Random Pics From New Years Weekend In Nashville, TN

We had a good time being touristy and at the same time avoiding the downtown crowds while Ryan worked. One of the places we went to was Cheekwood. Cheekwood was a mansion built by the man who created Maxwell House Coffee. After he and his wife died the kids donated the mansion and grounds to Nashville to be used as a botanical gardens and art museum. Most of these pics are from a temporary display that had outside using scale trains and reproductions of Tennessee landmars made from wood. Check it out...

The TN Capital building.

Just a random pic to give you an idea of the exhibit size and style.

"Train kept a rollin' all night long!"

Graceland for the Elvis fans.

The Cheekwood mansion recreated for the exhibit.

Walking up the driveway to the real mansion.

One of the statues flanking the front door. The inside was semi preserved as the family's home and partially turned into a modern type of museum.

In Franklin at the ruins of Ft. Granger. These small hills at one time formed the ramparts and enfilade of the fort. You can still clearly see the gun emplacements and the citadel of the fort. This was a Union fort and saw limited action during the Battle of Franklin.

Looking the other way inside the fort.

We had breakfast Sunday morning a cool old country restaurant in old town Franklin. Breakfast was GOOD! If you're friends with me on facebook you got to see a picture of my morning feast.

Pictures Of The Mansion At Carnton Plantation.

Here are the pictures I took of the house at Carnton. Since it was New Years Day the house was closed but you could still get on the grounds through the cemetery. When you get to the picture of the sign, take the time to read it. The tale of this house and its part in the battle and aftermath of the battle is very interesting.

From inside the cemetery.

A little closer, but still inside the cemetery.

On the back lawn looking at the rear porch. The just repainted the porch and the caution tape was still up.

I forgot to change the settings on my camera when I took the pic. It's easier to read in B&W anyway :)

I love these style porches. I have a smaller version of this on the front of my house now.

The front of the house.

Looking up the sidewalk from the gate.

A little closer. Last time we were here it was snowing so this is really the first time I've been able to walk around in the front yard and take pics.

Another angle

A tree over in the house's garden. The limbs of this one are making some really cool shapes.

As I said, look into this place it's worth the time.

Confederate Cemetary, Carnton Plantation, Franklin TN New Years Day

New Years weekend we went to Nashville to hang out with Ryan. Sunday before we came home we stopped at the Carnton Plantation outside Franklin. This place is hallowed ground as the final resting place of over 1,400 fallen Confederate soldiers killed during the Battle of Franklin. The house was used as a hospital to care for the fallen troops wounded nearby. There is a really interesting story surrounding this house. If you get the chance stop by take the tour and get some learnin'. In the meantime enjoy these pictures I took.

Looking down the rows from the main gate.

Another view

Each block is a soldiers grave. There is a book near the front with the names of all the known soldiers here. There are a few graves in the cemetery with regular tombstones placed by the families.

A state marker with dead flowers in front of it spoke to me. We live our lives and bloom too soon, only to die and fade away leaving good memories and tales of our deeds.

The monument to the 129 Alabama soldiers buried here.

One of the few regular grave stones. A tree grew right behind it and made a really interesting scene to me.

Another angle and camera setting.

And another.

From farther back with the house in the background. Carrie McGavock lived in that house and cared for these graves until she died in 1905.


Check out the wiki page I linked and be sure to read more about the Battle of Franklin, it was a horrible bloody battle and the brave men from both sides who fought here deserved to be remembered.

Eric Lindell On Sunday At The Blues Fest.

Sunday we stuck around to see Eric Lindell. There were quite a few good acts scheduled for the day, but we needed to leave around lunch to head on over to Natchez, MS for the night. These guys put on a good show, they are more a fav of my Wife's than mine but I was entertained none the less. It was a mid day show so there were no lights or night time craziness going on. Just good old music being played. Check out the pics and let me know what you think.

Eric getting the show on the road.

The rest of the band. The guy sitting in front is playing a lap steel guitar.

Close up of the lap steel player and drummer. The guitar player made some faces but never moved in his seat.

Eric again.

Here was the star of the show to me. Myles Weeks the bass player. Not only is a he a great musician, he is a VERY entertaining to watch. The man gets into his music.

Feelin' the beat.

Stoking his baby's neck.

Makin' music.

Showing some life...

Getting into it fo' real.

Play that song dammit!

My friend Bubba's cousin is running for Lt. Gov. You might remember him from the Gulf oil spill coverage.

Classic symbol of New Orleans.


Hope ya like the pics, I'll be posting more stuff as I see it.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd at the Crescent City Blues Fest Part 3

Finally we get to the end of this show. The music was great, the band was entertaining, but it was also special because toward the end Kenny had a friend join him onstage. Of course I forgot his name, but he was the first person to ever let Kenny play on stage with him. It was years ago at the Old Absinthe House there in New Orleans. He was supposed to sit in on a couple of songs, but ended up playing all night. It seems that these two have gotten pretty close since then and it was great to see them play together. I love it when a successful person remembers the ones who helped get them there.

Another note getting bent into shape.

Shaking that hair around.

"Hey! Is that a hot chick over there????"

"Maybe she'll like this note bent up to the stars...."

Wearing that fretboard out.

Powerful show!

"Only two more frets to go before I've subdued them all!"

Joined by the Man!

This really makes me miss my old Gibson Flying V. I loved that guitar.

Two great players working the frets!

Keep on visiting, I'm sure I'll find something else to post here ;-)