More Exploring

Paul is doing well, in spite of the weekly blood tests, so we are now getting out more.

There is an article in the Tennessean titled "Ms. Cheap". She informs of great deals around the area. I set our calendar according to this article!! For the past two weeks it has been busy!

On the 193rd anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, we made our way to The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson.
There was a special ceremony, with wreath laying at his tomb, including the song "The Battle of New Orleans". This battle ended the War of 1812. History is so much more interesting when you can see it like this! Since it was also community appreciation day, there was no charge for entrance to the museum and tour. It was fascinating to tour his home and the grounds. Included were the grave site of Alfred, a slave born into slavery in 1812, who stayed on after the property became a museum in 1889. Upon his death in 1901, he was buried, at his request, in the garden beside the Jackson tomb. Also slave quarters, smoke house and outhouse (which, if I were thinking could have taken an interior picture of...Maintenance had opened it to check on the door and we were able to get a view very few get to see.... It was a four-seater!!) are still standing.

Ford sponsored a community appreciation day on Saturday for the Country Music Hall of Fame, so we were there on Saturday. It was really interesting to view all of the country music singers of past and present they have honored. One of the exhibits was even a car owned by Elvis, complete with thousands of silver dollars (even on the gas and brake pedals), and painted in 40 coats of paint that was made of crushed diamonds!! How expensive would that have been!! It looked like that pearl white you see on cars today, only with a little more sparkle to it.
(Sorry, no picture :( )

Friday night we returned to the Frisk to a concert by the Jubilee choir from Fisk University. It was an overflow, such that the 300 seat auditorium could not accommodate them, so they ended up doing two concerts. They were a fabulous group.

The highlight of our activities was last Sunday night! The Grand Ole Opry hosted a GAC Special TV Taping of "How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites Live From The Grand Ole Opry". We were fourth row back, which meant the camera was quite close. It is to be aired February 9 on the Great American Country station (GAC)...CD being released on February 5! The program included: Ronnie Milsap, Sara Evans,
Trace Adkins,
Lorettra Lynn, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels and Carrie Underwood! It was so fantastic!

We are truly enjoying ourselves here. The weather is not that much different (In fact it sounds like they have had more rain and snow than we have!!!