Perfection ... Little House on the River

Who knew an hour and a half away was a place that Betty Lou “could just stay forever?”

Hammerhaid suspected it when he first spotted “The Little House on The River” on the Web. Oh, she was wanting to travel … drive, drive, drive. While ol’ H-haid was wanting to loaf.

But all of those somewhat far away sites were already booked for the long three-day weekend. Hammerhaid didn’t even consider grinning about this location, because she wasn’t happy. Her mood didn’t change during the drive, which followed a long day at work.

It was completely dark when they arrived. Even the normally perfect GPS system in Ruby, the red Honda truck, had let them down. Sigh!

Her dark mood soon lifted upon arrival.

Hammerhaid heard the sound of running water as he carefully ventured around the little house and flipped on the lights.

Giggling, she bounded into the structure and began a chorus of “uhhhhs and ahhs.”

“It’s perfect,” she exclaimed. And she was right.

The hints of perfection proved true at daylight. Log onto littlehouseontheriver.com if you don’t believe it.

Wow, what is better than perfection? This little house and its surroundings!

How so?

To begin with, the Little House is exactly that. It’s not a cabin. It is a perfect little home measuring 624 square feet with front and back porches that run the length of the house. It’s divided into a living room/kitchen with a bedroom and bathroom. Nice and quiet with plenty of light flowing into the dwelling.

Outside, there’s more than 1,300 feet of riverside frontage. It’s on the clean, spring-fed Rocky River. Beautiful!

Betty Lou and Hammerhaid spent many hours outdoors sitting in a rocker or enjoying a swing. They even waded in the clear stream. So relaxing!

We didn’t venture out, but Little House is near a number of attractions including Rock Island State Park, Cumberland Caverns and Foglight Food House. All of those await the next visit which…don’t tell Betty Lou…but that perfect little house is where we will spend our 3rd anniversary!

By the way, the owners of Little House are delightful. Debby and Joe are delights to work with. They even give one of their beautiful lilies to each visitor. Their guides to the cabin are perfect and share the many nearby attractions.

Make the trip and let us know what you think, we think you will agree….it's just PERFECT!

By the ol' mill stream ... at Readyville

Once upon a time, ol’ Hammerhaid had kinfolk who worked at the Readyville Mill.

But that was a long, long time ago before “progress” nearly erased the historic structure.

Built in 1870, this Readyville Mill was operated by a succession of people until it closed in 1978.

In 2006, Tomm and Martha Brady purchased the mill and began its continuing restoration. The Bradys reopened it in 2009 and now it is growing in popularity as a venue for weddings and other events.

So was it a wedding that attracted Hammerhaid and Betty Lou there?

Nope, no sir. Heck, no. It was breakfast and what a wonderful meal it was.

Now don’t go to Readyville Mill on a Wednesday, Monday or Sunday expecting a meal.

Breakfast is served ONLY on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

You better show up early or get a reservation by calling 615-563-6455.

So what’s on the menu?

Hmmmmm, the Eatery is located at a mill. Am I not right?

That means the top items on the menu are pancakes, stone-ground flour and corncakes.

Hammerhaid’s father came along on this outing and he had first pick. After studying the menu for a second, “Pa” selected the whole-wheat pancakes with blueberries. Did I mention the bacon and stone-ground grits? Delish!

Betty Lou copied Pa, but passed on the grits, selecting fresh fruit instead.

Hammerhaid, for once, had to be different and ordered biscuits and gravy.

Normally, a little sharing goes on, but not this day. Betty Lou and Pa hogged those beautiful pancakes covered with their savory homemade blueberry sauce. Must mention that she did share a strip of bacon, which was hickory smoked. Hammerhaid loved it.

Hammerhaid didn’t share his gravy and biscuits. The gravy was loaded with sausage and had tons of real flavor. The biscuits were made of stone-ground whole-wheat flour and were very filling when topped with gravy.

But he did share a little bite of a surprise addition to his plate. The little quiche was out of this world. “Oh wow,” was Betty Lou’s sincere comment upon tasting the quiche.

Fantastic! It was a great, unrushed breakfast with friendly service.

Tomm invited us to tour the mill after breakfast. It wasn’t a guided tour. We got the chance to explore the 1870’s structure.

Hammerhaid and Pa (particularly) were mill veterans. Pa, in the days of his youth, would ride a mule carrying a tow sack full of dried corn all the way through Woodbury to have it ground into meal.

Pa showed Betty Lou the old grist stones used to grind the corn and told her how the miller used an iron chisel to renew the worn-down stones.

After touring the mill, we then walked around the grounds covered with beautiful flowers ranging from colorful zinnias to the unusual Hummingbird vine.

The Readyville Mill is located at 5418 Murfreesboro Road, Readyville, TN 37129 and is just east of the Readyville Post Office.

Cool jazz at Arrington Vineyards

It took out-of-town visitors to bring it about, but we finally visited Arrington Vineyards.

That one trip convinced us that “wow, we have really been missing out.”

Just a quick trip on state route 840, the vineyards are so beautiful, peaceful, but lively. You have to visit to understand what we’re talking about.

To top it off, Music in the Vines is free. Yep, there’s no charge for an afternoon or evening of beautiful music on the rural hillside of little Arrington, a small community between Murfreesboro and Franklin.

And it is not just a one-time, spring event. Arrington Vineyards plays host to Music in the Vines every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through mid December. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays rain or shine.

Jim Michie filled the cool spring day with melodic jazz … all beautiful and bright.

We got there early before the lines for the wine tasting got too long. We got to choose four flavors. I selected two white wines and two reds. Betty Lou selected four whites. I liked the Stag’s White 2009 best, while she preferred the May wine of the month, the Riesling 2009.

Naturally, after tasting the wines, we just had to buy a bottle and some other knick-knacks. Hey, after all, we were playing tourists along with Betty Lou’s “auntie” Virginia and her friend Judy who were visiting from Michigan.

It was the perfect end to a day of antiquing.

Because it had been so rainy early in the day, we had opted not to take a picnic meal along with us. So we instead enjoyed some great cheese and crackers along with a bottle of Riesling.

Country music artist Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn fame founded the vineyard. While we didn’t see him, he is often present at Arrington events.

Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are the biggest selling duo in the history of country music with sales topping 23 million records. Earlier this year, Brooks and Dunn announced they were going solo.

We were early enough to land a spot on the winery’s deck, but the area is surrounded by picnic tables and tree swings. All of which are perfect to enjoy an afternoon or evening of music and fun.

For cooler weather, a nice, native stone fireplace heats the deck and there’s a bonfire available in a huge, nearby pit.

With the music and conversation, the vineyard is a tranquil, but fun-filled place that’s perfect for family groups and romantic couples.

Next time, we’re packing a picnic and spending the evening listening to jazz.

Saturday surprise at Center Hill Lake

Hungry? Yes, we were.

Fortunately, we were near Center Hill Lake, a location where we have shared some great meals in the past.

We headed to a lakeside eatery where we had dined upon occasion, but it seemed strangely deserted. Was it closed? Or maybe it was out of business?

Didn’t get a chance to find out because Betty Lou was behind the wheel. She jetted on by as I twiddled with the onboard navigation system. Not too far down the roadway, she spotted a sign advertising Barbara’s Cedar House Restaurant.

“What do you think?” she asked as she ducked down Johnson Chapel Road. “Was that it?” I asked as we whirled past a log and board-type structure. It looked a little too friendly to be just a lakeside tavern.

But she didn’t stop. Betty Lou had spotted the signs for a lakeside park. Ah-ha, she was looking for a public restroom. We found them and they were padlocked. Her need overcame the beauty of the spot which would have been lovely for a picnic. Except….Except we didn’t bring any food.

Suddenly, we were back in the truck and heading back out Johnson Chapel Road.

This time she didn’t ignore the sign on the front of Barbara’s Cedar House, but it looked deserted despite the sign proclaiming that the café was indeed open. We parked the truck and walked up the long porch.

Hmmmm, it was open and we were greeted by a dark-haired woman who we soon discovered was Barbara McHugh. Barbara and her husband John own the restaurant.

Hammerhaid reviewed the menu while Betty Lou dallied. It was amazingly diverse and boasted quite a spred of seafood and a number of unusual items including German (make that Bavarian) dishes.

Beef roulade, sauerbraten, schnitzle, spaetzgle and bratwurst at a rural Tennessee restaurant? It didn’t make sense, so Hammerhaid and Betty Lou ordered a typical of cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings.

While waiting on their orders, Betty Lou took the opportunity to chat with Barbara about her origins.

Come to find out that both Barbara and her husband hail from Chicago where Barbara had been involved in the restaurant business for years. Their chef, inexplicably, comes from New England where he specialized in Bavarian cookery.

Hmmmmm, Hammerhaid was beginning to regret ordering a cheeseburger instead of a Chicago-style hotdog.

However, the regret soon passed with the delivery of his burger. It was a double-decker loaded with cheese. Delicious! The fries were hot and crunchy too. And the onion rings were so good that Betty Lou was reluctant to share.

So-o-o-o-o, we’re ready to head back.

For more information and a map on how to find it, check out barbarascedarhouse.com

What a birthday surprise!!!!

The Windsor Hotel.


When it comes to celebrating birthdays, few people can surpass Betty Lou.

Oh, we're not talking about her birthday. She would rather forget about them ... or at least that's what she claims.

I am referring, specifically, to my recent birthday. She had been planning the occasion for weeks, if not months. All she would tell me was "it's a surprise."

As the date approached I was advised that I would have to pack for an undisclosed location.

I suspected our trip might be to Cedars of Lebanon State Park ... or maybe Chattanooga ... hmmmmmm, perhaps Gatlinburg? The destination was a big part of the surprise.

Naturally, I was wrong. We started out on I-24 heading towards Chattanooga, but we didn't even stop for our usual restroom break outside of town. Could we be headed to Atlanta? Plenty of things to see and do there besides fight the traffic.

Naturally, our truck "Ruby" was leading the way with her map system. About halfway though Atlanta "Ruby" went a bit berserk recommending that we exit I-75 and take the bypass.

Caught by this dilemma, Betty Lou 'fessed up. We were going to Americus, Ga. to stay in a haunted hotel near a Civil War site where lots of prisoners were held.

Hmmmmm, let me see. Americus...President Jimmy Carter...Habitat for Humanity. After we struggled with the traffic for a long time, it finally hit me. Betty Lou was talking about Andersonville, the infamous prison camp where thousands of Union soldiers died of starvation and disease.

Wow, I had wanted to go there for years.

"Ruby's" detour added two or three hours to our journey, so it was late when we arrived in Americus. They had already rolled up the streets, but we made it to our destination.

It was a beautifully restored historic spot, the Windsor Hotel. Established in 1892, the castle-like building was restored and reopened in 1991.

Wow, we were tired from our travels, but the beauty of the hotel revived us as we checked in and headed to our room on the third floor.

I barely listened to the hotel clerk and the fact were going to visit Andersonville hadn't really clicked in yet. I was ready to get to our room. Grabbing the luggage, we headed to the third floor.

Watching my footwork on the beautiful hardwood floor, I barely noticed a couple sitting near our room. The woman was turned away from me and she was talking ... she was talking to Brian, Betty Lou's brother.

It was Brian and his wife Cathie. I couldn't have been more surprised. They had traveled up from Florida to join our adventure.

We were still laughing when we checked out our beautiful room and headed to the Hotel's bar, Floyd's Pub. We were too late for food, but the bar was very festive and obviously the place for action in that quiet Georgia town.

Eventually, we settled in. The bed was very comfortable. Too bad someone snores like a chain saw. (I won't mention any names...)

A beautiful morning soon dawned and we were off to a wonderful breakfast in the Windsor Hotel's restaurant. The cheese grits were fabulous! And so was the omelet.

It was a beautiful, clear morning and soon we were off to the beautiful, somber Andersonville memorial.

POWs remembered at Andersonville

South of Atlanta is one of America's most interesting war memorials.

Called the National Prisoner of War Museum, the facility pays tribute to those gallant warriors held captive by the USA'S enemies throughout the last 200-plus years.

Located at Andersonville, Ga., the museum is starkly beautiful despite its somewhat forboding exterior. Yes, it looks somewhat like a prison, but the lessons offered inside tell the sad and sometimes triumphrant story of American prisoners of war.

The exhibits began with a graphic answer to the question "What is a POW?" This dramatic depiction is followed by areas telling stories of capture, horrible living conditions and the many ways captured soldiers shared news among their ranks.

Shared equally is the story of families and loved ones who waited at home often times for years -- other times in vain -- to hear of their soldiers' fate.

One of the most touching exhibits is a series of videos telling the story of Vietnam POWs and their families over the years. Some of those stories had happy endings with the soldiers returning home after as long as eight years. Others recounted years of waiting with no final resolution other than the dreaded knock on the front door.

A number of exhibits are the "treasures" made in the camps by the imprisoned soldiers. Most are simple devices made from sprigs of wire, fabric or shoe leather ...items that made their lives a bit more bearable. Others, like a tiny American flag, helped them maintain their pride during the long, hazardous days of imprisonment.

While located at a Civil War site, the POW museum deals with all American wars with special emphasis placed on World War II, Vietnam and more recent conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is a quiet, reverent place that quiets even normally loud batallions of Boy Scouts.

There are many lessons to learn there, so take your time to study everything including the pull-out drawers that tell the story of valiant POWs. Sit aside at least two hours. We spent four or more and still didn't see everything in this well thought-out museum.

Be sure to watch the visitors' center film. We saw "Echoes of Captivity," a 27 minute introduction to the experience of prisoners of war throughout American history.

Andersonville snd the POW museum are located in southwest Georgia. The park is approximately 12 miles north of Americus and 11 miles south of Montezuma on GA-49.




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Valentine's Eve in Watertown

Jimmy strikes a pose behind the counter at Lulu's Coffee House in Watertown.


The temperature was cold, but spirits high as we cruised into little Watertown for Liquid Crawl with displays by local artists mixed with some pre-Valentine's Day wine for good measure.

Watertown, Tenn., a little off the beaten track, is located in Wilson County about 30 minutes from Murfreesboro. It's a little town with a good deal of historic pride in its arts heavy downtown.

We kicked off our visit with a stop at Lulu's Coffee House for a spot of dinner. It came highly recommended by the owner of Dead Man's General Store, one of the unique stops on Watertown's little public square.

I had a great black bean burger with chedder cheese. Fantastic! Nicely prepared and very flavorable. Betty Lou, surprise...surprise, ordered a grilled cheese on multi-grain bread with cheddar and swiss cheese. I didn't get to sample it. We each had a cup of great freshly brewed coffee.

Thus fortified, we headed back to the square for the Liquid Crawl and displays by local photographers and artists. While, I enjoyed the displays Betty Lou kept saying we needed to head across the street to this little bakery, the Kake Haus. It quickly proved to be the hit of the night.

Owned by Duane and Kelly Schmelhaus, Kake Haus Pastry Shop was filled with shelf after shelf of delectable breads, cakes and pastries.

Located at 404 Public Square in Watertown, Kake Haus has a web site that hints at the quality of treats available at the unique shop. It's www.kakehaus.com.

Duane is a CIA man...yep, Culinary Institute of America located in Hyde Park, New York.

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Duane is the latest in a multi-generation family of bakers. His great-grandfather opened his bakery in 1910 in Cleveland with his sons following in his footsteps.

And what did we buy there?

Let's see ... short bread cookies, a chocolate crumb cake, delightful chocolate brownies and a loaf of sun-dried tomato bread. I hope I get a taste.