Winter 2013: Tennessee Home and Farm

Home&Farm TENNESSEE

tnhomeandfarm.com | Winter 2013-14

Picture Perfect

WINNERS OF OUR ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

C is for Cookie

GIVE THE GIFT OF BAKED GOODIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

REINDEER GAMES Middle Tennessee farm teaches kids about Santa’s favorite animal PUBLISHED FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU

EDITOR’S NOTE

TEN N ESSEE

Catch the Holiday Spirit This edition of Tennessee Home & Farm is so loaded with festive features that we think it would even put Scrooge in the holiday spirit. Learn how to make crafts for decorating your doors and mantles with pine cone wreaths (page 10) and felt trees (page 8). Discover where in Tennessee to find Comet, Blitzen and other reindeer (page 26), as well as what needs to be done in the garden (page 12). And after the new year arrives, keep cabin fever at bay by taking classes at a local art center (page 36).

The month of December wouldn’t be complete without some holiday baking, so we offer some new ideas for cookies (page 16) with recipes ranging from Hearty Breakfast Cookies packed with nutritious fruits and nuts to the indulgent Peppermint Crush Chocolate Chip Cookies that get a minty crunch from candy canes – perfect for presents during the season of giving.

This issue also includes one of our most popular topics – the announcement of the winners of the 18th Annual Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest. You can check out the winners on page 38, and then visit tnhomeandfarm.com/photos2013 to view even more honorable mentions, as well as the winners of the Readers’ Choice portion of the photo contest. Be the first to know when the 2014 photo contest kicks off in February by subscribing to receive our monthly email newsletter at tnhomeandfarm.com/newsletter.

For even more in-season inspiration, sign up to get free weekly recipes in your inbox from our recipe site, Farm Flavor, at farmflavor.com/newsletter.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of our readers!

Jessy Yancey, managing editor thaf@jnlcom.com

An official publication of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation © 2013 TFBF Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation tnfarmbureau.org

EDITOR Pettus Read CIRCULATION MANAGER Stacey Warner BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Lacy Upchurch, Vice President Jeff Aiken DIRECTORS AT LARGE Charles Hancock, David Richesin, Catherine Via DISTRICT DIRECTORS Malcolm Burchfiel, James Haskew, Eric Mayberry, Dan Hancock, David Mitchell STATE FB WOMEN’S CHAIRMAN Jane May ADVISORY DIRECTORS Dr. Larry Arrington, Jimmy McAllister CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Joe Pearson EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Rhedona Rose TREASURER Wayne Harris COMPTROLLER Tim Dodd

Tennessee Home & Farm is produced for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation by Journal Communications Inc. MANAGING EDITOR Jessy Yancey CONTENT COORDINATOR Rachel Bertone PROOFREADING MANAGER Raven Petty PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Jeffrey S. Otto PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM Jeff Adkins, Michael Conti, Brian McCord, Wendy Jo O'Barr, Frank Ordonez, Michael Tedesco VIDEOGRAPHY TEAM Mike Chow, Mark Forester CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Christina Carden LEAD DESIGNER Laura Gallagher CREATIVE SERVICES TEAM Stacey Allis, Becca Ary, Jackie Ciulla, Alison Hunter, Kacey Passmore, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Matt West WEB SERVICES DIRECTOR Allison Davis WEB TEAM David Day, Erica Lampley, Nels Noseworthy, Jill Ridenour, Richard Stevens I.T. DIRECTOR Daniel Cantrell

TNHOMEANDFARM.COM

See What’s Happening Online BATCH GIVEAWAY Enter to win a batch of locally made products from Batch Nashville.

Learn more online at tnhomeandfarm.com/ batch.

SEASON’S EATINGS Trying to find the perfect recipes for parties, family dinners, Christmas morning breakfast or holiday gifts? Check out our favorite seasonal recipes, such as Overnight French Toast Casserole, online at tnhomeandfarm.com/seasons-eatings.

REPLANT & RECYCLE Do you get a real tree each year? After the holidays, find out the best ways to recycle or replant your cut or balledand-burlapped tree at tnhomeandfarm.com.

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Home&Farm

AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Katie Middendorf SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Vikki Williams AD PRODUCTION TEAM Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan CONTROLLER Chris Dudley ACCOUNTING TEAM Diana Iafrate, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens SALES SUPPORT MANAGER Sara Quint CHAIRMAN Greg Thurman PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Bob Schwartzman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ray Langen SR. V.P./OPERATIONS Casey Hester SR. V.P./AGRIBUSINESS Kim Newsom Holmberg V.P./AGRIBUSINESS SALES Rhonda Graham SR. INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER Robin Robertson For advertising information, contact Robin Robertson, (800) 333-8842, ext. 227, or by e-mail at rrobertson@jnlcom.com.

Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-5557. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

TENNESSEE HOME & FARM (USPS No. 022-305) Issued quarterly by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, 147 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401, (931) 388-7872.

Periodical permit paid at Columbia, TN, and additional entry offices. Postmaster: send address corrections to: Tennessee Home & Farm Executive Offices, P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313.

SUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE ADDRESS Contact your county Farm Bureau office. TH&F is included in your $25 Farm Bureau annual dues; no other purchase necessary.

ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising accepted is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for their advertising content. Publisher and sponsor maintain the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about service or product. Publisher does not accept political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Tennessee Home & Farm.

Please recycle this magazine

Contents Winter 2013-2014 4 Mailbox

Letters and feedback from our readers

5 Read All About It

Chitlins and Blue Waltz – some odors you will never forget

HOME 8 Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Gardening, cooking and around the house

10 Crafty Cones

Turn pine cones into festive décor for the holidays

12 Gardening

Follow P. Allen Smith’s winter garden to-do list

16 C is for Cookie

Celebrate Santa’s favorite snack with sweet and savory variations

FARM 24 Short Rows

Agriculture, rural life and Farm Bureau Membership

26 Reindeer Games

Middle Tennessee farmer teaches kids about these arctic animals

16

31 Farmside Chat

Q&A with a retired nurseryman

TENNESSEE 34 Truly Tennessee

Travel, events, arts and local culture

36 Brush Up on Art

Craft centers bring creative opportunities to residents of rural Tennessee

38 Picture Perfect

Contest winner captures Tennessee spirit with iconic photo

43 Restaurant Review

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COVER STORY: PAGE 26

Seven reindeer reside not at the North Pole but on a farm in White House, Tenn. This holiday season, visitors to Cheekwood in Nashville can see these arctic animals in person while learning about the mystical – not mythical – creatures from the owners of Santa’s Reindeer Tours. Photo by Michael Conti

Red Rooster restaurant in Ethridge gets folks crowing

44 Events & Festivals

Things to do, places to see

48 View From the Back Porch Welcome the warmth of winter weather traditions

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MAILBOX Recipe Notes

On the Pumpkin Hazelnut Bars [Fall 2013], do you bake the crust first at all?

Do you need to refrigerate the bars once they are cooled?

Rachael via farmflavor.com Editor’s note: You do not bake the crust in advance, as it bakes with the rest of the layers. However, the bars should be refrigerated after cooling until serving time, as the filling is similar to pumpkin pie. They do taste the best at room temperature, though. Thanks for your question, and we’ve updated the recipe to reflect it!

Can I use a corned beef brisket for the Apple Butter Beef Brisket recipe?

Pam via tnhomeandfarm.com Editor’s note: No, actually, that wouldn’t work. The flavors in the corned beef would mask the more delicate flavors of plain brisket. We recommend using corned beef for something like our Oven-Baked Mini Reubens recipe that uses more savory, rich seasonings. But this recipe needs to stick with just the classic plain beef brisket to absorb all the sweetness and tang of the apple butter.

In Search of Dressing

I saw a recipe for chicken dressing in the fall edition of 2012, I think. I was planning to try the recipe, but my wife threw the magazine away, not knowing that I was saving it. Is there any way that you could send me the recipe?

I would be very grateful.

Thanks, Gary Woods Lexington, Tenn.

Editor’s note: We think you must be referring to the Country Cornbread Dressing that ran in that issue. If so, you can find it on our sister site, Farm Flavor, at farmflavor.com/countrycornbread-dressing. Hope this helps!

Keeping Ag in the Classroom

I just want to compliment you on your beautiful publication. I always look forward to it. I have lived on a farm since I was 17, and my twin sons are still farming. There is nothing like seeing your labor of love grow to benefit the world. My late husband was on the Farm Bureau board of directors and, with Farm Bureau Women, I helped implement Ag in the Classroom in our county in the 1990s and would like to see it continued in our schools. Keep up the good work.

Jeri Harris via email

Reader Photo Linda Harrelson Union City

Rock On

Patricia [Jones, “This Lady Rocks,” Fall 2013] is one woman whose love for rocks is unmatchable. She turns rocks into scenic sites.

I love her work.

Kilza Wilson via tnhomeandfarm.com

Into the Mist

We cannot thank you enough for selecting Blue Mountain Mist to be featured in the Tennessee Home & Farm magazine [“Rural Respite,” Summer 2013]. We have had so many calls and compliments. It was a real boost to our business. Thank you again.

Many blessings, From all of us at Blue Mountain Mist

Po’ Boys at Papa’s

My husband and I were hungry and just happened to fall into Papa Boudreaux’s [“Straight From the Bayou,” Spring 2013]. Knew nothing about it. Wow, did we luck out! BEST gumbo ever, fabulous and fresh shrimp po’ boy. And the potato salad – oh, what I wouldn’t give for that recipe!

Unique and bursting with flavor. We’re from Chicago and visit Nashville often.

From now on, Papa’s will necessitate a side-trip to Franklin every time, as it has officially made our list of “musteat-at” restaurants.

Laura Marier via tnhomeandfarm.com

Scary Stories

I did not know the story [“The Jack-O’-Lantern Legend,” Fall 2013]. Thanks for sharing!

Tonya Conde via tnehomeandfarm.com

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Questions, comments and story ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or e-mail us at thaf@jnlcom.com.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Talking Scents Chitlins and Blue Waltz – some odors you will never forget As the weather turns somewhat colder with maybe the forecast of snow, I am often reminded of the annual chitlin supper that used to occur every January at my community school. It raised funds for the school, but it also often became the location for an evening of political campaigning during election years. It was sort of like the New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucus all rolled into one large gathering for county candidates. Any way you looked at it, pork was involved in one way or another.

And it took a lot of “guts” to eat at – or even hold – the event each year. The aroma was something to behold.

The other night I was reminded of those annual suppers of swine “intestinum ingestation” long ago. During a local civic club meeting, a group of men was discussing the

chickens, but not a thing like chicken.

But, these affairs can be fun at times if you take the fun in the right spirit of the occasion. During one of the suppers I attended as a kid, I watched our county judge slip a few grains of shelled corn on the plate of his competition for his office next election day. His fellow candidate for judge was not much of a chitlin fan to begin with – he was only there to prove to folks he was worthy of their vote. When he turned around and saw that yellow corn lying next to those chitlins, he lost his interest in country eating. The odor, the food’s presentation and now the corn's suggestion of the product's cleanliness, caused that candidate to express his regrets and head for the nearest door. And he lost the race that year for judge as well. I guess it does take guts to be a county official.

Some odors you just never forget. Like the smell of a polecat on a frosty night, your gym locker at the end of school full of clothes you never carried home, Blue Waltz perfume and cooked chitlins.

I would have to put Blue Waltz right up there with the smell of a dead horse and a polecat, but chitlins remain in a category of their own.

I never see Blue Waltz anymore, thank goodness, but chitlin suppers are still around. All you need to eat a good batch is a bottle of hot sauce, a very bad cold that stops up your head as tight as cheap underwear, and a buddy claiming that eating them will make a man out of you, and you are on your way.

It is amazing how certain things stay with us. Maybe I’m different than others by remembering odors, but once you have experienced them, it is hard to forget them.

Chitlins and Blue Waltz I will never forget. H&F

Whether you call them chitlins or chitterlings, the aroma is still the same. The important thing to remember is never stand downwind from cooking chitlins. details of an upcoming chitlin supper to be held in a neighboring community. They could hardly wait for the doors to open on the community center for the Saturday night event. I have personally attended these hog intestine suppers and never developed a taste for them – or their smell. However, many folks do, and if that is what they enjoy, more power to them.

Whether you call them chitlins or chitterlings, the aroma is still the same. When you drive in the parking lot, you immediately know you have arrived, as the smell of cooked hog intestines drifts through the night air. The important thing to remember is never stand downwind from cooking chitlins.

This fabulous food can be consumed either fried or boiled. Fried looks sort of like breaded chicken or fish.

Boiled looks like boiled intestines. This in itself should tell you something.

The one thing I have noticed at these suppers is a massive consumption of hot sauce. I guess it helps with the taste or burns your taste buds so badly you don't realize what you are eating. And believe me, chitlins do not taste like chicken. Maybe more like a byproduct of

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pettus L. Read is editor of the Tennessee Farm Bureau News and director of communications for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

His favorite columns have been collected into a book titled Read All About It, which you can buy at tnhomeandfarm.com/store.

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Home

Sweet &

SAVORY

BACON SORGHUM CORNMEAL SANDIES SEE PAGE 18

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Gardening, Cooking and Around the House

FARM FLAVOR RECIPE

Orange-Glazed Pecans These sweet, fruity nuts, flavored with grated orange rind and orange juice, make a perfect holiday gift for neighbors and friends: 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon white corn syrup ¼ cup evaporated milk 2 teaspoons orange rind, grated 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 ½ cups pecan halves 1. Mix all ingredients except pecans, and bring to a boil in a cast iron skillet.

Boil for 4 minutes, stirring constantly.

2. Remove from heat and add pecans, coating them well with mixture.

Allow to cook in warm mixture for 1 minute.

3. Pour onto waxed paper and let cool. Separate into pieces and package with ribbon for a pretty presentation.

DIY

Felt Shingle Trees Decorate your mantle for the holiday with these simple and festive felt shingle trees. You’ll need a Styrofoam cone (quantity and size is your choice), felt in shades of green, a marking pen, a circular object for tracing (such as the top of a soda bottle), scissors, straight pins and sequins. Here’s how to make them: 1. Start by tracing circles of your round object on the felt with a marking pen.

2. Cut out the circles.

3. Place a sequin on one of the straight pins, and press that through the center of one of the felt circles.

4. Starting at the bottom, pin the circle into the Styrofoam cone. Continue pinning the circles in a row around the cone. When you start the next row, overlap the circles slightly.

5. Keep pinning until you reach the top of the cone.

House Herbs Growing herbs is easy, even during the winter. Here are some tips on growing plants inside: • Indoor plants (like outdoor ones) require sunlight and a well-drained soil mix, so put them near a window that faces south or west.

• Avoid over-watering. Herbs don’t grow well in soggy soil.

• Once spring rolls around, move your herbs outdoors for the season.

Bee Prepared You can substitute honey for sugar – but you have to keep a few things in mind. Honey is sweeter, so use about one-third to one-half as much honey as you would sugar. Also, know that 12 ounces of honey equals one cup, as containers are measured in weight, not volume. Honey is 18 percent water, so reduce the amount of liquids in the recipe by one-fifth. Lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees, and coat your utensils with cooking spray to prevent the honey from sticking to measuring cups or spoons. Finally, if the recipe doesn’t include sour milk or sour cream, add a pinch of baking soda to counteract the acidity in honey, which can cause over-browning.

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Sweets Swap Host a cookie swap this season to cut down on your holiday baking and enjoy a great time with friends.

What’s a cookie swap? Invite a few friends over, and have each of them bring one kind of cookie for the party, then have everyone sample each others’ treats, swap cookies and leave with new recipes.

Send out the invitations and specify that each person should bring cookies, the recipe and packaging materials, such as ribbons, boxes or tissue paper. Decide on the number of cookies each guest should bring, but make sure it’s enough for swapping and tasting. Also be sure to communicate what kind of cookies you’re baking, so there’s no duplication.

Label the cookies at the party, so guests know which ones are which, then set up a packaging station for the cookies. Finally, on the day of the swap, set up a few tables that can be used for swapping and tasting.

You and your guests will leave with delicious new recipes and unforgettable holiday memories. And if you’re looking for some tasty cookie recipes to make for the swap, turn to page 16.

Toasted to Perfection Everyone’s heard the classic Christmas carol that opens with “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” but have you ever wondered why we actually roast, or toast, nuts?

The main reason for toasting nuts is to enhance their flavor. And although the extra step might take a little more time, there are three easy ways to do it.

1. You can microwave any type of nuts by spreading them in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and cooking for 3 to 6 minutes. Make sure they are toasted and browned, but not burnt.

2. To toast nuts in a stovetop skillet, spread a single layer in a large skillet over high heat (with no oil or cooking spray) and toast until browned, stirring to avoid burning.

3. Oven-roast nuts by spreading them in a single layer in a large-rimmed baking sheet and placing them in a 375-degree oven. Toast until they are browned, stirring once during cooking time.

Decked Out Deck the halls – and tables and doors – with this versatile craft.

Simply secure pine cones to a wreath form using floral wire, adorn it with holly, ribbons, bows, ornaments or candles, and you’ll have a homemade wreath or centerpiece for years to come.

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Crafty Cones TURN PINE CONES INTO FESTIVE DÉCOR FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Story by Mary Carter Photography by Jeffrey S. Otto

PINE TREES ARE PLENTIFUL IN TENNESSEE. THIS

bodes well for crafters who like to recycle with easily accessible items from Mother Nature. Below, you’ll find instructions for a versatile pine cone decoration that can be used as a door wreath, an advent wreath or a centerpiece.

One of the upsides of pine cone crafts is that they last a while. In the past, I have made pretty evergreen wreaths that dry out, drop needles and end up being recycled with the tree. When stored in a cool dry place, a pine cone wreath will last for several years. Place yours in a box with a lid or a secure plastic bag. You can freshen it up with a new bow each holiday season. (It won’t help you this year, but after-Christmas sales are the very best time to score some great holiday ribbon buys.)

Keep pine cone wreaths in mind for Thanksgiving too. Fill the center with miniature pumpkins and squash, and a few pillar candles for a showy centerpiece. Beautiful!

YOU WILL NEED: • pine cones • grapevine wreaths, wire wreath forms, square or round Styrofoam forms, or wire coat hangers • floral wire • spray paint (optional) • ribbons, bows and other décor, as needed First, gather your pine cones. If your own yard is pine free, grab a bucket and gather from the nearest park or a friend’s house (with permission, of course). The gathering phase is a fun way to involve kids.

Next, wash off the pine cones in the sink to remove any dirt or bugs that

may have come along for the ride. At this point, you should also remove any extra pine needles. Allow to dry.

While holding the wreath form in one hand, use the floral wire to secure pine cones one at a time onto the form.

Repeat this process until you shape an even ring of pine cones. Continue with another layer of pine cones if you prefer a thicker wreath.

When you finish shaping the pine cone wreath, add spray paint, if desired.

Allow the wreath to dry thoroughly.

At this point, you can add any other decorative touches, such as a bow, holly and/or ball-shaped ornaments, as well as a ribbon for hanging.

A f lat wreath can be displayed on a door or over a mantle. However, it also works as a tabletop decoration. Put four candles in the center for an advent wreath. Make small wreaths and string them together with ribbon to use as a garland. Use your imagination. H&F

More Pine Cone Crafts Place-card holders: Spray-paint pine cones in metallic or other desired color, and allow to dry. Write the name of your guests on individual small white cards (cut to size, if needed), and stick each card in between the scales at the top of each cone. You can also use the scales of the cones as a unique way to display holiday pictures or postcards.

Scented pine cones: Place pine cones on a foil-lined pan, and bake at 200 degrees for 45 minutes to melt the sap.

Allow to cool. Put the pine cones in a zip-close plastic bag, add several drops of your desired essential oil scent (such as peppermint or cinnamon), seal the bag and shake to

distribute oil evenly. Leave cones in the sealed bag for at least 48 hours. Put them in baskets, jars or other containers for a fragrant display.

Bird feeder: Gather a pine cone, butter knife, smooth peanut butter, birdseed in a large bowl or plate, ribbon or yarn, and scissors. Cut a long piece of the yarn or ribbon (to hang the cone), and tie in a knot around the top of the pine cone, as well as another knot at the end of the ribbon. Next, use the knife to spread peanut butter all over the pine cone.

Roll the pine cone in the birdseed until it’s covered, hang it on a tree and watch the birds enjoy your creation.

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GARDENING

Winter Garden To-Do List Tasks to tackle indoors and out from November through February Brrrrr! It may be getting cold outside, but there are still plenty of things to do to keep your hands dirty. In late November there is tree, shrub and bulb planting and clean up; December is all about gardening indoors; and then it’s time to start preparing for spring. Here’s a month-by-month list of garden-related activities you can do this winter.

LATE NOVEMBER Procrastination pays off when it comes to winterizing the garden. It’s actually best to wait until after a few killing frosts to clean up and mulch.

Cut back dead perennials, and pull out summer annuals. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch after the ground freezes, keeping the mulch away from tree trunks and plant-crowns to prevent rodent damage.

In the garden, cut back asparagus fronds after they turn brown, cover strawberries with wheat straw and remove any remaining summer veggies

such as tomatoes. Extend the growing season for cool-weather crops by using frost blankets or cold frames.

As long as the ground has not frozen, you can plant daffodil bulbs.

Fall is a great time for planting trees, but some varieties prefer a spring planting. Conifers, Japanese maples, dogwoods, sweet gums, oaks, crabapples and birches should be planted or transplanted in the spring.

Plant Oriental and Asiatic lily bulbs in late fall for showy blooms next spring. If the ground is already frozen in your area, re-pot the bulbs in containers; store them in locations where they will stay cool, dry and won’t freeze; and then plant the bulbs next spring. Lily bulbs never really go dormant, so be gentle in handling them.

DECEMBER Be sure the trees you planted this year are staked and supported with guy wire. The weight of ice combined with

the force of strong winds can literally uproot newly planted trees.

Cut back on watering and fertilizing your houseplants. Plants aren’t in an active growth stage during winter and don’t need as much moisture or nutrients. Water when the soil is dry to the touch, and hold off on fertilizing the plants until March.

Few indoor plants offer more color and drama than the amaryllis. To prolong the bloom of this magnificent f lower, try this method: Once the f lower bud opens, remove the yellow anthers inside the flower with tweezers before they shed pollen. The flowers will also last longer if the plant is moved to a cooler room at night (55-65 degrees) and out of direct sunlight during the day.

If you are going green this holiday season and plan to use a live Christmas tree that can be planted outdoors, do not keep it inside for more than six days. The warmth indoors can cause

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JANE COLCLASURE

Poinsettia Power

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To prolong poinsettia color, keep the plants in rooms where the temperature is around 60 degrees at night and 72 degrees during the daytime and out of direct sunlight.

The flowers will also last longer if the plants are moved to a cooler room at night.

If you re-pot paperwhites on a weekly basis, they will bloom continuously for more than a month. tnhomeandfarm.com 13

the tree to break dormancy, and the shock of moving it back outside might prove to be too much for it to survive.

Dig the hole before the ground freezes.

Keep the garden soil you removed from the hole in an area where it won’t freeze or wash away.

Re-pot paperwhites every week for continuous blooms well into the New Year.

Celebrate the winter solstice on Dec. 21. Now the days will be gradually getting longer, which means spring is on its way!

flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. The foliage contains an “antifreeze” that will protect the plants from cold. Likewise, pansies and violas can take temperatures down to 30 degrees. If you are expecting 10 or more nights of temperatures below 30 degrees, cover your plants with newspaper, buckets or an old sheet until morning.

As weather permits, cut back liriope ground cover and ornamental grasses before new growth begins. Liriope can be cut back with a line trimmer. Use

sharp shears for ornamental grasses.

In late January or early Feburary, start seeds for cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, onions and leeks.

Brush snow off of shrubs, but let ice melt naturally to avoid damaging limbs and foliage.

Schedule a tree service to prune large trees. Do this while the tree is still dormant, because it has energy stockpiled in its tissues, which means it can endure the shock of pruning best during the winter. H&F

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Get out your catalogs, and visit your favorite online garden stores because it’s time to start placing plant and seed orders for spring.

Don’t fret over emerging spring

P. Allen Smith is an award-winning designer, gardener and lifestyle expert. He is the host of two public television programs, a syndicated 30-minute show and his own radio program and is also the author of the best-selling Garden Home series of books.

Learn more at pallensmith.com.

Birdseed & Beyond During winter, birds are in need of both food and water. The trade-off for your efforts will be a host of feathered friends bringing color and life to your garden.

Set up feeders in areas where the birds will feel safe, such as near the branches of a tree or a large shrub.

Keep your feeders filled, especially in late winter and early spring when natural food sources are low.

Black oil sunflower seeds are an all-around favorite that appeal to a wide variety of seedeating birds. If shells and hulls under the feeder is a problem, try some of the “waste free” seed blends.

Fruit slices, raisins and breadcrumbs are tasty additions to a bird’s diet, but the pieces need to be small for easy digestion.

Birds need water to drink and to keep their feathers clean. Bird baths should be shallow with a rough surface for the birds to stand on.

Place the bath at least 4 to 5 feet away from feeders to prevent droppings and seed debris from contaminating the water. It is also a good idea to put the bath near a low hanging branch so birds can easily escape predators.

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C is for

Cookie

CELEBRATE SANTA’S FAVORITE SNACK WITH NEW RECIPES Story, Recipes & Food Styling by Mary Carter Photography by Jeffrey S. Otto

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO LOVE COOKIES, THOUGH

freestanding cookie businesses were unheard of until about 25 years ago. Tennessee-based companies such as Christie Cookies, Whimsy Cookie Co. and others realized that a baker can zero in on one very special thing and bypass the standards of bread and wedding cakes.

The state of Tennessee allows ambitious bakers like myself to sell our wares from home or at farmers markets. I received my domestic kitchen certification through the state’s agricultural Extension service, which involves taking a class, passing inspections, getting label approval and buying business licenses – all before baking a single cookie.

Cookies are small enough to grab with one hand, transport easily and stack neatly.

They can be made of almost anything. And just in time for the holidays, they are the perfect gift to give or share.

The following recipes have been developed over years of hitting and missing. The traditional sweet favorites have a few new techniques and tips to make your homemade cookies stand up with the pros.

Hearty Breakfast Cookies are so packed with fruit, nuts and fiber that they leave power bars in their dust. Plus, who

doesn’t want to start their morning with a nutrient-rich sweet?

Utilize a hardy winter herb in our recipe for Orange and Rosemary Shortbread.

Tennessee’s climate allows for most rosemary plants to survive the cool season. When planted near a protective wall, they often grow to the size of a large shrub. What’s more, rosemary naturally contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

Peppermint Crush Chocolate Chip Cookies, an interpretation of the classic Tollhouse cookie, can be a holiday hit – and a great way to use up leftover candy canes. Bacon Sorghum Cornmeal Sandies are a more savory option that gives a nod to our wonderful Tennessee bacon and sorghum.

Whichever cookies you bake this winter, don’t forget to save a few for Santa – after all, you want to end up on the nice list! H&F

Baking Tips

Use insulated baking sheets so the bottoms of your cookies will not burn.

Use a 1-ounce (2-tablespoon) ice cream scoop to ensure uniformity of cookie size.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Carter is a Tennessee-based food stylist, food writer and recipe developer.

Whether she is promoting a cookbook on QVC, baking her signature cookies for the local farmers market or teaching cooking classes, she is dedicated to preparing delicious and beautiful food.

A metal cake spatula is ideal for removing warm cookies from the baking sheet.

tnhomeandfarm.com 17

Hearty Breakfast Cookie Estimated prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Makes: 24 cookies ½ cup (1 stick) butter ½ cup (1 stick) margarine 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1-1 ½ cups self-rising flour ½ cup whole-wheat flour 1 cup oats ½ cup flaxseed meal or wheat bran 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup dried apricots, dates or plums, chopped 2 cups walnuts, chopped 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter, margarine, sugars, eggs, salt and cinnamon. Stir in 1 cup self-rising flour, whole-wheat flour, oats and flaxseed meal (or wheat bran). If sticky, add an additional ½ cup selfrising flour. Fold in fruits and nuts.

2. Scoop onto cookie sheets, 12 per sheet.

Bake for 10-13 minutes or until light tan.

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Orange and Rosemary Shortbread

Bacon Sorghum Cornmeal Sandies

Estimated prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 12 minutes (50 minutes if using mold) Makes: 16 cookies

Estimated prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Makes: 16 cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 2 ½ cups self-rising flour 1 tablespoon orange zest ¼ cup rosemary, finely chopped 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in flour, zest and rosemary. Mix well. Press into a cookie mold, or roll into a 12-inch log and slice into 16 cookies.

2. If baking in a mold, follow particular baking instructions for the mold, though we would estimate about 50 minutes. Remember to grease and flour the mold very thoroughly.

3. If baking individual cookies, place on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden. While still warm, decorate the cookies by pricking their tops with the tines of a fork.

4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter 1 large egg ¾ cup self-rising flour ½ cup yellow cornmeal 5 tablespoons Tennessee sorghum, divided ½ cup bacon, finely chopped ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon salt 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix all except 1 tablespoon of sorghum until very well blended.

2. Squeeze dough together to form into a 12-inch log. Slice into 16 rounds and place on a cookie sheet. Drizzle remaining sorghum over the tops of the cookies.

3. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Find cookie-baking tips, holiday packaging ideas and a web-exclusive recipe for White Chocolate Cherry Chews at tnhomeandfarm.com/cookies.

Peppermint Crush Chocolate Chip Cookies Estimated prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Makes: 24 cookies ½ cup (1 stick) butter ½ cup (1 stick) margarine 2 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 2 ½-3 cups self-rising flour 2 cups chocolate chips (mixture of semisweet and milk chocolate is best) 1 teaspoon peppermint extract 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes, processed into coarse crumbs 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, margarine, eggs, sugars, salt and extract until well blended, but not whipped. Stir in f lour in 1-cup increments. Unlike traditional Tollhouse cookies, this batter should not be sticky. Add more flour as needed to achieve smoothness. Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Scoop onto cookie sheet, 12 per sheet. Press peppermint candy on the top of each cookie.

3. Bake 10-13 minutes or until light tan and puffy.

tnhomeandfarm.com 19

Q&a{

MY MeMbership benefits prOViDe instant saVings on …?

tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits Free Home Security System – 877.832.6701 • $850 value • $5 off monthly monitoring • Free smoke detector OR free keychain remote for quick access – you pick! *Offer valid for new installations only. 36-month monitoring agreement required at $31.99 per month ($1,151.64). $99 customer installation charge. Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. PowerLink, LLC TN. Cert. #C-0332.

Identity Theft Restoration & Consultation Services • Included with your Tennessee Farm Bureau membership • Consultation and restoration services • Comparable services can cost $10-$15 per month per individual

• Through a limited power of attorney, personalized licensed investigators work on member’s behalf to restore credit and save members countless hours of frustration

If you have been a victim of identity theft, call 877.329.3911. *You must be an active member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau for a minimum of 60 days to be eligible. Membership eligibility and offer subject to change without notice.

Auto Loan Refinancing – 866.645.8123 Drive your dream ride home today!

• Special Farm Bureau member rates* • Call or visit farmbureaubank.com/tfbf to apply today

• Competitive financing for motorcycle, boat and RV loans also available • Up to 100% financing

*Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of vehicle offered as collateral. Loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and financing options are limited to certain model years and are subject to change without notice. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation. FDIC.

Instant Savings on Prescription Drugs TFBF members are eligible to receive prescription discounts with up to 60% savings at over 56,000 chain and independent pharmacies on over 12,000 FDA approved drugs.

Simply present your membership card at a participating pharmacy to receive your discount (information on back of card).

*This card is not an insurance benefit and will not offer additional savings on pharmacy discounts offered through insurance plans.

Don’t have a membership card? Visit our website to reprint your card or to check for participating pharmacies and drug pricing.

www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

877.363.9100

$6 OFF an Adult or Child One-Day Admission Visit the travel section of our website to purchase tickets and print membership card.

Tickets must be purchased online.

Cannot be combined with other offers.

Not transferrable, must present proof of membership before entering the park.

www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

Corporate rate plan 56MFARM PIN# TEN

To make reservations, call 800.RENT.A.CAR (800.736.8222) or go online at

10%

www.enterprise.com.

Internet rates may be lower than phone rates.

$5.00 OFF Adult Tier 2 Tickets Only.

Order tickets by calling 800.733.6779

or online at www.opry.com or at the box office.

Code#1213TNFB *Discounts are not available on tickets for children age 4 to 11. Up to six (6) tickets may be purchased per order. Tickets will be subject to a ticketing fee. The offer may not be combined with any other offer or coupon and is not retroactive. Offer good through December 2013.

20%

To make reservations, call 800.258.2847 or go to

www.choicehotels.com.

ID#00214480

*Reservations required before check in. Subject to availability at participating Choice Hotels. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Blackout dates may apply.

ADULT DISCOUNT $5.00-$10.00

CHILD DISCOUNT $2.50-$5.00

Visit www.biltmore.com/tnfb for tickets.

tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

VISIT: TennesseeAg.Org

Farm Tops in Tennessee TURN THE PAGE TO LEARN WHICH FIVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTE THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE.

Short Rows Agriculture, Rural Life and Farm Bureau Membership

FARM FACTS

Tennessee’s Top Five Farming is big business for the Volunteer State. Do you know what the top five agricultural commodities are in Tennessee?

1. Cattle: The beef cattle industry represents 16.7 percent of all farm cash receipts for the state. Top cattle counties include Greene, Lincoln and Giles.

TO GOOD HEALTH

Attention, Medicare Shoppers If you are close to or have already reached the age of 65, you likely have been watching the news about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a bit of relief in your hearts. Since much of the federal law’s impact on Medicare is minimal, it does not change the way you shop for Medicare Supplement plans.

So this year during the Medicare Open Enrollment period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, you can shop with a little extra peace of mind – and no hassles. TRH Health Plans has been providing Medicare Supplement plans to members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau since 1966, when the Medicare program began. Today, we have nearly 60,000 Medicare Supplement policyholders.

So, if you are nearing age 65, or even if you already have another type of Medicare plan, give us five minutes to help you compare options. Visit your TRH Representative at your local Farm Bureau office, or call us toll-free at (877) 874-8323.

You’ll be thankful you checked out our plans!

2. Soybeans: More than 1.29 million acres of the state’s No. 2 crop were harvested in 2011. Obion is the top soybean county.

Pass the Pork, Please

3. Broilers: Broilers (or chickens for meat) come in at No. 3 for Tennessee. The state produced more than 989 million pounds of poultry products in 2011.

Did you know that pork is the world’s most widely eaten meat?

Pork provides protein, B vitamins and thiamin to our diets. Ham is the most popular type of pork, followed by sausage, then bacon.

Many H&F readers favor our CocaCola Country Ham recipe, which you can find at tnhomeandfarm.com/ coca-cola-country-ham.

4. Corn: The corn industry brings an average of $450 million to the state annually.

Top counties are Obion, Gibson and Weakley.

5. Cotton: Cotton rings in as the No. 5 commodity, contributing around $400 million to the state’s economy.

Learn more about Tennessee’s important agriculture industry at TNagriculture.com.

O Christmas Tree It’s time to pick the perfect pine for the holiday season, and Tennessee’s Christmas tree growers have been working hard to grow fresh trees ready to be strung with lights and hung with ornaments.

Fresh Christmas trees provide many benefits, both environmental and economical. Purchasing a real tree supports Christmas tree farmers, who employ many Tennesseans. Tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree harvested, so cutting one down doesn’t reduce the number that is purifying the air.

Farms throughout the state offer both cut trees that can be recycled and balled-and-burlapped trees that can be replanted. To find a tree farm in your neck of the woods, visit picktnproducts.org.

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MEMBER BENEFITS

Beware of ID Theft Since I don’t use credit, is ID theft a potential problem for me? Absolutely.

Think about all of the places that people have access to your name, address, social security number and date of birth including your bank, the utility department, your accountant, your doctor’s office, etc.

Isn’t using the Internet to make a purchase the most likely way that someone can get my personal information? Not really. In fact, Internet transactions are actually much safer than giving your information directly to a person.

Is ID theft just limited to credit?

While most instances are creditrelated, ID theft can also occur with your driver’s license information, health insurance information and tax returns.

I’m paying a company to monitor my credit for fraud. I’m covered, right?

Credit monitoring products certainly let you know if anything is happening with your credit, and that’s not a bad thing. However, many monitoring companies don’t help to clean up the mess.

How can Farm Bureau help me if this happens? If you’ve been a member for 60 days, your membership includes fully managed ID theft consultation and restoration services at no additional cost to you. All you need to do is call 1-877-329-3911 or go online at tnfarmbureau.org/ memberbenefits.

How much would it cost for me to purchase a product like this if it wasn’t included with my Farm Bureau membership? Similar products

20th Annual Christmas Toy Train Show SPONSORED BY: MUSIC CITY CHAPTER TRAIN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION

WHERE: TENNESSEE STATE FAIRGROUNDS AGRICULTURAL BUILDING, Nashville, TN. (Wedgewood exit on I-65 S.)

WHEN: SAT. DECEMBER 14, 2013 The show is open to the general public.

Opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.

ADMISSION: $7.00 per person – children 12 and under are FREE! For more information: (615) 646-2232

SPECIAL DRAWING OF LIONEL TRAIN SETS – FOR CHILDREN ONLY! Trains will be available for children to play with and experience! View operating layouts of all gauges in action!

COME AND FIND: Train parts, trainrelated objects, train sets to operate, train manuals, train clothing for adults and kids.

cost around $140 annually, or more than five times as much as a $25 Farm Bureau membership! tnhomeandfarm.com 25

26 tnfarmbureau.org

Reindeer Games

MIDDLE TENNESSEE FARM TEACHES KIDS ABOUT THESE ARCTIC ANIMALS

Story by Nancy Dorman-Hickson Photography by Michael Conti

A 15-POUND BUNDLE OF JOY WAS DELIVERED TO

David Pepper in spring of 2011. By December of the following year, “Baby” Jingle was almost as big as Blitzen, her mother, and all of the other reindeer who reside on Pepper’s farm in White House. Naturally, at that point, they let her join in their reindeer games.

“Blitzen turned out to be pregnant when we got her,” says Pepper, recounting the birth that increased his herd of reindeer to seven.

Pepper and his wife, Jill Swenson, take care of the animals at Strickland Place. This 90-acre hay farm in Robertson County has been in his family for 100 years, receiving recognition as a Tennessee Century Farm and by the National Register of Historic Places. He and his dad, Wesley Pepper, own the northern Middle Tennessee farm.

David Pepper knew he wanted to work on the farm after the 2008 shutdown of the Peterbilt Motor Co. plant in Madison where he had worked for 20 years. “I was looking for an

agritourism idea that nobody else was doing,” he says.

What to his wondering eyes should appear, but a vision of a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer – or seven, as it so happened. Soon after, Prancer, Comet, Snowflake and Holly came to live with him, followed by Vixen and the pregnant Blitzen. This year marks Pepper’s fifth year raising the animals, all of which are female.

He and Swenson think of their herd more like pets than livestock. “They’re docile by nature. They each have their own quirks and personalities,” he says.

“Some of them are more friendly; some are more standoffish.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture required Pepper to build an 8-foot

fence for the animals and periodically inspect his place.

In previous years, the couple offered scheduled tours of the reindeer at the farm. But this year, they plan to show the unusual animals only at off-farm sites. So far, the animals have appeared at private parties, festivals, malls and resorts such as Gaylord Opryland. This holiday season, as he did last year, Pepper will only exhibit them at Cheekwood in Nashville.

“It was such a big hit last year on Saturdays, they decided to expand it this year and make it Saturdays and Sundays,” he says. He or Swenson will be on hand to answer the public’s reindeer questions.

A favorite repeated inquiry always makes him chuckle. “Over the years, we’ve had people ask, ‘Well, what are they really?’ ” he says. “I’ll say, ‘They’re reindeer!’ But they don’t believe that reindeer really exist.” He concedes the creatures are mainly recognized as characters from ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. And it’s true that they aren’t

tnhomeandfarm.com 27

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events. “We don’t want the animals to feel overwhelmed usually spotted as far south as Tennessee. Nonetheless, he’s by people rushing them,” he explains. quite sure reindeer are merely mystical, not mythical.

Audiences usually love the fun facts Pepper and Swenson The arctic critters have adapted surprisingly well to the share. For example, he says, “When adult reindeer walk, Volunteer State. In summer, “they pretty much hibernate in the barn,” Pepper explains. “I’ve got commercial fans that run they have a special tendon in their ankles that snaps like “snap, crackle, pop.” You can hear it 24 hours a day to help. Last year [2012], pop when they walk. That’s so they we had some really extreme heat spikes IF YOU GO ... can keep up with their herd if they of 109-degree days. So I bought an can’t see in a snowstorm. But when evaporative cooler.” the babies are born, their ankles In summer, the animals also shed a don’t pop. That’s so that they don’t lot of their hair. And since both male attract predators.” and female reindeer have antlers, See the reindeer at Cheekwood That anatomical anecdote naturally Pepper’s group drops and re-grows their from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays lends itself to more Christmas lore. antlers every year as well. This comes and Sundays between Thanksgiving “You know the song, ‘Up on the after they shed their velvet, which and Christmas. To learn more, rooftop, click, click, click?’ ” the covers the antlers. Losing their velvet visit cheekwood.org and go to reindeer owners tell their audience. and antlers doesn’t hurt the reindeer – the Public Programs section, or “Well, it’s not necessarily their hooves rather, it’s more akin to losing a tooth. call (877) 356-8150. but their ankles popping.”

Each reindeer weighs about 300 to For additional information, To date, he has limited the herd 350 pounds and eats about five pounds check santasreindeertour.com. to seven of Santa’s reindeer with a day of beet pulp, alfalfa hay and no plans to fulfill that “eight tiny pelletized grain. Some of them love reindeer” passage from the famous snacks, too. “We’ve yet to find a treat poem. “I’ve got all the mouths that I want to feed,” that Snowflake will eat, but Comet is a graham cracker hog!”

Pepper says with a laugh. Besides, he doesn’t want to Pepper says. be greedy.

Despite his affection for them, he never forgets they are “Santa likes to spread them around so they can meet wild animals. “When you deal with the public, safety is an lots of kids everywhere,” he says. H&F issue,” he says. So he puts up enclosures at large-crowd

Holiday Cheer at Cheekwood

tnhomeandfarm.com 29

FARMSIDE CHAT

Meet Dan Hancock Q&A with a retired first-generation nurseryman Why did you pick the nursery industry? Both Norma and I come from a farm background – my family raised hogs, chickens, corn, etc. For 11 years, I was a tool and die maker by trade, but I guess I still had dirt in my blood. I wanted to play in the dirt and, while helping an uncle landscape, became interested in the nursery field. I learned everything I know from a friend who mentored me through it all.

Norma and I relocated from Milton to Smithville to start the nursery and purchased it all piecemeal. I just loved the dirt – it is the best therapy that anybody has ever tried. When everything is going wrong, you can go off in a field and even if you just sit there and whittle – you can look out over nature all around you and thank God for what you have, and everything settles back down. We raised four children who worked on the farm until they graduated, and although none of them chose to stay and continue

the nursery, I don’t think they regret having to work growing up – it taught them where their food comes from and how to work. They have an interest in farming even though they didn’t choose to enter it as a field. It’s not easy trying to pass down everything to the next generation. All we leave behind is a legacy of who we were; you can’t change that once you’re gone.

How do you define the nursery segment of agriculture? I explain it is just like being a row crop farmer. We depend on the weather – anything you put in the ground you have to depend on rainfall and the weather. We have to buy fertilizer and chemicals, and we have labor and regulation issues. At the heart it is all agricultural. The main difference is I put plants out and don’t harvest them the same year – it is four, five, six or even seven years before I harvest them. It’s a lot of input before you get anything out.

How do you help tell the farmer’s story? We have to continue to educate children. It’s hard to make a 40-yearold understand the process that happens from field to fork, so you have to start with the young ones. Ag in the Classroom is one of the best at educating our children – our county’s Farm Day gets all the kids in our area out on an actual working farm – they see hogs, sheep, goats, cows, corn, wheat, soybeans, you name it.

My granddaughter started asking questions about farming and food, so I brought her out to the garden and had her pick an ear of corn, shuck it and bring it back to the house to cook – trying to show her the process of field to fork. Telling our story is keeping it out there in front of people who don’t understand that Walmart, Publix, etc. isn’t where their food comes from.

– Melissa Burniston Bratton

The Dirt on the Farm Farm Family: Dan and Norma Hancock were both raised on farms but the first of their families in the nursery industry.

Farm Location: Smithville Land Area: About 100 acres Crops: Retired but still are selling off some nursery stock.

Farm Legacy: The Hancocks put it all together bit by bit. Dan says they started with nothing and now have 60 acres by the house and 40 acres elsewhere.

They also feed more than 150 hummingbirds at their farm.

Farm Bureau Membership: Approximately 50 years tnhomeandfarm.com 31

Tennessee

ART & SOUL

CRAFT CENTERS IN RURAL AREAS INSPIRE CREATIVITY SEE PAGE 36

Truly Tennessee Travel, Events, Arts and Local Culture

Wooly Wonders Mark and Ashley Whitaker are the creative minds behind Good Wool Etc., a farm-based company that makes wool products.

The husband-and-wife team works from Whit’s End Farm in Thompson’s Station, where they produce handmade crafts and accessories out of wool from their very own Jacob sheep. Ashley does all of the hand felting for the products, which include coasters, jewelry, barrettes, ornaments, magnets and more.

Meanwhile, Mark creates their rustic non-wool gifts using found wood and metal to create wooden bowls, goblets and pencil holders, as well as enameled pendants, earrings and other jewelry. They also sell greeting cards using photos often taken on their Middle Tennessee farm.

Good Wool Etc. sells its products primarily through Etsy, though the Whitakers occasionally attend fairs and festivals around the state. To browse their products, visit their Etsy shop online at etsy.com/shop/goodwooletc.

Want to win one of the Whitakers’ felted wool products? Learn more about our Good Wool Etc. giveaway and how to enter at tnhomeandfarm.com/goodwool.

PICK TN PRODUCTS

The Best Batch of Presents Give the gift of local products this year. Batch Nashville, a new business based in the state’s capital, provides hand-crafted, Tennessee-made artisan foods and products delivered to your doorstep each month.

To get the goods, subscribe to either a monthly or seasonal (three-month) term. The team at Batch Nashville chooses products for each box, organized around a theme such as Comfort Foods or Rise-N-Shine, and ships them out to subscribers the first week of each month. The items in the box retail equal to or more than the cost of a subscription.

The best part is that members discover new local goods without lifting a finger.

The company also offers corporate gifts and plans to also sell themed gift items, such as a coffee lover’s package, in the future.

Learn more about Batch Nashville and how to sign up at batchnashville.com.

We’re giving away a seasonal subscription to Batch Nashville to one lucky reader.

That’s three months of local artisan goods, delivered to your door.

To enter, visit tnhomeand farm.com/ batch.

The Sons of Bluegrass Four talented bluegrass music majors – a one-of-a-kind degree you can only get at East Tennessee State University – have combined their love and passion for music to form a band called the Sons of Bluegrass. It’s been named one of the best upcoming bluegrass bands in the country.

Currently, the group is sponsored by another famous Tennessee product, MoonPies, and they wrote the jingle for the sweet treat’s advertising campaign.

You can catch the Sons and discover their music for yourself as they tour around the country playing bluegrass festivals and concerts. See a tour schedule or listen to the band’s music online at sonsofbluegrass.net.

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Victorian Holiday in Granville The town of Granville certainly knows how to celebrate Christmas.

From Nov. 8 through Dec. 28, it hosts a number of fun family-friendly festivities. Events include tours of the Sutton Homestead House, which will be decorated for the holiday in Victorian fashion, as well as a number of fun dinner shows, including the “Mayberry Blue Christmas” on Dec. 5-6 and 11-13.

During the Victorian-themed Granville Country Christmas on Dec. 14, guests can enjoy visits with Santa, storytelling, an antique toy show, candlelight walking tours, the Parade of Yesteryear and more.

For more details and times about the events, visit granvilletn.com or call (931) 653-4151.

Granville

Quilting America The Posy Collection, a historic needlework collection by designer Posy Lough, has chosen the artwork on a Johnson City barn to represent Tennessee in the new American Quilt Trail Redwork Kit. Barn quilts from across the U.S., including the one in Washington County, were selected for the redwork kit, which features a form of needle art using only red thread on neutralcolored fabric.

Barn quilts, which can be seen all over the country, are patterns of quilt squares painted on panels and hung on the sides of barns. Usually, the quilt tells a story that is unique to its owner or relates to the barn that it hangs on.

For more details on the American Quilt Trail Redwork Kit and the quilt trail movement, go online to barnquiltinfo.com.

If you’re a fan of quilting, you also might enjoy a drive along Tennessee’s various quilt barn trails. Read more at tnhomeandfarm.com/tn-quilt-trails.

grow, cook, eat, learn

Serving up recipes, tips and food for thought

farmflavor.com

tnhomeandfarm.com 35

Brush Up on

Art

CRAFT CENTERS BRING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO RESIDENTS OF RURAL TENNESSEE

Story by Nancy Henderson

BARBARA ROGERS DISTINCTLY REMEMBERS THE

first time she visited the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade 11 years ago, on an “Open Studio” Monday. Sitting and painting with about 15 other artists on the second floor of a tiny building where the gatherings had been held since the early 1970s, she realized that she and her husband had chosen the perfect place to retire.

Each week after that, says Rogers, now Guild co-president, she and her new friends “got together and painted and talked and just had a good time.”

“Of course if you love something, you reach out and try to make it a better place than it already is,” she says. “We have grown to become one of the best art organizations in Tennessee.”

Now housed in a spacious facility built in 2007, the Guild’s 153-person membership spans all ages. It hosts more than 100 annual workshops and classes in everything from beading and soap-making to life drawing and thread painting. A fine art gallery and shop showcases watercolors, fabric art, pottery, jewelry and other high-quality pieces, and the campus also has a new wheelchair-accessible sculpture trail and an extensive library of instructional books and CDs. The organization also strives to recruit budding artists under 18. For the past decade, volunteers have visited public schools in Cumberland County, introducing fourth-graders to the work of the Old Masters and contemporary

artists. The Guild also offers summer art programs, monthly classes for home-school students and college scholarships.

“We want to have them love art like we do,” Rogers says of the Guild’s young students. “Hopefully some of that group will come out with a better knowledge and interest in doing some type of artwork.”

Rogers, who teaches colored pencil drawing, has witnessed a number of “light bulb” moments over the years.

“A lot of the people who come to my classes have never had any lessons at all, don’t know anything about art,” she says. “And they always leave with a beautiful painting. I truly believe anyone can learn how to paint if they just give themselves a chance.”

Rogers and her colleagues hope their own passion for art is contagious.

“We want to take artwork into the community,” she says, “so that everybody can enjoy it as much as we enjoy it, for them to view it and for us to teach it and get more people interested in doing it.” H&F

The Plateau Creative Arts Center, home of the Art Guild at Fairfield Glade, opened in 2007 and offers classes, workshops and art shows to the residents of the Cumberland Plateau.

36 tnfarmbureau.org

Community Craft Centers Many communities outside of bigger cities have places for artists to take classes, display their work and connect with other creatives.

Here are a few around the state: 1. Plateau Creative Arts Center, Fairfield Glade (931) 707-7249 artguildfairfieldglade.net 2. Appalachian Arts Craft Center, Norris (865) 494-9854 appalachianarts.net What began in 1970 in the back of an old grocery store as a way “to enrich the souls and pocketbooks of low-income people in Anderson County� is now a free-standing educational facility with a variety of classes and a public gallery of handmade items. (Closed Sundays and Mondays January-February) 3. Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville (931) 597-6801 tntech.edu/craftcenter This satellite campus of Tennessee Tech University offers BFA degrees and craft certification in clay, fibers, glass, metals and wood. The general public can also sign up for 50 workshops each year, stroll through three exhibition galleries, or shop for world-class art such as blown glass, ironwork, jewelry and more.

4. The Renaissance Center, Dickson (615) 740-5600 rcenter2.org In addition to art galleries, workshops and demonstrations, the Renaissance Center offers an eclectic mix of activities and entertainment, from ballroom dance lessons to RockSTAR camps. The Artisan Market also features the creations of local authors, musicians and farmers.

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3

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tnhomeandfarm.com 37

PHOTO CONTEST

Picture Perfect Winner captures local spirit with iconic photo Valerie Meadows of Adams, Tenn., has always loved the classic red barn.

“We pass it all the time. We’ve even taken Christmas photos with the kids there,” she says. “We were driving by one day after a big storm, and I saw the rainbow and that blue sky. I made my husband pull over so I could take a photo. It was a chance happening, which usually make the best pictures.”

Meadows says the owners of the barn are family friends, and the quilts on the side are a big point of pride for them.

“Red barns are iconic on Tennessee farms, and the quilt patterns just really top it off for our state’s history,” she says.

“I tried to get the silos and corn in the photo, because I felt the rainbow symbolized the promise of a good crop.”

When she found out she won, Meadows says she wondered if it was real. “I’ve never really entered my photos in anything and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!’” she says. “I was surprised and honored.”

Judges of this year’s contest thought Meadows’ photo was a great representation of Tennessee and awarded her the grand prize. The photos on the following pages received top honors or honorable mentions.

Meadows had tough competition this year, as more than 2,100 entries were submitted by Farm Bureau members.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be the next photo contest winner? Look for an entry form in our spring issue, arriving in mailboxes in February. H&F

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First Place

Valerie Meadows | Adams, Tenn.

Montgomery County Farm Bureau

tnhomeandfarm.com 39

Second Place

Renee Lowery | Fairview, Tenn.

Davidson County Farm Bureau

Honorable Mentions

From left to right: Stephanie Neu, Amy Spencer, Kasei Haddix, Carole Blish, Jamie Doster

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Third Place

Erin King | Drummonds, Tenn.

Tipton County Farm Bureau

See more honorable mentions at tnhomeandfarm.com. tnhomeandfarm.com 41

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! Red Rooster restaurant in Ethridge gets folks crowing commercial experience catering events during the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Gang and her husband opened the Red Rooster in June 2011. Two of their four grown children help wait tables and do chores.

The restaurant, which seats about 80 people, is located directly behind the Amish Welcome Center on Highway 43, a popular tour bus destination, and

a lot of folks want to know about the Amish connection.

“We have a farm right in the middle of the Amish [community],” Gang says.

“We get as much produce as we can from them. Whatever’s in season – tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, fresh corn, beans, peppers – we use. They are what draw people to us; if it weren’t for the Amish, we wouldn’t have a business.”

– Carol Cowan

The Dish on the Red Rooster Location: 4001 Highway 43 North, Ethridge, TN 38456 (Behind the Amish Welcome Center) Phone: (931) 829-1113 Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, seven days a week PHOTOS BY WENDY JO O'BARR

Terri Gang says her favorite thing about owning the Red Rooster in Ethridge is getting to meet people from all over the world who happen into her restaurant when they come to tour the nearby Amish community. She loves introducing her international guests to authentic Southern home cooking and hospitality – and earning their raves.

The quintessential meat-and-three serves up generous portions of food from a steaming hot bar in its quaint and welcoming farmhouse-style dining room. On any given day, Red Rooster’s array of meats might include Southern staples such as fried chicken, meatloaf and pot roast, with fried catfish served every Friday. More than a dozen vegetable choices each day feature favorites such as turnip greens, fresh squash casserole, green beans and loaded potato casserole. Every plate comes with a choice of fresh-baked breads, and drinks are served in canning jars.

And then there’s dessert – strawberry cake warm from the oven, homemade blackberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate cream pie and more.

The Red Rooster’s everyday menu rivals a Sunday dinner at Grandma’s, perhaps because many of Gang’s recipes came from hers.

“Everybody loves our fried chicken, and my meatloaf – it’s a family recipe, my grandmother’s secret recipe. Our peanut butter cake is out of this world – my grandmother’s recipe,” Gang says.

“Most everything that we cook has been a recipe from one of our families, or one that we’ve made up.”

For example, oatmeal fried in butter and brown sugar forms the melt-in-yourmouth breading atop the blackberry cobbler. “One day I just said, ‘Let’s do something different,’ and it worked out,” Gang says.

Small wonder, since she has been cooking all her life. Having gained

Price range: $5.99 to $7.99 for meal; $2.99 to $3.79 for dessert For groups of 10 or more, please call ahead for reservations.

Red Rooster also offers catering.

tnhomeandfarm.com 43

Tennessee Events & Festivals THIS LISTING INCLUDES A SELECTION OF EVENTS

of statewide interest scheduled in December, January and February. Most of these events are provided to us by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. You can view a complete listing of statewide events on their website at tnvacation.com.

To learn how to include your local events in this section, please visit tnhomeandfarm.com/events. Due to space constraints, we are unable to list all of the events provided.

Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

DECEMBER Nov. 15-Jan. 1, Nashville

Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas” | Sensational decorations, entertainment and some of the most delectable food anywhere. Features the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, ICE!, and more. CONTACT: 888-OPRY-872, gaylordopryland.com

Dec. 1, Carthage

Smith County Hometown Christmas | Guests can celebrate

the season in Carthage. Head to the Christmas open house event, go on horse drawn carriage rides, participate in the gingerbread house contest, see music performances, live nativity scenes and more.

The Historic Smith County Courthouse is open as well as local businesses. The event begins at 1 p.m. CONTACT: (615) 735-2093, smithcountychamber.org

Dec. 2-8, Gatlinburg

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community Christmas Show |

This free arts-and-crafts show celebrates members of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community along with artists from surrounding states. Enjoy pottery, photography, jewelry, candles, handmade candies and more, from fine art to traditional mountain crafts. CONTACT: gatlinburgcrafts.com

Dec. 5-7, Cookeville

TSSAA BlueCross Bowl | The

Tennessee Tech University campus will be buzzing with excitement as teams from across the state compete to be the best in their divisions on the impressive Tucker Stadium field. The games span three days with multiple games each day. Concession stands will be open with refreshments.

CONTACT: cookevillechampions.com

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Dec. 6-28, Chattanooga

Ruby Red Christmas | Celebrate the holidays 1,120 feet underground at Ruby Falls with festive music, a light show and more. CONTACT: (423) 821-2544, rubyfalls.com

Dec. 6-7, Columbia

Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour | This year’s annual

tour will feature a dozen historic sites in Maury County. Organized by the Maury County APTA, proceeds from the tour go toward the renovation of the Athenaeum Rectory in Columbia. CONTACT: (931) 381-4822, maurychristmas.com

Dec. 6-8, Brentwood

Homes for the Holidays |

This public tour features holiday decorations by top-tier designers in four of Brentwood’s most exclusive homes located in the neighborhoods of Princeton Hills, Windstone, Brentwood Country Club and Highlands of Belle Rive.

CONTACT: homes4holidays.org

Dec. 7, Dover

1850 Holiday Decorations and Treats Workshop | Step back in

time during this five-hour workshop as you learn how to make two different Victorian decorations and one tasty, traditional treat from the holiday season in the 1850s. There is a $50 registration with a full deposit required for the event.

CONTACT: (270) 924-2020, lbl.org

Dec. 7, Rugby

Christmas at Historic Rugby |

Visit beautifully decorated historic homes in Rugby, sure to bring an oldfashioned Christmas holiday season to life. CONTACT: (888) 214-3400, historicrugby.org

Dec. 7, Goodlettsville

Mansker’s Station Yulefest |

Ring in the holiday season 1780s style.

For one night, the historic site opens its doors for a free night of old-tyme festivities. Guests can enjoy refreshments in the Visitor’s Center along with live music, then head outside to enjoy entertainment by candlelight at both Mansker’s Fort and the Bowen House.

CONTACT: manskersstation.org

Dec. 7, Murfreesboro

Oaklands Candlelight Tour of Homes | This annual tour of homes

ushers in the holiday season. The event will take place from 4-8 p.m. and features beautiful and historic private homes as well as the graceful Oaklands Mansion.

Set in the historic district of Murfreesboro, stops along the tour will be festively adorned historical homes and churches, dressed in holly and evergreens.

CONTACT: (615) 893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org/index.php

Dec. 7-8, Murfreesboro

Bethlehem Marketplace | The Bethlehem Marketplace is a walk-through drama re-enacting how the village of Bethlehem might have appeared the morning after the birth of Jesus. Experience the Christmas story with live camels and other animals lending authenticity to the re-enactment. CONTACT: sebaptist.org Dec. 7-24, Norris

Christmas in Old Appalachia |

Experience the simple joys of an oldfashioned Christmas with music, cabins decorated in pioneer style, storytelling, crafts and more at the Museum of Appalachia. CONTACT: (865) 494-7680, museumofappalachia.org

Dec. 8, Lafayette

Christmas Tour of Homes |

Join us for a great afternoon of touring beautiful Macon County homes decorated to get you in the holiday spirit. All proceeds from the tour benefit the Lynda Belton Memorial Scholarship Fund. Tickets available at any of the homes on tour.

CONTACT: Rita Meador, (615) 666-3599 or Susie Roark, (615) 666-4664

Dec. 8, Knoxville

Home Federal Bank presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” | For

the fourth year, Home Federal Bank invites its East Tennessee neighbors to celebrate the holiday season with two free showings of classic 1947 film “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the big screen at the historic Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. and

5 p.m. Doors open one hour prior to each performance. No ticket is required, but seating is limited to the theater’s capacity.

CONTACT: homefederalbanktn.com

Dec. 13-15, 21-23, Hendersonville

“A Christmas Carol” | Presented by the Actors Point Theatre Company, this critically acclaimed and non-traditional production has many surprises, and captures the true essence of the holiday season. Tickets available for dinner and performance or performance only.

CONTACT: (615) 431-9620, actorspointtheatre.com Dec. 14, Cookeville

7th Annual Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic | All-

Dec. 14, Granville

Dec. 14-15, Franklin

Granville Country Christmas |

Dickens of a Christmas | A

Dec. 14-15, Decaturville

Dec. 19, Murfreesboro

Celebrate a County Christmas in Granville.

This year’s theme is a Victorian Christmas.

Enjoy Christmas musicals, the Festival of Trees, an antique toy show, a parade, children events and rides and much more! CONTACT: granvilletn.com

3rd Annual TN River Holiday Tour of Homes | Families volunteer

their homes for a weekend viewing during the Christmas holidays in support of the Decatur County CASA, a non-profit organization benefitting abused and neglected children. Tickets may be purchased through the organization’s office. CONTACT: (731) 852-2632

Victorian-themed Christmas with more than 200 costumed characters reenacting the work of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” CONTACT: (615) 591-8500, historicfranklin.com

Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra | Get in the Christmas spirit

by attending the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra’s annual Christmas concert, Sounds of Christmas. The Orchestra will be joined by the MSO Chorus for a stunning production of traditional fanfare that surrounds our most beloved season!

CONTACT: murfreesborosymphony.com

star football players from across the state come together to battle in this best-of-thebest competition. CONTACT: taca.net

Dec. 14, Dover

Civil War Comes to the Homeplace | The land between

the rivers has been occupied by federal troops and under martial law since the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862. Learn how the family farms, especially women, faced many challenges to keep the family fed, clothed and farm operating. Experience the fears of the farm family and learn how they persevered though the hardships. Then, visit the Confederate encampment and learn how civilians coped with their new role as soldiers. CONTACT: lbl.org

Dec. 14, Nashville

20th Annual Christmas Toy Train Show | This

annual train and collectibles show held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds features operation layouts, new and used trains from major manufacturers, and train parts and railroad objects.

Sponsored by the Music City Chapter Train Collectors Association. CONTACT: dixiedivisiontca.com

tnhomeandfarm.com 45

Tennessee Home & Farm presents:

Quantity: ______ @ $9.95 ____________ Sales tax Quantity: _____ x $0.92 sales tax ______ (TN residents add 9.25% sales tax) Postage: first book @ $3.99 ___________ additional books ____ @ .99 ___________ Total amount: ________________________ Make check payable to Journal Communications 1 book = $14.86

4 books = $50.44

2 books = $26.72

5 books = $62.30

3 books = $38.58

Includes shipping & sales tax

Send to: Name: _______________________________ Address: _____________________________

As author Pettus Read puts it, “country has been around for a long time.” In this book of his favorite Read All About It columns from the past 30-plus years, Read discusses pulley bones, the disappearance of stick horses, Christmases at Mop-Ma’s and the ever popular Uncle Sid and Aunt Sadie. Full of Read’s wisdom and wit, this Rural Psychology Primer will likely stir up your own feelings of nostalgia for the country way of life.

City: _________________________________ State: ________________ Zip: __________ Daytime phone #: _____________________ By mail: Journal Communications Inc. c/o Retail Fulfillment Center 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400 Franklin, TN 37067

46 tnfarmbureau.org

Dec. 31, Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show & Ball Drop |

Deemed the “Best New Year’s Eve Show in the South,” the Space Needle area will come alive at the stroke of midnight with a fabulous fireworks show for the 26th year. CONTACT: gatlinburg.com

Dec. 31-Jan.1, Chattanooga

Tennessee Aquarium’s New Year’s Family Sleep in the Deep | Explore the aquarium at night with tours, special activities, pizza, a midnight toast and continental breakfast. CONTACT: (423) 267-3474, tnaqua.org

JANUARY

landscape or garden industry will be held at the new Music City Center.

CONTACT: tngie.com

Jan. 20, Memphis

Martin Luther King Jr. Day |

Programs at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis celebrate the birthday of Dr. King. CONTACT: (901) 521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org

celebration of the thousands of Sandhill Cranes that migrate through or spend the winter at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers near Birchwood.

Festival activities will be held at the Birchwood Elementary School, the Hiwassee Refuge, the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park and the Rhea County Welcome Center. CONTACT: tncranefestival.org

Jan. 17-18, Nashville

Tennessee Green Industry Expo | This show for growers, supplier

of goods and/or services to the nursery,

Feb. 2, Nashville

26th Annual Automotive Swap Meet | The Stones River Car Club,

a nonprofit antique automobile club, sponsors an annual swap meet at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The event brings about 275 vendors and around 8,000 people from all over the United States. CONTACT: (615) 542-2927, stonesrivercarclub.com

Jan. 20-Feb. 1, Townsend

Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies | Celebrate the history, natural beauty and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at this annual festival. CONTACT: (800) 525-6834, smokymountains.org

Jan. 11-12, Birchwood

Tennessee Sandhill Crane Viewing Festival | Join in the

FEBRUARY

Feb. 8, Covington

Chocolate Tour | Visitors can sample decadent chocolates among Covington’s historic square and vote for their favorites. CONTACT: (901) 476-9727, covington-tiptoncochamber.com

Feb. 19-23, Pigeon Forge Jan. 25-Feb. 1, Pigeon Forge

Wilderness Wildlife Week | The

ultimate Smoky Mountain experience is a series of activities sure to connect Pigeon Forge visitors with the great outdoors. Experts share their knowledge at seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops. CONTACT: (800) 251-9100, mypigeonforge.com

Saddle Up | A five-day celebration of

the American West featuring music and poetry from Red Steagall and the Boys in the Bunkhouse, Don Edwards, Hot Club of Cowtown, and many more. Activities include a chuck wagon cookoff, cowboy dance and cowboy church. CONTACT: mypigeonforge.com/saddleup

Feb. 27-Mar. 2, Nashville Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Tiptonville

Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival | Visitors can enjoy eagle

tours, vendors, a bird of prey show, an art contest and photography tours at Reelfoot Lake. CONTACT: reelfoottourism.com

Nashville Lawn & Garden Show | The timeless appeal and

importance of gardens will be celebrated at the 23rd annual Nashville Lawn & Garden Show at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. CONTACT: nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com

Jan. 8-11, Memphis

Elvis Presley’s Birthday Celebration | Elvis Presley

fans celebrate what would have been his 77th birthday, including enjoying a grand birthday cake.

CONTACT: (800) 238-2000, elvis.com

tnhomeandfarm.com 47

VIEW FROM THE BACK PORCH

Snow Surprise Welcome the warmth of winter weather traditions Pajamas on … check!

Pajamas inside out and backwards … check!

Spoon under every pillow … check!

Ice cubes f lushed down the toilet … check!

As our restless children crawl into bed, every step has been taken to ensure the nighttime arrival of Old Man Winter’s most coveted gift: the first snow.

Like so many other things we do around here, the first snow experience is packed tight with tradition. When the glow of a snow-covered lawn shines through the windows and the uncertainty of sleepy eyes has been rubbed away, three voices raise in a chorus of, “It’s snowing, it’s snowing!”

Then six feet stampede down the stairs followed by my half-awake, half hearted warning: “Don’t forget to put on

snow – has many variations of the recipe, but ours calls for 8 cups of snow, a can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Use less milk, or add more snow – it’s up to you. You can even add another f lavor, such as almond, lemon or peppermint. The possibilities are endless, but the result is always the same: a delicious winter treat and a kitchen full of happy kids. After all, you can’t help but smile when you’re eating snow!

Another first snow day activity at our house is the traditional trampoline snow jumping. There is just something about a thick layer of freshly fallen snow on the top of a trampoline that entices our children like moths to a f lame. Coordinating this event can be tricky, because perfect timing is of the essence and certain rules apply. All three kids must have equal opportunity to bounce in the smooth blanket of snow. No one is allowed a head start to get outside, and no one can start jumping until everyone is in position. Crazy as it may sound, this is one of the most highly anticipated moments for our family on a snow day.

Of course, a snow day wouldn’t be complete without a snowman, and we love to create our own version of Frosty right on the edge of our front lawn. Our snowmen are shorter and less robust than the northern variety, and we tend to divert from the typical carrot, coal and button facial features. We have had a Harry “Snow” Potter, a Bat(snow)man, a snow dog, a snowman in disguise (with those goofy Groucho Marx glasses) and a Wonder (Snow) Woman. You never know what, or who, will be posing for you as you drive by our house on a snow day.

The first snow of winter in our great state of Tennessee, and often the only snow of winter, is a day full of excitement and a rare opportunity to revel in one of winter’s special gifts. No matter what you do, enjoy every moment and make it a day to remember. It’s no surprise that a snow surprise is the best surprise of the year. H&F

When the glow of a snow-covered lawn shines through the windows and the uncertainty of sleepy eyes has been rubbed away, three voices raise in a chorus of, “It’s snowing, it’s snowing!” your shoes and coats before you go outside!”

The first order of business is to officially declare it Marshmallow Day. This holiday, created by our middle child a few years ago, is always celebrated on the day of the first snow. (We have found that when our family does something twice, it suddenly becomes a “tradition” – a practice that I began to question last year, as I stood in line to buy marshmallows with all of the milk and bread shoppers on the night before a suspected snowfall.)

But, truth be told, I love Marshmallow Day. On this special occasion, we honor that f luffy, white, cylindrical goodness through a variety of marshmallow-themed activities. We drink hot chocolate from mugs overf lowing with marshmallows. We make marshmallow goodies (like Rice Krispies treats or s’mores). We paint with marshmallows.

We write poems about marshmallows. We even have an occasional marshmallow “snowball” fight. It’s truly quite a scene.

Next, we head outside to collect a big bowl of untouched snow for a batch of my husband’s famous snow cream.

For those of you who have never experienced the sheer delight that is snow cream, put it on your to-do list this season. Snow cream – simply ice cream made with real

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lori Boyd is a freelance writer and works part time as a registered nurse. She lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. They will spend many nights in backwards and inside-out pajamas eagerly awaiting the first snow of the season!

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