Bluegrass on the Square

This is the friendly crowd we joined for a free Bluegrass concert on the town square in Murfreesboro. The courthouse was open, they gave out fans and bottles of water instead of charging for them and members from the local Missouri Synod Lutheran Church assured us that we would certainly be welcomed at communion if we decided to join them for worship on Sunday. Small town life definitely has it's benefits.

A Very Historic Porch

Just outside of Franklin, Tennessee you can tour this beautiful plantation home. The battle of Franklin was so fierce that the bodies of five Confederate generals who were killed that first day were laid side by side on this porch. Some of them had connections to Texas, including Generals Cleaburne and Granbury. The family offered the use of their home as a field hospital and later donated a part of their land for what is now the largest privately owned mililary cemetary in the country. The person who looks like the family caretaker is actually a fifth grade history teacher from Arlington, Texas.

The Mother Church of Country Music

We celebrated this year's Fourth of July in Nashville. One highlight was walking around the Ryman Auditorium. Although the Grand Ol' Opry was moved in the 70's to a new and larger facility, for many years this was the stage where many of the singers we grew up listening to played. I still can't believe we were asked to step up to this historic stage and audition by a couple of record producers, of course they haven't contacted us.... yet.

My Kind of Church

This little wooden structure known as the Shiloh church is in a quiet corner of the National Park. It has a wooden floor inside, wood pews and a small pulpit. Once surrounded by cannons, two armies and an awful battle, it is now one of the most peaceful places we have had the opportunity to visit.

Southern Women

After touring through the grounds of Shiloh Ruth finds a place to rest for a bit. Somehow she found just the right spot.

The other Martin Luther (King)

This wreath marks where Martin Luther King was assasinated outside his motel room in Memphis. You can now go through the National Civil Rights museum which was built all around it. It is a powerful and moving experience that helps you to appreciate the incredible number of sacrifices that so many people have made in the name of justice and equality.

A Blue Cadillac

It may sound like the perfect summertime drink, but when you’re in Memphis what you get is a photo op with one of the cars that belonged to Elvis.

The Battle before Tennessee

When we left for Tennessee following church it was pouring rain, but ignoring the latest of our many thunderstorms we spent a good part of our first day getting ready for our upcoming visit to Graceland by listening to Elvis and eating fried chicken. The only setback during this first part of our trip was a bloody two hour battle between Ruth and a swarm of relentless mosquitoes that had managed to slip inside our VW during a brief stop. Ruth was wounded repeatedly but in the end her major league swing and rolled up map proved too much. Yes, she not only prevailed but made it to Graceland.