Levitt Shell on a Saturday

18 Sunday Apr 2010

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Shattuck, Lale and I went to the Levitt Shell Saturday afternoon to watch a magician and listen to children’s music.


















HISTORICAL FACT ABOUT THE LEVITT SHELL:

The son of a criminal imprisoned for forgery out of Tupelo, MS… Elvis Presley made his debut as a paid performer at the Levitt Shell in 1954.

Advertised as a Hillbilly Hoedown, appearing in addition to Slim Whitman and Billy Walker were “Sugarfoot Collins, “Sonny” Harvelle, Tinker Fry and “Curly Harris.  The show began at 8:00 on the night of July, 30, 1954, and they started with “Thats Alright Mama“.  Elvis was so nervous he stood up on the balls of his feet and shook his leg in time with the music, a move he sometimes used in the studio. To his shock and horror the young girls in the audience went crazy, yelling and applauding. Scotty said, “We didn’t know what was going on when all those people started screaming and hollering.“

Next they did “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and when Elvis got offstage he asked why people were yelling at him.  Someone told him it was because he was shaking his leg, which with the baggy pleated pants created a wild gyrating effect in time with the music.  Later in the show they returned and did the same two numbers along with “I’ll never let you go (Little Darlin)”, a new song they had been working on.

Not a bad career move for a boy descended from chicken thieves… 









































Later that evening, Allison and Wilson B. Pace stopped by out house to play and cook out.  Wilson Pace was on his way back from playing golf in Hot Springs, AR.





























Trip to Mississippi

13 Tuesday Apr 2010

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Lale, Shattuck and I went down to Mississippi this weekend for Judson and Leah’s Wedding.  Great time in Leland.  Shattuck enjoyed playing with his Grandparents and the dogs.



Shattuck worked with his Grandfather…



… and then he played….



… and worked…



… and played…



… and worked…



… and played…



… most 15 month olds know how to climb trees before they can talk… right?






Shattuck had to tend his flower garden…












He liked to pull the flowers off their stems… but he puts them back… very gently..















Father John Sewell, Rector of St. John’s Memphis, was our guest for lunch.  We all enjoyed a Sunday brunch together before heading back to Memphis.













Dixon Gardens

01 Thursday Apr 2010

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Madison and Lale took Shattuck to the Dixon Gardens for a play date with Shattuck’s play group.  Shattuck loves Madison and her sister Mindy who help take care of him in the mornings and afternoons.


Shattuck sees his friend Woodson Dunavant.  They are 7 days apart.

Shattuck walks while Woodson talks.

Ducks Unlimited BBQ Contest

01 Thursday Apr 2010

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Shattuck enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Ducks Unlimited BBQ Contest (1st Annual) located at the DU Headquarters in Memphis.  He loved it!



After lunch, he and his friend Anders Trammell played a new game they made up call ‘Hide Daddy’s Keys’



Grace Bricken watched over Shattuck the entire time… she barely left his side.



We were there early… and stayed late.



Wilson B. and Wilson Pace were have a great time!



Ben Bricken had his hands full!


Grace and Wilson B. were supporting DU with their Ducks Unlimited hats.


Jenny Pembroke and Lale



Ben Bricken and Patrick Burke



Bentley Pembroke tending to the ribs.  The night before he cooked the most outstanding wings:

He smoked the wings – then fried the wings – then created a hot sauce (Belmont style) with Louisiana Hot Sause, butter, and chunks of blue cheese. They were incredible.



Shattuck and I weren’t much help… but we had fun.



Emily Chandler and Allison Pace



We came in last place in all events… well done Gentlemen!

Gen. Patton once said during a speech to the Third Army, “Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.”

Well… we lost and laughed… maybe Patton would have looked down on that behavior… but then again he was going to War… I doubt he’d have cared if a few rookie judges gave a loosing grade to a fine sample of ribs because they don’t taste like sweet ketchup.

Shattuck Loves ‘Beans’

22 Monday Feb 2010

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Shattuck tried his first jelly bean this week.  He wasn’t sure at first what he was about to taste when I gave him the lime green jelly bean.  He put it in his mouth and you could tell the minute he bit into it he was in heaven.  The joy he expressed on his face is almost indescribable.