A Jug of Wine. . .

A loaf of bread. . . .

NDP is on break, enjoying a little sunshine this week. . . . . .

On the library walls

This quote is on the wall in the Civil Rights Room of the Nashville Public Library.

We are gone for the next several days and will have the posts on autopilot.

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving Bounry

Ah, sweet potatoes! The staple of many Thanksgiving dinners, sweet potatoes and yams are good cooked so many different ways. Here's one of my favorite recipes:

Sugar-free Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Wash, peel and cube 2 pounds of sweet potatoes
Place them in cold water and cook over medium heat until tender.
Drain water.
To sweet potatoes add: 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4-1/3 c. milk or cream, 1/8 c. Splenda, 1 tablespoon Amaretto
Beat with mixer until smooth.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

In this time that we face so many challenges in this country, we still have so many things for which we can be thankful.

Where Is Everyone?

This was the scene at Nashville International Airport last Tuesday evening when I picked my husband up on his return from Washington, DC.

For some reason, I think that the place will be a little more crowded over the next few days.

She Keeps Getting More Adorable. . . .

Remember Uno, the cute puppy I showed you a couple of weeks ago (Click here to see her then.)? My son tells me she is growing quickly, and from what I see, she's also getting more adorable all the time.

We're going to visit Jason for Thanksgiving, so hopefully we'll get to meet Uno in person.

Thanks to Jason for emailing me this photo.

Rear Window

This is a view of the downtown skyline from a building on West End Avenue. Centennial Park is about a block away from where I shot the photo - in front of those condos directly east of our building. Note the "Batman Building" in the middle of the skyline.

Tye-Dye

If you look at this a little too long, you'll get dizzy.

When I was little, tye-dyed clothes were the big rage. I think they're pretty popular again.

The Opry House is Festive These Days

Night Reflection

The lights of downtown reflect on the water of the Cumberland River.

BMI

Have you ever wondered what some of the Music Row buildings look like?

This one is BMI (Broadcast Music Inc). Founded in 1939, BMI collects royalty fees for its songwriters, composers and publishers when their works have been performed. BMI issues licenses to radio and television stations, orchestras, current media (iPods, satellite radio, etc), bars, movies, concerts, jukeboxes, etc. When you hear a particular song, whether it be on the radio, during a television show, or even in a jukebox, the venue pays a licensing fee to either BMI or ASCAP. My husband told me that if a song played during their newscasts, they had to pay a fee for it. . . and it wasn't cheap.

For more information on BMI, click here.

What A Difference a Month Makes

For the first time in over 5 weeks, I had to fill the gas tank of my Mini Cooper. The last time I filled it, I paid about $3.69 per gallon - over $50 total. Last night, I paid $1.85 per gallon, and my total bill came to $24.20 for 13+ gallons.

On September 20, gas was $3.89/gallon ($3.86 with a Kroger card) for regular (left). It eventually peaked at more than $4/gallon before it started coming down. I never thought we'd see gas go

below $3/gallon. To be honest, I never thought it would go below $2/gallon.

How much is gas in your neighborhood?

P.S. We're closing in on our 500th CDP post!

More Market Bounty

I like gourds. When I owned the store, we did get some dried ones that customers stamped and decorated. I, however, never buy them for myself.

Now Selling At The Farmers' Market

The fastest selling items at the Farmers' Market this weekend were greens of all kinds. . . .turnip greens . . . collard greens . . . kale . . . mustard greens . . . and these greens which I didn't recognize but are, according to the sign on the box, "purple-edged greens."

A Little Jack

Obviously a float, this bottle is a replica of the actual Jack Daniel's Whiskey produced in Lynchburg, TN.   Jack Daniel's, a sour mash whiskey (NOT bourbon ) is filtered through sugar maple charcoal and aged in large wooden vats.

If you get to the Nashville area, be sure to check out the Jack Daniel's Distillery tour.  It's very interesting, especially when they lift the lid of one of the wooden vats.  I think your blood alcohol probably goes up just from the vapors.

FYI:  You won't be able to buy much JD's while on the tour.  Lynchburg is located in Moore County, a dry county in Tennessee.  Except for one commemorative product, the distillery is not permitted to sell the whiskey.

Fall on the Farm

Don't Touch the Garbage

Don't call him a garbage dog, but he does help his owner clean up festival grounds.

And, whatever you do, please don't steal the garbage.

Time for a Cute Dog Photo

For a long time, Decker (L) and Kasey used to sit on the stairs every morning while I got ready to go to work.  Our house faces east, so the sun comes through the windows, bathing the stairs in warmth. Decker follows the beams of light around the stairs and front rooms even now, although Kasey has decided she likes the family room more.  We think that it's probably because she's older (13.5 years) and likes the soft cushions better than the hardwood floors.

Aren't they sweet?

Fruits of Autumn

Frosty Morning in TN

We've had several frosty mornings lately. . . . 

Adventure Science Center

Established originally as the Children's Museum of Nashville after WWII, the Adventure Science Center evolved over the years, adding the state's first planetarium in 1952 and changing names and location a number of times.  Renamed Adventure Science Center in 2002, the science museum is near Ft. Negley, a Civil War site south of downtown Nashville.  It has a number of exhibits and programs of interest (and education) for everyone.

To read more about ASC, click here.

Indian Corn

I think our Indian Summer is finally over. . . .Here's a little Indian corn from the Farmers' Market. . . .

Red Hot Chile Peppers

A little something to warm you up on a chilly autumn day. . . .

Peppers are still "in" at the Nashville Farmers' Market.


The cat has a name: Sally's cat's name is Millie. :-)

Sally's Cat

Cat logic:

Variety is the spice of life.  

One day ignore people.  

The next day, annoy them.

~ Anonymous

I am highly allergic to cats, so I don't go around them too often.  My friend Sally has a pretty cat that pretty much ignores me when I visit, so I don't even know her name.  But, here she is celebrating the election results Tuesday evening.  ;-)

On This Most Beautiful Day

A thought on this most beautiful of days:

"One man may hit the mark,
another blunder, but heed not
these distinctions. Only from the
alliance of the one working with

and through the other are
great things born."

~ Antoine Saint-Exupery

This is the lake in our subdivision. I showed you how it looked last summer. What a difference a few months make!

Yes, We Did

America is a place where all things are possible . . .
~ Barack Obama

When I was a child, my father - the only son of immigrant laborers who gave up the life they knew to give their children opportunity in a new land . . . a high school graduate who could not afford to go to college . . . a blue-collar worker who toiled even after a debilitating illness so that his children would have the education he could not get - told me that anyone could do anything he/she set his/her mind to doing. That was the most important piece of advice my father ever gave me.

On a personal level, I have always believed that. On another level, I have at times had doubts. Tonight, I rejoice in the fact that America put its collective mind to accomplishing something that was good and the right thing to do, and succeeded.

This evening, we watched the election results at the home of good friends Sally and Steve. Right before 10:00 PM CST, CNN called the election for Barack Obama. We were all overcome with the power the moment.

In their respective speeches, McCain and Obama were gracious and put us, the citizens of this great country, and America first. As I mentioned the other day, the president-elect is going to have a huge road to hoe. He is going to need all of us behind him.

We know that the challenges that tomorrow will
bring are the greatest of our lifetime . . .
~ Barack Obama

God Bless America.

PS. Any guy who promises to get his daughters a puppy for the White House just has to be a great guy! I'm pushing for a terrier!

Election Day Facts

Today is Election Day in the United States. Officials estimate that 28.8 million people have already voted in the 34 states that allow early voting. Many people in every state have waited hours to get to vote. One of my cousins in Ohio waited four hours, while a good friend here in Tennessee waited over 90 minutes. We've heard that some people in Florida and California have waited eight hours.

I imagine we'll have long lines all day, today. I took these photos right at 7AM this morning just after our polling place, Harpeth Valley Elementary School, opened its doors. There were over 100 people in line at the time. The signs around the school were all for Obama and Lamar Alexander, our senior senator. (Lamar, if you are familiar with him, was known for red/black plaid, flannel shirts, hence the sign.)

(A quick side story: In 1992, I was precinct coordinator for our polling place in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the school janitor forgot to come to school early (We had to be there at 5:30 am to get supplies ready.). We called the Board of Elections, but there was little they could do. Finally, the janitor showed up at 6:45 am. My workers got everything together quickly, and we were only 20-25 min. late in opening the polling place. We had lines around the school most of the day, and while the polls closed at 7:00, we ended up with voters in place almost an hour later. We were exhausted, but we were thrilled at the turnout.)

I think most of us in the US feel this election started in November, 2004. In case you've forgotten some of what's gone on, though, here are a couple of facts:

* Republican John Cox (Cook County, IL Recorder of Deeds) was the 1st to announce his candidacy for the presidency on 3/9/06. His campaign didn't go very far.

* Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsak was the first Democrat to throw his hat in the ring on 11/30/06. He didn't last long, either.

* Hillary Clinton announced she would run on 1/20/07, followed closely by Barack Obama on 2/10/07.

* John McCain announced his candidacy on 2/27/07.

*In addition to the Dems and Republicans, other parties have candidates on the presidential ballot this year: Bob Barr(Libertarian), Chuck Baldwin (Constitution), Cynthia McKinney (Green) and Ralph Nader (Independent). Ted Weill (Reform) is on the ballot only in MS.

* This is the first election:

**in which two sitting senators are running against each other.

**that an African-American has been nominated by a major party.

**that both candidates were born outside of the continental US (Obama in Hawaii & McCain in Panama Canal Zone)

**since 1928 that an incumbent president or his VP has not run for the top office.

**that the Republicans have nominated a female VP candidate.

And, in case you want more, here are a couple of other fun facts:

*The first US election was in 1789. George Washington won the presidency, and John Adams the vice presidency. There were 38,818 popular votes cast.

*In 1888, President Grover Cleveland lost his bid for re-election to Benjamin Harrison, but regained the White House in 1892.

*In 1948, the Chicago Tribune declared Thomas Dewey the winner while Harry Truman had about 2000000 more popular votes and over 120 electoral votes.

*The closest election in history was the 1960 election where Kennedy received 34,266,731 votes to Nixon's 34,108,157. Kennedy actually had 303 electoral votes to Nixon's 219.

*In 1984, Ronald Reagan received the most popular votes (54,455, 075) and electoral votes (525).

*Also in 1984, the Democrats nominated Geraldine Ferraro as the first female VP candidate.

*The closest electoral vote was in 2000 with George Bush receiving 271 votes to Al Gore's 266. Gore won the popular vote with 50,992,335 to Bush's 50,455,156.

One Day and Counting

Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.

I am thrilled that this never-ending campaign is finally going to be over. For almost two years, we have had to put up with the candidates and the pundits, the radio talk shows and the TV news and commentary programs, the accusations and the insinuations, the maneuvering and the backpedaling, the name-calling and the fact-twisting. No one person or political party is innocent. They all do it.

I think one of the most important rights - and responsibilities -  we have in this country is the right to elect our leaders. The system is not perfect, and neither are the people we elect. They're as human as we are, and their election to office does not turn them into divine beings. We have to remember that when this thing is finally over. Whoever wins this thing is going to have a long road to hoe to fix the problems (the economy, the war, our dependence on foreign oil and gas, our reputation in the world, our position in the world and more) facing this country. He is not going to be able to fix them overnight, and he is not going to be able to fix them alone. It's going to take time, and it's going to take all of us working together - as US citizens, not as democrats or republicans or independents - to fix this mess.

No matter which candidate you back, I hope you vote tomorrow.

All Souls Day

November 2 is All Souls Day, following All Saints Day (Nov.1).  Western Christians dedicate the day in memory of the faithful departed.  The Catholic Church's celebration on this day is meant to cleanse the souls of those who died with sins for which they have not completely atoned.  It is believed that the prayers of the living will help those in purgatory reach heaven.  

This is the Nashville National Cemetery, located about six miles north of downtown.  In 1867, it was dedicated as a US Military cemetery, although it had been a cemetery for years before that. Many of those originally buried there were casualties of the Civil War, and there are over 16,000 Union soldiers interred there.  If you look at the center of this photo, you'll see that some of the graves are marked with square, marble "pegs" instead of headstones.  The names of the soldiers reposing in those graves are unknown, and the only thing that marks their resting place is the peg with a number on it.  (All graves are numbered in numeric order.)

TOMORROW:  One day and counting . . . 

Theme DAY: BOOKS

The first day of the month is always THEME DAY with City Daily Photo bloggers. This month, we're presenting our take on BOOKS. I'm showing something that I think is a little different.

For over nine years, I owned a paper arts store, Paper Moon, in Nashville. We offered, among other things, bookmaking classes. The books shown in today's photo are some of the books I made during the time I owned the store.

The different types of books are (starting at the back left):

(If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the samples better.)

* The floral book with yellow/white ribbons is an example of Japanese stab binding.

* The book stamped with violet and purple flowers is a star book . It closes flat.

* Behind the star book (with a heart on it), is a mini-file folder book.

* The red/green book next to the file folder book is a paper bag book.

* The book bound with little ribbons is a spiral-bound book.

* The book on the far right (green ribbons) is an accordion book.

* To the left of the green accordion book is another accordion book, but its cover is made with a metal CD case.

* The book in the middle (with the big 50) is the first book I self-published.

* In front of the 50 book is an alphabet book. You can see the D=Dog.

* The little pink/white book, at 2-square inches, is the smallest book I ever made.

* The red book with the red ribbon is a star/accordion book - a larger version of the pink/white book.

* The green book in front is just a regular book bound with screws and a ruler.

* The remaining two books are bound with key tags. The one in the middle has chipboard pages, while the one on the right is a name book.

And, what are those white papers on the bottom of the books, you may ask?

As many of you know, I am in graduate school working toward an MFA in literary nonfiction. Those white papers contain what I've worked on since July of this year. Every month, we have to write 20-30 pages of new work, do revisions to work we have already handed in, and write annotations for 2-3 of the 8-10 books we read each semester. (Hence the reason I don't comment too much right now! ;-) ) I'm hoping that those papers will end up in a book of my own some day!

And, speaking of the MFA program, my field study is a website dedicated to book adventures in the Nashville area.  If you are interested in reading books, writing of any kind, or attending book-themed events (readings, discussions, workshops, etc.), check my site out.  Nashville Word Adventures (so-name because I think every time you read you go off on an adventure) lists area bookstores, events they hold, reading-related news items, and writing prompts.  Click here to visit nashvillewordadventures.com.

There are 178 blogs participating in THEME DAY today. Be sure to check them out!

(PS Three days until Election Day. Don't forget to vote!)

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

or click on an individual blog below.

American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montréal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York,