Monday, May 19, 2008 from the beach...

We're getting a new medium green roof put on the cabin and the workers are making a big noise up there.

Beautiful day on the Gulf. Slight breeze, warm sunshine and fluffy white clouds overhead.

Ted and I went out and surveyed all of our new growing fruit in the yard. Our 13 banana trees that we planted last year are thriving and we have a huge blossom on one with our own home-grown bananas to come shortly. We have two kinds of peaches thus far — the Belle of Georgia (in your honor, Ginger) and the Early Alberta. Both trees are doing great. I saw the first oranges today on our newest trees. And, I have flowers and plants.

There's just something healing about seeing things you've planted on your own land thrive and grow and some things do well in the Southeast Texas heat.

Perhaps you'll enjoy seeing the photos I took today.

Congratulations to Mr. George Straight (the reigning King of Country) on his 56th birthday. He celebrated it last night at the Academy of Country Music's 43rd Annual Awards with his 56th No. 1 country record. He sang "I Saw God Today," and as usual, it soared right to the top of the charts. He also performed a duet with Kenny Chesney, "Shift Work," which the audience loved. Chesney was voted Entertainer of the Year by his huge fan base.

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley were Female and Male Artist of the Year, respectively, and did a moving tribute to Eddy Arnold who passed away last month.

Congrats to Miranda Lambert on winning Album of the Year honors for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." She was introduced on the show by current boyfriend, tall and handsome Blake Shelton. I've interviewed Miranda three different times on her way up the charts and she is a down-to-earth, plain and simple Texas girl. She bought her sofa from Goodwill for $50 because she liked it — My kind of girl! Her dad plays in her band and she puts on a great show.

A duo out of Atlanta, Sugarland, had 10, count 'em, 10 nominations. Song of the Year was their hit, "Stay," which they introduced last year on the ACMs. They were also the duo of the year and performed a new release to the delight of the audience.

Rascal Flatts was honored as Home Depot's Home Town Heroes and performed on the show.

A real highlight of the night was when Garth Brooks performed a medley of his greatest hits, joined by Mrs. Garth, Trisha Yearwood, a Georgia girl. He was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award and it was announced that he had sold 128 million units of music.

Reba hosted the affair for the tenth time and joined old friends, Brooks and Dunn, in their new hit, "Put A Girl In It."

Keith Urban was in attendance with lovely wife, pregnant Nicole Kidman, and looked happy and rested. He also performed on the show.

Great three hours of country music with no wild goings on.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda