Sunday, September 28, 2014

Columbia Fall Festival

Welcome!

Columbia, Tennessee starts fall off right every year with it's wonderful "Southern Fried Festival" in downtown Columbia, Tennessee.  This is Greg's and my third year attending, and we believe it just gets bigger and better every year.


The weather was perfect for us, partly cloudy to cloudy with temperatures in the upper seventies.  There was a light breeze with no rain.

The weather set the stage for a great celebration of fall.


There were plenty of things to keep you entertained.




We really enjoyed going through this old bluegrass bus.


There was, of course, country music.


Deputy "Barney Fife" with his patrol car is an annual favorite.


There were plenty of things to keep the children entertained.


Since I love animals, I really enjoyed taking pictures at the petting zoo.

There were lots of arts and crafts, etc. booths.



I found this pretty bracelet for only $4.00, including tax.  I also started my early Christmas shopping here.  You can find such unique gifts at festivals, plus, you're helping out the local economy,

There was plenty of food for lunch (Some of us here in the South still sometimes call the noon meal "dinner"), and snacks.



Greg loves that barbecue!

We plan on returning to the "Southern Fried Festival" next year, if like the old Southern country saying goes "the Lord is willin' and the creek don't rise."

F.Y.I.
www.southernfriedfest.com

(All of the meals that Greg and I eat at home are mostly organic, and when we go to work, we take our meals with us so that we are in better control of what we consume.  We eat out only one day a week, and then we try to make careful food choices wherever we happen to be.  We eat sweets once or twice a month.)

Check out our photos on iStock:
www.istockphoto.com

Positive thought: "Each morning comes with a gift: a brand new day!"-"Woman's World"
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Monday, September 22, 2014

End-of-Summer Fun



And, welcome fall!


Greg and I have been pretty busy lately, hence, the delayed blog post.  One reason we've been busy was we were having fun this past weekend in-Nashville!  Now, that's the kind of busyness I like!

Specifically, we went to the Nashville Farmers' Market which is not your average farmers' market.  This one is really large!  A friend had told us about it several months ago, and we're so glad we finally got to go see and experience it.


Nashville Farmers' Market has several parts to it:

There's the farm side, of course-


There was plenty of produce!




This seems to be a great year for pumpkins!

Then, there's the flea market part-


There were bargains galore!

Finally, there are the Market House restaurants and shops-


Greg and I decided that since it was the next-to-last day of summer, we'd enjoy dining outside in the fresh air and warm sunshine.



Love that barbecue! 


A cupcake for dessert, anyone?


So,come and hitch up your bicycle to a rack, and enjoy!

For more information on this great place to visit, see their website at:
www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org

Greg and I now have 100 photos on iStock, and we're adding more every week.  Click the link below to check out our latest photographs.
www.istockphoto.com

Positive thought: "Travel and change of pace impart new vigor to the mind."-Seneca
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky













Sunday, September 14, 2014

A Variety of Positive Things

Welcome!

I'd like to share with you a variety of positive things on this blog post today.

According to the Mayo Clinic, people who engage in positive thinking tend to be healthier.  They suggest that during the day, you:
-Change your thoughts from negative to positive.
-Smile and laugh.  Develop a sense of humor.
-Follow a healthy lifestyle.
-Surround yourself with positive, supportive people.
-Say good, encouraging things about yourself.  (Like-"I am a likable person." )

One example of changing from negative to positive self-talk:
Change "I can't do this." to "I will do my best to accomplish this."

Becoming positive is a gradual process.  Just try going in a more positive direction, and you might find yourself being a lot more positive before you know it!

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."
-Abraham Lincoln



Judy Samples and Millie Crum volunteers at the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, Virginia wanted me to announce that they are having a fundraiser for the Tolliver House.  The event is Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 1:00 PM.  You pay just $15.00 and get to make several projects for fall, Christmas, and a gift card envelope.  To reserve a space for a fun time making crafts, call 276-523-4704 or 276-393-7674 for more info.  (P.S.  You don't need any special skills or equipment to do this.)

What a great opportunity to enjoy yourself and to help the June Tolliver House at the same time!

This past weekend, we had a tasty meal at my brother and sister-in-law's house (everyone brought something for the meal), and celebrated three birthdays at the same time!


Happy birthday to Julie, Nick, and Greg whose birthdays are all within three weeks of each other.

Check this out: Yesterday, I put another blog post on my "Spirit Photographs" blog (www.spiritphotographs.blogspot.com).  It's entitled "Our Paranormal Adventure in a Park-Part Two."

Please click on the link below to see our iStock photos.  (We're putting on more every week.)
www.istockphoto.com

Positive Thoughts: -"...spread positivity!"  -"Be helpful.  When you see someone without a smile, give them yours." -Zig Ziglar  (Both quotes from "Woman's World")

Friday, September 5, 2014

Some Positive Affirmations and Quotes and a New "Spirit Photographs" Post

Welcome!

This "The Art of Positive Living" blog post will be a little different.  First of all, I'd like to share with you some positive affirmations and quotes that might help you.  You might want to post them around your home or at work, etc. and perhaps say a few of them several times a day to help keep you in a positive frame of mind.  Then, I'll give you the opportunity to see my latest "Spirit Photographs" blog post from the other blog that I write.

Here are the positive affirmations and quotes that I particularly like:

-"Wherever you go, bring your own sunshine."

-"Don't forget to be awesome." (You could say, "I am awesome.")  (Don't feel as though you're being a narcissist, for you're just trying to build yourself up!)

-"I am special."

-"This is your life...make it beautiful." (Pinterest)



-"Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it."  (Brian Tracy)

-"Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." (Madeline Bridges)

-"Adventure is worthwhile." (Aesop)

This last quote is leading into my new "Spirit Photographs" blog post on my other blog which I just restarted after a four-month summer break.  On this post, I tell about a paranormal adventure my husband Greg and I had in a park on a trip to West Tennessee.  I briefly mentioned that park on my 8/25/14 "The Art of Positive Living" post entitled "A West Tennessee Adventure."  This new "Spirit Photographs" post looks at that park from a different perspective.

My latest "Spirit Photographs" post, entitled "Our Paranormal Adventure in a Park," is here:
http://www.spiritphotographs.blogspot.com

Also, please click on the link below to check out our latest photographs on iStock.  We're putting on new ones every week.
www.istockphoto.com

A Final Positive Thought: Look for the positive in every day.
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky