Summer 2008, Tennessee Home and Farm

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Home & Farm Summer 2008 tnhomeandfarm.com

NOT JUST A MOVIE Fried green tomatoes remain tasty Southern favorites

THE JOY OF TOYS Collector has 13,000 from around the world

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Published for the 631,873 family members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau

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Home & Farm An official publication of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Š 2008 TFBF Voted No. 1 Statewide Publication in the USA by the American Farm Bureau Federation EDITOR Pettus Read CIRCULATION MANAGER Stacey Warner MANAGING EDITOR Kim Newsom CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Cowan, Pamela Coyle,

Rebecca Denton, Susan Hamilton, Laura Hill, Dana Keeton, Donna Levine-Small, Kevin Litwin, Jessica Mozo, Ben Sanders, Jessy Yancey LISTINGS COORDINATOR Kristy Wise STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Adkins, Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier, Ian Curcio, Brian McCord CREATIVE DIRECTOR Keith Harris WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR Shawn Daniel PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Natasha Lorens ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Carden PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR Hazel Risner SR. PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER Tadara Smith PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS Melissa Hoover, Jill Wyatt SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams GRAPHIC DESIGN Jessica Bragonier, Candice Hulsey, Alison Hunter, Janine Maryland, Linda Moreiras, Amy Nelson WEB PROJECT MANAGER Andy Hartley WEB DESIGN Ryan Dunlap, Carl Schulz COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN Cory Mitchell AD TRAFFIC Meghann Carey, Sarah Miller, Patricia Moisan, Raven Petty

Editor’s note

Focusing on Food Tennessee Home & Farm readers like food. From your muchwelcomed e-mails, letters and phone calls, we’ve learned that you like everything about food – where to buy it, how to prepare it and where to find the best Tennessee restaurants.

We’re glad to hear this positive feedback. With that in mind, we’ve redesigned our Food and Recipes section of Tennessee Home & Farm.

On page 22, you’ll find our best “fresh from the garden� recipes presented in a clip-and-save format, along with a guide to buying local, Tennessee-grown produce on page 20.

But we haven’t stopped there. Online at tnhomeandfarm.com, you’ll find a brand-new recipe center, where you can search recipes by type and ingredient, print or e-mail your favorites, and comment on each recipe with your best tips or suggestions.

While online, be sure to enter our annual photo contest via our new online-entry option. See page 38 for the official rules.

Here’s to a food- and photo-filled summer!

Kim Newsom, managing editor thaf@jnlcom.com

CHAIRMAN Greg Thurman PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Bob Schwartzman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ray Langen SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT Jeff Heefner SR. V.P./SALES Carla H. Thurman SR. V.P./OPERATIONS Casey E. Hester

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

V.P./SALES Herb Harper V.P./SALES Todd Potter V.P./VISUAL CONTENT Mark Forester V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING Sybil Stewart V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Teree Caruthers MANAGING ED. BUSINESS Maurice Fliess MANAGING ED. TRAVEL Susan Chappell PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Jeffrey S. Otto CONTROLLER Chris Dudley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Lacy Upchurch (Columbia) VICE PRESIDENT Danny Rochelle (Nunnelly) DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Jeff Aiken (Telford) Charles Hancock (Bumpus Mills) Linda Davis (Rutherford)

ACCOUNTING Moriah Domby, Richie Fitzpatrick,

Diana Guzman, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens CUSTOM ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Beth Murphy INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER Kimberly Johnson SALES SUPPORT MANAGER Sara Sartin RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR Suzy Waldrip DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Gary Smith MARKETING DIRECTOR Kathleen Ervin IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR Matt Locke IT SERVICE MANAGER Ryan Sweeney

DISTRICT DIRECTORS Malcolm Burchfiel (Newbern) Bob Willis (Hillsboro) Eric Mayberry (Hurricane Mills) Dan Hancock (Smithville) David Mitchell (Blaine) STATE FB WOMEN’S CHAIRMAN Joan Fussell (Erin)

ADVISORY DIRECTORS Dr. Joseph DiPietro (UT-Knoxville) STATE YF&R CHAIRMAN Ben Moore (Dresden) OTHER OFFICERS AND STAFF PERSONNEL CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Julius Johnson TREASURER Wayne Harris COMPTROLLER Tim Dodd

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HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Peggy Blake CUSTOM SALES SUPPORT Patti Cornelius SALES COORDINATOR Jennifer Alexander

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Tennessee Home & Farm is produced for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd. Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, 615-771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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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.

TO SUBSCRIBE TH&F is included in your $25 Farm Bureau annual dues. (No other purchase necessary.) Stop by any county Farm Bureau office to join!

ADVERTISING POLICY For advertising information, contact Journal Communications Inc. at 615-771-0080 or by e-mail at thaf@jnlcom.com.

All advertising accepted is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for content of their advertising. Publisher and Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation maintain the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about advertiser 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.

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Table of Contents

Features 8 / Milk It For All It’s Worth Hatcher family finds way to keep its dairying dreams alive

12 / A ‘Poplar’ Man

Shoppers come from all around for Buford Lamb’s unique, wooden planters

16 / The Joy of Toys

Winchester collector has 13,000 from around the world

20 /Fresh From the Farm

Tennessee programs encourage consumers to buy straight from our state’s agriculturalists

22 /A Bounty of Veggies

Fresh-from-the-garden summer vegetables can’t be beat

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4 / From Our Readers

Members tell us what they think

5 / Read All About It Uncle Sid talks fashion

6 / Short Rows

Enter our annual photo contest

26 /Country Classics

Key Lime Cake mixes sweet and sour

27/ Restaurant Review

Visit the home of the hams

28 /Tennessee Travel

Nashville attracts summer visitors

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32 /Gardening

Dr. Sue teaches water-wise gardening

37/ Family Security

Understanding allowances as adults

39 /To Good Health

Prescription tips for saving money

40 /Events & Festivals

Things to do, places to see

49 /View From the Back Porch

Family vacations teach us endurance

ON THE COVER Fried green tomatoes Photo by Wes Aldridge tnhomeandfarm.com

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From Our Readers

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Summer 2008 tnhomeandfarm.com FOOD & RECIPES

online

TRAVEL

HOME & GARDEN

TENNESSEE LIVING

Web Friendly I just read some articles on your Web site and watched three movies.

I’m impressed with the layout, movies, the ability to navigate easily and being able to access the archives.

Your articles are so interesting and informative.

Diane Capps Knoxville, Tenn.

Editor’s note: Thanks for the positive feedback. In fact, our Web team has just redesigned tnhomeandfarm.com to make it even more user-friendly.

If you haven’t visited the Web site lately, be sure to check out our new features, including blogs and a new recipe center. Then drop us a line at thaf@jnlcom.com to let us know your thoughts about the new design.

Mule Day Dismay In This Issue > FOOD & RECIPES

I was enjoying the Tennessee Home and Farm magazine and wondering why Mule Day was not listed on your calendar, especially since it has won several awards as the top festival in the Southeast.

Recipes, Revamped Visit our brand-new food section to search and comment on recipes.

Food & Recipes

Home & Garden

Read about the best restaurants across the state and print great summer recipes.

Then, submit your favorite Tennessee summer picnic spots.

Check out a list of Dr. Sue’s favorite water-resistant plants. Then, submit your ideas for our next home improvement story.

Travel

Tennessee Living

We’ve started a Tennessee travel blog.

Visit weekly for our staff’s picks for the best “off-the-beaten-path” destinations.

Planning a summer project? See our Tennessee Living section for stories about the state’s best artisans.

Phain Smith Columbia, Tenn.

Editor’s note: We often receive requests for event listings too late for publication. And we received quite a few e-mails and calls about the Mule Day event in particular. A good rule of thumb is to submit your event a minimum of six months before it’s scheduled to happen. For submission instructions, see page 40. Also, while we can’t include all the listings we receive in the printed magazine, the entire list can be found at tnhomeandfarm.com.

Blog Help us welcome our new bloggers!

Visit the Web site for their latest musings on Tennessee happenings.

Marketplace See what other Tennessee Home & Farm readers have for sale in our online classifieds section.

tnhomeandfarm.com VIDEO > Learn to grill Beef Kabobs in our latest “In the Kitchen” cooking show.

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

Read All About It

Not Quite His Style UNCLE SID TALKS FASHION – OR THE LACK THEREOF t was just after lunchtime when I pulled in the long gravel driveway of Uncle Sid’s and Aunt Sadie’s farm.

I could see Uncle Sid just getting out of his old faded red pickup parked near the toolshed out behind the couple’s white weather-boarded home. A visit with the old farmer always sends me away a much better person than when I had arrived.

As I parked my car beneath one of the huge maple trees near the house, I could see Uncle Sid was all dressed up in his going-to-town overalls, but it was strange to see him without Aunt Sadie walking nearby. She never missed a trip to town and it takes both of them to get there and back. He steers and she directs.

“Good to see you, Boy,” Uncle Sid said while walking and waving at the same time. I’m almost 60 years old, but he still calls me Boy and I guess he always will.

“I was passing by and just thought I would stop by to see how you all were doing,” I said as we met near their white Adirondack chairs under the shade trees in the yard. “Where is Aunt Sadie?”

As he sat down in one of the chairs while inviting me to do the same, he answered and said, “Oh, she had her FCE meeting today and they had a luncheon at Miss Edna Urn’s house over near the church. That left me to fend for myself for vittles, so, I called your Uncle Sad. We went over near the new interchange off of the Interstate to eat at that restaurant built recently.”

Just thinking about Uncles Sid and Sad together in a nice, new restaurant made me wonder what all really happened over the past two hours. They have a reputation of being up to something whenever they get together.

“Well, how was it?” I asked.

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“The food could not have been better,” he said as he leaned back in the yard chair.

“They had the best cornbread you can get without being at home and real tasty pinto beans. They were seasoned just right with plenty of juice, just like I like them.”

So far so good, but I was starting to see a twinkle in his eye that meant something else was about to be told.

“But, Boy, those folks who stopped in there while on vacation sure do dress strange,” he said while looking off into the nearby cornfield.

Of course I asked, “What do you mean?”

“Some folks must not look in a mirror when they get all dressed up for vacation. They put on shirts that resemble some of my late grandma’s wallpaper and those Bermuda shorts don’t do anything but show off their ‘very-close’ veins,” he said as he expressed himself about the morning’s visit.

“And, all those tattoos that these young folks are putting on don’t make a bit of sense to me,” he said with a wrinkled-up nose showing dissatisfaction. “I bet in 40 years from now, the new game down at the nursing home is going to be ‘name-what-my-tattooused-to-be’ rather than bingo.”

With that comment I had to look away to chuckle and the thought of 40 years from now just wasn’t the same great expectation I had hoped for.

About that time Aunt Sadie arrived out front and was getting out of Miss Bertha Sprite’s car. Uncle Sid was already up and almost to the car telling Aunt Sadie and Miss Bertha about his lunch at the Interstate restaurant. I just hope they will be invited back again for cornbread, pinto beans and vacationer dress bashing. And, hopefully being seated way away from any person with a tattoo.

About the Author Pettus L. Read is editor of the Tennessee Farm Bureau News and director of communications for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

Read his weekly blog of country wisdom and wit in the Tennessee Living section at tnhomeandfarm.com.

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1/Belle of the Lake Visitors to beautiful, historic Hardin County, Tenn., have a new reason to stay awhile. Already known for its many sports and recreational opportunities, Pickwick Lake is now home to an authentic paddle wheel riverboat.

The Pickwick Belle took her maiden voyage Oct. 8, 2007, and has since carried guests from all over Tennessee and beyond on sightseeing and dinner cruises up and down Pickwick Lake and the Tennessee River.

Pickwick Belle trips include entertainment, historical excursions and even interactive games.

Wayne Jerrolds, a former member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys who has also played his fiddle on the Grand Ole Opry, is one of the Pickwick Belle’s most popular entertainers.

A four-hour Civil War-themed lunch cruise travels through the locks down

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to Shiloh, where passengers tour Shiloh Military Park.

“We have about 30 different types of cruises,” says Tanya Irwin, marketing director for the Pickwick Belle. “We have cruises for all ages and all pocketbooks.”

For more information, visit www.pickwickbelle.com or call (877) 936-BELLE.

2 /How Do You Like Your Eggs?

When Stephanie Ramey and her husband took over H&R Farms in Gadsden from her parents, she found herself with quite a few extra eggs, from chicken to emu to rhea. Farmers don’t like to waste anything, so Ramey used a book on painting rocks for inspiration and hatched EggCrazy.

She makes and sells delicate, Faberge-style creations – ring boxes

out of chicken eggs and animated music boxes lined in red velvet and decorated with Austrian crystals out of the larger eggs.

The eggs are blown free of yolk and white through a small drill hole and reinforced with resin before Ramey starts work.

For more information, call (877) 658-2851 or check out www.eggcrazy.com. Egg Christmas tree ornaments start at $10.

3 /Secret Sauce The secret to Johnny Fleeman’s Gourmet Legendary Bar-B-Que Sauce is how he starts it. He uses tomato paste, not ketchup.

“It makes a world of difference,” says Fleeman, creator and owner of the Lawrenceburg-based chain of Legends Steakhouse restaurants.

The sauce is rich and smoky, a thick tnfarmbureau.org

Farm Facts

concoction spiced with molasses and tamarind. It is one of six products Fleeman offers and distributes from Little Rock, Ark., to Myrtle Beach, S.C. But it wasn’t his first. Customers at the original restaurant in Lawrenceburg, the Brass Lantern Roadhouse Grill, wanted his steak marinade, and the product line was launched. Fleeman recommends the Smoky Mountain Meatloaf.

For ordering information, visit www.johnnyfleeman.com.

4 /On Mounted Patrol The Nashville Mounted Patrol celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Made up of 12 Tennessee Walking Horses and their riders, the patrol keeps order among crowds with a lot of pedestrian traffic.

“We’re out every day on patrol somewhere,” says Sergeant J.D. Harber. “Our main focus is special events, and we go to about 600 events a year.”

That includes everything from Tennessee Titans games to school demonstrations.

The Mounted Patrol enjoys positive regard in Nashville, Harber says.

“Nobody ever wanted to pet my police car,” he says.

Conserving Our Farmland Let’s hear it for our Tennessee farmers – they’re leading the nation in the development of no-till farming, a soil conserving practice where the ground is not plowed before planting seed. By using conservation tillage, Tennessee farmers have learned to produce food without having a negative effect on the environment.

In fact, traditional farming methods that strip nutrients from the soil and cause problems such as erosion and water runoff are becoming a thing of the past all over the country, with farmers everywhere looking to Tennessee for advice on how to take good care of the land.

New farming methods developed in Tennessee are even being used abroad. In January 2008, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Tennessee State University teamed up with farmers in the small African nation of Lesotho to help them learn how to preserve their soil resources. Learn more facts about Tennessee agriculture’s commitment to the soil: l More than 40 percent of Tennessee’s land area is farmland. l Milan is home to the nation’s largest No-Till Field Day, an event devoted to conservation tillage that attracts thousands of visitors every other July. l Nearly 90 percent of Tennessee’s row crop land is now farmed using no-till or conservation tillage technology. l One Tennessee farmer supplies food for 129 people – 97 in the United States and 32 abroad. l Tennessee’s top-valued crops include soybeans, cotton, corn, tobacco, hay, tomatoes and wheat.

5/Photo Friendly It’s that time again! Pull out your best images for our 13th annual Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation photo contest. This year’s categories are Tennessee History, Tennessee Landscapes and Just Kids. First-place winners receive $75 cash prizes, and the top winner is awarded $100.

For the official rules and entry form, see page 38. Also, we’re launching a brand-new way to enter – online! Visit tnhomeandfarm.com for instructions on how to upload your digital images.

All photo contest entries must be received by Sept. 1. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Tennessee Living

Milking It

For All It’s Worth HATCHER FAMILY FINDS WAY TO KEEP ITS DAIRYING DREAMS ALIVE

STORY BY REBECCA DENTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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rom the Hatcher family’s small country store on Arno Road in Williamson County, visitors can see the rolling forest and pastureland that make up the 400-acre Hatcher Family Dairy Farm.

Directly across the street is a churned-up swath of earth that will soon become Laurel Cove, an 18-hole golf course with 850 homes, a clubhouse, spa and coffee shop.

The new development is an all-tootangible sign of what’s happening to many dairies throughout the Southeast, the Hatchers say. But the family has no plans to sell their fifth-generation farm. Instead, in a final effort to save their dairy business and make it profitable for years to come, they have drastically changed the way they operate.

“We knew we had encroaching development, and the costs of fuel and fertilizer are rising,” says Charlie Hatcher, a veterinarian and partner in the dairy

business with his brother, Jim. “If we wanted to stay here and make a go of it and be profitable, we had to try something different – some way to add value to our product.”

For decades the family sold its pasturederived product to a milk cooperative, which combined the Hatchers’ milk with milk from other farms before sending it to be sold in stores.

But in 2007, the Hatchers branded their own milk and started selling straight to the public, tapping into a growing niche market of consumers who prefer to buy their food straight from the source.

“A lot of people are concerned about where their food comes from and how the animals are treated,” Charlie says. “And they like to know who they’re dealing with.”

Hatcher Dairy all-natural milk is sold at Plumgood Food and Whole Foods Market in Nashville and Wild Oats in Cool Springs as well as in several local grocery stores. They also opened their own country store – right

Cows on the Web Visitors to Hatcher Dairy’s progressive Web site (www.hatcherfamily dairy.com) learn much more than just where to find the farm. In the “Cow of the Month” section, learn about a featured bovine like Brownie, the namesake cow for the family’s chocolate milk. Or, find links to other great dairy sites for basic milk facts.

You can also find directions to the Hatcher farm and country store on the Web site, or call (615) 368-3405.

The Hatchers wanted a milk label that would represent their family’s longtime devotion to dairying. tnhomeandfarm.com

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on the farm – to sell milk directly to area consumers.

The Hatchers – a tight-knit farming family with an unwavering sense of loyalty to their land and heritage – are ideal candidates for this sort of back-to-the-basics venture.

Brothers Charlie and Jim have been partners in the dairy since the early 1990s, and the entire family pitches in to keep things running smoothly.

Jim is the farm manager, and he also takes the lead during processing day and makes some milk deliveries. Charlie’s wife, Sharon, manages the family’s country store, and Will Wallace – nephew to Charlie and Jim – handles marketing and pitches in with dairy processing and deliveries. Charlie’s daughter, Jennifer, is a veterinarian who runs the family’s veterinary business and helps to feed calves and milk cows. Charlie’s son, Charles, is a full-time student at Middle Tennessee State University who does a majority of the milking and feeding, and Lucy Hatcher – sister to Charlie and Jim – helps with processing and applies most of the labels by hand along with her daughter, Jessica.

FAMILY HISTORY Part of the farm has been in the Hatcher family since 1831, and they’ve been milking cows continuously since that time – either by hand or by machine.

These days the Hatchers have about 60 adult milk cows, including Holsteins, Jerseys, cross-breeds and two Brown Swiss heifers. The cows graze in pastures year-round, rotating among 11 paddock lots planted with seasonal grasses – a major selling point.

“Our cows get clean, fresh pasture on a daily basis, and that is the huge thing that sets our milk apart,” Jim says. “It’s strictly Hatcher milk, and we’re with it every step of the way – from growing the grasses and milking the cows to processing.

It’s ensured quality.”

Visitors to the dairy’s Web site, www.hatcherfamilydairy.com, can read Jim’s pasture report to see what kind of grass the cows are grazing on at the moment, and they can see a photo and read about the “Cow of the Month.”

“We wanted to let milk drinkers know a little bit about the cows that are working so hard,” Charlie says.

“We wanted to personalize it. The majority are named, and they’re all part of the Hatcher family.”

The Hatchers’ signature chocolate milk is named “Brownie’s Best” after a beloved Brown Swiss cow that lived on the farm for many years before she died. The farm also produces whole milk, two percent and skim, and plans are in the works to add butter and ice cream.

But first the Hatchers have to get their own processing facility up and running on site, which could happen in the next year. Since May 2007, they have been working with Middle Tennessee State University, which owns a small dairy processing plant on campus in Murfreesboro.

Through a pilot marketing agreement with MTSU, they’ve been learning how to pasteurize and process their own milk while testing the market for their brand.

So far, the public has been incredibly supportive.

“It’s been so rewarding because of the people who drink our milk,” Charlie says. “On a daily basis people say, ‘We appreciate what

you’re doing, we’re glad it’s local and we’re glad it’s family.’”

LOYAL CUSTOMERS The Hatchers are counting on loyal customers like Dawn Redlin of College Grove, who comes in every week to buy three half-gallon jugs of whole milk, and new customers like Sally Lewis of Thompson’s Station.

“I like the idea of local products and supporting local agriculture,” says Lewis, who stopped in recently after hearing from co-workers that she should check out the store.

In addition to milk, the Hatchers sell lots of other all-natural, locally made products, including soap, candles, salsas, jellies, barbecue sauces, cheeses and free-range eggs. The store also offers sandwiches, soups, salads, fresh flowers, Hatcher-brand tote bags and T-shirts – and visitors can check e-mail using the free Wi-Fi. “Some days I’m overwhelmed,” Sharon says of business at the store, “and it’s mostly been word of mouth.”

They’re hoping the momentum continues.

“We all work very hard, and there’s still not a lot of profit involved,” Jim says. “But selling the land is not an option. We feel it’s not really ours to sell. We’re just going to try to pass it on to the next generation.”

As the golf course and housing development take shape across the road, the Hatchers are determined to make the best of it.

“It’s hard to watch the growth and farms being bought up around us,” Charlie says. “But it’s going to be good for business. We hope we can sell [the new residents] some milk. And if we have a cow that gets out on the green, we hope they understand.”

Clockwise from top left: As part of their attention to detail, the Hatchers hand place their labels on each milk carton and allow their cows to graze only high-quality grass on a regular rotation throughout paddocks. Hatcher Family Dairy is a family business, and those involved are (clockwise from top right) Charles Hatcher, Will Hatcher Wallace, Charlie Hatcher, Sharon Hatcher, Jessica Crowell, Lucy Hatcher, Jennifer Hatcher and Jim Hatcher. Charles Hatcher helps process milk in the MTSU processing plant.

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Jeffrey S. Otto

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‘Poplar’ SHOPPERS COME FROM ALL AROUND FOR BUFORD LAMB’S UNIQUE WOODEN PLANTERS

Man STORY BY DONNA LEVINE-SMALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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uford Lamb is a lucky man.

He doesn’t need to shop around to find the black gum and poplar trees or the grapevine he uses for his handcrafted planters. The saplings and vines grow naturally in his old tobacco fields and in the woods on his 60-acre Cedar Creek property in Greene County.

“We don’t plant the trees,” Lamb says. “The poplars just pop up and the black gum comes up in the woods. The only things I buy are nails; can’t hardly grow them.”

He has to buy saws, too. But that’s not bad, considering.

Lamb assembles his wagon, wheelbarrow, and chair planters with either poplar or black gum.

The wheelbarrows have grapevine wheels and the wheels of the wagons are made of treated lumber.

“People like the black gum better but it grows in the woods, and I can only get so much of it,” he says.

“But poplar – we have oodles of it.”

Lamb and his wife, Mable, harvest the black gum and poplar saplings when they’re about 5 years old and two and a half to three inches around.

“I can’t always pick the exact size.

Mother Nature doesn’t always do what I want,” he chuckles. “I see the

Buford Lamb assembles a chair planter from trees grown on his wooded farm. He also creates a variety of other unique planters, including wheelbarrows and wagons.

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trees I want, and then we drag them out.”

Lamb then cuts the saplings into the specific sizes he needs.

For the chairs, some pieces must be trimmed at the ends, while others need a corresponding hole drilled.

“I use a hole saw and a wood bit and then pound the pieces together with a mallet,” Lamb says. “When I’m done with a chair, I turn it upside down and angle screws in, so there’s no way the chair will ever come apart. You can stick a pot of flowers in it, or if you set a board over the

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hole, you can sit on it.”

The pieces for the wagons and wheelbarrows are mostly stacked, then nailed together. Lamb also constructs wagon and toolbox planters out of treated lumber, which Mable then paints. Additionally, Mable weaves long basket planters from small poplar limbs.

But the pair is never content with the planter styles they’ve already created.

Lamb’s newest projects are square planters made of split and rounded pieces of poplar. Each planter

features a different look: one has straight sides, while another has sides that slope up to a single tall centerpiece.

No part of any tree is wasted.

“I take the lower parts of poplar and split them to make the sides of the square planters. Black gum, you can’t split because it splinters,” says Lamb. “Then I take the higher parts of poplar and start chairs. Then, with what’s left, I make handles for the wheelbarrows and wagons and spindles for the chairs. The little parts we use in the baskets.” tnfarmbureau.org

Buford and Mable Lamb combine their talent for woodworking and creativity when designing their unique planters. Mable enjoys weaving smaller pieces of bamboo into window planters, while Buford spends his time with the larger pieces for the chairs and wheelbarrows.

Lamb worked in construction for 30 years, so he knows the intricacies of woodworking. Before he retired, he and Mable engineered a small greenhouse to grow tomatoes, cabbage and flowers for themselves.

Friends began asking to purchase the plants, and the Lambs suddenly found themselves with a business.

They built more greenhouses through the years and now have 11 full-size ones. Every spring the greenhouses are stocked to the brim with geraniums, pansies, phlox, asparagus, cabbage and more. tnhomeandfarm.com

Even though Lamb had retired from construction, he still viewed trees and wood in terms of how they could be used. And with an itch to continue building, he started fashioning his unique, rustic planters, perfect complements to his and Mable’s greenhouse enterprise.

“I figured I might as well do something with the trees,” he says. “I used to keep the fields bush-hogged, but we started letting them grow up and I got the idea one day. I started with the wagons, and then I went to the wheelbarrows, then the chairs.”

Customers arriving at the Lambs can buy a planter or pick out garden flowers from the colorful varieties in the greenhouses. The Lambs also have some planters “ready to go,” already filled with flowers.

And does Buford Lamb ever take his work to craft shows or festivals?

“No, no,” he says. “I can’t build enough for here, nonetheless craft shows.”

The Lambs’ greenhouse is located at 1115 Cedar Creek Cave Road in Greeneville. To find out more about their planters, call (423) 639-5507.

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of WINCHESTER COLLECTOR HAS 13,000 FROM AROUND THE WORLD

STORY BY JESSY YANCEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES ALDRIDGE

W

hen Crocia Roberson worked as a Tennessee agricultural Extension agent, she taught one of her 4-H clubs a program on money management.

She posed this problem to her 4-Hers: You want to go to the movies on Saturday, but you don’t have enough money. What do you do?

“Almost every one of those kids said watch TV,” Roberson recalls, shaking her head.

“That was the extent of their imagination.”

At that moment, the Winchester, Tenn., resident decided to make it her job to expand their minds, encouraging the children to build their own toys, just as she had done in the BTV – before television – generation.

TIN-CAN TRINKETS “I grew up in a little cove over in the Sequatchie Valley, where the only way to see out was to look straight up,” Roberson says, her blue eyes twinkling. “We had tin-can telephones, button-on-a-string, and toss-and-

catch toys made just using what you had.”

A bucket in her back room overflows with tin-can toys, many of the same items she used to inspire her 4-H club.

During her 35 years as an Extension agent, Roberson crafted countless toys for her programs, from an ice-cream freezer made out of a coffee can to tin-can stilts, better known as Tommy-walkers or Johnny-walkers.

She also has a host of homemade instruments: “A tom-tom to carry around your neck … a rhythm game made of tuna-fish cans, a spool and lummi sticks … a can-jo.”

The latter consists of a can fashioned into a banjo, complete with numbered frets.

She then pulls out what looks like an old tree stump, calling it a “dumbull.”

“It’s an old cowhide on a hollow log of a gum tree,” she says, noting the hole in the middle of it with a long string attached. “You put beeswax on the string and …” Pulling on the string, the dumbull creates a loud roaring noise.

“You get different sounds according to what

Globe-Trottin’ Many of Roberson’s travels were organized through The Friendship Force International, which has three clubs in Tennessee: Knoxville, Memphis and Roberson’s South Central group. For more information, visit www.thefriendship force.org.

Crocia Roberson displays her vast collection of spinning tops in a custom-made cabinet. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Tennessee Living

Crocia Roberson organizes her collections by type. She is especially proud of her wooden dolls (above), her Russian matrioshka dolls (right) and her mancala boards (far right).

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you make it out of,” explains Roberson as she rummages through her collection of dumbulls made using everything from a Quaker oats container to a Pringles can.

Grinning, she adds, “Ask anyone who knows what it is, and they can tell you a funny story about a dumbull.”

ON TOP OF THE WORLD Many of Roberson’s toys are like the dumbulls – various takes on one concept.

A light-up cabinet displays her collection of spinning tops, from tiny “thumb tops” to more elaborate “helper tops.”

Listing off the places from where her tops came, she proves herself to be quite the globetrotter. France, Japan, New Zealand – the list goes on and on.

“When I graduated from high school, I never dreamed I’d ever see Washington, D.C.,” she reveals. But she’s seen far beyond the nation’s capital – a trip to Russia four years ago marked her 18th country visited.

Her trip to the cities of Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod was one of many coordinated through The Friendship Force International, an organization in which participants can visit and host people from other countries.

“The goal is to learn to accept other cultures,” says Roberson, who served as a teacher in the two Russian cities she visited.

Throughout her travels, she handpicked much of her collection, which includes Russian matrioshka (or nesting) dolls depicting their version of “The Gingerbread Man” story, a stick-horse from Colombia and, aptly, a toy peddler from Italy.

Her toys hail from at least 35 countries, including those she hasn’t visited, and many of her toys from around the world were found right here in Tennessee.

Take her collection of mancala boards, a count-and-capture game often played with marbles. One of tnhomeandfarm.com

Gee Haw! On a visit to Ichihara, Japan, Roberson met the city’s mayor, bringing along her gee haw whimmy diddles.

“It’s a good conversation starter,” she says.

If you’re not familiar with the toy (also known as a whimmy-doodle, a hooey stick and oodles of other names), it’s a wooden, grooved stick with a spinner on the end.

Rubbing a smaller stick on the toy creates a loud noise and causes the propeller to twirl either gee (right) or haw (left). But it’s not an easy instrument to play.

This rhythm instrument is popular in Appalachia, which is home to the world “gee haw whimmy diddle” competition, held during Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center in Asheville, N.C.

the rustic-looking boards has an etching that reads “Banguio City,” the third largest city in the Philippines. Roberson paid less than $10 for the board at an antique store in Bell Buckle.

“In the Philippines, they play it at a time of death to raise the spirits of the deceased,” says Roberson.

“If you don’t, the spirits will come back to visit you.”

Mancala is one of the oldest games in the world, dating back to between the sixth and seventh century A.D., according to some sources. But for years, Roberson didn’t know the name of the game: “We just called it the two-player marble game.”

CARVING HER NICHE Roberson played mancala when she attended 4-H camp in Crossville, but when she went back to visit a few years ago, realized the game had been long forgotten.

“The kids were crying about being bored and homesick,” she recalls.

Roberson was able to track down the old game boards, including fox-and-geese, Chinese checkers and mancala. After cleaning and painting the boards, she contacted some of her former campmates to remember how to play the games, which were a hit with today’s 4-Hers.

“They invited me back to camp after I was retired, just so I could

bring the games,” she laughs.

Roberson then decided she would once again use BTV toys to impact the lives of 4-H members – this time, by making game boards.

As a member of the Tennessee Valley Woodworkers, she had help designing and building cabinets to hold the games. But she has spent the past seven years carving her place in 4-H history – literally. So far, she’s made about 140 boards – 24 different games and around 35 boards for each of the state’s four 4-H camps.

She takes pride in knowing that her work impacts the lives of campers.

“A little kid, one who doesn’t communicate very well, will sit down and start playing with the marbles,” she says. “And then another kid will join him, and they’ll interact.”

She adds that the purpose of the activity is to teach children personal responsibility and respect for property, as they must set up the game for the next player.

“They learn by having so much fun they don’t realize they’re learning,” she says.

After all, having fun and bringing joy to others means a lot to a toymaker and collector.

But don’t ask this toy hobbyist to choose just one favorite item.

“They’re like children,” Roberson says, smiling. “Each one’s unique.”

Pausing, she adds, “My favorite toy is my next one.”

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Food

Fresh From the Farm TENNESSEE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS TO BUY STRAIGHT FROM OUR STATE’S AGRICULTURALISTS

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STORY BY PAMELA COYLE

I

Staff Photo

t wasn’t long ago that consumers who wanted fresh, local produce had few avenues – grow their own or rise before the sun to grab the best tomatoes at the farmers’ market.

But “buying local” isn’t just a quaint idea these days. For dairy, produce and meat, Tennesseans have a menu of options. Some take a little planning and effort, but all are part of a national trend to more easily connect consumers and local farmers.

“As a nation, it is important to maintain agricultural production, and many states have programs that are helping this need,” says Tiffany Mullins, assistant director of commodity activities for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

One such program, called Tennessee Farm Fresh, was recently launched as a joint effort between the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

“We are here to help connect the producer and consumer, so the consumer can buy the local foods they want and producers can sell the products they want,” Mullins says. “But it’s also about education. Visiting a local farm or farmers’ market offers an educational experience about agriculture and the source of their foods.”

One such operation that stands to benefit from Tennessee Farm Fresh is Flippen Fruit Farm in Obion County.

As owners, Pam and Steve Killion grow some 40 peach and apple varieties. They sell their fruit at the farm, seasonal markets in tents or tailgates, and wholesale it to stores in three states.

The Killions find good success with their current merchandising efforts, but Pam Killion is hoping for an even better advertising boost from the Farm Bureau’s new program.

“We specialize in tree-ripe peaches, and that’s what customers expect,” she says.

“It’s not always easy to advertise something as volatile as a peach crop.”

That’s where Mullins and the Farm Bureau

The Tennessee Farm Fresh program encourages consumers to purchase their produce, eggs, meats and other farm products directly from the source, ensuring a high-quality, fresh product. tnhomeandfarm.com

commodities group can help. Membership in Tennessee Farm Fresh offers the Killions and other farmers across the state a place on the program’s Web site (www.tnfarmfresh.com) and promotional materials to use on their farms. Participating farmers will also be invited to educational workshops on farm improvements and receive information on new technologies and marketing.

The consumers benefit, too.

“Consumers have a lot to gain from buying locally,” Mullins says. “They will receive a quality product. They will build relationships with Tennessee farmers, and most of all, the consumer will be reassured about who they are supporting.”

Mullins adds that consumers can recognize the Tennessee Farm Fresh producers by the farmers’ use of the program logo at their farms, on their products and through promotional materials. Consumers can find a list of farmers and other sources for local foods at the Tennessee Farm Fresh Web site and in the brochure.

“There’s little doubt that products are the freshest when purchased straight from the farm,” Mullins says. “Buying locally benefits our farmers and our consumers. It’s good for the environment, and it greatly helps our local economy.”

For more information about Tennessee Farm Fresh, visit www.tnfarmfresh.com or call the Farm Bureau commodities department at (931) 388-7872.

Digging Deeper For more “buy local” resources and options, consider these:

s The Tennessee Department of Agriculture offers online shopping and listings of farmers’ markets at www. picktnproducts.org.

s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) allows consumers to buy seasonal “shares” directly from farmers, which means they will receive a weekly crop of fresh produce.

s Some grocery stores across the state buy directly from local farmers. Visit tnhomeandfarm.com for a listing.

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Food

A Bounty of

Veggies FRESH-FROM-THE-GARDEN SUMMER VEGETABLES CAN’T BE BEAT

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES ALDRIDGE FOOD ST YLING BY KRISTEN WINSTON CATERING

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ONLINE

T

he dog days of summer are back again, and if the sweltering heat has you yearning for fall already, take heart. What we get for the relentless humidity and warm sunshine are gardens chock full of fresh, healthy veggies – cheerful yellow squash, bright green zucchini, corn-on-the-cob and juicy, red tomatoes. That’s enough to make even the least-ambitious cooks among us want to head for our kitchens.

So gather up the goods in your garden (or head for the nearest farmers’ market) and dive into these recipes that celebrate the summer season.

Our Garden-Stuffed Yellow Squash incorporates the savory flavors of onion, butter and bacon and is perfect for impressing dinner guests. It also puts tomatoes to good use if you’re swimming in a bounty of them from your garden. tnhomeandfarm.com

Our Fresh Corn Salad is a cool and refreshing accompaniment for fish, blending the minty taste of basil with tangy apple cider vinegar, cherry tomatoes, red onion and fresh corn kernels.

The Summer Succotash not only tastes fantastic, it also provides a beautiful display of color for your summer table. Fresh zucchini and green beans are sautéed with corn, tomatoes, butter and onion, and the mixture is finished off with fresh cilantro and basil.

Last is an old favorite that puts smiles on the faces of Southerners everywhere – Fried Green Tomatoes. Tomatoes are picked from the vine before they ripen, sliced, dipped in buttermilk, rolled in seasoned cornmeal and fried golden brown. The result is a flavorful concoction that’s crunchy on the outside and warm and juicy in the middle.

Enjoy!

What’s summer without grilled food? Kristen and Sybil, our resident foodies, have taken their talents outdoors. See the latest episode of “In the Kitchen” at tnhomeandfarm.com, where the duo tackles Beef Kabobs, with sides of grilled veggies and shrimp.

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Food

Garden-Stuffed Yellow Squash

Fresh Corn Salad

6

5

ears fresh corn, shucked

½ cup green bell pepper, diced

4

cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1

cup onion, finely chopped

½ cup red onion, chopped

1

cup tomatoes, chopped and seeded

3

Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

4

Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ cup Italian breadcrumbs

6

Tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped

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medium yellow squash

slices bacon, fried until crisp and crumbled

Kosher salt

Pinch seasoned salt

Pepper

teaspoon Kosher salt Ground black pepper Butter (for sautéing)

In large pot, cover squash with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash are tender but firm, about 8 minutes. Drain squash and cool slightly. Trim stems and cut squash in half lengthwise. Remove pulp, then chop it into small pieces. Reserve squash shells.

Sauté bell pepper and onion in butter until soft.

Then, sauté squash pulp (about 1 cup) in separate pan until soft. Combine pulp with onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, breadcrumbs, bacon and seasoned salt. Place hollowed squash shells in a baking dish, and sprinkle the inside of each with Kosher salt and pepper.

Spoon squash mixture into each shell. Top with additional breadcrumbs and drizzle top with melted butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until top is golden.

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In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes or until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse the corn in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob.

Toss the kernels in a large bowl with tomatoes, onions, vinegar and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Serve cold or at room temperature.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Summer Succotash

4

1½ cups onion, chopped

large green tomatoes

1½ cups buttermilk

1

cup fresh zucchini, coarsely chopped

2

cups fine cornmeal

3

cups fresh corn kernels

2

Tablespoons Kosher salt

1

2

teaspoons ground black pepper

cup fresh green beans, blanched and cut in half-inch pieces

Cut off ends of the tomatoes and slice each tomato into about three 1/2-inch pieces. Put tomato slices in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and turn to coat each slice. Marinate for 5 minutes.

Place a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to come two-thirds up the side of the pan, and heat oil to 325 degrees. In a wide bowl, mix cornmeal, salt and pepper. Working in batches, remove tomatoes from buttermilk, shaking off excess and dip in cornmeal to coat each side. Shake off the excess cornmeal. Slip the slices into the oil in a single layer and fry until golden brown – about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.

1

cup tomatoes, coarsely chopped

2

teaspoons Kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 3

Tablespoons fresh basil, coarsely chopped

3

Tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped Butter (for sautéing)

In a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, sauté onion in butter until soft, about 2 minutes. Add chopped zucchini, and sauté 3 minutes. Stir in corn, green beans and tomatoes.

Add salt, pepper, basil and cilantro. Heat until mixture is hot.

To dress up your dish, drizzle ranch dressing and sprinkle homemade bacon bits on top. Or, add bread for a fried green tomato sandwich.

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Country Classics

The Key to Good Cake ACCORDING TO THIS COOK, IT’S ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW hil Irwin credits his mother, his wife and Geraldine McFalls – the mother of his brother-in-law – as the three best cooks he knows.

From his childhood, the Knox County resident remembers his mom’s fried chicken, meatloaf and plenty of casseroles. Irwin raves about wife Dawn’s barbecue meatloaf (cooked on the grill), biscuits and gravy, chicken enchiladas, and a lasagna that “is probably as good as any I’ve ever had in a restaurant.”

He says the lasagna is time-consuming but worth it – a creamy, rich stack with sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar, mozzarella and cottage cheese. But Irwin is quick to add that they don’t make their own pasta.

“We are not that fancy,” he says.

Irwin, a regional manager for Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance in Knoxville, isn’t shy in the kitchen himself. He whips up a range of casseroles and grilled meats, but doesn’t cook as often as he used to.

He and Dawn do take time to watch their favorite cooking shows, “Emeril” and “Paula’s Home Cooking” with chef and restaurateur Paula Deen.

During a recent beach trip to Savannah, Ga., Dawn and their daughter treated themselves to a meal at Deen’s restaurant, The Lady & Sons.

They loved it – especially the desserts.

Irwin himself professes to not be a lover of sweets but makes an exception for a bundt cake recipe he got from Geraldine McFalls.

“She made it one day, and I had to have it,” he says.

So does everyone who has tasted the cake at the Irwins’ home during special occasions or summer picnics.

The Key Lime Cake is a big hit, and Irwin says his wife adds a dusting of powdered sugar once the glaze has dried as an extra touch.

“Everybody loves it,” he says. “It’s not as tart as key lime pie, and it is one of those cakes that on the second and third days gets even better.”

– Pamela Coyle

P Want More?

Each issue of Tennessee Home & Farm highlights a selected recipe from Country Classics Volume II. Copies of the cookbook are available for $17 each, including shipping and handling, from county Farm Bureau offices, or by calling the Tennessee Farm Bureau home office at 931-388-7872, ext. 2217.

Key Lime Cake CAKE: 1

box moist lemon cake mix

1

4-ounce lemon instant pudding mix

4

eggs

1

cup vegetable oil

¾ cup water ¼ cup lime juice

Jeffrey S. Otto

GLAZE:

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2

cups powdered sugar

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cup lime juice

2

Tablespoons water

2

Tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10-inch bundt pan. Combine all cake ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed.

Bake 50-60 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes in pan. Invert to cooling rack. Return back to clean bundt pan. Poke holes in warm cake and pour glaze over top of cake. tnfarmbureau.org

Wes Aldridge

Restaurant Review

Home of the Hams CANALE’S GROCERY SERVES UP HEAPING HELPINGS OF HAM AND KINDNESS

xpect to find an out-of-this-world ham sandwich when you visit Canale’s Grocery on Raleigh-LaGrange Road in Eads, but don’t expect to find a place to sit down and savor it.

“Our motto is ‘Stack ’em high, sell ’em low, wrap ’em up and let ’em go,’” says owner Justin Canale with a chuckle. “Everything we offer is to-go.”

That’s just fine with the hoards of loyal customers who have been stopping by Canale’s for their famous ham sandwiches since the combination grocery store, butcher shop and gas station opened 36 years ago. After all, it’s only $2.30 for one of Canale’s ham sandwiches stacked with cheese, lettuce and tomato and slathered with mayo or mustard, and you get a big helping of hometown service on the side.

Owned by brothers Justin and Conn Canale,

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the family business was originally launched in Bartlett in the mid-1960s by their father George.

It moved to Eads in 1970 when the Canales purchased the modest cement block building it resides in today, marked by a faded black-andwhite sign that proudly declares: “Canale’s Gro. & Butcher Shop – Home of the Hams.”

Indeed, it is. Canale’s has the capacity to smoke 45 hams at a time in its two stainless steel smokers. Conn arrives at 3 a.m. most days to smoke the hams over charcoal for five to seven hours.

“He’s got it down to perfection,” Justin says.

“We use a dry rub, and I think it’s the best ham on the market.”

The customers agree.

Canale’s sells whole and half hams year-round for $5.99 a pound, and they get so many orders during the holiday season that they have to cut people off. They just don’t have the cooler space, Justin apologetically explains.

Construction workers and other loyal patrons make up the majority of Canale’s daily lunch crowd. Many buy chips, soft drinks and other typical small-town grocery fare to go with the ham sandwiches.

“We get backed up around noon making sandwiches when all the workers come in, but we try to get them in and out as quick as possible,” Justin says. “Besides ham, we also have bologna, turkey and roast beef sandwiches. But ham sells the most.”

While Conn runs the smokers, Justin stocks shelves, cleans and does “whatever needs doing.” Older brother Whit (there are seven siblings in all) mans the cash register.

Justin describes the store’s location as “part country, part city” and thinks running the store with his brothers is about as close as you can get to retirement bliss.

“I see a lot of older people who don’t know what to do with themselves, and I like staying busy at this time in my life,” he explains. “We just love keeping busy with our hams.”

– Jessica Mozo

The Dish on Canale’s Throughout the year, our team travels the state in search of good food and friendly service. In each issue, we feature one of Tennessee’s best eateries, and in our opinion, the best dishes to try.

Canale’s Grocery is located at 10170 RaleighLaGrange Road East in Eads. It is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (901) 853-9490.

Visit the Food section of tnhomeandfarm.com for more Tennessee restaurants worth visiting.

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1 Travel

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Brian McCord

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Staff Photo

Music

and So Much

More

SUMMER ATTRACTIONS IN NASHVILLE ATTRACT VISITORS FROM ALL OVER

STORY BY LAURA HILL

I Brian McCord

t’s earned its stripes – and stars – as Music City U.S.A., one of the nation’s top recording and music publishing centers, but for visitors, Nashville is much more than just music.

The capital of Tennessee, and a city rich in history and culture, Nashville is home to sparkling entertainment, beautiful public spaces, museums, professional sports, outstanding restaurants, great shopping and, of course, Music Row, where much of America’s country and pop music originates.

It’s well worth the trip any time of the year, but a summer visit adds extra excitement.

1/ NO SUMMERTIME BLUES HERE When the weather is warm, head to Nashville Shores, which offers white sandy beaches, pools and seven water slides along the shore of Percy Priest Lake, perfect for sunning, swimming and splashing. Or, take a picnic lunch to Centennial Park, where you can visit a life-size replica of the Parthenon, kids can pretend on a ship or a jet airplane, or you can kick back and just feed the ducks on the lake.

Speaking of ducks, no visit to Nashville is

Fireworks light up the downtown Nashville sky during the 2007 Fourth of July celebration.

Above left: The Nashville Zoo features a Lorikeet Landing exhibit of more than 50 Australian lorikeets.

Above right: The Cheesecake Factory in Nashville offers some 30 different cheesecake varieties. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Travel

2 / VISIT NASHVILLE TREASURES

Regardless of when you visit, a trip to the Grand Ole Opry is a must.

Started in 1925, and America’s longest-running radio show, the Grand Ole Opry is headquartered today at the Opry Entertainment Complex adjacent to the Opryland Hotel. The Ryman Auditorium, downtown, was home to the Opry for many years and is now a popular concert venue; tour the building to get a sense of its history.

Don’t miss the Country Music Hall of Fame. Even if your tastes run to Debussy rather than Dolly, you’ll be fascinated by this world-class museum. At the Adventure Science Center, kids can pilot a screaming jet aircraft (simulated), discover the “impolite side” of the human body in Grossology Live and ponder a 10-foot-tall beating heart. Relive

Home&Farm |Summer 2008

2

3 / FINDING GOOD EATS When in Nashville, a meat ‘n’ three is essential comfort food. That means your choice of a meat entrée, coupled with three vegetables (macaroni and cheese and Jell-O both count), and nowhere in town does it better than the Sylvan Park Restaurant.

The kids will want to try the Hard Rock Café on Broadway, or the Wild Horse, where you can find ponies galloping across the ceiling. For huge portions from a staggering menu, head out to the Cheesecake Factory.

For more upscale dining, try Café Margot in East Nashville, where inventive cuisine shines in a funky, fun old building, or Sunset Grille, where you’re likely to spot any number of celebrities.

Spend your summer days visiting favorite Nashville attractions like (clockwise, from top left) the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, the historic Ryman Auditorium, family-oriented Nashville Shores or the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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Staff Photos

old-timey life on the river as the General Jackson showboat cruises the Cumberland River from Opry Mills to downtown. After your boat ride, check out the massive shopping center and try lunch at the Aquarium, where you can dine next to a 200,000-gallon fish tank.

Want to get ‘em down on the farm?

Try the Tennessee Agricultural Museum at the Ellington Agricultural Center for a peek at farm life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Antique farm vehicles and machinery, log cabins, a farm house, gardens and more.

The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is one of the city’s preeminent historic sites, where the family can enjoy a fascinating look at one of American history’s most fascinating figures.

Tennessee’s tradition as a preeminent breeder of championship race horses is celebrated at Belle Meade Mansion, where you can tour an historic home and accompanying stables.

Jeffrey S. Otto

complete without a visit to the Nashville Zoo, an amazing 200-acre oasis within the city limits. More than 125 species of critters – from fish and snakes to giraffes, meerkats, snow leopards and tigers – live here in habitats that replicate their natural homes. Be sure to ride the Wild Animal Carousel.

Over the Fourth of July holiday, downtown Nashville hosts a spectacular fireworks display and musical entertainment along the banks of the Cumberland River.

For a fun sports experience, enjoy a Nashville Sounds minor-league baseball game at historic Greer Stadium, where balls and strikes are displayed on a giant guitar-shaped score board.

If motor sports are more your thing, check out the Nashville Superspeedway, 30 minutes east of town, for a little vroom-vroom.

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Home & Garden

Beyond Hoses and

Sprinklers

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DR. SUE OFFERS TIPS FOR WATER-WISE GARDENING

T

he drought of 2007 inspired this article. Everywhere across our great state, it was dry, and many places experienced their driest periods on record. Coupled with the late summer’s extreme heat, the drought frustrated hobby gardeners and experts alike.

As I write this article, my crystal ball has not revealed what summer 2008 has in store for the landscape enthusiast, but based on the questions I have received, many gardeners want advice on how to plan for and mitigate the effects of drought on their landscapes. Others are concerned about conservation-minded landscaping because they are aware of the great need for water for cooking, cleaning and basic necessities downstream of their homes.

Did you know that the two biggest consumers of water in most homes are toilets and landscapes? In fact, during the summer, half of all household water use goes for lawn maintenance and gardening. With careful planning, this need not be so.

The special term for conserving water while gardening is “xeriscaping.” The word was coined by combining xeros (Greek for “dry”) with landscape.

Through xeriscaping, thoughtful gardeners can radically reduce their consumption of water, lower their water bills and still have beautiful, productive gardens. Here’s how:

establish watering priorities. New and young plants will always require more water than older, established ones.

AVOID WASTING WATER. Apply water slowly and deeply to avoid water runoff and to deeply saturate areas, allowing them to remain moist for longer periods. Make sure your hose or sprinkler does not leak, and avoid placing watering devices where they waste water on your driveway, deck or porch.

SUBIRRIGATE YOUR GARDEN. The most efficient way to apply water to your garden is by subirrigation, which applies water below the foliage. Soaker hoses or drip systems put water right at the root zone. This can save up to 60 percent of the water used by sprinkler systems.

CONTROL WEEDS. Pesky weeds compete with your desired plants for water, so work to keep your beds clean.

Be sure to keep a good 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around all of your plants. Not only does the mulch reduce water evaporation from the soil, but it will reduce the incidence of weeds as well. Early spring and fall are ideal times to apply mulch.

GO DORMANT.

Cluster your plants according to their water requirements. This prevents overor under-watering any parts of your lawn or garden.

Another option is to consider letting your lawn go dormant during drought periods. Most lawn grasses will rebound when rains return, and it will cut down on your water bills.

SET A WATERING SCHEDULE.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS.

You’ll minimize your water consumption this way. Water in the early morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and reduce evaporation. Watering during the night is not recommended as this practice encourages fungal diseases to grow. Also,

Finally, select plants that are known to be water efficient. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t limit you to growing just cacti and succulents. I have many water-efficient plants in my home garden, and I know from experience that with careful planning and selection, you can have a beautiful, lush garden no matter how much rain Mother Nature provides.

tnhomeandfarm.com

Dr. Susan Hamilton is an associate professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UT Gardens. The gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, with locations in Knoxville and Jackson: http://utgardens. tennessee.edu.

ADD MULCH AROUND ALL PLANTS.

GROUP BY WATER NEEDS.

Popular plants like yucca, sedum, euphorbia and miscanthus are considered to be water efficient.

About the Author

SEE MORE ONLINE

For a list of Dr. Sue’s favorite waterefficient plants, visit tnhomeandfarm.com.

Home&Farm

33

Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Savings TOLL-FREE

(877) 363-9100 Visit our Web site at www.tnfarmbureau.org and click on the Value Plus quick link

HARVEST A $500 OFFER TODAY.

*

Eligible Tennessee Farm Bureau members can get a $500 private offer* toward the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles. Or a $750 private offer* if it’s a new GM E85 FlexFuel vehicle. E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) is a renewable fuel made mostly from U.S.-grown bio material, like corn or grain products. This offer may be combined with many current incentives. To redeem, show your authorization number to your GM dealer. To obtain your authorization number, visit gmfleet.com/tfbf. Visit livegreengoyellow.com to see if there is an E85 station near you. *You must be a member of TFBF for at least six months prior to date of delivery to be eligible for this private offer. $500 or $750 private offer valid toward the purchase of eligible new 2007, 2008 and 2009 GM passenger car and light-duty truck models. Customers must take delivery by January 2, 2009. Not compatible with other private offers. Not valid with prior purchases. Incentives are subject to change. Excludes Cadillac CTS-V, XLR-V and STS-V; Chevrolet Corvette Z06; HUMMER H1, hybrid vehicles and medium-duty trucks.

See dealer for complete details. Š2008 GM Corp.

For the latest Value Plus information and more discounts for Tennessee Farm Bureau members, call the hotline at (877) 363-9100, or e-mail us at valueplus@tfbf.com. Visit our Web site at www.tnfarmbureau.org, and click on the Value Plus quick link.

Tennessee Farm Bureau Where Membership Means Home and Commercial Security System Discount (ADT) s Free home security system s Available only by calling toll-free (877) 832-6701 s Free smoke detector and burglary protection included. $2 off ADT’s standard monthly monitoring rate s 15% discount on camera systems

*36 month monitoring agreement required at $30.99 per month ($1115.64). $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 feesmay apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new customers only.

Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. PowerLink, LLC TN. Cert. #C-0332.

$850 Savings

Broadband Internet Service American Cellular – Verizon Wireless Call (888) 653-8323 today! s Broadband speed for laptop or desktop computer use. s Same coverage area as your Verizon wireless mobile phone. s Connects via USB port. s Monthly access starts at just $39.99.

GO WIRELESS!

10% discount on reserved grandstand seating to any 2008 feature event and complimentary Fan Walk Pass Federated Auto Parts 300 – June 7

Offer applies to new activation. Upgrade pricing may differ. www.americancellular.net (user name and password: tfbf) Available only by calling or visiting an American Cellular location

Over $30 Savings

Firestone Indy 200 – July 12th Toyota Tundra 200 – August 9th Call toll-free: 1-866-RACE-TIX *Offers are subject to change without notice

Family Security

The Farm Bureau Allowance DEVELOPING FINANCIAL PRIORITIES TO PROTECT POLICYHOLDERS ike many kids, I knew exactly what my first allowance should be used for. I needed something absolutely necessary for a 9-year-old boy: a bullwhip.

After all, Indiana Jones had a bullwhip, so I absolutely needed one, too. A few scars later (turns out my brother was more bullwhip-adept) it was permanently shoved under the bed.

That worked out well because I’d moved on to a hunter/tracker/woodsman lifestyle. And of course, knee-high moccasins were vital. Davy Crockett wore them, so I needed a pair, too.

After spending my hard-earned allowance on the moccasins, they were never worn once.

No matter. Rock stars don’t wear moccasins anyway. They do, however, have bright red electric guitars. So to be a rock star, naturally my allowance needed to fund the guitar, the equipment and the clothes. Too bad guitar lessons never quite made it into my budget.

I do confess those first financial forays were dismal failures. At the time, though, I was proud of my somewhat misguided financial insight. Like many kids, I had hilariously irresponsible beliefs about how an allowance should be spent.

Here at Farm Bureau Insurance, we liken our situation to getting an allowance. Our “allowance” is your business – the automobile, property and life needs that we insure for you.

And, unlike the comical ways kids spend their allowance, we take our responsibility seriously.

Here are some examples of our financial priorities and how those priorities protect our Farm Bureau policyholders.

L

Commitment to Local Service We believe you should be able to talk to your insurance agent, face-to-face, about your insurance needs. Therefore, we’re committed to maintaining an agency force of local agents tnhomeandfarm.com

– your friends and neighbors – in more than 150 local offices across Tennessee.

Strong Underwriting Principles Underwriting is the process of evaluating risk and deciding what we can or can’t insure – and we take it very seriously. As a policyholder, you want us to. We strive to insure only appropriate risk at the right rates because, in the end, our policyholders’ money is at stake.

About the Author Ben Sanders is legislative liaison for Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance and can be reached at bsanders@tfbf.com.

Conservative Overhead Our corporate headquarters is in small-town Columbia, Tenn., not a skyscraper in Nashville.

Our company uses Chevrolets, not Cadillacs.

And when we need to travel across the state, we drive because there is no company jet.

Simply put, we work hard – in big and small ways – to limit overhead.

Government Relations Government-imposed regulations often begin with good intentions but end with a price tag. We feel a balance is necessary between protecting consumers and frivolously increasing the cost of insurance.

We diligently work with lawmakers to represent you.

To a 9-year-old, that bullwhip seemed a great use of an allowance. Today, getting an allowance takes on a more responsible meaning.

We are proud of how Farm Bureau Insurance handles your insurance “allowance” to us. We take that responsibility very seriously because, in the end, our purpose is to take care of you – our Farm Bureau policyholders.

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Exclusive Member Savings

Kaci C ampbell

Megan Shrader

See page 34 for additional benefit information

It’s Time to Enter the 13th Annual Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest Pull out your camera and start snapping! Submit your best photos in our annual contest, and you could be named the grand-prize winner.

To enter, fill out the form below and mail your prints to us. Or, take advantage of our brand-new option! Visit tnhomeandfarm.com to upload your digital photos and enter online.

Winners will be announced in the winter issue of Tennessee Home & Farm. First-place winners in each of three categories will be awarded $75 cash prizes; the grand-prize winner receives $100. Entries must be postmarked (or submitted online) by Sept. 1.

Name ___________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _______ ZIP ________ Phone ___________________________________________________ County of FB Membership _________________________________ Category: R Tennessee Landscapes

R Tennessee History

R Just Kids

Mail entry to:

Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313 OFFICIAL RULES: Only original photos or high-quality reprints will be accepted via mailed entries. Color or black-and-white photos are acceptable in any size. Attach this entry form to the back of the photo (copies may be made of entry form if more than one is needed). No CD-ROMS (or other digital media storage) will be accepted via the mailed entry option.

To submit a digital photo, visit tnhomeandfarm.com and click on the photo contest entry form.

Digital files must be high quality – minimum of 5x7 size at 300 dpi resolution. An online tutorial to testing file size can be found at tnhomeandfarm.com. To avoid legal entanglements, make certain permission has been given for use of photos.

We offer three categories: Tennessee Landscapes, Tennessee History and Just Kids. Only one entry per person per category. Only Tennessee Farm Bureau members and their immediate family (parents, children, siblings) are eligible to enter. Employees of Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Insurance Cos., county Farm Bureaus or their families are not eligible to win.

This is an amateur photo contest. Professional photographers are not eligible. Entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1, 2008. Photos will not be returned and will become property of Tennessee Farm Bureau. Images may be used in TFBF publications with photo credit given. For additional information, call Tennessee Farm Bureau, (931) 388-7872, Pettus Read, ext. 2212, or Stacey Warner, ext. 2213.

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Home&Farm |Summer 2008

GM Private Offer – 75 models Call (888) 273-7596 to obtain authorization # American Cellular Free phone & Accessories (888) 653-8323 ADT/PowerLink Free home security system (877) 832-6701 Choice Hotels (800) 258-2874 Corporate ID# 00800606 Enterprise (800) RENT-A-CAR Corporate ID#: 56MFARM Connection Discount Long Distance (800) 362-3276 Prescription Discounts Present membership card to participating pharmacy Doctors ValuVision/ Dr. Bizer’s Vision World $35 eye exam 25% off frames and lenses Case IH $300 rebate on 18-60 HP D/DX series $500 rebate on 45-90 HP Maxxum/J series Nashville Superspeedway 2008 Events 10% off reserved grandstand seating Complimentary Fan Walk Pass (866) RACE-TIX Grainger Industrial Supply (800) 255-0955 10-35% discount Account #: 854398591 Golf Discounts TPGA Passkey Booklet - $35.00 (615) 790-7600 ext. 236 Qualsight LASIK procedure discounts (877) 507-4448 American Hearing Benefits Save up to 60% off hearing instruments (866) 925-1287

tnfarmbureau.org

To Good Health

A Pill for Every Ill TRH HEALTH PLANS ENCOURAGE FARM BUREAU MEMBERS TO BE CAUTIOUS AND WISE ABOUT PRESCRIPTIONS

’m starting to sound like my father, and that scares me.

It started with watching television in bed, a habit to which no one should succumb no matter how tempted. Because once that starts, actually sitting up to watch TV simply becomes too much work.

But back to my point. It wasn’t a droll sitcom or tear-jerking drama that led to my father-esque rant, but commercials. About prescription drugs. One after the other. All evening long. If I had a dime for every time I heard the phrase “just ask your doctor about (insert name of prescription drug here),” I … well, I would have a lot of dimes. Which brings me back to my father.

Maybe because he was raised on an isolated farm, or maybe because he grew up with not a lot of dimes, my dad has always been hyperconscientious about medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter. It’s not that he won’t take medicine. Now 71 years old, he takes his one prescription – for high blood pressure – exactly as directed.

But he has a strong opinion about a society he believes has bought into a “pill for every ill” mentality. For my dad, medication is always the last resort, not the first.

I

tnhomeandfarm.com

After seeing all those commercials and learning that $2.5 billion was spent on prescription drug ads last year (Tennessee, by the way, leads the nation in prescription drug use), I’m beginning to think maybe Pop has it right. Do we really need to take a pill at the slightest onset of anything? And does watching commercial after commercial about the wonders of this or that new drug add to the problem?

Some people argue that all these drug ads promote education about health issues and result in people taking a more proactive role in their care. I’m all for that. And I’m all for people having access to medicine they need.

But the commercials I saw didn’t seem to promote education as much as the desire to buy that particular product. And there’s little doubt the ads promote sales for drug companies: More than $2 in sales for every $1 spent on advertising, according to one study.

And the structure of most health-care plans doesn’t encourage consumers to be careful about how many prescriptions they buy.

Generally, their out-of-pocket expense is a co-pay that might range from $5 to $30, regardless of the total cost of the drug.

At TRH Health Plans, our coverage handles drug benefits a little differently. Our Farm Bureau members pay for the cost of a drug up front and then file a claim to be reimbursed for benefits. There’s a reason for this: Because the cost comes first out of their own pocketbooks, TRH members become wise health-care consumers. So, they tend to ask their doctor if a drug is the only option for treatment. And they’re more likely to ask for generics or have only a portion of the prescription filled until they’re sure it can help them.

In other words, they act more like my dad.

Taking medication is something to be thoughtfully considered, not an automatic go-to solution.

About the Author Dana Keeton is Communications Coordinator for TRH Health Plans.

For more health tips, visit www.trh.com and click on Healthwise.

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Events & Festivals

Tap your toes to Tennessee’s mountain music at the state’s many bluegrass festivals this summer.

Tennessee Events & Festivals This listing includes events of statewide interest scheduled in June, July and August as provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Dates were accurate at press time but are subject to change; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

To include your local events in our listing, please call the Tennessee Department of Tourism at (615) 741-7994. Events are included as space permits. Additional information on Tennessee events is also available online through the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com.

June JUNE 2-8

STANFORD ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP Tournament of Players Club at Southwind, Memphis Stanford St. Jude Championship is dedicated to the support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by presenting a world-class PGA Tour golf tournament.

CONTACT: Stanford St. Jude, (901) 748-0534, www.stanfordstjude.com

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Home&Farm |Summer 2008

entertainment, music and more.

CONTACT: Christine Murdock, (423) 928-3479, www.blueplum.org JUNE 6-7

COKE OVENS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Coke Ovens Park & Museum, Dunlap Features local and regional bluegrass bands including Valley Grass, The Coalition Band, The Cumberland Band, and the Cumberland Gap Connection. Come and enjoy the fun, food and entertainment at this beautiful historic park. CONTACT: Sequatchie Valley Historical Assn., (423) 949-3483

JUNE 6-7

JUNE 6-8

SHANNON STREET BLUES & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

PROMISE LAND FESTIVAL

Jackson Award-winning blues and events.

CONTACT: Jackson Downtown Development Corp., (731) 427-7573, www.downtownjackson.com

Charlotte Includes live stage entertainment, singing, dancing, food, arts & crafts and more.

CONTACT: Serina Gilbert, (615) 789-5859, www.dicksoncountychamber.com JUNE 7

JUNE 6-7

BLUE PLUM ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL Johnson City Outdoor music and art festival in downtown Johnson City. Includes children’s

CANEY FORK ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL Ivy-Agee Memorial Park, Gordonsville Art and music festival. CONTACT: Donna Jones, (615) 683-5070, www.smithcountychamber.org tnfarmbureau.org

JUNE 7

MOSHEIM FUNDAYS Mosheim A wonderful small town festival with food, crafts, music, clogging, children’s games, beauty pageant, and a “Big Bubba’s Fun Run” open car show. Bring your lawn chair and spend the day. CONTACT: Town of Mosheim, (423) 422-4051

JUNE 7-8

SYCAMORE SHOALS NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL Elizabethton Come and discover the arts, music, dance, crafts, legends and stories of Native Americans.

CONTACT: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, (423) 543-5808, www.sycamoreshoals.org

merchants’ wares. CONTACT: Amanda Reeves, (423) 272-2752, www.shakespeareandfriends.org JUNE 11-15

42nd ANNUAL COVERED BRIDGE CELEBRATION Elizabethton Experience one of the region’s most beautiful areas and celebrate summer with fun activities for the entire family. Music on the Bridge features live entertainment, artisans, Kids’ Island, and more. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (423) 547-3852, www.tourelizabethton.com JUNE 12-14

DUMPLIN VALLEY JUNEFEST Dumplin Valley Farm, Kodak Bluegrass festival with performances from The Isaacs, Kenny & Amanda Smith, The Seldom Scene, Dave Peterson & 1946, and more. CONTACT: Mitzi Soward, (865) 397-7942, www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com JUNE 13-14

39th ANNUAL DIANA SINGING Diana This event began in 1969, now more than 5,000 visitors attend to listen to beautiful a cappella singing.

CONTACT: Jack Parks, (931) 363-3204, www.dianasinging.com JUNE 13-15

BATTLE OF BURG HILL LIVING HISTORY CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTMENT

JUNE 7-8

HERITAGE FOUNDATION TOWN & COUNTRY TOUR OF HOMES Franklin & Williamson County A tour of 10 historic properties in the beautiful countryside of Williamson County.

CONTACT: Downtown Franklin Assn., (615) 591-8500, www.historicfranklin.com

Gatlinburg Features period performers in Civil War camp along with the recreation of the “Battle of Burg Hill.” A cannon drill and music are included in the festivities. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (800) 568-4748, www.gatlinburg.com JUNE 13-15

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Douglas Park, Memphis Annual freedom celebration with blues, gospel, hip-hop, jazz, a carnival, picnics and more. CONTACT: Festival Information, (901) 385-4943, www.juneteenthmemphis.org

JUNE 7-8

SHAKESPEARE & FRIENDS RENAISSANCE FAIRE Crockett Spring Park, Rogersville A recreation of the 1590s in Scotland under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I with storytelling, puppetry, music, period games of skill, demonstrations of period arts & crafts, and a Market Place with tnhomeandfarm.com

JUNE 14

TOUR DE WAYNE BICYCLE RIDE Clifton Bicycle ride through the hills and hollows of rural Wayne County. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (931) 724-4337, www.waynecountychamber.org

JUNE 14

LOUIE BLUIE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL Cove Lake State Park, Caryville This festival, named after Campbell County native and renowned musician and artist Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, features a wide variety of music, including traditional string-band, blues, bluegrass, Americana, gospel and mountain jazz.

CONTACT: Peggy Mathews, (423) 562-8189, www.louiebluie.org JUNE 14-15

146th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF PARKER’S CROSSROADS LIVING HISTORY & BATTLE REENACTMENT Parker’s Crossroads Visit the Civil War-era living history camps or watch the battle re-enactments.

CONTACT: Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Assn., (731) 986-5572, www.parkerscrossroads.com JUNE 14-15

TENNESSEE HERITAGE BARBECUE FESTIVAL Sam Davis Home & Museum, Smyrna Professional and amateur barbecue cooks vie for cash prizes along with entertainment, crafts, food, living history demonstrations and lots of family fun. CONTACT: Sam Davis Home & Museum, (615) 459-2341, www.tennesseeheritage barbecuefestival.com JUNE 20-21

SECRET CITY FESTIVAL A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge Highlights the heritage of Oak Ridge and its role in World War II. Includes a children’s festival, historic displays, World War II re-enactment and tours of Manhattan Project sites. CONTACT: (865) 425-3610, www.secretcityfestival.com JUNE 20-22

WORLD ON A STRING: NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL Nashville Public Library, Nashville Featuring performances by Magdeburg Puppentheater of Germany, Teatro dei Burattini San Carlino of Italy, Le Velo Theater of France and the Dragon Art Studio of China. Special guests including Nashville Ballet and master puppeteer Phillip Huber (Being John Malkovich).

Perfect for the whole family. CONTACT: Nashville Public Library, (615) 862-5755, www.library.nashville.org Home&Farm

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JUNE 21

ROSE MONT RENAISSANCE Rose Mont Mansion, Gallatin Built by Josephus Conn Guild in the 1830s, Rose Mont is recognized as one of Tennessee’s outstanding Greek Revival houses. Rose Mont, once the site of the area’s largest thoroughbred horse farm with 500 acres, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Homes. Includes home tour, food, crafts and more. CONTACT: Sumner County Tourism, (888) 301-7866, www.sumnercvb.com

JUNE 21

BELL BUCKLE RC & MOON PIE FESTIVAL Bell Buckle Celebrate the South’s finest tradition - an RC Cola and a Moon Pie. Includes a parade, crowning of the RC and Moon Pie King and Queen and cutting of the largest Moon Pie. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (931) 389-9663, www.bellbucklechamber.com

JUNE 21-22

62nd ANNUAL RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL Roan Mountain Celebrating the blooming of the Rhododendron Gardens, the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North

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Home&Farm |Summer 2008

tnfarmbureau.org

Events & Festivals

American continent. Features handmade crafts, food and a variety of traditional music. CONTACT: Roan Mountain State Park, (800) 250-8620, www.roanmountain.com

arts & crafts market, children’s activities, live music and food. CONTACT: Friends of the UT Gardens, (865) 525-4555, www.bloomsdays.utk.edu

JUNE 22

JUNE 28-29

JEFFERSON STREET JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

RAID ON WATAUGA

Nashville Two days of great music, wonderful food, and plenty of fun for the family. Bridging the Gap Mixer will be held June 21. CONTACT: Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership Inc., (615) 726-5867, www.jumptojefferson.com JUNE 26-29

KUUMBA FESTIVAL Knoxville The largest African American cultural arts festival in East Tennessee. The festival is a four-day, four-night multi-event celebration with more than 200 entertainers performing on three stages. Live demonstrations, and more than 100 craftspeople and food vendors. CONTACT: Nkechi Ajanaku, (865) 546-9705, www.kuumbafesttn.com) JUNE 27-28

DICKSON FIDDLERS CONTEST & FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL Dickson Features a Battle of the Bands, barbecue sausage judging contest, crafts, car show, antique tractor exhibition, children’s activity center, magic show and more. CONTACT: Bobby Prosser, (615) 446-5914, www.dicksoncountychamber.com

Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats The year 1777 was called “the year of the bloody 7s” in the Watauga Settlement due to the high number of battles, sieges and raids between the Cherokee and the settlers on the Watauga, Holston and Nolichucky rivers. Join re-enactors from across the Southeast as they recreate events typical of the year 1777. CONTACT: Rocky Mount Museum, (423) 538-7396, www.rockymountmuseum.com

July JULY 3

FIRECRACKER 5K RUN FOR ST. JUDE The Racquet Club, Memphis Be a part of this summer evening of fun and celebration for the entire family. It’s Tennessee’s RRCA 5K state championship.

It’s a dance, pool party, live entertainment, and a chance to support the children of St. Jude. CONTACT: (901) 765-4409, www.firecracker5k.com JULY 3-6

LYNNVILLE BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL

LIBERTYFEST

JUNE 27-28

MINOR HILL RODEO Minor Hill Agri-Park, Minor Hill Come enjoy this rodeo and the crowning of the Rodeo Queen. CONTACT: Minor Hill City Hall, (931) 565-3113, www.gilescountytourism.com JUNE 28-29

BLOOMS DAYS GARDEN FESTIVAL & MARKETPLACE University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville Offers two days of gardening workshops, tnhomeandfarm.com

Gatlinburg Enjoy a fun, unmanned, floatable object race. Prizes awarded. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (800) 568-4748, www.gatlinburg.com JULY 4-5

SMITHVILLE’S FIDDLER’S JAMBOREE & CRAFTS FESTIVAL Smithville State and National Championships in 24 categories plus seven categories for country music beginners, continuous jam session, more than 200 juried craft exhibitors, and cash prizes. CONTACT: Jamboree Office, (615) 597-8500, www.smithvillejamboree.com JULY 4-6

JUNE 27-28

Downtown Lynnville Taste the “World’s Largest Blackberry Pie,” rides for children, Jolly Carnival, blackberry treats, dance the night away and more.

CONTACT: City Hall, (931) 527-3158, www.gilescountytourism.com

JULY 4

RIVER RAFT REGATTA

Lawrenceburg Events include a Second Chance Prom, concert and street dance, tailgate party, Big Kahuna Luau, cooking contest, Old-Timers vs. All-Stars Classic Baseball Game, and a traditional huge fireworks display on the 4th. “Bye Bye Birdie” will also be presented at the Historic Crockett Theatre. CONTACT: Anne Morrow, (931) 762-7617, www.cityoflawrenceburgtn.com

JONESBOROUGH DAYS FESTIVAL Jonesborough Patriotic celebration of the region’s heritage.

The theme this year is “Farmin’ on the Fourth.” Visit villages from different periods in time, see traditional handmade crafts, enjoy concerts and children’s activities.

CONTACT: Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, (423) 753-1010, www.jonesboroughtn.org JULY 5

ROCKIN’ THE DOCKS Lenoir City Park, Lenoir City Live bands, food, fireworks and children’s play area on the banks of beautiful Fort Loudoun Lake. CONTACT: Lenoir City Parks & Recreation, (865) 986-1223, www.visitloudoncounty.com JULY 6

HALF MOON MUSIC FESTIVAL Watts Bar Lake, Ten Mile Come by water or land to enjoy live entertainment. CONTACT: Dr. Wayne Tipps, (865) 717-0584, www.halfmoonfest.com

JULY 4

JULY 10-12

ANVIL SHOOT AND CELEBRATION

17th ANNUAL GREAT CELEBRATION MULE & DONKEY SHOW

Norris Old-fashioned celebration with musicians, craftspeople and demonstrations of old-time activities such as sassafras tea brewing, shepherding, rail splitting, and more. CONTACT: Museum of Appalachia, (865) 494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

Shelbyville Mules and donkeys converge for competition in halter, driving and saddle classes.

Includes a mule pulling contest, watermelon feast, barbecue dinner and more.

CONTACT: The Celebration, (931) 684-5915, www.twhnc.com Home&Farm

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Events & Festivals

JULY 11-12

JULY 12

LAUDERDALE COUNTY TOMATO FESTIVAL

WATERTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL & MURDER MYSTERY TRAIN

Ripley City Park, Ripley This festival honors local tomato growers.

Includes food, crafts, live music, tomato contest, tomato tasting, Tomato Festival Royalty Contest and more. CONTACT: Lauderdale Chamber/ECD, (731) 635-9541, www.lauderdalecountytn.org

Watertown After your exciting murder mystery ride, relax and enjoy the exciting lineup of live jazz entertainment at the Jazz Festival.

CONTACT: Jazz Festival, (615) 237-9338, www.wilsoncountycvb.com

JULY 11-13

31st ANNUAL UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVAL Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro Featuring the National Championships in old-time banjo, old-time buck dancing and old-time clogging; arts, crafts and food.

CONTACT: Uncle Dave Macon Days, (800) 716-7560, www.uncledavemacondays.com

JULY 12

COLUMBIA SUNSET SYMPHONY Historic Elm Springs, Columbia Enjoy an evening of dining and music under the stars. Dinner available with reservations. CONTACT: Mike Sharpton, (931) 388-0117, www.sunsetsymphony.com JULY 13-14

JULY 12

GRAVEYARD TALES Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats Experience spooky stories and haunted tales as told by the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild. Get a taste of Halloween in July. CONTACT: Connie Gill, (423) 753-9882, www.storytellersguild.org

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Home&Farm |Summer 2008

SULLIVAN COUNTY ANTIQUE TRACTOR & ENGINE SHOW

tractor pull, tractor parade, live entertainment, food, crafts and more.

CONTACT: Billy Wells, (423) 538-7031 JULY 17-19

QUILTFEST Johnson City & Jonesborough The largest quilting event in the region, drawing quilters from throughout the United States. Quilt exhibits, classes and lectures.

CONTACT: Tennessee Quilts, (423) 753-6644, www.tennesseequilts.com JULY 18-19

OVERTON COUNTY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Livingston Courthouse Square Come enjoy the live bluegrass bands, contests, crafts and more.

CONTACT: Mac McLeod, (931) 498-4667, www.overtonco.com JULY 18-20

Blountville

SCOPES TRIAL FESTIVAL

Enjoy the sights, sounds and demonstrations of the power of the past. More than 100 antique tractors and equipment on display.

Includes an antique tractor pull, kiddie

Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton Dramatic re-enactment of the 1925 Scopes Evolution Trial held in the original courthouse. Crafts, food, car

tnfarmbureau.org

show, children’s area, music and more.

CONTACT: Dayton Chamber of Commerce, (423) 775-0361, www.rheacountyetc.com JULY 18-27

GATLINBURG CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR Gatlinburg More than 200 of the finest woodcarvers, potters, broom-makers, stained-glass makers, metal workers, basket-weavers, calligraphers and jewelers. CONTACT: Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, (865) 436-7479, www.craftsmenfair.com

JULY 24

25th ANNUAL MILAN NO-TILL CROP PRODUCTION FIELD DAY UT Research & Education Center at Milan The nation’s largest field day devoted to no-tillage crop production techniques.

Numerous community events and activities are held in conjunction with the field day.

CONTACT: UT Research & Education Center at Milan, (731) 686-7362, http://milan.tennessee.edu JULY 24

ART.A.MA.JIG JULY 19-20

WHITE OAK MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Tri-State Exhibition Center, Cleveland Highly acclaimed bluegrass bands delight crowds during the afternoon and evening.

Includes antique tractors and amazing Southern food. CONTACT: Tri-State Exhibition Center, (423) 476-9310, www.tsec.org

Tanner Hill Gallery, Chattanooga This event pairs the culinary and fine arts for an evening of fun and fellowship to support the arts. CONTACT: Arts & Education Council, (423) 267-1218, www.artsedcouncil.org JULY 25-27

GRAINGER COUNTY TOMATO FESTIVAL

Rutledge Events include Tomato Wars, Civil War encampment, 5K fun run, antique engines and tractors, beauty pageant, artisans, entertainment on three stages and more. CONTACT: Doris Stratton, (865) 828-3433, www.graingercountytomatofestival.com JULY 26

68th ANNUAL RED CARPET HORSE SHOW OF THE SOUTH Giles County Agricultural Park, Pulaski One of the largest one-night horse shows in Tennessee. CONTACT: Robert Brindley Jr., (931) 363-2644, www.gilescountytourism.com JULY 26

BLUEGRASS ON THE FARM Ritter Farms, Rutledge Features Doyle Lawson and Rhonda Vincent. Also available fresh from the farm are Grainger County tomatoes, sweet onions, green beans, sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers and more. CONTACT: Nancy Ritter, (865) 767-2575, www.ritterfarms.com

JULY 21-26

71st ANNUAL OVERTON COUNTY FAIR Overton County Fairgrounds, Livingston Exhibits, agricultural products, horse shows, carnival rides, entertainment and contests. CONTACT: Tina Williams, (931) 823-4276, www.overtonco.com

JULY 26

MAGIC OF THE MACHINE Lane Motor Museum, Nashville Enjoy motoring madness with vehicle demonstrations, a LARC demonstration (large, amphibious vehicle) and vehicle rides for adults! CONTACT: Lane Motor Musuem, (615) 742-7445, www.lanemotormuseum.org JULY 26

SWISS HERITAGE CELEBRATION Stampfli Farm, Gruetli-Laager The celebration provides a flavor of what life was like for the early settlers on this 33-acre farm. Homesteaded in 1870, the farm still has the original residence, frame corn crib, sweet potato house and other vintage farm buildings. Features music, homecooked food, hayrides and farming demonstrations with antique farm equipment. CONTACT: Swiss Heritage Celebration, (703) 622-7895, www.swisshistoricalsociety.org JULY 26-27

MONTEAGLE MOUNTAIN MARKET OF ARTS & CRAFTS Hannah Picket Memorial Park, Monteagle Show and market featuring handmade and home produced arts & crafts. CONTACT: Chamber of Commerce, (931) 924-5353, www.monteaglechamber.com tnhomeandfarm.com

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Events & Festivals

August AUGUST 2

WARTRACE HORSE SHOW Wartrace Since 1906, the oldest one-night horse show in Tennessee attracts thousands to witness finalists who enter the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration. CONTACT: (931) 389-6144, www.wartracechamber.org AUGUST 2-3

CHEROKEE DAYS OF RECOGNITION Red Clay State Historic Park, Cleveland Held at the last eastern council grounds for the Cherokee Nation, this annual event celebrates Cherokee customs with food, storytelling, music, dance, crafts and more.

CONTACT: Red Clay State Historic Park, (423) 478-0339, www.visitclevelandtn.com AUGUST 7-9

INTERNATIONAL ROCK-ABILLY MUSIC FESTIVAL Jackson

The world’s largest gathering of Rock-a-Billy artists and musicians, featuring the pioneers of Rock-a-Billy music as well as developing artists. CONTACT: Henry Harrison, (731) 427-6262, www.rockabillyhall.org AUGUST 7-10

127 CORRIDOR SALE – WORLD’S LONGEST YARD SALE From Gadsden, AL to Covington, KY Nationally known series of sales with everything imaginable, including art, antiques, crafts, quilts, decorative sewing and more. CONTACT: Fentress County Chamber of Commerce, (800) 327-3945, www.127sale.com AUGUST 8-9

30th ANNUAL BELL WITCH OLD-TIME BLUEGRASS COMPETITION Bell School Grounds, Adams Includes a bluegrass music competition, clogging competition and more. CONTACT: Adams Community Club, (615) 696-2593, www.adamstennessee.com

AUGUST 8-10

DAVID CROCKETT DAYS David Crockett State Park, Lawrenceburg This pre-1840s rendezvous includes shooting competitions, traders, games, music, food and more. CONTACT: David Crockett State Park, (931) 762-9408, www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/ DavidCrockettSP/ AUGUST 9-10

SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL Chucalissa Museum, Memphis Come and enjoy the weekend learning about the Southeastern tribes that once lived here in this area. Enjoy the various types of dances and a game called stickball. CONTACT: (901) 785-3160 AUGUST 9-17

ELVIS WEEK Memphis A celebration of the music, movies and life of Elvis Presley. Fans from around the world gather to celebrate through dances, charity events, conferences, concerts, sporting events and more. The week also includes the annual candlelight vigil on the night of August 15. CONTACT: Graceland, (800) 238-2000, www.elvis.com AUGUST 15

27th ANNUAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL Maynardville Bluegrass, gospel bands and old-time country music bands perform.

CONTACT: Big Ridge State Park, (865) 992-5523 AUGUST 15-23

WILSON COUNTY FAIR James E. Ward Agricultural Center, Lebanon Tennessee’s largest county fair includes crafts, rides, contests, livestock, entertainment and food. CONTACT: Fair Office, (615) 443-2626, www.wilsoncountycvb.com AUGUST 16

FEAST WITH THE BEASTS Knoxville Zoo The zoo offers adults an interesting environment to enjoy live entertainment and sample foods and beverages from more than 40 area restaurants and vendors.

CONTACT: Teresa Collins, (865) 637-5331 ext. 302, www.knoxville-zoo.org

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AUGUST 16

YORKVILLE’S INTERNATIONAL WASHER PITCHIN’ CONTEST Yorkville Park & Community Center, Yorkville Games, music, food, washer pitchin’ contest and family fun. CONTACT: Jim Payne, (731) 643-6220, www.dyersburgscene.com AUGUST 17

DAVY CROCKETT’S 222nd BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Crockett Tavern Museum, Morristown Includes refreshments, children’s activities and tours of the museum. CONTACT: Crockett Tavern Museum, (423) 587-9900, www.discoveret.org/crockett

some of Chattanooga’s largest swing orchestras. A wooden dance floor is set up in front of the stage to encourage every generation to demonstrate their love of swing dancing. CONTACT: Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, (423) 265-0771, www.downtownchattanooga.org

AUGUST 30-31

FRANKLIN JAZZ FESTIVAL Franklin Includes jazz, blues and dixieland.

CONTACT: Heritage Foundation, (615) 591-8500, www.historicfranklin.com

AUGUST 30

16th ANNUAL CRAPE MYRTLE FESTIVAL Ardmore Crafts, live entertainment, children’s games, specialty foods and more.

CONTACT: Giles County Tourism Foundation, (931) 363-3789, www.gilescountytourism.com

AUGUST 23-24

BEERSHEBA SPRINGS ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

AUGUST 30-31

MUSIC CITY J.A.M. Nashville The melodious sounds of jazz, blues, reggae, funk, soul and R&B will be featured in a musical collage for all to enjoy at Riverfront Park.

CONTACT: Convention & Visitors Bureau, (800) 657-6910, www.visitmusiccity.com AUGUST 30-31

MEMPHIS MUSIC & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Beersheba Springs This arts & crafts fair has only original arts & crafts; no commercial or flea market wares displayed. CONTACT: Fran Holt, (931) 692-3733

Center for Southern Folklore, Memphis A Labor Day tradition with five stages of Memphis’ top musicians and more.

The festival takes place on Main Street between Gayoso and Peabody Place.

CONTACT: (901) 525-3655, www.memphismusicand heritagefestival.com

AUGUST 25

WLOK STONE SOUL PICNIC Tom Lee Park, Memphis Features gospel music from both local and national artists. CONTACT: (901) 527-9565, www.wlok.com/stonesoulpicnic.shtml

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1

AFRICAN STREET FESTIVAL

HOORAY FOR HARRIMAN LABOR DAY STREET FESTIVAL

Jackson Fairgrounds Park, Jackson This event promotes awareness with entertainment, workshops, educational seminars and more. CONTACT: Society for African American Cultural Awareness, (731) 267-3212, www.saaca.com

Harriman Crafts, concessions, children’s activities and live entertainment.

CONTACT: Amy Arriola, (865) 201-8280, www.roanealliance.org

AUGUST 29-31

AUGUST 29-31

REGGAE FESTIVAL Turtle Town Features local and regional talent, including The Natti Love Joys, a dynamic blend of reggae, modern rhythm and blues mixed with drum, bass, hip-hop and jazz.

Caribbean food and international vendors on site. CONTACT: Camp Raggae, (423) 496-9370, www.campreggae.net AUGUST 30

SWINGFEST Coolidge Park, Chattanooga This event features four performances by tnhomeandfarm.com

Visit Our Advertisers CHP Marketing www.drpower.com Farm Credit Services www.e-farmcredit.com Gorilla Glue www.gorillaglue.com Tennessee Department of Agriculture www.picktnproducts.org

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation www.tnfarmbureau.org Tennessee Farmers Insurance www.fbitn.org Tennessee Rural Health Plans www.trh.com Your Man Tours

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Marketplace

Business Opportunities

Gatlinburg, www.baskinscreeksounds.com

Work from home distributing nutritional products. Low start-up cost. TLYNNM@ bellsouth.net, (954) 558-6059

Gatlinburg chalet, all amenities. (615) 828-3059, www.morningmistchalet.com

Gospel Music

Cabin rental, horse training, special events pavilion. www.fireflyacres.com, (931) 946-7383

Wholesale Clothing Work clothes – Save 75% on quality work clothes. 6 pants + 6 shirts = $39.95, men’s jeans 5 pair $25, lined work jackets $9.95. Since 1968. (800) 233-1853. Satisfaction guaranteed! www.usedworkclothing.com

www.salvationtrain.com

Graphic Design www.guerrilladesign.com

Miscellaneous Watkins Home Products. (800) 514-5437 Mountain scraps computerized quilting, quilt retreats, classes. (865) 354-1010, mtnscraps@comcast.net

Real Estate Riverfront 61 acres, all accessible, mile and half riverfront, rolling hills, White County, (931) 260-6068, (931) 526-3759, $1.2m

Stock Sales Will pay top price for TN Farm Bureau stock. (931) 381-3580

Tenne sse e

Home & Farm Classified ads cost $5.00 per word per issue. The words “For Sale” and name, address and phone number count as words. Also, groups of initials, e-mails, Web sites and numbers count as one word each.

Ads not accompanied with payment will be returned to sender.

New! Marketplace ads are now online.

Visit them at tnhomeandfarm.com.

Starting with the Spring 2009 issue, our Marketplace will be a Web-exclusive online advertising section of tnhomeandfarm.com.

For more information, e-mail pcornelius@jnlcom.com.

Please type your listing or print plainly (no cursive writing) on a separate sheet. Clip this form and mail with correct payment to: Tennessee Home & Farm Marketplace, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067 or fax to 615-771-0386.

Vacation Rentals

Name _______________________________________________________________

Cabins & chalets in Pigeon Forge. (800) 382-4393, www.pantherknob.com

Address _____________________________________________________________

Gulfside condo or Rockies house, either sleeps six. Close to lots of fun, mountain cool or sandy beach. (931) 648-4949, (931) 206-6088

City _____________________________ State _____________ Zip ___________ Phone ( Area Code _______ ) ____________________________________________ Category*____________________________________________________________

Farm House near Rock Island Park, furnished. (931) 235-8054, www.vrbo. com/89925 Log cabins streamside Townsend, Tennessee. www.blountweb.com/smlc, (800) 532-4565 Cabins near Dollywood, 1-36 people. (800) 362-1897, www.mcrr93.com

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* Note: New categories are created solely at the discretion of the publisher.

Print Issues (online included): O Fall ’08 O Winter ’09 Web-exclusive Issues: O Spring ’09 O Summer ’09

Number of words in ad _________________ x Number of issues _________________ x $5.00 = __________________

: Amount enclosed with ad

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View From the Back Porch

Are We There Yet? FAMILY VACATIONS ARE OFTEN AN ENDURANCE TEST amily vacation. Family vacation.

An oxymoron as familiar as “military intelligence” – and just as accurate in describing the impossible.

Ask any mother about the visions the word “vacation” conjures up. You’re likely to hear about poolside lounge chairs, tall glasses with umbrellas and a bronzed massage therapist named Joaquin.

What you won’t hear about is one-bedroom condos and piles of shrimp to clean for dinner or instant oatmeal and beef jerky hauled up the side of a mountain in a knapsack.

Let’s face it, while taking the kids on a trip can provide lifelong memories, it’s no vacation – it’s an exercise in courage and endurance, like the Omaha Beach landing or Lonesome Dove’s cattle drive.

Our family vacations, through no deliberate decision, have always been about the beach, an eight-hour drive, not counting conveniencestore browsing, potty breaks, missed exits and roadside stops for stern admonitions about shoddy backseat behavior.

Looking back, I’m amazed that we were brave enough to continue these beach trips after the first two or three, given the general level of mayhem and relationship-threatening, uh, discussions over who had invaded whose space in the way-back of our van. But we did, annually, a tradition that carries over in one permutation or another today, even though the siblings who once leveled lethal glances and hidden elbow jabs at one another are now wage-earners and close friends.

The road trip itself – “Don’t make me stop this car” – was a great adventure. Who could resist the sight of the giant peach water tower in Alabama, the lure of roadside outlet malls – “no WAY we’re stopping at the Nike store” – or three straight hours of AM-radio stations.

After miles and miles of lonesome pine

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highway – “Look, Dad, I think I saw a person!”

– finally, blessedly, the landscape began to hint of sandy soil and scrubby vegetation, cheers went up and the Beach Boys tape signaled the real start of the vacation.

For some of us.

Those of us who had driven all day knew better. Forget the sandy shore and the sunset.

There were desk clerks to placate – “No, really, the reservation was for a TWO-bedroom condo, not the penthouse” – groceries to buy, suitcases to unpack, dinner to cook and a cranky TV that received one station.

No matter. Who goes to the beach to watch TV anyway? After all, there are so many fun things to do on a seaside vacation – like go to the beach itself!

First, we’d pack up what we’ll need: sunscreen, floaties, swim diapers, juice boxes, snacks, hats, blankets, folding chairs, cooler, sandwiches, sand toys, inflatable raft and radio. Now load up the adults like pack mules and haul all the above down to the shore.

On the beach, I’d arrange the items and apply sunscreen and hats, then sit back and savor a relaxing few minutes catching up on my reading until – “Mommee! I got sand in my swimsuit! I wanna go home!” While comforting sobbing child, reverse pack-and-move process and head back to the condo.

Oddly enough, years later it’s not the hassles of those family vacations that stick with me the most. It’s all those wonderful, un-distracted moments in which I could deeply savor the sweetness of life with my kids. The tender, moist softness of a sleeping 2-yearold’s sandy cheek resting on my shoulder.

Curly heads bobbing in the surf for hours.

Endless games of miniature golf. Even those demented road trips.

Okay, maybe not the road trips so much.

I’ll take Joaquin over those any day.

About the Author Laura Hill is a Franklinbased freelance writer and editor who, in the course of family road trips, memorized nearly every Beach Boys song.

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