Henpeck Village Market

Welcome!

Greg and I recently visited a truly unique place in Franklin, Tennessee, Henpeck Village Market, which gets its name from the street that runs beside it, Henpeck Lane.

Henpeck Village Market is a combination of several different things.  It's a restaurant, a market, an ice cream parlor, and a gift shop all rolled into one!

The decor is very interesting with images of chickens all around, including original oil paintings of roosters (that are for sale) as well as pictures of a hen on the ladies' room door and a rooster on the gents', all of which add really cute touches. 

In addition, the tables and chairs were of different designs which made it a fun chore to decide just where to sit.

                                                      A Few of the Grocery Items

                                                           The Ice Cream Parlor

When we finally decided on a table, we, with the help of our efficient waitress, Diane, chose sandwiches.  I got the pimento cheese with fries, and Greg had his usual favorite, a cheeseburger with fries.  Everything was delicious.  In fact, we concluded that they were among the very best sandwiches we'd ever tasted!

                                                                Plenty of Food!

We were too full for dessert, but we left with a piece of Italian cream cake, to enjoy later.  The cake, in a word, was delightful!

                                                                      Yum!

In fact, our compliments to the cook, the staff, and to the owners, Sharon Moore and Carl Moore.  Those that we met were friendly and helpful.  Sharon Moore said that running Henpeck was a team effort.  For example, one lady makes the delicious biscuits.  The cashier, Rebecca, makes whole grain loaves of bread to sell there.

                                                              Ready to Go

Sharon describes their food as "Southern home cooking" which is "made from scratch" with an emphasis on healthy food such as the salad bar.  The menu is still evolving into selections that their customers prefer such as the tuna salad that several people requested.

For those who'd rather dine outside, there is The Patio which even has a fireplace to warm you on chilly days.  On warm days, it would be a great place to eat ice cream while enjoying the pretty scenery.  Sounds like a plan!

                                                         A View from The Patio

As if all of this weren't enough, lucky diners will soon get to enjoy live musical entertainment on certain days of the week.

Of course I had to check out the gift shop, The Loft, which is chock-full of fantastic items.

This is a small sample of what's upstairs in the loft.  (Soon, many more items which are for sale will be on display downstairs for those who'd rather not navigate the stairs.)

My overall impression of Henpeck Village Market is that it's original and charming, sure to delight anyone who decides to stop by for a visit!

F.Y.I.
Henpeck Village Market
1268 Lewisburg Pike at Henpeck Lane
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone (615) 807-2117
Fax (615) 807-2120
( A website is in the works.)

Positive thought:  The vernal equinox is March 20.  Welcome spring!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, March 25), Becky

St. Patrick's Day

An Irish Welcome!

"Here's Cead Mile Failte to friend and to rover
There's a greeting that's Irish as Irish can be
It means you are welcome
A thousand times over
Wherever you come from, Whosoever you be"

                         Design from a Shandon Tee Shirt Which Was Made in Ireland


In honor of St. Patrick's Day this Saturday, March 17, I have decided to devote this blog post to all things Irish.

The Irish:
"Be they kings, or poets, or farmers,
They're a people of great worth,
They keep company with the angels,
And bring a bit of heaven here in earth."

A bit of Irish wisdom in this proverb:
"Who gossips with you will gossip of you."

Friendship:
"May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty."

Irish Toast:
"May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright, happy hours.
That stay with you all the year long."

Funny Irish saying:
"Only Irish coffee provides all main essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat."

Greg and I are both part Irish (as are most people from our part of the Appalachian Mountains).  That fact could not be more evident than in our love of potatoes.  So, I'd like to share with you the following potato soup recipe which is a favorite of ours:

Potato Hamburger Soup

3 large potatoes
1 medium onion
3 ribs of celery
2 cups water
1 pound hamburger, browned and drained
3 cups milk
3 tablespoons butter
Salt
Pepper (op.)
Garlic (op.)

Boil potatoes, onions, and celery in water.  Add hamburger, milk, and butter.  Heat and serve.  Add salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. (This will be hot.  Let cool a bit before eating.  Enjoy!)

And, who can forget the old Irish favorite:

"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you
In the palm of his hand."

Anniversary!

March 5 of this week marked the first anniversary of this blog post.  To commemorate this occasion, I've decided to announce the beginning of a new blog that I'll be starting some time in the near future (if all goes according to plan) on a subject that I have only touched on in this blog.  It will most likely be published every Wednesday.  I will keep you updated about this upcoming blog as things progress.  I'd just like to express my thanks to those of you that have taken the time to read my blog posts this past year.  You all are the best! 

Last year at this time, people were coming into an art shop in Southwest Virginia on meet-the-artist day (which just happened to fall on St. Patrick's Day) when I was the Artist of the Week.  Some came dressed for the occasion!

Positive thought:  Remember to wear green on March 17! (Everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day!)
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, March 18), Becky

Favorites

Welcome!

We are all unique beings with our own unique preferences.  (Even animals have preferences for certain foods, etc., as most of us pet owners know, especially if you have a cat!)

We should all give in to the things we love.  We should surround ourselves with the colors, styles, scents, sounds, etc. of which we are most fond.  (Of course, if we live with others, we should honor their preferences, too.)

We need to be ourselves instead of just following the herd.  If a certain style of dress is in, but is not really to our liking, I believe it would be better to save that money for something that we'd much more prefer.

One day, while shopping for a top to wear, I noticed a gorgeous, rather fancy denim jacket on sale that I absolutely loved.  I was tempted to try it on, but I then started wondering what people that I knew would think if I wore something so different from what I usually wear. I tried to dismiss it and went on with my other shopping, but the image of that denim jacket kept popping into my mind.  I decided to go back and to at least try it on, but when I got back to that rack, I noticed it was gone!  I looked everywhere, but to no avail.  I learned a lesson that day.  I vowed to myself that if I saw something I really liked, and it was within my budget, I would get it.  Sometimes you're given only one chance at something, and you'd better take it before it's too late.  Just try to please yourself instead of trying to please others.

I actually do have a built-in gauge that lets me know if something really resonates with my being.  I call the "wow" factor.  If I see or encounter something that I truly love, I immediately react with my whole being while thinking "Wow!"  That's just my intuition's way of prompting me to go in that direction.  I've discovered that if I simply follow my intuition, life goes much smoother. 

Using intuition applies not only to material things, but to really important aspects of our lives as well.  For example, the very first time I met Greg, I had my wow-factor experience.  It does work, for we have been happily married for 28 years!

In the wonderful musical, The Sound of Music, Maria sings about her favorite things, ..."Silver white winters that melt into springs."  (How appropriate for this time of year!)

Here are a few of my favorite things:

                                                     Warm, Sunny Weather

                                                               Beautiful Flowers

                                                    Visiting Interesting Places

                                                   Photographing Interesting Things

                                                                Arts and Crafts

                                                                Celebrations

                                                              Costume Jewelry


Another favorite of mine is "Woman's World" magazine with its positive slant on everything.  And, it's news anyone might use. 

What wows you?

Positive thought: You are special!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, March 11), Becky

Early Signs of Spring

Welcome!

"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"
Percy Bysshe Shelley
English poet

Although spring doesn't officially start until Tuesday, March 20, it looks as though spring is right around the corner!  That is good news for those of us who prefer the warmer, milder weather.   Although it was sunny on Groundhog Day where we live, and the groundhog surely saw his shadow, the first signs of spring are very evident here in Tennessee.

Traditionally, the first sign of spring is the robin.

(The last few years, however, I'd have to say that the retail stores are several weeks earlier than the robin, with their displays of spring merchandise such as seeds, plants, silk flowers, and bird houses, etc.!)

Although geese stay in our area most of the year, some places they leave and return in the spring.  According to the interesting and informative book, Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews, "second only to the robin", the return of geese "is a harbinger of spring."

(I love to hear the honking of geese and to feel the excitement in the air as they fly overhead in formation.)

Then, there are the flowers, of course.

                                                                The Daffodil

                                                             The Dandelion

                                                                The Hyacinth
                                                   

                                                             The Periwinkle

                                                                Future Tulips


A few nights ago, Greg and I even heard frogs in a nearby pond.

One day this past week, we enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day in the 70's.  We went out without our jackets, and saw a jogger and some others wearing shorts, and a couple riding in a convertible with the top down. 

Alas, the next day it was cold, in the 40's, with snow flying through the air.  The wind was blowing fiercely.  In fact, the weather was acting a lot like March.  As my mother would sometimes say, "February is borrowing from March."

In any case, the signs are all around us, and it is very clear, that spring is very near.

(Please forgive me for that last line with my accidental rhyme!  It made me think, though, of my dear grandfather, Giggy, who always went around quoting and making up funny little sayings for us children which were sure to make us giggle or bring smiles to our faces.  One of my favorites was, "You're a poet and don't know it!")

Featured Photos:

Recently, I celebrated my birthday with family members at my mother's lovely new home after we'd dined in a local restaurant.

           Becky with Balloons in Front of the Original Oil Painting by Father Bill Botts, "Powell Valley"

Thanks, again, you all.  I had a great time!

Positive thought: "This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday March 4), Becky

An Afternoon in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee

Welcome!

Greg and I recently visited the quaint village of Leiper's Fork, an artsy, craftsy community in Middle Tennessee.  We thoroughly enjoyed the unique shops, each of which was painted a lovely pastel color.  There was an array of gift shops, art galleries, a bakery, etc.

                                                                 Winter Pansies

We took time out from our shopping to have lunch at yet another Puckett's.  (Another time, we had enjoyed dining at the Franklin Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant which I wrote about in the Sunday, February 12 blog post.)  This Leiper's Fork Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant has a really casual, down- home feel with an abbreviated version of the same tasty food as in Franklin.  (There is also a Puckett's in Nashville.)

Greg and I both got sandwiches and fries, and decided we'd be adventurous by ordering the fried green beans!  Before Puckett's, we'd never even heard of that menu item before, but we're glad we tried the beans, because they were delicious!

                                                       Fried Green Beans


For more information, see their web site at http://www.puckettsgrocery.com/ .

Featured Photo:

While in Leiper's Fork, I met three really nice ladies, one of whom had a dog named Brandy.  The lady was gracious enough to allow me to photograph her beautiful pet, so everyone could see it on this blog post.

Thought of the day: Make every day an adventure!  Have fun!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, February 26), Becky

Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant, Franklin, Tennessee

Welcome!

Greg and I recently visited Historic Franklin, Tennessee, which we love.  Franklin has had several national awards and recognition including "Top 10 Best Small Town" (Southern Living Magazine) and "Top 5 Most Beautiful City in the Nation" (Rand McNally).

A highlight for us while there was having lunch at Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant which was highly recommended to us by a woman at a local visitor's center. We'd heard elsewhere that it was the best restaurant in the area.

To make it short and to the point:

-The food was great. (Greg had a pork barbeque sandwich and fries, and I had a grilled cheese sandwich and sweet potato fries which I'd never had before-good menu choice! Yum!)

-Our waiter (who is also an accomplished artist) was personable and accommodating.

                                                    Greg and Our Waiter, Jeffrey


-The decor was interesting with a country/music theme.

-We enjoyed country background music as we ate.  (There are live country music performances for most of the dinner meals.)

For more detailed information and to see the complete menu, please visit their web site:  http://www.puckettsgrocery.com/

120 4th Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 794-5527

Puckett's also caters, has carry-outs, and can accommodate private parties, weddings, etc.

Just an aside, but an important one-The photo near the top of this blog post was taken by someone whose name I don't even know.  I was just standing out in front of Puckett's, getting ready to take a picture when a passer-by asked me if he could take my picture in front of the restaurant.  This man's kindness is just one of many instances that Greg and I have both encountered in both Franklin and the surrounding areas.  Other people have told us that they had experienced the same types of things-that most people in that area go out of their way to be helpful and friendly.  It makes you feel wonderful to be around people like that.  It's like being in the middle of a feel-good movie that you wish would never end!  What an example they set!

                      Happy Valentine's Day! Love,Greg and Becky  (Photo by Jeffrey.)

Positive thought: Kindness-pass it on!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, February 19), Becky

Pet Photography

Welcome!

Do you have a really good photo of your furry, feathered, or scaly best friend that you would be proud to hang on your wall or carry in your billfold or hand out to family and friends, maybe with you in the picture as well?  If not, maybe this blog post can be of help.

Because today, I'm happy to announce that I'm now offering pet photography as another aspect of my art business.  (My other art services and items for sale include: pet portraits from photographs in either pastel or pencil, coal art, and prints of my original pastel, acrylic, or mixed media paintings.) 

I just recently decided that I'd offer this new service for several reasons:
-People were complimentary about my photos, especially those with animals.
-My father was an avid photographer before he became an artist, so photography is in my blood.
-I'm combining my love of taking pictures with my love of animals for a perfect addition to my business.
-I wanted to give people a chance to have quality photos of their pets at an affordable price.

 One set price of $80.00 includes travel (within a 40-mile radius here in Tennessee), the photo session itself for up to one hour, and a packet of pictures that includes:
1-11x14 photo poster
1-8x10 photo
1-5x7 photo
4-4x6 photos
8-wallets
(Other packets are available upon request.)

I am also available to take a photo of your pet in case you don't have a good one to work from if you're getting a pencil or pastel portrait done.

Please email me at beckyarnottartist@gmail.com if you are interested in the pet photography service in this area of Tennessee.  Greg and I would love to meet you and show you my complete pet photo portfolio.  Your pet will be photographed in its familiar enviornment enjoying the activities it normally does.  In fact, you might even want all of your pets photographed with family members.  Whatever you'd like, we will try to accomplish for you.

Also, if you don't live nearby, I can still help you with some of my other art services such as my pastel portraits.  Information about my portraits and coal art is on a couple of my previous blog posts.  Please contact me for more details.

Positive thought: Immortilize your special pet in a photo.  You'll be glad you did.  Satisfaction guaranteed!
Thanks!  And, thanks for visiting!  Until next time (Sunday, February 12), Becky