I never (or very rarely) blog about music bands...but I'm a HUGE music junkie and anyone who knows me well, knows this to be true. We went to a concert last night on a whim (last minute bday gift for Bruner) and I can't tell you how freaking awesome Shovels & Rope and Shakey Graves were. I'd bet that in less than 5 years, neither one of these bands will be playing in a small music hall in Mobile, AL and we'll tell everyone about the time we stood a few feet away from them at the Alabama Music Box. Last night's concert seemed to take me back in time for a while. It took me HOME. Back to Chattanooga. This kinda bluegrass/folk/country music is what I love. It's what makes me dance and sing, even though I'm pretty terrible at both. It reminded me of my childhood, the carefree high school days and the beautiful Tennessee mountain land. I felt like I was back in Monteagle swinging on the Wayside porch with my best friends from college. It reminded me of the Mississippi Delta and road trips back to Oxford. It took me back to the good ole days: when it was better to have the windows rolled down than the AC cranked up ... when dinner was cooked for you and we had no real worries at all.

I first discovered Shovels & Rope in 2012, when I read this article in Garden & Gun. See this previous post: Shovels & Rope in 2012. I immediately fell in love their music and their story too. I'm a sucker for a harmonica. Always have been. Always will be. "Lay Low" is my favorite song they sing. I was so bummed they didn't play it other night. Don't think I wasn't requesting it from the front row :)

Shakey Graves is a new fav for this household's pandora station.

I hope this the first of many posts featuring different musicians I love. Oh the ideas I have for this blog are endless. Too bad about 90% of those ideas are never implemented. What I'd give for some free time!

I still can't believe it's Christmas time! We took Calder to see Santa this weekend and finally put up the tree and decorations. But before I share some Christmas pics, I'm gonna rewind time for a second...

We went to Chattanooga for Thanksgiving and it really was such a WONDERFUL time with family. Here are some of the people I'm most thankful for...

Loved seeing my cousin David, who flew down from New York. We've always had such a close relationship. When we're together—we immediately revert back to a high school maturity level.