberbach, owners of the prestigious Hill & Range publishing firm, in exchange for the publishing rights. With his signing, RCA acknowledged the need for a branch office in the Southeast and chose Nashville as the natural location. It was there Elvis's first RCA recording sessions occurred. Nashville played an even more crucial role in the career of the Everly Brothers. Sons of country musicians Ike and Margaret Everly, they had come to the attention of Chet Atkins in 1955, and he, in turn, introduced them to Wesley Rose, who signed them as songwriters to Acuff-Rose. Rose's friend, Cadence Record owner Archie Bleyer, heard the duo and teamed them up with one of Acuff-Rose's foremost songwriting teams, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The result was a string of classic hits, including "Bye Bye Love" (#2 on the pop charts in 1957), "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Wake Up Little Susie," and "Bird Dog." Nashville's stature was clearly growing in the music industry, and any number of New York and Hollywood-based publishing companies set up offices in the city. However, as rock & roll now dominated the airwaves, country sales dropped. Record executives realized that country must modify its format to compete in the marketplace and "cross over" onto the pop charts. Two of the chief architects of this transformation were Owen Bradley and Chet Atkins. Bradley, a former staff pianist and bandleader for WSM, was owner of one of the first recording studios on what was soon to be known as Music Row, Nashville's Sixteenth Avenue South. Atkins, a virtuoso guitarist, had been working part time as an A&R assistant for RCA since 1952 and was appointed to run its new Nashville studio in 1957. Each found a way to soften and sweeten country music, thereby facilitating its wider public acceptance. Mellow strings and vocal choruses were added, and the smooth, sophisticated result was eventually dubbed the Nashville Sound." (quote from BMI 50th Anniversary History Book)

There's not too much to see there unless you're a musician trying to get a record deal or you're recoding something, Music Row is actually a residential style street where the houses have been converted into music recording studio and music publishing offices, along with new buildings, etc. It is a very pretty street and worth a drive by (no, not that kind of drive by, leave your guns at home). When Mike and Steven and Cory and Ben Shepherd are ready to get a recording contract this is the place to go. Can I carry your guitar and drive your tour bus?

So, what's there to see. Take a walk down Broadway where you'll see and hear the Honky Tonks. Around the corner is the original Ryman's Auditorium where the Grand Old Opry started their broadcasts. You'll walk be Legends, the Stage, Ernest Tubbs Record store and Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Everyone from Willie Nelson and the older stars, to Trace Adkins and Tobby Keith have played here and along this street. In fact, they say Tobby Keith filmed the music video for I Love This Bar here. Recently, Kenny Chesney and the Wailers played here. The music overflows out the open door, you walk in and there's the small stage,
the photos of who's played there on the wall and the enthusiastic audience.







After all this excitement it's time for a good nights rest.



"And that's the way it is."

BOO!

Grandma helped Zoe get ready to go out and Trunk Or Treat. Zoe didn't know what she was getting into. All those big people, all the other kids, and all that candy.



Zoe and her Mom surveying the territory, getting ready for the mission.



Zoe heading out on her mission to get as much candy as possible.



Zoe tasting the first treat.



What would Halloween be without friends. Megans friend Alicia came with her husband Corey and their little boy, Bridger (?). Yes, there are actually two Alisha and Corys. But, there's only one in our hearts. We send love to Nashville.
That's all everyone could handle. We went home and turned off all the lights.



Until next year...............BOO!

Aloha!

Aloha! Our trip to Hawaii was filled with mixed feelings. Had to spend a night in Los Angeles before we could get on a flight. Steven, Megan and Zoe tried to come with us but spent 2 days in Los Angeles, and with no hope of getting on, went back home. So, Suzanne and I end up being in Hawaii alone for the first time in 20 years. While we were there we kept seeing and thinking of things we'd like to share with them, but sadly they weren't there.



Our condo is a block from Waikiki Beach. This is the view when you get there. It's not crowded because it's early morning. Later in the day it will be crowded with every kind of body you can imagine, and some you don't want to imagine, all enjoying the sun and ocean.



They Hyatt is on the same street and has a beautiful atrium with a water feature and orchids. It's very peaceful.



Before we left home we found out from Karen and Kenny that the musician and artist Ron Artis lives on the North Shore and has his studio there. This is one of his murals. We found his place, saw some of his artwork, and, the event of the trip, was them giving us a private concert in the studio! If you haven't heard of the Artis Family Band, check it out on the link and on You Tube. Ron and Victoria have 11 kids and they all are very accomplished musicians play many genres. It was a highlight of our trip. You HAVE to hear them, go to You Tube now!



If you continue from Haleiwa, and past Turtle Bay Resort, you'll find Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. They cook the shrimp is LOTS of garlic, with the shells on. It's very messy peeling the shrimp and eating them, but well worth it. They are big and tasty. There are some good You Tube videos available. Check out Shrimp Fest by eagle4dios.



The weather was partly cloudy which means nice photos.



My pre-trip research paid off again. According to Anthony Bourdain on Food Networks "No Reservations", La Marianna on Sand Island in Honolulu is the last authentic Tiki Bar in Hawaii. It took some exploring but we found it. It was like walking into a World War II tiki bar, it was great. This is One Hot Mama I met there.



We had dinner at Duke's one evening and got the added bonus of a sunset.



This is us, yes, I am in the photo, doing our outrigger canoe ride. We were really stoked!



So, we're having dinner on the beach, again, and see the great sunset. Suzanne tells me to go to the beach and get a photo. Which I do, willingly. I take the photo and the camera tells me it's out of batteries (which it shouldn't be since I charged it last night -although I did turn of the wall switch for the socket it was plugged into, darn). I couldn't tell if I got the sunset photo until I recharged. This is what I found. Kind of artsy, right?



Mahalo

Happy Anniversary to Grandy and Grandpa

On September 30, Grandy and Grandpa celebrated their 69th! wedding anniversary. We've talked to a lot of people and that is the most years anyone has heard of. Congratulations to both of them.

They've always liked to do something special for their anniversaries, so we took them up to Midway, Utah for an overnight and dinner at the Blue Boar Inn, a AAA 4 Diamond Inn and Restaurant.



We had a wonderful dinner that included Duck Confit and White Cornmeal Crepes (duck confit, wild mushrooms, and apricot-orange-chipolte glaze).



Two of the entrees included Center Cut Beef Tenderloin (walnut-blue chess crust, potatoe gratin, spinach, port demi glaze).



And Organically Raised Salmon (Fricassee of mussels and clams, purple rice and lemon grass broth).



Also fantastic but not pictured were Pan Roasted Pheasant Breast (sweet potato gnocchie and vegetable ragout, aged balsamic reduction) and Blue Boar Salad (poached pear, cambenzola, sherry-shallot vinaigrette). For dessert, chocolate moesse!

Every year of their marriage they took a drive to see the fall leaves. So, the next morning we drove up to 10,000 feet to see Mirror Lake (in the snow!) Along the way the fall leaves were in different stages of changing and were more beautiful every time we turned a corner even if it was cloudy and rained all day.







For those of you familiar with Utah, this is Provo River Falls, way up in the Uintas, almost to Mirror Lake.



And this is Mirror Lake which is pristine in the spring and summer, and kind of dark and lonely today.



More colors of leaves.........



Suzanne and Grandy agreed that the neon yellow seemed to be coming from the inside out of the tree and glowing. Because it's so clouding, the camera didn't capture the real beauty our eyes saw.



And finally, the love birds.........



And that's the way it is.