The Super Moon of June 2013

A couple of shots of last weekend's Super Moon. It was getting higher by this time. Earlier, while driving it was much lower on the horizon and it was an awesome burnt orange.

Dove, Catbird and Cowbird. E-I-E-I-O

Sounds more like old MacDonalds farm than my backyard. Here is a Mourning Dove, a Gray Catbird and a Brown-Headed Cowbird. All on my "Big Summer" list.

Warwick Township Fire Company No. 1

Warwick Township Fire Company No. 1, 2390 York Road, Jamison, Pa. Bucks County Station 66.  Established in 1958 and started out parking their single engine in a service garage. Built their prior station on this same spot in 1963. Although the cornerstone reads 2012, this new station opened in early 2013. Station 66's main response area is Warwick Township, an 11 square mile township in southwest Bucks County.

Nashville Skyline

First of all click on this and see the whole picture. This is a panorama of 13 individual pictures taken from across the Cumberland River in front of LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans. Far left is the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. That's how I got over here. low it the big void just left of center you can see some of the Bridgestone Arena. No, that is not the Batman World Headquaters, that is the AT&T Building. Look close towards the right side you'll find the CMT Building. That is a real barge docked along the river in Riverfront Park that is used as a performance stage. I don't know who was there while I took these.

Cumberlan Mote

This is the Cumberland Motel (duh). It sits right on the edge of Interstate 68 in western Maryland near Exit 46. At 10900 Mason Road NE, near Naves Cross Road NE. I wish I would have gone to the parking lot across the interstate for some pictures, there was more neon to see there.

Kristen Kelly Live from the Museum Store

Mid-afternoon on our second day, as if we hadn't seen enough performers, we were able to stop by the Country Music Hall of Fame for a free concert outside the front doors. This time it was Kristen Kelly. She does the song "I Got and Ex Old Man and an Ex Best Girlfriend". How country is that song title? If only she would have started it with..."I was drunk the day my Mom got out of prison..." It would have shot straight to the top of the Country Song Title Hall of Fame.  These pictures are from her warm up/sound check. I went for a walk after these pictures. The girls stuck around for the full set and autograph meet and greet.

Homes for Our Troops Ride for USMC Sgt. Stinson

Saturday morning the Vigilant Hose Company and other units from the Shippensburg Fire department lined the road leaving the high school to show support to USMC Sgt Zach Stinson. The ride from Shippensburg to Chambersburg was to raise funds and break ground for a new home for Sgt. Stinson and his family being built with help from Homes for our Troops. Sgt. Stinson lost both legs in Afghanistan to an I.E.D. in 2010, his new home will be more accessible to him. Read more in the Sentinel.

Red-Winged Blackbirds

This year is the first year I've had Red-Winged Blackbirds come into the feeders. Usually I have to go down along the Big Spring to get any pictures of them. But, then again, I like the pictures of them on the cat-tails better, Even so, I do like seeing them come into the backyard. Maybe around Labor Day I'll do a post on all the bird I've had visit this summer.

The Johnny Cash Museum

The Johnny Cash Museum was our goal for the second morning. We came here just after leaving the Stamp event at the Ryman. This museum just opened in April. It was a small museum but very well organized and should be on your list of things to do if you end up in Nashville. It covered every aspect of J.R.'s life from growing up in Arkansas through the Air Force years and his country music career. They even showed a short movie highlighting his movie and television appearances. His 1961 movie "Five Minutes to Live", his role as John Brown in "North and South", appearing as a coyote on "The Simpson's" and hosting "Saturday Night Live" in 1982. The House of Cash was the Johnny Cash Museum in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The stone wall to the left was excavated from the ruins of the Johnny and June's former house in Hendersonville.

Honkytonk Lunch

Second day lunch found us next door to Jack's Bar-B-Que at Robert's Western World. The temptation was the house special, a fried bologna sandwich and a PBR for 5 bucks. I opted for a burger and a PBR. Hey, when in Rome...

The Johnny Cash Forever Stamp

On our second morning in Nashville we had a few hours open early in the morning so we went over to the Ryman Auditorium for the unveiling of the Johnny Cash Forever stamp with the US Postal Service. We were surprised when we went into the Auditorium and listened to the announcer talk, then the USPS guy said some stuff followed by Johnny and June's son John Carter Cash spoke. 

Followed by a Kodak moment for all the Cash's in attendance. I even think there are some Carter's up there.

Then Kathy, Johnny's 2nd daughter to Vivian, told some stories...

Then it was time for me to get that Ryman concert I was needing and the stars were out that morning. John Carter Cash...

Larry Gatlin...

Randy Travis...

Marty Stuart...

...and the Fabulous Superlatives...

Jamey Johnson...

The Roy's...

John "Beau Duke" Schneider sang "Boy Named Sue"...

Johnny's little brother Tommy Cash sang...

So did little sister Joanne Cash...

Lisa Matassa...

Bill Miller...

and finally the Oak Ridge Boys.