Celebrating the Unofficial Beginning of Summer

Welcome!

Although it's not officially summer on the calendar (which officially begins on June 21), Memorial Day has become the unofficial beginning of the summer season with picnics, vacation trips, etc.

Of course, the purpose of Memorial Day is to remember those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.  However, at least here in the South, on or near Memorial Day, we also honor any of our loved ones who have passed on.

We all have our individual ways of celebrating Memorial Day.

Each year it's a little different for us, and this year was no exception, as we decided to try out a place to eat that we'd been wanting to try for a while.  The name of the place is Landry's New Orleans Cafe, and it was great!

Landry's serves "authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine," to quote from their extensive menu  brochure.  They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner various days and times Monday through Saturday.  (See "F.Y.I." below for more information.)

We were there for their Saturday lunch.  Greg and I each had the catfish  po' boy with a vegetable.  The catfish was especially delicious, an original recipe of and prepared by the head chef, Travis Baril.

While there, we enjoyed chatting with the owner, Ricky Landry, an interesting man, originally from New Orleans, who knows first hand about New Orleans food and culture.

Ricky did a great job decorating the cafe himself. 

The curtains came from a dinner theater he used to own in New Orleans.

The unmistakable sound of jazz wafts through the cafe to further your dining enjoyment.

We really enjoyed our visit to Landry's New Orleans Cafe, and we plan to go back soon to try out the breakfast items, especially the New Orleans Beignet which is a French doughnut that is popular in New Orleans.

F.Y.I.
Landry's New Orleans Cafe
1005 1/2 Carmack Blvd.
Columbia, TN 38401
931-223-8866
www.landrysneworleanscafe.com

The celebrating continued as we visited our favorite park to walk, relax, and take pictures.

Finally, on the way home, we decided to finish our mini-adventure with yummy ice cream and made plans for our next outing.  We can hardly wait because we really enjoyed this one!

To top it all off, it was also our cats' seventh birthday.  (Greg and I ate the cupcake, of course.  While chocolate is a poison to most animals, luckily it's not for most humans! )

Positive thought: Happy Memorial Day!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Monday, Becky

Be True to Yourself!

Welcome!

This blog post was inspired by a book I'm currently reading, "You are a Medium" by Sherrie Dillard.   Although I'm not particularly interested in being a medium or in communicating with the other side, I am interested in knowing more about the spirit world since I have been given the gift of being able to take paranormal photos which I've documented in my first book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind."

However, "You are a Medium" is not just about the spirit world.  It tells you how to live a better life here on Earth, as well.  For instance, I really like the chapter "Embrace Your Freedom: Break Free from Conformity" in which Sherrie says to be true to yourself, to express who you truly are.  To quote from her book, she says, "You are not meant to follow the dictates of others.  A unique and individual expression of the divine, you fulfill your purpose by shining bright in your beauty."

I have tried being like everyone else, to fit in, but that has not worked for me.  I'm much happier when I listen to my inner guidance and just try to be myself.

"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness."
-Shakti Gawain

Carol Tuttle, the author of several books and creator of "Dressing Your Truth" is a big advocate of being true to yourself.  Her teachings have helped me immensely.  In fact, I wrote an earlier (2/15/14) blog post entitled, "Dressing Your Truth Has Had a Positive Impact on My Life."

Another person I admire is Zak Bagans, the creator and host of Travel Channel's hit show, "Ghost Adventures."  This is a unique man who has been true to himself despite having a controversial show about ghosts, etc.  In fact, as a child, he was even bullied by others, presumably because he was different.  Wonder what the bullies think of this successful man now?

"Never be bullied into silence.  Never allow yourself to be made a victim.  Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself."
-Harvey Fierstein

Elvis Presley was another one of-a-kind person, and people embraced that.  Other people have tried to copy him (impersonators, etc.), but, of course, none are as good as the original.

Be unique!  Be proud of who you are! 

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
-Judy Garland

People, happily, are just like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.  That's what makes the world so interesting.

As I was writing this post, a song kept running through my mind, "I've Gotta Be Me," which I haven't heard or thought of in a while.  After a little research, I found out it was a song sung by Sammy Davis, Jr. which I found on YouTube.  It's a beautiful song that you might want to check out for inspiration.

Positive thought:
 "When you dance to your own rhythm,
Life taps its toes to your beat."
-Terri Guillemets
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

A Trip to Fabulous Savannah

The past couple of days, Greg and I went on a trip down South, to fabulous Savannah, Georgia to attend the wedding a family member.  It had been a while since we had been to Savannah, and we had a wonderful time.

We spent the night in a charming historic Victorian inn, Collat House on Forsyth Park which is known for its antiques and decor.

A Resident Cat

The Room Where We Had a Restful Night's Sleep

A Continental Breakfast in Our Room

Nice View from Our Balcony

F.Y.I.
Collat House on Forsyth Park
703 Whitaker Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Contact: Christie Register
(912) 657-2564
www.forsythparkhouse.com

After breakfast, we went across the street to visit picturesque Forsyth Park.

A little later, Greg and I joined relatives for a tasty Southern meal around noon in downtown Savannah.

Afterwards, we had time to walk around and further explore this wonderful city.

By then, it was time for the beautiful outdoor wedding which took place on one of the several squares in Savannah.

After the wedding, the lucky couple left for a honeymoon in Greece.

An elegant reception in an old house followed, a few blocks from where the wedding was held.

Greg and Me, Right Before We Went into the Reception 

This fantastic trip to Savannah was one that Greg and I will never forget.  It reminds us to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us and to keep our loved ones dear.

Positive thought: I hope all mothers everywhere had a blessed Mother's Day, and I'd like to wish my own mother a very special happy Mother's Day.
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Positive Tidbits

Welcome!

I'd just like to share with you a few ideas on having more of the positive in our lives.

Here are my positive tidbits:

A rose may be pretty, but it also has thorns.  In the same way, we should emulate the rose.  We may be nice and kind to others, but others must know that although we are nice, they are not to be mean to us, because we won't put up with that kind of behavior from them.  We will stand up for ourselves if and when we need to.

Instead of reading the latest gossip in the tabloids, a far better choice would be magazines and books that promote positive people, places, and events, etc.

Instead of watching mindless, degrading, violent TV shows, pop in a wholesome DVD the whole family can enjoy together.

Instead of vegetating in front of the TV hour after hour watching others' life experiences, experience the joy of living your own life by doing something fun and educational like visiting parks, zoos, festivals, museums, volunteering, etc.  The list of great stuff to do is practically endless!

These tidbits I've shared are just the beginning.  Bet you've got a lot more positive ideas of your own!

Positive thought:  Eliminate the negative, accentuate the positive!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky