Nashville continued

The day started at 6:00 local time that's sleeping in for me! Andrew and I headed to the fitness center, did 4 miles in 55.xx minutes, a personal best, thank you!

Then Andrew and I headed to breakfast- mine included:

*wheat toast with a smidge of peanut butter and sliced banana
*poached egg
*bowl of plain grits
*coffee (Starbucks, yea!)

Here's a view of the lobby at the Hilton Gardens Inn in Smyrna, TN that's just outside downtown Nashville. I totally love the decor browns, teals, etc. ---


the carpet, the whole place is done in this color scheme, have decided that the "smoky" blue walls will be the color I'm going to paint the dining room, hopefully this time next year- will probably get someone to do this as the current walls are maroon- not MY fault!.


Andrew wanted a picture next to the fireplace- it's really beautiful, I'd love to meet their decorator!

While Steve and the boys went to see the County Music Hall of Fame Museum, I saw it with Steve on our last trip, I used the opportunity to see the city on my own. Took a walk trying to find a coffee shop- no luck :-(. Wound up by going back near the museum and getting a cup at the Visitor's Bureau, it was NOT Starbucks, oh well. Here's the County Music Television building on my journey



This is another landmark I came across, it is the oldest building in Nashville, and was one of the locations of the Underground Railroad.


here's a closer view.


Here's a view of the County Music Hall of Fame- here's how you decode the features of the building:
*dark windows= piano keys
*upward arch of roof= fin of a 1950s Cadillac
*spire=County's WSM radio tower
*Tiered rotunda=vinyl 78s, 45s, and CDs
*From overhead= museum resembles a bass clef


Here's a view from my "perch" where I enjoyed the outside while the boys were inside. It was across from a symphony hall, not sure-me thinks some research is required!


The Tangerine Twist sees the symphony hall - sort of

Things I love--Union Jack tote, Vera Bradley bag Mother's Day gift from the boys, my knitting, and a cup of coffee (not the best cup I've ever had, but coffee nonetheless).


The oldest church in Nashville, more on this later- insert research here!


another look at the church


Scenes from the Tennessee State Museum- a cabin from early America


weaving loom-


a crochet reticule- very beautiful, vibrant color considering its age-the picture doesn't even begin to do it justice.


stockings, yes, i do believe these are, dare I say it? KNITTED from way back when, and they are done in the - stop me now- STOCKINETTE stitch, I would have LOVED to have been able to touch these.


a printing press- oooh aaaah


Andrew's been a BAD boy- we've put him in the stocks! What would DFCS say-


So has PJ - in you go-



some gorgeous furniture native to the Tennessee area.


a grandfather clock and other bits.


We really enjoyed the museum, a ton of stuff to see.

Steve and I in the lobby ready to head out for the evening. Yes there is a "bit" of a height difference.


Andrew, me and PJ outside the Opry Mills Mall


us again.


Go Jackets! PJ found a GT guitar at the Gibson Guitar store. Couldn't resist capturing the moment. We are in SEC country!


Andrew is considering a career in banjo playing.


PJ has a go in the "amp room" at the Gibson Guitar showroom. This is a Gibson Les Paul guitar with the "Slash ,Guns and Roses former guitar player, finish". PJ can actually pick out a tune, I didn't spend a lot of time in here, a bit too noisy for me!


What can I say about this shot? yea, I agree, nothing. However, we did have a fabulous meal at Macaroni Grill, always a favorite of mine, along with some house chardonnay before our evening at the Opry.


Can I interest you in some fabulous olive oil- look how young and peppy it will make you!


Outside the Grand Ole Opry-


Our seats, up close and person, don't know whose grandma is in the picture, but ain't she cute?

awwww,


These shots are of some of the acts we saw, not the best, but we couldn't figure out the best camera setting. What a fabulous experience. The line up included-
Bill Anderson--Craig Morgan--Jimmy Dickens--The Whites--Dierks Bentley--Danielle Peck--The Grascals (bluegrass- great!)-, and the one the only CHARLIE DANIELS BAND- YEAH!
The music was just over the top. Can't believe Charlie Daniel is still going strong. What a great ending to our time in Nashville. We did stop at THE Shoney's restaurant nearby; which is supposed to be a favorite place for some of the folks performing at the Grand Ole Opry. We didn't see anyone, but PJ had his bass guitar in the car just in case. Tomorrow MEMPHIS.






Bill Anderson

Jimmy Dickens


Dierks Bentley-maybe?


Charlie Daniel-not sure


yes, definitely CD


Danielle Peck


TTFN

Road Trip 2007- The Tennessee Loop

All right, we've got maximum space, no packing problems, here we probably could have taken another kid or two! [I love my Tahoe].










Andrew and all our stuff- food, clothes, etc. We're ready to hit the road and just a tad bit later, left around 8:30 am. Road Trip 2007 -Nashville, Memphis and Huntsville (??) [not sure what THAT'S all about, I think I'll be doing A LOT of knitting on this stop!]







First stop was at the Knaughty Knitter yarn shop in Murfreesboro, TN. Was there any doubt that this would be part of the travel agenda?! Meredith was very nice, and I hope to have a chance to visit here again. A really cute shop near downtown. Visit her website [I'm sure she'd be happy to send you anything that strikes your fancy. Sometimes it's hard to really take in the ambiance when the "boys" are with you. Would like to do more exploring in the downtown area next time. http://knaughtyknitter.typepad.com/







yea, great picture of Meredith, I have my eyes closed, whatever.


Some of what the shop had to offer. Love how Meredith has it arranged by color, then you can see all the different textures and blends.

My bag of treasures-the yarn in the middle is for Mom, it's hand dyed by Meredith , and she said she uses Kool-aid! Her website has a posting about this. The ball on the left will be for the travel blanket, and the yarn on the right is for a hat, scarf or socks. It's a lovely shade of purple.









After checking into the hotel we went to the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, and the 3rd most often visited presidential home Would that be considered a useless bit of information?-maybe, maybe not. Steve and I had been here on a previous trip, but it was well worth seeing it again. It was a beautiful day to be out walking.

View of the house from the back, and the spring house is behind me.


another view


The gardens were fabulous, and the variety of flowers exquisite. I could image in the famous people that have walked through these paths admiring the same thing [sends chills up my spine thinking about presidents, generals, and other important people from our earlier times]

This was a super huge Hosta, the leaves had to be 12" in length, I should have put my hand in the picture to give an idea of scale, but believe me, they were HUGE!


One of the ladies that served as a tour guide during our visit, I didn't have the heart to make her stand and pose.


Andrew [no relation to the president, that I KNOW of!] and I in the gardens, aren't they stunning, I wonder if they'd come to my house, hmmm, then again, I have a lot more shade.

The final resting place for Andrew and Rachel Jackson, and the burial site for many other close relatives.



Next stop was the Frist Museum, the had wonderful exhibit of Chinese painting on screens (silk), and exhibit by Sylvia Hyman, these are post cards of some of the pieces on exhibit. Made totally of clay! Very, very cool.

http://www.fristcenter.org/site/exhibitions/exhibitiondetail.aspx?cid=421







On the upper level we were able to try out hand at art making.

Our finished artwork

print making can you guess who did what?




PJ's Fire and Trees-Lots of fire (top), and my artwork, on bottom Dragon Fire and Springtime.



Steve uses the press for his artwork

PJ and watercolors

Andrew builds with blocks

Drawing a birdhouse--
PJ's art is the top row and Steve's is the bottom -FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!



















Iron work at the Frist Museum-don't know the history on this building, but it was very Art Deco, reminded me of something I'd see in The Great Gatsby, or a setting for Hercuel Poirot!






OTHER SCENES IN NASHVILLE

The "Batman" Bellsouth Building The Customs House in downtown Nashville.










Other views of downtown, and PJ and Andrew outside Legends.















Me and Andrew at Rippy's. Really good food. Walked around for a little bit, then headed back to the hotel, we're on central time here, and we've got a full day planned for Tuesday.

TTFN