Hey all,

How's your summer going? Are you kicking back at home, enjoying Netflix and getting in a little reading time? Or are you traveling the world? Or somewhere in between?

As many of you know, after losing both our cat and dog in a span of two years, my husband and I are petless. It's a strange sensation, and not in a good way.

Still, over the last couple of months we've tried to make the best of it. We've been doing some traveling. Now, as a true-blue homebody, I wasn't entirely comfortable with this notion, but since a good friend of ours from Louisiana was getting married, we decided to make it a "Grand Adventure."

So, if you're game, fasten your seatbelts. We're hitting the road!


​ Grand Adventure: Part 1
Singing horses, Chris Stapleton 2.0, and flying guitars. 
​ The Grand Old Opry Opryland Hotel Fancy Smancy Dinner Giddy up! #wsite-video-container-320978179640079177{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/130907338-92... } #video-iframe-320978179640079177{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-320978179640079177, #video-iframe-320978179640079177{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-320978179640079177{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } } #wsite-video-container-625825461399891545{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/130907338-92... } #video-iframe-625825461399891545{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-625825461399891545, #video-iframe-625825461399891545{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-625825461399891545{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } } ​Grand Adventure: Part 2
Hot Springs. The restaurant is The Vault
And the lighted menus were especially helpful for those of us who are visually challenged.
(I couldn't get the video to work, but if you  click here ->>you'll go to my Facebook video showing you how cool they were! This used to be a vault inside a bank in Hot Springs, Arkansas Strolling through downtown Hot Springs ​ Grand Adventure: Part 3
Our home away from home on the lake. Catching up with my brother. Meeting my (grand) nieces! #Louisiana #family #lakelife ​ Grand Adventure: Part 4
Fishing, Cajun sausage, morning devotions, and coffee with friends. #GertytheGator #FelixtheFrog Do you see Felix the frog at the top of the chair? Gerty the Gator There he is! Felix read over my shoulder. ​ Grand Adventure: Part 5
These two, my hearts! Over thirty years of sisterhood filled with joy, laughter, grief, sorrow and everything in between. Another Life Moment for all of us.  My Hearts ​Grand Adventure: Part 6
Memphis. Yes, please! While we didn’t make it to Elvis’s mansion, we fell in love with Germantown. We found a restaurant called Southern Social that is now on our Best Restaurants Ever list! Their tagline? “Updated Dixieland classics served in a fine-dining setting.”

Seafood gumbo. Barbecued shrimp. Redfish over Cheese grits. Mascarpone risotto. Sea bass cooked to perfection. And they even brought us chocolate covered strawberries and champagne to celebrate our upcoming anniversary! Best restaurant in Memphis! Anniversary champagne & chocolate covered strawberries ​ Grand Adventure: Part 7
Had a great day with the animals.
The Nashville Zoo has an especially sweet group of kangaroos! My absolute fav was the leopard in the tree. He was one cool cat! We closed the night out with another group of “party” animals at Opryland. Great catching up with these two.  The Nashville Zoo Here kitty, kitty Reunited, at last! Roos! ​Grand Adventure: The Conclusion
We arrived safely home to the sound of--
Well actually, no, there was no pitter-patter of little paws. And no Patches, pouting from the hallway at the edge of our bedroom, her green eyes brimming over with indignation at being "abandoned." (She'd always forgive us eventually and curl into our suitcase as we unpacked.)

While our homecoming was certainly different this time, there were bright spots, like the tulips I received from my daughter, which were blooming violet on the kitchen bar.

It was a fantastic trip filled with laughter and joy. We were able to reconnect with family and friends and make more memories.

But there is just no place like HOME! Lovely "shades of violet" from my daughter Missed this face upon our return But the Fun Wasn't Over....

One of my favorite authors and bestest online buddies is Janetta Fudge-Messmer. What can I say? The two of us hit it off three years ago after a long phone conversation, and since then we've stayed in touch. We've laughed, vented, shared, and celebrated both good and bad times. Finally--thank you, Lord--I got to "meet" her in person when she and her hubby visited Lexington. 

A fun night was had by all! And they even visited our hardware store the following day! If y'all haven't read her books, check out her website here. Love this lady! Book 1 in the Early Bird Series Click the book to buy! What's next? Well, actually, there is a plan....but you'll have to wait until next month to find out! How's that for a cliffhanger?

Now, please tell me what you're doing this summer.

Stay Fearless, 

Hallie