Music City, Here I Come

The first time we drove into Nashville, I felt just like Dorothy must have at her first glimpse of the Emerald City. What a beautiful place!

We're planning a return visit this weekend, and I can hardly wait. With the zeal of an event planner, I'm making sure that every minute counts. Our itinerary so far includes an Eric Clapton concert Friday night, visits to Belle Meade plantation and the Hermitage on Saturday, and hanging out on Broadway Saturday night. Sunday we may have to recover a bit before the drive home, or maybe not. Some things simply have to be played by ear.

Speaking of playing, gotta love me some Nashville tunes. Although country isn't my favorite genre,there's live music everywhere and no one sounds bad...not even the karaoke singers.

Hooray...only three more days to wait!

Weekend With the Girls

There's something magical about time together with female friends. It's almost like traveling in a time machine. On our girls' weekend we got sillier than a bunch of teen-agers at a slumber party. We gossiped, giggled, and gulped more food and drink than anyone has a right to do.

Margaritas while floating down the river? Oh, yes. And bring on the appetizers. We had crab dip and gourmet chicken salad served on party crackers while we lounged on our rubber rafts. No one hangs out at the river fancier than us.

When we weren't floating, eating, or drinking, one of the girls actually made an attempt to catch some fish.
She rigged this fishing pole with a bell to notify us when a fish bit the hook. Therefore no one had to stand and hold the pole, conveniently keeping our hands free for additional drinking and eating.

Of course, there is a slight problem when you're 40 feet away from the pole...

The bell rang. But even after an Olympic-worthy sprint, the fish had plenty of time to disappear. Skunked again.

Oh well. If we caught anything worth keeping we'd have been forced to clean and fry it. That would be much more work than what we planned. So instead, we had another Margarita and stuffed ourselves with additional appetizers. Who the heck needs a fish, anyhow?

As far as our other activities...well, we made a pact.

What happens at the river, stays at the river.

A Weekend Away

Girls Gone Wild!!!

Haven't we all at one time or another enjoyed a girls' night out? It's a way to let your hair down, yak about whatever you want, and enjoy a Margarita or two. Well, hang on to your hats, because I'm getting ready for my first ever girls' weekend. That's right...no husbands, no boyfriends, and no critters (sorry, Indy & Bogey).

A good friend has a cabin on the river where we are going to spend Friday through Sunday. I'd like to say that I might get some reading or writing done while I'm away, but, alas. With this crew I'll just be happy if we don't need to call someone for bail money.

I'll report on our crimes activities next time. 

Hope you have a most interesting weekend planned, too!

What a Weekend!

I whined like a spoiled kid during our long-running bout with extremely hot, dry days. It's been miserable...not to mention a nightmare for farmers, plants, critters, and just about everyone else.

Therefore I feel it's only right to express my exteme pleasure and gratitude for the last few days. We've had nearly early Fall weather...low eighties and cool nights. The a/c is off and the windows are open for the first time in many, many weeks. We're still far behind on rain, but nevertheless...this weekend has been pure joy.

Not only humans are celebrating the lovely weather. I've noticed a major increase in outside activity. I'm not sure where they were before, but the birds are back, pecking in the morning dew. Squirrels and bunnies have returned to patrol the yard. Even our little hummingbirds are buzzing around, fueling up in anticipation of their long migration south.

Ahhh. Gotta love it. We're grilling tonight. Indy and Bogey are looking forward to the delights of a dropped yummy morsel or two.

Bright sun, a gentle breeze, and comfortable temperatures are a never-fail elixir for feeling good. Don't you wish you could bottle it?

Here's hoping your weekend has been every bit as spectacular as ours!

Bad Luck or Good Business?

Effectively marketing a product is tough, especially in today's world. My daughter sent information she discovered about an interesting advertising campaign. Back in 2009, Warner Brothers came up with a unique way to market a game called F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.

Apparently they decided that a great way to "capture the attention of superstitious passers-by" in Britain would be to dress black cats in promotional jackets and walk them around town. Now I don't know about you, but seeing cats walked around town would certainly grab my attention. And if those felines looked like walking billboards, then Warner Brothers could be on to something.

Unfortunately, I suspect it wasn't all smooth sailing. There is the issue of cooperation. The article didn't mention an alternate plan for the time Ink Spot, Ebony, and Onyx all decide to nap rather than walk, which I can assure you they will. After all, we're dealing with cats here, people. I suspect that's why the idea hasn't caught on. Have you noticed any feline advertisements strolling in your area?

I didn't think so.

Anyway, you can read the article and see the "catvertisements" here.

This weekend we're heading to our annual family get-together. Indy is packed and raring to go while Bogey is charged with holding down the home front. Bogey isn't resentful over his duties.

Guarding the house suits his macho image much better than being a walking billboard.

Enjoy your weekend and keep cool!

Red, White, and Blue Wishes

From our house to yours, Happy Fourth of July!

"Hey! Will somebody get this *#@% thing off my head?"


Remember to keep those critters inside. It's going to be a firecracker hot weekend. Have fun and stay safe!

Here's What's Happening

It's been a week since I've posted, and where the time has gone is beyond me. Aside from general busy-ness, my excuse for last week included a nasty cold. By the time I got home from work each day, it took everything I had to crawl through the door and vegetate til the next morning arrived. Oh, how I hate being sick! Fortunately, things are looking up. I now only have to blow my nose 5 times a day rather than 500.

We traveled to the St Francis River for the annual Missouri Whitewater Kayak Races over the weekend. The weather cooperated enough to provide an excellent crowd that cheered on the racers while they navigated the race course. The Saint was high and fast, perfect for making speedy travel.

It always surprises me to see who attends the races. Obviously not only people love to watch kayakers!

Indy and Tinkerbell relax during a break in the action.

In a photo nutshell, that's what's been going on with us. We're now in progress of visiting blogs. Can't wait to see what's been going on with YOU!

My Weekend

My mom.

My dad.

My bench.

My river.

My cat. Wearing his "Not Happy" face.

My back. Anyone watching it?



An Unusual February Weekend

The news about the weekend is all over. The birds have been tweeting about it (if you don't believe me, check out their Twitter page) and the squirrels have dragged out their lawn chairs. Even the weatherman agrees.

No snow this weekend. The temperatures will ascend into the 50's for the first time in months. After what we've been through, it will almost feel balmy. Like our tropical imagination vacation from a few days ago.

Indy is ready to roll. He senses a trip to the river in this forecast.

But Bogey remains distracted.

"Birds? Did you say something about birds?"

Hope the weekend is looking good for you, too!

Have a Howa-Whya-Wookie Happy Weekend

Recently, Hubby and I hosted an island-inspired fundraising party. We decorated the place like a tropical paradise. We served pitchers of Margaritas. We encouraged guests to wear their Key West Best.

We also dressed to help inspire the group. I wore a simple costume. Capris, billowy white top, wooden beads, flip flops, and a flower tucked in my hair. Never mind the 20 degree temperature and outside icicles. The warmth of a faux lush vacation spot felt tempting and delicious.

It's harder to describe Hubby's attire. Like staring into the sun, there are no suitable words for such an intensely blinding sight as this:

He has no shame and no sense of fashion. And no right at all to have coconuts that are bigger than mine.

But that's another story. Right now I'm looking forward to the weekend. It's almost here and, as usual, there's much to be done. If you're in the same canoe as me, do try and take a little time to relax.

It's a good thing to enjoy a smile...or two.

Fall Weekend

We had another terrific time at the river. The weather couldn't have been more perfect: sunny warm days coupled with crisply cool nights.

Leaves of gold, red, and yellow fluttered to the ground with every breeze, looking like large and colorful splotches of rain. Mother Nature has been busy spinning her magic.

The critters weren't idle, either. We saw an assortment of frogs. Heard the howls of coyotes. Were buzzed by a beautiful young eagle.

The smell of burning leaves gave a bittersweet reminder that summer is truly gone.  And as with so many other things in life, we say good-bye, savoring our memories while we look forward to what lies ahead.  A newly born season has arrived.

So welcome back, Fall.  It's good getting to know you again.

Test Results Say...

Here we go again! The vet called on Saturday to advise that Indy's tests do not indicate Cushing's Disease, though she added that it's possible he could be so early in the disease that it doesn't show up yet.  She suggested three possible options:

1. We can be referred for an ultrasound to see if anything appears to be amiss.

2. We can be referred to an internal medicine veterinary specialist for evaluation.

3. We can monitor things and see how he does.

H'mm. I can't imagine a disease showing symptoms before it shows up in lab work. Symptoms typically come after a disease has advanced. Therefore, I don't think it's Cushing's.

Suppose after even more tests we don't have any answer? It doesn't make sense to keep looking for something that may not exist. Indy is his normal self in every way, except he drinks and potties more than most dogs. Perhaps it's simply normal aging. Besides, the urgency to drink seems to have slowed a bit...it could have come from the hot days of summer.

In any event, I've decided to monitor things for now. Like most of Indy's peculiarities, we might not be able to pin this one down, either, and vets don't always have the answers. Instead of running to another vet and paying yet another bill, we'll wait this one out.

On to other topics. We attended a barbecue that turned into a sort of weekend affair. The band played on and on as people ate, drank, and made merry. Many spent the night on Saturday. In fact, so many tents were pitched on the grounds, it looked like a Tent City!

Indy attended the festivities, and was quite helpful as the thermometer dipped.

The temperature made for a perfect one dog night!

Memphis-Part 2

In addition to Beale Street there are a few other places to check out in Memphis.

We took the first-time-visitor-mandatory tour of Graceland.  It's a huge operation that still brings in countless guests each day. The house surprised me with rooms that were small and surprisingly modest.  Though Elvis added on as needed, Graceland lacks the spacious luxury of today's mansions.  Still, it's a fascinating time capsule of the 1970's complete with shag carpet and a faux fur family room.

I couldn't find a hound dog anywhere, but I did see the famous pink cadillac in a garage full of Elvis's collectible cars.

We checked out his airplanes, which were also in 1970's decor.  How would you like to nap in this queen sized bed while flying to your next destination?  It's hard to see, but FAA regulations required the bed to contain a seat belt.  I could say something...but, no.  This is a family friendly blog.  Elvis relics are plastic-covered for protection.  No one is allowed to touch anything upon pain of death...or being forced to listen to Elvis impersonators for five solid hours. 

Musicians and music lovers alike would enjoy the Gibson factory tour. We saw craftsmen hard at work on every step in the creation of the world famous Gibson guitar.  No photography allowed inside, but as you can see, the building took up an entire block.

Back on Beale Street, the sidewalks feature musical notes that include the name of an artist or music company.  My favorite was situated right outside his famous restaurant.  Love ya, B!

This band rocked the street.  The young bass player was exceptional.  When we asked her how long she'd been playing, she nonchalantly replied, "About ten months."

Seriously!  I know young people pick things up faster than we oldsters, but that's just plain wrong.

I hoped to see the Peabody ducks parade, but never made it to their hotel.  I understand the pampered critters are marched from roof top to lobby with an elevator ride in between. If you want to check them out, get there early.  The ducks always command an enormous crowd.

We had a few other adventures, some better left unshared. Suffice it to say that the trip to Memphis was a blast. 

I'm ready to go back again any time, y'all!

Weekend on Beale

We just got back from a long weekend trip to Memphis, so I've been a slacker at visiting the blogs of all our friends. I promise to remedy that situation over the next few days because I'm nosy and can't wait to hear what's been going on in the blogmosphere while we were gone.

For now, here are a few tidbits about our trip.

First of all, a surprise. Once we reached the bootheel area of Missouri, we saw acres and acres and acres of cotton. I always envisioned cotton on a southern plantation somewhere in Georgia (okay, maybe I read Gone With the Wind a tad too many times), but it seems that good ole' Missouri produces quite a bit. At this point in time the plants are so loaded with ready-to-harvest cotton, that the fields looked as though they'd been dappled by an early snow.

If you love the blues, you'll love Beale Street. It reminded me of an enormous street party with more bands than you can count playing music while young Memphis boys performed as many consecutive back flips as possible down the center of the street. Onlookers applauded and the boys dripped with sweat as they passed a tip bucket around for more substantial appreciation of their efforts in the hot Tennessee sun.

As in so many "tourist" areas, there were numerous horse drawn carriages available for hire. The horses all appeared healthy and in good condition. Nearly every carriage sported a canine companion for the driver. This one had two! Biggify the picture to see the tiny chihuahua in the driver's lap.

For the number of people on Beale Street, the crowd was remarkably well behaved. Woe be unto anyone daring otherwise, for the police presence after dark is heavier than what you might see during a big city riot. This provides a certain calming effect on partiers who are given strict guidelines such as:

No one needed to "clear" us as we were back at the hotel long before 3 a.m.  At least, I think we were...

A bit more next time on our most excellent Memphis trip.

Hip Hop Hello

Here we are again on one of my favorite days of the week...Saturday. We're not out of town for a change, so I'll get a chance to run errands and do some house cleaning. Not my favorite task, but when you can no longer see the floor, it's past time to take action.

I'm in process of baking a new recipe of mini-cheesecakes to donate for a fundraiser tomorrow. Cheesecake can be tricky and cooking is not my forte, so I'm allowing plenty of time. If they don't turn out, there's always the Costco bakery!

While I go check my cheesecakes, why don't you check out the Blog Hop? It's a wonderful day to make some new friends!

Happy Weekend

It's the last big weekend of summer! The goofy weatherman says the temperature will be perfect (if you can believe him). I'm packed and ready to celebrate (yep, I'm WAY over 21) while Mom flits around faster than one of our hummingbirds at the feeder. Don't slow down, Mom, because...

We're going to the river!

Hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Storms of Summer

We've been having many days of intense heat and high humidity. Yesterday one of the "scattered showers" predicted by weather forecasters turned into a dandy storm with plenty of lightening and high winds.  Once things finally calmed down...

"Hey Mom! Take a look at this!"

Rats. Another thing to add to the weekend to-do list.

Weekend Wimp

Actor simulation of me on weekend. Trained professional. Do not try this at home.


Every Monday I count the days, waiting for the weekend to arrive. I just know I'll accomplish great things once I'm not stuck in my office.

The errands will be quickly completed. Groceries purchased and put away. Mega cooking accomplished, providing plenty of my favorite meal: Leftovers. Pet hair vacuumed and house cleaned to a pine smelling spic and span patina. Laundry washed, folded and put away.

But I won't stop there. Oh, no.

A wallpaper and painting project has lingered on for months. It's going to get finished. I'll simply love the new color, once I dust off the cans and remember what it looks like.

Meanwhile, the basement and garage are crying out for help. I'll make them look better than the "after" pictures from a decorating magazine. Perhaps I'll even take photos of the transformation. Might make a good article.

Speaking of which, I'm going to do some writing! I've got ideas just screaming to be put on paper. If I play my cards right, I can complete at least three short pieces for submission.

Oh, the things I will do, come the weekend!

Today it's Sunday. Indy snoozes at my feet. Bogey in my lap purrs louder than the clock ticking while I write these words. I'm not sure exactly what kept me from being the dynamo I'd planned to be, but it is what it is. There's only one thing left for me to do.

I'll start counting the days until next weekend.

What is It?

We spent the weekend in a remote heavily forested rural area of Missouri. So remote, in fact, that there was no cell phone service, no computer access, and no television. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night, six persons in our group were out walking the area. Suddenly they noticed a round, glowing, orange-colored object hovering in the treetops. It sat there for a few minutes then drifted higher, moved across the sky, and stopped. Then the object slowly faded, until it completely disappeared. There was no sound.

The best description I could get was that the object appeared similar to the way a helium balloon would look if it were carrying a candle inside.

I've been assured that no one imbibed in strong beverages before the walk.  Besides, each person describes the exact same thing.

Okay, readers. Does anyone have a clue what this could have been?

Hip Hop Hooray

Ya-hoo! Today Mr. Linky worked! I've been having a few problems with him, but perhaps my tech-know-not issues have finally been resolved.

I just realized that we are only six followers away from 100, thanks in large part to the blogmosphere's wonderful critter lovers. This weekend it's possible Critter Alley could hit triple digit followers. Wow, that is so awesome...or should I say pawsome?

Seriously, we love each and every one of our readers, and enjoy seeing what's happening in your lives, too. It's been quite amazing to witness how fellow bloggers rejoice with each other in good times and rally to help in bad, despite the fact that few of us have ever met face to face. I suppose it's one of the things that keeps us in front of the computer for so many hours...we've become a virtual cyber-family.

Blogger family, have a wonderful weekend and do try to keep cool!