My 5 Favorite ACM Performances 2021

Country music seems to be getting back to it’s roots (after bro-country crashed the party in the mid-2010s and disappointed a lot of fans). Just looking at a sample of the performances last night in the 5 examples below, let’s be hopeful the days of hearing snap track pop country are soon to be over! Here are 5 amazing performances from the 2021 ACM Awards held in Nashville, April 18, 2021.

1. “Maggie’s Song” Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert – Warning: you will need a box of tissues on standby for this one. If you don’t cry or at least get a lump in your throat, you are an evil person…. or you love cats (PS. check back tomorrow for my post: I almost dated a woman with 3 cats).

2. “My Savior Medley” Carrie Underwood – Carrie’s voice, need I say more? Along with CeCe Winans, I went to church Sunday morning (cheers Church at Avenue South) AND Sunday night. I love how Carrie’s voice is somehow stronger at the end of this long medley than it is at the beginning. The songs she mashed together are a sweet reminder of the gospel hymns a lot of us grew up on.

3. “Pride (In the Name of Love)” Dierks Bentley with The War & Treaty – A bluegrass version of a great U2 song? Yes, please! Dierks nailed it and so did The War & Treaty, but I’m just going to say it… there’s something hot about a woman who plays the steel guitar. There’s something hot about a woman who plays the banjo. With that awkwardness out of the way, the entire performance was great.

4. “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” Little Big Town – I love this group! Ever since “Boondocks” and following along with their career while I was working at CMT, they are consistently great performers and the nicest people you will ever meet in country music. Not to mention, the band playing with them here was fun and festive. Listen for the trumpets throughout and your ears will thank you. One question: How did they block off that much of Broadway from the thousands of people always there? Downtown Nashville is back to pre-pandemic days with the crowds and while it’s a challenge to drive around down there, it’s nice to be back!

5. “Bunch of Nothing” Eric Church – When I’m 95 years old looking back on all the music from this century, Eric Church is going to be one of my all-time favorite artists. He’s a great performer and seems to be in is own lane on the edge of mainstream and outlaw. I love his style, mannerisms, and performances. This is another good one right in line with who he is. Enjoy!

Did you have favorite performances not on this list? If so, chime in below, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Richland Park Farmer’s Market – Nashville, Tennessee

Happy Sunday, y’all! I hope you’re having a splendid weekend wherever you are. Mine started off so well when I joined a few friends at a farmer’s market in Nashville, more specifically the one at Richland Park off of Charlotte Avenue.

Anyone who knew me growing up knows I can be a picky eater and I don’t know if becoming vegan a few years ago made my narrow preferences worse or better, but we don’t need to go down that road (at least not today)!

Today I want to highlight two venders, both of which I hardly have the words to describe the deliciousness of what they offered. Seriously, I know I can pick any words, and there are a lot of them, but to make it easier, just think of any words that are synonymous with amazing, memorable, tasty, scrumptious, delicious… hold on, I will just show you… from Thesaurus.com.

OK, I know what you’re asking: Which two vendors are you talking about?

The Cake Project (Instagram: @thecakeproject615) offered a wide variety of variations on cheesecake, some vegan, some not. I got the vegan key lime pie and it was everything I dreamed it would be… and I love key lime pie. In other words, it didn’t disappoint. I actually still have some left in the fridge and you better believe I’m looking forward to finishing it off soon. Also, I want to include the presentation of their desserts… coming in a cute little glass jar and adorned with colorful wrapping. It was all great.

Radical Rabbit (Instagram: @RadicalRabbit_)was the second vendor and offered an entirely vegan menu of soul food.

As you can see, by the time I snapped this picture a lot of their items were sold out. Earlier, I went with the cheeseburger egg rolls. Eating them just plain, great. Dipped in the included sauce, other-worldly. I was so impressed with the flavors and I can’t wait to try the other menu items the next time I have the opportunity. I’m very curious about the vegan ribs so I imagine that will be sampled close to the top of my list.

If you’re a Nashville resident or visiting from out of town, definitely check out this farmer’s market and definitely stop by The Cake Project and the Radical Rabbit. Vegan or not, you will be glad you did. My friends tried other foods from other venders as well, and there were no complaints. All in all, you will be happy with probably anything you get from this farmer’s market… not to mention all the puppies you can pet.

If you have thoughts or replies, share in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Canada Goose Eggs

A friend of mine lives near a lake and always has Canadian geese squawking nearby. I’ve been over there a few times to check out the wildlife (there are also turtles) and it’s interesting to observe the behavior of the geese. I especially like when, whether they’re floating or walking around on the banks of the lake, one goose goes around pestering the others. I’d call it bullying but the goose might be defending his territory or protecting another goose for all I know.

Recently, though, my friend sent me a picture of one of the geese laying on a nest. Babies!!! They are on the way but when I visited a few days ago, there were still unhatched eggs being protected by the female and male. Here are a few pics from my recent visit.

Other goose eggs have already hatched so it’ll be any day now for these, that are really close to my friend’s home.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

My experience with “Fine Art America” so far…

After researching where and how I can get artwork into Hobby Lobby, I joined Fine Art America, a site where artists/photographers can upload images for sale. Images can be printed for framed art, on mugs and shirts, greeting cards, pillows, phone cases and more. It’s a really cool opportunity to share one’s photographs, which is exactly why I joined.

As a new seller, I learned that the free account allows 25 images/artwork. To upload more than that for potential sale requires a premium membership, a step I will eventually take but haven’t yet. From the 25 I have up for sale, it’s impossible to say which are my favorites (they ALL are my favorites), but here are a few from my page.

more available at FineArtAmerica

It’s really exciting to know at some point one of my images will be purchased, a validation that my photographs are cool to someone besides just me.

At the time of this post, my portfolio of images have been viewed 335 times which is awesome, however I will admit it’s discouraging that from those views, I have exactly 0 sales. Time will tell if Fine Art America is a good outlet for my photographs, or if it’s just too crowded with people selling stuff without many buyers.

Either way, it’s been a fun experience so far– challenging me to take more photos, to improve my skills in photography, and to continue learning what may or may not be in demand.

I’m sure I will post more updates as things develop, but I just wanted to document how my experience has been so far as a newby in the Fine Art America community.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

That time I was accused of shoplifting

Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. Blah blah blah…

Hitch

For the record, Hitch (Will Smith) did NOT say “blah, blah, blah” but the point of that quote is he talked about stealing and I have NOT stolen anything from a store. Never ever ever. Ever never never. But…

One time a store employee followed me out and discretely asked me to give back what I took.

I responded with a weak declaration of innocence. I know why he assumed I took something– when I leave a store without buying anything, I assume they think I stole something because who leaves without buying something? Well, I’m sure lots of people do but every time I leave empty-handed I look and feel guilty, even though I’m never guilty! Gosh, I would soooo fail any lie detector test even if I was not lying.

It’s the weirdest, and most annoying, feeling that still happens to this very day.

I don’t know exactly how to get past the discomfort I feel when I leave without spending money at any particular place of business. But folks, this might be a shocker, but there are times I go in to a store and don’t find anything I went there for. Come to think about it, I feel this same uneasiness when I go to an estate sale but don’t buy something. The estate sale thing isn’t a feeling of guilt, exactly… more of a feeling that I owe them something since they did all this work to label everything and I’m audacious enough to not, at least, spend a few dollars.

I’m just socially awkward. That’s all it is. There is circumstance after circumstance where I don’t want to talk or have anyone’s attention and that’s just how it is! Of course, there are also moments I thrive around people, but that’s more rare. I suppose in concert with that is the need to appear likable. To come off as a decent person… caring what people think. In the suspicious shoplifting situations, I worry about looking guilty which probably makes me act differently, making me look guilty.

Do you have any advice or tricks that can make me look less guilty, and feel more comfortable around people at all times? Something that can help me leave a store where I didn’t spend money without having shame? Share in the comments below! Also, go watch Hitch if you haven’t yet. It’s a great movie.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness