Was it just one year ago that we were experiencing drought conditions in Middle Tennessee? The levels of the Cumberland River and Stones River were low. We were thinking about water conservation because the shores of Percy Priest Lake looked like a big mud ball. Today we long for dry skies. It feels like it’s been a solid month of rain and there’s no end in sight.

I’m thinking it’s time to invest in a rain barrel. I glamorize the rain barrel - thinking it should be wood with metal straps on the top, middle and bottom hugging it together. However, wooden barrels are not always a good idea according to the Clean Air Gardening site,

The problem with wooden rain barrels is that they quickly start to rot. Wooden rain barrels can attract termites, ants, and other wood boring insects. They are also susceptible to rust stains from the metal hoops that support them.

Modern rain barrels are now designed with recycled plastic. They have flat backs so they can sit against a house and have spigots on the bottom to drain the water. For the conservation minded among us, a simple search on Google will put you in touch with a huge variety of rain barrels. Then what you do with the water will be up to you, but I suggest you consider adding flowers and shrubbery around your house to make nice the curb appeal!

Meanwhile, I look forward to the day when the sun shines again.

Posted By: Kathy Tyson

Nashville, situated on the Cumberland River near the heart of Tennessee, is without a doubt one of America’s most beloved cities. People from around the world relocate to Nashville every day, enticed by its diverse economy, myriad of job opportunities, quality education, and unique residential neighborhoods. A thriving metropolitan area of over 1.5 million residents, Nashville has over 20 colleges and universities, including Fisk University, Belmont University, and Tennessee State. The city boasts a vibrant downtown district and a long list of exciting attractions. At the top of the list: music. Although Nashville is full of sights and sounds for every pair of eyes and ears, the city is probably most famous as the Country Music Capital of the World, and is home to several country meccas, such as the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. But if a good do-si-do with your pardner isn’t how you spend your Friday night, don’t worry; Nashville’s music scene has it all—rock, blues, jazz, gospel, etc. A stroll along the Music City Walk of Fame will reveal just how wide the range of notes can be in Nashville, and the city boasts a positively toe-tapping collection of live music venues all over town. In fact, many of the city’s most talented musicians will tell you that it is the city’s electrifying downtown atmosphere that inspired them to move to Nashville and pursue their dreams.