Vacation!

Last week was my annual visit with friends in Nashville.  This year we had our friend John visiting with us from Australia.  Then there was Linda from NM, Angie from AR, David and Lisa from KY, and me from AL.  There were lots more, including our local friends from Nashville, but the ones I mentioned are part of a 'core' group that started almost ten years ago.  We missed seeing our friends Julie from MI, Bob from MD, Peg from SC, Sandy from MO, Sandie from VA, and assorted others who have been converging with us in Nashville on an annual (sometimes twice-annual) basis. 

Local friends Susan and Iisha introduced us to some new eating places!  Yum!

Along the way ......

I-65 North is the route I took (the high road?)   It was a dreary day, and got worse the farther north I went, so the TN sign is a little hazy.  But I got a good clear shot of the 'Batcave' for BabyGurl as I came into Nashville.  The second shot is later in the week when we were shopping downtown.

Linda's plane was delayed (by over four hours!) so I had a quick lunch at the Tin Roof then settled into the room until time to go to the airport. We had planned to have lunch at Neely's, but we had supper there instead (her plane didnt land until 4:30)

The Food! 

BBQ sandwich at Neely's.  There was enough meat on this sandwich for three sandwiches (I'm not complaining!) and this was the 'regular' sandwich.  I can't imagine how large the large one would be!

Later in the week we hit Burger Up, a place recommended by several of our local friends (thanks David and Kathi!).  The fried dill pickles were about the best I've ever had, and the sweet potato fries were yummy!  There was absolutely no grease to any of their foods, thanks to the fact that they fry with peanut oil. 

And last but not least a picture of my Coffee Fudge shake and Linda's Vanilla Malt on our (ahem!) second trip of the week to Mike's Ice Cream.

Not pictured is lunch with Susan at 'Franklin Mercantile' on Wednesday, and lunch at Opry Mills Mall (TGI Friday's) on Thursday.

No food in this pic, but Friday night we had supper with Angie's niece Iisha and two of her friends at 'Past Perfect'.

Me, Linda, Angie.

Music!

Tuesday night after supper at Neely's we headed out to a songwriter's round at Douglas Corner.  No pics from there because we got there a few minutes late and were standing in the back (or front as it were - if you've been to DC you'll understand; if you haven't been you should go!)  We see these guys almost every year at the same venue; Allen Shamblin (The House That Built Me), Rob Crosby (Concrete Angel),  Brett Jones (That's How Country Boys Roll), Angela Kaset (Something In Red).

All of those writers have multiple sucessful songs, but I don't have time or space to list them all here.  One of my favorite's of Brett's hasnt' been recorded, and likely never will (but then again, who knows) - it's called Blue Tail Monkey.  If you ever have occasion to see/hear Brett, be sure and request that one. 

Wednesday night we went to see/hear old friends Lucy Angel.  Mom and daughters, Kate, Lindsay and Emily Anderton.  Amazing harmonies, wonderful people, and isn't Lindsay just radiant (and gorgeous!) after the birth of her daughter just two and a half months ago?

The second picture is from Saturday night at the Station Inn.  Eddie Heinzleman, Billy Yates, Buddy Jewell, and Jimmy Fortune.  Eddie hasn't had any hits yet, but he's had a few songs cut and will be a household name before long.  Billy Yates has multiple hit songs, including two for George Jones (Choices, I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair).  Buddy Jewel was the winner of the first season of Nashville Star and had radio hits with 'Help Pour Out The Rain' and 'Sweet Southern Comfort'.  Jimmy Fortune was a member of the Statler Brothers until their retirement about ten years ago.  'Nuff said? ;-)

A quick little video clip of Jimmy singing "Elizabeth" that he wrote and the Statlers recorded. 

And a little clip of Billy singing "Daddy Had A Heart Attack, Momma Got A Cadillac".  A fun little ditty.



Then there was some shopping.  I got a Vera Bradley purse at the outlet store at Opry Mills Mall.  This particular day they were having a 50% off everything in the store, so I got the purse and wallet.  I've wanted one for a while, but oh the prices! Eek!

Gabbie really racked up with a nightlight / lamp from the Farmer's Market, a t-shirt from downtown, and some books from the Goodwill store (yes, Linda and I go to the Goodwill store every year, it's great!) And Sadie (due in July) got her very first Nashville t-shirt!

Things we didn't buy. 

Yes, you are seeing that right.  We did not buy boots this year. 

Didn't take a lot of pictures this year.  Didn't do anything exciting.  Just visited with friends, relaxed, and did a lot of walking and window shopping .... and eating. 

Honestly, I think the best food I had all week was my ham, bacon, all the fixin's and honey mustard pita for Friday lunch.  Definitely want to go here again!

Pita Pit

No More Cake For Me!

One of our co-workers had a birthday yesterday (the big Six-Oh!)

His favorite holiday is Halloween (I think he still curses his mother for not holding him in for five extra days!)  He also loves pirates.  

So ... another co-worker made him this cake. 

And I ate a piece.  It was just yellow cake .... but it had Hershey's icing on it.  That was the part that did me in.  Ugh!  And I didn't have a very big piece at all.  I think I'd have been ok if I'd just eaten the cake.

The icing was very sweet and very rich (the kind of stuff I used to eat by the serving platter full).

I was miserable all day.  Sick.  Just wanted to lay in the floor and moan.  

So, I guess I really have adjusted to my new healthy 'lifestyle'.

Starving ...

Remember the kids game from a few years ago?  That's how I've been feeling for the past two days.

Yesterday at Ma's we had baked chicken leg quarters, fried okra, blackeyed peas and cornbread, and potatos with white sauce (lots of flour, milk, and butter!)  I didn't pig out but I did eat a plateful ... a good bit more than I usually eat, even on Sunday's at Ma's.  And when I got done I was still hungry.  

Today I have been hungry all day.  I've tried to eat healthy (lots of fruit) and for supper I had plenty of food, but "good" food (boiled shrimp, tomatos, cheese, crackers).  I was still hungry so I had a piece of bread spread with my new friend, almond butter.  That helped, but I am still a little bit hungry.  I'm hoping once it all "settles" I will not feel hungry.  If it does, I will find something to eat.  I cannot stand to be hungry.  I don't mean just "wanting chocolate" or something like that, I mean really hungry.  

And for two days I have been "really hungry".  Grrrrr!!!!!

Food!

You knew I'd talk about food again sooner or later didn't you?  :-)

My friend Julie told me about almond butter, so today I bought some on my (dreaded) trip to WalMart.  Doggone it's good!  I also bought Nutella, which I've heard a lot about - and as soon as I try it (maybe with my bagel tomorrow morning?) I'll let you know how I like it.

The weight loss is stalling this week, and in fact I'm up a pound since Tuesday.  Grrr!! But I'm steady watching my calories, and getting to the gym at least three times a week (this week I've actually been every day but Wednesday, though yesterday's workout wasn't very intense).   So I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and sooner or later (hopefully sooner) I'll start losing again.

There've been a few occasions recently at work where food (cake!) has been brought in for one reason or another (or for no reason at all) and I've resisted very well.  The first was for a baby shower, and I took a very small piece (about and inch and a half square) and ate less than half of it.  It was a very good cake, but just two or three bites was more than enough for me (and later when I tried to look up calories for it I about had a heart attack!!)   Last week there was a birthday, and took one bite of chocolate (with chocolate icing) cake, and again, that was more than enough to satisfy me (and that says a lot from someone who used to would have eaten a piece at the party and smuggled a second piece back to my desk for a snack later!)

So, I've made some major adjustments in my eating habits, and so far it's looking like it's something I'll be able to stick with long term.  Oh, I also passed up Krispy Kreme's a couple of weeks ago too!!

Here is the almond butter I bought.  It's much better than peanut butter.  It didn't seem as 'rich' as peanut butter, and that's a good thing.

I'll post about the Nutella later ... after I actually try it!

Updated to add:

Oh!  My!  Goodness!!  

I can't believe how long I've been wanting to try this and kept forgetting about it until I would see an advertisement on tv.  For so long I have been missing out on this yummy goodness.  All I can say is, go getcha some now!!

Sunday's Are Tough .....

on the diet that is.  Today it was meatloaf, cornbread, dried blackeyed peas, and mashed potatoes (yes, with milk and butter).

I didn't have any meatloaf and only a small spoonful of potatoes ..... but I just about used up my daily allotment of calories on the peas and cornbread.  

The only thing that might help save me is that last night we were at the ballpark with Nephew and so there was no supper (I didnt eat any ballpark food, I had taken some fruit cups for The Gabster so I indulged in one of those.)

I had a small salad when I got home at 9pm!

Stay tuned for Tuesday!!

Nashville Food!

Some might think this is the real reason Linda and I go to Nashville every year.  And it might very well be!  We do a lot or research before we go and try new places each trip. 

First up, off the plane and straight to Jack's on Broadway. 

We ate our dinner so fast, we forgot to take a picture!!  

But we got our fudge pie to go.

Fudge Pie and Comfort Inn Coffee!! ;-)

Linda, showing us how it's done!

Thursday we went downtown to Puckett's for lunch.  

I had a BLT and sweet potato fries.  

I forgot to make a pic of Linda's pulled pork or Nave's meatloaf, 

but I did get all our desserts!

My peanut butter pie (with chocolate crust).  RICH!

Nave's chocolate chess pie.

Linda's peach cobbler, with ice cream!

Thursday night we went to RampBash 

(a term for a gathering of an online songwriters group that meets once a year in Nashville) so after the bash we ordered from a local delivery place ... just salads, we'd eaten so much at lunch! 

 (Of course, no pics of the salad, LOL)

Friday lunch was a light lunch at Fido's with our friend Angie.  We were saving up for our dinner cruise on the General Jackson that night.  

No pic of my scrambled eggs and toast ... but a pic of my great mocha!

We had a nice dinner on the General Jackson later that evening. 

I also had a glass (or two) of Riesling.  

Later with my dessert (which we ate so fast I forgot to photograph it), I had two cups of coffee!  The dessert was a chocolate cherry mousse.  

I ate the chocolate part and gave Linda my cherry part.  

Cherries are awfully pretty, but they sure don't taste good! 

Saturday we went to Puckett's (same ownership as the lunch venue from Thursday, but different location.)

We went to here our friend Thom Shepherd and had some great food before the show. 

Linda ordered the ribs, but alas, they were out of ribs so she opted for pulled pork again.  I ordered a sampler platter (shrimp, ribs, pulled pork) so I just had them add extra shrimp in place of the ribs. 

This is the shrimp.  'New Orleans style' BBQ shrimp they called it.

(And sweet potato fries there on the side.  Puckett's has the absolute best sweet potato fries.)

The chocolate chess pie, and cherry cobbler were inhaled so quickly, no pic. 

Saturday we were going to go to the 'Feed Mill' and Amish store in Nolensville for lunch.  When we arrived in town we discovered the Buttercup Festival. Lots of booths and tents, along with the shops and boutiques in town.  We had a great time.

We had hamburgers for lunch, and ice cream for dessert. 

We did not have the fried oreo's, but I had to take this pic 

and send it to BoyChild b/c he loves fried oreo's.

That's it for the food this week. 

Are ya hungry yet?? 

Food .... Again ...

Next week you will be seeing a lot (LOT) of food posts.  If I can stop eating long enough to post that is!

Nashville is known as Music City, but Linda and I could make a good strong case for changing the name to Food City.

Each year (twice a year actually) we start researching weeks in advance, and find new places to try for food.  We could easily do a series of articles for any food magazine on where to eat in Nashville.  Upscale, down home, burger, bbq, breakfast, treats and more.

I'll give you a sneak peek of how we are going to start our week.  We usually start with bbq as our first meal of the vacation.  Though we seldom do repeats (not because they aren't good enough to repeat, but because there are so many new places to try) we are actually going to revisit a favorite this time.  We haven't been here in about three years, so it's time to have some more Jack's BBQ.

Here's their menu:

I'm pretty sure I'll get the smoked turkey.  The decision that I'll have to make once I get there is whether to get the sandwich or plate.  It's a pretty safe bet I'll end up with the plate, but maybe not.  We're considering walking down to Mike's Ice Cream shop after lunch for a malted milk shake.  That is, if we dont have the fudge pie at Jack's!!

Oh! My! Goodness!

If I'd had two of 'em I'd have eaten them both!  

Recipes ...

Many of the blogs I read have been sharing recipes recently.  

So tonight I decided to share a new recipe I just tried.  

I had it with some pork chops and broccoli.  

Here are the ingredients:

Here is the recipe:

Here is the finished product:

Week One ...

I decided to do my weekly weigh-in on Sunday morning rather than Monday morning.  My Mom cooks Sunday lunch most weeks, and well, she's a good southern cook and I'm a good southern eater, so I dont think Monday mornings are the best times to weigh.  ;-)

So, this morning I weighed and I have lost ONE pound.  Now, I think that's pretty good considering I've only been at it since Tuesday.  So that is just five days.   A pound a week is an accomplishment I can live with.

Day Three ...

This has been a 'hungry' day.   Again I ate my 10am snack at 9am.  A Rice Krispie Bar.  Then I had  a few almonds at 10am.  (Cereal for breakfast as usual).   Lunch was a WW frozen dinner again (I stocked up on those at WalMart Monday.)  Afternoon snack was half an apple, a string cheese (mozerella low fat), and later a few almonds (I have to count out only a few and put them in a ziploc back each morning to take with me otherwise I would eat the whole bag, they are addictive!)

I just finished my dinner - a bowl of green salad with a little caesar dressing and a baked chicken breast.  Right now I feel somewhat full, but I know it wont last.  Maybe a yogurt and a few almonds in an hour or so.

I'm trying.  Sometimes I feel like I'm eating a bit too much food, but I feel much like Miss Scarlett about going hungry!  At least I'm not eating cake and cookies and candy all day long (like I usually do).  This afternoon co-workers were having cupcakes and I resisted, then went back to my desk and had my apple/cheese.

Day Two ...

No pictures today.  Yesterday was a one time thing. ;-)

And after this week there will only be weekly updates, not daily ones. 

Breakfast: Cereal

I ate my 10am snack at 915. :-o

A 'light' vanilla yogurt and five almonds. 

Lunch:  WW frozen dinner.

Afternoon snack:  Half an apple, and a string cheese stick.

Dinner:  Steak (Yes, I know red meat is bad but it was 

much smaller than the piece of chicken last night.)
Also, broccoli and a green salad.

Right now, enjoying a large cup of decaf.

Snack: (probably will be a granola bar in about a half hour).

Just about ready to stick my toes under the electric blanket and spend some quality 

time with the tall, dark, handsome, and irresistibly charming Stone Barrington.  

Day One ...

Well, I feel like I did ok today.  

I was conscious of everything I ate.  

Tried to eat 'good' foods.  

I think I succeeded.  

I started the day off with a bowl of: 

About 10am I had a: 

Then for lunch, I ate:

Afternoon snack about 3pm was:

When I got home, I put dinner in the oven and ate about 15 of these:

For dinner I had:

Yeah, I know it's a plateful, but at least the chicken is baked and skinless, 

and really you can never eat too much broccoli, right? 

I'm sure I'll be needing a snack later on.  Probably two of these:

Yeah - it's been a lot of food, now that I look at it.  But healthy food.

I'll gradually cut down on portions as time goes on. 

Day one.  Baby steps.