About four hours drive and we arrive in Memphis. Since it was a lovely day, we immediately went and found the Big River crossing. In 2016 a wonderful project was completed, one can now walk across the Mississippi River, from Tennessee to Arkansas and back. Its’ about a mile each way.
View from the bridge, and what is that pyramid? I asked the same question, it was built as a basketball venue, and now is a Bass Pro Shop, we did end up in there, what a crazy place, huge sporting good store with a hotel, and indoor rivers that had fish and even a crocodile. Actually more fun than most museums these days.
Here is a nice close up.
Love all the deer, Elk and moose heads, I’m sure they are all very real
The sign says, you love may be eternal but your lock isn’t, they must come by regularly to remove locks. Meanwhile, once we got to New Orleans – they may not like the locks but look at this.
I understand that in Paris they removed all the locks from the original bridge, time for people to find a new hobby. Anyway back to the bridge.
Part of it was covered, probably necessary on a hot summer day.
Arkansas owns a much bigger part of the bridge.
Because I love images of large metal structures, it is sort of hard to see, but those are the cars, crossing as well.
And a train, everyone crosses at this bridge. there were other people walking along with us, nice to see that people use the bridge.
The river is extremely low, so many of the large cargo ships simply can’t come up or down the river. Someone said that hurricane season brings summer storms to the area – but this year, the only hurricane to make it to the Gulf of Mexico was Ian, that devastated Florida, so it was a very dry summer for the Mississippi basin and it shows.
Arriving in Arkansas, there isn’t a town right there, some sort of nature park.
My feet on Arkansas soil, you just have to take my word for it!
In the 19th century, fairs and expositions were the rage, some local, some world fairs. in 1897, for Tennessees centennial, such an exposition was held in what later became known as Centenial Park. Everything was removed except for the replica of the Parthenon.
Nashville called itself the Athens of the south, so it made sense. The building fell into disrepair, since it wasn’t built with permanent materials. So the city recreated the building to almost exact measurements. In 1931 it opened, complete with a magnificent statue of the Goddess Athena.
Our first view was from the tour bus, we like to do a full round and then chose where to get off. This was a must.
But first:
First we stopped at Marathon motor company, Once again, wonderful old machinery with cool shops and a nice deli. I even tasted some whiskey in the tasting room of a new brewery – meh – way too sweet. Oh well.
Then we walked about a mile and a half to the Parthenon. Guess what, not a lot of people walk in Nashville – not once you are out of the main downtown areas. Not much different from LA.
The small dark entrance is how one gets in, the museum itself is in the basement.
The pediment and the griffins are as close a recreation as one can get.
And then you go inside….
…and meet Athena herself! Created from 1982-1990, out of gypsum cement and fiberglass, she stands 41’10” tall. Her base goes down into the basement of the building, to give her support.
Oh yes, that is real gold leaf – as in 8 pounds of gold. And yes, Medusa and snakes are part of the story.
The snake goes from front to back.
On her breast plate and on the shield we see Medusa, and no, no-one turned to stone. although I think these are some the battles that Athen helped with.
She holds the Nike, in this case, 6’4″ tall, that is a whole foot taller than I am.
Seen from the back.
Have I mentioned how much I love American ingenuity! I just love this, no it’s not tacky. In Ancient Greece it would have been painted in all kinds of garish colors – we did them better – Gold!
The joke around here is that the national bird of Nashville is the crane, the same can be said about a lot of cities – like Los Angeles- they are building like crazy.
The first evening out I see this, now that is an interesting building. Only later did I realize how interesting it actually is.
I was looking at it from the side, but look from the front!
Here it is with all those cranes, well, just one, but believe me, there were plenty others. Turns out the Amazon has built part of it’s new headquarters right in downtown Nashville. the locals are complaining about the traffic, the congestion, all the newcomers. Yeah, that is what happens, welcome to progress.
another angles, this time from a bridge.
from the bridge, old buildings and new.
Speaking of bridges, I love em. We walked across the Cumberland River on this one.
What gorgeous weather we had in Nashville!
with a close up of the girders, because I love human ingenuity and creativity. I don’t want to go and live like a savage in nature. Nature is very cruel, all our modern amenities make like so much better.
There was a tour to the country music hall of fame, where they have so many of Nudies’ costumes on display. A nice Jewish boy from Eastern Europe who made it big making beautiful extravagant outfits – mostly for country singers. Later we saw Elvis’ outfits, nice but without the same attention to detail. Nudie worked right here in North Hollywood, looks like the stars had to come to him.
Aside from the bus tour, which was great, we toured RCA Studio B. An old music exec was our guide and she was great.
The king recorded many of his songs here. Btw, the studio is small and quite sparse – interesting what you can do with out major frills
Love her wigs. later on the drive we listened to a book she co-wrote with James Patterson. I hated it, we didn’t finish and I don’t care. Joel can finish on his own. I’m so over the rags to riches with all the miscommunications that make that possible. Even if Dolly has a big part. Lately I’ve been reading more of the classics – so much better. Yes, I am a snob.
In the recording studio, at the famous piano that everyone used.
Yup, me too!
And next the Parthenon, because America is great and we build things.
We flew to Nashville, that was our starting point.
We arrived in the late afternoon and immediately headed down to lower Br0adway – where a lot of the music is happening.
Old buildings on Broadway with a lot of new construction happening all over the downtown area. We hopped into one of these establishments, had a mild Nashville fried chicken – it was plenty spice! Listened to live music – that was just a little too loud. I’ll admit it, I’m getting old.
A lot of cowboy boots for sale, no not this one, this is the advertisement.
You know me, I love ghost advertising. Many of the establishments are owned by famous country stars – make your money in music and then invest in a bar on lower Broadway.
Our hotel was right across from the capitol, I don’t know why I thought Chattanooga was the capital. I was wrong. there is little old me on the steps. We arrived 10 minutes before closing, a kind guard let us in.
He was kind enough to take our picture. He offered a book on the history of Tennessee, it was to heavy to schlep home – so I didn’t.
I love this floor! not exactly mosaic, but almost
I like the cupola – this is one of a handful of state capitols that doesn’t have a dome. It’s find, the cupola works.
Inside were busts of Tennessee men who became presidents, From Andrew Jackson of course, to Andrew Johnson who was Lincolns VP at the time of the murder – he wasn’t a very good one. I know, the times were extremely difficult, but he didn’t handle things very well.
And then there is James K. Polk, no one, on our bus tour ever mentioned him. Me, personally, I like the guy. I’m all about Manifest Destiny and I am not upset about the Mexican American war. I live in CA after all and am very glad that it and most of the southwest is part of the good ol’ USA.
So imagine my surprise when I saw this on the grounds of the capitol. He is buried here. the guides mentioned that the architect of the capitol is entombed in one of the walls, but couldn’t mention that a president of the United State is buried right here???
What can I say, I like this epitaph. I get it, people today prefer to hate America and what it stands for. Not me. So thank you President Polk.
I didn’t realize that he died so soon after the Mexican American war, or that his wife survived him by 40 years.
The view from the capitol down towards centennial park and the Cumberland river beyond. Yes, we did a lot of walking, we walked down that hill and up again. Aside from getting a great perspective on foot, it helped with all the heavy southern food that we were eating.
Since I mentioned Jackson, I might as well include my visit to his home, the Hermitage right here, although we did it on our way out of town.
First of all, Fall colors. Ahh. Not quite like New England, but very lovely, this is on the grounds of the Hermitage estate, as we walked to the house itself.
The home from the front, hidden by many large trees.
And from the back. Inside the home, the docents were in period costume and age good information. Like the fact that Jacksons’ son managed the estate while Jackson was president and didn’t do a very good job. It was either him or one of the grandchildren that basically brought it to financial ruin. Although one must remember, switching from a slave economy to free market couldn’t have been easy….
A dining room, or maybe the breakfast room.
The kitchen, which is attached to the house, a little unusual in those days. notice all the smoke from the fireplace, which was probably also the stove.
Outside there was a private school on a field trip, they became the docents for the grounds. I think they were in 5th grade. They did a great job.
A cabin on the grounds. One of the household slaves stayed on until his death, getting paid for what he used to do for free.
Notice the lovely woven coverlet, I think it is original to the times. I hope so, there were a few others on the shelf.
Next, more Nashville. our trip was from Nashville, Memphis, down the Mississippi delta with an excursion into North West Louisiana and down to New Orleans.
It was a fascinating trip, so there will be plenty more posts – to make up for the fact that I didn’t bother to post while actually on the trip.
And what did he do at his birthday party? Climb trees of course!
Here he is teaching his friend the ropes.
way up the tree!
I was asked to pick up the cake, since the bakery is in the valley. Look at these amazing cakes!
its’ not only decorated cakes, its’ also all kinds of other pastries – yum.
Of course, the theme was basket ball.
Mandy is great with the decorations! thank you Pinterest. She actually marked up the tangerines to look like basket balls.
The kids did play basket ball for a bit, mostly just ran around and had fun. You know, like what old fashioned parties were like.
One adorable little brother, who is only 1.5 years old is in love with basketball – he watches it with his dad, he has recently started walking, it was so cute seeing him with the ball on the court – he even ‘made friends’ with some older kids who were actually playing.
waiting for the candle to be lit
There we go! btw, the cake was delicious, Mandy forgot forks, kids did fine with their fingers, another wonderful thing about an outdoor birthday party!
Then we went on to have dinner with friends in San Pedro.
This is their backyard and view – yes, there is a cliff, with a beach down below – but just look at this view?!?!
Wow! Incredible!
Quite a marine layer, so the sunset wasn’t spectacular, to me, this all is.
Next week we go to our trip to Nashville, Memphis and down to New Orleans. I probably won’t post from the road, will simply share when I get back.
Yom Kippur has come and gone. Not my favorite holiday. We had kids and grandkids over for both meals – before and after the fast – and that is very nice.
As for the holiday itself – meh. We went to our old synagogue because the kids are there. I enjoyed being outside with grandkids. As for the service itself – not my thing. I really enjoy our weekly minyan – so being with Two day Jews – not exciting. the Rabbi and cantor love a captive audience – so for me – a little painful. but being with kids and grandkids – always wonderful.
The day before Yom Kippur I went with my son in law and the kids to the local pumpkin patch.
First of all, this little one is a ham for the camera – and it shows.
At the pumpkin patch, because one has to go at least once.
On the tractor!
The little ham – again!
Abba Yoch took more pictures than I did.
On the bales of hay.
In the big pumpkin
Her head fits perfectly!
There were two woman who are probably IG instagramers – taking all kinds of picture, I still think Einav is so much better than them.
One more of the cutie. Meanwhile her brother met a friend from school. What else will Jewish kids do when it’s the eve of Yom Kippur and school is closed?
Its not a two story house, but there will be a higher ceiling with clerestory windows at the front of the house.
I had to take a picture of this Art Deco style house before it comes down. so the vagrants had taken it over and destroyed it. I have yet to see a vagrant treat anything with respect, not our streets, not the houses they invade, nothing. Anyway, two women with a construction company bought this house. unfortunately it was vacant for a while, and the vagrants took over.
Its a Sunday morning and workmen are here to build a wall in the back. These house back up to the wash- which is vagrant central. We have too many empty houses on the street, of course inflation isn’t making it easy for people to buy houses.
My own front yard, I didn’t realize I captured my own shadow.
Tree trimming time! Yup, there is a guy up in the tree.
The ficus is getting a shave. Now our chairs are in full sun.
The pepper tree also got a big pruning.
Saw this last night in Atwater village. In LA there are way too many parking signs, all up on one post. I am wondering who put this up, although it looks official – it isn’t. I do like the message, I also notice a spelling mistakes, Keyes is a name, there shouldn’t be an second 3 in Keys.
The New year has come and gone. No pictures, because lately I’ve been living life – not taking pictures. It was a wonderful holiday, family friends and food, way too much food.
But of course there are pictures, of Aytan boxing
With the money we gave him for his Bar Mitzvah, he went and bought Muay Thai boxing paraphernalia, no he doesn’t do that style of boxing, but he sure looks cute.
Not sure what his coach Josh just told him, but he does look surprised
This boxing is so wonderful for him, he’s been at it for a year and shows no sign of stopping.
His dad getting in on some of the action, no doubt he could get himself some gloves….
Yes, I’m loving this!
I’m decorating for fall, I put this up after Sept. 21. No I never do the creepy stuff, just fall, since we don’t have real fall here
Some pumpkins.
Some corn, the kind that can be put out on display, year after year.
This wreath has been in use for a few years now
A friend gave us tickets to the Hollywood Bowl. Logins and Messina – Thank God they sang the house at Poohs’ corner, cuz other than that, I didn’t know many of the songs. But a once a year visit to the bowl is very very nice.
I love the light show, the way they play around with the background lights. Can you see those lights in the upper right hand corner? That is where the Hollywood sign is. I could see it before it got dark. Further to the right I could see the Ford theater – across the 101 freeway. They too had a performance that night – they light up the whole hillside.
I have started pickle ball lessons! I no longer do yoga, not since the studios demanded a vax passport. I get it, yoga is woke and I’m not. Who knows at some point I might find a non woke studio, but I’m not counting on it. Yes, I walk, but I need more exercise and I hope to do something with other people. A friend recommended a wonderful pickle ball teacher – so that is where I am starting, then I’ll need to find a group to join. Slowly but surely, I’ll get there.
I don’t have pictures of me learning pickle ball, but I do have pictures of my latest project. When on the quilting retreat in Temecula I saw this pattern at a quilt store – I simply had to get it, soooo cute!!!
I pulled fabric from my stash and got to work. Although the bag is adorable, the instructions are horrible. It is written for people who hardly sew, and that makes it difficult for someone like me who is trying to just make a bag. I’ll be honest its’ a good thing they have some videos since the videos make more sense.
The interior is nice and roomy, I don’t want this as my everyday purse, it could be a nice project bag. I’m just not sure what I will do with it. I might even give it as a gift.
There are two metal frame pieces that give it this fun shape when zipper is closed.
Here is a small pouch I made years ago with the same kind of frames, this now holds all my cross-stitch needles. I have quite a large stash.
the view from the top, I used a bag zipper, with two pulls. This one I bought at JoAnns and it flimsier than the By Annie zippers.
I decorated the pulls with some jewelry stones I have, goes nicely with the fabric.
I also covered the zipper ends with a nice tab, this one is padded.
Same fabric as the lining.
The base is two layers of a very firm flex board. It is attached by hand, I hope I sewed it strong enough. This is a big reason why I don’t want it as a purse. But it is so cute!
A friend asked for help with sewing dresses, I am hoping to follow through and do this. It is Jewish High Holidays, so it won’t happen right away.
You know the old saying, when life gives you lemons – make lemonade
So life gave me a year long Sew along that I didn’t like. Last year I really enjoyed Jacobs’ sew along, but apparently he really got ripped off so this years it’s a secret, each month revealing the next phase.
Turns out I don’t particularly like Fresland samplers. So I about 3 months and said – no more. I’ve already used some of the fabric and thread for Which Witch. but I had to do something with the work I did on this one.
Following Vonna Pfeiffer’s instructions, I am making a drum. Her You Tube videos really are the best. I am also making a bag, and the written instructions are horrible, the You Tube videos help – but only so much
The drum is taller than I’d like, simply because I wanted this whole tree, crown and border in place.
There are instructions to use interfacing, polyfil and crushed walnut shells. It stands up nicely
I have two pairs of the spies returning to Moses with the grapes from the Holy Land. Of course Jacob, despite his name doesn’t like thing biblical so he did give an option for something other than grapes. I think that was one of the things that soured me on this – old samplers are religious and biblical – don’t like that, don’t make them
The crown, the border. These days with the Crown of England moving from Elizabeth to Charles – that is pretty significant.
I could have added more filling so the top would be rounder, I found a different solution.
Vonna, once again with a great tutorial on making cord. I have done it before with yarn, not thread – her instructions are great!
I need more practice to get the cord tighter, but this is just fine
Here is my solution for the top a cute bead and shred the thread.
Yes I do like the minute detail I get with my macro lens.
