Cooking: Captain Ryman had it right

"Oh my my, oh hey hey..."

We saw three great bands with two great couples last night in one great venue. Actually, THE venue, the church, the home of it all. The Ryman.

I have seen several shows and they bands last night were really good. My favorite being the middle act. 

Amazing what you could miss if you only look for the big flag waving headliners. 

My week is starting with a (tired) BANG! 

Hope yours is off and running as well.

CASA SWANN "CAPTAIN RYMAN" IN THE HOUSE MENU

• BBQ crock pot chicken sandwiches/ zucchini chips/red beans
• Grilled salmon Greek Salad
• Chili/ Veggie Chili 
• Grilled chicken/ tomato soup with grilled veggies

Cooking: corn bread and butter beans

Oh Snap!

We had a fun weekend of Powerlifting and early birthday celebrating. 

Love the Labor Day weekend, even though I mourn the end of summer. Football starts and smack talk begins. Things calm down to a run instead of a sprint on the school front and life gets a schedule.

Casa Swann Labor Day Menu

• Grilled bone in chicken thighs, Black eyed pea salad, roasted okra
•  Baked chicken thighs, butter beans, sauteed spinach, corn bread
• Southwest fish cakes, roasted veggies, kale and quinoa salad
• Salmon burgers, sweet potato fries

Dirt: We Are Almost There

My life the last few weeks has been a little bit weird with me getting used to working and the girls getting back in a routine.  We are almost there. I am getting my feet under me and with the exception of dogs marking rugs and me having to mop and disinfect my entire room and bed, I am getting things done in the evenings when I get home.

 

The girls are staying busy with school, homework and extra circular activities.One is playing two sports AND singing in a choir AND holds a student government office AND has a social life. My head spins. The other one is almost as busy, but middle school holds you back just a little. So at least she does not have to be driven hither and yon.

Steve and I had a conversation the other night that we have gotten to that spot where we are alone as much as we are with our kids. Weird. But a good weird. 

This weekend is our last outdoor concert weekend. The summer was a great one for music. 

 We have tickets to see the Lumineers in October. I feel September will be a little drought like musically. Although I am hoping to get tickets to see Dwight October 3rd, which is almost September. That would be awesome. I love him, mostly because he's great, but also because my Memaw, who died when she was just 13 years older than I am now, thought he was hot.
That is all it takes for me.

Dirt: When your kids are cool(er)

Since Steve and I are so into all kinds of music, we always have something playing. 

Whether it is the car, outside or even the earworm going on in our brains, there is always something playing or being sung at Casa Swann.

So, it is no wonder both of our kids are into music. 

Ellie is less of a concert goer, but she is more into music. Delaney lives to see live music. She has been begging me to take her to Bonnaroo for the past two years.

 

 

Next year might be our year (once I figure out a leash system for her). But in the meantime...

Being underage and into cool music that most of their friends have never heard of is really kind of hard. The all ages shows usually do not appeal to them. And while they get that when they are 18 there will be even better bands that they love, it still is hard. 

Next week, one of their favorite bands is coming to Chattanooga. But of course, it is 18 and older. 

So, I got online to see what I could find. 

BOOM!

Free music fest in Atlanta (two hours away). All ages, all good music and of course, outside.

Fun! Fun! Fun!

So, today, we are packing up the truck and heading down to hear music and eat street food.

Perfect Saturday with the family unit if you ask me.

Cooking: No time for a menu...we've got tickets

T minus 4 days til...

Gratituesday: All of it

There are so many things about this video that gets me going.

The song is a song from my childhood. I went to several tent revivals as a child. Yep, old school tent revivals with a tent, paper fans and preachers yelling and preachin'. 

This song is also a "New Orleans" song. I love New Orleans like a second home. I honeymooned there, took my kids to Mardi Gras, have been to Jazzfest a few times and just have a love for it I cannot express with words. 

And, these bands are some of my very favorites. I have seen all but one of them and hopefully will see Edward Sharpe this year. The music that they play charge my batteries for days and days after I have seen them live and pump me up when I listen on my iPod. 

So, today, on a gloomy winter's day, I am grateful for all of it.