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.

Lighthouse Landing Marina ... our perfect spot

It might sound a bit crazy when we say one of our favorite places to visit is Kentucky Lake.

After all, we don’t own as much as an inflatable dingy. Hammerhaid does have a life vest in case he trips in the kiddie pool (that’s a story for another time.)

But Betty Lou was raised on the water and her father was an avid sailor. No “stink boats” for him during his sweet, silent journeys on the Gulf of Mexico.

So it was with a certain reluctance that Hammerhaid took her to a certain spot. He was reluctant because he knew he should have taken her there long ago.

“Promise you won’t hit me, when we go around this curve.”

She didn’t promise, but she didn’t strike out either. She instead demanded, “stop here ... park it.” She didn’t buy his suggestion that they eat first.

That certain spot was Lighthouse Landing Marina in Grand Rivers, Ky. The little bay was loaded with sailboats, including a number that were 40 feet or longer.

She was in heaven.

That adventure was some time ago and we love to visit Grand Rivers, a little town that touches both Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

Grand Rivers is perhaps best known as the home of Patti’s 1880s Settlement, one of the most popular eateries in the Southeast. Read about it in our blog.

Grand Rivers is located in Western Kentucky on beautiful Kentucky Lake, 1 mile north of the Land Between the Lakes. Take exit 31 off I-24 and go 3 miles on Hwy 453 to Grand Rivers, KY, the “Village Between the Lakes.”

While Patti’s wonderful food and deserts temporarily distracted Betty Lou, the underlying message remained clear. She wanted to stay at one of the little cabins at Lighthouse Landing Marina.

She finally got her wish. We spent our much to abbreviated honeymoon there.

Absolute perfection!

“I could absolutely live here,” she said. And she absolutely meant it this time.

The cabin was perfect and almost like a sailboat thanks to its nautical-themed furnishings. It was snug, compact but with plenty of room for two. Every detail was well thought out and executed.

“I adore this kitchen. It’s tiny, but perfect with stove, refrigerator and even a dishwasher. This is absolutely all you need,” she said.

The kitchen was stocked, not with food, but utensils even for the microwave. Off the kitchen was a tiny, but nice bath with shower and tons of towels.

The single bedroom was roomy with queen-sized bed, dining table, Jacuzzi-tub (with a porthole window), a big comfy chair, a bureau and (to Hammerhaid’s delight) cable TV.

“Oh, I COULD live here,” Betty Lou, repeated with gusto.

And Hammerhaid had to agree.

But perhaps the true gem was the deck overlooking Kentucky Lake. The weather was brisk, but not unpleasant for sitting into the two Adirondack chairs and watching the sunset.

When the fog rolled in, it was a spectacular place to be. Then it rained. It wasn’t a storm, but you could hear the raindrops on the metal roof of the cabin. The shower cleared and there were fireworks on the opposite bank.

Idyllic. Quiet with no sounds other than Mother Nature with birdcalls, fish splashing and the lapping of the lake. There was the occasional distant hum of tugboats pushing barges.

Did we mention the grills and picnic tables at all the cabins?

What a wonderful, lakeside community! Naturally, it bustles during the summer with visitors when there can be a wait at Patti’s. But there’s no push and shove.

The village has other restaurants, an IGA grocery and just enough shops for browsing even in the off-season.

In addition to the lovely cabins, Lighthouse Landing has sailboat rental and sailing classes.

Now, the only question that remains is when is Betty Lou going to sign up Hammerhaid for those sailing lessons and finally put that expensive life vest to use.

http://www.grandrivers.com/

http://www.grandrivers.com/links/lighthouse.htm

Falcon Rest makes the Civil War fun

Falcon Rest mansion is the site of a new Civil War play featuring, George and Charlien McGlothin.


Betty Lou just didn’t believe it. It is possible to have fun and learn something about the Civil War at the same time.

To top it off, she made her dramatic “debut” at the same time.

And where did this miracle take place? Falcon Rest mansion in McMinnville, TN.

George and Charlien McGlothin premiered their latest production: "The Honeymoon Ball of Gen. John Hunt Morgan … His Last Happy Day" on the weekend of April 25-26 in McMinnville, the nursery capital of the world.

“The Honeymoon Ball” is the latest in a series of interactive plays written by the funny, talented couple.

Interactive? Yes, the folks in the audience play small roles in the performance with George starring as famous Confederate raider John Hunt Morgan and Charlien as famous writer/poet Virginia French.

“I don’t do this. I refused to do this. There’s no way I am going to do this,” announced Betty Lou when she discovered the nature of the play.

But a scant couple of hours later, there was Betty Lou accepting her part as Mrs. Poindexter, the wife of a Presbyterian minister who prepared the feast for the honeymoon ball.

Ol’ Hammerhaid was surprised by her performance and was absolutely shocked that she knew the words to “Dixie.”

As for his part, Hammerhaid was typecast as the huge, glowering Confederate “terrorist” Champ Ferguson complete with plastic Bowie knife.

We’re not talking high drama here, but the presentation was based on accurate history, which pleased the Civil War buff in Hammerhaid.

“Think of it as a Civil War version of Hee-Haw,” explained the McGlothin’s daughter, who shared a table with us along with a doctor from Utah.

“When you say we get visitors from around the world, it is literally true,” said George during a tour of the grounds.

Falcon Rest, located in a peaceful country setting just outside of McMinnville, was built by Clay Faulkner for his wife and five children in 1896-97. The 10,000 sq. ft. Queen Anne mansion was state-of-the-art for the late Victorian period with indoor plumbing and was wired for electricity.

Later the home was converted into a hospital, the Faulkner Springs Hospital and Sanitarium and functioned as such until 1968. The house stood vacant until 1983 when Joe Grissom purchased it and began restoration. The McGlothins purchased the house and finished its basic restoration in 1993.

“It is still a work in progress,” George explained, adding that he and Charlien did the restoration work.

“To see him in the hot summer sun chipping plaster off the bricks was unbelievable,” daughter said.

In 1997, Falcon Rest won the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Great American Home Award” for their restoration efforts.

We stayed in the lovely Carriage Room, adjacent to the Victorian Carriage House at the rear of the mansion.

“Is it purple?” Hammerhaid asked.
“No, it’s mauve,” corrected Betty Lou. “Wow, what a bedroom suite!”
The Victorian Rennaisance-style bed is 9-1/2 feet tall ... beautiful. It was balanced by a wonderful settee and beautiful velvet curtains made by Charlien.

The 16 x16-foot room has a private entrance and great view of Falcon Rest's grounds. It was quiet and romantic. There was a cozy table for two which was perfect for in-room dining. The adjoining private bath featured Betty Lou’s favorite, an antique claw-foot tub.

Betty Lou had only one little quibble ... the bed was too firm for her.

“You should have never slept on that space-age foam mattress in Chattanooga,” Hammerhaid laughed. “It ruined you for normal beds.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she admitted.

She loved the settee though.

“That’s a real surprise. I always thought those would be uncomfortable, but it’s perfect,” she said as she settled down with a selection of books and magazines from the room’s large selection.

“Wow, what a great selection of channels,” Hammerhaid exclaimed, as he checked out the TV. “I could live here forever.”

We were both pleased with the food.

The play came with dinner based upon the menu for the original ball. The ham stuffed with turkey was unusual and was delectable as was the old-fashioned corn pudding. The delicate sno-white cake was fantastic.

Breakfast, served in our room the next morning, was fabulous as well with a delicious sausage and cheese omlet, biscuits with honey butter and fresh mixed fruits. Betty Lou is still going on about the apple turnovers.

“The best I’ve ever had,” she said.

The gift shop was fun too with items reflecting a historical theme. There was a mixture of “fun” items and beautiful jewelry with a great selection of music boxes.

“It’s part of what I like to is in keeping with Falcon Rest’s theme as ‘the Victorian mansion where history is fun,’” George said.

We enjoyed our visit and are already talking about attending the “Ghost in the Mansion” production at Falcon Rest.

“Ghost in the Mansion?”

Oh, yes, there are numerous ghost stories associated with the mansion, but that’s another adventure.

Where is Falcon Rest?

It's halfway between Nashville & Chattanooga, 25 miles east of I-24 at Manchester Exit 111.
33 miles south of I-40 from Smithville Exit 273, between Nashville and Knoxville.

2645 Faulkner Springs Road
McMinnville, TN 37110
931-668-4444
Web Site: www.falconrest.com
E-mail: falconrest@falconrest.com