Days Go By

The days and months have gone by and I have totally let this blog fall by the wayside while life took over. Well, I am here to announce that it is time to get this thing up and going again. NO EXCUSES!

Celebrating Waylon

About a month ago, I attended a Waylon Jennings Festival in Leiper's Fork, TN. Leiper's Fork is a very old and historic town with a small population. The surrounding areas are cattle and horse farms nestled in rolling hills. Special guests for this festival included country artists Jamey Johnson, Carter's Chord, Rodney Crowell, Bonnie Bramlett, and other surprise guests. Jessi Colter, Waylon's widow, is still writing and performing and closed the show out.

It was a very warm September evening with a large, intimate crowd.

See some images and captions below...

Puckett's Grocery - famous for it's amazing southern food and weekly live music. The place seats about fifty people.

The first set was Buddy Holly's original band members performing some of his songs.

Mom watches the concerts, but sneaks a peek at the camera at just the right moment.

I love old barns and I couldn't resist snapping a shot of the top of this one. The beautiful antique star that lights up at night when passing through this little town is like a northern star helping you guide your way.

This Waylon Jennings sign was hanging off the side of an antique store.

This was a vendor set up selling his handcrafted wooden furniture.

Welcome to the road...

I've always wanted to go on the road and I got my first taste of it a couple weekends ago. I went with Chris Cavanaugh and his band to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. It was four crazy guys and me traveling a total of fourteen hours. I already knew Chris and Rich so I figured the other two bandmates would be fun too. Let me attest to the fact, that after fourteen hours, the book "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" couldn't be more accurate. And.... I only read the first and last page! We hit the road Saturday morning at 8:15 a.m. sharp! Just for the record (ye who is always ten minutes late) was there at 8 a.m. sharp. The only thing I've ever been on time for in my life was fishing with Grandpa because if you weren't ready when he was, you weren't going! As we started our journey up the road (trailer of band equipment in tow), I could feel it kick in. Yep, the urge to pee! I waited about an hour before spitting out the words "I need to stop!" I didn't know how four guys who were in a hurry to get to our destination would react to my announcement, but evidently I wasn't the only one that had to go. Thank you, Jesus! Coversation is certainly different in a suburban filled with four guys and one girl than it is with just all girls. We covered such topics as food, Chuck Norris, sex, a LOT of technical band talk that I'll never understand, the future of Chris Cavanaugh, food, and more Chuck Norris. Here are a few quotes from the Chuck Morris book I overheard on the trip.........

Chuck Norris smashes cans over his forehead... GARBAGE CANS!

Bigfoot owns a grainy video of Chuck Norris.

Every night before going to sleep the boogie man checks underneath his bed for Chuck Norris.


I heard hundreds of these jokes. Some just plain stupid, some right down raunchy, and some so hilarious I could barely contain myself.

By the time we made it to the "Neon Armadillo" (gotta love the name), I was ready to get out and stretch. The venue felt like something from the movie "Road House" - minus the knives and pool tables. The band set up while I set up the merchandise. I was ready to sell sell sell some swag for Chris.

We then headed across the street to the hotel. Sleeping arrangements are always a bit weird when a girl tags along, but we quickly solved THAT problem! Woman/me = big bed all to myself. Two men = snuggle time. haha. Sometimes being a woman has its rewards. What didn't sound rewarding was the fact that we were only going to be staying at the hotel for a total of four hours after the show. Now that's not getting your money's worth! As Willie sings, we needed to get "On the Road Again." Chris and his band put on an awesome set with a great turn out. I also sold quite a bit of swag and was happy with the job I did for my first time.

I must say that the trip back was fairly uneventful. There was a lot of sleeping from passengers, including myself. However, the best and funniest part of the trip took place about half way back to Nashville. While inside one of the gas stations, I was trying to find Chris to see if we had time to jaunt over to McD's for a quick lunch. Once I got the go ahead, I started to spread the word only to find one of the band members in the processing of getting a hot dog. I tried my hardest to get to him before he dropped the hot dog in the bun, but it was too late. The damage had been done and the look on his face said it all. He quickly and carefully grabbed the dog with the tongs and slipped it back in the rotator case. The bun went to the garbage and out the door we went to McD's. One of those moments where you just had to be there.

I'm looking forward to my next adventure on the road!

Awake but tired...

I'm a bit disappointed that one of four large purple fluffy chairs were not available here at Starbucks, but it is what it is. Instead, I head for a wooden chair and table like the ones we had in grade school. As I sit down, memories of the kid behind me kicking my books off the rack under my chair race through my mind.

I'm really here to just get out of the office for a bit, catch up on the routine blogs I read (and create one), and get hyped up on MORE caffeine. I've already had a Mc D's sweet tea (thank you to myself this am), a venti iced soy latte (thank you to Andrew Dorff), and now I'm about to drop $2 more with my treat receipt. Life is short enough so why the hell not?

Thank God it's Friday as I'm exhausted. Exhausted from learning to sleep light in case the Marine Man should call or text to say he's deploying. I'll get sleep when he deploys to Afghanistan, which he's on standby for. For now, I keep myself awake with - what other than - Starbucks Chai Tea. I've also learned it works as a laxative. Aren't you glad to know that? Someone should tell Hollywood's finest, as it's much less expensive than diet pills and healthier than purging.

Dash

Why is it that we are so afraid of that number on the other side of the dash? Our date of death to be exact. We know it's eventually coming. We know that nobody leaves this world alive. We (should) know that the next part is going to be even more marvelous and more grand than this side. Why is it that we are so shocked when it happens to someone? It doesn't matter if it's a tragic car accident or old age; death shocks the human system. Why does death cause us to mourn in great depth, when it should be a celebration of that person's life and the memories they leave behind?

This makes me think about a verse from "If I Had Wings", which was on Darius Rucker's last album "Learn To Live." It was written by the talented Rivers Rutherford/Frank Rogers/Darius Rucker.

Like why I am here, and where did I come from;

and where will I go when my time here on this earth is done,

and what will I leave that will go on forever?

What can I do while I'm here to make someone's life better?

Don't we all wonder these questions at some point during our life? I have... more than once. I believe my friend, Joshua, that parted recently from this earth, thought those very things during his battle with leukemia. I never knew Joshua that well, until I read about him. Joshua was a person who lived life to the fullest. He left behind memories that'll turn into stories and songs for generations to come. Most of us only dream of fulfilling what God sent us out to accomplish during our time on earth. Please take a moment and visit the link below to read about Joshua. May you feel as blessed and inspired by his life as I do.

Joshua's Life

FYSH - not the kind in the lake.

It just amazes me how styles change with time. An example would be bell bottoms. Whoever thought that when I was a kid, laughing out loud while looking at my Mom in her disco jeans, they'd make a reappearance in the 20oo's and I'd be wearing them? Not me. Whatever happened to those M.C. Hammer type pants? I know I had a couple pair. Then there were those shirts that turned colors when you blew on them. I mean, who doesn't need one of those?

The style I am most thankful for are glasses that are now considered an accessory to any outfit. They certainly weren't when I was a kid. I was considered geeky and probably rightly so, but not today. I am loving my new FYSH glasses. They make me feel sexy and it helps that I can see better too. I have always loved to fish, but now I really love FYSH!

Horses + Wranger butts = Franklin, TN Rodeo

The two hour drive north to Spooner, WI in that 1980's Buick wood-panel station wagon provided some great memories. The anticipation of seeing the cowboys, the horses, and the bulls would run through my veins as I laid in the back seat watching the power lines pass by. Up and down they'd go. I'd count the poles that held the wires up to 100 and then start over. It surely made the trip go faster.

I loved every minute of the trip there and the rodeo when I was a kid. I still do. I'd like to thank my Grandparents for that gift.

The Franklin, TN Rodeo took place a few weeks ago and it's certainly an event I look forward to every year. I love the smell of the horses, the fresh hay, and the manure (I'm odd, I know) . In fact, the next major move I make may just be out west to a ranch. It HAS always been a dream of mine to live on a ranch, although I have no clue what it all involves. I imagine it is A LOT of hard work, which I'm not afraid of.

I'm in my element at a rodeo with my boots and my boot cut jeans on. It's very similar to the way I dressed in high school, but with a lot more color coordination. The first day of my freshman year of high school, I showed up in aqua Rocky jeans (a western brand), aqua boots, and a western paisley print vest. If that outfit didn't yell YEE HAW, I don't know what does. I was proud of who I was and to this day, I am still glad that I wore what I did. That part of my life taught me that I wasn't afraid to stand up and be who I was meant to be.

Only A Phone Call Away

For me, my grandparents have always been one phone call away. Even months after my Grandpa passed away in April of 2003, I felt I could just pick up the phone and call him. I attended his funeral. I knew he wasn't going to answer the phone. It just seemed like I hadn't talked to him in a really long time. I'd be on the phone with my Grandma and the sudden urge to say "now put Grandpa on" would sweep over me like the shivers on a cold Wisconsin winter day. After about a year, the reality that he wasn't there anymore set in.

Last night, I stopped at a fabric store to buy some needles and bobbins for my sewing machine. Shockingly, I can sew a bit, thanks to my Grandma and Mom gets a little credit too. It may not be the straightest or prettiest seam, but I get the job done. As I made my way to the needle section, I noticed the wall was filled top to bottom with different needles. There were needles for knits, denim, corduroy, jersey, fleece, berber, cotton, silk, leather, etc . I felt overwhelmed, so I asked the sales lady. I mean, don't all old ladies with short, curly, over-bleached, purple hair who work at fabric stores know about sewing needles? At least they did when I was a little girl and my Grandma would take me to the old Ben Franklin Store back home. Those times are gone too.

I'd pick up a pack, then put it back down. I'd pick up another pack, then second guess myself again. Finally, it dawned on me. Though it was late, my Grandma was only a phone call away. My heart delighted at the thought she'd share her wisdom. It could have been 3 a.m. and I knew Granda would answer and tell me what I needed. Even though Grandma hasn't sewn for many years, she knew exactly what I needed.

Thanks Grandma for only being a phone call away no matter what time it is or what you're doing. I got the job done!

Valentine's Dance

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending an old time Valentine's Dance in the middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. Actually, it was in Santa Fe, Tennessee, but it might as well have been in the middle of no where. After turning on to and off of six different back roads, while listening to the GPS lady say "no road found" over and over, I was ready to arrive.

This was my first year to attend, but the dance's seventh year. The place (an old auction barn) was packed to the brim, which could be told by the "squeeze your car in wherever you can find a place in the muddy parking lot." Couples were mainly in their 70's and older (bless their hearts), but I wasn't going to let that detour me from having fun and enjoying "real" country music. Besides, how can a girl go wrong with fresh pecan pie being sold?

Right away I recognized some faces from the Williamson County Bluegrass Band on stage. They were kind enough to let me aka Darcy Ferris Photography take lots of photos of them at the Dave Macon Days celebration in Murfreesboro, TN last year. One of the band members, Billy (in his 70's but a helluva dancer), and I chatted for a spell. He had previously told me he'd always remember my name as it was his ex's. Whatever it takes to be remembered! HaHa.

Next to take the stage was a great country band called "Homer Dever." Working in today's music industry, it's very easy to lose track of what real country music sounds and looks like. They refreshed my senses that it's still alive and very much around. THANK GOD!

Then, I started to wonder what songs will play when I'm in my 70's? Brittany Spear's two-steps? Surely not!

As I sat among the older generations, I'll admit I began to feel a bit sorry for myself for not having a date. Then, I began to look around and think about love and what it really means. I saw that love is sometimes holding hands and not saying anything while one partner leads the other on the dance floor. Love can be spending thirty years together and sharing a piece of pecan pie. Love can be bringing the grandchildren along so Mom and Dad can have a night alone. Love was certainly everywhere last night and I feel so blessed to have been right in the middle of it.

Time For Some Time Out

Working in the industry can easily deter a person (me) from getting out and about to hear MORE music and socialize. My work space is literally surrounded by offices that have meetings all day and play loud (great) music. By the time I get home, I'm ready for some quiet, candle lit, relaxing ambiance.

Then, there are times when that's just not fun and I NEED to get out, which is what I did this past weekend. I met up with my (newer) friend, Rebecca, at Pucketts in Franklin.

Great atomosphere, great food, great conversation, and a handsome waiter didn't hurt either. Music was provided by Benita Hill, Clara Oman, and Lionel Cartwright. It just felt great to be a patron in life with one night spent intertwined in a room full of people I didn't know.

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