A New Park!

(it has a great view of the Bham skyline, I didn't even know we had one of those really...)

The weekend that I was in Nashville, Birmingham had something very exciting happen for the city. We opened a new park downtown!

Railroad Park is now open for our enjoyment. And the best news? It's only a few blocks down from the church where I work.

We headed out for a visit last Thursday evening when the Birmingham Business Alliance announced their new plans (aka Blueprint Birmingham) to help change our city into something to be envied by all. The park was full of all sorts of people, energy, excitement, & great food!

(you can see the trains that run alongside the park...even more peaceful at sunset)

Today, I am going to check out the running path from my office down through the park and back. With the gorgeous weather we are having & the great scenery, it should be a lovely run!

Nashville

Over the weekend I met up with one of my bestest friends in Nashville. We had a grand old time exploring a new city, eating great food, shopping just a bit, line dancing some, & mostly just enjoying being together with no agenda other than relaxing.

Friday was our one full day in the city & we spent it eating at the Loveless Cafe (the most delicious hash brown casserole I've ever tasted) & exploring the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. We had the privilege of checking out all of the Chihuly (who has an eye patch!!) sculptures that are currently on display there. Here are my favorites from that exhibition.

these appeared to be floating on the water...and there were lots of them

loved this crazy boat

and of course, I wouldn't miss the glass spheres hanging out in the Japanese gardens

Other points of interest are that we found the best cupcakes in town (who knew a sweet potato cupcake could taste so good?), a wonderful place for a pedicure, the nearest Target, & some good Mexican food before hitting up the ever famous (and fabulous) Wild Horse Saloon.

Saturday, before we hit the road we also hit up the local Trader Joe's. Oh how I've missed shopping there. We have seriously got to get one of these in Birmingham. I brought home TWO coolers full of tasty treats.

All in all, Nashville is a great city & definitely worth a visit. I'm sure Jillian & I will be headed back someday soon as it sits smack dab in the middle of where we live now.

Fall is Coming....

This weekend the weather was beautiful. There was a slight breeze in the air and in the mornings it was down right chilly outside. It was refreshing. And it made me long for the days of fall when I will do nothing more than sit on my porch and hang out in the backyard.

So for a little while on Saturday afternoon, Maggie and I hit the porch to enjoy the (somewhat) cool air. I had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season and a good book in hand. It was glorious! (now if that weather would just come on back...)

Straight from the Garden

While Matt was gone, I decided that these peppers (fresh out of our garden) needed to be gobbled up before they went bad.

So I whipped up a little veggie quesadilla. And boy did it ever taste good with fresh peppers.

Paired with one of these gals, it made for a nice meal for one! If Matt is lucky we'll have enough peppers growing for a re-do.

The Mouse

It vanished. I didn't kill it. It didn't get snagged in any of our traps. (it did eat a lot of my chocolate....)

Magic act? Perhaps.

All I know is that it better not show its face ever again if it wants to live.