...and the Music Lives On !!!!!

Looks like we are in "Dogwood Winter" right now. Just when I thought we were safe from frost and that it's OK to plant, here come the frost warnings!! The dogwoods and azaleas are still blooming, and the grass is growing like crazy! But our mountains are like that....brilliant blue sky and sunshine, but lurking just beyond the next weather forecast could be shivers and frost.

I am still flying high from my visit to Nashville to visit Deborah. Our fours days were filled with music and laughter. We managed to get in three fun nights of great music, fun with friends, two visits to the farmer's market, and a great lunch in Hillsborough Village. The highlight was Levon Helm and his Ramble at the Ryman, the Mother Church of Country Music. What a show!!! He has been rocking for over 40 years from The Hawks, The Band, to his famous Rambles!! His unforgettable voice, his awesome drumming, his network of the best of the best musicians from the world of Rock, Country, and Americana all combine to give his fans one rockin' show!! He christened a new set of cherry red drums and jammed with a stage full of the best of the best musicans. Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, Rodney Crowell, Sam Bush, Jeff Hanna, Buddy Miller, AND Emmylou Harris graced the stage for three rockin' hours. Keep on keepin' on Levon!!

Well, the giant rockslide that kept I-40 closed on the North Carolina-Tennessee border for 6 months has been mostly cleaned up. The highway opened again on Monday to the relief of many motorists. But, last week I-40 was still closed and I decided to drive through Hot Springs, NC and Newport, TN to detour around the road closure as I made my way to Nashville. What a beautiful drive!! Winding along, at times, beside the French Broad River, sometimes high above it, was a sight to behold. Dogwoods, redbuds, tulips, azaleas, and wisteria were all blooming and made the drive a delight. I feel so blessed to live is such a beautiful place. I never tire of it and am always amazed as the mountains are renewed each spring.

Take a moment to listen to the robins and cardinals, sniff a lilac, dig in the dirt, plant some seeds.

Turning 60 is Easy !!

Today has been a day of "going with the flow". The sun is shining, my tulips are blooming like crazy and my four lilac bushes are perfuming the air. The day has been full of birthday greetings that have warmed my heart and leave me so grateful for family and friends!

So what is next??

I am contemplating buying a new bicycle. That seems like a pretty good thing to me....a new bicycle at 60. Much more fun than walking and involves a little more skill. I won't be riding the highways, but tooling along the back streets might be fun. At least it is something to think about.

What are you reading? Seems like I am stuck right now. My book club is reading Half the Sky by Kristof and WuDunn. It is a hard read. I read for about 20 minutes and have to stop. It is a book that everyone should read, but it is not easy going. Women "hold up half the sky", and yet, even in the 21st century there are thousands and thousands of girls and women who are trafficed into sex slavery. There are women who have no voice. There are women who are brutalized. There are women who are worth less than the property owned by their household. And yet, this book offers hope. It is an inspiring read...but it is not easy.

As I watch the robins in my yard and see my little dog Maggie rolling in the green grass, I know it is a good day. And now....out to plant some flower seeds.