Tuesday, November 12, 2013

RoadTrip SoundTrack

Every good roadtrip needs a soundtrack. Something to sing along (in my case, usually badly) to while you drive. There are so many good road trip songs out there. 
I tend to have what my family refers to as Music A.D.D. I love music, music of all kinds. Anything from country to rap, metal, pop, & well pretty much everything else including Broadway Musical scores and old 80's Hairbands. 

I have noticed over the years that a good roadtrip soundtrack can vary depending on who you are traveling with. If I am with my family its usually old country and some blues with some Michael Buble` and Elton John mixed in there somewhere. If I am with friends, well there really is no rhyme or reason to what we listen to. Just whatever we are in the mood for, sometimes Metalica, sometimes Garth Brooks or even REO Speedwagon. 

I tried to come up with a top 20 song list but I failed miserably because well lets face it, it was ending up to be a top 150 (seriously). I enlisted some help, and who better to ask for help with a musical emergency but a musician. Skot Bradley  is an extremely talented guy who is living now in Nashville TN. We met Skot last January while on our cruise to Key West and the Bahamas. So with some help from him I have come up with a list of must listen to albums for your next RoadTrip.

Garth Brooks - Live Album
Darius Rucker - True Believers
Lie To Me - Jonny Lang
 Poets and Prisoners - Granger Smith
The Gold Album - Prince
VH1 Storytellers - Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson
Pride - Living Colour
Paradise Valley - John Mayer
Jaron and the Long Road to Love - Getting Dressed in the Dark
Journey - Lourney's Greatest Hits
Kenny Chesney - Be As You Are
Highway Rider - Brad Mehldau
Wheelhouse - Brad Paisley
Areosmith - Big Ones
Bon Jovi - Cross Road
George Straight - Lead On
Guns and Roses - Appetite for Distruction
Goat Rodeo Sessions - Chris Thile, Yo Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer
Triology - Kenny Garrett
Lionel Richie - Tuskegee
Marc Broussard - Carencro
Matchbox Twenty - Yourself or Someone Like You
Meriwether - Make Your Move
Michael Buble` - Crazy Love
Zack Brown Band - The Foundation

There you have it, a top 25 Albums to Plan your RoadTrip Soundtrack to.

And since he is such a super cool talented guy I am posting the link to Skot's latest music video! Enjoy! I am sure you will be adding his tunes to your own RoadTrip Soundtracks soon! :)

 








Sunday, November 10, 2013

Wow What an Amazing Sunset

Sometimes you don't have to leave home to see something completely amazing. 
Evey year swallows migrate south and roost in the sugar cane fields in St. James Parish Louisiana. This year they happened to pick the fields behind my house to nest in. I got some AMAZING photos! 

Just take a look. 

Oh and a word to the wise. When photographing that many birds, wear a hat, O_O. Yea I got bird poop in my hair. lol

Such an amazing sight. and a beautiful sunset to-boot! 




Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Pinspiration Wed.

Ok, so I always knew I loved Leonardo DiCaprio. This quote just makes me <3 him even more. 

I wholeheartedly agree & I could not have said it better myself :)


To see my other travel Pins go HERE!!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Road Trippin!

We were blessed with such a beautiful weekend this last weekend that my cousin Brandy (Aka RoadTrip Co-pilot, aka Assistant Photographer) and I decided that Saturday was a good day for a Road Trip. 
Where to go? Where to go? 
After talking about it we decided to go north to Natchez, Mississippi. Only about a 2 & 1/2 hour drive and pretty scenery along the way.
We didn't really have any plans and did not know what we wanted to see and do so our first stop was the Natchez Visitors Center. We looked at some brochures and decided on taking the Horse and Buggy Tour through the historic part of town. We got to see all the important landmarks and learned about the history of the city. Lots of fun! 

We found this little place on Pearl Street for lunch, called Pearl Street Pasta. It was awesome. Good food, good prices and of course, good wine! :) The Flatbread Pizza and Lasagna were amazing!
Unbeknownst to me Pearl Street Pasta is the go to place for my Uncle and Aunt when they visit Natchez. They go every year and when I told him where I was and where we ate his response was "NO WAY! That's our favorite dinner spot."

You may remember from a few moths ago, one of the Pinspirtaion Wed. posts was about a place in Natchez called Longwood Plantation. Click here to see the original post.
Well we were in town so we decided to head on over and see it. I was so excited because I have wanted to see this home for awhile now I have always thought it looked so beautiful and well have REALLY wanted to see it since I saw it on TrueBlood awhile back. And I figured between Al d' Gator, Brandy, and I we could search for Eric and Bill and rescue them if need be. Haha.
When we got there after purchasing our tickets we continued to drive to the main parking area, which is a long windy driveway through a wooded area. It was a little spooky but we braved it and boy did it pay off. After the last bend in the road you see the Mansion peaking out through the trees, sitting there in all its glory, so beautiful, sitting, like a crown on the hilltop. It truly is one of the most beautiful historic homes I have seen. Brandy, who was in charge of photos while I was driving, immediately took out her camera and started taking pictures (See bottom of post for the photos).
The history of this home is pretty unique. The man who owned the property was Dr. Haller Nut. He and his family lived in a home which sat on the same location. After living there for a number of years they decided that their home was not grand enough, had it torn down and had the current structure built. But the home while beautiful on the outside has a secret. You see the exterior was nearly completed and the interior basement was nearly done when the Civil War began. The workers, upon hearing about the beginning of the war. Literally dropped everything and left to enlist, leaving the interior of the house unfinished forever. The family lived in the basement until the 1970's until it was handed over to the Historical Preservation organization that runs it today. It is a beautiful place with such an interesting story. If you are ever in Natchez, Mississippi, make sure to stop by and visit it. You won't regret it. :)

What a beautiful day for a Roadtrip! 
After making our way to the Natchez Visitors Center, Al d` Gator, decided it would be a good idea to hangout in some pretty trees. 
I fell in LOVE with this house while on the Buggy Tour of downtown! It is so pretty,
 I would love to know its story! 
The Kind of Spooky driveway to Longwood Plantation. See Told ya! 
Longwood Plantation
Standing on one of the porches. You tour the Basement level where the family lived and they bring you also through what was intended to be the first floor of the home. No one is permitted any further upstairs though.
 Standing in the first floor in the center of the home looking up towards the top. I am sure this would have been absolutely gorgeous if it were completed. I do have to admit it is still a pretty cool sight.
Probably my favorite shot of the day. From the first floor looking out onto the front porch. This would have been the original intended entrance to the home. To bad it was never completed.
Well, you know Al had to get a photo in front of the house!


Hmmmm I think I have roadtrip fever. Where to next time? 


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