Cicadas, MWS and Tennessee

So, here we are in Tennessee… Franklin to be exact… right outside of Nashville. We’re spending a weekend with Michael W Smith (aka Smitty) and then taking some time to be tourists. Come along with us…. Like you have any choice if you’re reading this!

When we first landed in Nashville, there were these humongous flying bugs… as we ventured forth, we learned “Cicadas.” They come forth every 13 years after living in the ground… They a big, they are noisy and they are harmless… but it’s gross and no one likes gross.

Today we drove into the town of Franklin… Big goings on this weekend… Their theater has had an eight million dollar facelift… so Main Street is closed and getting ready for the big celebration. Did a bit of a walking tour in the 90+ weather… not a lot of energy to say for sure.

Decided to go to the Carnton Plantation which has a place in our Civil War History…  http://www.carnton.org/carnton_history.htm   .... check this site for more info!
As we toured the home and the grounds, all I could think of all the men that were killed and wounded… right in this area… The blood stains were still on the floors upstairs which was turned in operating rooms. Four generals had died and their bodies were lined up on the back porch so soldiers could give their respect. Protocol was a big thing back then… Later next week we will be checking some more stuff… The family that owned the home were pretty awesome… Helped with all the wounded… then donated two of their acres next to their private cemetery for a cemetery for those who died…. But that didn’t happen till about 2 years after the war…. Too long to write about… but something.
This is actually the back of the home.... The generals were placed to the right of the door ...

 That's me on the front porch....

So sad when you think what was going on here... in this spot... so many many years ago

Tonight we will be going to Rocketown in Nashville for one of our functions with Smitty… lol… There will be quite a few of us… couple couple hundred… heehee… Are we considered groupies… gee I hope not.. Will fill you in later….

Minnesota Life College Graduation 2011

We left Tacoma's warm, sunny weather for Minneapolis's warm, wet weather.... figures!  However, this is a great weekend celebrating five young adults graduation from school.  And, it's Halley and Dan's wedding anniversary, so the wet can't dampen our spirits!
Each of the grads are special folks, learning independence and living life now with a new found confidence.  I sound like a commercial, but it's true.  It's a great place for young adults who otherwise might not get a fair shake and tend to fall through the cracks!  Jerry is on the Board of Directors here and enjoys the possibilites open to all the young folks!

A Big ThankYou to my FamDam!

I felt so special this weekend!  Anything I wanted all weekend.... I think that is one of the best things about kids growing up into fabulous adults.  All those years of lack luster Mother's Day celebrations, disappear from memory and great new ones come into view!  Love you my family! You are the best!
And we found the nicest little bridge on our way out of town!  Jilli and Oliver snoozed then on our way home....

Dinner in.... with our own personal chef.... and the cost was great....

nada, included with our room.... We had a fabulous meal prepared by Dav, here in our place.  Five course small plate presentations

.... and they were so good.... !  Dessert was yummy.... BUT, we really wanted chocolate, so we went out on the Oliver Potty Walk and decided, Oliver needed to get back to our room so we could visit Sirens... for Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Burnt Cream and Fudge Cake.... topped off with Smith and Kern's all the way around.... But I digress.... Dinner.... oh man.... Salmon cured in this yummy concoction then on a cracker.... Bread with fig spread.... a deconstructed chowder with real clams and topped with a chunck of halibut.... a small NY steak with a special sauce.. you can tell from the pics how good it was just by how they looked!  Oliver joined us for some wine before dinner..... well, not really... but it made for a good photo!

 

Look what I woke up to.....

The reason the Eagles are in shadow... The sun was shining brightly in the background... Then as the time progressed, one chap found a little something to chow down on!  Pretty cool!

Out our window, then, the sailboat were out early in light winds....

Here's our place from the water.... Clam Cannery....

Time for Oliver to greet the folks in town and also visit the bathroom....

The parks are beautiful at this time of year....

Dinner at "T''s".... I'm one blessed Mom this weekend!

Shhhhhh, the family is asleep.... I snoozed earlier in the evening and now I am up.... geez...so, here I am.... Dinner was quite good, went to a place recommended by Mary M.... "T's". I had Ginger/Scallion encusted Wild Salmon.... with Edamames and Artichokes.... I do think mine was the best!
We also took a little drive to the Point Wilson Lighthouse. Very overcast today here, but pretty none the less.... Had to laugh... saw the news tonight, and it looked like there were blue skies in Tacoma!

Mine was the best!

Clam Cannery Waterfront Hotel - Port Townsend

This place is sooooo cool.... These picture do not do it justice, but hope you get a feel for the place. It's right on the water.... we can see the ferry coming in just west of us, we can walk all through downtown from here, the decor is so cool.... The gentleman in the picture is Kevin the Manager who let us in, etc. Only five units in the building. Our kitchen has gloss red cabinets.... they even have netflicks you can watch on the tube.... As Annie, from the Broadway Musical would say, "I think I'm gonna like it here" Thanks Family... I love you guys!

Mother's Day Surprise...Part one... in the car!

We left home around noon and headed to Gig Harbor... I had some jewelry I needed to pick up.... Decided to do lunch at the Green Turtle.... So yummy and so good... and so gorgeous... on the water, the blue skies peaked out around the clouds, and the water was smooth. So... more is planned, and I just don't know yet. We're traveling with Oliver and he and Jillian are catching a few winks on the way.....