Travel Signs

Life is no doubt like the roads we travel. Sometimes it is straight, but most times there are curves, bumps and dips along the way. The great thing about traveling on the road is there are signs that warn us.

"Curve Ahead"

"Deer Crossing"

"Dip"

"Slow Down"

Wouldn't it be so great if life was like that too? If we had signs ahead of what was to come? "Emotional Breakdown" one week ahead or "Overwhelming Joy" for the next month, or even "Bittersweet Memories" for the next five years. Could you imagine? Would you want to imagine?

Charles Dickens Christmas

Every year Franklin, TN takes the city back in time to a Charles Dickens Christmas. This was the first year I attended, but I wanted to share some of those photos with you.

Liner Notes = I'll show up

Usually, the first thing someone does when they buy a CD is unwrap it, and throw it in the player, but not me. I take the insert out, look at who wrote the songs, and then read the liner notes. I love to see who in Nashville the artist thanks for supporting them through this CRAZY business.

Yes, it is crazy!

Some how along the way I didn't get a hold of JMC (Jason Michael Carroll's) new CD so I didn't get to do my usual ritual. However, I did get an email from a friend congratulating me on getting mentioned in the liner notes. At first, I thought she had fallen off her rocker. That day I got a hold of the new JMC CD and sure enough... there was my name.... d a r c y f e r r i s. I couldn't believe it!

So, thank you JMC for recognizing me and what I do. It meant the world to this small town WI girl from nowhere, nowhere. The other night Jason had a concert that I attended, because when someone mentions me in their liner notes.... I'll certainly be showing up.

F.O.C.U.S.

Sometimes no matter how much

I want to talk with someone

or see someone...

the best thing to do is

F.O.C.U.S.

inwards towards my soul,

towards what I am about,

towards what life means to me,

towards what my next step will be.

Smoky Mountain... Rain...

A couple weekends ago my Mother and I trotted off to the Smoky Mountains. We've lived here for seven years, and the Smokies are only four hours to the East. We had spent the three previous days looking at maps, and we still had no idea what we wanted to see first. We looked at beautiful cabins to stay in, but decided to wing it when we got there.... not always the brightest idea during peak fall time. We packed the car with minimal bags and A LOT of photo equipment (since that's what we do) and hit the road. We were ready for sunshine on our shoulders, but we would come to learn we would have to wait a bit for that. East TN is quite beautiful compacted with rolling hills, hidden caves, and abundant waterfalls, especially after recent rains. We arrived Saturday, but had to wait till Sunday for rains to cease.

On one of our scenic drives, we were backed up for miles and miles due to a mother and cub being spotted. Mom jumped out and grabbed some photos of it as well. The forest ranger said a bear spotting can back traffic up for hours at a time during fall color peak. Unfortunately, we were there there one or two weeks too late for fall color. In fact, there were no leaves left on the trees at all... to our dismay.

What? There's a bear behind me???

Well... you didn't tell me he was stuffed...

Mom taking photos off the hiking trail, just inside the shallow part of the river.

Four of my favorite shots below...

Please Come To Boston: Part 2

To fully understand this blog you may want to refer back to the original blog "Please Come To Boston". I booked this trip a few months prior to visit a great friend and do a photo shoot for her. This is where I do my plugging...... thanks for choosing Darcy Ferris Photography! The shoot was so much fun on the beach and in her home as well. Here's a couple of my favs from the whole time I was there...

Suzanne was such a pleasure to work with and the beach shots were more fun yet! Thanks again Suzanne for hiring me.

While we were walking the city, Ben Affleck (not him above) was there filming an upcoming movie. Here's just a few supplies they had on set.

The marina was equally as exciting. One reason I felt the pull to Boston was because I felt I had been kept tied long enough in Nashville without seeing an old friend and a new place. I untied myself long enough to take a new course and return home feeling renewed and inspired. I also learned of Beth Hart and the song "Out of L.A.". The above photo reminds me of the song and the way it makes the girl feel in the song.... my perception anyway.

Mornings consisted of my favorite drink (soy ice chai) and fresh Boston air with girly laughter and great people watching.

Suzanne snapped this photo of me out exploring. It was frigid the day we decided to do so.

Okay, yes, I posed for this photo, BUT I did get up a sing "Coat of Many Colors" with just the guitar and myself. It felt so good as I hadn't sung out in years. I think I need to do that more and get brushed up for my next visit.

A beautiful morning on the harbor.

And a beautiful evening at the harbor.

When I booked my trip, I had no idea that Lori McKenna (a staff writer where I work) would be singing in the area. It was a true treasure to get to see Lori perform an hour set of her songs and I thank her for doing my request "Sweet Disposition". Thank you Lori!

Eleven years later...

It's no secret that facebook has reunited people in various ways. It may be they went to school together, are distant relatives, or long lost lovers. Lucas Romanowski was three years behind me in school. He was a bony and skinny shrimp. Yes, I'll admit, I had a crush on him. I really didn't know him that well, but when grades nine through twelve consisted of only three hundred students, you just knew everyone.

We reunited via facebook about a year ago. I'd come to learn through emails, online chatting, and late night phone calls that Lucas was stationed in Louisiana serving our country as a Marine and that he too had a crush on me in high school. Who knew? It was so nice to talk with a familiar voice from back home (Wisconsin). Someone who knows what I mean when I say the words "Stacker", "Fest", and "Leinenkugels". When word came that he'd be transferring to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, thus resulting in a visit to Nashville to visit me, I was like a kid at Christmas counting down the days until his arrival.

When Lucas arrived, we had just had eleven days of rain and the water was high. The bright idea was born that we should go canoeing. As I said, the water was high, moving very fast, and disgustingly brown from all the dirt run off. Once the canoe was in, we needed no paddles but Lucas used his while I guided (someone had to...hehe). We made a few stops along the way including an old 8x8 wood shack. We noticed some cows grazing behind us over the hill so Lucas posed for a photo with them. It wasn't until we were mid photo that I noticed the bull (NOT COW) directly behind Lucas snorting, drooling, and looking all too irritated for me. I snapped the photo and ran back to the canoe with a pounding heart. I still think it was odd that Lucas ran ahead of me....

Our next stop was at a tree rope swing (down from Alan Jackson's house) where many still swing from during the hot summer temps. As we tried to get to the tree, we slid each and every way due to the muddy slope.

The rest of the float was calm... until we got to the end of the trip. We knew where we were suppose to exit the river at, but when we saw the spot, we looked at one another with a "you've got to be kidding me" faces. It was literally an uphill mud slide. As soon as I got out of the canoe and put one foot (I took my shoes off for this one) on the ground, my foot slid out from underneath of me. Fifteen minutes later, we were both on land with the canoe.... covered in mud. Since the guide was not there to pick us up, we were unsure if that was the spot to be so we decided to put the canoe back in and go down river a bit. I'll admit, my idea on how to get the canoe back into the water was not my brightest idea, but it was one that'll never be forgotten. Since we had to take it back down the hill of mud, why not hop in and slide down the hill till we hit the water? It sounded easy enough, but my plan didn't work so good. I got in the front and Lucas pushed off from the back and jumped in as we started our descend. (imagine winter tobogganing) The front of the canoe went directly underneath the water and in a matter of seconds we tipped over. We lost a shoe, bottled drinks, and an oar. Not good. We struggled for twenty minutes to stand up while continually laughing AND get the canoe tipped back over. I think it was Lucas' Marine muscles that got the canoe tipped back over.

This is where I would insert a photo of the experience, but Lucas took an underwater film camera for this reason exactly. Upon development, there will be photos that I can't wait to see and share.

unfortunately, the Ryman was closed.... but it's the "Mother Church of Country Music"

We also did some bowling, which was a blast! We both started out pretty horrible, but it wasn't long before we were hitting strikes and spares left and right. I thought for sure I was going to take Lucas down during the last game, but he came back and defeated me in the end. Not to worry though, the bowling playoffs with take place in North Carolina. HeHe

can you say strike??? hehe

can you say gutter ball? hehe

We filled the evenings with great conversation and movies (we need to pick better ones next time).

I also came to find out that Lucas is a great breakfast cook. The best eggs anyone has ever made me!

I have had a few people ask if a trip to North Carolina is in my near future? I have gotten the invitation so.... probably.

I was so excited to reunite with Lucas eleven years later and I can't wait to see him again.

Friday Night Lights

Last night I took in my first Tennessee High School football game with my friend (and very smart math tutor) Ginnie. What I saw blew my mind. Growing up in a town of approx. 1200 made me realize just how small my town was, and just how big the schools here are.

I counted eighty players on one team. 80 PLAYERS! Where I'm from, we have 13 players this year. I asked Ginnie "what's the point of being on a football team if you never get to play"? She summed it all up for me when she said "To get the girl".

Then there were the cheerleaders. There must have been thirty of them. 30 CHEERLEADERS!

I think we had six or seven when I was in high school. Next, the band took the field. There wasn't just the home team band, but the away band also. They hauled massive drums sets onto the field using four wheelers. There were flag girls and they rotated into different movements during the song. It was the band I WANTED to belong to in high school.

In the end the away team (the side I was on) lost, but it totally took me back to that place in high school when Friday night was what I lived for. The playing in the pep band and being on the pom pons (dance team) squad. The hanging out with my friends and talking about who was hot or who would score the next touch down. Yep, if I could do it all over again...... I would.

An Earthly Goodbye

The first time I met Aaron I thought he was CRAZY (he once rode a horse into his living room), and then I realized HE WAS CRAZY, but the good crazy, the kind of crazy you wish everyone was. Once I met Aaron, I knew I'd be a friend for life. Aaron lived life the the fullest. He was....

spontaneous

happy go lucky

a husband

optimistic in everything

heartfelt

a father

giving

a son

a kind soul

a brother

country.

Though I only knew Aaron for a short while, I will cherish my time spent with him and his family. I will remember all of our conversations and sleigh and horse back rides. I am only saying an earthly goodbye to him, because I know I will one day see him again in heaven. There's a song on the new Jason Aldean CD "Wide Open" titled "On My Highway" that reminds me of Aaron every time I hear it. The chorus is below...

But what a feeling, chasing the sun

Living my life like a shot from a gun

Laughing a little bit more with every mile

Oh what a freedom racing the wind

Dying to know what's around the next bend

Smiling as I watch the years roll by

I'm learning how to take it day by day on my highway

Welcome to Lynnville, TN

Last week my mother and I took an hour and a half drive south to an old railroad town called Lynnville, TN. With windows down and my car moving at a rate of about 40 mph (my favorite speed for back roads) we took in rolling hills, horse farms, cow pastures and old barns.

I can't help but wonder when looking at those old barns (about ready to collapse) when it was built, who built it, how long they farmed there and if the person living on the residence now is somehow related to them.

We also spotted an old tavern that had been devastated by fire some time ago. It was gorgeous against the skyline with vines growing up the side. A building that deserved at the very least to have its photo taken for all it had been through.

As we made our way into the little town of Lynnville, the town folks waved as we drove by. We stopped at the local train station and peeped into small businesses as it was Saturday late afternoon and most were closed. One place definitely open was the soda shop. It was alive with burgers, shakes, and music. We made our way in and I ordered the most fattening thing I could find on the menu (isn't that what you're supposed to do?) This place had all the old decor so I snapped a few more photos inside.

Mom sat next to a seventy-something year old guy that reminded me of "Goober Pyle" aka George Lindsey. We watched people, listened to the music and just took in all that Lynnville had to offer.

Body Judgement

I've come to the opinion that most women judge their bodies rather harshly, and why shouldn't we? Everywhere we look there are photos of women scantily dressed, no bigger than a size four on the cover of every major magazine, TV commercial and reality show there is (as I sit here sipping a sweet tea and eating an oreo). Those poor girls have probably never tasted the delicacy of fried chicken in their life.

I'll admit I really try to stay in shape. I walk a couple miles in the evening and have most recently started doing tae-bo. I know Billy Blanks is old school, but dang it, I paid good money for those VHS tapes back in the day! Anyway, this evening as I laid on my porch swing I couldn't help but look at my long toned legs and think "damn they look good".

Just think... Mona Lisa was and still is considered by some to be a stunning woman of her era. Have things really changed that much? Guess so.

Debra Kay Photography in Country Weekly!

I am so proud to announce that our good friends Jack and Diane Untz are featured musicians in the June 22 issue of Country Weekly. Also present is a photo of them taken by Debra Kay Photography. See photo @ this link.

http://www.countryweekly.com/images/cw/209751/58206.jpg

This husband and wife duo weave their diverse backgrounds into their music. Jack, originally from Pennsylvania, was influenced by Eric Clapton, Elvis and the Doobie Brothers. Diane spent her high school years in Atlanta, soaking up the music of Barbara Mandrell, Bonnie Raitt and Crystal Gayle. Jack, a multi-instrumentalist, toured with artists ranging from Frankie Valli to George Thorogood. He auditioned for Diane’s Atlanta band in 1997, they fell in love and then moved to Nashville in 2001. They now host Music in the Boro With Jack & Diane, a weekly performing songwriter showcase in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

About “Play for Me Baby” Written by Jack and Diane. For more on Jack & Diane, go to musicintheboro.com.

Back Home To Wisconsin!

When I was young and my cousins from the big city would visit, I never understood why they were bored. Now I get it. It's been almost seven years since I moved to Tennessee from northern Wisconsin. I grew up in a town with a population of 1200. I never thought much about it, that is, until this last trip home a couple weeks ago. Home this time felt desolate, but it'll always be where I'm from and a huge part of who I am.

I will admit that this trip was an emotional one for me. Grandpa's been gone six years and this was the first time for me that his spirit felt like a distant memory. Grandma has moved on as well and now resides with her male companion. I'm thankful she has someone in her life to do things with.

The main reason for the trip was to be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding. Ya know, always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Actually, this was only the second wedding I've been in. I was ten the first time and not in the least bit interested in boys. Times have changed. =)

The wedding was nice and the bride was gorgeous as you can see from the below photo. Unfortunately, it was cold and an all day rain. They say if it rains on your wedding day, you will be monetarily blessed... here's hoping!

The great thing about a wedding is it brings relatives together that don't usually see each other. I couldn't believe how big my "little" cousins have gotten.

Mr. and Mrs. Chad Zastrow

Mom and brother Denny.

A trip home always means trying to see all my friends and family in a small time frame. I never quite fit everyone in, but I do try hard. I do more running around than I do relaxing. There is one thing I will always make time for and that's fishing. I love it, even if I have to buy an out of state license! My cousin, Adam, took me out in the boat and I caught a couple large mouth bass. With me, it's not so much about catching the fish as it is just being out there on the water with the fresh air soaking up God's serenity. How I miss not having lakes and rivers in every direction within a ten minute drive.

This trip also provoked me to track down some people I hadn't seen since I moved south. The first on the list would be what I call "The East Bay Hotties". We were all waitresses together and have kept in touch via email, but it was certainly time for some one on one. To this day, there are no waitresses that could match our ability to drink mimosas in the back, reapply makeup (Brenda) and balance our checkbooks (Danielle) while waiting on customers. I'll admit, I felt a bit out of place being the only one who is not married and does not have kids. Although, I really enjoyed loving on their kids and then sending them home with mom at the end.

Then there's Paul. We went to high school together and were good friends. I was pleased to find out that he resides about fifteen miles down the road in Boyd, WI. He has his own company, Red Wing Custom Cabinetry and OMG are his designs beautiful as are his wife and two daughters.

Paul and I at our high school lock-in. 1998.

Paul and I now. 2009.

The trip up went by fast so naturally the trip back seemed like forever. It's kinda funny, the one thing that drew me to Tennessee (country music), kept me awake for a safe return home.