the ash mill re(de)fined

One more day in Africa...

2011-01-15T23:49:00.006-06:00

In about 14 hours we'll be leaving this continent. I'm sad to be leaving, but somewhat ready to be home. Though it's only been a few weeks I feel so disconnected from everyone! I plan to share plenty more insight, but my brain isn't processing this morning. It'll be interesting to see how I feel once I'm home.

I posted some safari photos on my photo site here: http://www.ashmillphotography.com/?p=598

Did you play the unscramble game? Here are the animals -- with my commentary!

Lion: Maybe my favorite sight of the day. We saw two male lions individually (since they don't really hang out) early in the morning and then came upon 7 lions (female and some younger males) sitting no more than 50 yards from us. It was crazy to watch them as they just stared back at us!

Hippo: Lots of hippos. There's a hippo pool where you can get out of the car. There's quite a ledge there so you don't have to worry about the hippos being able to get to you! We saw some the next day that were out of the water. Those are some big animals.

Impala: And lots of other deer family animals. They're everywhere. Seriously, they get boring after a while!

Leopard: We saw 3 big leopards and 2 really cute cubs. It's apparently rare to see that many (especially babies), but they just kept popping up! The cubs were tiny. Both fell out of the tree when trying to climb down. Precious.

Python: Yep. It slithered it's way right across the road in front of us. We only caught the tail end and then saw it in the bushes a few minutes later. Maybe 10 feet long. Yikes!

Wildebeast: Not a cute animal. And they are all over the place.

Chameleon: This little guy crawled across the road and our driver spotted him in the rear view mirror! He was very, very green and blended in well with the grass. Mission accomplished.

Pumba: Not nearly as cute as Pumba in the Lion King, but the baby ones are! I think I had pumba sausage for breakfast at the lodge on the safari. Not super tasty.

Spider Monkey: These guys are cute. They (along with the baboons) were all over the lodge we stayed at in the Serengeti. Breakfast was fun because they ran rampant across the roof above us!

Elephant: Lots. We got incredibly close to these big guys. Our driver made one of them angry! He flapped his ears and made lots of noise in our direction. Luckily he was big and old and I felt confident our car could outrun him!

Antelope: More deer-like creatures. Lots of them.

Giraffe: Giraffes are so unique. We saw plenty of these guys, too. All different sizes. Elizabeth is convinced one of them was over 20 feet tall. Do giraffes get that big?

Zebra: Even the zebra can get boring on a safari. They were all over the place. Seriously, we saw a few hundred of them. They're incredibly beautiful (except after a rain when they're muddy) animals, but quite scaredy-cats.

Buffalo: A funny looking creature, if you ask me. The horns remind me of vikings!

Crocodile: We saw three or four of these guys. Oh, and a baby one!

Mongoose: Like Timon in the Lion King?

Ostrich: Not super exciting. And, they were always too far away to get a good photo of.

Baboon: Plenty of these guys to see, too. Lots at the lodge. Kitty was fearful they were setting a trap for us when we got up to watch the sunrise!

Hyena: As ugly and mean as they look in the movie

Jackal: Cute little dog-like animal.

Water buck: More deer. Not even sure I got a photo of them because I was interested in more exciting animals. Sorry, bucks.

That's all. I think this covers pretty much everything. We saw all there was to see except for cheetah. That just means I have to come back one day!

Game time!

2011-01-14T23:53:00.006-06:00

Good morning all!

Today is our last day in Tanzania. :( It's very bittersweet. We'll head to Kenya in a few hours and stay until our flight to London tomorrow night. If you're really lucky I'll get to post some pictures this evening!

So, it's been a few days since I've blogged, eh? Sorry about that! Monday was long and ended with me feeling quite sick. I spent Tuesday in bed. All day. I left the hotel room for about 5 minutes, but never left the hotel that day. I knew I had to be feeling better by Wednesday when we went on our safari! Holy cow. Incredible. I took a whole lotta photos. Some are quality and some are just proof that I saw what I'm about to tell you I saw! I feel like it was all a dream. I can't believe we were as close as we were with no fences! Crazy.

While I could just ramble off a laundry list of everything we saw, you know that's not my style. Instead, let's play a game. Can you unscramble these words? This should keep you busy until I'm able to post some photos for you to see!

Happy Saturday. See you all in just a few days.

Safari Animals

ionl

pohpi

mpaali

rlepado

thpyno

beewldsait

neemclhoa

muapb

prides nkemoy

peealhnt

tpleoean

feragif

barze

fuablfo

ccdorielo

gonosoem

rtsoihc

obobban

yenah

cajkla

traew cubk

Glory

2011-01-09T23:10:00.004-06:00

Her name is Glory. She is almost four years old. Her pain first started in June and has just recently been diagnosed as cancer. After months of various testing and traveling (12 hours one-way to the hospital in Dar) the treatment options aren't positive. There is a tumor protruding from the side of her face and pressing into her left eye. The latest test showed some swelling in the liver suggesting the cancer had spread there. Testing isn't quite as sophisticated here as in the states, so there is much guessing (though, I suppose there is much guessing still in the states when it comes to cancer). Going the radiation route would require mom and dad to move to Dar for two years. They can not afford this and their family economy would likely fail. Even so, the radiation would likely do little to heal her. Instead the family is using some herbal treatment and relying on family and friends to pray over her.

We spent an hour or so at her house yesterday. Hardest part of my trip so far. Ashley's been holding it together pretty well, only tearing up a few times, but this I couldn't hold back. I think the tears were a combination of the fact that cancer has been a big pest in my life this past year for several friends and family members and how helpless I felt. As Samuel said when we left, "It's like watching your little girl die." We came to Africa to help change things here. To rescue the street boys and provide a home for them. Though it's hard to meet with them knowing their current living conditions, I know good is coming and can rejoice in that. What is there to rejoice in for Glory? I believe the Lord can heal and am praying diligently that He will. Today, that doesn't feel like enough.

So, I'm asking you back home to join us here in Mwanza and pray over this family. Shed tears with me and plead with the Lord to heal. Pray for strength for the parents and brother and other family staying with them. Pray for the church family here to encourage and support them.

We're going to try and meet with them again before we leave. I'll keep you updated, but for now, just pray.

So many stories...

2011-01-08T01:22:00.003-06:00

Hello friends!

As promised I typed up quite the blog post for you. Unfortunately, it was on my computer that can't currently access the internet. I saved it to a flash drive hoping the computers at the hotel had a usb port. It appears they do not! Bummer. I have a few minutes so I'll try again, but no way this will be as good as what I did last night.

So, I'm in Africa. My trip is halfway over which is terribly sad. I have many stories. Mostly of the precious children here. I could tell you about one of the girls at JBFC who while we were playing Uno decided to doodle on Kitty's notebook. She wrote out Psalm 118:5 in Swahili. "O Lord, I called to you in my distress and you have answered me and set me free." A verse that she probably believes more than I do, but oh, how many times the Lord has answered me in distress.

I could tell you about Salome. The sweet 5 year old who's English is very good. Who Kitty taught to call me AshMill. Who has been at the girls home for a little over a year meaning she was only 3 or 4 when living on the streets.

I could tell you the stories of the boys. Stories of how they found themselves begging on the streets. How their parents separated, mother remarried, stepfather was abusive, and running away with their little brother seemed like their best option. How now they've lost their brother on the streets and are completely alone, except for the other boys struggling to survive with them.

I could tell you about Samuel and Pendo. The partners here in ministry for the street boys. How they're currently living for free in a very nice house, but if asked to leave are willing to build a one room mud house while they await the time to move in to the boys home and be the facilitator there.

I could go on and on telling stories about the people. Or stories about our experiences. Experiences with chewy meat and whole fishies (Yep. I ate it. With a smile, too!). Stories from visiting the market where we bargained (well, Kitty bargained. Oh, how I wish I spoke the language) to get the best prices for our skirts and crafts.

But this is the story I want to share with you. Probably the most unexpected moment that has touched me the most. The first day we went out searching for land Samuel and a friend of his left us in the vehicle to go scout out an area. Our driver parked next to a few small houses (ones with grass roofs). We were clearly in a poor village. Word quickly spread that white people were in town! About 10 children gathered outside our vehicle. They stood starring the entire time we sat there, about 30 minutes. They smiled and blushed when we looked their way. Their clothes were ragged, but their faces bright. Having a white person "visit" their village was probably the highlight of their otherwise routine day. It sure was the highlight of mine.

Habari Mchana (good afternoon)!

2011-01-05T09:38:00.003-06:00

So, Kitty is doing an excellent job of recapping our trip. You should head over to her blog: http://www.livingoutofaziplocbag.blogspot.com/ and catch up on things there. All you're going to get from me is this...

I'm thankful for my:

long legs that can move quickly when needed (cars here aren't exactly interested in slowing down for you)
soft tush for bumpy rides on dirt "roads" (seriously, had there not been a roof I may have flown out of the vehicle)
hair that's long enough to go in a ponytail (no point in trying to fix it when the windows stay open while driving)

I'm not so much a fan of my:

height (can't tell you how many times I've hit my head on something. Though, that maybe has less to do with height and more to do with clumsiness)
weak muscles (even our driver knew better than to let me carry a case of sodas. In my defense, they were glass bottles. Who cares if the 12 year old could lift them or not?!)
crusty ears (disgusting, I know. They got a little sunburned the other day and are peeling. Ouch)

Yep. I know you would much rather hear stories of what's happening here, but we're headed to dinner in a few minutes and there's no way my fingers can stop typing once I open the flood gates. It's coming soon. A really long blog post where I'll try and cover the best of the best. Promise!

Organized chaos

2011-01-03T07:31:00.003-06:00

Yep. I made it to Tanzania! Been here for a few days now and still taking it all in. If you think my driving is crazy just wait to you come here (which you should do one day). I now trust my driver more than anyone. People are all over the place, cars don't really stay on their side of the road, and motorcycles don't use lanes at all. Somehow it all works. Organized chaos. Houses with grass roofs, buildings painted with Coca-cola, Fanta, or other logos, and restaurants where seating is only outside. Somehow they all fit together. Organized chaos. Children who speak English and Swahili in the same sentence, who wear Miley Cyrus tees, and who smiles both break your heart and make you laugh. Somehow it's perfect. Organized chaos.

Organized chaos. It's the first thought I had as we drove away from the airport and I got my first take of Mwanza. It sums up how I feel now. So much in my head to process; the past 4 days at the girls home, preparing for the next 9 days with the street boys, and life back home. I feel like the Lord is doing something big in my heart, but I just can't understand it. Yet. Much like listening to the girls sing worship songs or being at church (which happens under a few ragged tarps) yesterday. I don't speak their language, but I know our hearts are singing the same song. I'm not exactly sure where the Lord is leading, but I know it's where I want to go. Make sense? If so, perhaps you could enlighten me!

I could give you a quick recap of the trip, but since it's been 4 days there wouldn't be anything quick about it. I'll get to it at some point. Maybe not until I get home or figure out a way to upload pictures on the hotel computers. I have lots of stories to share about the girls' home, but for now here are a few highlights...

My first meal in Africa was pizza. True story
Fanta is delicious. Especially the passion flavored kind
We saw a snake. And lots and lots of geckos
The girls (and the 5 boys that live there now as well) have started calling Chris, the founder, Daddy. They watched "It Takes Two" (yes, the one with the Olsen twins) and picked up the label. Too precious
I ate a small green pepper. One of the kids convinced me to eat one with him and I'm not one to back down from a challenge. Holy cow! Hands down the hottest thing I've ever put in my mouth. I think I lost a piece of my tongue
It's not rude to spit out chewy meat (or, what I'm pretty sure was just one large piece of fat). It is, however, absolutely disgusting (and hilarious) to chew on it for 10 minutes because you aren't sure if spitting it out would be frowned upon
Uno is played with slightly different rules at the girls home. I might bring them back with me and school all of you

That's all for now. Now that we're at a hotel I'll be able to update more often. Hope things are going well for you all back in the states!

Half the battle...

2010-12-30T04:42:00.003-06:00

...is getting there. I'll assume the other half is returning home.

Our Dallas to London flight was slightly delayed causing us to miss our connecting flight to Kenya. We arrived at the British Airways desk with 35 minutes to spare, but they told us the flight was closed. Lame.

Luckily, we were able to get on another flight. Leaving in EIGHT hours. We'll arrive in Kenya at 6:30 in the morning and then catch our flight to Tanzania at 9:30. The original plan was to arrive in Kenya tonight at 9:35, get a hot shower and sleep in a bed, and then make the morning trek to Tanzania. Still, all is well. Minus missing the hot shower (I've been warned about the cold water at the girls' home).

Already the Lord is working. On the first 8.5 hour flight the guy in front of us engaged the stranger next to him with the gospel. Gideon accepted Christ. Yes, I was eavesdropping. Yes, it was beautiful.

Across the aisle from us (where there are four seats together) two empty seats sat between and man and woman probably around our age. They were chatting away before the plane left the ground and Kitty and I joked about how long it would be before they were sitting next to each other. Two and half hours! Though the dude later moved back. I then caught him reading his Bible and secretly wished I was in the empty seat next to him. :)

Kidding.

Maybe.

I'm going on little sleep (maybe 2 hours) and haven't had many real thoughts! I still can't wrap my mind around what's coming. It's like I can feel change already happening, but I can't exactly interpret it all.

One funny story: I've been telling everyone my itinerary included a stop in Germany. Not true. It wasn't true before the change of flight plans either. I have no idea why I thought that, but I was convinced we had an extra stop on the flight over!

We'll be celebrating the new year at the girl's home. Check back here soon for an update on that experience. Much love, folks.

Wrapping up the year and beginning another...

2010-12-27T11:54:00.005-06:00

What a year it has been for this girl! In January my sweet nephew was born. Three weeks later my mother was diagnosed with cancer. In May, I quit my full-time job to chase my dreams of photography. And now, I'm headed out on my first (but hopefully not only) trip to Africa to work with a non-profit organization and share the message of the gospel. I’ve cried tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of relief, tears for dear friends, and tears simply because I'm a girl and that's what I do.

The Lord has been very real in my life this past year and especially this last month. It's safe to say he's been preparing this trip for a while, but has recently had to be harsh with my sinful heart. It's been painful, but oh, so beautiful. The Lord's grace is amazing.

I've had friends, family, and complete strangers contribute financially and prayerfully to help make this trip happen. I haven't forgotten about any of you and am extremely thankful and overwhelmed at how perfectly this has all come together.

If you know me at all you know I'm a planner. I like to know all the details about pretty much any situation. I pry into my friends' lives and can be OCD when it comes to my calendar. I like control. :) I can honestly say that I know very little about what's going to be happening the next 3 weeks and am at perfect peace with that. I know the goals of the trip as far as the non-profit is concerned, but I know the Lord is going to do big, big things. Bring it on.

I make no promises that there will be more blog posts while in Africa, but I'll try my best! You can (and should) bookmark http://livingoutofaziplocbag.blogspot.com/. Elizabeth (the mastermind behind this trip), or Kitty as I affectionately call her, will be able to paint a much better picture of what's happening. There, you can also read about her past trips.

I can't wait to return and share stories and, of course, lots and lots of pictures! Thanks for standing beside me, especially when I've acted straight silly!

I'm oh, so excited to both wrap up 2010 and begin 2011. On. Another. Continent! How crazy is that?!

Chihuly at Cheekwood

2010-05-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

I checked out the new Chihuly at Cheekwood exhibit and loved it! It's seriously worth the $15 bucks to get in. I'd recommend going later in the day on a Thursday or Friday when they have the Chihuly Nights deal. I bet those sculptures would look great lit up at night.

I posted an article with many pictures on examiner.com, but I'd like to show off a few more! These are the more artsy ones plus a bee on a flower - not exactly Chihuly fitting. Hope you like them!

Cheekwood

2010-05-10T08:39:00.000-05:00

What a huge contrast in the weather this weekend compared to last weekend. Though I was in Chicago last weekend and missed out on the torrential rain, I'm very thankful for the beautiful weather Nashville has experienced the past few days. On Saturday I went with a few friends to Cheekwood. I went back in the fall (here and here), but ran out of time and didn't get to see the many botanical gardens. This time, I headed there first!

She was framed!

After Mike tried to strangle Heather we put him in jail where he became very deranged.

Brayan at 3 months!

2010-05-06T21:23:00.005-05:00

Sweet Lil Dude is THREE months old! I really can't believe it. I spent a few days with the little guy and managed to avoid the crazy Nashville flooding in the process.

His hair reminds me of Albert Einstein. I think that means he's going to be a genius.

So sweet.

Happy baby.

Look how long he is!

Love his big eyes.

The iPhone picture is becoming one of my "go-to" shots. I'm a fan.

Happy Blogoversary!

2010-04-30T19:52:00.003-05:00

One year ago today I started this here little blog with an intro blog post. It's been a fun and crazy year, both in my life and in my blog's life, but today is not about looking back. Today is about looking forward...

You see, today was my last full-time day at Abingdon Press. Yep. I'll be there part-time a bit in May, but have decided to jump off the ledge and pursue the things I love. It's something I've been thinking about for a very long time and finally felt confident enough to make the move. I'm going to pursue writing and photography—mostly photography—and hopefully still be able to pay the bills!

I'll be working part-time as marketing coordinator for a real estate broker. I think it will be a fun and interesting new gig where there will be a lot to learn and a lot to do (I like to stay busy). Working less hours during the week will free up time for me to focus on my future. The small paycheck will be nice (and needed) while I get my website up and start marketing myself.

It's a strange and terrifying transition, but I'm excited to see what the next few months, and years, of my life bring. I'm someone who likes structure in my life. A weekly schedule that stays the same. A fixed income that pays the bills. A comfort zone. This will not be any of the above things, which in some way convinces me that this is why it is right. I'm being led this direction and it is definitely not something I would choose to do on a whim.

So, keep an eye out for the new things on the horizon. I plan to have the new site up by the end of May, but hope to keep this blog going for personal use—separate from the new website.

It's about to get real interesting around here...

Meet Backup

2010-04-28T17:45:00.002-05:00

Backup is my dear pal Heather's doggy. She's not the bravest of dogs, but she is darn cute. Take a look...

Suzy Wong's House of Yum to donate 100% of proceeds during Dining Out For Life event

2010-04-27T17:33:00.003-05:00

The annual Dining Out For Life fundraising event is happening today (or Thursday) across the country to raise money for AIDS service organizations. More than 60 Nashville restaurants are participating in this year's event, but only Suzy Wong's House of Yum has pledged to donate 100% to the cause!

The restaurant's name references the popular 1950’s novel, The World of Suzie Wong. It is the story of a beautiful Asian “lady of the evening” falling in love with an American diplomat. The sleek, trendy design of the restaurant is extremely fitting for its name. The small space is well used and the food presentation is superb. read more...

A day trip down the Natchez Trace

2010-04-21T19:32:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday I took a drive down the Natchez Trace Parkway. A friend suggested it would be a great drive for photo taking and was interested in the history so we jumped in the car and made our way south. The drive took us to Tupelo, Mississippi where Elvis was born! It was a long day with lots of stops between Nashville and Elvis, but was totally worth it. The drive was absolutely gorgeous and the weather was great. I'd love to make the drive again in the fall and maybe turn it into a weekend trip so I can make it all the way to Natchez, Mississippi.

The first stop was to see the double-arched bridge. The bridge is just south of the Loveless Cafe. Very cool.

Probably my favorite shot from the day. Simple, but I'm a fan of it. I'm also fairly certain that this bench has no historical significance. I doubt the early explorers placed it there!

Funny story about this here tobacco barn. We pull up at the stop and read the large posting that says it's a 10 minute loop to see the tobacco. This barn is directly in front of us (about 20 feet maybe) so we start walking down a road thinking that's where the 10-minutes come in. When we realize it led to nothing we turned around. On the walk back I remembered that the information stations (I have no clue what they are actually called) have a button that, when pressed, allow you to hear an old man talk about the tobacco. I assume that if we listened all the way through it would have taken approximately 10 minutes. Oopsies!

This is the Grinder house. Or a replication of what they think the Grinder house looked like. This is where our dear friend Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark) was shot. It was actually quite interesting as I didn't realize he was only 35 when he died. And, his death is a mystery.

See that small hill, or mound, in the background? The indians built that around 1000 A.D. Crazy, I know.

Ah, Elvis. This part of the trip didn't quite mix with the rest, but it was pretty interesting. I'm kind of amazed at the Elvis obsession.

This is the car that Elvis may or may not have been in when he moved from Tupelo to Memphis. It also may or may not be a replica of the car or it may or may not be a few years off from the actual car. Yep. Really, that's about how confusing the letter framed next to this car was. I actually only know that this car doesn't get dusted very often. And it's sea green.

So, there you have it. What you didn't see in these pictures are the 100's of turkeys along the parkway, any of the "overlooks" that were disappointingly lame, or the non-existent lunch spots along the way. If you're thinking of driving the parkway, pack a lunch. My counterpart for the trip did not heed my advice so we ate crackers and Reese's eggs until dinner in Tupelo. :)

My sweet, little nephew

2010-04-19T20:00:00.003-05:00

I've been meaning to get these picture posted, but I'm a little behind. However, he is so precious that these photos are well worth the wait. Enjoy!

I so love this guy!

Only a few days left to donate!

2010-04-13T18:19:00.003-05:00

Just a sweet, little reminder about my friend Elizabeth and her rad 5K. You can read the full details here. If you want to donate let me know!

Another sweet little lady!

2010-04-11T19:06:00.004-05:00

My sweet, old roomie (old as in former, not senior citizen) Emily had her first child just a few weeks ago. Here are a few photos I took when I visited her last week.

This is how Bella's first photo shoot began. She loves me. Really.

Luckily, we were able to get a few sweet smiles out of her.

Probably my favorite. I love how uncomfortable she looks. I think I may try sleeping like that tonight.

Once she fell asleep she was content to sleep anywhere. That includes on a bench. In the park. Where limbs may or may not have fallen from the tree overhead. :)

Daddy wasn't around for the shoot so we only had one ring.

How sweet is this little lady?!

2010-04-08T18:08:00.004-05:00

Celebrating National Food Month with the best the city has to offer

2010-04-07T23:00:00.001-05:00

April is National Food Month and what better way to celebrate than to discover the best Nashville has to offer on some American favorites? Each day has been dubbed with a different food. Many of these items are available at local establishments. Want to know where to find the best of the best in the city? Click the “subscribe” button above to receive an email when new articles are available. read more...

Read about National Caramel Popcorn Day

Read about National Coffee Cake Day

With an inspired heart...

2010-04-06T20:59:00.005-05:00

First, I apologize for going so long without an update on my mom. It's been hard for me to put into words the various emotions I've felt through the past few months and a simple "this is what's going on" type update didn't seem fair. I tend to put up walls and only let a few people in on how my heart is doing and what I'm feeling as a result of all the changes happening. To put it all down on paper (or in a blog) and know that anyone could come across it is not an easy task. My slight perfectionism doesn't help either!

To provide a quick update on her status, mom has had two chemo treatments and is still recovering from her surgery. For the most part, she is back on her feet (when the chemo hasn't knocked her out), but still has a little soreness in her stomach and two chemo ports. She has been very lucky to have minimal side effects from the medicine and even plans to try and work here and there a bit. We have moved past being hopeful that the chemo will treat the remaining cancer to being confident and praying expectantly that her cancer is already gone.

I feel very fortunate to have a mother who is as strong and positive as she is, a father that loves her, his children, and of course, his grandson, and a sister that I can relate to on so many levels (and, I can't forget about my brother-in-law who adds humor whether he's awake or asleep!). Though the past few months have brought challenges and heartache, no day has passed where hope and peace did not dwell. I feel closer to my family than ever before.

That's all for now. My heart has so much more to say, but isn't communicating that to the typing fingers. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Ps- stay tuned. Pictures from Easter with the fam are coming soon. Including my precious nephew and my cousin's sweet, little baby!

My new mini-cards from Moo.com!

2010-04-02T08:12:00.004-05:00

I ordered some fabulous mini-cards from moo.com! Take a look.

(please ignore the poor quality of this photo)

I'm quite impressed with the quality. On the mini-cards you can choose up to 100 different images! I choose something like 27 of my favorites so I received 3-4 copies of each.

There are tons of things you can do with these little guys aside from ordering business cards. Take a look at this moo.com idea book.

Hillsboro Village offers hip, trendy, and casual dining options

2010-04-01T21:47:00.002-05:00

In addition to shopping, banking, and other entertainment, Hillsboro Village along 21st Avenue offers a variety of dining options. This unique collection of neighborhood merchants is hip and trendy while capturing and maintaining historic charm. The historic Belcourt Theatre, opened in 1925, remains a key part of the village’s character.

A handful of unique restaurants fill in the spaces between the fashionable retail selections along 21st Avenue. Each provides its customers with a diverse menu and distinctive atmosphere. Whether you’re seeking an Italian meal, a place to catch a sports game, or a simple soup and sandwich combination Hillsboro Village is sure not to disappoint. read more...

Spring!

2010-03-31T21:00:00.002-05:00

Chicago-style hotdogs available at The Dog of Nashville

2010-03-31T16:59:00.002-05:00

Chicago-style hot dogs are quite the hit, even outside the state of Illinois. The traditional Chicago-style dog is an all-beef hot dog steamed, boiled, or grilled and served in a poppy seed bun. The toppings, added in order, consist of yellow mustard, green relish, fresh chopped onions, two tomato wedges, a pickle spear, two sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt.

The Chicago metropolitan area boasts more hot dog restaurants than McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger Kings combined. While Nashville doesn't offer quite that many hot dog joints there is one place that serves up the Chicago-style dog along with a variety of others. read more...

Saving 101

2010-03-29T19:47:00.002-05:00

For many, saving money is not an easy task. Everyday bills and expenses subtracted from income rarely leaves much left over for the average American family. For birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions a nice dinner out on the town is typically expected. By saving a few dollars on each meal out you can enjoy the occasional fancy meal without getting the silent treatment from your bank account. read more...

Looking for free Wi-Fi and a quick meal in Nashville?

2010-03-27T09:52:00.004-05:00

Searches for free Wi-Fi hotspots in and near downtown Nashville are becoming more frequent. If you're looking to get work done, catch up on email, or surf the net for the latest on your favorite celebrity many places in town offer Wi-Fi while you're dining in. Here are a few of the best free Wi-Fi spots in popular parts of the city. read more...

Help me help her help them!

2010-03-24T18:11:00.004-05:00

Ok, that may be the cheesiest post title I've ever used, but if you know me, what else were you expecting?

Here's the deal, my great pal Elizabeth (see a few posts below to meet her) is organizing a 5K in Alabama where she lives to raise money for a new dorm at the Janada L. Batchelor Foundation for Children in East Africa. From the JBFC website:

JBFC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating extreme poverty throughout East Africa by building self-sustaining, holistic care campuses, which primarily serve orphaned and street girls, providing them with safe refuge, nutrition, education, healthcare and hope for a new life.

Elizabeth visited these girls a few months ago and it's probably safe to say she left her heart there with them. Many more young girls are waiting for a spot at JBFC to get off the streets and find safety. A new dorm would allow for 16 girls to move in and have food, housing, healthcare, and education.

The 5K will be held on May 15, 2010. You can find more details on the event page on Facebook.

Elizabeth’s goal? $30,000 – the cost of one dormitory.

One way she’ll reach that goal is through sponsorships. I completely believe that there are enough people who know (and love) me (and I love you, too) to sponsor at least a half mile of the race. How much is that exactly? $500. Which really is just a small amount of money—especially compared to her goal!

Now, I completely understand that money is tight for pretty much everyone and most of you probably already give to a church, charity, or something else that tugs at your sweet, little heartstrings. I don’t at all expect you to give nor do I have a set amount for those willing/able to give. Other than this blog post (and a few cute reminder posts) I won’t directly ask anyone for money. I may growl at you or roll your house (yes, with toilet paper) for not giving, but I won’t ask you for money. Just kidding. :)

There are a few ways you can give:

1. Paypal. Send some money to Ashley.miller1@wku.edu. You can also use that email if you have questions, comments, gripes, or complaints!

2. Send a check/cash. Either mail it or pass it along next time I see you. If you send a check, please make it out to JFBC (it’s tax deductible). If you make it out to me, we can make that work, too! I just don’t want the IRS coming after me. 1002B Clifton Lane, Nashville, TN 37204

3. Pass it along to someone else to give to me. Really. I’m looking at you people in Bullitt County for this one! A lot of you reading this have known Elizabeth for several years, I’m just sayin’. If you’re not comfortable using Paypal or the unreliable USPS, feel free to drop it by my parents’ place or when you see them at church (granted, with mom’s chemo you may not catch them there too often). If you happen to see them sitting in a pew just drop the money in the offering plate. I’ll tell them to sort through the shiny bowl when it gets to them and pull out the ones with my name. And the big ones. Again, just kidding. :)

I’d like to collect the money by April–a full month before the race. This will help Elizabeth greatly in planning for the event. I’ll post an announcement about how much was collected unless it’s only $3.

Also, if you happen to have some crazy connections to things that would be great door prizes she’s looking for those things, too! Let me know or contact her directly at ekornegay@fbcpelham.org

Can’t wait to see what happens. Love all my readers! You are all beautiful. Can you tell I’m sucking up so you’ll give me your money? Once more, kidding. :)

Gwyneth Paltrow's quest for fried chicken in Nashville

2010-03-23T17:43:00.005-05:00

Gwyneth Paltrow recently spent a few months living in Nashville filming Love Don't Let Me Down with country singer Tim McGraw. On her website, GOOP.com, she raves about the people, the music, and the food. Specifically, she went on a quest to find the best fried chicken in Nashville... read more...

(by the way, if you're the least bit interested in "cheap eats" in Nashville, you should probably subscribe on my Examiner.com page. Follow the link above or click here and hit the "Subscribe" button on the page. Thanks!)

MILLing about: Nashville (this time w/Kitty)

2010-03-21T22:25:00.004-05:00

This past weekend my dear friend Elizabeth (I call her Kitty) came to town! You met her back when I was milling about Alabama. We spent the weekend, eating, shopping, and taking photos, which is typical when we get together. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend:

Here's what happens when you head downtown (er, across the river) at night and have a tripod, a camera, two phones, and a skyline:

The Goose is Loose!

2010-03-20T09:30:00.003-05:00

I've been published! This is both uber exciting and scary for me. This blog was scary when I first started it, too, but I've become pretty comfortable here. Hopefully I'll find the same groove as the Nashville Cheap Eats Examiner.

I wrote about The Silly Goose, a trendy, fairly healthy spot in East Nashville. If you haven't been you should definitely check it out. See the photos below if you need more proof that this is a place you should be eating at!

Here's the link to my first article: http://ow.ly/1oDee

Announcement: I'm a writer!

2010-03-18T18:27:00.002-05:00

So I've never considered myself much of a writer. Until recently I've never enjoyed writing. In school I always struggled to get to the minimum word count for papers. I've never really been confident in grammar/punctuation. I like to use commas - probably more than they're supposed to be used. I'm not exactly sure how to use this: ; (A semi-colon, I believe). I don't feel like I have a very large vocabulary. I've always enjoyed telling a story in picture or some other means, but never in writing. I've tried journaling. I have several journals that only have a few pages in the front written on and the three or four entries that may be there cover a span of a couple years. At times, writing can be very therapeutic. Other times it seems to be more frustrating for me as I write and re-write to get the words right.

All of this babbling does have a point. I've just become an Examiner for examiner.com. Initially I wanted to do photography examining where you only write a little and tell the rest of the story with four or five photos. Somehow in the application process they ended up thinking I wanted to do Cheap Eats Examining - of the non-photography variety. In the end, I decided to do it rather than try to switch to photography. I can still post pictures, but won't always be forced to get photos which will be helpful when a last minute topic comes up. I'll be writing about local restaurants in Nashville. Ideas welcome!

I'm definitely not doing this for the money (there isn't much to be had), but of course that will be a nice bonus. I want to force myself to get out and take more photos and have always enjoyed food photography (strange, I know). What will happen to this little blog here is unknown, but for now I plan to keep it up. I'll at least post a little blurb about my articles with a link. It would help me greatly if you could follow the links and check out my pieces - even if you don't live in town.

My first article has been submitted. They'll review it and once approved I'll be able to freely post. Once it's approved and published I'll let you know. Then, I'll have two little spaces on the internet with my signature.

Here's a photo from the restaurant highlighted in my first article. Can you guess where it is?

Side note: If you think you might be interested in becoming an examiner yourself visit: www.examiner.com/refer. Be sure to include my ID# (41679) on the "Were you referred here by a current examiner?" part. I'll get a bonus, but it ends there. I promise this isn't one of those crazy pyramid schemes!

SEC Tournament Recap

2010-03-15T20:09:00.001-05:00

So my beloved Wildcats are back on top - for now. We still have the tournament that matters to go, but the SEC Tournament was quite the win. I had a blast. A few highlights:

Watching Rick Stansbury constantly stand near mid-court when the teams were on the opposite end. I have no idea how he got away with it the entire game, but when John Wall tackled him, justice was served
Arriving at the first game anxious to find our seats. Turns out they were in the upper level, corner, and in the very last row. It was pretty nice actually and shows how close to not having tickets we were
Woman's shirt on the street. The front read, "In Kentucky we love our cousins," while the back read, "In Tennessee they marry them." We Kentucky fans like to keep things classy
Scalpers swarming me with their wads of cash
Selling my tickets to session 5 for a cool $500. That's $250 per ticket. I only paid $275 for the entire book of tickets - six sessions
Having the one and only Lang Leichardt in the seat directly in front of me in an arena that holds 18,000 people
Running into the Eric Wilson on the escalator at the Fanfare. He was walking down the up one and frightened my friends a bit.
Finding my uncle at Big River downtown. There were an estimated 180,000 fans in town and we choose the same place to grab some grub. Unfortunately, we were too late and no seating near a TV was available
Passing Kenny "Sky" Walker on the street. He's a big boy

And finally, my favorite non-basketball related story from the weekend. Mid-way through the first session I decided to get some nachos. Five dollar and fifty cent nachos to be exact. I handed the gal a ten dollar bill and said, "Oh, I think I have the fifty cents." Turns out I didn't have the change and when I told her that her response was, "So that's like $4.75, right?" Nice. Turns out she was from Kentucky. Our reputation, unfortunately, does have merit.

With a humbled heart...

2010-03-02T17:19:00.006-06:00

My mom will start chemo on March 10. I don't completely understand how it all works, but from what I gather she will receive treatment on the 10, 11, and 17, rest for 21 days, and start the cycle again. I've been so inspired by her courage, hope, and humbleness. She actually asked me what she did to deserve all of this and she didn't mean the cancer. She didn't understand why so many people had offered their support, meals, flowers, food, cards, etc. She claimed she was spoiled and didn't deserve all the love. Wow. If you know her then you know that she would give you anything you needed even if it meant that she went without. It's who she is. And I am humbled.

I feel like I have so much more to say, but with everything going on in my head these days I can't sort the words out. Please keep yourselves updated on Emmett's cancer battle (see the "Courage to Conquer" blog linked to the right) and I'll try and post updates on my mom's treatment and such as often as I can. Thank you for your continued support.

twinkle, twinkle

2010-02-27T13:37:00.002-06:00

It's true.

(Photoshopping fun got me through the atrocity that was the UK/UT game)

I Love College Hoops

2010-02-23T21:37:00.006-06:00

It's Beat Cancer Week in college basketball. For me, this could not have come at a more appropriate time! Fans are being encouraged to wear headbands to games which I think is a hilarious way to raise awareness - very few people can pull off the headband.

You can learn more at ilovecollegehoops.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Also, Emmett (who I mentioned a few posts ago) has started a blog, Courage to Conquer. I encourage you to check it out and follow his story.

That's all for now! Go CATS!

With a joyful heart...

2010-02-22T19:28:00.004-06:00

Mom got to go home on Sunday!

On Saturday night the nurse had mentioned that she might get to go home. No kidding, when my sister and I walked into her room Sunday morning the place was all packed up. Flowers were back in the boxes. The drawers were emptied. Everything was ready to go. My parents don't waste any time. That's for sure.

She had one goal in mind - get home in time to see her grandson. Mission accomplished. Though I was already on my way back to Nashville I'm sure it was an emotion greeting and another reminder of everything she has to fight for.

With a thankful heart...

2010-02-20T11:24:00.009-06:00

Three weeks ago today I was sitting in a hospital room in Chicago celebrating the new life of my nephew and preparing to watch the Cats take on Vandy. Today, I'm sitting in hospital room thankful for healing, hopeful for recovery, and again preparing to watch the Cats take on Vandy.

Last time, there were tears of joy.

This time, the tears flow from the little moments that are bringing my mother to life (like being greeted by Sabrina, my older sister, for the first time since the surgery).

Last time, my sister was in the hospital bed, recovering from child birth.

This time, my mother sits in her place, recovering from a hysterectomy and cancer treatment.

Last time, during the drive from Nashville to Louisville I listened to music because I wanted to.

This time, I listened because I needed it.

Last time, the Cats were playing Vandy at Rupp Arena.

This time, the Cats are playing Vandy in Nashville.

Last time, the Cats beat Vandy 85-72.

Let's hope for a similar outcome this time.

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio recently posted about remembering certain events based upon the UK basketball memories that correspond. At the time I didn't think much of it. I had a few memories of UK games, but they didn't necessarily correspond to significant life events. Now I understand. And though I may overdo it a bit on my allegiance to Big Blue Nation, there is more to it than just basketball. And, boy, do I love my Wildcats!

This week has been about being thankful for the little things (and the big).

Here are a few things that I'm thankful for:

Brayan. Who smiles. Not to mention the spitting up and pooping that he also blessed me with.
Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. And the sweet ladies that bake them fresh everyday right down the hall.
Technology. Though Lil Dude isn't able to join us at the hospital, two webcams dialed into each other allow Granny to watch her grandson sleep peacefully.
Food. Being able to eat what I want is so taken for granted. A great reminder of that came earlier today when my mother came charging out of the bathroom (at a slow pace) announcing that not only had she passed gas, but she also had a bowel movement (that's the big news of the day and the reason the plate in front of her contains mashed potatoes, carrots, and chicken, instead of broth, jello, and a popsicle).
Facebook. Yea, I went there. It's allowed me to stay updated on other friends and family experiencing similar heartache and also receive encouragement.
Coffee. Lack of sleep, a snoring grandma, and uncontrollable emotions are all easily forgotten when coffee is present.
The lady yesterday (who's name I never caught) who visited my mother (none of us knew her) and reported that she was exactly 8 years breast cancer free. To. The. Day.

With a heavy heart...

2010-02-19T09:29:00.004-06:00

First, I'll give you a quick update on my mom. I walked in to her room this morning and she yelled, "I get to take a shower!" Her mouth was bright red from jello she had just eaten! Even now, she is snoring, which is normally annoying, but for now, I don't mind. It means she's getting good rest. Her spirits are definitely up. She is feeling much better. She'll be in the hospital a few more days (probably until Monday or Tuesday), but her body is progressing nicely from the surgery. Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement. It has meant so much.

Second, I want to ask you to remember two other precious families. The Stallings are a sweet family in Nashville that has cooked me many a dinner and even opened their home to a friend of mine a couple summers ago. You may remember them from this blog post. Emmett is at Vanderbilt Hospital. They found a cancerous tumor on his throat and a few spots on his liver.

My cousin's father-in-law is getting a stint put in today. He has a cancerous tumor on his throat. You met my cousin and his wife here.

Since getting the call from my father on Tuesday it seems like cancer has popped up everywhere. This week's episode of Lost reminded us of Rose's cancer. The bottom line during the UK/Mississippi State game informed its viewers that Nuggets Coach George Karl had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Later there was a commercial about standing up to cancer. I read on my roommate's blog that the 13-year old she's tutoring in France lost her mother to breast cancer a year ago. Kentucky Sports Radio (my vote for best website/blog/whatever around) mentioned that Sunday kicks off "Beat Cancer Week" in college basketball. It's everywhere, but I've never noticed beyond the pink ribbons. And it's never seemed more real.

With an aching heart...

2010-02-17T18:20:00.007-06:00

My mother is a fighter. Since her childhood she has faced one battle after another, but not one that she couldn't overcome. I expect this next chapter in her life, my family's life, to be no different. She has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. Not at all what we were expecting when she went in for a hysterectomy. We knew there was a chance of cancer, but the tests done weeks ago had come back negative, easing our concerns. Though the road ahead may be long and filled with bumps and potholes, I am confident in my mother's ability to fight with all she has.

My mother is an optimist. When she called over the weekend to tell me about the looming surgery she was most upset that she wouldn't be able to attend the SEC Tournament with me due to the needed recovery time and that she couldn't hold her new grandson in her arms. That was her sadness. It wasn't about herself. She had decided that if it were cancer her and her sister (who, just a few months ago, was diagnosed with breast cancer) would be chemo buddies and that would be that. She knows what's important in life and has put her faith in those things. Though the road ahead will have plenty of hills, I am confident in my mother's ability to keep her spirits up and not let setbacks get her down.

My mother is a prayer warrior. Who really knows how prayer works? Though I can't explain it I've witnessed its power. As visitors stop in and offer encouragement it's the one's who take the time to pray with her that means more than the flowers, cards, balloons, and even her favorite, angel figurines (though those are all appreciated). It means more to her, to us, and, I'm sure, to the overall healing of her body. Though the road ahead will look new and different, I know that my mother will remain a warrior who looks to Christ.

My mother is a loving wife. Grandma. Friend. Co-worker. She's gracious. Caring. Considerate. Joyful. She feels like she's inconveniencing us (which is just ridiculous), but would be the first person at our side if the roles were switched. She's stubborn (proven by her sneaking sips of water when the nurses aren't looking). Silly (proven by her telling her pastor she'd be showing up at church in her hospital robe and sitting in the front row next to him). Independent (see the red marks on my dad's hands from her slapping him away when he offers help). Beautiful (see photo above). Modest (though the male nurse who assisted with her latest bathroom trip may no agree). Most of all, she's mine - for that, I'm extremely thankful.

For those of you reading this that hadn't heard the news you can see the update from my dad below. We are confident with the doctor that she will make a full recovery. Thanks to everyone for the support and prayers. It's greatly appreciated and comforting to know that people are striving with us. Much love, Ashley.

From my dad:

Bev's surgery went through ok yesterday, but she does have stage 3c ovarian cancer. The doctor did a full hysterectomy then she took out a layer of fat over her stomach that had cancer and a portion of her colon which had cancer on the outside of it. Then she cleaned and scraped other parts that were infected. Some parts they could not take out. They put a port in her side and will treat the rice size pieces that are left with chemo through the port directly to this area. She will still have to have a regular port put in and take regular chemo treatment after that. Dr. Gordoneir is very confident that she got enough of the cancer and that the port in her side will be enough to give her a full recovery. It will be a long process. Pray. God can do anything he wants and he has a plan. She will be in the hospital for about a week if everything goes well. Norton Brownsboro Hospital room 410.

Happy Birthday Carly!

2010-02-06T16:25:00.003-06:00

Carly's birthday was January 11. You first met Carly on the blog here. You met her a second time here. She came down today so we could celebrate our birthdays together. We went to Brushfire Pottery in Green Hills and painted! Here are a few photos of her painting what will be her pen/pencil holder for her office when she becomes a PE teacher.

I painted a travel mug, but failed to take any photos of it. I'll post pictures of the finished pieces after they've been fired in the kiln!

More of Brayan!

2010-02-01T11:23:00.000-06:00

For those of you not on Facebook. :)

Introducing: Brayan James Baker

2010-01-30T12:38:00.005-06:00

Brayan James Baker was born at 7:58 am, January 29, 2010. If you took his daddy's face and shrunk it down it would look just like this! You gotta admit, he's pretty dang cute.

He's 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

I got the call at 2:12 am Friday morning that Little Dude was on his way. The drive from Nashville to Louisville (to meet the parents and head to Chicago) seemed to go by pretty quickly. Along the way, I became thankful (or more thankful) for a few things:

Coffee. No better time for it than 2:30 in the morning
The 24-hour gas station by my house. It's not sketchy so I felt semi-safe
Darkness. Especially when I'm singing at the top of my lungs (and dancing) to stay awake. It's nice not to worry about getting caught by the few other drivers on the road
Cruise control. It was hard to not drive as fast at the road would let me so I could get to nephew. Cruise control kept me safe and allowed me to focus on other things - like my superb singing
The deer grazing on the side of the road. It was cool site to see at 3 in the morning. I'm mostly thankful for their mother who must've taught them not to play in the street
Dave Barnes. His combination of love, heartbreak, and (non-cheesy) faith songs are a great mixture of music to jam to in the early morning hours

There will be plenty more photos to come. Stay tuned...

Monday Morning MILLdew

2010-01-25T17:35:00.003-06:00

Ok, so it's not morning anymore and I only got 4 pictures this week with the iPhone. I should really be more committed to this poor project. Maybe one day.

Anyway, here are this week's photos:

MILLwork for food: Little Dude

2010-01-22T19:27:00.003-06:00

At any moment my sister could go into labor! Needless to say, I'm slightly excited and never let my phone out of my sight. I can't wait to be an aunt. His name is a secret (except to me). For now, he is affectionately called "Little Dude" and in a few short days (maybe even hours) he will make his debut.

The last time I saw my sister and her pregnant little self was early December when we took a few maternity photos. Here are few that don't reveal the baby's name nor show off the bare belly!

Clearly, no belly in this shot. The necklace was a gift from the soon-to-be grandparents and is a mother holding a baby in a heart (or something like that). And, I'm showing off my beautiful sister - even when she's not sleeping and is being kicked every 7 minutes.

Monday Morning MILLdew

2010-01-18T13:01:00.002-06:00

I remembered 5 days out of 7 to take a photo with my iPhone. Here they are:

MILLing about: Auburn, Alabama

2010-01-16T22:18:00.007-06:00

I drove down to Pelham, Alabama to see my good friend Kitty (aka Elizabeth Kornegay) and watch my favorite boys in blue take on the Auburn Tigers. The game was great, although I wouldn't mind if the Cats would put games away early and not cause my heart to beat so fast.

The Wildcats are 18-0 and sitting at #2 in the polls. Needless to say, it's an exciting season to be a Kentucky fan! Here are a few shots from the game:

Demarcus Cousins is a beast. At some point in this game he lost his headband. I don't know what happened to it, but I think he plays (and looks) better without it.

Ashley Judd was in the house. I love this girl - mostly because of her love for UK, but I also enjoyed most of her movies. I'm a little jealous of her as well because I believe that she can claim to be UK's #1 fan and no one will argue.

The boys gather round to hear Calipari's game plan and watch him draw up some x's and o's.

John Wall is good.

And he will always make his free throws when the game is on the line.

MILLigrams: Bowling Green

2010-01-14T17:35:00.000-06:00

I took these pictures several years ago with a borrowed Nikon that I had no clue how to use. Needless to say, I'm thankful for the automatic setting on cameras.

Monday Morning MILLdew

2010-01-11T07:20:00.001-06:00

One of my 2010 goals was to blog twice a week. Clearly, that didn't happen last week so, already, I'm off to a great start! A friend suggested that I also take a photo with my iPhone everyday. I obliged, but just started on Saturday. Every Monday I plan to have a "Monday Morning MILLdew" post showing the week's collection. This will get me halfway to my weekly blogging goals!

Here's what I have for last week:

So there you have it. Frozen coffee and a Gap size sticker stuck to my boot. What better way to start off?

2010 Goals

2010-01-07T17:13:00.001-06:00

Before 2009 ended I spent a little bit of time typing up a few goals specifically related to photography for 2010. Here are the important ones:

Blog at least 2 times a week
Get a photo published - anywhere
At least one photo shot per month (doesn't have to be paid)
Take at least one photo every weekend

So, there they are. Simple, but I'm satisfied.

Wrapping up 2009...

2009-12-29T20:31:00.005-06:00

While I watched those Wildcats play tonight (which included John Wall table surfing, dunking, and breaking a record) I went back through my blog posts for the year and finalized some goals for my art (mostly photography) in 2010. Before I jump ahead to the new year I thought I'd share some pictures that never quite made their way to the blog, but probably should have.

Christmas is HERE!!!

2009-12-25T16:58:00.002-06:00

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!

(No picture today. I forgot my camera cord, but I promise my camera is full of good Christmas pictures)

Christmas is Coming, Day 24

2009-12-24T07:15:00.001-06:00

It's Christmas Eve!

The tradition has always been to go to my grandma's house for Christmas. We open presents Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning Santa comes (well, not anymore). As kids my cousin Chris thought it was a competition as to who had the most gifts. We would count our presents and then wait patiently (or not-so-patiently) for the green light to sort out all the gifts. The youngest person opens first and then we work our way up to the old folk. That's how it goes. Every year. This year will be no different.

Christmas is Coming, Day 23

2009-12-23T08:05:00.000-06:00

Took this with my phone while I was out yesterday. Someone got over Christmas a little early this year. Or this is the new "cool" way to set up your tree.

Christmas is Coming, Day 22

2009-12-22T07:56:00.002-06:00

First college basketball team to 2,000 wins? Yep.

Greatest tradition in college basketball? I think so.

Is "UK2K" kinda cheesy? Most definitely. But I like it. And I might buy the shirt to go with.

Christmas is Coming, Day 21

2009-12-21T07:20:00.000-06:00

Christmas is Coming, Day 20

2009-12-20T08:59:00.001-06:00

That is one big peppermint.

Christmas is Coming, Day 19

2009-12-19T12:50:00.002-06:00

Joey puts a lot of careful, diligent thought into hanging ornaments.

Christmas is Coming, Day 18

2009-12-18T14:20:00.000-06:00

We love our Wildcats. Especially at Christmastime.

Christmas is Coming, Day 17

2009-12-17T07:55:00.000-06:00

I don't like snow. Snowflakes are okay.

Christmas is Coming, Day 16

2009-12-16T07:21:00.000-06:00

When you run out of room on the tree...

Christmas is Coming, Day 15

2009-12-15T07:40:00.000-06:00

Backup is hiding from Christmas...

Christmas is Coming, Day 14

2009-12-14T08:02:00.000-06:00

Yep. Santa brought me that bundle of love.

Christmas is Coming, Day 13

2009-12-13T07:41:00.000-06:00

This is my sister's dog. She's 13 years old (or something close to that).

Here's another shot of her (although, not Christmas related):

Christmas is Coming, Day 12

2009-12-12T07:15:00.001-06:00

Christmas is Coming, Day 11

2009-12-11T08:30:00.001-06:00

My absolutely favorite picture from the "box of Christmases past" collection that my mom keeps. That's my sister. And my dad. He's holding a gun. We're from Kentucky.

Christmas is Coming, Day 10

2009-12-10T07:48:00.000-06:00

Christmas is Coming, Day 9

2009-12-09T07:37:00.003-06:00

If you follow my blog at all you've noticed how much I love playing with reflections. I found two awesome (and huge) silver ornaments at Target and had a blast using them as props.

Take a look...

Christmas is Coming, Day 8

2009-12-08T08:31:00.000-06:00

Do dogs believe in Santa or do they know they're posing with an impostor?

Christmas is Coming, Day 7

2009-12-07T07:22:00.004-06:00

This makes me giggle.

Here's another attempt. They're both pretty fun.

Christmas is Coming, Day 6

2009-12-06T07:42:00.003-06:00

My parents raised me right. At an early age they had me sportin' Kentucky Wildcats gear. You can't tell from the above picture (but I wanted to show off my awesome dad), but I have a UK bib on! Here's proof:

By the way, the Cats beat UNC yesterday! I'm pretty sure I might have a heart attack before the end of the season, but I love them Wildcats!

Christmas is Coming, Day 5

2009-12-05T08:52:00.001-06:00

The Wildcats play those stinky Tarheels today. They would appreciate your support.

Christmas is Coming, Day 4

2009-12-04T08:58:00.003-06:00

Everyone count how many times the photographer appears in this shot!

Christmas is Coming, Day 3

2009-12-03T07:56:00.002-06:00

A little tree-trimming action. Mike doesn't do "candid".

Christmas is Coming, Day 2

2009-12-02T10:40:00.001-06:00

My grandmother has a tradition of making an ornament for everyone each year. She has done this as long as I can remember and presents them at Thanksgiving. This is 2009's ornament and, yes, that is an Easter basket they're sitting in!

Christmas is Coming, Day 1

2009-12-01T07:55:00.000-06:00

Taken last year at the Opryland Hotel

Thanksgiving Wrap-up

2009-11-30T17:13:00.009-06:00

(this is what happens when I don't use the viewfinder)

I enjoyed a long weekend with the family over the Thanksgiving holiday. I got to play with the new babies in the family, eat lots of turkey and other goodies, shop on Black Friday, and watch UK fall to UT for the 25th time since I've been alive. Minus the Cats losing to UT, the weekend was great! Here are a few shots.

Meet Elijah. He's 3-months old and quite the happy little baby.

Bryona, is 6-months and is all decked out in her pink adidas outfit!

I love my Kentucky Wildcats - even of the football kind, despite their 25-year losing streak to UT.

Starting tomorrow I'll have a daily post related to Christmas. Maybe. That's my goal anyways...

MILLing about: Cheekwood (part 2)

2009-11-24T17:47:00.000-06:00

If you live in Nashville and have never been to Cheekwood you need to check it out. I plan on going back in the spring time! We ran out of time to check out the Japanese Gardens and you can't take pictures inside the house, so I only got a few shots of the grounds.

MILLing about: Cheekwood (part 1)

2009-11-22T13:12:00.008-06:00

Cheekwood is nestled in the heart of Belle Meade. I visited for the first time on Saturday with a few friends. Here are a few shots of the gang:

I love reflections.

Mike has this sixth sense of knowing when a photo is about to be taken of him. Rarely will you catch him not smiling in a shot. It's actually quite annoying.

Photomerge - my favorite photoshop tool.

I may or may not have a career as a private investigator ahead of me...

I'm enjoying the lovely November weather with my Uncle Ty.

Stay tuned for pictures of the grounds...

A MILLion stories to share 2.2

2009-11-19T20:53:00.006-06:00

I haven't posted about my little sister lately (from Big Brothers Big Sisters), so here's a recap of the past month! I love spending time with her. She brings so much joy to my life. She's hilarious, sweet, goofy, and has quite the imagination. My mom was in town tonight and wanted to meet her. We had dinner at Dave & Buster's and then played games. They're now best friends. She decided she didn't like the name Bev and decided to call my mom "Bob" instead, which she did - all night! Also, when it was time to pick a prize with our tickets we had three people give us their tickets! We doubled what we started with. Seriously, next time, we're just going to hang out in the "prize corner" and I'm gonna let her pout about wishing she had more tickets every time someone comes around. She's better at that than playing the games and I'll save a ton of money. Maybe I'll start a college fund for her with the savings!

Last weekend we took advantage of the great weather and headed to Shelby Park in East Nashville for a bit. Check it out:

And, finally, here are a few shots from the "Ghouls at Grassmere" event at the zoo a few weeks ago:

that is all

A MILLion stories to share 2.1

2009-11-16T21:01:00.003-06:00

One final post from the weekend in Paducah. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip. Before my camera died. Before we met Superman in Metropolis, IL.

Probably the best shot of us from the day.

The dogs were good sports. They worked very hard to understand our instructions to face the camera.

I love being goofy. I especially love when others are goofy with me!

So much to say about this, but I'll let you come up with your own captions.

LOVE this picture. The end.

Girls, I had a blast! It can't be another eight years before we're all together again. Period.

A MILLion stories to share 2.0

2009-11-11T21:40:00.005-06:00

Jumping pictures have to be one of my favorites. One, because they're hilarious to take/attempt. Two, because, when done right, they look cool. The four gals spent many a minutes attempting to all jump at the same time and as the timer was going off. Here's a few that almost worked:

You have to be ready. Unfortunately, if you miss your cue, you get a picture that looks like this.

Melinda was definitely the jumping pro of the day.

I promise I'm only a few inches taller than these girls.

It was much easier to time the jump when someone was behind the camera to press the button!

I must say that Elizabeth/Kitty/Liv/Patty (call her what you wish) rocked it. :)

Yea, I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time...

A MILLion stories to share 1.9

2009-11-09T20:07:00.000-06:00

...back in Paducah, KY Anna, Liv, Mo and I were still trying to recreate poses. This time of a statue we found in the yard.

Statue:

Mo and Liv's recreation:

Liv's and my recreation:

Quite good, eh?

A MILLion stories to share 1.8

2009-11-08T20:46:00.004-06:00

This past weekend I reunited with three great ladies from my past. Anna, Liv, Mo-mo, and I hadn't been together as a group in EIGHT years! We had a great time sharing stories and reminiscing. We dug up a few pictures from middle school and high school and laughed about the many unfortunate hair-do's and clothing choices.

Exhibit A:

Yes, I almost have a mullet, Mo has on overalls, Anna has on cargo khakis, and Liv has on a boy-style button up (worn unbuttoned) with a t-shirt. Yea, and you might call this one of our better pictures.

We decided to recreate this shot. With no one to take pictures for us, we relied on a tripod and timer.

Attempt 1:

I apparently weigh a little more than I did in 8th grade. Liv's head was a nice resting place once the other gals decided to give up.

Attempt 2:

I'm at least off the ground, but that's about all I can say.

Attempt 3:

Success!

More to come throughout the week!

(Yes, I'm taking one event and spreading it out over several blog posts. Otherwise, it would be another month before this little blog saw any action again.)

MILLing about: Mammoth Cave

2009-10-05T22:28:00.006-05:00

(The above picture was stolen from Keitha. Even spending a whole day with these people, I was unable to capture a shot of all six of us. Keitha, I thank you.)

This past weekend some coworkers and I headed up to Mammoth Cave National Park. The six of us went on the Grand Avenue Tour. 4.5 miles. 4 hours. Considered "strenuous". With little light and a fast moving tour I only had a few picture opportunities. Here's what I got:

Fall is here!

2009-09-25T07:24:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure I'll ever take a picture better than the one above.

Fall Getaway '05 @ the square dance.

MILLigrams: UK Football

2009-09-22T19:39:00.006-05:00

(I know, I know. It's been WAY too long since I've updated this thing. We've been fighting and this is my attempt to make up. Unfortunately, I haven't been doing any painting or photography lately, so I've got little to share)

This weekend I'll be heading to my first UK football game of the season! Those Kentucky Wildcats are taking on the Florida Gators and it's sure to be an exciting atmosphere. The past couple of years I've gotten to attend several football games with some exciting finishes. The following photos aren't about the photography, but more about sharing memories. And, really, what better memories to share then those of my favorite boys in blue?!?!

I feel like this guy is supposed to be intimidating, but I kinda just wanna give him a big hug!

Me, my cousin Chris, mom, and Mits. It's always fun to have my mom at a game. She can't quite keep up with what's going on on the field and always tells me she's bringing a bar of soap to the next game (for the drunk college kids with dirty mouths).

Hands down, the best game of any kind I've ever attended. This was against the dirty bird Louisville Cardinals in '07. No one expected the Cats to have a chance, but somehow they pulled out the win in the end. It came down to the final few minutes and was absolutely spectacular. We opted not to rush the field since we didn't even have tickets for the game and had just snuck in with my uncle.

True story.

TOUCHDOWN CATS! I think this was WKU/UK so the touchdown was no big deal. We were probably already up a few points.

Two scoreboards. Two great games. The Louisville '07 game mentioned above and the Arkansas '08 game. With under four minutes left Kentucky scored two touchdowns to take the lead and win!

a MILLion stories to share 1.7

2009-08-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

So there really are a million stories I could share with these photos, but instead I've elected to have a contest. The winner will receive nothing of value other than the title of "Best Face Game Player" (uh, maybe we'll work on that title later). The contestants weren't aware of the contest and haven't given me permission to share the deeply personal information provided below.

Pick your favorite. It's that simple.

Contestant Number 1: Ty

Ty expresses some serious fear in this late night photo. He enjoys serving ice cream, listening to me talk sports, and gluten-filled bratwurst. You can find him in the Chococat section of the Sanrio store.

Contestant Number 2: Mike

Before this photo was taken Mike lost his neck. Luckily, I was there keep his head from falling off. He enjoys okra fishing, babysitting quintuplets while learning Spanish, and teaching me to be "thick-skinned." You can currently find him riding the Brett Favre bandwagon, but check back around week 6.

Contestant Number 3: Heather

Heather offers us a big smile and eyes-closed-tight shot. She enjoys pressing that stupid Taboo buzzer, being taller than me, and Duke basketball. You can find her back in fourth grade teaching herself (by choice) all the Greek gods/goddesses.

MILLwork for food: the Hart's

2009-08-19T07:23:00.001-05:00

Yeah, he sees something he likes...

So my cousin is probably the most precious person in the world (and I'm sure he feels quite manly after reading that). We're separated in age by 20 days (I'm older) and spent practically everyday together growing up. We've been through quite a bit (mostly thanks to me) and I love when I get to spend time with him and his wife, Brittany. Saturday night we grabbed dinner at Old Chicago (quite delicious) and then headed to downtown Louisville to snap a few shots. We started on the Indiana side of the Ohio river where, no joke, a washing machine floated by.

Had a blast, guys. Thanks for being great sports!

MILLwork for food: the Conn kids

2009-08-17T21:03:00.007-05:00

You met Dave and Deanna a few posts ago. This past weekend I headed back to Louisville to see family and friends and to take pictures. I met the Conn's at Bernheim Forest to shoot the other half of the family. They are quite cute and full of personality.

I don't have a clever/lame title for this one

2009-08-04T21:14:00.003-05:00

This weekend John came over and built me a state-of-the-art bed-behind table (Get it? Like bedside table?). John is one of my co-workers whom I call an uncle. Whenever I need something, I know that one of them will be able to help out.

Here's John. The only picture I had permission to take during the building. More like the only picture I snuck in during the building... sorry, John.

She's a beauty isn't she? I LOVE IT! I used to have fabric hanging up, but decided I was sick of it and wanted to get curtains for my windows. I couldn't have that much fabric hanging on my walls and didn't want to give up that great storage space. It's definitely a funny shaped piece, but it serves its purpose well.

John let me drill the holes for the handle. Of course, I required three holes for two screws. Oopsies!

It lifts all the way up, without scraping the wall, and stays put!

I'm running out of book space, so this might become another shelf soon. Any ideas for cool bookends?

I'm quite proud of my talented uncles. They're the best co-workers a gal could ask for.

Thanks, John!

MILLing about: The Crowe Family Farm (part 2)

2009-07-29T21:58:00.006-05:00

A few other pictures taken on the Crowe Family Farm

That is all.

MILLing about: The Crowe Family Farm (part 1)

2009-07-28T17:27:00.001-05:00

You met Joey in an earlier post. He recently bought a house! As a housewarming gift Ty, Heather, and I planned a secret trip to his family's farm in KY (just south of Scottsville). The farm has been in his family since the 1800's and the house on the property has been there since the early 1900's. We got lots of good photos of the place. Joey has told us many a story about visiting there as a kid. The house is in poor shape, so we wanted him to have something cool to remember it by. Here's the photo:

Heather had the great idea to get a canvas print done. I cropped the size a little, tweaked it some, and placed the order. It turned out really well.

Of course, the light in my room created a nice glare...

Here it is from an angle:

I'm a fan of canvas prints. I wasn't super confident about the place I ordered from, but it was the only place I could find that offered custom sizes (at a reasonable price). I decided first to order a smaller print in case it turned out terrible. This is what I got:

I love it. It's hanging in my office/cubicle with my new chair!

If you come visit me at work I'll let you sit in it!

The end.

Still to come: more fun on the farm

MILLing about: Alabama (w/Kitty)

2009-07-26T21:52:00.006-05:00

I spent the past weekend hanging out with an old friend. Elizabeth (aka: Liv, Liver, Patty, Kitty) and I have known each other since the middle school-ish years. She now lives in Pelham, Alabama just south of Birmingham. We spent a few hours wondering around, sweating, and getting a few fun photos.

My favorite picture from the weekend. We found this train "museum" that was more like a train junkyard. The sign said, "for your safety do not climb on the equipment." We promptly pretended to not see the warning and continued about our train hopping.

I'm not used to being in front of the camera, so when the opportunity arises I look like this:

Next, we visited a state park. We found a waterfall trail and decided that .4 miles wouldn't be tough in flip flops. The path was only paved/gravel for about .2 miles. Then came the worst hiking I've ever experienced. Trees, rocks, and a cliff had to be maneuvered around to get to the falls. The folks we passed who were making the return trip told us it wasn't worth it. Apparently the fall was more like a trickle that day and the climbing required to get there wasn't worth the effort. Even though we didn't make it to the fall/trickle we did stop to take a few pictures.

Anyone else think it looks like Kitty is climbing a tree?

I'm quite the jumpy person. I'm not a fan of anything that might fly/hop/run at me. Even this little butterfly caused me some fright for a few seconds.

That is all...

Coming soon: A trip to a KY farm. You're gonna love it!

the fASHion Mill 1.6

2009-07-23T20:40:00.004-05:00

I've been working on a few painting projects lately, but have been crazy busy with other things and haven't had a chance to finish them all or blog about it. Here's something I painted recently for Emily and Adam (let's be honest, it's more for Emily). They just bought a house and, if all goes as planned, will close in a few weeks. They're either planning on hanging this in the living area or Emily's sewing area. It depends on who wins out between the two of 'em. I think it might be a bit too girly for Adam...

I used tape before painting the colors and flowers. When I ripped the tape off, I had nice clean, lines. It was fun. And different. That is all.

O wait, that isn't all. I got something in the mail tonight that I can't wait to show you! Check back soon...

MILLwork for food: the Conn's

2009-07-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

Dave surprised Deanna with a weekend getaway to Nashville (from Louisville) for their 10th anniversary. While here, I spent a little time with them taking pictures. I always love catching up with people from back home, so it was a welcome visit. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

I love catching candid moments. Especially when it's two people who enjoy each other's presence. So cute.

The "cog" at LP Field. A strange structure to be at a football stadium, but a good photo op.

I'm a fan of this wall. Really.

The pedestrian bridge from LP Field to downtown.

Sneak Peek!

2009-07-18T15:11:00.000-05:00

Here's a sneak peek of what I've been up to today. More to come.

Stay tuned...

for Emily

2009-07-15T22:01:00.002-05:00

Dear Emily,

I made this for you.

Now you have 18 J's.

Sincerly,

AshMill

a MILLion stories to share 1.6

2009-07-14T17:53:00.007-05:00

This past weekend I took my little sister to Nashville Shores. It was definitely an experience. Amidst water slides, a large water bucket dumping on top of you, over-priced fried food, large ladies that couldn't keep their tops on, rain and clouds, and almost as many lifeguards as visitors, Jamenita decided to throw up in one of the pools. Too much excitement I guess. Since no one seemed to notice, we quickly evacuated the swimming area and headed to the restrooms/showers... YUCK

Despite the incident, we still had a lot of fun. I had a few shots left with the waterproof disposal camera that I took rafting. Take a look:

Isn't she cute?

Nice. I know.

Her eye is open. Creepy.

Another great photo of the two of us.

a MILLion stories to share 1.5

2009-07-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I went white water rafting with some pals from Bowling Green. For fun, I bought a waterproof disposable camera to take along. Keep in mind that disposable cameras offer no features other than they can get wet. These pictures aren't quite quality, but they do let you in on the highlights of the event.

Everyone looks ridiculous in these helmets that don't really feel like they'll protect you.

The one time Carly and I actually smiled for a picture. Emily didn't get the memo.

I'm quite proud of this picture actually. It's hard to look through the viewfinder when you're bumping along the water. Notice the other raft in the background and our guide. They add nice detail to the great shot of Emily.

Here's Emily again. Right after a big rapid sent her into the floor of the raft. After some body part hit my back. Before Adam and our guide were lured out of the raft by one of the more mischievous rapids. Before I "rode the bull" and also ended up in the floor of the raft.

This is something I had not done before on other rafting trips. You see, this here raft is upside down and bolted into a rather large rock. We all got to take turns using the raft as a slide/trampoline into the water. It was pretty fun and quite hilarious to watch people frantically swim over to the other rafts after sliding so they didn't get taken down current.

All in all, it was a great trip. I hadn't been rafting in like six years.

Coming soon: more adventures with the disposable camera