Mandrell boots return to Fontanel

Nashville, Tenn. -- February 7, 2011 -- Marc Oswald (pictured above left), co–owner of The Fontanel Mansion & Farm, and Jaime Dudney (picture above right), director of hospitality (and Mandrell’s daughter), recently accepted one-of-a-kind memorabilia from the Nashville Music Garden to remain on permanent display at The Fontanel.

The highlight of the exhibit, the inspiration for the Nashville Music Garden logo, is a beautiful bouquet of vibrant roses artfully arranged in a pair of Mandrell’s personalized boots. “One of our main intentions when we opened the Fontanel Mansion and Farm to the public last year was to give country music fans the opportunity to step inside the life of a Hall of Fame entertainer,” said Fontanel co-owner Marc Oswald. “To have a pair of Barbara Mandrell’s boots on display in the mansion, along with the photos from the beautiful Nashville Music Garden, really adds to the experience of our guests.”

Pat Bullard, Nashville Music Garden founder, also presented The Fontanel with a collage of photos and memorabilia from the September 2009 Nashville Music Garden dedication ceremony. Country greats honored by the Nashville Music Garden and featured in the new exhibit at Fontanel include Little Jimmy Dickens, Brenda Lee, Lynn Anderson and Pam Tillis.

"Only in Nashville could there be the one and only Nashville Music Garden and only at The Mansion at Fontanel have Barbara’s boots found their way back to her room for all country music fans to enjoy every time they visit," said Bullard.

For more information on Nashville Music Garden visit www.nashvillemusicgarden.com

Info from Kaleidoscope Media

Fill in the 'Crossword Puzzle'

This has bugged me for years - basically ever since the song came out in 1984.

It's Barbara Mandrell's song, "Crossword Puzzle", from her 'Clean Cut' album. The lyrics tell of clues that would fill in a make-believe crossword. For "Seven Down", I've always thought of the answer as 'abused', but the severity of that word just doesn't seem to fit. Is there anything else that would be more appropriate, and fill in the 'space'?

What we've become is 1 Across, and also rhymes with rules. (fools)
Two Down is what we tell that's opposite the truth. (lie)
Three Across is what we do to each other's feelings. (hurt)
Four Across begins with 'A', and means disagreeing. (arguing)

We're living out a crossword puzzle. Filling in the spaces day by day.
We're living out a crossword puzzle. Now love's the only word without a space.

To be untrue is Five Across, and rhymes with 'disbelieving'. (cheating)
Six Down is what we wipe away when we are crying. (tear)
Seven Down's a word for children that we're hurting when we fight. _______
Eight Across is seven letters that the lawyers recognize. (Divorce)

We're living out a crossword puzzle. Filling in the spaces day by day.
We're living out a crossword puzzle. Now love's the only word without a space.

Take a listen to Barbara's "Crossword Puzzle".

Or Download 'Crossword Puzzle Here

But you know me, the only thing I do is go to work and watch tv...

"...and tonight I'll cheat again, and tomorrow I'll be sorry."

Right now, I'm listening to "midnight oil" by one of the first artists whose music I totally fell in love with - Barbara Mandrell.

"Midnight Oil" is a classic country "Cheatin' song". As I listen to this song for the first time in a while, I'm kind of intrigued at how straight-forward and direct the song is, considering it was released in the early 1970's.

"I watch him in the mirror as I lie and tell him I don't know how late I'll be. While I'm putting on my makeup, I'm putting on the one that really loves me."

"And tonight I'll cheat again. And tomorrow I'll be sorry. And I'll feel kind of dirty 'cause I'll have the midnight oil all over me. God knows his dream would shatter if he knew the devil had me and won't set me free. While I'm putting on my makeup, I'm putting on the one that really loves me."

Take a listen to the song - Midnight Oil

On the subject of Barbara Mandrell - I was a huge fan back in the day. A card-carrying member of the Barbara Mandrell International Fan Club, and even saw her in concert back in 1983 - the year before her devastating car crash with her two kids, Matt & Jaime. I was also a faithful watcher of Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.

Speaking of the sisters, I actually saw her sister Louise in concert as well at one of our local county fairs.