My neighbor Virginia has a yard that is just a dream to photograph.  Last year, the last week in September,  she showed me the yellow Angel Trumpet Tree that resided in her backyard… I could not believe it!  It was so beautiful the way the light was captured inside the blossoms.  The green of the leaves, the blue sky that was it’s backdrop.  So yesterday, after weeks of rainy weather, I ventured over to her house to photograph the pink Angel Trumpet trees.  The pink is my favorite.  The yellow one, the same from last year, is just now blooming. 

So excited as this weekend, on Saturday the 3rd will be the very first Old Hickory Village Harvest Festival!   From 11-2!  This is sure to be fun for both kids and adults!  

We are starting off with a children’s parade starting at the Library parking lot at 10:45.  Come dressed in your harvest attire with your wagons, tricycles, bicycles, roller skates!!  Also dogs are welcome just make sure they are leashed.  And if you like to play a musical instrument bring that as well!  We will walk around the block to the parking lot at Hadley and 11th (across the street from the Baptist church) were the festival will take place.   

We have over 20 vendors and organizations taking part as well as games, food, a bouncy house and a cake walk.   Also you can come visit the Community Garden!  I hope ya’ll can come out and have some fun!    

Visit the Historic Old Hickory Village Neighborhood Association or if you are a Facebook member visit our event page, 1st Annual Old Hickory Village Harvest Festival. 

Hope to see familiar faces there!!

Happy Happy News!!!  Felix is back home and loving life at the Rite Aid!!   I will post photos soon!  

I am reposting this so it appears at the top of my blog.   As most of you know Felix was taken from the Rite Aid store this past Sunday night around 8:30 by a woman with dark hair driving a late model silver honda with a spoiler.  The folks at Rite Aid know this because there is a security tape, so they have indicated anyway.  However, according to an article by a Tennessean writer who contacted the police department a report could not be filed because no one would claim Felix as theirs.   We all know that Felix lived at the Rite Aid.  We know he was fed and had water there and even had his own little resting areas in the store. He was also written up in the Rite Aid employee news letter.   So the public can not see the video and the employees are not allowed to speak to the media.  Ya’ll know how small Nashville is and how we are all connected so I feel for sure that someone would be able to identify the snatcher.  I know we all want what is best for Felix and can only hope that he is okay and getting all the love and care that he deserves.   In an effort to get the video tape released I am suggesting we start a petition.  You can start your own and we can bring them together and present the list to the store manager.  Until that tape is released or we know the real story I will not be trading at this store, the Rite Aid at the corner of Robinson Rd (Old Hickory Blvd) and Martingale Rd in Old Hickory, Tennessee.    I have also written to corporate Rite Aid through their customer feedback link on their website and have not heard back from anyone.  

At the corner of Robinson and Martingale roads in Old Hickory sits the Rite Aid, formerly CVS.  It used to be a place with no soul.  No one seemed to like working there.  It just was not a place you really wanted to visit.  Then one day I noticed this stout tabby hanging around the front of the store.  This was three years ago??   The folks at Rite Aid adopted this kitty and named him Felix.  For a while they did not let him in the store.  They had a nice little house out front with blankets, bowls for food and water and some cat toys.  It sits in the front to the left of the front doors.  Before I knew it, there was Felix inside.  He is so loved that he was featured in the Rite Aid newsletter as a steller employee.   The people at the Rite Aid even make calendars with Felix’s photo and sell them.  And now when you drive up to the store you might see Felix lounging on the sidewalk or on top of the newspaper stand.  This cat has those people wrapped around his fat, little paw and they very happy about it.   

Life is rough here at the Rite Aid.

Stretching out on the sidewalk.

Mr. Handsome

Hollywood glamour shot.

Come on by and give me a pet.

Happy First day of Autum!  Now is the time to book your time for your fall nature portrait session.  Portraits make fabulous gifts for family and are an investment that will stay with your family for many generations.  You can also get THE fabulous image to use on your holiday cards!   

Everyone is welcome:  all kinds of families, babies, pets, couples, maybe you and your goldfish!!   Help spread the word!!

Sessions booked during October and November will receive one digital file from which to make your small prints or to use in holiday announcements. 

Full private sessions are $250 (tuesday, wednesday and thursday) and $350 on friday and saturday (saturdays are very limited).  Your private session also includes a $100 print credit in addition to the one digital file.   You will have an online gallery with 20-25 image from which to choose.  

You can also share portrait time with family and friends by scheduling a portrait party.  There is a minimum of 3 families to participate.  Each  participant pays a sitting fee of $150 and gets one digital file from which to make small prints or to use in holiday announcements.   You will also have an online gallery with 10-15 images from which to choose.     I will travel to Memphis, Knoxville and surrounding cities for a minimum of 5 participants.   

Here are some images for inspiration!

So what are you waiting for???   Give me a call and get your session on the books!

The clouded leopard cubs made their debut today!  You can read about them and their story and future here at the Nashville Zoo website.  I was so excited for today.  It brought back memories of when I lived in St. Louis and was about nine years old.   I had dreams of becoming a zoologist.  My mom would take me to the zoo alot and one of my best memories was when Alice and Arlo, a pair of lion cubs, made their appearance.

The drive to the Nashville Zoo is a nostalgic one for me.  Traveling down Nolensville Road I have memories of attending Radnor Baptist kindergarten, going to Turntines, going to visit my dad at the Western Auto warehouse on Trousdale and trying to remember which building was the Western Auto  retail store.  All these memories… I felt that same excitement as I did when I was a little girl going to the St. Louis zoo.  Couldn’t wait… dreamed that maybe, just maybe I would be able to touch one of the leopard cubs.  These little guys are fast and furious movers… you see lots of big paws, teeth and blur!!

Probably my favorite from the day. Playing in the tree. Shows just how playful these two guys and one girl are.

Contemplating the next move and taking a little catnap. I was really lucky as I got to get closer to the cage fence for a few minutes. I was sooooo excited to be pretty close to these babies... when they would come close I just had to watch them. It was hard to pick up the camera.

Having a good time playing!

Thinking about the... next time I climb the tree.

The cubs next door neighbor who is in hiding for awhile.

I love this one.

Playing chase.

Hello everybody!!!

It's fun being up here and all but I am a little scared to come back to the ground.

These kitties drink water just like my cats do.

On Tuesday Ashley, Cindy and I installed the scarecrow at Cheekwood.  Our scarecrow, “You Are My Sunshine” was created to be part of the annual Scarecrow Exhibit.   We have a great spot by the stream, at the bottom of drive going to the mansion.  If you pull in to a parking place close to the end by the mansion on the left you will see the green orb which is the head of  ”You Are My Sunshine”.  Hopefully, if it survives the weather, this creature will make it back home to the Old Hickory Village Community Garden.

Full view.

Close up of the sweet face.

There are 65 pieces this year and this is one of our neighbors just up the path.