happy 4th anniversary, byrds!!!!

celebrating a very happy 4 years with the love of my life!  four years.  four years of creating a life together, creating an even greater friendship, creating an even stronger love.  & now onto creating a little porter!

 {1st year of happiness in montevallo}

{2nd year of happiness in memphis}

{3rd year of happiness in nola}

i love you, dear love of my life.  you are truly the man of my dreams.

love love,

kjp.

memphis playing our song.

have i ever told you how much blakey & i love magnolia trees?  we do.  a whole whole lot.  we even planted a few in our loft... {here} & {here}

so when blakey found a gorgeously southern bed & breakfast named "magnolia grove" with beautiful magnolia trees lining the front of the home, we knew we had to stay there.

& we were absolutely at home...

{welcome to the south}

{hey, maggie!}

by the way, the breakfast at this place was unbelievable.  four course breakfast both mornings.  

morning # 1:  poached pears with a cinnamon sauce & cranberries... super cheesy hashbrown & sausage casserole... a legitimate egg souffle... & french toast with maple syrup & fresh strawberries.

morning # 2: fresh pineapple & mango... food coma set in & i might have forgotten course # 2 on day # 2... quiche lorraine...  & the amazing finish to it all: blueberry & oatmeal coffee cake.  do not be surprised if you see this dish at urban sometime soon.

we stayed in suzanne's room...

{hey, byrds!}

{i do love a good chandelier}

{there was a vintage wedding dress completing the room.

smart boy of mine to pick this room.}

& outside of our room we had our own little porch... 

{sweet tea & champagne!}

{before our first night on beale street}

& after our first night on beale street, we fell asleep in this beauty...

{& before our day at the fest.}

a beautiful house.  an amazing breakfast.  a wonderful host couple.  two lovely couples to share our breakfast with {who were about 35ish & 60ish & beat us home both nights}.  the bridal suite.  gorgeous magnolia trees.  & the love of my life.

happy anniversary, byrds.  here's to # 2 & 200 more...

love love,

kjp.

home of the blues... birthplace of rock n' roll.

yeah, we rocked out in memphis for our anniversary.  because any good trip to memphis begins on beale street.

{ok ok.  any good trip to memphis for us begins by seeing our dear friends mike & wendy.  but we have now learned second stop = beale street.}

beale street, usa is people watching heaven.  this was my first trip to the street & blake's first since college, which, as we all know, is a completely different experience.  we could've been happy sitting there with a $5 draught pbr in hand for hours & hours just watching.  it was that fabulous.

{keeping it classy}

although we could've stayed there forever, we had reservations for dinner.  & we all know food wins every time for a porter.  so off to texas de brazil we went!  this churrascaria is pretty darn fabulous.  i am absolutely not one for chain restaurants.  but blakey had heard great things & really wanted to go, so i decided he could win a battle once every two years :)  it really is very good.  they bring tons of fresh meat out to you on swords for as long as you will let them.  & some of it is really really good.  ironically, the flank stank was my absolute favorite.  blakey loved the filet & the top sirloin.  we ate & ate & ate & ate & loved every minute of it.

& on saturday came the main event: the beale street music festival!!  & as they say, you haven't partied on beale street 'til you've partied at the beale street music festival.  this 3-day 60-act music festival sits on a park right next to the mississippi river & brings in an absurd amount of people & some great music.  we joined in the fun for one day, but one day is quite fun.

{the view of the mississippi & one of the four stages}

mike & wendy joined us in our music day at the park.  we hung out.  we listened to music.  we people watched, a lot.  we might have consumed a beer or two.  & we certainly had a fabulous time.

{as close as we ever ventured towards any stage}

{a blind blues singer.

because, according to mike, if you're blind, you have to be a good musician...}

we all know i am not huge into music, but there were some pretty great bands at the fest.  i encourage you to check out drew holcomb & the neighbors, grace potter & the nocturnals, & the north mississippi allstars.  all are pretty awesome.  

{hey, byrds!!  happy anniversary!!]

{the crew}

{oh, hey, hipster blake}

{still staying classy}

& of course we had to hit up the gastropub, local, to catch the thunder game!  watching the thunder sweep the series with a fabulous cheeseburger & pbr in hand... awesome evening.  

  

{happy anniversary, byrds!!}