This saying is soooo appropriate – “Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer to the end the faster it goes!”  If only we could stop time, but then how do we do all the things we’ve done?!?

The BIG thing the first quarter of 2025 was taking a granddaughter to horse country in KY and MO for her high school graduation (last May).  But, of course, there had to be add ons.  So – this provided a perfect opportunity to make a quick weekend trip to see niece Demi in Wilmington, NC.  She has always wanted to live at the beach and now she is just minutes from the – –

The weather may have been cool but the sky was bright blue.  Perfect for morning walks and beach strolls.  Both Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach were on the tour itinerary of her favorite places and only minutes from her apartment.  Sunday morning a four mile walk to her favorite coffee shop (Sun Days) adjacent to Wrightsville Beach was on the agenda.  (Actually – this coffee shop was visited both mornings in Wilmington!)

Wilmington also has a University of NC campus, which Demi may attend next year for further degrees.  That campus of approximately 20,000 students was charming and another good place for a walk.

Sadly, the two days went too quickly but more adventures awaited.  Next stop – Nashville, where we had a BLAST!!  If you call yourself a country western fan, you must experience this city.

In 1925, the establishment of the Grand Ole Opry in the Ryman Auditorium marked the beginning of Nashville’s journey to become the Country Music Capital of the World.  Its many country music venues include the Grand Ole Opry House (now home to the Grand Ole Opry stage and radio show), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the historic Ryman Auditorium and the Johnny Cash Museum.  And then there is ‘the District’ up and down Broadway where one can hear country music from 10AM to 2AM!  Here we go –

And then there is The Mother Church!  Originally built by a crude riverboat captain, Thomas Ryman, who was converted by a spirited sermon given just three blocks from the current Ryman.   Ryman wanted a grand tabernacle for religious gatherings for the city of Nashville.  With the communities help, the Tabernacle was built and its first concert occurred in 1892.  The Tabernacle became an iconic music stage and even became known as Broadway South with the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Charlie Chaplin and Houdini performing here.  The Grand Ole Opry settled into the Ryman for nearly 31 years (from 1943-1974) and it became known as The Mother Church of Country Music.  Shortly after the Opry moved out, the Ryman sat empty and narrowly escaped demolition only to obtain a renovation and new life in the early 1990’s.  It was truly magical to stand on its stage where so many of those stars have stood before.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – also known as the ‘Smithsonian of country music’ – preserves the history of country music and honors giants of the genre. It is an amazing place to visit, and one could spend a couple of days here.  Just steps away is the Johnny Cash Museum, which has the largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world.

The BIG Surprise – Nashville has the Tin Pan South Singer/Songwriter Festival annually around the last week of April.  The festival is five to seven days with “songwriter in the round” shows held at 10 or so venues around the city.  This is a blast!!  Knowing nothing of this until arriving in Nashville, there was an immediate search for tickets and every night was spent at one of these shows;-)

Once granddaughter Olivia joined us, the Grand Ole Opry was waiting with an incredible show.  In its ‘new’ home (for the last 50 years), the Opry is celebrating 100 years during all of 2025.  In 1925 an insurance company launched its own radio station (WSM) and hired an announcer known for his Barn Dance program.  He in turn hired a 77 year old fiddle player and the Grand Ole Opry was born.  The show went from radio to TV in 1985 but today remains a live radio a broadcast on Saturday nights – the night we were there.  An announcer is on stage to announce the acts to the radio (and live) audience and reads the commercials during breaks between acts!  A real kick –

It was time to start “the graduation tour” – so it was off to Lexington, KY via Mammoth Cave NP.  This National Park includes the world’s longest known cave system as well as thousands of years of human history, earning it a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.  The 256 steps were felt in the quads for days;-)

For the horse-loving granddaughter, Lexington was close to heaven and Mike Sweetman (our guide for the day) made it really awesome.  He started us at the Keeneland training track where the morning workouts were taking place.  There was access to the stables and the track where trainers were timing their horses and putting them through all the paces.

After the training track, the real thing was visited.  Keeneland Racetrack was getting all gussied up for its opening day just two days away.

Then it was off to visit various horse farms.  And it was the correct time of year for foal watching – and they were plentiful!

Last stop in Lexington was the Kentucky Horse Park, which opened in 1978.  It is a working horse farm, international equestrian competition venue, educational theme park and houses a museum.  It also has horseback riding, which was the only thing Olivia was interested in – –

After dodging tornadoes, there was a brief stop in St. Louis to take in another NP – The Gateway Arch.  The Arch sits in a 91 acre park in St. Louis right on the Mississippi River.  One can watch an incredible documentary movie on the construction of the arch and then venture to the top in a pod barely big enough for two to three people.  So hold on – –

Back in the car for a trip to the grand finale – Warm Springs Ranch, the official breeding farm for the Budweiser Clydesdales.  This property includes 300 plus acres of beautiful rolling hills.  The operation was moved here in 2008 and includes mare, stallion and foaling barns, veterinary lab and 10 pastures.  This ranch is home to more than 70 Clydesdales ranging from foals to stallions.  And we saw them all on a wonderful private tour for just us with phenomenal access to the horses!!

It wasn’t all trips for those first four months.  There were family events including anniversaries (Mom’s passing) and birthdays (G’s and sister Barb’s).

The regular Friday morning Vi hikes went on no matter the weather.  Sometimes several layers – along with the heavy jackets – were needed and other mornings were just beautiful.  The sights were always amazing in the desert – –

And the Saturday morning Starbucks stroll gives us all another chance to get in anywhere from 2.5-4.5 miles;-)  With a snack and great conversation in between.

Besides the cacti in the desert, there is also a lot of wildlife to enjoy.  Especially when trips are taken to a preserve or sanctuary.  But – sometimes bobcats just appear in golf parking lots —

And – one last anniversary – to E&G.

These first four months of 2025 have sped by but many memories have still been created;-)  As always, the enjoyment of family and friends and new adventures have given lots of joy.  Now, preparations for a long journey to lands never before visited are in full swing.  The next posting you will see will be from Tokyo, Japan.  Wish us luck🤞

E & G – Hoping that 2025 is treating you well💕