Miller's Grocery Is a Winner

Welcome!

Greg and I recently took a trip to Christiana, Tennessee where we enjoyed a delicious meal at Miller's Grocery.  Originally, it was a grocery store, but it is now a country cafe.  It has served the railroad community for over 75 years.  We first found out about Miller's Grocery when they were selling food at a festival that we attended last fall. 

Miller's Grocery has a distressed, rustic look both inside and out.

We were there on a Sunday when they have their buffet.  And, what a feast it was!  We certainly didn't leave there hungry!

We loved the salads,

the breads,

the main dishes,

 and especially the desserts. 

In fact, Miller's Grocery was Tennessee Magazine 's  winner for best "place for dessert" in Middle Tennessee for 2012.

Anna, who served our drinks, took our picture, since we were celebrating my birthday.  (We'll celebrate my special day with other family members later this month.)

We plan to go back on a weekend night when we can enjoy special live musical entertainment while we dine.

F.Y.I.
Miller's Grocery
7011 Main Street
Christiana, Tennessee 37037
(615) 893-1878
See http://millersgrocery.com for more info.

Positive thought: "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." -Zig Ziglar
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

A Day in the Lives of Kallie and Mitzi

Welcome!

Kallie and Mitzi are Greg's and my pet children.  I'm sure those of you who have pets can relate to that!  Animals are special.  They have thoughts and feelings similar to humans.  In fact, you could say that our animal friends are fur people.

                                                                Kallie and Mitzi

Our two cats are litter mates that we adopted from the local animal shelter, but with personalities that are very different, just like human children.  They are five years old, but Kallie (a calico) acts more maturely (most of the time!) than Mitzi (a tabby).  She's just like a mother, watching over Mitzi who still acts like a kitten, and probably always will.  Kallie is rather shy around other people, whereas Mitzi is very outgoing.  She's a people-fur person.  They're pretty typical.  They mostly love to eat, sleep, play, and watch birds.

I love taking pictures of these two, and thought I'd share some of those with you today.

Here they are-a typical day in the lives of Kallie and Mitzi through pictures:

                                                                  Breakfast Time

A Morning Nap

                                                              Just Hangin' Around

                                                                 Bird-watching

           What does Kallie see out the window?  (See the next photo for the answer.)

                                                            View from the Window

                              
                                                                  Time to Play!

                                                                A Place in the Sun

                                                                  Close to You

                                                                A Cat Spat!

                                                            Friends Furever


Now, you might want to take pictures of your own pet, if you have one.  Bet you'd have fun!

Positive thought: Do something special for God's creatures this week.  Feed the birds, buy a special treat or toy for your pet,  play with your pet, donate your money or time to your local animal shelter, etc.  Doing this just might help bring more joy to your own life.

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Wall Candy Has Art, Crafts, and Framing

Welcome!

(Although Wall Candy is no longer in existence, you can see what a wonderful place it was through this blog post.)

Wall Candy in Columbia, Tennessee is a great place to visit if you need lovely art to grace your walls or custom frames for your pictures.  Perhaps you'd like to have handmade pottery to decorate your home or beautifully-designed jewelry to adorn yourself.  Wall Candy has this and much more.

                             Becky Arnott's Artwork on Display  (Hey, that's mine!)

Courtney Payne and her mother Mary Helen Payne are the owners of Wall Candy.

                                                           Courtney Payne

Courtney told me that they have art classes once a month, and that they plan to have pottery and jewelry classes later.

The day I was there, oil-and-acrylics artist Susan E. Jones was teaching an art class at Wall Candy.

                                                  Susan Jones with Her Art Display

They have open house the first Thursday of every month from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM where you can meet and mingle with many of the local Wall Candy artists who attend these events.  Live music and refreshments are provided for everyone's enjoyment.

Bottom line: If you're looking for one-of-a-kind handmade items for yourself or unique gifts for others, this is the place to stop and shop!

"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known."
-Oscar Wilde

F.Y.I.
Wall Candy
116B W. 7th Street
Columbia, TN 38401
wall.candy@artlover.com
931-388-8499
Mon.-Sat. 10-5 or by appointment

Positive thought: Occasionally, it's nice to do something special for others, and for yourself!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Pie Sensations is Sensational!

Welcome!

You know that Pie Sensations in Columbia, Tennessee is something special before you even walk through the door.  The unique window displays lure you right in, where the charm continues. 

Owners Becky Odom and Jean Mouser decorated the place themselves with a pie theme in lovely shades of green and pink. 

Bonnie Callewaert created the charming wall murals.

As if all this weren't enough, their pies and other delicacies are superb!

                                                                   Grasshopper Pie

Greg and I first tried their pies around Christmas.  We had the delicious chess pie for our personal Christmas Day celebration, and later took the award-winning turtle pie (a three-time first-place winner in the Tennessee state fair) to a family Christmas get-together, and what a hit it was!

                                                                      Turtle Pie

Pie Sensations has more than pies.  There are cobblers, cakes, truffles, and whoopie pies.   (I gave whoopie pies as Christmas gifts to the apparent delight of the recipients!)

They have about any kind of pie or cake you can possibly imagine, and more.

We're not the only ones who are fans of this wonderful more-than-a-pie shop.  It seems to be a favorite of the locals, and the not-so-local. 

It even got the attention of Lynn Crawford of "Pitchin' In."  She tried their sweet potato pie, created by Jean Mouser, and Lynn said it was the best sweet potato pie she'd ever tasted.  In fact, Pie Sensations was recently filmed, and will appear on the Food Network sometime soon.  Check their Facebook page for the exact date.

Bottom line:  If you like tasty sweets as we do, you'd love this place!

Becky Odom, daughter Moki, and Jean Mouser (not pictured) will be happy to help you when you visit their wonderful pie shop.  Check out their Valentine's Day specials!

F.Y.I.
Pie Sensations
26 Public Square
Columbia, Tennessee
www.piesensations.com
931-223-5846
Open Tues.-Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-2

Positive thought: "Pawpaw always said: 'I only like two kinds of pie...hot pie & cold pie'." (From a wall mural in Pie Sensations)
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Picturesque Southern Appalachian Mountain Names

Welcome!

One day, when Greg and I were on a rather lengthy road trip, I happened to glance over at a sign that read, "Buttermilk Road."  I thought that the name, "Buttermilk Road," sounded so romantic and picturesque.  Images of what it would be like to travel down that road flashed through my mind.  Although we didn't have time to go down that road on the trip, it made me curious as to what Buttermilk Road would be like.  Maybe someday when we have more time...

Later, when we got back home, I thought it would be fun and interesting to check a map we had that listed Southern Appalachian Mountain streets and towns to see what names I could come up with.

I was amazed at the very descriptive names I found that actually tell something about what each area is like. 

I came up with a pretty extensive list, but here are some of my favorites:

Many referred to trees:
Dogwood Lane, Big Oak Road, Juniper Street, Old Hemlock Lane, Mimosa Street, Walnut Grove Road, Laurel Branch Road, Whispering Pines, Evergreen Valley Road, and Forest View Drive.

Some referred to flowers and other plants:
Tulip Street, Apple Blossom Circle, Daffodil Lane, Honeysuckle Lane, Clover Drive, Ivy Lane, and Rose Hill.

Quite a few referred to birds, animals, and insects:
Buzzard Roost, Eagle Drive, Hummingbird Lane, Deer Cove Lane, Falcon View Drive, Bear Hollow Road, Fox Den Road, Frog Level Road, Kitty Lane, Hollow Blacksnake Road, Goat Nanny Hill Road, and Cricket Drive.

Others referred to water in some form:
Silver Lake Road, Cold Springs Road, Ebbing Flowing Springs Road, Pond Road, Grassy Creek Road, Moss Creek Drive, Twin Falls Drive, and Sinking Creek Road.

Still some referred to the mountains or foothills:
Mount Pleasant Road, Rocky Hill Lane, Woodland Heights, and Mountain Meadows Road.

The Native American influence is evident in these names:
Cherokee Lane, Arrowhead Drive, Comanche Way, Apache Drive, and Seminole Drive.

The English influence can be seen with:
Robin Hood Lane, Saxon Road, Knight Lane, Scarborough Lane, Canterbury Road, and Ivanhoe Drive.

The religious influence is obvious with:
Bible Drive, Church Lane, Beulah Land, and Paradise View Drive.

Places you might want to go:
Happy Valley Road, Pleasant View Drive, Valentine Street, and Merry Street.

You might want to stay away from (especially after dark!):
Skunk Hollow, Cemetary Road, Poor Valley Road, Devils Nose Road, War Valley Road, and Gunsmoke Hollow.

Other picturesque names are:
Country Gardens Road, Old Country Lane, Old Farm Road, Misty Lane, Strawberry Plains, and Sleepy Hollow Road.

I even found streets that were named for me and members of my family.  (Sure!) 
Rebecca's Lane, Nick Drive, and Lisa Lane. 

Greg even had a whole town named for him!-Gregory.

I thoroughly enjoyed my research project.

What are some picturesque names in your neck of the woods?  Bet you'd find some good ones!

Positive thought:  "Why not enjoy the little things-there are so many of them."-Author Unknown
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

A Very Early Spring, in January?

Welcome!

 Where Greg and I live here in Tennessee, I have concluded, through Greg's and my recent observations that we are in for an early spring.  I think it's more than just the "January thaw" that iconic weather man Willard Scott used to talk about.  We've seen several flocks of birds the past few weeks, chirping away.  Also, the distinct odor of skunk has been wafting through the air a bit more than usual for this time of year.  And, one evening, as Greg and I were about to enter our house, we heard the sounds of frogs in a nearby pond!  Greg said that the earliest he'd ever heard a frog before was in February.  Some people even have daffodils coming up in their yards.

We have been having some warmer weather.  Last week, it was in the low 70's here.  It's colder this week, and we've had some snow flurries and sleet, but it's bouncing back to the 40's and 50's with sunny skies for the next several days.  We'll take that!

Although we love the warmer-weather months, there is still plenty to be positive about in the winter. One thing I really enjoy doing inside the house is going through drawers and cabinets and organizing them.  While I'm at it, I am finding things I can sell in a spring yard sale or online.

Then, there are special days to enjoy like Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.  (Greg and I are part Irish, but it's a great day for anyone to enjoy, of course!)

Also, it's just so cozy to sit by the fire and enjoy popcorn and a cup of warm cocoa while curled up with a good book.  Or, playing a game of Chinese checkers with loved ones could be fun.  One could just daydream about a vacation in Hawaii or the South Seas.

Whether an early spring is just wishful thinking or just around the corner, we can make the most of the here and now, by having a wonderful time, no matter what the season or time in our lives.

Positive thought: "Life is a special occasion." (From a "Hallmark" bag)
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time, Becky

Inspiration During Winter

Welcome!

During the dark, cold months of winter, it's nice to be inspired by something positive.

Today, I've decided to share with you some of my favorite photographs and quotes for some inspiration, not only for the winter, but also for the whole new year!

"It's during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
-Aristotle Onassis

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
-Norman Vincent Peale

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller

"The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises."
-Leo Buscaglia

"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."
-Napoleon Hill

"We can change our lives.  We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish."
-Tony Robbins

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."
-Rabindranath Tagore

Final positive thought: "What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."-Plutarch
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky