Nashville Jewel Rally Oct 4-10

We were invited to join the Jewels, (a motorcoach club) and go to a rally in Nashville.
It was the 88th anniversary of the Grand 'Ol Opry, and various other things.
The first stop was the old RCA studio where Elvis, Charlie Pride, Floyd Cramer, Dolly Parton,  etc. recorded .
Each night was some nice place for dinner, (i.e. Sambuca) etc.
One day a Riverboat rideand lunch with a show with Shotgun Red from RFD TV.
Next day, a luncheon in the Country Music Hall of Fame with a songwriter, (James Dean Hicks) giving a show and answering songs about songwriting, etc.
One evening, we spent at the Grand 'Ol Opry birthday celebration and saw many of the old country western singers, like Little Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely, etc.
Even one of the American Idol singers...Casey James.
The epitome was the tour of the Fontanel.......Barbara Mandrell's former home.
a 27,000 square foot log house! Indoor pool. 2500 square foot great room, all the pictures of her with incredible people, trophies, awards, a fabulous dining room, etc. really tremendous.
Enjoyed visiting with all the new friends and several old friends that we have known over the years from our Marathon Club membership and previous rallies. we plan on 3 or 4 more within the next year.......

 

Top 'O the World....

 

Beetle Trees.......

Still taking down......about 70, so far. Then had the pest control guy come out and spray some of the trees that we definitely don't want infected!

"I Hate Myself....Cos I Want You!"

Rick Springfield!!!

First concert I've been to in years.....
Rick had some kind of head injury, so he had to wear dark glasses....said he couldn't see a thing!
Anyway, it was great fun...he played some of his new album stuff, but then played some of the classics! "Jessie's Girl", "Human Touch" "Don't talk to Strangers"....he is 64 years old and still has a six pack tummy!
Dr. Noah Drake from General Hospital still looked really good!Haha!

Drove up the mountain with friends, to ride the new Gondola and have a burger at the top!

 Go figure!

Every nitght at about 9 or so...Sheena gets in her crate and waits for me to put the door on....

Never known a crate trained kitty!

More tree burning........

 

My first Official Dinner Party in the new house!

Jimmy, Ralph, Glenda, Lisa, Robert, Sherry and Joe......

The ever changing sky here........

Right now, it is pouring rain, can't even see the mountain!

Burning Beetle Trees!

The burn ban has finally been lifted, so Jimmy is busy taking down and burning the beetle infested trees! There are so many of them, and they can be dead in a matter of weeks...no matter what you do!

The house is done!

Well....A year an a half after we started....it is done and we have the C.O.!
Of course there are a million little things that need to be done.....a punch list, so to speak, but I am now officially sleeping in my own bed!

The Hummers are back!

 

Santos vacation!

On July 19th, Elevinia, Hector, Luzelena and little Hector drove in from Joshua, Tx.
We had a fun time, Elevinia cooked flautas for me on Friday....On Saturday we went down to the go-carts and bumper cars for the kids, It poured rain!
Then, it stopped, so we went to the Flying J ranch for a western dinner, complete with a shootout in the street!
Sunday we drove up the mountain and went to the top...12000 feet...on the new Gondola, and had a burger. Got some great pictures, above the clouds...went back to the bumper cars in the afternoon. When Jimmy, Luz and little Hector went into the maze, Lucy stepped wrong and twisted her knee again (old injury), so we went home and Jimmy cooked some great steaks for dinner.
They left on Monday, :( sad to see them go!

More rainbows!

After another much needed shower ( I think we are in the monsoon season), this afternoon......I got pictures of a very vivid rainbow! the colors were taing up the sky~!

Sleepy time.......

I couldn't resist, all the "kids" were sleeping!

This morning, Jay, our employee, walked out of his house, and this was in his neighbor's yard!

"No Reason" gift.....

 

Went to the gun show, last weekend!

 

Rainbow after the storm!

We have had wonderful cool rain all week, every afternoon.....I think we are past the hottest part of the year, now. Hopefully, the Monsoon rains will start soon!

Oriole visits my new birdfeeder!!

 

Furniture is mostly in, here is the dining area looking to the Family TV area.......

After the storm.......

Rain has been all aound us, today....but about 6 pm it finally unleashed on us! Glorious hour of rain!
Anyway, after the storm we had a beautiful rainbow with a really faint twin!

Supermoon!!!

Jimmy and I went up on the roof deck with a tripod and my Lumix camera, and I got these pictures! Pretty amazing, huh?