On The Road Again

Jake and The Cousins are on their way back to Erin after a wonderful visit. We visited the Adventure Science Center, The Nashville Zoo and Chuck E Cheese and did some shopping. We were kept very busy and had lots of fun. They all agreed the Zoo is THE best.

We were able to take W. out for ribs which turned out to be just excellent. I am so glad we purchased that trampoline last year when we moved here. The weather was cool enough they spent lots of time out there. So much so that E. sprained her ankle during a collison with W. on the trampoline. She is quite the trooper. We got a wheel chair and Grandpa pushed her all around the Zoo and at Chuck E. Cheese last night she hopped all around to play all of those "pre-gambling games - as Jake calls them".

We certainly love our kids and grandkids and cherish these times they take to come and visit us. We are off to Franklin to the Fine Arts Festival. Ya-Ya has entered a piece of her art work, cartoons.

Love to all who read my blog,
Grandma

The Predators

Last night Grandpa and Ya-Ya and I attended our first ever NHL playoff game. The seats were ok, in the corner at one end of The Nashville Arena on the lower level. Not the best ever, we still like the second level the best.

The game did not start until 8 PM so we decided to eat on Broadway, the main street of downtown Nashville. The Arena is at 501 Broadway, the front doors of the Arena come out onto Broadway. Anyway, we parked and walked down the street to the Market restaurant. We had an amazing meal. It was served to us by a very personable young man who graduated last year in Marketing from Austin Peay University, in northwest Tennessee, but he cannot find a marketing job just now that pays more than waiting tables. He earns over $35 000 US waiting tables!

Anyway, as you all have heard the Predators lost and are now, as we speak out on the golf course for the summer. The Sharks deserved to win, they are an excellent passing team. The Preds are light on defense and get too many penalties plus some of their stronger players are on the injured list.

Well as Leaf fans say, "There is always NEXT year!"

We have so enjoyed our trips to the games something the 3 of us enjoy doing. Last night grandpa bought he and I Predator hockey shirts so we are all set for next season.

Have a great weekend.
Grandma

Our Prayers

We think of all those families grieving the loss and injury of their children, friends and family members at Virginia Tech.

As was said in the service today there are no words to describe the loss and sorrow and horror we all feel.

Let's all remain in prayer for protection and peace and healing and help.

BAB

C and D and D and L

We are just finishing up a great visit with them. The weather has been coolish and wet but we have had another great visit. They can see why we are enjoying the South in many ways. The highlight was a beautiful day at the Nashville Zoo andan evening at the Opry.

Pray for travelling mercies for them today as they begin their drive home.

Love to all,
Grandma

An Early Fall

When we were up in Hamilton we bragged about the daffodils were finished blooming, all of the flowering trees and bushes were in full bloom and we had the lawn mowed twice.

We arrive home to leaves withered and brown on many trees and bushes in this area. Apparently on Easter Sunday they had a tremendous frost!

I am concerned about the Japanese Maple we have in the corner of the front yard up next to the house. It doesn't look good at at all. The experts are saying 3 or 4 weeks before we do anything.

Does this mean football will start early too?

BAB

Big Fire

Sad news for this area of Sumner County. Yesterday afternoon Johnny Cash's lakeside home burnt to the ground. It looks like only the stone fire place is left standing.

We always drive first time visitors past this historical landmark in neighbouring Hendersonville. It was a 14 ooo square foot, clap sided home that sits right beside Hickory Hollow Lake. Johnny Cash lived there for over 30 years.

Barry Gibb of the pop group The BG's bought the house a year ago and was having it restored to use as his summer home and recording studio. Locals feel Barry Gibb will not have the house rebuilt. It would be a beautiful property for someone to purchase and build on. The old fashioned stone and timber fence and gate house were not damaged by the fire, so the property will always be marked for history.

Many of you took pictures of the estate which we could just barely see through the trees. I was told it had an enormous rose flower stained glass window over the front door, I guess that too would have been ruined. Some scenes from the movie "Walk the Line" were filmed right on the property and in the home.

Grandma

I Don't Usually Rant

But what is going on with all of the negativity and back biting and disrespectful talking in the media! High profile people dirt talking other high profile people. High profile people dirt talking young college students. High profile people dirt talking the President, his work, his life and his views.

Where does that anger and disgust come from? Why is there this lack of respect and character assassination oozing out?

Where have loyalty and admiration and encouragement and sensitivity and respect all gone? What joy is there in bringing another down? Especially in front of the whole world?

I am a mom, I don't have the answers to ANY of the worlds problems. Let's just calm down and respect others, find the good in all, bring an encouraing word before any word of disgust comes out of our mouths. I really don't think any of us should rant, rag on another until we have walked at least a mile in THEIR shoes and then walked and listened to them another mile.

That's it for my rant.
Grandma

Great White....Easter

We have returned from our Spring Break trip to family and friends in Ontario.

We had such a great visit. Tremendous hospitality. Three amazing church services at three very different congregations. Fun times with grandkids. Lots of laughs with dear friends.

We were having such good visits we hardly noticed the crappy weather. Noticed I said HARDLY noticed. Well we arrived home here and my outside fern is frost bitten and so are the new little leaves on the trees. I hope everything comes back. I do believe the fern is a goner.

Let me tell you how great a traveller Mercy is. Mercy is a wonderful traveller. She sat for hours looking out of her kennel both up North and our trip back South. She was perfect in each new home and family we visited. No accidents at all and she is only 7.5 months old.

Today is back to reality. Loads and loads of laundry. Ya-Ya returns to class for her last 6 weeks of grade nine. She has a very specific goal now, since her visit on Thursday to Sheridan College and the Animation 4 year degree program. Lots of good advice was given to her: don't give up on your dreams and draw, draw, draw!

For me, I didn't cry much, until we were within an hour of home and on a country station a song came on from Faith Hill, we think, about not giving up on loving and singing and dancing and living even though life doesn't work out the way we planned. I cried and cried. Ya-Ya passed Grandpa note asking what I was crying about.

Thanks again to y'all for a lovely and great visit. Keep in touch.
Love you,
Grandma