Magnolia Fieldstone Farms

MAGNOLIA Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

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January 2011 • FREE

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Letter From The Publisher

H

appy New Year Fieldstone Farms! I hope that you had a fantastic New Year’s Eve and that January has started with all the resolutions in place for 2011. Resolutions are a funny thing and it’s nice for the new year to provide an international starting line for our dreams to manifest. Whether your resolutions include getting healthier, paying off debt, or quitting a particular vice, it’s nice to know that most of the world’s population is doing the same.

They always say that “misery loves company” and there is plenty of company for us. Plenty of shoulders to lean on and plenty of support from others who may have the same resolutions as you. Just know that you are not alone. I have always love the first of the year simply because of the fact that everyone is on the way to their new and improved lives. I can feel the optimism in the air for all that the new year has to offer. My new year’s resolutions are to be more compassionate to others and to cut back on the soda pop. I wish everyone a very blessed 2011.

May this year be filled with all of the best for you and your families.

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.” ~T.S. Eliot

Happy New Year!

Dear Fieldstone Farms Homeowners, I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I am pleased to announce that CMA, Community Management Associates, will be taking over our property management services starting January 1st. The board interviewed three management companies and CMA was the unanimous choice. CMA is headquartered in Atlanta and has established an office in Nashville. CMA brings a level of expertise that will bring about many positive changes for Fieldstone Farms. Please come to the next board meeting at 6 pm on January 18th, at Christ Community Church and meet the new CMA staff.

The board wishes everyone a wonderful year!

Sincerely, Tom Paden (President FF HOA) 4 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

Contents Credits Joshua Carré Publisher Every Aiden Thomas Editor

Turning the Page

Sally Carré Advertising Director

Real Estate

Joshua Cantu Creative Consultant

Meet Your Neighbor Chinese New Year Is Not a Postscript

Kathryn Fitch Account Executive

6 7 8 9

Dianne Christian 10

Outside Graphic Art Jacob Bettis

The Fieldstone View 12

Contributors Kristi Carré David jay Fieldstone Farms Contributors Phil Leftwich Maria Dinoia Susan S. Cheung Scott Fishkind Brian Bachochin

Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life 14 Community Calendar 16 Teacher’s Corner 18

January Cover Photo “Happy New Year” Photo by: H.d. Connelly

Magnolia Publications Franklin, Tennessee (615) 335-2049 www.MagnoliaPublications.com

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Wellness 19 Monthly Message 21

Fieldstone Fashion 22 Business Buzz 23

X-Box Alternatives 26

Please Recycle!

Magnolia Publications is a privately owned company and is not affiliated with The Fieldstone Farms Home Owners Association, Morris Properties or any of the advertisers within. All Content is © 2010 Magnolia Publications. All Rights Reserved.

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011

5

Turning the Page

by Phil Leftwich

T

he winter solstice has come and gone alongside the very rare occurrence of a lunar eclipse to mark this annual event. The sun has begun nibbling at the darkness a few seconds at a time as the days begin to lengthen once again.

The two-faced God Janus left us looking back if only briefly as the clock chimed midnight on New Year’s Eve and we entered the month named in his honor.

We have turned the page to another year’s calendar.

Looking back is often a good thing since it allows us to assess the past year and make those resolutions of the changes we want to make in the coming year. By now some of mine are already being broken, however, or have shattered into the reality

6 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

that I really didn’t want to make them. So the curse of Janus is upon me. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I can change my life if I will to do so. If Ebenezer Scrooge could vow to change his life for the better, then anybody can!

Janus could see both backward into the past and forward into the future, but he was blind to the present. That must have been an annoying condition. Unfortunately, it is the way that many of us live our lives. We reach as far as our arms will stretch, or our vision will carry us, into the future trying to change what we can to make our lives and those around us better. But our reach often exceeds our grasp. The same is true of dwelling on the past which we cannot alter. We can learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. We can hope and wish for circumstances beyond our control that may alter our lives in fresh and unexpected ways.

We can make changes in our lives for the better that are within our control, but even Janus could not undo the past. We can learn how to live in the present and savor the opportunities of each new day. Perhaps we can stop and be still long enough for a few moments every day and see the beauty in the world around us and make some new friends along the way.

The question that always haunts me in January is an old one.

It is the question “What if?” Someone has said that “if” is the middle of “life.” It’s a nice play on words, and holds some deeper meanings. It goes beyond the superficial. What if, for example, I had not gained back the ten pounds I made a resolution to lose last year? I would certainly look better, maybe feel better, and certainly be healthier. What if I had slowed down on multi-tasking and focused on doing a few things well? What if I had paid closer attention to some old friendships and gotten in touch with those important people from my past with whom I’ve lost touch? What if? There’s no one stopping me from keeping my New Year’s resolutions but myself. I can find those missing friends on line, learn how to actually use Facebook, and renew our conversations from years ago. In some ways, maybe I will learn to know those missing people all over again and in some brand new ways. That seems easy enough.

The world of our personal relationships is a fascinating domain. Like a spider web, if we touch one corner ever so lightly the rest of the fragile system feels the vibration. The same is true when we touch the system of our relationships. Granted we may not always know what we are feeling, or even from where our emotions originate, but we can feel their effect. Every time we tug on the edge of our web something happens to others who are connected to us. If we send off “good vibes,” then the people inside our web of life feel something good. If we send off “bad vibes,” then others may intuitively sense that something is wrong.

So what kind of vibes do we send out? Good ones? Bad ones?

Bad ones aren’t necessarily bad, by the way, if they are cries for help from those we trust. Good ones may help someone else who is having a bad time. Much of what we send is solely our decision. It’s part of examining our own behaviors and sometimes intentionally changing our actions. What if you choose today to do something that sends off some “good vibes?” Maybe sending such messages may make all of us feel better.

So what’s on your resolution list for 2011? What are the lingering “What ifs” that can guide your way into January and beyond?

What shall we do with a new year? Go ahead and turn the page.

What if. . .

Real Estate

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011

7

Meet Your Neighbor BETTER BY AUDREY

Housecleaning and Nanny Placement Agency

B

etter By Audrey is the business success story of one woman, a work ethic and the desire to accomplish a humble task as though it were great and noble. Based in Fieldstone Farms, Better By Audrey has been placing Cleaners and Nannies in Williamson and Davidson Counties for over 17 years. Better By Audrey takes a unique approach to housecleaning and child care based on Audrey’s many years in the industry.

After graduating from Covenant College, Audrey married her college sweetheart, Gary Moore, and they moved to Los Angeles.

While job searching, she began cleaning houses with her sisterin-law and discovered that she was quite good at it!! Plus, she could set her own hours and be her own boss. Twenty-five years later, Audrey is glad she stuck with it!

The Moores moved to Franklin in 1990 and had their first 2 children, Sawyer and Savannah. Audrey continued cleaning part time while the kids were at Mother’s Day Out. She always had a long waiting list of potential clients and not enough time to fulfill the demand. When their next 2 children came along, Sadler and Sterling, it became necessary for Audrey to be home full time with the children. She still needed to generate income so she began placing cleaners as independent contractors. Word spread and before she knew it, Audrey had a thriving business on her hands.

“The caliber of my cleaners is so high, that my customers soon began asking if my cleaners could babysit their children! What a compliment!! From this turn of events came my Nanny Placement Agency.”

Audrey is proud of her Cleaners because they share her passion for serving their customers in a personal yet professional way. Her Nannies are devoted to loving children well and they assist the parents in the task of training and guiding children in a positive direction.

Better By Audrey happily offers phone quotes and there are no contracts to sign that obligate customers to a length or frequency of service. The service is very personalized for each homeowner and it’s friendly, customer service cannot be beat.

You are invited to contact Better By Audrey: Web: www.BetterByAudrey.com Email: BetterByAudrey@yahoo.com Office Phone: 615.794-4537 Cell Phone: 615.578-1615

Winter Advisory: Prevent Frozen Pipes.

Save money and a big mess.

• Disconnect garden hoses.

• Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and attics.

• Seal cold air leaks near pipes.

• Run a trickle of water.

• Keep your thermostat at 55°F or above.

Heather Farmer, Agent 6592 Hwy 100 Ste 2 Nashville, TN 37205 Bus: 615-356-6503 www.heatherfarmer.com

1001003

8 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

Chinese New Year Is Not a Postscript

By Susan S. Cheung

H

appy New Year! Have you made any resolutions? Well I, along with 20 percent of world’s population, haven’t celebrated the New Year yet.

We don’t make resolutions for the Chinese or Lunar New Year, but we have to pay off our debts. So, if I owe you anything, I’ll be expecting a call!

The Metal Rabbit Year starts on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the 12 animals’ Chinese zodiac.

Chinese New Year is the most important celebration for Chinese and other Asian people. It’s also part of the story of immigration; a bond linking overseas Chinese and their descendants to their heritage, even though they live thousands of miles away from their ancestral homelands.

Saying “Gung Hei Fat Choi” (Congratulations and Be Prosperous) and Sun Nian Faai Lok (Happy New Year) is my connection to millions of others, who speak Cantonese in S.E. China, Hong Kong and around the world where people have settled, such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.

My children have an interesting road to navigate being American-born of British raised parents with a Chinese (Guangdong Hakka) and Hong Kong (New Territories Hakka) ancestry. If it was hard for me – and I grew up in a major city with a sizable Chinese population – imagine the cultural questions my children may have living in a small city, hundreds of miles away from any sort of Chinatown.

I don’t want them to grow up in a cultural void, so I’ll start with my childhood memories. Hands down, as a child, the best part was getting “Lei Sei” (red packets of money) from family – the equivalent of receiving Christmas presents.

Of course, I remember other things, like three weeks before New Year my parents would start to spring clean the house and nearer to New Year the kitchen altar. We prayed to the Kitchen God on New Year’s Eve and to our ancestors on New Year’s Day. The house looked bright with red decorations, vibrant flowers and kumquat trees, and scented with the smells of burning incense and citrus fruits in big bowls.

We wore new clothes to visit our relatives. Invariably, we’d be invited to eat some food; maybe a slice of “Nian Go” (New Year pudding) or have some “Tong Yuen” in “Tong Sui” (Sweet Glutinous Rice Flour Balls in Sugar Water) – I never did get used to the texture of Nian Go or Tong Yuen, but was always told to eat it, so I’d grow taller and add one more year to my life (well, I’m not sure Nian Go worked as I’m still only 5-foot, but obviously the Tong Yuen did as I’m at the start of my 4th decade!)

Teaching my children to say “Gung Hei Fat Choi” is as if my parents are passing on the parenting baton to me; the very act of

teaching them symbolically tying three generations born on three different continents together.

I’ll tell them the traditional stories, like the legend of “Nian” – a ferocious beast that attacked people thousands of years ago.

Nian was afraid of noise, fire and the color red, so people hung red peach wood on their doors, made campfires with bamboo to make crackling sounds and beat metal utensils to scare Nian away. These are the origins of the New Year traditions of decorating with red paper with lucky phrases written on them and lighting firecrackers to scare off evil spirits.

In Cantonese, New Year’s Eve is called “Guo Nian” – “Guo” means passing and “Nian” in modern Chinese means year so, in essence, the New Year is about surviving Nian (the beast) and starting anew.

From honoring our past through veneration of ancestors to “fasting” (eating root and fibrous vegetables and gluten, “Jai”) on New Year’s Day; from sweeping the old dirt away to wearing new clothes, we’re symbolically going back to beginnings and reenergizing ourselves for the year ahead.

As a mother, I’m keenly aware that Chinese New Year could become an afterthought or a postscript to Christmas and New Year (Gregorian calendar) and, therefore, it feels more important than ever to be excited and proud, and to celebrate with my children.

I’m adapting our heritage to the realities of our life here as best I can, like adapting recipes to the ingredients I can buy. My young children are like sponges wanting to learn by doing. As I clean the house ready for New Year, they’ll have dust cloths in hand ready to help me. As I tell them New Year stories, they’ll use their natural imaginations to role play. And, in turn, I hope they will share the customs and stories with their friends and classmates with pride and excitement, the same way I’m sharing with you today.

Susan S. Cheung (known to many by her Chinese name, Shifay) is a Fieldstone Farms-based writer originally from London, England. Her New Year challenge is to make Nian Go from scratch; no mean feat if you imagine her on the phone with her parents as she mixes! You can contact her at y2s2cheung@yahoo.com MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011

9

Dianne Christian D

ianne Christian, the founder and broker of The DIANNE CHRISTIAN Team, built her first home in Franklin’s new, planned urban development named Fieldstone Farms in 1990. In fact, she was one of its very first residents.

Being a native of Franklin and Williamson County, Dianne has deep family and social roots in the area. She has literally touched the lives of many people, and it all started in 1974. In her early 20’s, Dianne opened her own retail business. At that time Franklin was approving the very first retail mall to be built located directly off the square on Third Avenue South in the Historic Downtown District. That’s where The Cottage, a women’s clothing store, began. Using her passion for business and devotion to helping people, the business thrived for 12 years until 1986. As larger retail chains moved into the area and shoppers were attracted to the newer malls, Dianne felt it necessary to re-invent herself with a career change.

As a college student Dianne previously had a summer intern position with a prominent real estate professional. She followed that real estate mentor’s advice and direction and began her real estate career.

That was 25 years ago! Her success in real estate was not a surprise to her family, friends and early clients.

Selling real estate is a very demanding and a very time-consuming business that requires a committed involvement with many people at the same time. Dianne quickly proved that she had the talent, the business skills and, most importantly, the people skills to earn an early reputation as a dependable and knowledgeable REALTOR®. Her success grew as did her reputation. Since 1990, Dianne built three (3) personal homes in Fieldstone Farms. Early on Dianne represented her buyer clients to the developer of Fieldstone Farms and the numerous builders as the neighborhood was literally coming out-of-the ground.

Dianne established herself as the true real estate professional that earned her the title of “the Fieldstone Farms Specialist”®.

To date, Dianne has sold approximately 538 homes in Fieldstone Farms . . . sometimes selling the 10 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

same house for the third or fourth time over the years.

Today Dianne is in a select group of high-profile REALTORS® who are literally the “who’s who” in Middle Tennessee real estate. She is consistently a top producer in listings and sales; has created her own real estate team, The DIANNE CHRISTIAN Team; and is an investor/owner in two (2) Keller Williams Market Centers. Her team consists of a full-time office staff that takes care of the marketing, the contract-to-close paperwork as well as buyer- agent specialists who make certain all clients receive her “Red Carpet Service”. The DIANNE CHRISTIAN Team uses state-of-the-art technology along with innovative web techniques to market homes for sellers and to research home information for buyers purchasing their first home or their next dream home. Dianne personally works with each and every home seller to help them present their home in its best condition and to research the most accurate market conditions.

The DIANNE CHRISTIAN Team offers many free online services that provide “real -time” market updates, current home sales and property values. “We want our customers and clients to be knowledgeable and completely informed in order to have an understanding of the process as well as the anticipated outcome” states Dianne. She has always had a strong commitment to her own ongoing personal education. She has earned her Broker’s license along with many professional real estate accreditations such as ABR, GRI, CRS, PMN, and RRC. Each of these designations helps set her apart from other REALTORS® and keep her on top of all of the legal requirements of today’s extremely complex, challenging and changing real estate market.

Dianne’s real estate reputation is widespread throughout the Middle Tennessee area. On the selling side of the business she “really knows” what it takes to get a home “market-ready” and is very experienced in pricing homes. Because of Dianne’s expertise, many clients refer her to their family, friends and neighbors because they know the level of personal attention and service that will be provided. This aspiring business woman is a mentor to many REALTORS® that are just starting their careers. Her warm and friendly smile says it all.

She’s in the right business, the right place and doing what she loves to do . . . helping people!

The Fieldstone View

with Maria Dinoia

What does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day mean to you?

“For me, it is a day set to remember the struggle of an oppressed people. Through the leadership of Martin Luther King and many others, civil rights and the “pursuit of happiness” were granted to ALL Americans regardless of color or ethnicity”. ~ Montez Gary

12 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

Maria Dinoia is a parttime freelance writer who happily resides in Fieldstone Farms with her husband and three kids. mariadin@ bellsouth.net.

“Celebration of a great American leader who thoughtfully and peacefully restored civil rights to a segment of Americans that were previously denied these rights.” ~ Leonard Dinoia

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MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 13

Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life “What you talk about, you think about and what you think about, you bring about every single time.” ~Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna co-creators of the Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life Movement, 2010

I

n Nashville, Tennessee, an interactive workshop, “Change your Conversation, Change Your Life,” has started a movement destined to change the lives of participants for the rest of their lives. The creators of this program, Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna, share with Magnolia Magazine their vision for our readers.

“Our mission is to touch a million lives, and for that million to turn around and touch a million more so we are all creating a karmic wave of changing conversations together.” ~ Malinda and Lani To attain this goal these two inspiring women designed and developed “The Power of Conversation” interactive workshops, online learning program, group seminars and special self study groups to teach people how to change the internal chatter of their mind, using a tool they already use everyday – their conversation.

The Power of Conversation offers some of the best one-on-one coaching through a variety of electronic mediums today.

Change Your Conversation was founded on four basic understandings that apply to every event and circumstance of your life: Thoughts, Feelings, Inner Guidance and Choice – the “how” of the Law-of-Attraction. In all their programs Malinda and Lani demonstrate how to manage thought and move life beyond the physical senses to find the inner peace and joy we all seek by letting go of junk we carry around for years, overcoming every day hurdles and getting on with the life we want. As Gary Zukov, author of “The Seat of the Soul” puts it, “Spiritual growth begins with emotional awareness.” The key is knowing that our true, inner self is the energy behind every thought we have. Deliberately changing our conversation – the way we talk about our life – changes the vibration we hold ourselves to and every experience we attract into our experience. These women clearly demonstrate that when you change your conversation, you will change your life.

Malinda’s story. “After being married for six years, separated for a year and then losing my husband to suicide in 2005, my life was in complete shambles. On the outside everybody thought I was doing pretty well until I decided to remarry a year later out of complete fear. At that point in my life I had never been so scared.

I was raising two children on my own, running my own business and totally separated from myself. All my life I thought I was supposed to be married, work hard, be a good mom, a loving person and the rest would come out in the wash. When my husband died I wasn’t sure what direction I was moving in. I felt lost and completely alone.

“My conversations with myself were ones of despair, guilt, depression, and anger. I didn’t think I had it in me to stand on my own two feet – as a matter of fact I didn’t want to stand on my own two feet. Deep down I didn’t think I was capable of taking care of myself much less my children. I woke up every morning 14 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

wanting someone to just take it all away. I didn’t have the strength to deal with the enormous pain I was carrying around. I thought if I just kept going, all of it would eventually go away.

“Two years into my second marriage, I had totally isolated myself from all of my family and friends. I was emotionally and mentally at absolute rock bottom. My second marriage was incredibly unhealthy, every thought I had beat me up, tore me down and leaving me feeling angry, depressed, anxious, guilty, and with no self-worth. Through it all, I denied, ignored and dismissed the fundamental emotional patterns that were driving my life and my life reflected this pain back to me. I knew I was destined to repeat the same pattern if something didn’t change. It was like waking up each day and rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic knowing that the end result would keep repeating itself as a complete disaster.

Unless I wanted more of the same, I was going to have change from the inside out but where to begin? Then one day I received an e-mail from an old friend, Lani Barna.

“Lani and I had not spoken in two years and her e-mail was a wake-up call. We very quickly picked up right where we had left off spending long hours on the phone talking about what had come our way and where we were in our respective lives. Our conversations had always been on a more spiritual side, and during the time that we had lost contact with each other, Lani had begun a journey on her own, studying the non-physical side of herself, her thoughts and how to control them. Through her studies and research she had become quite advanced in her thinking and in our conversations she began sharing her new-found knowledge with me.

“On a personal level during the same period of time she was struggling with her own life. She was fighting her own battles following a near death experience in a car accident, divorce and an terminally ill mother. She ended a career in corporate America, leaving a well paying job and the prestige of an important sounding title, in order to move her mother into her home and care for her during her remaining days.

“Living quietly with her mother, Lani used that time to rediscover who she was and reconnect with the side of herself she had lost bit by bit over the years. When she wasn’t caring for her Mother, she studied everything she could about being human and what this thing we call “reality” really is. She studied quantum physics, neurobiology and consciousness. She searched the internet, subscribed to cutting edge newsletters and read book after

book. Without the noise and distraction of a daily commute and endless meetings, Lani found – and began to feel – the energy side of herself again. She felt as if she was meeting herself again for the first time. She discovered that her shift in perspective provided her with an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and finally take control of her life.

“In all of life we discovered the need to stop asking ourselves the question, “Why is this happening to me?” and start asking ourselves the question, “Why is this happening for me?” There is a cosmic difference in these two questions. The first one leads us down the path of victimhood, martyrdom, or feeling that there is something wrong with us. The second one takes us down a path towards deeper growth, spiritual awareness and healing.

“Our experiential knowing of this fundamental truth quickly changed our conversations from ones full of negativity and “what is” to the spiritual journey of personal growth we were both embarking on. We began helping each other move past what we had created in our lives that no longer felt good - inside or out – by slowly letting go of false expectations of ourselves and others and coming to terms with the personal responsibility and accountability for all that we had, and continue, to create.

“As Lani and I peeled back the layers of our lives we discovered that there were four principles involved in the process of creating every experience: thoughts, feelings, inner guidance and choice.

We stepped back and looked at every experience that no longer served us. One by one we resolved each through forgiveness and a sense of profound gratitude.

Rather than pushing others to change their ways to make us happy, we let go of judging and saw every experience as a gift to more completely discover who we are and what character we are made of. Are we courageous? Are we kind? We saw every difficult person as a way to more clearly express our core beliefs. Is this really what I believe a marriage should feel like? Is this really the relationship I want with my kids? We used every mistake to help us become more clear about our purpose and how the law-of-attraction works in our lives. Is this really who I think I am? Is this really what I want to be? We realized that every conversation we have with ourselves and others either builds us up or tears us down. We learned that when we get to the place where we become aware of how each thought makes us feel, we can always choose a better- feeling thought by getting quiet, becoming clear and using

contrast as a way to determine, once again, what we really want.

“As soon as I started applying these four principles of thoughts, feelings, inner guidance and choice to the big things in my life I started seeing more and more opportunity to move my life in the direction that I really wanted to go. I started to feel like I was gaining back control of my life. I started to feel a little more like me. Everyday I started finding my strengths again. I began building myself back from the ground up again. My life began to turn around.

“I separated from my second husband shortly thereafter, and with new eyes and an open mind, am now living on my own. I purposefully and intentionally create the loving home I always wanted for myself and my children. I have become incredibly quiet after letting go of all the drama and breaking through all the major issues in my life. I have found enormous strength and gratitude from every life experience that caused me pain. Releasing beliefs and ideas that no longer served me opened up a huge amount of space in my life for the things I truly believe in and desire. I am no longer in limbo. I am living my dream.

“After a year of helping each other turn our lives around, we knew that we wanted to share this information with others. We wanted to help anyone and everyone understand that our mind is meant to serve us, not control us. We wanted to demonstrate how easy life can be if we would but relax and get to know ourselves.

Life is supposed to be abundant, fun, exciting, adventurous, expanding, and ever-evolving. This was knowledge worth sharing.

This was information we knew would help others understand that they do not have to suffer unnecessarily any more. Change Your Conversation was born.

“In January 2010 Lani and I took a leap of faith and began teaching others how to use life’s contrasts to create a better feeling life. Speaking in front of groups of people ranging from women of domestic abuse to corporate executives, we show people in a very real way how to use a tool they already use everyday – their conversation – to identify their core beliefs, become clear about what they want, what their purpose is and move. In less than a year Change Your Conversation has become an overnight success touching thousands of people with real stories and changing lives. Today more than 12,000 people follow our daily inspirational thoughts and teachings on human potential and purpose. We call it “The Power of Conversation.”

Take heart ... you are not alone. Join us on a journey of selfdiscovery. Learn the science of being human. Understand that our thoughts are like a magnet and to think is to create.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ~ George Bernard Shaw We challenge you to start today. Take the first step towards creating the life you desire by entering into a powerful conversation with us that will change your life forever. Go to our website www.changeyourconversation.com and complete the contact form, send it to us and we will help you begin a journey of a lifetime.

“Our mission is to touch a million lives, and have those million turn around and touch a million more, creating a karmic wave of changing conversations together.” ~ Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna Every one of us has the ability to create the life that we want.

For more information go to www.changeyourconversation.com.

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 15

Community Calendar

Local Events Every Saturday & Tuesday Winter Farmer’s Market Sat: 9:00am - 12:00pm Tue: 3:00pm - 6:30pm The Factory Thu 6th

A+ Twirlers Meet A Game Sports Complex 2:00pm 215 Gothic Court Franklin

January 2011 Sunday

Fri 21st

Opening Night “Doubt” Pull-Tight Theater Franklin www.pull-tight.com

Sun 23rd Real Food Farms CSA Pick-up

2

Boo Boo Bear’s Birthday Yogi the Bear’s little buddy.

3pm - Zumba at The Fieldstone Club

National Apricot Day

9

3pm - Zumba at The Fieldstone Club

16

National Nothing Day

WCS District Calendar Mon 3rd Mon 17th

No School (Administrative Day)

No School (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

All calendar content is not verified and is subject to change without notice.

Monday

Tuesday

Wedne

For the latest Fieldstone Farms News and Information, please visit www.Fieldstone-Farms.com

Sun 9th Real Food Farms CSA Pick-up Wed 12th Red Cross Blood Drive Little House Animal Hospital Grassland 1pm - 6pm 791-9148

FIELDSTON

3pm - Zumba at The Fieldstone Club

23

National Handwriting Day

30

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday Born in 1882.

16 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday Born in 1892.

3

4

8 am - Pilates at the Fieldstone Club 6 pm - Weight & Core class at Fieldstone Club

9:30 am - Integrated Training at the Fieldstone Club

First Meeting of United Nations In London in 1946.

Isaac Newton’s Birthday Born in 1643.

10

11

Milk Day Milk delivered in bottles for the first time in 1878.

8 am - Pilates at the Fieldstone Club 6 pm - Weight & Core class at Fieldstone Club

9:30 am - Integrated Training at the Fieldstone Club

17

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Honoring his birthday (born in 1929).

HOA Board Meeting 6pm Christ Community Church

18

First Woman Inaugura 1925 inaugurati Ross as Wy Govern

9:30 am -Cardio at the

Work Hard

9:30 am -Cardio at the

Popcorn

8 am - Pilates at the Fieldstone Club 6 pm - Weight & Core class at Fieldstone Club 9:30 am -Cardio at the

9:30 am - Integrated Training at the Fieldstone Club

24

Gold Discovered in California At Sutter’s Mill in 1848.

31

Jackie Robinson’s Birthday Born in 1919.

Opposite Day

25

8 am - Pilates at the Fieldstone Club 6 pm - Weight & Core class at Fieldstone Club

Australia The day Sydne was settled

9:30 am -Cardio at the

NE FARMS

National Hobby Month National Blood Donor Month National Staying Healthy Month

esday

Thursday

5

Governor ated ion of Nellie yoming’s nor.

e Fieldstone Club

der Day

12

e Fieldstone Club

n Day

19

Fieldstone Club

26

a Day ey Australia in 1778.

Fieldstone Club

Friday

6

Sherlock Holmes’ Birthday Born in 1854.

8:30 am - Pilates at The Fieldstone Club 9:30 am - Yoga at The Fieldstone Club

13

Make Your Dreams Come True Day

8:30 am - Pilates at The Fieldstone Club 9:30 am - Yoga at The Fieldstone Club

20

Penguin Awareness Day

8:30 am - Pilates at The Fieldstone Club 9:30 am - Yoga at The Fieldstone Club

Chocolate Cake Day

27

8:30 am - Pilates at The Fieldstone Club 9:30 am - Yoga at The Fieldstone Club

Local Phone Numbers

Saturday

7

Old Rock Day

9:30 am - Power Sculpt at The Fieldstone Club

1

Elvis Presley’s Birthday Born in 1935.

8

9 am - “Out of Water” Aerobics at The Fieldstone Club

14

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

9:30 am - Power Sculpt at The Fieldstone Club

15

First Super Bowl Played in 1967.

Green Bay (35) defeated Kansas City (10).

9 am - “Out of Water” Aerobics at The Fieldstone Club

21

Squirrel Appreciation Day

22

National Blonde Brownie Day

9 am - “Out of Water” Aerobics at The Fieldstone Club

9:30 am - Power Sculpt at The Fieldstone Club

28

Ernie’s Birthday Sesame Street Character.

National Puzzle Day

29

9 am - “Out of Water” Aerobics at The Fieldstone Club

9:30 am - Power Sculpt at The Fieldstone Club

Emergency..................................911 Poison Control......................936-2034 Crisis Intervention.................269-4357 Franklin Police......................794-2513 Williamson Co. Sheriff........... 790-5550 Franklin Fire Dept.................. 791-3275 Williamson Medical Center....435-5000 Animal Control......................790-5590 Schools Hunters Bend Elem...............472-4580 Walnut Grove Elem............... 472-4870 Grassland Middle.................472-4500 Franklin High........................472-4450 B.G.A................................... 794-3501 Columbia State C.C...............790-4400 Williamson Co. A.L.C............790-5810 Services Middle TN. Elec (Service).......794-1102 Middle TN. Elec (Outage)877- 777-9111 Comcast.......................800-266-2278 Direct TV........................866-505-9387 Local Government Franklin City Govt..................791-3217 County Clerk.........................790-5712 Franklin Library.....................595-1250 Veteran Affairs......................790-5623 Miscellaneous Recycling.............................790-5848 Senior Services....................376-0102 Voter Registration.................790-5711 Chamber of Commerce.........794-1225

538 Homes Sold in FF

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 17

Teacher’s Corner “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.”

~John Lubbock January activity: Fun Winter Cookie Pops Recipe If you are looking for a fun and easy recipe to do with the kids, try these deliciously simple Winter Cookie Pops. The kids will smile and giggle while making these treats, and will have something fun to give to family and friends! Try different decorations for other times of the year too!

Ingredients: • 20 vanilla wafer cookies • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 6-ounce bag white chocolate chips • colored candy sprinkles, red & green combo and red • pull apart licorice whips, cut into 1-1/2” lengths • M&M candies • M&M mini candies • fruit roll ups, cut into 4” lengths • Cake decorating writer gel in green, black, and orange • tube of white cake decorator frosting with flower tip • ice cream sticks • wax paper or paper plates Directions: Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place

No matter No matter your situation, your situation, we’ve got a mortgage we’ve got a mortgage for that. for that.

Call Thomas Hall Call 615-525-7805 Call 615-525-7805 at 615-525-7805 orinwalk in any orto walk any any help with of your mortgage needs Fifth Third Centertoday.

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615-525-7805 Subject to credit review and approval. Fifth Third Mortgage is the trade name used by Fifth Third Mortgage Company and Fifth Third Mortgage – MI, LLC. Fifth Third is a registered serviceSubject mark ofto Fifth Thirdreview Bancorp.

Member FDIC.FifthEqual Lender. credit and approval.

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name used by Fifth Third Mortgage Company and Fifth Third Mortgage – MI, LLC. Fifth Third is a registered service mark of Fifth Third Bancorp. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

18 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

an ice cream stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies.

Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two cookies.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute, then in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth.

Dip cookie pops in the melted chips, covering completely. Roll pops in red and green sprinkles and lay or stand on waxed paper or paper plates. Place in refrigerator to chill.

Variations: Snowmen Using a licorice whip, while chocolate is still warm on pop, form headband and position to regular sized M&M candies as ear muffs. Lie pop flat on waxed paper and let cool. When cool, use black decorator gel for eyes and mouth and orange for the nose.

Gently wrap a fruit roll up around the bottom of the cookie at the stick.

Santa While chocolate is still warm, dip top of pop into red sprinkles for Santa’s hat. Lie flat on waxed paper and let cool. When cool, dot top of hat with white decorator icing using flower tip. Use flower tip and white icing to add his bear and line the brim of his hat. Use black decorator gel to dot on eyes.

Holly While chocolate is still warm, position to red mini M&M candies off center in the chocolate. Let cool. When cool, use green decorator gel to draw on holly leaves, fill in.

Note: You can tint the melted chocolate with food coloring, or leave the chocolate white and use different colored sprinkles.

Decorate with any other candies you wish, or leave some plain.

Another variation is to use vanilla or chocolate frosting instead of peanut butter for the filling.

Kristi Carré hold a Master’s Degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Reading and is a Fourth Grade teacher in the Franklin Special School District

Self Myofascial Release

by Scott Fishkind

As mentioned in Part 1, flexibility consists of much more than merely stretching.

One flexibility modality that is unfamiliar to many folks though fairly common in the fitness field is something called Self-Myofascial release (SMR). “Self-myofascial release” is a fancy word for self massage. “Myo” means muscle and fascial refers to the web of connective tissue (“fascia”) that runs throughout our entire body.

SMR uses various tools such as foam rollers (which are sort of like very dense, thick pool noodles), tennis balls, and other popular devices such as “The Stick” and “Tiger tail” (which look like variations on rolling pins). There are other devices as well and fitness equipment manufacturers keep coming up with new and interesting tools for specific types of SMR. The basic technique for SMR is to roll the device over an area (such as the calves) until you find a tender spot. These areas are typically “knots” (aka “adhesions”) in the muscles. You would hold the SMR tool over that area for 20 to 30 seconds until it starts to release.

It’s the same basic process as when a massage therapist holds a knot and then it releases and it’s based on a neurological mechanism which is too complex to get into in the context of this article. I do want to state however that SMR techniques are not a replacement for a skilled licensed massage therapist who can perform deep tissue work. That being said, SMR is an excellent and convenient tool for enhancing flexibility and can also be a useful adjunct to massage therapy since most folks can’t get to a massage therapist on a daily basis.

Our bodies consist of a series of interconnected segments that contribute to movement from the feet upwards. This is called the “Kinetic chain”. Because of this, I always like to start with the bottoms of the feet first. We start by massaging the plantar fascia (in the soles of the feet) with a tennis ball before moving on to the other SMR tools to work the calves, hamstrings, glutes, etc.

Most folks new to SMR will tend to feel pretty tender in the beginning so we usually will do the feet, calves and hamstrings and then eventually build on other segments over subsequent sessions as appropriate. There are also ways to modify the technique or use different tools to either lessen or intensify the amount of pressure used.

As a personal trainer, the process of performing SMR works on two levels. On one level it is a great way for folks to improve their overall tissue quality and on another level it is an excellent opportunity to get feedback from my clients. This allows it to serve as a form of “assessment” that takes place in the early part of each session. They can inform me of the areas that are really “talking

Wellness to them” or that have improved which I can track from session to session.

Even if one isn’t working with a personal trainer one can keep notes to see if they are making progress. In general, healthy tissue shouldn’t hurt so as your body starts to responds positively by consistent use of SMR and stretching you should eventually get to the point where it just feels really great to perform these activities.

After doing SMR we will then move into the stretching techniques that are most appropriate for the person’s needs. The combination of SMR and the various stretching techniques can really help you take your flexibility to the next level.

It is important to note that there are some medical conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and varicose veins (among others) that may be a contraindication for SMR so it’s important to check with a health care professional if you have any preexisting conditions such as these before utilizing this flexibility technique.

Also if you are having any consistent pain in your muscles or joints you should get evaluated by a health care professional before engaging in SMR.

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 19

S

weet Peas & Baby Carrots is a semi-annual consignment sale event hosted by Rachael Fisher and Suzanne Gallent specializing in high quality, gently used infant, children’s and maternity items that has served the Greater Nashville, Tn. area since 2009. Whether you have a new addition to your family or looking for that special deal, Sweet Peas & Baby Carrots has something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you!

The purpose is to get the unneeded stuff out of your house and in to the hands of people who can really use it. We accept all types of baby, children’s and maternity clothing. We also accept Baby Equipment including Carseats, Carriers, Cribs (must be checked against recall list), Changing Tables, Ect. All clean

Baby Items such as: Bottles (cleaned without nipples unless in new unopened packages), Bathtubs, BathSeats, Bottle Warmers, Diapers (Unopened), Burp Cloths, Bibs, Ect. We also accept Maternity Clothing for all seasons (Current Fashions).

We love to sell Outdoors Toys & Playhouses as well. we are especially looking for the Little Tikes Pirate Ship for the Kids. Little Tikes items are durable. We will accept all Little Tikes & Step2 items in good or excellent condition. These large items must be double tagged. We also only take 20% Commission on Large Outdoor toys.

There are only a few items that we cannot accept such as clothing that is outdated, faded, torn, or stained, Stuffed Animals (Unless new in unopened packaging) and underwear (Unless in unopened packaging). We strive to keep everyone’s shopping experience a great one with quaility pre-owned & new items. Please do not be offended if we do not accept some of your items.

The consignment sale is not just for Moms. Dads are encouraged to stop by as well for their children’s needs. We will be offering newborn to children’s size 16. There will be no adult clothing except for Maternity Wear.

Registration is now open!

For more information, please visit: www.sweetpeasandbabycarrots.com You can also find us on Facebook!

Too busy? Can’t make it?

Call Suzanne at 390-6405 suzanneswanson@comcast.net to arrange a pick-up or a personal shopper.

Your Community Preschool since 1996

Mention this Ad and recieve a $75 credit upon enrollment.

Spaces are limited, call today.

20 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

New Beginnings

by Brian Bachochin

Well, chalk up another one for the record books...

We commemorate & celebrate the passage of time in many ways throughout the course of our lives, but few milestones are as consistently poignant as the arrival of each new year.

Standing on this annual threshold has a tendency to provoke reflection, contemplation and assessment. Most all of us innately see this moment as a point of re-calibration; and approach it as a launching pad for some pursuit that will help us to become new, improved versions of the self that we’d like to think we left behind with the turning of the calendar. January 1st is the day of “This is the year that I...(fill in the blank)” Whether it be a decision to quit smoking, embark on a new career or to (finally) get in shape, the first day of the new year provides us an annual starting gate for just such an endeavor.

We call it making a New Year’s Resolution. We use the term “resolution” because it caries the idea of employing a measure of resolve in our quest to develop the chiseled abs, step out onto the new career path or don the nicotine patch. It implies being resolute in our pursuit.

That said, interestingly (albeit not really that surprisingly), by some counts, over ninety-percent of New Year’s Resolutions are not kept, and forty-five percent of those goals set out with such fervor on January 1st are abandoned by January 31st (the treadmill / coat-rack in my garage only serves to validate those findings!) But, in spite of the statistics, most of us will leave 2010 behind in the hope that 2011 will mark the beginning of a new chapter. We welcome the possibility of a new beginning.

I’m thankful for new beginnings. And, if I can broaden our scope a little, I’m thankful that God delights in offering us fresh starts...and that He doesn’t limit their availability to a single day of the year. Imagine telling your child, teary-eyed after running the bathwater until it’s overflowing down the stairs, that you’re not going to forgive her and resolve the issue until next year. That’s a lot for your little princess to carry for the next 12 months!

The Apostle Peter was a good example of someone who needed a new beginning. In the Gospel accounts, Peter had at one point been more vocal than anyone in his devotion to Jesus. However, following his Master’s betrayal and arrest, Peter became fearful for his own life, and under the pressure of being associated with His Lord, he caved in and denied even knowing Him. You know the story.

But equal to the depth of Peter’s fall was Jesus’ willingness and ability to restore. Following His resurrection, the Lord went to great lengths to set His fallen disciple back on his feet (cp. Mark 16:7, John 21:15-17), wiping the slate clean and giving Peter a chance to start over. As it’s been said, He truly is the God of the second chance.

Reflecting on the year now past, and considering what I might want to do differently as I look forward to the days that lie yet ahead, I’m reminded of a poem that I heard years ago by Kathleen Wheeler:

Monthly Message “I have spoiled this one.”

I took the old leaf, stained and blotted, And gave him a new one all unspotted, And into his sad eyes smiled, and said “Do better, now, my child.”

I went to the throne with a quivering soul— The old year was done.

“Dear Father, have you a new leaf for me?

I have spoiled this one.”

He took the old leaf, stained and blotted, And gave me a new one all unspotted, And into my sad heart smiled, and said “Do better, now, my child.”

Welcome to 2011, complete with clean slate. There are new chapters to be written. How will your story read this year?

A very blessed new year to all!

CALVARY CHAPEL FRANKLIN Simply teaching the Bible...simply

Sunday Mornings at 9:30 am Meeting at the The Fieldstone Club 1530 Lexington Pkwy, Franklin, TN 37069 Phone: (615) 870-7310 e-mail: ccfranklintn@gmail.com www.CalvaryChapelFranklin.com

Pastor Brian Bachochin

He came to my desk with quivering lip, The lesson was done.

“Dear Teacher, I want a new leaf,” he said,

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 21

Fieldstone Fashion

Wintertime Lulu’s Clothing Company where the Lulu girl marches to a beat of a different drummer, and so does her style. She finds a sense of humor in her fashion, and never takes herself too seriously. If this sounds like you, then Lulu’s Clothing Company is the store for you. We like style on our own terms, we want to stand out from the crowd, but of course at a great price. We are a boutique in downtown Franklin, but without the boutique prices.

What our customer wants right now is the sweater dress. This is a very versatile piece that can be worn as a dress with High Heel boots, or can be worn as a tunic layered with a tissue tee underneath, leggings, over the knee socks and

22 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

boots, or even with jeans. The really cool thing is that our Lulu girl is ageless, we offer something for everyone no matter if she is 12 or 65.

Lift yourself out of the winter doldrums with fun color, a great felted wool handbag, or hat to go with your new look.

Come check us out at: Lulu’s Clothing Company, 145 2nd Ave. N, Franklin 615-556-5858 Lulusclothingcompany.com On Facebook: like us at Lulu’s Clothing Company

Primrose School of Cool Springs

Primrose School of Cool Springs is a high quality, 3-star accredited, private preschool specializing in early childhood education. Located in Cool Springs near the corner of Cool Springs Boulevard & Mack Hatcher Boulevard, Primrose has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS CASI since 2002. Primrose offers educational programs for children from Infants through Private Pre-Kindergarten.

Magnolia: Primrose of Cool Springs just celebrated its ten year anniversary, what made you decide to open Primrose ten years ago in 2000?

Ms. Grant: Well, in my former life I worked full time as a Physical Therapist for 16 years, and during that time I had my two sons.

Education has always been a huge priority to me, and traditional daycare didn’t offer the early childhood education I knew was so important to their educational foundation. I knew there was a need that was not being met for today’s parents.

So after lots of hard work and sacrifice, I opened Primrose in September 2000!

Magnolia: What do you feel sets Primrose apart from other childcare facilities?

Ms. Grant: The thing that really separates us is our commitment to creating an educational environment for our children, which is part of Primrose’s Balanced Learning® curriculum. The curriculum is carefully delivered in daily schedules to ensure a balance of learning and play through a blend of teacher-directed and childinitiated activities. Primrose is three-star rated by the state of Tennessee and is also SACS CASI and NCA CASI accredited by AdvancED, which is an outside party that evaluates schools based on certain established standards.

Primrose children are wellprepared

Business Buzz for Williamson County Schools and have received placement in all private schools in the area. We’ve even had elementary school teachers enroll their own pre-school aged children in Primrose after teaching students in their class who attended Primrose. This says a lot about the Primrose curriculum and our children’s Kindergarten readiness!

Magnolia: What can prospective parents expect their children to experience at Primrose?

Ms. Grant: A child at Primrose will be exposed to many educational themes throughout their day like: physical development and health, social/emotional development, language and literacy, creative arts and expression, mathematics, science and technology and social studies. We also have lots of fun! We have seasonal parties with fun games and special guests, cookouts, theme days and our very popular “Camp Primrose” for our Pre-Kindergarteners. Our children also get the opportunity to be a part of our community by participating in a Second Harvest Food Drive, a food drive for the Williamson County Animal Shelter and they also participate in our Spring Fling event where we raise money for a local Williamson County charity. Parents can rest assured that their children are receiving the most current and advanced programs in early childhood education while enjoying a loving and nurturing environment.

Tracy Grant is the franchise owner of Primrose School of Cool Springs.

Ms. Grant currently sits on the Primrose Schools Advisory Board, guiding and setting standards for the Primrose Brand nationwide. She is the proud recipient of the prestigious Primrose School’s President’s Award for outstanding achievement in 2003 and the Community Spirit Award in 2005 for the greatest philanthropic fundraising donation to the Primrose Children’s Foundation. For tours or more information on Primrose School of Cool Springs go to www.primrosecoolsprings.com or call 615.771-3001.

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 23

Battle of Franklin Trust Unveiled Bullet that Killed Confederate Soldier Captain Theodrick “Tod” Carter

O

n December 2, 2010, The Battle of Franklin Trust unveiled the bullet that killed Confederate soldier, Theodrick “Tod” Carter, which was lodged in his skull during the Battle of Franklin November 30, 1864. During a ceremony marking the anniversary of Tod’s death, Carter Conway, Tod’s great-great nephew donated the artifact to the Battle of Franklin Trust to be displayed at The Carter House. Conway’s wife Ann, his daughter, grandchildren and several cousins from the Carter family were in attendance during the ceremony. The bullet was encased along with Tod’s spurs, showcasing the two available mementos of Tod Carter – in life – and in death. Moscow Carter, Tod’s oldest brother gave the bullet to his daughter, who then gave it to her daughter to save for son Conway until he became of age.

When speaking about the announcement, Joanna Stephens, curator for the Battle of Franklin Trust said, “We are grateful to the Carter family for sharing this extraordinary piece of Civil War

24 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

history with us—this truly is historically significant. It provides us with a tangible ending to the inspirational, yet tragic story of Tod Carter.” “It has great historic value, in my opinion. It’s something that I ought not leave around,” Conway said during an interview.

Captain Tod Carter was the middle son of the Carter family. He was serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield during the Battle of Franklin.

Amid the combat, Tod saw his home for the first time in more than three years and cried out, “Follow me boys, I’m almost home.”

He did not make it. He was mortally wounded and found on the battlefield approximately 175 yards from his home by his father and two sisters. He was taken into the Carter home, and treated the following day. Tod died on December 2, 1864. He was 24 years old.

The bullet, which is known as a Williams cleaner, will be on permanent display at The Carter House. Elijah Williams invented this type of bullet which was intended to clean the barrel of muzzle loading rifles and prevent them from fouling during combat. When the bullet was fired it was meant to clean residue from the barrel.

The Carter House is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 65 and $6 for children between the ages of six and 12. Children under six are free. Tours of the grounds are $5. A value ticket is available for $28 which includes guided tours of The Carter House, Carnton Plantation and the Lotz House.

Built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, The Carter House is nationally known for its role in the Civil War. The house was caught in the center of the Battle of Franklin and still bears the scars of the battle, with more than 1,000 bullet holes still visible.

The Visitor’s Center includes a new video presentation, military museum and museum shop. The Carter House hosts various annual events with re-enactors as well as the annual Candlelight Tour in early December.

The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501 (c) 3 management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to a greater understanding and enrich the visitor experience of the November 30, 1864 battle. It’s organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle so as to preserve an important part of the nation’s history. Learn more at www.battleoffranklintrust.org or call (615) 786-1864.

X-Box Alternatives

Mortgages Music & Dance School Expands to Serve Community Better families

by Busy Thomas Hall beneĂžt from extended hours and additional convenient class times

SING - ACT - DANCE

J Kelley Studios

School for the Performing Arts has expanded into a new location to offer more diverse programs for ages 3 to 18 from beginner to advanced.

Expanded Class Choices Save Time for Busy Families

Many of the parents have said theyÕve chosen the school because in addition to having excellent teachers and programs it is possible to drop off all the kids with different interests at one location.

Between the pressures of homework, sports, and family time, a lot of parents can become overwhelmed trying to fit in all the activities.

Saving 45 minutes or an hour of commuting time per week between activities really helps the typical busy familyÕs schedule. J Kelley Studios is conveniently located at The Factory in Franklin.

Studio Offers Extra Benefits to Students

1. PERFORMANCE VENUE - J Kelley Studios is professionally equipped with a stage, sound, and lighting. Having a performance venue at the facility allows students the opportunity to perform regularly on stage throughout the year. The students learn how to handle themselves confidently in front of an audience.

2. UNIVERSITY TRAINED TEACHERS - Our teachers are highly qualified university trained with professional performance experience.

3. SMALL CLASSES - Young students starting out can easily become overwhelmed and lost in a large class setting.

At J Kelley Studios the classes average from 8 to 12 students.

This allows for more focus, control and helps students feel more comfortable and at ease.

4. SPECIAL DANCE FLOORS - One of the most important features of a dance studio is the type of flooring used. J Kelley Studios is equipped with foam based wooden floors helping to keep the students safe and able to dance longer without getting tired so quickly.

Beginner Ballet Workshop

Starting in February 2011 J Kelley Studios will be teaching a 10 Week Beginner Ballet Workshop for grades K - 3rd. This is the perfect class for young students wanting to get started in ballet. Young dancers have fun as they are taught the proper technique that will assure they start out on the right foot.

Creative Music & Dance for Preschool

Young preschool students learn to listen and follow music and rhythm through assorted activities, working their singing voice and dance movement.

26 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

Students who have the opportunity to perform on stage regularly will see faster results and learn to handle themselves on stage with more confidence.

A Variety of Dance Styles Being Offered

J Kelley Studios offers a variety of dance styles from Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, & Musical Theatre. Students are not lost in a huge class. The classes are small averaging from 8 to 12 students allowing for more focus on each individual student.

Acting & Musical Theatre Classes

Students are taught core acting techniques and then given the opportunity to perform in showcases with monologues & scenes.

The performing experience gives them the competitive edge needed for auditions.

Vocal Students are Taught More Than Good Singing Technique With Jo Dee Messina as one of the judges at the 2010 ÒSing Your Heart OutÓ vocal competition, 6 of the top 9 finalists trained at J Kelley Studios.

In todayÕs competitive market it takes more than just a good singing voice to stand out. Our 1st priority is developing the voice. Second is developing good stage presence and performance skills. ItÕs the unique combination of these elements that has given these finalists the winning edge.

www.jkelleystudios.com

Fieldstone Farms Business Page The Advertisements on this page are Fieldstone Farms resident owned businesses.

If you are a Fieldstone Farms resident and would like more information about advertising on this page, please contact us at (615) 335-2049 FFBiz@magnoliapublications.com

Support Your Neighbors!

MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 27

On The Menu

Stoveworks

F

rom finding scrumptious main courses like Herb Roasted Pork Loin and Maple-Glazed Ham to the all-important budgeting process, there are many elements to planning the perfect event used by the experts at Stoveworks Restaurant at the Factory.

A favorite, historic Franklin eatery for over a decade, owners Pat McCracken and Sam Barcus have expanded their “Southern Fare with Flair” style restaurant into a full-service catering business from barbeque to high-end fuision cuisine including a full liquor license.

Stoveworks takes their team of experts to locations throughout Photo by Evin Photography the area in addition to transforming their newly-renovated space into a beautiful setting for a variety of events. Parties have a unique feel in Stoveworks’ charming courtyard wrapped in exposed brick and wrought-iron as well as three lovely dining areas flexible to any host’s imagination.

McCracken, whose family has a rich tradition of creating yummy food, says there are important keys to planning the perfect party.

“I grew up watching my grandmother create delicious recipes like her own special Chicken Cordon Bleu for her restaurant and knew this was a tradition I wanted to continue with my own wonderful Tennessee community,” McCracken said. “I’ve continued her commitment to serving delicious foods with a flair.”

McCracken answered several important questions about the party planning process: What is your priority in planning an event? We have a wonderful Catering Manager, Jessica Jarve, who has helped us stage incredible events over the past year with her expertise in music and special events planning. We ask clients about the theme and desired outcome for their events. When this is decided, everything from menu to decorations falls into place. We’ve seen some beautiful events, from a 40th birthday party to a Bar Mitzvah to rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions. We love playing a role in these happy occasions.

How do you help people manage a budget? Once we’ve established the event look and feel, we work with folks to itemize expenses as comprehensively as possible. I think any host has to be clear and candid about budget goals so creative planning and money saving suggestions can occur.

What is a key event-day element? Having one point person available on site during set-up is the key to a smooth event preferably a calm, detail-oriented one! I’ve seen a few events 28 Magnolia • Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine

turn stressful when the point person wasn’t an intimate part of the process. What’s important is that all details are addressed early in the planning so there are no last-minute surprises. Choose your event coordinators wisely!

How do you add a special touch to an event? This is where surprise is a good thing! We think an element of whimsey adds a memorable note. Do something different with your menu or decorations which will leave your guests awed by your creativity and set your party apart as being uniquely you. I loved seeing a Sixties-themed birthday party which really set a fun tone for the evening.

For more information on Stoveworks menu ideas and catering information, visit www.stoveworksrestaurant.com or 615-791-6065 for a free event consultation.

Photo by Evin Photography

On the Menu Bruschetta

1 french baguette sliced 1/4in thick 4c. diced roma tomatoes 1/4c. capers drained and rinsed 1/2c. red onion diced 1/4c. fresh basil chopped 1/2c. diced roasted red peppers 2 tablespoons sea salt 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1/2c. oliveoil Brush baguette with oil, season w/ salt and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl.

Top the toasted bread with the mixture and serve.

“Happy New Year!” That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year’s Day in modern America was not always January 1.

The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays.

It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago.

In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year.

After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days.

Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year’s Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year’s Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ’s Circumcision by some denominations.

During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday

by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.

Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.

The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California.

Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a

part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus.

The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century.

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck.

Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. The song, “Auld Lang Syne” is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scottish tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”

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