Shane Gilreath

A remembrance, good for perspective.

We are all ghosts, someone said. We carry with us - inside of us - the people and places that come before us. It makes the concept of home and who we are interesting, doesn't it? After spending the day at Biltmore yesterday for the 'Downton Abbey' exhibit, I couldn't help but think of ancestral homes and the pride they instill in us, even as they've stood for 400 years. So, what do you think? Are we an embodiment of all who came before us? Or, as customs and cultures evolve and change, do we blaze our own paths entirely? Food for thought. . . . . . #architecture #tartan #family #history #home #heraldic #aristocrat #house #noble #integrity #thisplacematters #loyalty #preservation #hunt #scotlandtravel #horsetrials #paternal #turret #bloodline #breeding #past #castle #aristocracy #country #howwedefinetheculture #scots #kilts #mysouthernliving #beauty #scotland

'tis the season! That, for me, is summer. Always has been. And as days become shorter and the crisp air of fall inches ever closer - in what will inevitably come particularly early in 2020, this most defining year - I feel my annual reluctancy to let go of the heat, the humidity, the water and warm ocean breezes. I always say - and those who know me will attest - that if I open the door at 9am and the heat and humidity has already set in to a point it, for a second, steals your breath, it's assured to be a good day. Tennis, anyone? . . . . #summer #love #hats #instagood #self #travel #photooftheday #photography #like #beautiful #beach #portrait #summervibes #happy #follow #sun #style #fun #summertime #me #sea #instagram #sunset #friends #southernstyle #instadaily #glasses #boy #art #tennis

Sometimes, some things just make you feel at home. For me, a lot of that is the people: a long vowel, a willingness to say a hello and a wave at strangers, that way food so often equates to love and welcome, but a Blue Heron, like a horse galloping freely, always seems to bring me back too. What makes you think of home? . . . . #birds #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #photography #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #animals #kentucky #best #blueheron #birding #birdlovers #love #captures #southern #naturelovers #water #perfection #aquatic #mysouthernliving #travelky #setourism #instagram #birdlife #animal #thesouth

Country roads can deliver us to the most beautiful places in the South. How lucky are we to live in a magic wonderland? Peace around every corner. Time travel around every curve. . . . . #southern #country #south #southernliving #sc #southernboy #america #southerncharm #architecture #southernstyle #landscapephotography #louisiana #kentucky #oldhouse #southern #thesouth #setourism #dixie #countryboy #hunting #love #home #texas #neworleans #nola #charleston #southernlife #beauty #life #roads

There's an old friendly breeze that blows in the Gulf of Mexico. . . . . #texas #houston #dallas #timeflies #time #sand #usa #florida #embrace #love #mysouthernliving #music #travel #blue #people #coast #travelsouth #fortworth #tx #life #photography #water #gulfcoast #beauty #setourism #instagood #explore #galveston #mexico #gulfofmexico

The poster framed behind me is from Cannes, in the age of "real" travel, which seems so impeded by the pandemic. I have managed to escape a time or two - domestically, speaking - which was, one has to admit, rejuvenating for this caged bird (and I don't like that feeling of being trapped), but I'm wondering about you. Have you managed to get away? I have to say I miss the mobility of 2019 and human interaction. What do you miss most about our old lives? . . . . #cotedazur #frenchriviera #france #nice #cotedazurfrance #cannes #monaco #southoffrance #paca #travel #ilovenice #provence #montecarlo #nicefrance #photography #antibes #love #alpesmaritimes #cotedazurnow #travel #visitcotedazur #sea #landscape #on #focus #nature #photooftheday #instagood #sainttropez #southernboy

Leave it to Christine A. Moore Millinery to make Kentucky Derby fashions impeccable, even in light of COVID. So, what do you think? . . . . 📷: @camhatsnyc . . . . #fashion #style #love #instagood #like #photography #photooftheday #beautiful #follow #model #hat #beauty #kentuckyderby #churchilldowns #instagram #art #picoftheday #cute #fashionista #instafashion #happy #southernbelle #girl #millinery #instadaily #followme #races #photo #society #southern

Nestled along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the Barlow Bottoms area of Kentucky, visitors can get lost in the low lying wetlands of Bald Cyprus Swamp. This time of year you might get a hospitable howdy from the unofficial state bird of the commonwealth: the mosquito. . . . . 📷: @kytourism . . . . #water #nature #photography #travel #love #swamp #river #naturephotography #photooftheday #cypress #morning #landscape #beautiful #instagood #paddle #southern #lake #sun #sunset #blue #summer #photo #green #clouds #life #picoftheday #travelky #setourism #trees #travelsouth

When you're in between life's dances, take a waltz into the past for perspective. @oakalleyplantation is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, one of the places you've heard me say makes me feel small in a great big world. Connecting with the past, even amidst a pandemic, is good for my soul. . . . . #louisiana #neworleans #nola #batonrouge #texas #florida #mississippi #alabama #mardigras #river #atlanta #southern #thesouth #setourism #travelsouth #tennessee #music #frenchquarter #cajun #thisplacematters #love #explorepage #georgia #thisisamerica #this #travel #photography #travelphotography #southernliving #southernboy

"He was wearing a little bag of “Mojo” around his neck." - Nancy B. Brewer, Carolina Rain

You're not everyone's cup of tea! . . . . #quotes #love #motivation #quoteoftheday #life #instagram #quote #inspiration #motivationalquotes #instagood #follow #like #livelife #quotestoliveby #traditional #inspirationalquotes #quotestagram #success #lifequotes #happy #positivevibes #me #art #happiness #southernboy #lifestyle #quotesdaily #believe #selflove #society

With all the madness in the world, I needed something older than the troubles. So, a really quick morning trip to Angel Oak. . . . . #charleston #charlestonsc #southcarolina #chs #lowcountry #explorecharleston #sc #tree #holycity #setourism #chucktown #charlestonliving #charlestonlife #travelsouth #thesouth #chstoday #mysouthernliving #life #lowcountryliving #southernliving #roots #s #travelphotography #liveoak #chseats #peace #thisplacematters #johnsisland #angeloaktree #angeloak

It seems wrong not to visit @pauladeen_official when you're in Savannah. With @theladyandsons temporarily closed, @creekhousesavannah it was! It was a nice change! Food looked great, smelled great, nice atmosphere, not overly crowded, and a nice, friendly staff, but when my order was brought out wrong, well, I can't review the food. I didn't actually eat. They boxed my order up (and charged me for it), and it eventually was thrown out, I'm sorry to say. In fairness, they did ask if I wanted to order something else. Overall, not a bad experience. I did have some of the sour dough bread brought before the meal. A+ on the bread. I guess I'll try again next time. You know what they say, if at first you don't succeed.... . . . . #pauladeen #farmwood #flower #southerncharm #creekhouse #georgia #theladyandsons #thesouth #food #southernfood #lowcountry #pauladeenscreekhouse #creek #southernstyle #southerncuisine #coastalliving #southerntable #savannah #southern #foodie #setourism #travelsouth #coast #bobbydeen #jamiedeen #paula #deen #foodstagram #foodporn #restaurant

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. Otherwise, jump in a car and start driving. In the process of the latter. Where will it take me is anyone's guess. I've found myself walking in the footsteps of ancestors; currently staring out at the Atlantic, wondering what tomorrow holds. . . . . #peace #love #life #nature #happiness #instagood #photography #meditation #art #faith #hope #happy #instagram #god #joy #believe #motivation #inspiration #travel #spirituality #beautiful #spiritual #selflove #photooftheday #quotes #follow #like #travelsouth #southcarolina #setourism